Md Jahedul Islam

The world's largest library is the Internet. It is imperative to eliminate discrimination and challenges in the use of technology to ensure that everyone has the right to access this library. No one should be denied this right. There is no alternative to taking on the challenge of using technology to eliminate disparities in making everyone a digitally competent human resource. The most important thing in modern life is that digital information technology changes are affecting every sector of every country in the world. As a result the production process, management, and even the process of running the state are changing.

Changes in the information technology sector around the world through smartphones, the Internet of Things, the application of artificial intelligence in the management of machinery, robotics, biotechnology, quantum computing are being considered as the key holders of the fourth industrial revolution or digital revolution in the whole world. By making full use of the opportunities of the digital technology system and eliminating the disparity in the use of technology it is easy way for us can derive the highest pinnacle of progress through the best use of information technology. Technology has changed the lives of countless people so that we cannot deny this fact.

Discrimination is a very familiar word to us. We are constantly used to the words economic discrimination, social discrimination or political discrimination. But in this era of extreme advancement of technology we are seeing a new inequality and that is the inequality of digital technology. For create a fair working environment for workers, working people and professionals, women should be aware in the family and social sphere in order to eliminate the discrimination of digital technology in all fields. Digital inequality has become a global problem in the current modern era. Currently many countries in the world are suffering from this problem.

There are many people in the world who are constantly being deprived of various benefits of technology. Especially during the corona virus period normal life was disrupted in almost every country in the world. To ensure personal and financial security. Then many countries based their daily activities online. Educational institutions, offices-courts had to take the help of technology as an alternative in all cases. In order to face the challenges of global digital technology besides making the internet affordable and accessible. Then everyone can enjoy this benefit if affordable smart phones and electronic devices are within everyone's reach.

With the change of era the needs of people have also changed. Now maybe the work of communication is done on mobile phone or computer but the demand for urgent documents, various products and parcels is increasing. In this service both the number and competition of private companies in the country have increased. Parcel and delivery has become a necessary service especially due to the booming e-commerce. Inequality in technology exacerbates the existing inequality among the people of the country. It is already a hard reality that we do not get equal opportunities in public and private services in a class society.

The information and communication technology policy formulated by the government is specifically mentioned in the section 'Social equality and universal access'. Now it is important to implement this policy and specific initiatives should be taken for this. First of all information technology should be taken to the doorstep of all the people. For this government initiatives should create the necessary infrastructure in information technology, private institutions should be encouraged. Taking steps to eliminate discrimination in the use of digital technology has become very important today. There is no alternative to build a just society. Steps like making internet accessible, developing technology-related infrastructure, making people tech-literate will play the most important role in curbing digital divide. The use of information technology is a great help in poverty alleviation. In addition to this it simultaneously plays a special role in creating social justice by ensuring good governance, quality education, healthcare and security. The Information and Communication Technology Policy has mentioned ensuring social equality and universal access to information technology as one of the strategies for the development of information technology.

This will make it much easier to bring backward communities, women and disabled people and people who need special support to the mainstream of society through the use of information technology. In addition initiatives should be taken so that information technology can be used by poor people and women at low cost. Online classes, online office management etc. were a nightmare for many students during the Corona period. Many students had to travel far away from home to attend online classes. Now there is no field where internet technology is not required. Therefore importance should be given to the implementation of digital information technology to bring the marginalized people into the mainstream of development. Also if you look at it from another side it will be seen that these companies like Google, Amazon, Alibaba, Facebook etc. are doing business of billions of dollars depending on online. Realizing the importance of modern information technology the technology dependence is increasing day by day in many parts of the world. Constantly connecting devices with the Internet has started to affect people's daily life, culture, business and production. Development in the world accelerates at lightning speed due to scientific, technical and technological progress. Various services including banking, medical and online shopping have now reached the fingertips of every customer. Everyone in the office should have a computer. No one could have thought of this before. Now almost all the office courts have completely changed.

There is no need to write anything on paper in the office but instead it is written on the computer and sent to each other. Computers are connected to each other through a network. Everything works like magic in the blink of an eye. In this fourth industrial revolution technology is affecting our lives in one way or another. It is difficult to find people in the world whose lives have not been affected or changed by information and communication technology. Many jobs are being created through digitization. Money from freelancing is fueling growth. All these are the benefits of using digital technology. Many people are advancing far in this century by using technology. But there are many people, who are deprived of technology facilities.

It will undoubtedly increase various economic and social inequalities. Skilled manpower will be needed not only in Bangladesh but also in the whole world. Those who go abroad should also be proficient in information technology. That is why we have to be pioneers in the implementation of modern technology-based improved living system through the correct application of information technology in the concerted efforts of all of us by eliminating discrimination in the use of technology. In the current modern era technology is changing very rapidly due to the industrial revolution. Today this influence of technology is far reaching. It opens the doors of possibilities as well as brings new challenges.

Through the development of technology the difference between rich and poor countries is constantly increasing. As a result jobs will be divided into unskilled-low-paid and highly-skilled-high-paid. In these categories skilled people will get jobs other unskilled people may become unemployed. Through the use of robots and smart devices the dependence on manpower will be greatly reduced. Many workers will become unemployed.

In the coming days the dependence on many professions will decrease along with the use of robots and machines will increase comparatively. On the other hand the need for talent-based professions such as programmers, IT experts, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT) etc. will increase in demand. Consequently we have to face a big challenge. Therefore there is no alternative to increase skilled manpower skilled in technology by eliminating discrimination and challenges in the use of technology. The world is moving forward in the technological direction. So along the way we will be technology friendly. We have to make ourselves efficient and suitable to face global challenges. Only if we can do this then we will be able to control the future world very easily with advanced technology.

The writer is a Network Technician (ICT Cell) Jagannath University, Dhaka.