How Does Electronic Access to Information Influence our Daily Lives?

About

Over the past few decades technology has slowly become a part of our everyday lives. Now that we have access to the internet where ever we go using our portable devices, the simple tasks we are faced with every day have become much easier to complete using the online world. Specifically, some examples would be banking, as there is no need to go to the bank anymore with each branch now using their own websites. Another example would be shopping, as it's now possible to make purchases from a retailer's website and have it shipped directly to your home. Finally, electronic access to instant messaging influences our daily lives in a major way. Sending hand-written letters has become obsolete in our society, as sending digital messages is much more convienient. (1)

Online Banking

With electronic access to all our banking information, daily necessities such as paying bills and depositing/withdrawing money can be completed electronically. In terms of paying bills, the amount which people have on a daily and monthly basis is too large to keep track of. Between utilities, car loans, various types of insurance, and T.V. channel subscriptions, the bill paying process could take up the majority of ones day. However, with banks now opening online platforms for their clients to complete these necessities electronically, bills can now be paid automatically. You can link your bills directly to your account and have them paid on time. Subscriptions can also be canceled electronically at any point if you want to stop using a specific service. Online banking also influences our daily lives in the sense that we can deposit and withdraw money without going to the bank in person. One way you can deposit money into your accounts is through mobile check deposits. Using an app, you can take photos of your cheques and have them deposited into your account electronically. These features have a huge influence on our daily lives, as you no longer have to visit the bank in person. (2)

Online Shopping

Electronic access to retail stores and shops has influenced our daily lives as well. With most businesses now using an E-Commerce website, customers can continue to make their everyday purchases without visiting a store. Some of the benefits to online shopping would include convenience as well as comparison of products. In terms of convenience, online shopping allows you to make purchases where ever, and when ever you need too, with websites open 24/7.(3) Also, purchases can be conveniently delivered directly to your door. Another benefit to online shopping would be the ability to easily compare products. Specific prices, brands, and styles can be used to categorize and compare similar products. Online shops also give you the ability to share information and reviews with other shoppers who have first hand experience with certain products or retailers. As a result of the overall convenience to purchasing products directly from your home, compulsive shopping has become an issue for many shoppers. People enjoy the feeling of clicking products they like, and having it charged to their credit card automatically. Because of this, shoppers end up spending huge amounts of money online and end up with larger amounts of debt. (4) 




Instant Messaging

Electronic access to instant messaging has also influenced our daily lives in both a positive and negative way. Some of the positive effects would be how it influences communication between people who are in different locations. Some of the negative 
effects would include less face to face interaction between people. In terms of the positives, instant messaging influences us to communicate with others. When comparing the technology that exists today and in the past, communicating with others can be
done quicker and more conveniently using text or email. Because of this, people are able to send small messages to each other in seconds, without having to hand write a letter. In terms of how instant messaging negatively influences us, some would say 
it disrupts people from having face to face interactions. The idea of living in the moment is slowly disappearing in our society, as we are devaluing our surroundings. One could argue that instant messaging contributes to this, as the quick and convenient 
aspects are luring people into using devices to communicate more than their mouths.
(5)




Questions:



1. What is a common habit that online shoppers develop due to the overall convienience of shopping from home?     

2. How can instant messaging negatively influence our interactions with others?

3. What is an example of a bank deposit that can be completed using your mobile device?   

Answers: answers.html

  


Bibliography:

1. Gebski, T. (2017, November 16). How Does Technology Impact Your Daily Life? 
Retrieved February 02, 2018, from https://www.motus.com/how-does-technology-impact-your-daily-life

2. Lee, J. (2015, January 06). The 7 Best Online Banking Features For Simplifying Your Life. 
Retrieved February 02, 2018, from https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-best-online-banking-features-simplifying-life

3. Jain, A. S. (2017, June 13). Top 10 Benefits of Online Shopping That Make Your Life Easy. 
Retrieved February 02, 2018, from https://toughnickel.com/frugal-living/Online-shopping-sites-benefits

4. Miller, G. (2015, June 30). 8 Reasons Consumers Like To Shop Online - Cater To Them For Online Retail Success.
Retrieved February 06, 2018, from http://upstreamcommerce.com/blog/2012/02/14/8-reasons-consumer-likes-shop-online

5. Glasser, M. (2015, February 19). How Cell Phones Are Killing Face-to-Face Interactions. 
Retrieved February 06, 2018, from http://mediashift.org/2007/10/how-cell-phones-are-killing-face-to-face-interactions295/