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Cultural Changes

            Technology has fundamentally changed our culture. People used to talk to each other at religious meetings in the
            past, but these days, even religious meetings are moving online, making it harder for people to meet in person. Even
            some marriages have been formalised online. People use their computers, tablets, or phones to spend time with their
            friends. Nowadays, headphones are preferred to open ears for listening to music. People would rather shop online
            than at a store near them, which hurts small businesses. Reduced human interaction has led to loneliness, which may
            lead to minor to severe depression.

            14.11.3 Gender and Disability Issues in IT Education

            Gender issues

            Women have reduced access to IT services and IT education, for reasons of preconceived notions, lack of motivation,
            and lack of role models.

            Preconceived notions
            There is an unsubstantiated belief in some sections of the society that the boys are better at technical things while
            girls are better at humanities, arts, and so on. Further, the girls should pursue a career like teaching that requires fewer
            hours at work so that they can focus on family.

            Lack of Motivation

            During the early years, children often play games on computers and smartphones. Since many of the games are geared
            toward boys, they introduce gender bias at a young age.
            Lack of Role Models

            Girls see fewer women as IT leaders who could be their role models. It impacts their decision about the choice of
            discipline.

            Disability Issues
            Lack of suitable instructional materials designed to meet the needs of the students with disabilities adversely impacts the
            teaching and learning process.  Different types of instructional aids or materials are required for students with various
            disabilities. For example, students who are blind or have low vision may need Braille keyboards, Braille monitors, and
            Braille printers in addition to screen readers when working on computers. Software assistants like Google Assistant,
            Microsoft Narrator, and Cortana, as well as custom text editors, would be useful for visually impaired students.
            Students who are deaf or hard of hearing may need more visual input than verbal.  The schools do not typically provide
            these facilities for reasons of financial constraints or a lack of appreciation for the specialised needs. Further, the
            educational institutes need to train the teachers to handle the students with special needs. For example, a hearing-
            impaired student needs a teacher who can communicate in sign language.


                     Give two examples of:
                       1.  E-waste management techniques.
                       2.  Social problems encountered due to technology.
                       3.  Reasons for girls not taking up technical subject in higher education.
                       4.  Software assistants to help students with disabilities.









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