Read the following passage by Sagarmay Deb, $(2014)$ and answer the given question.

POSITIVE IMPACTS OF ICT ON PEOPLE

Access to information: Possibly the greatest effect of ICT on individuals is the huge increase in access to information and services that has accompanied the growth of the Internet. Some of the positive aspects of this increased access are better, and often cheaper, communications, such as VoIP phone and Instant Messaging. In addition, the use of ICT to access information has brought new opportunities for leisure and entertainment, the facility to make contacts and form relationships with people around the world, and the ability to obtain goods and services from a wider range of suppliers.Improved access to education, e$.$g$.$ distance learning and

on$-$line tutorials. There are new ways of learning, e$.$g$.$interactive multi$-$media and virtual reality. There are new job opportunities, e$.$g$.$ flexible and mobile working, virtual offices and jobs in the communications industry. New tools, new opportunities: The second big effect of ICT is that it gives access to new tools that did not previously exist. A lot of these are tied into the access to information mentioned above, but there are many examples of stand$-$alone ICT systems as well:

a$)$ ICT can be used for processes that had previously been out of the reach of most individuals, e$.$g$.$photography, where digital cameras, photo$-$editing software and high quality printers have enabled people to produce results that would have previously required a photographic studio.

b$)$ ICT can be used to help people overcome disabilities e$.$g$.$ screen magnification or screen reading software enabling partially sighted or blind people to work with

ordinary text rather than Braille

NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF ICT ON PEOPLE

Job loss: One of the largest negative effects of ICT can be the loss of a person$$s job. This has both economic consequences, loss of income, and social consequences, loss of status and self$-$esteem. Job losses may occur for several reasons, including: manual operations being replaced by automation e$.$g$.$ robots replacing people on an assembly line. Job export. e$.$g$.$ data processing works being sent to other

countries where operating costs are lower. Multiple workers are being replaced by a smaller number who are able to do the same amount of work e$.$g$.$ a worker on a supermarket checkout can serve more customers per hour if a bar$-$code scanner linked to a computer is used to detect goods instead of the worker having to enter the item and price manually. Reduced personal interaction: Being able to work from

home is usually regarded as being a positive effect of using ICT, but there can be negative aspects as well. Most people need some form of social interaction in their daily lives and if they do not get the chance to meet and talk to other people he

or she may feel isolated and unhappy. Reduced physical activity: A third negative effect of ICT is that user may adopt a more sedentary lifestyle. This can

lead to health problems such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Many countries have workplace regulations to prevent problems such as repetitive strain injury or eyestrain, but lack of physical exercise is rarely addressed as a specific

health hazard

QUESTION:

Identify the positive and negative societal effects of the increased use of information Technology.