2. POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF COMPUTER
INTRODUCTION:
Computers have impacted the way we live on a large scale. You will find computers in
hospitals, libraries, schools and banks, each running tasks that would be difficult for people to
do on their own. Computers serve as a quick and convenient way to get things done. For
example, you easily can do everything from typing documents, designing slide shows and
presentations, to creating your own music or art. You also can access useful information and
media on the Internet. For these reasons people rely heavily on computers, especially at places
like offices, schools, hospitals and at home. The computer has been widely considered as one of
the greatest inventions of the 21st century, but it also is blamed for many day-to-day problems
and even tragic events. As computer technology advances, the effects will continue to change
the world for better or worse. Unfortunately, using computers can also bring many negative
effects for your overall health.
POSITIVE IMPACTS:
1. Positive Effects on Learning
People have access to a wealth of information on computers, without having to drive to
the library for research. Wireless technology allows people to obtain information within
minutes. The Internet contains online dictionaries, encyclopedias and a wide variety of games
and software for learning math, reading, science and history. Many online videos teach skills,
such as learning a language.
2. Positive Effects on Social Behavior
Computers offer many opportunities to meet new people. There are many social
networking sites that let people connect with others. People can communicate in a variety of
ways, date people and reconnect with old friends and classmates. The Internet can help people
find others with common interests, form bonds with strangers and expand their social network.
3. Positive Effects of Computers on our Personal Life
• Genealogy
• Reconnecting with friends
• Easier/Faster communication
• Catalog pictures
• Games
• Access to information
3. 4. Positive Effects of Computers on our Professional Life
• Training online
• Job Work faster
• More affiant
• Easier access to information
• Meetings at a company are reduced
• Manage payroll, accounts receivable, taxes
• Control inventory
5. Positive Effects of Computers on our Academic Life
• Distance learner
• Can study day or night
• More resources to information
• Video conferences
• Access to your courses
6. Overall Positive Impacts
Reducing cost / number of staff needed.
Reducing amount of hardware (printers) due to LAN networking.
Fun - games, Internet, music, graphics.
Communication. More ways to interact globally.
Education - access to info for research.
NEGATIVE IMPACTS:
1. Negative Effects on Physical Health
The more time a person spends on a computer, the less likely the person is to
participate in physical activities, which can result in weight gain. A person also is likely to
experience eye and back strain and possibly repetitive injuries from computer use. Beyond
these issues, computers can create turmoil for users by reacting slowly or suffering from viruses
and other problems, requiring repair. The more dependent users are on their computers, the
more likely these setbacks will affect their stress level and overall health.
2. Children and Exposure to Adult Material
Many people, especially children and teenagers, are vulnerable to finding highly explicit
adult material. Pornography is easily accessible to children, and this can affect their attitude
toward sex as they mature. They may have trouble dealing with intimacy and develop a surreal
perception of sexual encounters. Children who use the Internet also are at risk of learning
about different type of drugs and how they alter sensations or how crimes are committed.
4. 3. Vision Problems
Computer use can result in vision problems called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).
Glare on the computer screen, the reduced level of contrast of text to the background, and
letters not being as sharp, or clear as on print create problems. This can put more stress on
your eyes. Symptoms of CVS include eye strain, blurred vision, headaches and dry eyes. These
symptoms are only temporary and begin to lessen when you're not using the computer.
4. Physical Health Issues
People who have used the computers for an extensive period of time may complain
about headaches, and pains in their wrists, arms and necks. These pains are often the result of
a fixed posture when using the computer keyboard for a long amount of time. This can also
cause muscle pain due to fatigue. Use good posture and take breaks when typing on the
computer.
5. Exposure to Radiation
Many computers have CRT, or Cathode Ray Tube, monitors that give off X-ray radiation
that can affect your health. Being exposed to computer radiation can cause cancer, tumors,
miscarriage and birth defects, headaches and insomnia. The FDA requires that a computer and
TV monitors meet a radiation limit. However, they still give off a small amount of radiation. You
can avoid exposing yourself to this radiation by limiting your time using the computer or by
increasing your distance from the computer.
6. Addiction
Computers also give you access to a wide variety of information and entertainment.
People who use computers for this reason, which develop a computer addiction. This may
cause a person to become addicted to online activities like reading articles and researching for
fun, playing online games, visiting chat rooms, gambling or even pornography or cybersex. This
can cause the person to lie about their online habits and activities, neglect family and social
events and academic failure. Strong addiction may require sufferers to seek professional
therapy.
7. Negative Effects of Computers on our Personal Life
• Spend more time on the computer than with your family
• Addiction-less interaction with people
• Faster communication may not be better communication
• Identity theft
8. Negative Effects Computers have in our Professional Life
• Working from home limits your interaction with colleagues
• Negative affects computers have in your academic life
• Less interaction with classmates
5. 9. Overall Negative Impacts
• A high percentage of people sit at their computer far too long and some people lose
reality as far as social activities and learning social skills. Not to mention packing on
the weight and the lack of exercise that will haunt them further on down the road.
• Sitting behind a computer all day is hard on the eyes.
• Being on the computer too much takes away the imagination for most (although for a
very few they can be creative in advertising and digital imagery, etc. on websites.)
• Computers can distract a person so much they lose contact with the reality around
them such as taking time with family, husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, wives and
children.
• It opens up kiddy porn and other immoral things.
• More crime is committed through the Internet.
• More misinformation by SOME people on the Internet can cause problems for the
younger generation.
• More person problems by two people on the Internet (never having met) may cause
heartbreak or mistrust. It's impossible to know someone well over the Internet.
• Spammers are annoying.
• Hackers can ruin your computer system.
• Hardcore porn industry (including child porn)
• Hackers, ID fraud and spoof websites,
• Virusses, spam and Trojans.
• Cyber-bullying and cyber-stalking.
• People unable to interact 'in person'.
• Online gambling.
CONCLUSION:
Many people do work on the computer but smart people do so much, then get up, get
moving and get into shape. They spend time with family and friends and limit their time on the
computer. There is a new generation coming up where information is at one's finger tips too
easily and then it becomes a personal thing in some people's lives. Before one knows it all will
be like zombies wandering around (out of shape) and wondering why no one is relating to
them. While technology is a wonderful thing it is almost likely that it can be used in an immoral
or wrong way. There is a price to pay for everything even if it appears its making life easier on
people.
