In today's world, the digital realm has become an inseparable aspect of our lives. With endless prospects and obstacles, possessing digital skills is a vital component for successful operation within this sphere. Don't fall behind, join the digital revolution and stay up to date with current technological advancements.

From telegraph to smartphones

The digital world has become an essential part of our lives, from the telegraph to smartphones, it has revolutionized how we work, communicate and spend our leisure time. The digital world mainly comprises information that is stored, transmitted and used digitally. This information can be in the form of texts, photos, videos, and sounds. The digital technology's development was made possible by the advancements in technology that enabled the conversion of analog data into digital. The development of digital technology dates back to a long time ago and was the result of numerous innovations and discoveries. The invention of the telegraph in the 19th century was a significant milestone in the history of digitalization. The telegraph offered a new means of communication that was much faster and more effective than traditional methods of transmitting information via letters or messengers. It allowed messages to be sent and received using Morse codes..

Telegraph machine (Foto: commons.wikimedia.org File: Morse telegraph station)

An early version of Morse code

The advent of computers marked a significant digital revolution. Although the first computers were bulky and required extensive infrastructure, their ability to convert data into binary or digital form opened the door to a new digital era..

ENIAC – the first widely known computer

It would be impossible to cover all the stages and breakthroughs in the history of the digital world in just one article. However, it is worth noting some significant milestones, such as the invention of the first microprocessors in the 1970s, the emergence of the Internet in the 1990s, and the revolution of smartphones and mobile applications in the 21st century.

Intel 4004 microprocessor (https://www.thoughtco.com/inventors-of-the-modern-computer-1992145)

Smartphones have become an essential tool in our digital lives. We need to understand that digital technology is not just about devices, but also about the huge amount of information generated, stored and transmitted every day. Our personal data, bank accounts, photos and videos are all part of this digital ecosystem.
 
As digital technology develops, new challenges and threats emerge, such as cybercrime, data privacy and the impact of social media on our lives. Therefore, it is crucial to be aware of these risks and to use the digital world consciously.
 
To sum it up, from telegraph to smartphones, digital technology is continuously changing our lives and the way we function. The digital world is a vast network of information that is transmitted and used in digital form. However, we cannot overlook the challenges and responsibilities that come with using this technology.

Internet: The power that connects our lives

The modern digital world is built on the foundation of the Internet, a global computer network that allows for the transmission and access of information across the globe. It enables us to send messages instantly, participate actively in social media, and work from anywhere in the world. According to a report published in 2023, more than 5.3 billion people in the world use the Internet¹.

The Internet is an incredibly complex and extensive network that has been in development since the 1960s. It was created as part of a project called ARPANET, which was funded by the United States Department of Defense. The goal of the project was to create a distributed computer network that would allow for communication between various scientific and military centers.

ARPA Network

The internet has become an essential part of our daily life, providing us with the main communication tool to connect with our loved ones and people from across the globe. It offers us the convenience of instant messaging, along with access to various applications and platforms, such as Skype or WhatsApp, where we can make video calls and participate in online conferences.
 
Social media is also an integral part of our online experience. According to the DIGITAL 2023: GLOBAL OVERVIEW REPORT, users spend the majority of their time on TikTok (23.5 hours/month), YouTube (23.1 hours/month), and Facebook (19.7 hours/month)². 

Time spent using social media apps per user per month.

To niewątpliwie potwierdza ogromną popularność mediów społecznościowych i ich istotne miejsce w dzisiejszym społeczeństwie.

This undoubtedly confirms the enormous popularity of social media and their important place in today's society. Not only in the private sphere but also in the professional sphere, the Internet plays a key role. 
Currently, many companies offer the option of remote work, which gives employees greater flexibility and allows them to save time and costs associated with commuting to the office. According to Deloitte, over 80% of global companies enable remote work for their employees at least once a week³. This only confirms the growing importance of remote work.

It is important to use the Internet responsibly and remember to stay safe online. It is worth following current information on cybercrime threats and following experts' recommendations. You should also protect your personal information and use secure internet connections and strong passwords.

The Internet is an incredibly valuable tool, which has become an integral part of the lives of many of us. Whether we're having fun on social media, using email, or working remotely, the Internet plays a key role in connecting us to the rest of the world.

Development of artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence is a rapidly growing field that has emerged with the advent of the digital age. It is a scientific discipline that focuses on developing algorithms and computer programs that can learn and make decisions on their own. Examples of artificial intelligence in everyday life include chatbots, recommendation systems, and autonomous vehicles that use advanced algorithms to improve their performance.

Artificial Intelligence: Definition and History

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the field of science that deals with creating machines that can perform tasks that would normally require human intellect. These tasks include learning, language understanding, speech recognition, visual perception, and problem-solving.

The origins of AI date back to the 1950s, when scientists began experimenting with creating computer programs that could imitate the human mind. Since then, AI has come a long way, from simple programs to advanced systems that can learn and adapt to new situations.

However, the roots of artificial intelligence go back even earlier. At the end of the 19th century, British mathematician George Boole developed the first logical equations, which served as the basis for later concepts related to artificial intelligence[1]. Ada Lovelace, Lord Byron's daughter, presented a paper in 1843 in which she explored how to model complex mathematical calculations on what we now know as Boolean logic equations⁴.

In the 1950s, Alan Turing, considered the father of artificial intelligence, developed the Turing test to determine whether a machine was intelligent5. The test involved the judge asking questions to a machine and a human, and his task was to determine who was who. If the judge was unable to distinguish the machine's response from the human's response, the test was considered passed⁵.

Research on artificial intelligence accelerated significantly in the 1960s and 1970s⁶. In the 1990s, companies such as Apple and IBM broke through the limitations of computing, which opened up new possibilities for artificial intelligence⁶.

Today, artificial intelligence has many applications, from recommendation systems, through autonomous vehicles, to advanced natural language processing systems. This is a field that is constantly developing and has a huge impact on our lives.

Applications of AI in the IT industry

AI or Artificial Intelligence has many applications in the IT industry. One such example is chatbots, which are computer programs designed to imitate human conversations. They are widely used in the customer service area where they can answer simple questions and direct users to appropriate resources.
 
Another crucial application of AI is recommendation systems, which are extensively used by online companies like Amazon and Netflix. These systems analyze a user's browsing and purchase history to suggest products or videos that may interest them.
 
AI is also instrumental in the development of autonomous vehicles. These self-driving cars use advanced AI systems to interpret sensor data and make decisions based on this information. This allows them to move on roads without the need for human intervention.

The future of AI

The future of AI is full of promise. As machines continue to evolve, they can perform increasingly complex tasks. Companies are investing in AI research and development, which is leading to rapid progress in this field.
 
But, with the development of AI come challenges. For instance, there are concerns about privacy and security, and ethical issues related to the use of AI. Therefore, scientists and policymakers need to approach these issues with caution.
 
In summary, AI has immense potential to revolutionize the IT industry and society as a whole. This is an exciting time for anyone interested in this field, and the future is sure to bring even more innovations.

Challenges and threats of the digital world

In the digital world, we encounter many challenges and threats. These include personal data security, cybercrime, and fake news. Therefore, it is crucial to develop our digital competences and learn how to use technology skillfully. By doing so, we can protect ourselves against these dangers and stay safe in the digital era.

Security of personal data

In today's digital age, our data is frequently stored and processed online. Companies use this data to provide personalized services, but there is a risk that this information could be stolen or misused. Therefore, companies must implement appropriate security measures, such as data encryption and two-factor authentication, to safeguard user privacy.

Cybercrime

Cybercrime is a significant danger in the digital world. Criminals can take advantage of vulnerabilities in IT systems to steal data, launch ransomware attacks, or even sabotage vital infrastructure. For this reason, companies and institutions should invest in advanced security systems and keep their software up to date to avoid such attacks.

Fake news

Fake news is a significant issue in the digital world. It is frequently disseminated through social media and can have a negative impact by distorting public opinion and creating confusion and anxiety. Therefore, it's crucial to be critical of the information we come across on the Internet, and only rely on trustworthy sources.

Developing digital competences

To tackle the challenges of the digital world, we must develop our digital competencies. This involves not only the ability to use technology but also an understanding of how these technologies work and the potential threats they present. Digital education should be an integral part of our education system to prepare citizens for life in an increasingly digital world. To summarize, while the digital world poses many challenges and threats, proper education and awareness can enable us to effectively deal with these problems and reap the benefits of the digital era. This article serves as an introduction to the "Digital World" series, in which I will explore the events and figures that have had the greatest impact on our digital development.

Sources:

1. Report "Internet Usage and World Population Statistics" [online]. https://www.internetworldstats.com [Read: 27.12.2023]
2. Report "DIGITAL 2023: GLOBAL OVERVIEW" [online]. https://datareportal.com [Read: 27.12.2023]
3. "Ponad 80 proc. światowych firm umożliwia pracę zdalną swoim pracownikom przynajmniej raz w tygodniu" [online]. https://www2.deloitte.com [dostęp: 27.12.2023]
4. "Historia sztucznej inteligencji. Jak i kiedy powstała?" [online]. https://inteligencjasztuczna.pl [dostęp: 27.12.2023]
5. "Historia sztucznej inteligencji: jak to się zaczęło?" [online]. https://sibiz.pl [dostęp: 27.12.2023]
6. "Jak przebiegał rozwój sztucznej inteligencji?" [online]. https://noizer.pl [dostęp: 27.09.2022]