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Friday 23 August 2013

MS 94 IGNOU MBA Solved Assignment - How important is technology to: • Economic development • Progress of society • Improvement in the quality of life?

1.      How important is technology to:

·         Economic development
·         Progress of society
·         Improvement in the quality of life?
Illustrate giving relevant examples.
 Ans :
Technological innovation and Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) represent a way for developing world nations to foster economic development, improve levels of education and training as well as address gender issues within society.
Entrepreneurship is crucial for economic development around the world.
In countries such as Nigeria, Egypt and Indonesia, micro-entrepreneurs generate 38% of the gross domestic product. Analysis from the World Bank in 2011 indicates that small businesses create a disproportionate share of new jobs. They generate new ideas, new business models, and new ways of selling goods and services.
Wireless technology and ICT infrastructure development is also vital for entrepreneurship and small business development.
In many emerging nations, it is a major challenge to gain access to capital and market information. Developing nations specifically do not have functioning infrastructure or much in the way of financial resources.
In sub-Saharan Africa for example, approximately 29% of roads are paved, barely a quarter of the population has access to electricity, and there are fewer than three landlines available per 100 people.
In Indonesia, 75% of the country has household incomes below $2.50 per day. The combination of poor infrastructure and poverty makes it difficult for entrepreneurs to access financial resources and information.
Below is an example of how a basic form of technology – such as a simple mobile phone – has been proved to assist people communicate with one another, access market information, sell products across geographic areas, reach new consumers, enter mobile payment systems, reduce fraud and crime and empower women and the disadvantaged.
The Self-Employed Women’s Association (Sewa) in India includes 1.1-million workers who pool their resources to improve their bargaining power. The organisation sends agricultural workers daily SMSs on commodity prices so farmers can determine the best places to sell their products. Those participating say they have been able to market fruits and vegetables over wider areas and thereby earn higher incomes.
The Ethiopia Commodity Exchange Program (ECEP) has helped entrepreneurs expand their markets. Before 2008, 95% of farmers sold their products in local markets and were not able to access other areas. Transaction costs were high and they had problems getting fair prices due to the lack of market competition. With the advent of the ECEP, agricultural producers gained access to external buyers and were able to negotiate better prices. This boosted their incomes and improved the quality of food products.
The India-based Hand in Hand Partnership (HIHP) enables women to use mobile devices to launch businesses in the technology area. It provides mentorship, training, credit, and technical support.
In Kenya, the Farmers Helpful Network (FHN) gives agricultural producers access to the latest research through their mobile phones. Farmers can ask questions of experts concerning crop rotation, artificial insemination, and crop insurance. This helps them improve their agricultural production and marketing, and increase their overall income.
Access to mobile technology is particularly important for females because there are 300-million fewer women globally than men who own mobile devices. Overall, there is a 21% gender gap in owning a phone worldwide, but this number rises to 23% in Africa, 24% in the Middle East, and 37% in Asia.
Wireless communications also plays an important role in education and training.
In Indonesia, the Global Ready eTraining Center program has trained over 1000 students in technology services. Those enrolled get vouchers for a three-month program. More than 95% of the individuals enrolled completed the class, and 75% said the course increased their income as a result of the skills acquired in the program.
A survey undertaken by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) found that 55% of women around the world earned additional income due to owning a mobile phone and 41% increased their income and professional opportunities.
Mobile payment systems represent a way to reduce the cost of financial transactions and thereby help entrepreneurs. If people can transfer funds quickly and efficiently, it becomes easier for small and medium-sized businesses to sell their products. This improves the efficiency of the marketplace and removes barriers to growth.
Reducing “friction” is very important in African, Asian, and Latin American financial markets because barriers to financial transactions remain quite high. Only 30% of those who live in developing African nations have bank accounts.
In short, mobile technology offers extensive help on various forms of social and economic development.
Wireless communications broaden access to information, improve capital access, overcome geographic limitations, and expand market access.

With mobile phones and tablets proliferating at a significant rate, these communications tools enable women, the disadvantaged, and other individuals to access a broader range of investors, suppliers, and customers. Combined with social media platforms, people can extend their reach through mobile devices and pool resources in meaningful ways.


Progress of society

Technology runs in the veins of society. It is the fuel that drives our lives. It is an integral part of daily life. It has definitely benefited society. It has brought luxury in the life of every common man. Automation brought about by technology has saved human effort and time to a large extent. It has brought distant places closer and simplified information access. It has made the world a smaller place to live in. Let us look at some of the important areas, where technology has brought a positive change.

Automation of Processes in the Industry and the Household: Technology has automated many of the critical processes in the industry as well as the household. Imagine the amount of labor that must have been involved in industrial processes when the concept of automation did not exist. Electronic gadgets have entered homes of the common man to rescue him from the boredom of daily chores. Imagine the amount of time people must be spending doing household chores during the time there were no machines and household appliances. It's better not imagined. Today's is the age of robotics. Machines can learn, adopt new things and perform tasks with near-human efficiency.
Changed Modes of Transport: The automobile industry and technology are interwoven. Time has witnessed this industry evolve from mechanical scooters to automated aircraft. Animals were the only modes of transport in the olden days. Technology was the driving force behind the creation and design of the modern-day automobiles. Bicycles evolved into scooters and sports bikes. The idea of having four-wheeled modes of transport gave rise to the creation of cars. Modes of air and water transport came up, thanks to technology.
Reduced Risk to Human Life: Machines have automated many crucial industrial processes. Machines are now taking up mundane jobs that were once done by human workers. Technology has evolved to an extent where machines can perform tasks that are not feasible for man, either because they are risky or life-threatening or because they are beyond human capacity. The use of advanced technologies like robotics and artificial intelligence has proven to be helpful in life-risking endeavors like mining and space exploration.
Data Management and Information Retrieval: Computer technology, needless to say, has changed the face of the world. Computers can store, organize and manage huge amounts of data. They can process large amounts of information. Computers have given rise to the software industry, one of the most progressive industries of the world. The Internet that seeded from computer networking concepts is the most effective communication platform and the largest information base existing today.
Impact on the Entertainment and Advertising Industries: The Internet has brought a positive change to the entertainment and advertising industries. Over the Internet, advertisements can reach the masses within seconds. Internet advertisements have changed equations of the advertising industry. Branding on the Internet is much more effective that other forms of product promotion. The entertainment media has progressed because of advancements in technology. Movies, songs, games are a few clicks away. People have begun using the Internet to watch and download movies, listen to music, play games and entertain themselves. Thanks to handy, mobile and user-friendly devices, all this has become really easy.
Onset of the Digital Age: There's hardly anything analog now, we live in a digital world, a digital age. Talk pixels and bytes. The digitization of information has made it possible for us to store it in a compact form. Ever wondered how gigabytes of data can be stored on a small chip? Digitization it is! Also, digitization enriches the quality of data storage. Digital voice and digital images are of a higher quality. Digital cameras and digital TVs provide users with an enriched picture quality, thus bettering user experience with technology.
Communication Redefined: Cellular communication has revolutionized the communication industry. The conventional telephone, also a piece of technology, was one of the earliest technological developments in communication. Mobile phones have broadened the horizons of communication by enabling convenient long-distance calling and mobile use. Letters have taken a backseat and emails and cell phone messages have become the easiest means to connect. Owing to developments in technology, communication is wireless. Social networking is another defining factor here. It has given an all new dimension to communication, entertainment and recreation.
Satellite Technology: Satellite communication is an important facet of technology. Satellite TV and satellite radio have eased the broadcasting of events across the globe. How else do you think could matches and concerts be broadcasted live? Not just TV and radio, even communication to ships and airplanes wouldn't have been possible if not for satellite communication. Even your hand-held devices wouldn't be of use, if not for radio communication.
These were still a few fields influenced by technology. It is almost impossible to enlist all the positive effects of technology on society. The fast-advancing technology on the whole, has given impetus to developments in various fields and improved the quality of human life. There's less risk, less effort, less mess. There's more leisure, more ease and more speed - all because of that ten-letter word - not a word, a
“Even as the aging of the baby-boomer generation presents a new era of challenges related to public health needs and health-care system pressures, greater availability and adoption of ASTs holds great potential to help address these challenges,” says the report.
“Even as the aging of the baby-boomer generation presents a new era of challenges related to public health needs and health-care system pressures, greater availability and adoption of ASTs holds great potential to help address these challenges,” says the report.
In particular, the report emphasizes the importance of integrating ASTs and Health Information Technology (HIT) as a way to enhance the quality of clinical care and decision making.

“Recent initiatives and policies encouraging the adoption of HIT, coupled with a growing awareness of the importance of both HIT and ASTs, suggest that the next few years may bring new opportunities to leverage these resources for the collective benefit of all stakeholders,” predicts the report. 

In particular, the report emphasizes the importance of integrating ASTs and Health Information Technology (HIT) as a way to enhance the quality of clinical care and decision making. 
“Recent initiatives and policies encouraging the adoption of HIT, coupled with a growing awareness of the importance of both HIT and ASTs, suggest that the next few years may bring new opportunities to leverage these resources for the collective benefit of all stakeholders,” predicts the report. 

“Recent initiatives and policies encouraging the adoption of HIT, coupled with a growing awareness of the importance of both HIT and ASTs, suggest that the next few years may bring new opportunities to leverage these resources for the collective benefit of all stakeholders,” predicts the report. 

  • Falls: Some fall detection devices are more effective and reliable than others; they generate alarms that can spur interventions, including preventive ones, by providers and caregivers.
  • Chronic Disease Management: Evidence supporting the efficacy of these technologies is generally good but varies by device, health condition and operational model.
  • Medication Management: Electronic prescribing, computerized physician order entry and other ASTs have been shown to reduce costly medication errors. 
  • Cognitive Impairments: ASTs that detect cognitive impairments are effective in most cases. Those focusing on cognition-related intervention vary in effectiveness. 
  • Sensory Impairments: These ASTs benefit people with acquired hearing and vision impairments as well as those with developmental disabilities. 
  • Depression: These ASTs address the challenges associated with diagnosis, lack of access to mental-health professionals, perceived stigma, loss of motivation and social isolation. 
  • Mobility Impairments: Wheeled mobility equipment and devices that improve balance and walking are well-recognized as safe and effective. Other technologies are emerging. 
  • Functional Decline: Passive monitoring ASTs like sensor-based home monitoring have the most robust testing and support in the literature. Evidence is more limited and mixed for other devices that monitor functional decline. 

The report suggests potential strategies to overcome these barriers, including:

The report suggests potential strategies to overcome these barriers, including:
  • Disseminating evidence that supports AST adoption.
  • Increasing education of providers and consumers.
  • Using privacy and security measures more effectively.
  • Testing and developing technology to maximize usability.
  • Addressing interoperability issue
  • Fostering partnerships among technology companies, aging services providers and researchers. 
Identifying and promoting business models that support the design and evaluation of these technologies.


Improvement in the quality of life?

Aging services technologies (AST) can help older adults and people with disabilities achieve and maintain maximum physical function, live as independently as possible and participate in and contribute to society. That’s the conclusion of a new study jointly authored by CAST andNORC, a research organization at the University of Chicago.
The Aging Services Technology Study was mandated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 and its findings are included in a special Report to Congress. That report provides a detailed discussion of ASTs related to 8 care issues facing older people and people with disabilities.
                                                                
It also identifies barriers to the development and adoption of ASTs and recommends strategies to address those barriers. 
How ASTs Impact 8 Care Issues
The study assessed ASTs in 8 care categories:
Barriers to Aging Services Technology Adoption, Use and Development
Lack of awareness among consumers and providers represents an important barrier to the development and adoption of ASTs, according to the CAST-NORC report. In addition, use of ASTs may be limited by concerns about their effectiveness and usability as well as interoperability issues and impact on workflow.

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