Digital Technology (Essay Sample)

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Digital Technology
Technology is defined as the use of machines, equipments, methods and techniques to make work easier. Digital technology is defined as an electronic technology that generates, store, and process data in terms of two forms, positive and non-positive (Woodford 34). The positive form uses the digit 1 while the non-positive uses the digit 0. Therefore, it stores and transmits data in terms of 0’s and 1’s. Before the introduction of digital technology was the use of analogy technology to process and store data. Analog technology conveys data as electronic signal of varying frequencies or amplitude. Initially, most of the broadcasting stations and telephone transmission used this technology. Some examples of digital devices include computers, laptops, cell phones, digital cameras, televisions, digital printing equipments, camcorders, and MP3 players. In some cases, books and manuscripts are also scanned and transformed into digital format where they are accessible online or through an electronic device. This paper discusses the advantages of digital technology over the analogue technology and the positive and negative impact of technology in the society.
One of the advantages of using digital technology over the analogy technology is that the digital systems are able to detect, control and correct errors (Woodford 34). Most of the digital systems have incorporated systems to detect errors by reading the data before transmitting it, and correcting any error found. On the contrary, analog systems do not have a device to detect error, and in case of an error, it processes the data with it. For example, a computer can detect a spelling mistake, unlike a typewriter machine. Digital technology systems are available and reliable than the analogy technology. Most of the data stored in an analogy technology is prone to degrade due to environmental conditions or due to age unlike in a digitalized device. For example, music stored in an analog music cassette deteriorates in quality with time due to some factors such as exposure to dust, moisture, and sunlight. On the other hand, music stored in a flash drive, internet, or any other digital system is less likely to deteriorate. Additionally, a scanned document has a longer life than a hard written or a photocopied document.
Digital systems are faster in terms of speed than the analog systems (Woodford 35). A processing unit of any digital system is fast, therefore, making the whole device fast. For instance, a digitalized transmission media and a miniature transistor have a fast processing unit. In addition, the data stored in the system is secure. Data security is very essential especially sensitive information like a company’s or government’s information. Digital technology can secure information in credit cards, ATM cards, bank accounts and other digitalized devices by applying security techniques such as encryption.
Digital technology makes communication easier irrespective of the distance between the two parties. Digital technology uses digital communication lines that are fast and efficient. For example, use of the internet to send an email takes a few seconds for the mail gets to the person on the other end. Similarly, communication is easy and convenient using a phone. This is because it possible to get feedback at instant unlike when people used to send letters using post offices (Woodford 35). It has transformed the world into a global village through social networks. Social networking applications such as Facebook, twitter, and MySpace have put people in touch with each other no matter the distance. As long as one is in any of these networks, it is possible to make friends from any part of the world and communicate with them.
Use of digitalized systems is more convenient than analog systems. This is a result of difference between the signal quality in a digitalized system and analog system (Woodford 36). An analog signal wave is a continuous waveform, and that of digital is in a form of a stair-shaped pattern. In a digital audio signal, an audio data is rounded to the nearest step meaning that a lot of quality can be missing from the audio signal. The number of stair steps in a digital technology is dependent on the number of bits of digital information. This makes an audio file in a digital device more convenient to use than an analog device. Furthermore, analog systems produce some noise in the circuit due to their analog signal. A digital signal consists of 0’s and 1’s and is transferred via light or electricity. Digital system only experiences a noise if the signal surpasses the level at which the digital 0 turns into digital 1. The system is quiet until this step is reached. However, an analog signal has the possibility of showing signal noise at any level. Hence, digital system are more convenient to use in places where silence is highly needed like in a bank.
Digital technologies have impacted human life greatly in the past few decades. Since the introduction of the first computer in 1946, to present day, digital technology have changed human way of working ranging from finances, communication, and social interaction, among others (Woodford 32). These impacts are felts in homes, offices, schools, and worship centers. For example, internet has brought most of the information near to people. A person can download any information from the internet, be it breaking news, music, or information of a certain company or organization. For instance, one can be able to search for a job vacant online, apply it online and get a feedback online. This is on the contrary of an analog technology where one had to write an application letter, print certificates and post them.
Digital technology communication has made communication easy. For example, a manager can send an email to the employees to pass a message rather than calling for a meeting. This saves time, money and resources. Similarly, it is used in education sectors mainly in higher institution of learning. School administrations formulate a school website where student are able to access their school fees, their grades, assignment, lecturers contacts, events happening in school, and any other information related to their schooling. Likewise, technology has impacted on entertainment and advertising industries (Wenger 34). Entertainment media such as televisions, radios, and media play...