The Information Age

The Information Age

Life is accompanied by endless transmission of information that

takes place within and outside the human body. According to
Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary, information is
“knowledge communicated or obtained concerning a specific fact or
circumstance.” Hence, information is a very important tool for
survival.

The Information Age is defined as a “period starting in the last

quarter of the 20th century when information became effortlessly
accessible through publications and through the management of
information by computers.” The Information Age is also called the
Digital Age and the New Media Age. It was associated with the
development of computers.

According to James R. Messenger, who proposed the Theory of

Information Age in 1982, “the Information Age is a true new age
based upon the interconnection of computers via
telecommunications, with the information system operating on both
a real-time and as-needed basis. Furthermore, the primary factors
driving this new age forward are convenience and user-friendliness,
which, in turn, will create user dependence.”

Before the printed word, the written word was prevalent. Yet, the
intent to carry information has always been present.

A word is a combination of sounds that represents something. It is

significance that makes words distinct from just any kind of vocal
utterance. Words are made up of sounds, yet they transmit
something more significant – information.

The Role of Language

- In the human quest for understanding the natural world,

Truths of the Information Age
the ability to name and classify objects found in nature
was seen as a first step in knowing. Thus, the scientific
Robert Harris, in his article “Truths of the Information Age,” detailed
search for truth early on recognized the usefulness of
some key facts about this era:
language and the ability it gave to make sense of nature.
1. Information must compete.
Timeline of the Information Age
2. Newer is equated with truer
3. Selection is a viewpoint.
4. The media sells what the culture buys.
5. The early word gets the perm.
6. You are what you eat and so is your brain.
7. Anything in great demand will be counterfeited.
8. Ideas are seen as controversial.
9. Undead information walks ever on.
10. Media presence created the story.
11. The medium selects the message.
12. The whole truth is a pursuit.

Computer - A computer is an electronic device that stores and

processes data.

Types of Computers

1. Personal Computer (PC)

 2. Desktop Computer ● Who is the author of the articles/site?
3. Laptops ● Who published the site?
4. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) ○ .edu = educational
5. Server ○ .com = commercial
6. Mainframe ○ .mil = military
7. Wearable Computers ○ .gov = government
○ .org = nonprofit
● What is the main purpose of the site?
● Who is the intended audience?
The World Wide Web (Internet) ● What is the quality of the information provided on the
website?
Several historians trace the origin of the Internet to Claude E.
Shannon, an American mathematician considered the “Father of the Examples of Useful and Reliable Web Sources
Information Theory.” He worked at Bell Laboratories and, at age 32,
published a paper proposing that information can be quantitatively ● AFA e-Newsletter
encoded as a sequence of ones and zeroes. ● American Memory
● [Link] Great Books Online
The Internet is a worldwide system of interconnected networks that ● Chronicling America
facilitates data transmission among innumerable computers. In its ● Cyberbullying
early days, the Internet was used mainly by scientists to ● National Library of Medicine’s Medline Plus
communicate with other scientists. The Internet remained under ● [Link]
government control until 1984 (Rouse, 2014). ● PDRhealth
● Global Gateway: World Culture and Resources
One early problem faced by Internet users was speed. Phone lines ● Google Books
could only transmit information at a limited rate. The development ● Google Scholar
of fiber-optic cables allowed for billions of bits of information to be
received every minute. Companies like Intel developed faster
microprocessors so personal computers could process the incoming
signals at a more rapid rate ([Link], 2017). Biodiversity and the Healthy Society

Consequently, companies whose businesses are built on digitized Decrease in biodiversity is evident worldwide. Vertebrates fell by
information have become valuable and powerful in a relatively 60% from the 1970s due to human causes. It is projected that by
short period. The current Information Age has spawned its own 2020, wildlife decline will reach 67% of its current number.
breed of wealthy, influential brokers, from Microsoft’s Bill Gates to
Apple’s Steve Jobs to Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature and Zoological Society of
London reported an annual decrease in wildlife by 2%.
Critics argue that the Internet has created a technological divide,
increasing the gap between higher-class and lower-class members A major cause of this decline is the human population, which has
of society. Those who could not afford a computer or a monthly doubled since 1960 to 7.4 billion.
access fee were denied these possibilities. Many decried the
impersonal nature of electronic communication compared to a Humans have industrialized the natural habitat of wildlife and
telephone call or a handwritten letter. marine life, leaving these creatures with no place to live, eventually
causing their deaths.
The unregulated nature of the Internet also allowed pornography to
be broadcast to millions of homes. Protecting children from these Marco Lambertini, General Director of WWF International, stated
influences or even from meeting violent predators has proved that wildlife disappearance is occurring at an unprecedented rate.
difficult. Cyberbullying, a significant issue worldwide, is another
alarming consequence of widespread social media use. Experts warn Earth might enter the sixth mass extinction event.
Mass extinction is described as species disappearing at a rate 1,000
Applications of Computers in Science and Research times faster than normal. This causes an imbalance in ecosystems.

Computers have significant applications in science and research, Biodiversity and Ecosystem
particularly in bioinformatics. Bioinformatics is the application of
information technology to store, organize, and analyze vast - Biodiversity is defined as the variability among living
amounts of biological data available in the form of sequences and organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine,
structures of proteins (Madan, n.d.). and aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of
which they are part.
The Internet contains a vast collection of highly valuable - It includes diversity within species, between species, and
information, but it may also include unreliable, biased information ecological services that are essential for life.
that misleads people. The following guidelines can help us check - Biodiversity has direct consumptive value in food,
the reliability of web sources and avoid misinformation (Lee College agriculture, medicine, and industry.
Library, n.d.):
 - Understanding biodiversity requires studying the - Social hazards, including dangerous work, poor housing,
relationship between biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) urban sprawl, and poverty, also contribute to health risks.
factors. - Unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation are responsible
- Sustaining ecosystems ensures better survival rates for infectious diseases like diarrhea, cholera, meningitis,
against natural disasters. and gastritis.
- As humans, we must preserve and conserve biodiversity - In 2015, approximately 350,000 children under age five
for the benefit of all creatures. died from diarrheal diseases linked to unsafe water.

Changes in Biodiversity Environmental-Related Illnesses

- Alteration in any system can lead to varied effects, Some human illnesses linked to environmental factors include:
impacting both wildlife and humans.
- For example, forest-clearing operations for housing ● Parkinson’s disease
displace or kill animals, insects, and other life forms. ● Heart disease
- Such changes may disrupt food chains and damage ● Cancer
ecosystems. ● Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
● Asthma
Threats to Biodiversity ● Diabetes
● Obesity
1. Habitat loss and destruction ● Occupational injuries
2. Alterations in ecosystem composition ● Dysentery
3. Over-exploitation ● Arthritis
4. Pollution and contamination ● Malaria
5. Global climate change ● Depression
6. Consequences of Biodiversity Loss

GMO: Science, Health, and Politics

- Intact ecosystems function best, as the organisms within
them are specialized to capture, transfer, utilize, and Introduction to GMOs
recycle energy and nutrients.
- Biodiversity affects productivity, nutrient cycles, soil - Bt Corn Example: In 2001, Rosalie Ellasus, a former
content, and environmental conditions like water cycles overseas Filipino worker, introduced genetically modified
and climate. Bt Corn to her farm. It yielded higher crops per hectare
- Tilman stated, “The Earth will retain its most striking without insecticides.
feature, its biodiversity, only if humans have the prescience - Genetic engineering has roots in ancient practices, like
to do so.” selective breeding and animal domestication, though
modern methods are more advanced and unnatural.
Nutritional Impact of Biodiversity - The term genetic engineering was coined in 1951 by
science fiction author Jack Williamson, predating the
- The World Health Organization recognizes biodiversity as discovery of DNA’s double helix.
vital for nutrition due to its influence on food production.
- Sustainable food production depends on biodiversity at Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
ecosystem, species, and genetic levels.
- Nutritional composition can vary dramatically between - GMOs are organisms whose genetic material has been
foods and among varieties of the same food, affecting altered unnaturally using genetic engineering.
micronutrient availability. - WHO Definition: GMOs include plants, animals, or
microorganisms modified in ways that would not occur
Health, Biology, and Biodiversity naturally by mating or recombination.

- All living organisms depend on their environment to live Roles of GMOs in Food and Agriculture
and reproduce.
- Basic needs such as air, water, food, and habitat are 1. Pest Resistance: Example: Bt Corn resists pests like the
provided by the environment. Asian corn borer using Bacillus thuringiensis genes.
- Human evolution has been influenced by improved access 2. Virus Resistance: Example: Rainbow papaya resists the
to these resources. papaya ringspot virus by incorporating viral proteins.
3. Herbicide Tolerance: Example: Roundup Ready soybean
Environmental Hazards and Health tolerates glyphosate herbicides, killing weeds but sparing
crops.
- Environmental hazards, such as pollution, toxic chemicals, 4. Fortification: Example: Golden Rice contains beta-carotene,
and food contaminants, increase the risk of illnesses like addressing vitamin A deficiency.
cancer, heart disease, and asthma.
 5. Cosmetic Preservation: Example: Arctic Apple resists Environmental and Agricultural Challenges
browning after superficial damage.
6. Increased Growth Rate: Example: AquAdvantage salmon ● Risk of gene flow leading to hybrid species.
grows faster due to genes from an ocean pout. ● Evolution of new pest or weed resistances.
● Impact on biodiversity and natural agricultural practices.
GMOs in Non-Food Applications

1. Flower Production: Example: Blue roses (lilac or purple)

modified for unique colors and extended life.
2. Paper Production: Example: Poplar trees modified for
efficient lignin removal in paper manufacturing.
3. Pharmaceuticals: Example: Periwinkle plants engineered
to enhance cancer-treating alkaloid production.
4. Bioremediation: Example: Shrub tobacco modified to
absorb heavy metals from polluted sites.
5. Enzyme Production: Example: Genetically modified
Bacillus bacteria produce enzymes for food processing.
6. Medical Field: Example: Humulin, a genetically engineered
insulin for Type 1 diabetes.

Benefits of GMOs

● Higher farming efficiency and increased harvest yields.

● Enhanced food processing and desirable crop traits.
● Reduced fertilizer and pesticide use.
● Fortification with nutrients and pharmaceutical benefits.

Potential Risks of GMOs

Human Health Risks

1. Inadequate long-term studies on GMOs’ effects.

Potential for:

● Allergic reactions.
● Gene mutations.
● Antibiotic resistance.
● Altered nutritional value.

Environmental Risks

Direct Risks:

● Disruption of natural ecosystems.

● Unpredictable behavior in the environment.
● Harm to biochemical cycles and biodiversity.

Indirect Risks:

● Changes in agricultural practices, e.g., resistance in pests

and weeds.
● Potential negative interaction between GMOs and native
environments.

Human Health Concerns

● Non-organic production may disrupt gut microbiota.

● Potential production of toxins or allergens.
● Long-term effects on human genome and overall health
remain uncertain.