Modern digital technology, first introduced in the late 1940s, evolved rapidly transforming almost every facet of life and revolutionised societies during the past two decades. In less than twenty years, the digital revolution has influenced the way people travel, shop, entertain, work, and many other aspects of social behaviour. The vast information and data that can be stored locally or remotely and which can be extracted instantly has made digital technology an important phase in the development of Sri Lankan society and the economy.
According to a survey conducted by the World Economic Forum, the Covid-19 crisis has evidently compelled a change with over 80 percent of employers accelerating their plans to digitise their business to provide more opportunities for remote work. In line with this, digital skills and knowledge are fast becoming compulsory for Sri Lankans as well. According to global digital reports, compared to other nations in the region, Sri Lanka has made praiseworthy headway with approximately 10 million internet users in the country. For a developing country such as ours, 47 percent of the population having digital literacy is laudable.
Social connectivity
Addressing the Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2020 recently, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa not only stressed his pledge to make Sri Lanka a technology savvy society but also laid emphasis on the importance of transforming the society into digital culture. The President, no stranger to information technology with his long-term experience in the USA, reiterated that with the newly established ‘Ministry of Technology’ under his purview, he will create a technology-based culture in the country. Admitting that some government institutions lagged behind in digital technology, the President said he will prioritise the change in the public sector to foster a citizen-centric digital governance.
Enhanced social connectivity is a major advantage for gaining digital knowledge. Technology through social media applications such as, WhatsApp, Viber, Imo, FaceTime, Facebook, and several others has made human connectivity easy and comfortable. Also, there are websites, software, and other media to get connected through devices such as computers, laptops, Tabs, and mobile phones. Personal and official information flow has become incredibly fast, creating a well-connected global community. Digital technology has made international business transactions more effective at an accelerated rate.
Digital media
Since the early days of digital communication, the speed of the internet has increased tremendously with broadband to transfer vast amounts of information across the world. The most useful feature in this context is the transfer of data instantaneously to every corner of the globe. Access to this information through video, audio, and documents in real-time virtually from anywhere in the world has made global businesses thrive. As communication is an important tool for business success, it is necessary for Sri Lankan small and medium sector businesses to switch to digital media promptly.
During the Covid-19 pandemic situation, the world has rapidly turned to a remote working model. Although this model was alien to Sri Lanka, commercial establishments and some of the public institutions could not avoid the ground reality. The increased connectivity option provided more opportunities and made it easier for employees to work from home. Most of the large organisations adjusted to the condition while smaller companies are fast transforming to follow suit realising that it is beneficial in many ways, particularly in cost-saving.
Digital technology is creating advanced machinery, helping industries, agriculture, and other economic drivers to enhance productivity. Advanced machinery provides safety with less human involvement. With advanced technology, household equipment is becoming more user-friendly and utilise less time. Automation is immensely useful in world trade, tourism, healthcare service, and in many other fields.
Technology has mechanised agriculture throughout the world. The government too has focused on mechanisation in keeping with the election manifesto of President Rajapkasa. The use of technology in agriculture allows farmers to grow large amounts of crops without the necessity for much labour. The Government has established many programs to assist the agriculture industry through modern technology.
Digital tools have made travel and transportation more efficient. Road transport has already become automated making motor vehicle users more comfortable. Digital inputs combined with satellite technology have transformed travel through GPS services to pinpoint positions with high accuracy. Real-time information on traffic conditions and alternative routes through GPS saves time for the traveller. Instead of painstakingly inquiring about directions to a location, people can access precise details about a location through GPS technology.
Electronic teaching
Digitalisation has also redefined learning during the past decade and both teachers and students are greatly influenced by electronic teaching methods. Learning opportunities provided by the advancement of the digital medium is one of the most useful and well utilised features in the world at present. Particularly, due to the impact of Covid-19, virtual learning has become popular in Sri Lanka. Experts say that the virtual classroom model has given adequate results although, in Sri Lanka, both teachers and students are not fully accustomed to it as yet.
Many institutions and universities in Sri Lanka offer educational programs of various levels online. These virtual courses that include a degree or higher-level education at lower costs are a boon to the average Sri Lankan student aspiring for higher education. Most of the recognised organisations are affiliated to institutions the world over.
Overall, the positive impact of advanced technology is more than the negatives. The influence of modern digital technology in the day-to-day life of people is immeasurable. It has enhanced the living standards of Sri Lankans. Technology has also impacted, both beneficially as well as harmfully on the fundamental aspects of the cultures of Sri Lankan society such as language, art, mobility, health care, education, and so forth.
Although beneficial, as time progresses, the evils of the digital revolution will also come to light. There are major downsides to digital technology, e.g. the internet is a productive territory for mischief-makers. One of the biggest challenges is that technology can collect and store large amounts of data without consent, whether private, public, or corporate, making people vulnerable to misuse and mishandling. Information in the wrong hands can create chaos for people as well as societies.
Regardless of the type of encryption techniques or security measures available, almost everything stored online can be hacked according to experts. Therefore, the possibility of data breaches can harm individual privacy and confidentiality. However, in Sri Lanka, the Computer Crimes Division of the Sri Lanka Police Department and the National Centre for Cyber Security (CERT/CC) seem to be performing a creditable job in terms of pre-warning and prevention of cybercrimes.
Another negative factor is that digital communication leads to poor relationships. Digital platforms make people communicate and socialise through devices rather than having real-life contact with each other. This can lead to isolation, and cause mental illness. In reality, relationships through social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, or any other tool does not fulfil the need for social interaction and does not develop a true personal bond.
The impact created by technology and digitalisation is deep, positively and negatively. Achieving everything easily can lose the value of achievement. Technological advancement can make lives easy but also it can affect cultural values and personal morals. As discussed, digital technology has made the world much more efficient than it was previously while creating some negative influences as well. Therefore, managing and balancing the effects is the key to derive the best from digitalisation.