Ssummer5

Maria, you make an excellent point that our society's preferred language has changed along with the advancement of technology. Time management is of great concern to most citizens, and the invention of abbreviations and deterioration of "snail mail" has appeased many who are using technology as a means of communication and productivity. I, too, receive text messages when my prescriptions are ready, and it saves me a great deal of time and stress as the reminders renew every month. My bank has also adopted a smart phone app that allows me to deposit a check within seconds at my preferred location. Because of these developments, I find I have more time to spend on meaningful activities, such as schoolwork, fitness, and spending time with friends and family. These are just a few ways that technological advancement allows us to live a richer, more fulfilled life in an efficient manner. SSUTGH1-SS

Cory, I appreciate the fact that you acknowledge the cons of electronic communication as well as the pros, as it has become a very controversial subject. Although communication devices have increased efficiency of healthcare, social rights, businesses, and education, they have left the elder generations concerned. Some believe it is causing a negative effect on children's language development, and others go so far to say it is making younger generations narcisitic and antisocial by replacing human interaction with a touch screen device. My opinion is that as society's needs continue to change, societal norms will continue to change as well. Regardless of the possible negative effects of communication technology, most cannot deny the positive effects that have arisen from unlimited interpersonal avenues. UTGH1-SS

Advanced communication technology has exploded over the past decade, causing lower cost and easier access to millions of buyers. Civilians of all ages and various businesses, including hospitals, have adapted to being able to find information or communicate with someone almost instantaneously – whether it be a coworker, best friend, or complete stranger. Because of this fast paced method of communication, society is becoming more interconnected on many different levels. Markets are expanding, product sales are growing, and special interests are thriving. Education has become more attainable through online classes with reduced cost and flexible hours. Dating websites and mobile apps are becoming more popular and socially accepted. Crime is even being targeted using geographic data processing systems that allow police to track the most troublesome and focus-needed locations in an area over time. Healthcare has been greatly impacted by technology, which has changed the healthcare system by reducing medical errors, time spent between inpatient and outpatient services, and overall cost. One of the most influential and controversial pieces of communication technology is the electronic medical record. By transcribing a patient’s prescribed care and medical history into a computer system, patient information is made available for immediate retrieval. Access to more information reduces faulty decision-making and leads to improved quality of care and patient satisfaction (National Academy of Sciences, 2005). Easy access does not come without a cost. Due to concerns of hacking, many fear their private health information will be compromised. Proponents assert there are safeguards in place, however. Physicians can access data only on their patients, information is encrypted when downloaded, and electronic systems track each time a user looks at a patient’s records. As electronic medical records become more widely used, many are easing privacy concerns in hopes of achieving an eventually safer healthcare experience for their loved ones (Walker, 2010). UTGH1-SS References National Academy of Sciences. (2005). Information and Communication Systems: The Backbone of the Health Care Delivery System. Building a Better Healthcare Delivery System: A New Engineering/Healthcare Partnership, 4. Retrieved from Information and Communications Systems: The Backbone of the Health Care Delivery System - Building a Better Delivery System - NCBI Bookshelf Walker, Andrea. (2010). Spread of electronic records raises privacy concerns. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved from http://phys.org/news/2010-11-electronic-medical-privacy.html