Introduction
It could be hardly doubted that the development of new technologies vastly influences nearly every aspect of contemporary life. It is possible to say that this technological impact is evidently present in the sphere of public health and nursing. Since science has always contributed to the development and improvement of healthcare tools, it is not surprising that new supercomputers and robot technologies are gradually integrated into modern medicine. However, the development of technologies could not always have an only positive impact since the employment of such tools also imposes challenges and implications for the healthcare system. This paper aims to investigate the benefits and disadvantages of new computer technologies in the context of nursing science and practice.
Benefits
First of all, it is essential to discuss the advantages of current technological advancement. For example, there is a possibility of creating a robot that would feel emotions, learn, and think similarly to people, in a relatively near future (“Human robot getting closer,” 2018). It is obvious that such a breakthrough would be highly beneficial for nursing practice. Firstly, it would significantly increase the amount of clinical staff, which would be capable of delivering care for a greater amount of people. If such robots were created, it would be possible to decrease the waiting time in clinics since robots would take part in receptionists’ responsibilities. Therefore, the quality of care in clinics will be improved.
It is also possible to mention that the learning function, which is promised by iCub, would be a significantly positive factor, contributing to the facilitation of robots’ integration into the nursing process (“Human robot getting closer,” 2018). The developers of this technology additionally claim that the robot would have a sense of touch and strength, which will be even more developed compared to human senses (“Human robot getting closer,” 2018). Therefore, such robots could be engaged in nursing activities related to the physical treatment of patients. Additionally, as it is mentioned by Racine (2016), the robots would positively contribute to the development of nursing education.
Disadvantages
However, the difficulties of such rapid technological development are also evident. First of all, it should be stated that the integration of robots similar to what is designed by iCub will vastly impact the presence of human personnel in a clinical environment. It is apparent that the introduction of new technologies into nearly any working sphere causes the reduction of work which is done by people. Therefore, since the iCub robot would be capable of doing the majority of tasks, which are performed by registered nurses, it is evident that there would be great diminutions of human personnel.
Also, it is essential to mention the ethical aspect of the question. It is apparent that the discussion of the similarities and differences between the human brain and computer processor is a very prolonged conversation, which involves numerous fundamental philosophical questions (Kuo, Sahama, Kushniruk, Borycki, & Grunwell, 2014). However, it should be suggested that many patients would reject the healthcare provided by robots since they would not feel the emotional connections, or they even might fear it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, one can assume that the development of computing technologies, due to its inevitability, should be considered to be an integral part of everyday life. It is evident that these technologies significantly benefit various aspects of contemporary life. However, it is also important to consider the possible implications of their use.
References
Human robot getting closer: iCub robot must learn from its experiences. (2013). Web.
Kuo, M. H., Sahama, T., Kushniruk, A. W., Borycki, E. M., & Grunwell, D. K. (2014). Health big data analytics: Current perspectives, challenges and potential solutions. International Journal of Big Data Intelligence, 1(1-2), 114-126.
Racine, L. (2016). A critical analysis of the use of remote presence robots in nursing education. Aporia, 8(1), 7-18.