1. Introduction
Information Technology (IT) is one of the major subject in the whole world.It is necessary
to establish that the information technology (IT) is defined as "the tools
and methods used to collect, store, manipulate and distribute information. The
information technology is usually associated with computers and related
technologies applied to decision making (Bologna
and Walsh, 1997: 1).
Information
technology (IT) is changing the traditional way of doing things, people who
work in government, private companies, that direct personal or working as a
professional in any field of IT used daily by using Internet, credit
cards, electronic payment of payroll, among other functions, is why the role of
IT in business processes such as manufacturing and sales have expanded greatly.
The
first generation of computers was designed to keep records and monitor the
operating performance of the company, but the information was not timely
because the analysis obtained on a given day actually described what had
happened a week earlier. Current
advances make it possible to capture and use information in the moment that is
generated, ie have online processes. This
has not only changed the way of doing the job and the workplace but also has
had a big impact on the way in which firms compete (Alter, 1999).
Efficiently
using information technology can gain a competitive advantage, but must be
found to maintain accurate procedures such advantages as a constant and
available alternative courses of action and resources to suit the needs of the
moment, as the benefits are not always are
permanent. The
information system has to be modified and updated regularly if it is to receive
continuous competitive advantage. The
creative use of information technology can provide managers a new tool to
differentiate their human resources, products and / or services from its
competitors (Alter, 1999). This
type of competitive prominence may bring another set of strategies, such as a
flexible and standards in time, you can produce a wider variety of products at
a lower price and in less time than the competition.
The
information technologies are a tool increasingly
important
in business, but the implementation of a system
enterprise
information does not guarantee that it gets results so
immediate or long term.
In
implementing an information system involves many factors
being one
of the main human factors. It
is foreseeable that in a situation of change staff is reluctant to adopt new
procedures or develop them fully and in accordance with the guidelines
established. From
the above it is necessary to take on strategic planning
account
the present and future needs of the company. As
one
preliminary
investigation and feasibility study of the project we want.
2. The development of
information technology.
The
Information Technology have been conceptualized as the integration and
convergence of computing microelectronics, telecommunications and technology
for data processing, its main components are: the human factor, the contents of
the information, equipment, physical infrastructure The
software and mechanisms of electronic information exchange, policy elements and
regulations and financial resources.
Does
the information between computers, integrated services digital networks,
satellite transmission and trans-border data flow a global problem of humanity
and a serious political issue of unpredictable social and economic
consciousness?.
If
we analyze these components we realize we are the main protagonists of software
development in a society both for development and for its application, and is
recognized as the information technology are the core of a multidimensional
transformation experienced by the economy and
society, hence the importance of the study and mastery of the influences that
such a transformation requires the human being as a social being, as it tends
to change not only their habits and behavior patterns, but even their thinking .
The key factors are:
Weapons
of microelectronics which have put enormous advance in computing power and
capacity of computers.
Advances
in telecommunications have caused the explosion in the use of networks of local
and global scope.
The
accelerated development of programs and applications that are generalized
moving closer to the "general public" through communication
interfaces easy, pleasant with the use of multimedia techniques.
These
factors make each day will reduce costs and therefore expand the use of these
means in other sectors, not only in the military academy or industry, but in
business, health, education, leisure and own
homes.
It
is considered that in this sector the largest investments are concentrated
globally and to current sociological theories exist, with idealistic approach,
which considered as the miraculous element, catalyst to the solution of social
economic problems.
Importantly
NICT today act as an important engine of growth because their economic
advantages in terms of value added, productivity and employment, add other
related interconnectivity bidirectional character, allowing the transmission
and spread of benefits and experiences between different regions and environments.
This
new technological revolution not only ignores the barriers of time and space as
their services are 24 hours in every corner of the planet, but also modify the
solutions and this inter citizens with different institutions.
Access
to large knowledge bases in universities and libraries, distance learning,
collaboration between research disinterested or use of telemedicine are
examples of the infinite universe of possibilities that can provide these
technologies and ennoble the human condition today.
It
is contradictory because currently, many service providers have satellite
channels covered their business as lucrative as digital television, however,
makes no such infrastructure available to cut social services even when a small
exploitation of these technologies could save lives.
Examples:
Renting
a fully bidirectional channel costs around 2000 USD per month, such
infrastructure could be implemented with multiple applications of telemedicine
that would save lives in poor communities, geographically remote.
The
technology allows communication satellite telephone from the most isolated
places with commercial rates ranging from $ 3 to $ 1 per minute serving this
infrastructure for mobile, fax and data, how many lives could have been saved
in Central America in the past produced natural disaster Hurricane
Mach if these technologies had been used?.
3. Contrasts of
computerization of society.
So
far in the first part of this paper discussed an idyllic picture of the effect
of pure source technologies and solutions to additional problems. History
has proven itself as the development of technology and its diffusion are
usually a double-edged sword, which are associated harmful side effects,
gravity and constant growing concern for men as well.
There
is now a ruthless struggle carried out by large companies control the market of
content and digital television, this has caused a wave of mergers and
acquisitions and the consequent emergence of a gigantic technological influence
on so society
and the governments and threatening to become manipulators of consciousness of
the individual.
While
the domain "Cyberspace" is becoming a new habitat for harmful actions
and evils of all kinds. Scourges
such as drug trafficking, child prostitution, neo-fascist and terrorist propaganda,
thefts, the constant attacks of the so-called "hackers" and evasion
of law, constitute "the dark side".
Side
effects are also the acculturation and loss of identity, ruthless propaganda
increasingly brilliant, refined and its damaging consequences of depression,
alienation and self-centeredness.
Large
companies have called the domain of information content on the network. This
content, carriers of ideas, policies and lifestyles from the exploiting
countries impose their lifestyle in a very refined and "a
personalized" internalized by the user.
More
than a century raised Engels, "we should not boast of all our victories
over nature (.....) if it is true that the first consequences of this victory
are planned secondary consequences may appear very different, totally unexpected
that often cancel the first. "
The
beneficial effect of science and technology determine what, in essence, the men
who control their development and use, so that to realize the progress and
welfare that they can offer, it first requires a social organization capable
of subordinating the result of human activity on the vital interests of society
as a whole, not to a group of hungry for profit and power.
Today this
contrast is reflected in:
62%
of the telephone lines installed worldwide are concentrated only in the 23
richest countries they represent less than 15% of the world population.
60%
of the total population of developing countries live in rural areas, however,
over 80% of their few telephone lines are located in urban areas.
Global
distribution of new types of networks and services with the following behavior
in developed or dominant: 84% of mobile phone subscribers, 91% of all fax
machines, 92% of internet servers across the continent Africa,
fewer cell phones in Thailand, in the world there are 1466 million households,
only a third of them, 500 million have telephone services, representing 34% of
all households in the world, the Union itself Telecommunications
International acknowledges that currently half of humanity is over two hours
away from a phone, 20% of the telephone lines of the world and 90% of mobile
phone subscribers are in the 24 countries industrial
(16% of world population), 90% of satellite channels for communication are
North-North, and telephone costs from south to north 5 to 10 times more than
the reverse, only 2% Latin
Americans have Internet access in the U.S. itself while 75% of residents have
access to the network, another 21% is functionally illiterate.
Again
how the presence of the new Industrial Revolution (information age), has become
legendary multi picador menthe gulf between exploiters and exploited, between
rich and poor.
According
to Enrique Gonzalez - Monet, outstanding journalist dedicated to the
development of communications and UNESCO official who has reviewed extensive
literature on the subject suggests that psychologists and economists third
world have begun to investigate the socioeconomic consequences of new
communication technologies, although
this phenomenon began to manifest in the 70s.
UN
statistics pose, UNESCO and ITU that underdeveloped countries just have: 2% of
the satellites, 3% of email, 5% of computers, 5% of TV stations, 6% of
telephone lines, None
of the databases or 10,000 integrated digital networks that operate globally.
That
is why in the IV Meeting of Ministers of Culture of Latin America and the
Caribbean (Cuba, 1991) approved in accordance 56 considered a cultural priority
diagnosis and evaluation of the effect of the new audiovisual technologies - in
particular, the video ,
cable distribution and DTH satellite - has on the popular heritage and national
identity in each of our countries.
A
perspective view, even at the risk of being seen as a utopia, indicates no
alternative but to take action and integrated policies in the fields of
communication, education and culture, as a way to ensure the development,
identity and independence.
How
to achieve this goal is the challenge we have to take the third world
societies? How to
deal with new technologies? What
policy assumed for, at least, the inclusion in the current globalization of
information?.
The
first challenge in Latin America to take the
modernization processes are the marketing strategies of transnational
corporations and technology transfer, but the development of coherent public
policies that value telecommunications and economic development factor.
These
policies should not only stimulate domestic and regional, but also take into
account the political, cultural and education to preserve the identity and
sovereignty.
In
these regions, new technologies often have serious contradictions: entered the
continent about twenty years ago, associated with transnational banks and
airlines, and not as an infrastructural transformation in industrial production
and services.
The
modernization of electronic networks also served for over eighty billion
dollars flowed in less than a week from Mexico
to North America in 1982, when he ordered the
release of the dollar, thus generating a sharp drop in the purchasing power of
the currency national.
Does
Computerization eliminates or sharpens the gap between developed and
underdeveloped countries?.
The
consequences of the "computerization of society" manifest for more
than a decade in the endemic and growing structural unemployment in
industrialized countries, global deployment of large corporations, in the
unequal trade, the acceleration of financial transactions and stock,
the sharp fluctuation of bank interest rates, etc. In
fact all these technological changes becomes one of the aggravating elements of
unplayable debt burdening developing countries.
The
computer will not eliminate social inequalities, class struggles or ideological
conflicts. By
contrast, because of its economic impact in countries with market structure
accentuate disparities, and promote fighting force changes and radical
alternatives.
Advances
in automated telecommunications, microelectronics technologies and as a result
of these, computer-applicable to any type of logical-sequence or make obsolete
the traditional systems, acquired skills erode or eliminate functions and
synthesized. It
is in this sense that states and governments are obliged to consider a review
of their development strategies, including the reorganization of their
educational systems and reassessment of its goals and objectives from primary
to postgraduate level.
What
policy assumed for, at least, the inclusion in the current globalization of
information?.
An
answer to this question may be the strategy followed by our country to achieve:
4. Computerization of Cuban
society.
A
national science policy consists of a doctrine, is a set of principles and
objectives. In
analyzing how Cuba could manifest in the policy, it is necessary to take into
account the issues raised by Marx in the preface to A Contribution to the
Critique of Political Economy: "mankind always sets itself only such tasks
as it can reach, then, well looks the things,
we always see that these goals can only emerge when they occur or at least are
being developed, the material conditions for its realization. " As
such, the objectives of science policy in Cuba, are geared to support the
basic objectives of economic and social development of the country.
When
one studies the development of science and technology in Cuba faces the
deployment process since 1959, one of the questions that immediately note, and
you wonder, is the clear perception that, at an early stage, top management had
the
revolution of the role of science and technology in economic development, the
early recognition of taking prompt measures to promote what we call scientific
and technological progress.
As
a preliminary step, essential to the scientific and technical development was
necessary to produce profound changes in educational systems and structures:
make a cultural revolution started with the literacy campaign.
Higher
education was the subject of changes needed to provide educational services
throughout the country and try to provide answers to the national
socio-economic development, this happens in 1962.
In
1962 he created the new Academy of Sciences of Cuba.
In
late 1962 the then Ministry of Industry, the ministry said holder Ernesto Chef
Guevara stated: "In this first phase we focus on four lines of
development: metallurgy, shipbuilding, electronics and chemistry (... )
", and at this stage with their vision created a group that would
investigate on advances in computing in the world, emerging from Digital
Research Centre, which was a dependency of CENIC, which subsequently created
the famous computers assembled in Cuba CID 201-A and 300 CID used in data
centers of the provinces and Universities with degrees related to this page.
In
Cuba, the tasks of scientific and technological progress, were undertaken in
the most comprehensive possible, not only creating research institutions, but
also developing activities such as scientific, standardization and quality
control, scientific organization of labor, patents
and licenses, and the projection industry, including tasks related to
technology transfer and assimilation.
Main
results achieved in our country.
Creating
a scientific and technical infrastructure that allows to already have a set of
research centers that develop internationally recognized results.
Strengthening
the network of Centers of Higher Education and the impetus given to research on
them.
Creation
of the Ministry of Informatics and Communications.
Health
system, broad-based technique, considerable integrity and unrestricted access
to the entire population, which is one of the clearest expressions of the links
between scientific and social progress in Cuba.
Achieving
rapid response capability of the science and technique.
Establishment
of research centers in the field of social sciences and dissemination of national
culture and historical clarification of the issues, economic, political and
philosophical society.
Using
new technologies and knowledge become fundamental features of scientific and
technological revolution.
Automation
is, in general, the most important feature of the current transformation of the
art and our country but we have a long way to go, no doubt that future tasks
will become more complex where it will be necessary pay
special attention to the social consequences of scientific and technological
progress in particular the use of ICT to ensure maximum harmony between
technical progress and social.
Nowadays
computational techniques in our country include:
Introduction massive
computer equipment.
Computer
networking in important economic bodies.
Research
and development of new technical means of computer and organizing the
production of the technology with a view to meeting social needs and create
exportable funds.
Securing
the infrastructure required for the introduction of these techniques.
The
computer of late has become part of the technological substrate of
globalization in which everyone is involved, which implies the need to prepare
new generations for assimilation and utilization of this technology.
There
are countless benefits provided by the computer. Speed
in obtaining results, storage of large volumes of information, adequate
facilities for information and / or updated by scientists, researchers,
professionals, students, thereby working hard in our country to go progressively
incorporating these elements to serve the entire population.
Academic
research has been greatly aided by the Internet, mainly in universities and the
creation or use of computer models may be a novel and very attractive tool to
arouse students' cognitive interest.
The
Cuban educational project has prioritized the teaching of computing as a
technology for socio-economic progress in this regard, including teaching in
our educational system is a reality since the 80s.
The
first objective is aimed at preparing the next generation in computer basics,
using their potential to contribute to a correct scientific world, to proper
organization of knowledge, the subject-subject relationship, the formation of
values and the
interdisciplinary relationship.
This
approach has been taken by the Government to other levels of education,
counting with a development plan over 14 thousand computers with which will
benefit 815 000 students, all show a policy priority on the need to prepare the
man and women for the
future development of our society.
The
Higher Education Ministry has also set up a strategy which includes accurate
changes in computer technology making an investment every year which has
allowed universities count on high-tech laboratories, however, by the growing
number of students entering our universities
is still insufficient, performing investments every year in this field.
Another
aspect to consider is the creation in January 2000 of the Ministry of
Informatics and Communications (MIC) with the aim of creating an organism that
these technologies: Informatics and Communications, precisely because
technological convergence they
have and the impact of the integration of the two in most of all human activity
and as a very important element in the process of computerization of Cuban
society and its impact on all sectors of the economy and society. One
of the priorities is to revitalize and update MIC under this new strategy
optical computerization of Cuban society and adopted in 1997 as a branch functions:
development of the software industry, e-commerce, the management of computer
networks, computer
audit, the broadcasting, telecommunications and postal services.
This
ministry also has four main tasks:
Catalyze
the use of information technology across the country.
Ensure
regulations that allow networks of computers and communications operate
properly.
Representing
the Cuban state the requirement of industries in this sector is the country.
Boost
exports of IT services in which Cuba
has significant strength in medical informatics, computer for remote teaching
and teaching in general (which probably arises only products made in Spanish,
suitable for young children have been developed in Cuba multimedia platform).
In
short its purpose is to prepare all of society and promote the regulatory
framework to rapidly assimilate these new technologies in all branches and
spheres of the country.
The
blockade has meant a delay rather than a limitation on the purchase of
technology, which has changed and today are much more pervasive technologies.
INTERNET
connection could be in Cuba
for only eight years, not because we did not want but because the U.S. State
Department prevented providers interconnect with Cuba, which was finally achieved in
the year 95.
Another
strategy that has made the country's El Jovian Club founded in 1987 and its
definition is social Installation has a number of computers and 3-5 technicians
who provide computer courses and develop research and applications in the
environment Community. That
is, is a social system, social service, which has the mission to bring children
and youth culture in the computer field for free. The
country has 300 facilities in all municipalities with more than one header in
some municipalities, including 21 and 3 are Mountain Computer Palacios equipped
with the most modern equipment, have more than 900 technicians who are
dedicated to the work computer
instruction.
5. Computerization of society
Pinar del Rio.
The
province of Pinar
del Rio as well
as the rest of the country has its own strategy for the computerization of
society strategy in which are immersed the vast majority of organizations in
the province.
The
Provincial Board has within its Production Units and Services Strategic No.5 Normalization
and Communication in a document that contains the Strengths, Weaknesses,
Threats and Opportunities that the province has to face the challenge of
computerization of society taking
a strategic objective to 2003 "100% of the entities connected to the intranet
territory provincial, contributing and enjoying the Value Added Services
implemented, existing infrastructure and culture program enabling Citizen
enjoyment of the services supported in
the network, with increase in telecommunications services "
In
short there in the government of the province constant concern that
computerization in the broadest sense, to reach all members of their community
and can enjoy its benefits, creating technical structure material with the
collaboration of all agencies
in the province.
Also
as part of this policy in the province
of Pinar del Rio
has 18 Youth Club including Computer
Palace whose function
overcoming all people want to know about it.
Created
a Computer Polytechnic and was approved by the MES opening race of Computer
Engineering at UPR
that
must be covering the demand for specialists in the territory.
6. Computerization of
the University of Pinar del
Rio.
There
is a very favorable at the UPR regarding computerization process with the
following results:
Email
service departing every day wide international relations of the University with
the rest of the world primarily with other universities.
Internet
Services.
A
reliable INTRANET which publishes critical information from the University
relating to departments and subjects.
The
largest network in the province.
A
cloister prepared in NICT.
Management
Systems has implemented in almost all areas of work.
Computers
in all departments, centers and study groups or research.
The
Department of Computing aware of what computing today and the leading role it
has to play in Pinar del Rio computerization of society and the university has
its own strategy within which are:
Determination
of the content to be taught in the course of different races computing the UPR,
thus ensuring the formation of a highly trained professional in the use and
application of new information technologies in achieving high levels of
efficiency in
economic entities where envelop.
Good
development and performance of the Race Computer.
Provide
Computer subjects in all master and diploma of the UPR.
Establish
a policy aimed at overcoming the various professors and researchers, and their
application in developing interdisciplinary subjects.
Postgraduate
courses aimed at professionals and leaders of the territory of the productive
sphere closer to the use of these techniques depends on the efficiency of their
organizations, to achieve better efficiency index their jobs thus contributing
to the computerization society.
Offer
diploma, masters and PhD Computer to ensure sustained development of
information technology in the territory.
Design and offer
distance courses in the subject.
7. Conclusions.
The
rational use of computer brings to man a higher quality standard of living by
facilitating their work to devote more time to creative tasks with protection
for your life by using computer simulations.
Advances
in communications computing allows full access to information and communication
with everyone.
Whether
to use computing and communications based on full welfare of humanity is
undisputed that brings benefit to man, but if there are still 800 million
adults remain illiterate, 130 million school children growing up without access
to basic education ,
800 million people suffer from chronic hunger and lack of access to health
services, the Third World debt amounted to 500 billion dollars in 1981 to 2.1
trillion in 2000.
How
to talk about advanced techniques where you have to make significant capital investments
if this situation exists in the world?.
The
gross national product (GNP) per capita in developed countries in 8000 was $ 20
in 1978, 20 years later in 1998 amounted to 25 thousand 870 dollars.
