Internet usage

Leaving in contemporary world we are so accustomed to be around technology, computers that it might come as surprise that there are people that do not own a computer or have an access to the internet. However, according to figures reported by the US National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nearly a third of the US population doesn’t use the Internet at all, either at work or at home. This figures cover wireless, dial up connections and broadband. Based on a survey of 50,000 people, new Census Bureau data shows that the poor, the elderly and minorities continue to lag behind other groups. About 64 percent of households have an Internet connection, which is more than the 51 per cent that did in 2007. Those who didn’t have access either claimed it wasn’t needed or was too expensive. Others who don’t use internet include: people who have difficulties to adapt to rapid changes in technology and the ones who live in rural areas. At first, I thought that 30% is awfully high number. I did the research and found out that compared to the rest of the world the US is actually leading in number of internet users. It is followed by Oceania / Australia 60%, Europe 52%, Latin America/Caribbean 31%, Middle East 28%, Asia 19% and Africa 7%. This makes the world total 26%. So what do these numbers mean? From the business point of view, internet streamlines a lot of processes; it makes communication a lot easier and quicker, it makes services and products more accessible to the customers/other businesses. On the other hand, we get into security issues, protecting information of the company and its customers. From the personal standpoint, especially when we are talking about the US users, internet became a major part of our lives that we rely on every day. We use it for information, communication, we manage our finances, we shop, and we can even get an education online. We trust it with our most sensitive information. Aren’t we too dependent? What will happen to us if we do not have an access to the internet or it is not longer there? I bet we will have to learn to do many things in traditional ways. Another very important thing that I noticed when I went back to Belarus to visit my family is that we lack interpersonal communication. Only 32% of population in Belarus uses internet. Most of e-services we are accustomed to in the US simply are not offered there. Internet is mostly used for informational purposes. Because of that people are forced to actually visit banks, go to stores, post offices etc. Thus they always meet and talk to new people, the range of people they communicate with is much wider than ours. I am talking about real life encounters, real life conversations, not a number of “friends” that comment on our blogs, follow our twits or visit our facebook accounts. So, is internet great? Of course it is! However, I think we have to remember where we came from, who surrounds us, and learn how to combine the best out of two worlds.