Research Skills 1: Digital Technology Essay - Benefits and Pitfalls

This essay provides a detailed overview of digital technology, discussing its evolution, impact, and various applications. It begins by defining digital technology and highlighting its transformative effects on businesses and daily life, including the acceleration of data transmission and the expansion of information access. The essay then explores various digital technologies such as websites, geolocation, social media, and banking and finance, providing examples of their practical use. Furthermore, it examines the advantages of digital technology, including improved communication speeds, enhanced learning opportunities, efficient information storage, cost-effectiveness, and increased social connectivity. However, the essay also addresses the pitfalls of digital technology, such as data security concerns, complexity, social disconnect, privacy issues, and the manipulation of digital media. The conclusion summarizes the importance of digital technology in the modern era, emphasizing its benefits and drawbacks.

Research Skills 1-
Skills For Higher Education

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK...........................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Digital Technology is one the fastest growing concepts, it has given the new dimensions to the
business. Digital Technology may be referred as use of algorithms and applications of digital
electronics for solving a problem. The following essay discusses the concept of digital
technology in detail.
TASK
Digital Technology is one of the fast growing distinctive technologies that has provided new
dimensions to the companies, and has changed the way of working. It has made the substantial
transformation in the way of operating. Now-a-days, it is rare to find electronic devices that do
not have digital technological linked it to in some or the other way. this technology allows
massive amount of information to be flattened on compact devices which can be easily protected
and transported (Faroqi and Collings, 2020). Digitization has accelerated data transmission
speeds. All these technology has transformed the way people communicate, learn and work.
Digital Technology usually refers as devices basically become much portable, faster than they
used to be. The concept of information has broadened to include pictures, videos, and other
media and documents. The information now can be easily utilized too; picture, music and videos
can be easily edited through the help of digital technology. In the concept of digital technology,
digital literacy has the key part; it refers to the ability of using and understanding the digital
technology in order to communicate, access and creates knowledge in the society. There is
maximum technology transformation is because of the increase in use of internet service. Digital
technology has great influence on the generation who are born with it as they are multitasking
and have got more comfortable platform. It has brought new creativity and opportunity in
today’s world as the people showcase their talents to any side of the world (Huda and et.al.,
2017). And given the companies new dimensions, companies now use different digital platform
to promote their products and advertise their brands by attracting audience who use internet, this
has not only help in increasing their sales but has raise their productivity. Through the adoption
of different digital technologies, companies can provide more employment and existence of tech
companies are also increasing due to rapid growth in this sector. The following are some
examples of digital technologies –
Websites –

The websites are the most general way through which the people access on the internet. Websites
provides all sorts of information related to topics that people search and has become frequently
more interactive. For example - People can now not only see what are the products that Tesco is
dealing with, but can also order the products through its websites.
Geolocation –
Because of the combination of satellite and digital technology, location of devices like
mobilephone, connected laptop and computers, GPS device can be determined easily
(JOSEFSSON and LINDHE, 2020). This information can be shared with different applications in
order to map technology, or provide people with the relevant information regarding to location.
Social Media –
Social Media sites have seen the explosion in prevalence recent years such as Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter etc. These sites bring together different pieces of digital technology for the
users to interact through text, photos, audio and video calls, creating groups and many things.
But this digital technology relies only on the user generated content. Companies like Tesco, have
their pages and accounts through which attract audience and also provide the information
regarding their offers or products to promote their brands.
Banking and Finance –
People now-a-days do most of their banking transactions through computers or their mobile
phones. There are various apps developed to do monetary transaction related to bank and other as
well (Mercer, Hennessy and Warwick, 2019). There are many apps which show the credit score,
and tell the person to pay their credit card bill. Many apps such as PayPal are the payment
gateways for the various companies through which the people can transfer their money to
company or person. Digital technology has enables the apps which allows people to invest their
money and help in saving the money.
Modern technology has modified or altered the lives tremendously, influencing the ways people
use to work, communicate, travel, discussed below are some of the advantages of Digital
Technology -
Communication Speeds -
Since the early days of communication, internet speeds has rapid growth. Broadband has allowed
the transfer of excess amount information through the web immediately, making it achievable to

stream video and audio's in real time, sending and accessing large data files virtually anywhere in
the world. Traditional media took lot of time but digital technology has made things simpler.
Learning Opportunity -
Anyone who has access of internet can access the large proportion of world's knowledge through
web. Courses and lessons are now delivered virtually online (Patterson, 2018). Communication
advancement has ensured that now anyone get to easily communicate with most of the
population of world and learn directly from the authentic sources. For example – If someone
wants to learn different language they have easy platform through which they can learn. Digital
technologies is not for specific persons but can be accessed by anyone who has knowledge to use
it.
Information Storage -
Digital Technology permits to store immense amount of information in comparatively portable
spaces. Huge amount of media such as videos, photos, information of contacts and other various
other documents can be carried in small devices such as Smartphone. All the necessary data can
be stored online and can be accessed through any device which has internet connectivity.
Low Cost –
After paying for an internet connectivity services, offers from digital world can be accessed for
free. Surfing about anything on browser, to connect on video calls with friends and families, to
send e-mail for the information and communication purpose basically cost nothing (Puchkova,
YuV and Temnova, 2017). It can impart opportunities for minimum cost self-education, start-ups
ideas, to do business online.
Social Connectivity –
Digital Technology has made easy to stay connected with family, friends and work accordingly,
wherever the person is in the world. People can now communicate through various platforms by
words, audio and video calls and exchanging the media. Apps, websites and softwares are
developed to help people in socialising which each other. In this digital era, nobody may feel
isolated because they can connect through social media, texting or messaging, through their
gadgets such as laptops, mobile phones, tablets etc. Users through this technology get regularly
updated about the news, social happening and local events.
Digital Technology has transformed nearly every feature of human lives in present decade but it
has some pitfalls which are discussed below –

Data Security –
Through digital technology vast amount of data was collected and stored, but data are private
related to some individual or company (Zhang and Xiao, 2020). It is really difficult to keep the
data secure. With just a single breach, can lead to private information going viral or in wrong
hands of criminals, terrorist, competitors or rivals etc. can cause impact on by destroying the
image and reputation of individual or company. For example, Tesco has to store the data relevant
to its customers and due to any leakage of customer data may result into loss of faith among
customers in the company.
Complexity –
Not all the population understand the working of devices, when they start interacting with the
devices on the regular basis and get to know things then only it is useful. Placing any order
online now is possible, but people should know how to order. Using smart phones involves
tackling some sort of issues or problem related to complicated settings.
Social Disconnect –
With the increase in tendency of communication digitally and socializing through digital devices,
people are losing the real life contact. The improved use of digital technology created a change
wher a social disconnect are introduced in a society. Human beings have evolved over the years
through real contact and taking that away influence all sorts of negativity which sometimes lead
to depression and mental illness in people.
Privacy Concerns –
It is difficult to have privacy in this digital age and the danger of personal data being sold or
stolen is high (Ardolino and et.al., 2018). Smaller indiscretions can beset the individual for life
sometimes. Controlling and securing the personal information is hard and often impossible. For
examples, employer can now see the profile of various candidates on social media and can judge
the personality of person through this and sometimes these things create negative impression as
well.
Manipulation through Digital Media –
Now-a-days media such as photographs, videos are easy to edit making digital media
manipulated extensively. These days it cannot be determined that what is real and what is fake.
Photographs and videos are edited using various apps such as Photoshop. And audios are also

altered which is the major pitfall as it can cause severe repercussions. This issue will only
augmented as the technology improves.
CONCLUSION
In this essay, the concept of digital technologies is understood in detail and its importance in
today’s era. The way digital technology have transformed the world with just the internet
connectivity service, easily communication can be done through various platforms and in
different media form. Types, benefits and pitfalls of digital technologies are mentioned.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Faroqi, M. G. and Collings, G. J., 2020. Stakeholder involvement in Union Digital Centres in
Bangladesh. Information Development. 36(2). pp.208-223.
Huda, M. and et.al., 2017. Empowering children with adaptive technology skills: Careful
engagement in the digital ınformation age. International Electronic Journal of
Elementary Education. 9(3). pp.693-708.
JOSEFSSON, G. and LINDHE, L., 2020. The Involvement of Purchasing in the Design Process
A Case Study at NCC Building Sweden.
Mercer, N., Hennessy, S. and Warwick, P., 2019. Dialogue, thinking together and digital
technology in the classroom: Some educational implications of a continuing line of
inquiry. International Journal of Educational Research. 97. pp.187-199.
Patterson, J., 2018. How Brands Engage with College Students: The Effects of Narratives and
Images on the Engagement of College Students on Facebook with Low-Involvement
Brands (Doctoral dissertation, University of Missouri-Columbia).
Puchkova, E. B., YuV, S. and Temnova, L. V., 2017. A study of Generation Z’s involvement in
virtual reality. Psychology in Russia, 10(4), p.46.
Zhang, H. and Xiao, Y., 2020. Customer involvement in big data analytics and its impact on B2B
innovation. Industrial Marketing Management, 86, pp.99-108.
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