LESSON 3

Introduction to Digital Technology Culture

INTRODUCTION
My typical Week-Day morning.
At exactly 5: 45am the alarm on my phone sounds. I wake up grudgingly and swipe the screen and hit the
snooze button.
I get out of bed and get ready for work. During breakfast, I switch on the data on my phone to receive the
humongous messages I may get from WhatsApp…. Nothing. I check my data bundle- 0mb. I quickly
transfer myself some credit from Mobile money and convert it into data bundle…
OMG! 450 messages! I will read them on my way…
As I leave the house I decide on whether to go to work by ‘trotro’ or call an Uber. I look down at my
phone. No UberX driver in my area. On my way to the bus stop, I open WhatsApp and quickly scan
through the messages. I encounter
- pictures of last night’s party,
- Long messages
- Greeting
I look up. Practically everyone has their heads down, staring at their phones, walking en masse. The bright
bill board advertises pepsi cola, latest android phone, and an insurance company.
“Tumu! Tumu! Tumu! Tumu!” shouts a ‘trotro’ mate. I wave in acknowledgement and quickly board it.
As I look at the passenger I see most of them looking at their phones and others making calls. Just one or
two were silent or having a conversation. I sit down and open Instagram, Facebook and twitter. I get busy
with making comments, likes, reacting finally make my own post “Thank God it’s Friday!” and added a
selfie of me with a big smile.
Then I put on my ear piece, open the music app and navigate to my favourite playlist. I press play and tune
the world out. Again, most passengers have their heads down, completely immerse in this digital world,
headphones and completely oblivious that we just passed Sorbelle.
After a while I open Facebook, and check the notification – 150 likes/reaction, 45 comments. A proud
feeling washes over me as I exit the mini bus….]

OBJECTIVES
By the end of the lesson, you will be able to
a. Explain the term a digital culture is.
b. Explain general issues concerning information technology in everyday life.
c. Analyze the role and impact of information technology in everyday life.
Digital Culture
Digital Culture is a way of life, which involves the use of information technology tools to carry out
various activities in everyday life. Examples of such activities are listening to music, playing video
games, communicating with others, buying and selling, advertising as depicted in the introduction.

Figure 1-Digital culture

General Issues of the Digital Culture

a. The Internet:
This is a vital component of the Digital cultures as it allows devices to communicate with each
other. This as a result has made the world a smaller place. Information can now be sent to and from
a large distance within a short possible time and to a large number of devices at the same time.

b. Computer Crimes:
The Digital culture has come up with new ways of deception and theft basically known as
computer crime. Typical example: 419 or fraud

Figure 2- Computer Crime

Role and Impact of information technology on
1. Education
a. E-learning:
eLearning is learning using electronic technologies to access educational materials outside
of a traditional classroom. Other terms used to describe eLearning includes Distance
Education, computerized electronic learning, online learning and internet learning

Role eLearning in Education:

To facilitate easy access to educational materials from any parts of the earth location and
time.

Impact eLearning in Education:

 There has been an increase of accessibility of educational materials
 It has also met the need of diverse ways of learning.
 Many people have easy access to education.
Benefits
 It is used as a tool to support learning process,
 It allows easy access to educational materials,
 It provides a flexible space, time and pace of study
 Provides immediate feedback
 It provides different learning methods for the different learning needs
 It allows students to learn on their own

b. E-mail:
Short for electronic mail, e-mail is a message that may contain text, files, images, or other
attachments sent through a network to a specified individual or group of individuals.

Role of E-mail on Education:

It aids in the exchange of information at a faster and cheaper rate compared to the traditional
mail.

Impact of E-mail on Education:

 Teachers can send bulk messages within a short time.
 Students can easily submit their work to their teachers.
 Students can easily communicate with each other.
Benefits of E-mail
 It is much cheaper send out e-mails to many people and to far places
 E-mails travels faster than letters at the post office
 E-mails do not get lost.
 Easier to keep copies of every messages sent
 Easier attach and send messages in other media types such audio, videos and graphic
c. Computer assisted Learning (CAL):
The use of computers to aid in learning. It is typically, a software developed to teach a
specific lesson or assist a user to learn a specific concept. Types of software used in CAL
include
 Drill and practice
 Tutorials
 Problem solving
 Simulation
 Calculators…

Figure 3-CAL

Role of CAL on Education:

With the aid of CAL, provides more experiences in the form of simulation and other real
world problem scenarios which student solves.

Impact of CAL on Education:

 It allows students to gain some real-world experiences even before they start working in
organizations.
 There is extensive class participation as every student is involved.
 It targets a wide range of learning mode.

Benefit of CAL
 It allows the learner to learn at his/her own place and time.
 It provides immediate feedback on performance.
 Lessons are prepared to suit the different learning modes
 It allows learning to interact with images and various activities and thereby, improves
understanding of such concept
 It improve retention of concept through repetitive practice

d. Computer Based Training (CBT):

CBT is a form of training delivered mainly through the use of computer. It is usually
developed as a software and installed on a computer. Examples are simulation software
that simulate the behaviour of environments such as when flying an aeroplane or driving a
car.
 Figure 4-CBT-Car Simulation
Figure 5-CBT-Pilot Simulation

Role of Computer Based Training (CBT) on Education:

It aids in the educational teaching and learning by incorporating various media in a
particular concept in order to target different learning mode.

Impact of CBT on Education:

 A wide range of learning modes have been targeted
 Mass education
 Immediate feedback

Benefit of CBT
 It is less expensive compared to real time training
 Large number of people can be trained and supervised at a given time
 It provides a wide range of experiences
 It improves skills through repetitive practice
 It is prepared to suit individual ways of learning

2. Business
a. E-business:
E-business (electronic business) is the conduct of business processes on the Internet.
These electronic business processes include
 buying and selling products,
 supplies and services;
 processing payments;
 collaborating with business partners;
 sharing information;
 recruiting; and more.

Role of E-Business on Business:

E-business breaks geographical barriers and is cost-efficient, thereby improving a business'
productivity and increasing revenue.
 Impact of E-Business on Business
 It has shortened business processes.
 It has expanded the market size of a particular product or service
 It has simplified the various business processes.
 Through e-business, businesses can now be conducted anywhere at any time.
Benefits of E-Business
 Create cost savings and operational efficiencies
 Reach more customers and markets
 Make it easier for people to do business with you
 Improve marketing and promotion
 Meet the needs and expectations of customers
 Concentrating on things that matter

b. Computer Assisted Manufacturing/ Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM).

It is the use of computer technology to facilitate and automate manufacturing processes. It is
often used together with Computer-Aided Design Software (CAD).

Figure 6-Computer Assisted Manufacturing

Role of CAM in Business and the economy:

To increase the efficiency, uniformity and precision of manufacturing goods in industries
thereby decreasing cost, time and error of manufacturing.

Impact CAM in Business and the economy:

 Increase production of goods
 Increase grades of good
 Less error margin in production of goods
 Created unemployment in industries
 Created new job categories
 Decreased cost of production

Benefit of CAM
 Improves quality of production by manufacturing good with accuracy and precision
 It Improves quantity of production in a given time by manufacturing goods with speed
 Creation of new job category
 c. Computer Aided Design (CAD)/ Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD):
CAD is the use of computer technology to create either a two-dimensional or three-
dimensional designs with their documentations. Examples are
 AutoCAD,
 Microstation PowerDraft,
 Chief Architect and
 Sketchup.

Figure 7-CAD_House
Figure 8-CAD_Game Controller

Role of CAD on Business:

It is used to easily draft designs and also help with manufacturing process

Impact of CAD on Business:

 Less time used in drafting designs
 Created new job categories
 Quality designs due to precise calculations

3. Health
a. E-health:
eHealth is the application of information and communications technologies to health, and a
means of improving health services access, efficiency and quality.
[Video: A short video showing a consultation on an ehealth app (Your.MD: Health
Care Assistant App (Android)]

Role of E-Health on Health:

To facilitate or improve quality health delivery to a large number or people within a large
geographical area in a short period of time.

Impact of E-Health on Health:

 Created more efficient, convenient and potentially more cost-effective delivery or care
 More lives saved through remote consultation
  Enhanced senior wellness and preventative care through telemedicine and remote in-
home monitoring.
 Improved administrative efficiency and coordination

4. Society
a. E-governance:
Electronic governance or e-governance is the application of information and communication
technology for delivering
 government services,
 exchange of information,
 communication transactions,

Role of E-governance on Society

In addition to the existing media types of Television and Radio, E-governance aims to
inform the mass public about various government issues

Impact of E-governance on Society

 It has given a voice to the people
 The public is constantly informed

SUMMARY
In this lesson, we learn that:
1. The Digital Culture is the use of information technology tool in everyday life.
2. General issues concerning Digital Culture
3. Various technology used in everyday life include
a. E-mail
b. E-business
c. Computer Assisted learning
d. E-health…
Their general impact include improving process of leaning, conducting businesses, sharing of
information…