5 Ways an IT Degree Can Change the World
- Educational Technology
- Low-Cost Tech
- Green Energy
- Agriculture
- Drone Delivery
Information technology is found in every sector and all over the world – from music and arts to business and science, technology has fundamentally changed how we see and shape the world around us.
But one of the greatest powers of technology is its high potential to change the world for the better. Here are five ways an information technology degree can help make the world a better place.
See our ranking of the Top 30 Most Affordable Master’s in Information Technology Degrees Online.
-
Educational Technology
Educational technologists have created and improved access to learners of every age all over the world. From tablet installations in classrooms in developing nations to classroom-wide learning platforms providing customizable lesson plans to children in industrialized nations, educational technology has created tremendous opportunities for increased access to education for all – from elementary schools to colleges. Education is the great equalizer – and citizens all over the world have benefitted, along with the communities in which they live.
-
Low-Cost Tech
As technology advances, the ability to make accessible machines quickly and cheaply has escalated dramatically, resulting in economically disadvantaged communities worldwide having access to computers, the internet, and other technological devices. Via this widespread access to peripherals, tablets, and smartphones, the world has grown even more connected – allowing people all over the world to exchange and access information and culture, as well as further link their communities together for increased collaboration on local improvement.
-
Green Energy
Green energy technology has provided access to regular power and energy to nations all over the world. For example, an African company – M-KOPA – launched to provide solar electricity to the African continent to eliminate the use of kerosene, the usage of which was both dangerous and expensive. M-KOPA has plans to expand, and to date they are providing hundreds of thousands of Kenyans with affordable and safe electricity. Projects and companies like this have sprung up all over the world to improve the quality of life for millions of people – especially those living in poverty – and has created jobs for hundreds of thousands of people.
-
Agriculture
The ways in which information technology has impacted agriculture are many and immense. Farmers and agriculturists the world over are utilizing technological platforms of all kinds to manage and effectively sustain their farms – and to share best agricultural practices in order to improve and preserve the environment. For example, Digital Green collaborated with Google and Microsoft to create a specialized platform in which farmers can share their knowledge of agricultural practice with their neighboring communities and those working on their farms in their native tongues. This method has proved not only to be highly effective but significantly less expensive than standard agricultural training – resulting in more food production and better sustainability practices.
-
Drone Delivery
Drones are often thought of purely as weapons of war, and yet this is not the case. Drones are being used now to deliver humanitarian aid to those in need, from medical supplies to food and water. IT workers have developed several platforms for programming flight paths for drones to get supplies to the areas that need it most – and in so doing are saving and improving millions of lives.
No matter the area of specialization, an information technology degree has immense power to change the world for the better – and to preserve and improve billions of lives.
Source: Forbes