The Internet has dramatically changed our lives in how we communicate, what we wear, and general behaviour. The change is very drastic, and more are expected in the future. Most of these changes are linked to the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, wearable devices and social media, which form part of our lives (Sisinni et al., 2018). Since technology takes control over manual ways of doing things, the human race prefers communication, wears, transport means, and security measures that save time. There is a need to fully adopt the use of the Internet, which brings all elements to enhance the effective exchange of data, information, and other resources. Furthermore, the use of the Internet forms the baseline of revolution in all spheres of life from agriculture, through industrialization to connected revolution.
The basis of adopting the use of Internet in our daily duties comes with more merits and demerits. With more focus on the merits of the Internet in our lives, like the development of timeserving devices like computers, robots, wearable devices, and social platforms, it enhances communication, security, and lifesaving (Sisinni et al., 2018). Besides developing all forms of devices, Internet and technology have enabled other operations like education, healthcare provision, business management, security with the increased share of information across the boundaries.
Moreover, the use of the Internet of things in managing big data to develop wearable devices through technology has enhanced the effective use of social media (Sisinni et al., 2018). With evidence on the development of new devices and technology, it is clear that the Internet of things forms the baseline of connection, which ensures that applying technological knowledge in various sectors achieves revolution presently and in the future.
The changes we experience in our lives are resulting from the application of Internet of things (IoT) which Kevin Ashton coined in 199 in which he referred to physical devices within the globe that are linked to Internet, ensuring data collection, processing and share of information among users(Sisinni et al.,2018). Some examples of IoT are the innovation of super-cheap computer and wireless networks, which enhanced communication and, thus, the revolution in industries. IoT makes the whole world smarter and responsive through the merging of the physical world and the digital world. Also, the development of lightbulbs, children toys, driverless automotive, robots, smartwatches and many more prove the application of IoT in the universe since these devices can communicate without human aid but through the internet connection.
Internet of things (IoT) was first coined when the idea of adding sensors and other intelligence to computers between the 1980s and 1990s to enhance the operation of devices like vending machines (Sisinni et al., 2018). Adopting FRID tags with low power chips that could wirelessly communicate provides solutions to many challenges and increased availability of broadband Internet, cellular and wireless networking (Sisinni et al., 2018). IoT is applied in business, communication, and manufacturing sectors where machines are interconnected and homes rely on smart devices that are internet-connected and enable sufficient data transfer. By 2025 IoT stands at 40 billion internet-connected devices, with industrial and automotive sectors representing 6 billion internet connections.
Some of IoT’s notifiable benefits are easy and cheap access to data for effective communication and management, creation of more supply chains that will increase the accuracy of data-information sharing (Sisinni et al., 2018). The use of IoT is grouped as industry-specific, such as sensors in devices used in healthcare, security, education and more on real-time and IoT devices based which serves general industrial use like security cameras in homes and hotels.
Big data means a collection of data that is vast in size and rapidly growing with time. Big data was coined by John Mashey in the 1990s and later popularized (Lee, 2017). As the name suggests, big data is large and complex, making it difficult to be processed and stored by any traditional data system. Some examples of big data are one terabyte trade data generated by New York Stock Exchange daily; Facebook asocial media site receives 500 plus terabytes of new data daily in the form of photos, videos and messaging etc.
Also, big data could be grouped into three types; structured, unstructured and semi-structured data serving different purposes. Structured data has the quality of storage, accessibility, and processing to generate information; for example, employees’ database provides information about management (Lee, 2017). Secondly, unstructured data is that which lacks form and structure and challenging to process besides hugeness; for example, google search data with text files, images etc. which present raw facts. Lastly, semi-structured data contain both structured and unstructured data set. An example is data in the XML file.
Big data bears various characteristics like volume, variety, velocity and variability, which provide its meaning and usage. Where volume is the size of the data that determines the data’s value, so big data volume is vast, thus serve multiple uses. The second is variety meaning the nature and heterogeneous sources of data. For example, data form could be emailed, pdfs, audio, photos, that determine the storage types (Lee, 2017). The third is velocity meaning the speed that data is generated to meet the demands of the use. Variability of data that is characteristics of big data is the inconsistency within the time that influences the management of the data.
Big data serves various benefits when processed, like in business to make decisions of management, social media like Facebook and Twitter, which use big data, and operational efficiency where big data technologies serve to organize data to optimize operations.
Changes that come with Internet and technology lead to the development of wearable devices attached to clothing, implanted in the body or embedded on skins (Lee, 2017). The devices can send and receive data through the Internet, and they are the application of IoT, which is facilitating growth in mobile networks. Some of these devices are smartwatches, Bluetooth, microchips, sensors that facilitate communication (Lee, 2017). Like embedded chips using radio frequency to identify or track lost device pets, as seen in the U.S military, they track their troops globally.
Similarly, social media, which is a computer-based technology that enhances sharing of ideas, data and information overbuilt virtual network among the community, plays a vital part in the changes we experience in our lives today (Anderson & Jiang, 2018). The system is internet-based and enables users to have access to quick information on personals, documentaries, films etc. This is over computer, tablets or smartphones with web-internet based applications. Social media enable interaction between people. It has the power to connect and share information with anyone on the globe (Anderson & Jiang, 2018). With approximately 3 billion worldwide population use social media to communicate where 90 per cent of users are persons within the age range of 18 to 29 years well educated. Social media existed in various forms as social gaming, blogging, and video sharing, as applied in businesses like e-commerce sites.
Opportunities for Adopting Technologies in Project Management
The first opportunity of adopting new technology to strategy is during a time of aligning technology with strategy. Specific technology is often implemented in project management because it meets the business-specific needs required for achieving strategic goals (Alvarez-Dionisi, 2017). Considerably, aligning technology with strategy aids in the effective achievement of the strategic goals and improves the business’s performance. Finding appropriate technology that backs improved performance is essential for a project’s success (Alvarez-Dionisi, 2017). Therefore, project managers should always strive to make input on increasing the use of efficient technologies. And since project success highly depends on its goals and strategies, project leaders should grab this opportunity to incorporate appropriate technology that can effectively perform towards the achievement of the project’s objectives.
Secondly, an opportunity for adopting project management arises during communication and engagement. Communication is an essential aspect of project management. Project management requires constant and consistent communication with all the stakeholders involved in the project. Besides, identifying all stakeholders involved is also part of the communication process (Alvarez-Dionisi, 2017). Therefore, there is a dire need to incorporate appropriate technology in the communication process. Currently, the communication process in project management involves documentation of every meeting and essential conversation. Hence, when suitable technology is used, communication easily achieves its objective.
Moreover, how the organization shall alleviate any possible negative impact on the project’s stakeholders has to be effectively communicated (Alvarez-Dionisi, 2017). How the current technology will affect them or the impacts the current technology will have on all stakeholders must be recognized and communicated effectively (Alvarez-Dionisi, 2017). All communication types, vertical communication, horizontal communication et cetera, requires technology to become more effective and efficient for improving an organizational task. Therefore, technology is an integral part of communication. Project managers should find an opportunity to fit apt technology shall drive healthy engagement among employees and other stakeholders of the project.
Another opportunity for adopting technology in projects management is during current system analysis involving big data and the internet. Technological advancement or improvement in technology carries with itself a significant compatibility risk. This risk occurs when a new technological system turns out to be incompatible with the systems of technology available at the project. Another situation is when the integration of new technology requires additional build-up time than earlier anticipated (Conforto & Amaral, 2016). To further prevent technological or system integration issues, all the current technological systems will have to be reviewed (Conforto & Amaral, 2016).Befittingly, this offers a perfect opportunity to adopt better technologies in project management. Adopting better technologies and performing work upfront prevents the technological systems’ redundancies, reduces operational costs, and reduces time wastage caused by technological delays and failures.
Subsequently, developing a training approach is another excellent opportunity for adopting technologies in project management (Conforto & Amaral, 2016). Sufficient and customized training of the support staff on the current technology should be taken into consideration in every project management process (Conforto & Amaral, 2016). Training the workforce on current and more advanced technologies offers a great opportunity of incorporating those new technologies into the project.
Practically, it provides a good background and a suitable environment for such technologies to thrive. Besides, the success of new technologies in most cases is dependent on their users, who are the employees involved in the project (Conforto & Amaral, 2016). Offering, sufficient and customized training to employees also gives the workforce adequate knowledge on the current trends of project management. Considerably, a project’s success heavily relies on the effectiveness of its workforce and the current technological trends. Apart from ensuring the project’s success, the training workforce of the project offers an excellent opportunity to incorporate current technologies in project management.
Lastly, deployment of the workforce in project management offers a suitable opportunity to adopt a more efficient technological advancement that can perform the task with a more significant accuracy level over a short period (Conforto & Amaral, 2016). Deployment of the workers is often followed by conversion. Conversion involves adopting new technologies that replace the deployed workforce. Usually, an organization integrates a change movement process that aids in efficient deployment and replacement with the current technological advancement (Conforto & Amaral, 2016). Project managers should always strive to maximize the adoption of the current technological trends by minimizing resistance to the technological changes put in place. For this to occur effectively, the deployment process and plan must be integrated with a change management plan for the project.
The Negative Impact of Technologies on Health Privacy and Security
Health
Social media and mobile phones have, to a great extent, lead to psychological and physical issues of eye problems (Materia, et al., 2020). Social media have negatively impacted the social lives of people, especially youths. Youths spend a tremendous amount of time on social media, leaving them barely with enough time to socialize and focus on essential tasks that can build their lives (Materia, et al., 2020). Besides, social media is the root cause of severe health conditions such as depression.
Privacy
Technology is continually being viewed in the perspective of a threat to privacy rather than a way that leads to effective performance (Cavoukian, 2017). Companies have been found in the spotlight, having been involved in the personal information trade by using individuals’ personal information as a commodity. Another scenario is found in cases where companies offering E-mail services have continuously failed to protect several individuals’ privacy since hackers manage to access them unscrupulously.
Security
Cyber-attacks have adversely affected the use of technology. To a great extent, information or private data is unsafe since there is always an anticipated theft from hackers. Information on E-mails and internet cloud storage has always been considered unsafe (Cavoukian, 2017). Cyber-crimes have been continuously on the rise with increased mobile malware and other forms of viruses. As a result, several billions of dollars have been lost over the internet.
References
Alvarez-Dionisi, L. E. (2017). Envisioning skills for adopting, managing, and implementing big data technology in the 21st century. IJ Information Technology and Computer Science, 9, 1.
Anderson, M., & Jiang, J. (2018). Teens, social media & technology 2018. Pew Research Center, 31(2018), 1673-1689.
Cavoukian, A. (2017). Global privacy and security, by design: Turning the “privacy vs. security” paradigm on its head.
Conforto, E. C., & Amaral, D. C. (2016). Agile project management and stage-gate model—A hybrid framework for technology-based companies. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 40, 1-14.
Lee, I. (2017). Big data: Dimensions, evolution, impacts, and challenges. Business Horizons, 60(3), 293-303.
Materia, F. T., Faasse, K., & Smyth, J. M. (2020). Understanding and preventing health concerns about emerging mobile health technologies. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 8(5), e14375.
Sisinni, E., Saifullah, A., Han, S., Jennehag, U., & Gidlund, M. (2018). Industrial Internet of things: Challenges, opportunities, and directions. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 14(11), 4724-4734.
