Computers in the Workplace

Computers perform a variety of functions in the telecommunications industry. To begin, computers play a primary role in delivering services to our customers.  While the vast majority of our network is fiber and coax cabling, our head-end uses computers to process (encode and decode) and distribute TV signals across our network.  We also have routers, servers and computer systems that manage internet traffic. A previous post covered the tracert command. Depending on where you are and the web site you are trying to access, some of your internet traffic is routed through our data centers.

Our company also uses computers to manage customer service and sales orders through our call centers, video conferencing for meetings like Microsoft Teams, and even file sharing using services like Microsoft SharePoint. Many of our employees work remote, which makes them dependent on computers to perform their job function.

General upkeep of the network that is the backbone of our business requires computer literacy. Job functions continue to be streamlined and depend heavily on technology which requires employees to be computer literate. Knowledge of computers is crucial because new technology can potentially save companies money, save employees time, and offer new solutions for solving complex problems, improve creativity, increase productivity and so much more. As companies continue to look for ways to save money and increase work/life balance of their employees, many businesses are requiring employees to work remote, a trend that I think will continue into the future.

I think businesses and employees will become even more dependent on computers in the future as technology evolves and more devices connect to the internet and begin sharing data. I think a lot of the staples of computing remain the same, like an operating system, file storage, multimedia use, hardware and software will still exist but the user experience and use cases will change. For example, we have been able to successfully trial and are working to deploy 10G speeds to the home on our cable network. This new technology will increase business and consumers reliance on computers and internet technology because more speed equals more computing potential online. Games and videos will become even more realistic, downloading wait times will be a thing of the past. This will speed up time to production for business, and a better experience for home users. I think the possibilities are endless and we are at the beginning of realizing the potential.