The whole world has been experiencing the consequences of economic turmoil, with bank bailouts, government spending cuts and some countries facing the prospect of a double-dip recession. However, while traditional industries and commercial ventures have been taking serious hits through this period of instability, the internet-communication technology that is altering the way we interact and do business is improving in spite of the problems. From 4G wireless internet and free wi-fi hotspots to faster fixed-line connection speeds and fibre-optic cabling, there has never been an better time for people to get online. The implications of this are far reaching and for some commentators it will be the internet that aids the global economy in its return to growth and prosperity.
Part of the reason behind the improvements in internet-communication technology in recent years is that campaigners are beginning to convince governments that having web access is a basic human right and not a privilege available only to those that can afford it. Bodies such as the EU have recently rolled out legislation that will ensure telecoms companies are able to invest in improving the infrastructure that facilitates web connectivity, as well as making broadband available not only in populated areas, but also out in the more rural, remote regions of developed and developing nations.
Part of the reason behind the improvements in internet-communication technology in recent years is that campaigners are beginning to convince governments that having web access is a basic human right and not a privilege available only to those that can afford it. Bodies such as the EU have recently rolled out legislation that will ensure telecoms companies are able to invest in improving the infrastructure that facilitates web connectivity, as well as making broadband available not only in populated areas, but also out in the more rural, remote regions of developed and developing nations.
Shifts in the type of consumer electronics that are most popular and widely available have also helped to improve internet-communication technology. Smart phones and tablet computers are becoming the first port of call for anyone who wants to surf the web, download files or carry out e-commerce transactions. This means that mobile network providers have to adapt to considerably heavier data use, while the businesses which run websites must optimise their pages for viewing on a mobile device rather than on a traditional desktop or laptop computer.
While this optimisation of sites was certainly necessary in the early days, the hardware capabilities of smart phones and tablets have become so significant that it is easy for users to access a fully featured page without missing out on any element. Dual-core and now quad-core processors are becoming the standard thanks to smart phones such as the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and tablets such as the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime. Support for multimedia elements embedded in Flash or HTML5 formats is also included on a growing number of internet-communication technology devices.
Of course the rise of e-commerce and m-commerce is having a negative impact on traditional high-street retailers, with the proportion of the population who visit bricks-and-mortar outlets to do their shopping decreasing. It seems that technological improvements and a greater focus on connectivity could actually be the saviour of such outlets. Consumers are now used to researching products and prices on their smart phones while they are out and about, so retailers are keen to give them the tools to achieve this while keeping them in-store as they surf. In addition, the emergence of NFC (Near Field Communication) chips in smart phones, that allow users to turn their handset into a digital wallet to make payments at real-world shops, is making sure that there is a multichannel approach to retail available to all consumers.
While there can be no certainty about the economic future of the globe, it seems unlikely that wireless internet communication technology will not play a major role in promoting growth and driving innovation.
10:44 AM | 0
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