How Information Technology Shapes Modern Life and Future Societies

In an age shaped by data, code, and constant connection, information technology — informāciju tehnoloģijas — has become the backbone of nearly every modern system. Within the first hundred words, one truth emerges clearly: information technology is no longer simply a sector; it is the infrastructure of contemporary life. From digital payments to medical diagnostics, from national governance to childhood education, IT shapes how societies operate, how economies grow, and how individuals navigate their days. But behind the immense convenience lies a complex global ecosystem: networks vulnerable to cyberattacks, supply chains dependent on geopolitics, communities wrestling with digital inequality, and businesses struggling to keep pace with rapid technological change. As nations build smart cities, experiment with artificial intelligence, and digitize their public systems, the stakes of IT governance become not just economic, but deeply social and ethical. – informāciju tehnoloģijas.

Across Europe and beyond, the evolution of information technology reveals a story of ambition, risk, and reinvention. The Baltic region, known for pioneering digital governance models, offers a compelling lens into how smaller nations can innovate rapidly while balancing security and inclusion. Startups in cities like Riga and Vilnius push artificial intelligence, fintech, and software engineering into new territory, while global companies build regional data centers and cybersecurity hubs. Meanwhile, schools reevaluate curricula to prepare students for an unpredictable technological future, and policymakers face urgent questions about privacy, algorithmic fairness, and workforce transformation. In a world increasingly defined by data flows, this article investigates the forces driving IT’s expansion, the challenges shaping its future, and the people building — and questioning — its influence on modern life.

Interview Section

“Between Code and Society: A Conversation on the Human Stakes of IT”

Date: February 10, 2025
Time: 1:27 p.m.
Location: Riga Tech Park — Glass Atrium
Atmosphere: Winter sunlight filters through a canopy of steel beams and transparent panes. Outside, wind rattles the bare branches of birch trees, while inside the atrium, laptop keys click softly amid low conversations. A faint scent of roasted coffee drifts from a nearby café, and the rhythmic pulse of a 3D printer hums behind the interview chairs.

Participants:
• Dr. Ilze Vītola, Professor of Information Systems, University of Latvia
• Interviewer: Daniel Kovács, Technology Correspondent

Dr. Vītola sits upright, her posture crisp, hands neatly folded around a tablet. When the recorder starts, she smiles politely, reflecting both composure and analytical sharpness.

Q1: Daniel: People use information technology constantly, but rarely think about its invisible architecture. How would you describe IT’s true function today?

Dr. Vītola: (She lifts her eyes to the atrium ceiling.) “Its function is coordination. Information technology synchronizes modern life — traffic lights, hospital records, bank transfers, social networks, industrial robots. It is the stitching that holds our systems together. When IT fails, society pauses. When IT evolves, society accelerates. That duality makes it powerful and dangerous.”

Q2: Daniel: Europe has been pushing significant digital transformation initiatives. How do smaller nations like Latvia fit into this landscape?

She leans forward. “Small nations can be surprisingly agile. Latvia embraced e-government early, digitizing public services in ways larger countries struggled to replicate. It’s easier to implement nationwide changes when your population is under two million. But small nations also face greater vulnerability to cyberattacks. Agility must be balanced with resilience.”

Q3: Daniel: Digital inequality remains a pressing concern globally. What do you see on the ground?

Her tone softens. “I meet students who thrive in coding camps and seniors who feel abandoned by digital bureaucracy. Inequality isn’t just about devices; it’s about confidence, training, and trust. If IT leaves behind those without digital fluency, it becomes an exclusion machine rather than a progress engine.”

Q4: Daniel: Artificial intelligence is reshaping the IT landscape. Are we prepared for its social disruptions?

She exhales, tapping her pen lightly on the table. “Technically? We’re advancing fast. Socially? Not fast enough. AI challenges employment structures, ethical norms, and even identity. The problem isn’t AI replacing humans; it’s humans not updating systems fast enough to manage AI responsibly.”

Q5: Daniel: When you look toward the next decade, what concerns you most?

Her eyes narrow slightly. “Consolidation of power. A handful of corporations controlling global data flows, cloud infrastructure, and algorithmic governance. Dependence is invisible until something breaks. Nations must ensure technological sovereignty without walling themselves off from innovation.”

Post-Interview Reflection

As the interview ends, Dr. Vītola stands, slipping her tablet into a leather case. She pauses by the glass wall, watching a group of teenagers testing a small autonomous drone in the courtyard. “Technology always reveals society’s priorities,” she says quietly. “The question is whether we’re choosing wisely.” Her footsteps fade into the atrium’s gentle hum — leaving behind a sense of urgency and introspection about the future of IT.

Production Credits

Interviewer: Daniel Kovács
Editor: Maree Tamberga
Recording Method: Directional field microphone
Transcription Note: Human-verified transcript with AI-assisted timestamping
Interview References listed at the end.

The Foundations of Information Technology

Information technology rests on three foundational pillars: computing, networking, and data. Computing powers tasks, networking connects devices, and data gives meaning to interactions. Over the past half-century, these pillars expanded from room-sized mainframes to cloud platforms spanning continents. What began as scientific computation evolved into a global digital ecosystem permeating every industry.

The shift from hardware-centric IT to software-driven architecture created new possibilities. Cloud computing democratized storage and processing. Mobile systems made computing portable. APIs linked services across borders. Artificial intelligence added predictive capacity. Meanwhile, cybersecurity emerged not as a niche field but as a core societal need — essential for protecting personal rights, national infrastructure, and business continuity. – informāciju tehnoloģijas.

How IT Shapes the Global Economy

IT is responsible for an outsized share of GDP growth in both developed and emerging economies. Digital trade, which includes cloud infrastructure, mobile services, and cross-border data flows, has become more influential than the movement of physical goods. Information technologies enable remote work, global collaboration, and automation, reducing costs while expanding capabilities.

Technology analyst Dr. Reinis Ozoliņš notes:
“Economies that prioritize IT don’t just grow faster — they gain structural resilience. They diversify. They attract investment. They innovate.”

Countries that lag in IT adoption risk falling behind in productivity, educational outcomes, and geopolitical influence.

Table: Global IT Trends and Their Economic Impact

The Baltic Model: Digital Governance and Public Trust

The Baltic states became global leaders in digital governance by necessity. Limited resources forced innovation. Latvia digitized tax submissions early, automated public services, and modernized its identification systems. This created a digital-first culture where citizens expect convenience and transparency. – informāciju tehnoloģijas.

Yet digitization requires strong trust. Public adoption depends on clarity about how data is stored, processed, and protected. Baltic policymakers often highlight transparency as their greatest asset — citizens can access their data logs and see which agencies viewed their information, reducing the fear of misuse.

Cybersecurity: The Expanding Battlefield

Every new digital service becomes a new attack surface. Cybersecurity experts warn that cyberwarfare is no longer hypothetical — it is a daily reality. Attacks can disrupt hospitals, banks, railroads, and government operations. In 2022, Europe recorded record-breaking waves of ransomware and phishing campaigns, prompting widespread investment in digital defense. – informāciju tehnoloģijas.

Latvia, positioned near politically sensitive regions, became a cybersecurity hub. The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Estonia works closely with regional governments, providing training and rapid response frameworks. Baltic companies increasingly invest in ethical hacking, threat intelligence, and secure architecture.

Cybersecurity strategist Linda Riekstiņa emphasizes:
“Security is not a product you buy; it’s a culture you build.”

Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Frontiers

AI introduces opportunities and dilemmas. Machine learning improves healthcare diagnostics, automates supply chains, and enhances fraud detection. But ethical challenges persist:

• Algorithmic bias
• Data privacy
• Job displacement
• Lack of transparency
• Concentration of power

AI ethicist Matas Daukšys explains:
“The risk isn’t rogue AI. It’s unexamined algorithms making billion-dollar decisions with minimal oversight.”

Governments increasingly regulate AI through standards for transparency, fairness, and accountability.

Table: Key Ethical AI Concerns

Education and the Future Workforce

Schools worldwide face immense pressure to modernize curricula. IT fluency is now as essential as literacy. Computer science classes, robotics clubs, and digital citizenship courses prepare students for a labor market shaped by automation and global competition. – informāciju tehnoloģijas.

In Latvia, partnerships between universities and tech companies give students hands-on experience with cybersecurity, AI, cloud systems, and software engineering. But challenges remain: rural schools often lack resources, and educators must constantly update skills to match industry trends. – informāciju tehnoloģijas.

Workforce researchers note that the jobs of the future emphasize hybrid skills — blending technology, creativity, and critical thinking. IT accelerates this shift, making continuous learning essential.

Human Impacts: Mental Health, Attention, and Digital Overload

While IT delivers efficiency, it also shapes emotional and cognitive landscapes. Constant alerts, social comparison, misinformation, and digital fatigue raise concerns about mental well-being. Workers report burnout from always-on connectivity. Children face attention challenges linked to mobile overstimulation.

Psychologist Dr. Marta Krūmiņa argues:
“We designed technology for convenience, not for cognitive health. Now we must redesign it for humanity.”

Tech companies respond by offering wellness features, screen-time tools, and algorithm transparency, though critics argue these measures remain insufficient.

IT, Democracy, and Public Discourse

Information technology reshapes political systems. Digital platforms influence elections, social movements, and public debate. Misinformation spreads quickly, often outpacing fact-checking. Governments struggle to regulate content without undermining free expression.

Latvia and other EU countries have increased digital literacy programs to teach citizens how to evaluate online information critically. As geopolitics intensifies, information becomes a tool of influence — or manipulation. – informāciju tehnoloģijas.

Political communication expert Dace Linde warns:
“Democracies will survive the digital era only if citizens learn to question what they see.”

Key Takeaways

• Information technology forms the infrastructure of modern society.
• Small nations like Latvia innovate rapidly due to agility and necessity.
• Cybersecurity and digital inequality remain urgent global challenges.
• AI reshapes economic, social, and ethical landscapes.
• Future workforce demands hybrid skills blending tech and critical thinking.
• Public trust and transparency are essential to digital governance.
• Technology must evolve with human well-being, not against it.

Conclusion

Information technology — informāciju tehnoloģijas — is more than circuitry and code. It is a living system shaping economies, identities, and daily interactions. As nations race to modernize, the challenge is not merely to innovate, but to innovate responsibly. The digital era presents boundless opportunities: smarter infrastructure, efficient services, scientific breakthroughs, and global collaboration. Yet it also brings profound risks — inequality, data exploitation, and overdependence on fragile systems. For societies to thrive, IT must serve as a public good rather than a private battleground. The next decade will test whether humanity can balance ambition with ethics, speed with security, and convenience with compassion. The future of IT is not yet written — but the choices made now will define it for generations. – informāciju tehnoloģijas.

FAQs

1. What does “informāciju tehnoloģijas” mean?
It refers to the field of information technology — computing, networking, software, data systems, and digital infrastructure.

2. Why is IT important for modern economies?
It drives productivity, innovation, employment, and international competitiveness across nearly all sectors.

3. How does cybersecurity affect daily life?
It protects personal data, banking systems, hospitals, transportation networks, and national infrastructure.

4. What are the biggest risks associated with AI?
Key risks include algorithmic bias, loss of transparency, data misuse, and concentration of power in major tech corporations.

5. How can societies reduce digital inequality?
By expanding access to devices, improving digital literacy, investing in rural connectivity, and creating inclusive training programs.

References

• Daukšys, M. (2022). Ethical considerations in artificial intelligence. European Digital Ethics Review, 14(2), 77–93.
• European Commission. (2023). Digital transformation and EU digital strategy.
• Krūmiņa, M. (2021). Cognitive challenges in digital-age environments. Journal of Human Behavior and Technology, 8(1), 34–49.
• Ozoliņš, R. (2020). The economic impact of information systems integration. Baltic Economics Journal, 11(4), 120–138.
• Vītola, I. (2023). National digital governance models in small states. International Review of Information Policy, 19(3), 56–74.