The World Wide Web and its Impact
The World Wide Web, or WWW, is an information space on the internet that permits the interconnection of document and other web resources via hypertext connections, allowing people to easily search for information. Through internet connectivity, the World Wide Web is altering the way people work, share information, socialize, and conduct business in America and around the world. Unfortunately, certain parties do not recognize the internet's significance to global economic transformation. In the past five years, this device has contributed to about 21 percent of the GDP in mature economies, such as the USA, UK, and others (Hamilton & Webster, 2015). A lot of people are on Facebook where firms and natural persons update their content and share it to millions of followers. Some of the benefits of the WWW include: enabling payments, online employments, and advertising among others. Governments, businesspersons, and policymakers have embraced the use of internet to connect to various bodies, organizations, institutions, and individuals on the web. This has helped in building a competitive environment that is highly beneficial to users and allows innovators to thrive. The United States has invested in quality web use in its sectors of economy, such as education, health, and commerce that have facilitated its growth.
The World Wide Web and the Education Sector
The World Wide Web has improved communication standards in the United States and facilitated development of the education sector. Education is very vital for economic growth of the United States since it produces academic and research experts that work in various sectors. It is mostly used in supporting teaching and learning though the use of computer and some hand-held devices that help in engaging learners as Tyner (2014) argues. Online teaching in the United States has become very common increasing productivity since working people can access quality education and advance their skills by acquiring materials from the information space. Currently, 48 states support online learning that involves supplementation of classroom instruction occasionally and full-time programs for learners. Some of the programs include credit recovery, dual enrolment, and summer school. Students can acquire honors in such programs while others take remedial classes as well as advanced placement. Many Americans have advanced their education and acquired skills that help in nation building by accessing materials posted in the WWW domains. Some institutions of learning offer full-time online schools, such as the Florida Virtual School, North Carolina Virtual Public school, and Karval online education among others (Tyner, 2014). Blended learning that involves both face-face and online learning and teaching boosts performance of the students. The US education system also offers open educational resources in the web to allow free access to learners. Research is the main driver of economic growth since it allows discovery of new ventures and high quality skills needed for economic growth. Quality education system ensures production of qualified graduates to work in the US multinationals and other companies that help in boosting the country's GDP. Some institutions offering open educational resources include CK-12, leadership public schools, and others that help in providing quality education to people of America (Tyner, 2014). The web is making learning more accessible since people can acquire education while at work, in their community, or at home. This facilitates learning for people who cannot attend college or school due to various factors such as limited time and busy schedules. Learning materials are provided via the web and learners can access them by searching the databases. Institutions offering distance learning such as the City University in Washington have made education available to everyone who desires it. The program does not disrupt commitment to work and family commitments. Websites have allowed several people to acquire knowledge enabling the United States to have more qualified personnel to work in various sectors of the economy and in other countries.
The World Wide Web and the Health Sector
The use of the World Wide Web in the US has increased performance in the health sector, especially in the past decade. According to research, 61 percent of the citizens have used the internet to look for health information in the web pages especially on medical conditions facing them (Eysenbach, Powell, Kuss & Sa, 2002). E-health is growing at a high rate in the United States among the patients and healthcare providers. More physicians are using online tools and information in assisting patients with different health issues. Physicians in the United States spend about three hours a week online to improve their professional skills. This happens when they are at home and have enough time on their own, and the information they get helps them to give Americans quality care. A healthy nation helps in promoting economic growth, as people are more productive. Electronic prescription of drugs, monitoring of medical records, and remote disease monitoring are some of the activities in which the internet is applied in the United States of America (Eysenbach, Powell, Kuss & Sa, 2002). Online communication with patients helps in providing consultation services without meeting physically with them via the designed websites. Pharmaceutical companies and drug distributors have embraced E-health in communicating with health organizations and patients. For instance, when one is prescribed drugs, contacting the supplier has been made easier since communicating online is quite easy. Managed care has not been left behind in utilizing the World Wide Web and the internet, and although there are concerns about the privacy of patients' data, adoption of the modern communication technology is very beneficial. American physicians help patients from all over the world by sharing their expertise on the internet via various websites. Efficacy has been improved using e-health tools in many healthcare centers in the United States. Electronic prescribing, remote disease monitoring, and electronic medical records are tools advancing the healthcare services greatly. Healthy citizens can build a great nation, and the United States can boast of improvement in the healthcare system. Sales of pharmaceutical companies have increased greatly since doctors are spending less time with drugs' sales representatives. Researching clinical information is one of the most common activities in the internet among physicians interested in advancing their professional knowledge. They also read articles from medical journals and discuss health issues of patients with colleagues (Eysenbach, Powell, Kuss, & Sa, 2002). The online information has great impact on the care they give to patients since it helps them in making diagnoses and prescribing medication. More American health professionals are attending virtual conferences while others visit various websites for important information on health. Healthcare is a very important sector in the economy and its growth has a great influence on productivity of the overall economy.
The World Wide Web and the Trade Sector
The World Wide Web has improved the American economy through the promotion of the trade sector because of increased international trade, creation of more jobs, advanced technology in underdeveloped countries, increased demands for goods, development of larger corporations, and growth of the gross national product among others. Each of these has great impacts in the economy given that people are engaged in trading activities assisted by the use of websites. This enhances the availability of goods and services for people and also offers a chance for economic expansion. Besides, the World Wide Web enhances the strengthening of the market and the internet greatly contributes to the creation of businesses that boost the economy according to Laudon and Traver (2016). For that reason, it is essential to formulate laws to govern the use of internet and creation of websites since they contribute to increased marketing opportunities and manufacturers have an added advantage since through it they are able to post information as well as market their businesses. By use of websites, businesses are able to import and export facilitating trade with overseas nations. At times virtual meetings are used to allow for online meetings between corporations in which manufacturers are able to discuss businesses without having to travel. American Ventures that make use of many internet features such as creating their own websites help in promoting success of their corporations. By use of the internet, companies are able to enjoy increased advertising opportunities via their own websites and others such as Facebook. Using new software, corporations are able to arrange data automatically for publishing on the web and can easily advertise their goods and services than they could when using printed documents. Use of websites also ensures low operation costs through the substitution of unnecessary labor, such as receptionists, secretaries, among others. The US corporations are now able to save money and as well spend more time setting up marketing strategies. Nonetheless, having access to the internet does not mean that there would be decreased job opportunities in the companies since new technologies will still require labor, especially to assemble the products. Also, the web has increased job opportunities for technologists, web designers, as well as managers. Some monopolies such as Verizon have come up with programs to equip smaller companies with internet skills necessary for accessing the World Wide Web (Laudon & Traver, 2016). Businesses that are more experienced about the internet draw more clients by advertising their wares on other websites and using other platforms to reach several clients. The companies are able to increase labor through the internet as long as it has more consumers of its products. For example, Covad communications has created systems which speed up the time a document takes to load onto personal computers (Laudon & Traver, 2016). According to the company, the internet is allowing for more creation of huge opportunities nowadays for people with authentically new ideas. These ideas will lessen costs for consumers and truly raise the living standards of people. Also, the web is an important resource for both the consumers and for the business since all important information is posted and updated frequently to facilitate quality communication.
The World Wide Web and the United States
The web has changed the world so much by facilitating sharing of information through the internet. The United States has invested in quality web use in its sectors such as health, education, and commerce, which has facilitated its growth. Many of the companies dealing with software and hardware are located in the country and boost its economy. The sector utilizing the modern technology is well supplied with the required infrastructure enabling them to improve performance. Although other nations have adopted the use of web technology, the US seems to be doing very well in promoting quality life for its citizen. The World Wide Web has played a big role in promoting economic growth especially in the United States, in which the internet has been integrated into different fields such as business, healthcare, and education as well.
References
Eysenbach, G., Powell, J., Kuss, O., & Sa, E. R. (2002). Empirical studies assessing the quality of health information for consumers on the world wide web: A systematic review. Jama, 287(20), 2691-2700.
Hamilton, L., & Webster, P. (2015). The international business environment. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Laudon, K. C., & Traver, C. (2016). E-Commerce 2016: Business, technology, society. London: Pearson Higher Education.
Tyner, K. (2014). Literacy in a digital world: Teaching and learning in the age of information. Abingdon: Routledge.
