Life has dramatically changed worldwide since the introduction of information technology on a mass scale in the 60s and 70s. A few people managed to predict what would happen: that technology would become a part of everyday life and that nearly every home would have at least one computer, let alone the households that have a computer for every person. But all this technology has changed how we live and go about our daily tasks.

Paper Sales

As with everything in life, there are pros and cons. For the paper industry, unfortunately, the cons far outweigh the pros when it comes to technology. Newspapers are currently reporting about their online struggle to retain the same profits and sales as they had in the late 90s. A lot of small-time reporters have had a hard time keeping up with information technology and have been forced to close down. Between the years 2000 and 2009, there was a decrease of roughly 7 million newspapers in circulation per month in the UK. But this news isn’t all bad. Some of the pros include a better environment for the planet. Just think of all the energy and carbon monoxide reduced thanks to fewer trucks being on the road — and also less rubbish, as less material is in distribution.

Free International Calls

Another luxury that the information technology trend has brought us is the ability to phone our friends and relatives overseas for nothing. Companies such as Skype and Viber have turned telecommunications services upside down, and now phoning a friend in Australia from your smartphone in Oxford can be done with the touch of a button. Similarly, texts, images, and videos can be sent with ease — which has even increased our capabilities when it comes to staying in touch with our loved ones when they go abroad. Of course, there is a downside as well, where sometimes it can be hard to get away from constant contact with some friends in particular.

Medical

IT has changed the medical industry drastically with enhanced research capabilities and computers testing for diseases and viruses. Furthermore, there has been a movement in Oxford to replace handwritten medical charts with tablets in local hospitals. The problem with handwritten notes is that some doctors write fast and carelessly, making it hard for other doctors and nurses to read charts accurately. With tablets, people can see, share, and interact with the patients’ notes with just the touch of a finger, and the information can be updated in real time. Of course, in such an important industry, this means that high-quality IT support in Oxford will be vital in order to keep things running smoothly.

The system is currently undergoing the final scrutiny by the staff at the Oxford University Hospital. If it gets approved, it will see 500 tablets being used to increase productivity at several hospitals, including Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital. This is yet another great achievement for technology if it works smoothly, and it could lead to even more technology helping us to improve our day-to-day lives in the future.