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How we can use ICT to develop people & Culture - Marked


Introduction.

Information and communications technology (ICT) is an extensional term for information technology (IT) that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals) and computers, as well as necessary enterprise software, middle ware, storage, and audiovisual systems, that enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information.
 Modernization refers to a model of a progressive transition from a 'pre-modern' or 'traditional' to a 'modern' society (transformed society). Culture looks at the way of life of people in a particular society. People are the occupants of a particular place.
According to UNESCO (Action Panel Line 8), culture and people has diverse manifestations from tangible to intangible cultural heritage, to industrial creativity. This shows a clear indication that culture directly impacts economic, social, political lives of the people in our Society.  Modernization comes in diverse terms but in this context, we are looking at ICT as tool for transformation of culture & people.  This can be explained in the following dimensions;

Agricultural Sector.

ICT tools like phones can allow farmers in rural areas access buyers of their agricultural produce. Also, with more advanced phones, pictures of commodities can be shared and buyers reach the suppliers hence boosting agricultural entrepreneurs.
Financial Sector.

Unlike those days when ICT services were limited to a few individuals within Urban areas, now financial services have been advanced closer to the villages and remote areas through Mobile Money Services.
Many didn’t like going to the bank to save their money because they did not know how to read or write.
Poor roads and the inadequate accessibility of banking institutions could not allow people in remote areas have safe and secure saving culture. They could hide money in holes or tins which renders them insecure and may forget where the money was hidden.
Political Sphere.

With the evolution of ICT, voting process has been made easier wit availability of voting system hence allowing digitalization of the democracy process. People can vote at their own convenience hence reducing human error in the voting process.
Communication & International Social Connection

ICT has made it possible for people to connect from far ends of the world because of the introduction of communication services such as fax, phones, emails, social media platforms (watsup, Facebook, twitter, Instagram, Pinterest).
However, ICT has got some negative impacts as well on the lives of people and culture. These may include;
·         Moral Degradation as most teen agers tend to copy what they see on movies, TV shows, Social Media and so many other plat forms and convey it to the cultural settings.
·         ICT has made many people lazy because of the availability of social media platforms. Most people spend time on social media at the expense of work.
·         Smart and increased fraud in both political, social, financial and cultural institutions as smart guys exploit ICT system vulnerability.
·         Social Isolation as families can no longer sit together and enjoy conversation. You find that the other is on watsup, and the is on Facebook, TV and so many others hence family bounds broken.

Conclusion
In conclusion, ICT has done more positive impact on the lives of our people and culture compared to the negative

What about culture?   16/20




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