The Information Age has brought with it the need for its own set of laws to regulate, monitor and control the way in which we conduct our personal, social and working lives when using ICT. In the UK these include:
Health and Safety at Work Act (1947)
Cover employers’ responsibilities, especially where employees work with computer systems.
Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations (1992)
Cover employers’ responsibilities, especially where employees work with computer systems.
Data Protection Act (1984)
There are eight principals to this act:
1 – Data must be processed fairly and lawfully
2 – Data must be obtained only from specified purposes and must not be processed in any other way.
3 – Data must be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose.
4 – Data must be accurate and, where necessary, up-to-date.
5 – Data must not be kept longer that is necessary for the registered purpose.
6 – Data must be processed in accordance with the rights of the data subject.
7 – Measures must be taken to prevent unlawful processing or accidental damage/loss of data.
8 – Data must not be transferred to a country outside the European Economic Area unless that country has an adequate level of data protection and legislation.
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988)
This law makes it illegal to steal or make unauthorised copies of software, the act also covers CD-ROMs, music and books. Individuals who break this law face an unlimited fine. The law mostly get broken when using software without a proper licence, software piracy and illegally downloading material from the Internet.
Computer Misuse Act (1990)
If somebody hacks into a computer system they are able to read, copy or damage private data. Reading data is not a serious crime; however, it is an invasion of privacy. The advantage of this law is that that as computer use grew during the 70s and 80s, there was an increased in computer fraud. The disadvantage of this law is that prosecuting hackers can be very difficult. There are three levels of offences under this act:
Level 1 – unauthorised access to computer material
Level 2 – unauthorised access with intent to cause a further offence
Level 3 – unauthorised changing or deleting of files
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (2000)
This law allows lawful interception of postal, telecommunications and digital communications in certain circumstances.
Freedom of Information Act (2005)
This deals with access to official information. This means you can find out information on any topic from any public authority including government, health services, schools and police.
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Society and the Individual
George Orwell wrote about how technology could be used to control us in his famous vision of totalitarian future, 1984, published in 1948.
"1984 is possibly the definitive dystopian novel, set in a world beyond our imagining. A world where totalitarianism really is total, all power split into three roughly equal groups--Eastasia, Eurasia, and Oceania. 1984 is set in Oceania, which includes the United Kingdom, where the story is set, known as Airstrip One.
Winston Smith is a middle-aged, unhealthy character, based loosely on Orwell's own frail body, an underling of the ruling oligarchy, The Party. The Party has taken early 20th century totalitarianism to new depths, with each person subjected to 24 hour surveillance, where people's very thoughts are controlled to ensure purity of the oligarchical system in place. Figurehead of the system is the omnipresent and omnipotent Big Brother.
But Winston believes there is another way.
1984 joins Winston as he sets about another day, where his job is to change history by changing old newspaper records to match with the new truth as decided by the Party.
"He who controls the past, controls the future" is a Party slogan to live by and it gives Winston his job, but Winston cannot see it like that. Barely old enough to recall a time when things were different, he sets out to expose the Party for the cynically fraudulent organisation that it is. He is joined by Julia, a beautiful young woman much in contrast with Winston physically, but equally sickened by the excesses of her rulers.
You will meet many recognisable characters, themes, and words which have become part of our everyday life as you read 1984. Where did Big Brother first appear? Certainly not on Australian TV! Written in Orwell's inimitable journalistic style, 1984 is a tribute to a man who saw the true dangers of historian Lord Acton's (1834-1902) statement: "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely."
"1984 is possibly the definitive dystopian novel, set in a world beyond our imagining. A world where totalitarianism really is total, all power split into three roughly equal groups--Eastasia, Eurasia, and Oceania. 1984 is set in Oceania, which includes the United Kingdom, where the story is set, known as Airstrip One.
Winston Smith is a middle-aged, unhealthy character, based loosely on Orwell's own frail body, an underling of the ruling oligarchy, The Party. The Party has taken early 20th century totalitarianism to new depths, with each person subjected to 24 hour surveillance, where people's very thoughts are controlled to ensure purity of the oligarchical system in place. Figurehead of the system is the omnipresent and omnipotent Big Brother.
But Winston believes there is another way.
1984 joins Winston as he sets about another day, where his job is to change history by changing old newspaper records to match with the new truth as decided by the Party.
"He who controls the past, controls the future" is a Party slogan to live by and it gives Winston his job, but Winston cannot see it like that. Barely old enough to recall a time when things were different, he sets out to expose the Party for the cynically fraudulent organisation that it is. He is joined by Julia, a beautiful young woman much in contrast with Winston physically, but equally sickened by the excesses of her rulers.
You will meet many recognisable characters, themes, and words which have become part of our everyday life as you read 1984. Where did Big Brother first appear? Certainly not on Australian TV! Written in Orwell's inimitable journalistic style, 1984 is a tribute to a man who saw the true dangers of historian Lord Acton's (1834-1902) statement: "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely."
http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/
The following is a review of some of the comments the US’s response to homeland security at the following websites:
☼ The Whitehouse
☼ Robert Gladd
☼ Human Rights First
To what extent should be allow society to ‘look after’ us and as a result, deprive us of individual freedom?
The following is a review of some of the comments the US’s response to homeland security at the following websites:
☼ The Whitehouse
☼ Robert Gladd
☼ Human Rights First
To what extent should be allow society to ‘look after’ us and as a result, deprive us of individual freedom?
Monitoring Internet & Email Use
There are a number of advantages that the content monitoring system has for an organisation such as an estate agency because they are able to monitor what their staff are using the internet and email for. This is good for the organisation as they are able to keep an eye on their staff, and will be able to see when they are working and when they are not and using the system for their pleasure. This could make the workforce more productive because they will be less likely to not use the system for non-work related use.
However, there are a number of negative impacts it might have for the organisation including staff may feel have they have no privacy, as they will be being monitored, and they access can be viewed by somebody else. This may also be costly for the organisation, as they will have to purchase additional software to enable them to monitor their staff’s internet and email use.
There are a number of advantages for the employees of the state agency including the fact they may like the idea that they are being monitored because it will make them more productive, because they will know that if they use the system for non-work related or looking for other jobs, they are likely to be logged.
There are a number of problems this system might have for an employee who only uses the system for business purposes because if a word which they were using online, was a keyword which would log them on the system which could mean that they get into trouble, and they were using the system for its intended purpose.
The following are some of my own recommendations about the use of this system:
♣ They can only send email messages to customers who are registered and on the mailing list, this will mean that it will be harder for them to email friends, or send their CVs because they must firstly be registered.
♣ The organisation could set up a walled garden, where only verified sites can be viewed on the system, this would mean that staff could only view what the organisation feel is appropriate.
However, there are a number of negative impacts it might have for the organisation including staff may feel have they have no privacy, as they will be being monitored, and they access can be viewed by somebody else. This may also be costly for the organisation, as they will have to purchase additional software to enable them to monitor their staff’s internet and email use.
There are a number of advantages for the employees of the state agency including the fact they may like the idea that they are being monitored because it will make them more productive, because they will know that if they use the system for non-work related or looking for other jobs, they are likely to be logged.
There are a number of problems this system might have for an employee who only uses the system for business purposes because if a word which they were using online, was a keyword which would log them on the system which could mean that they get into trouble, and they were using the system for its intended purpose.
The following are some of my own recommendations about the use of this system:
♣ They can only send email messages to customers who are registered and on the mailing list, this will mean that it will be harder for them to email friends, or send their CVs because they must firstly be registered.
♣ The organisation could set up a walled garden, where only verified sites can be viewed on the system, this would mean that staff could only view what the organisation feel is appropriate.
Teen Arrive Allive GPS Tracking System
“Teen Arrive Alive is a private company founded specifically to provide support to parents who are concerned about the driving safety of their teenagers. Our goal is to bring the teen problem to the forefront, assist in critical education, and recognise the positive driving behaviours of our nation’s teens.”
The company claims that nearly 78% of teenagers in the US are ticketed or crash by the time they are 18. Among other services, the Teen Arrive Alive organisation offers GPS tracking for teenagers to parents who may be worried that their child is late, missing, lost, abducted or not driving very well. Using a mobile phone and GPS technology, parents can track their teenager’s driving in real time. The route shows up on a digital map showing the speed travelled.
I have researched the website and discussed the benefits and drawbacks of the use of this technology to ‘protect’ teenagers. (IntelliOne Technologies Corporation aquired Teen Arrive Alive in 2007).
Benefits:
► Are that it is likely that the teenagers are going to dive more sensibly, this is because they are aware that their parents are able to watch them.
► Parameters are set and when these are exceeded an alarm sounds which alerts both the driver and the parents
Drawbacks:
► The teenager does not have any freedom, they are always being watched.
► This is the ‘big brother’ effect as they will always be under surveillance.
The company claims that nearly 78% of teenagers in the US are ticketed or crash by the time they are 18. Among other services, the Teen Arrive Alive organisation offers GPS tracking for teenagers to parents who may be worried that their child is late, missing, lost, abducted or not driving very well. Using a mobile phone and GPS technology, parents can track their teenager’s driving in real time. The route shows up on a digital map showing the speed travelled.
I have researched the website and discussed the benefits and drawbacks of the use of this technology to ‘protect’ teenagers. (IntelliOne Technologies Corporation aquired Teen Arrive Alive in 2007).
Benefits:
► Are that it is likely that the teenagers are going to dive more sensibly, this is because they are aware that their parents are able to watch them.
► Parameters are set and when these are exceeded an alarm sounds which alerts both the driver and the parents
Drawbacks:
► The teenager does not have any freedom, they are always being watched.
► This is the ‘big brother’ effect as they will always be under surveillance.
Monday, 13 October 2008
Discussion: US Passports and RFID
The US Department of Homeland Security has decided that 1 million US passports will contain radio frequency ID chips in 2005, moving to a universal system from 2006. these RFID tags will allow customs officials to scan passports using special radio receivers. They will not have to approach the travellers directly but can scan them from nearby. The passports will contain biometric and other information.It will be faster and more convenient for customs but there are a number of dangers, including: the shielded cover are ineffective when a passport is open, and that a passport may have to be opened for inspection in a public place such as a hotel, a bank, or an Internet cafe. An open passport is subject to illicit reading of chip data, such as by a government agent who is tracking a passport holder's movements or by a criminal who is intending identity theft
Investigate The Pros & Cons of ID Cards
Using the internet I have researched exactly what is being proposed by the UK Government and what the objections are. T
he following is a list of all the ICT that is involved in the UK’s proposed card scheme: a large data database, biometric information, DNA testers, fingerprint readers etc.
The purpose of ID cars is meant to be that it will make surveillance and identification of people much easier and reduce crime as they can be tracked easily. It will meet this purpose because they will be issued to everybody within the UK and will hold a number of pieces of individual unique information including your personal information, identifying information, residential status, personal reference numbers, record history, registration, ID card history, validation information, security information and records of provision of information.
The advantages of such a system are:
· Identity verification in banks or at national borders
· Quick ownership or eligibility verification
· False identification may be reduced where identity cards are required to open a bank account.
· Identity cards can be a useful administrative tool that can increase efficiency in dealings with both the government and private companies.
· ID cards reduce crime.
· Cards may help reduce immigration service bureaucracy.
· All humans already carry personal identification, which cannot be discarded or falsified, DNA.
The drawbacks of such a system are:
· Identity cards impose a disproportionate burden upon both government and citizens
· Cards with centralised database could be used to track anyone's movements and private life, thus endangering privacy.
· A requirement to carry an identity card at all times can lead to the inconvenience of arbitrary requests from the police.
· Government claims that identity cards will prevent crimes; however, this is not be based on facts, only opinions.
· Historically, governments which issued identity cards to citizens used them forcefully, for example, Nazi Germany.
· In many cases, other forms of documentation such as a driver's license or passport, card serve a similar function on a more limited scale, and thus an ID card is not needed.
· The cost of introducing and administering an identity card system can be very high. Figures from £30 to £90 or even higher have been suggested for the proposed UK ID card.
· In some countries where ID cards are required to show religious affiliation or ethnic background, this can lead to cases of discrimination.
· Some schemes do not take into account whether people have legitimate reasons to conceal their identity.
My personal recommendation as to whether we should have ID cards is that they are not necessary, because the majority of people have a passport or other forms of identification which work as a form of ID, and as mentioned above, there will only be one document that needs to be produced fraudulently, whereas today you need a number of documents to prove your identity which can be harder to produce a number of convincing documents, and the overall cost of the system is huge, even tough the Government will be footing the bill.
he following is a list of all the ICT that is involved in the UK’s proposed card scheme: a large data database, biometric information, DNA testers, fingerprint readers etc.
The purpose of ID cars is meant to be that it will make surveillance and identification of people much easier and reduce crime as they can be tracked easily. It will meet this purpose because they will be issued to everybody within the UK and will hold a number of pieces of individual unique information including your personal information, identifying information, residential status, personal reference numbers, record history, registration, ID card history, validation information, security information and records of provision of information.
The advantages of such a system are:
· Identity verification in banks or at national borders
· Quick ownership or eligibility verification
· False identification may be reduced where identity cards are required to open a bank account.
· Identity cards can be a useful administrative tool that can increase efficiency in dealings with both the government and private companies.
· ID cards reduce crime.
· Cards may help reduce immigration service bureaucracy.
· All humans already carry personal identification, which cannot be discarded or falsified, DNA.
The drawbacks of such a system are:
· Identity cards impose a disproportionate burden upon both government and citizens
· Cards with centralised database could be used to track anyone's movements and private life, thus endangering privacy.
· A requirement to carry an identity card at all times can lead to the inconvenience of arbitrary requests from the police.
· Government claims that identity cards will prevent crimes; however, this is not be based on facts, only opinions.
· Historically, governments which issued identity cards to citizens used them forcefully, for example, Nazi Germany.
· In many cases, other forms of documentation such as a driver's license or passport, card serve a similar function on a more limited scale, and thus an ID card is not needed.
· The cost of introducing and administering an identity card system can be very high. Figures from £30 to £90 or even higher have been suggested for the proposed UK ID card.
· In some countries where ID cards are required to show religious affiliation or ethnic background, this can lead to cases of discrimination.
· Some schemes do not take into account whether people have legitimate reasons to conceal their identity.
My personal recommendation as to whether we should have ID cards is that they are not necessary, because the majority of people have a passport or other forms of identification which work as a form of ID, and as mentioned above, there will only be one document that needs to be produced fraudulently, whereas today you need a number of documents to prove your identity which can be harder to produce a number of convincing documents, and the overall cost of the system is huge, even tough the Government will be footing the bill.
Managing Information Overload
Many ICT tools have been created to help in dealing with the information explosion. The following can help in decision making:
♦ Spreadsheets can be used because they present a clear and consistent way of understanding and interpreting data. Data can be keyed into a spreadsheet and can be stored as a template so that updates can be added. If formulae are used, new data can be incorporated and updated easily to give the user figures. A spreadsheet has a number of factors which allow them to:
▪ Produce and display numerical, graphical and statistical data such as:
▫ Sales forecasts
▫ Profit and losses
▫ General expenditure
▫ Wage and salary information
▫ Distribution facts▪ Forecast information
▪ Calculate information
▪ Predict alternative outcomes and behaviour under different conditions
▪ Analyse information
▪ Automate procedures
♦ Simulation software can be used because it is based on the process of imitating a real event with a set of mathematical formulas. It is a program that allows the user to observe an operation through simulation without actually running the program. Simulation software is used widely to design equipment so that the final product will be as close to design specs as possible without expensive in process modification.
♦ Data mining tools can be used because it is the process of sorting through large amounts of data and picking out relevant information. This is the statistical and logical analysis of large sets of transaction data, looking for patterns that can aid decision making.
♦ Exception reporting tools can be used because they find any exceptions which have not been noticed, and therefore warn the user that there maybe a problem with the programme, this will aid in decision making.
♦ Spreadsheets can be used because they present a clear and consistent way of understanding and interpreting data. Data can be keyed into a spreadsheet and can be stored as a template so that updates can be added. If formulae are used, new data can be incorporated and updated easily to give the user figures. A spreadsheet has a number of factors which allow them to:
▪ Produce and display numerical, graphical and statistical data such as:
▫ Sales forecasts
▫ Profit and losses
▫ General expenditure
▫ Wage and salary information
▫ Distribution facts▪ Forecast information
▪ Calculate information
▪ Predict alternative outcomes and behaviour under different conditions
▪ Analyse information
▪ Automate procedures
♦ Simulation software can be used because it is based on the process of imitating a real event with a set of mathematical formulas. It is a program that allows the user to observe an operation through simulation without actually running the program. Simulation software is used widely to design equipment so that the final product will be as close to design specs as possible without expensive in process modification.
♦ Data mining tools can be used because it is the process of sorting through large amounts of data and picking out relevant information. This is the statistical and logical analysis of large sets of transaction data, looking for patterns that can aid decision making.
♦ Exception reporting tools can be used because they find any exceptions which have not been noticed, and therefore warn the user that there maybe a problem with the programme, this will aid in decision making.
Making Choices
My grandmother wants a mobile phone. She does not have a price limit as such but wants to spend as little as possible. I have investigated the phone available and have suggested one for her. Here is an evaluation and where she could buy this phone from.
I would recommend that The Samsung SPH-A420 this is because it only has the basic features, so there is less for her to get confused with. I am assuming that she has never owned a mobile phone and is not very up-to-date and often get confused using the easiest of modern technologies. This phone is easy to use; compact and relatively light; friendly, icon-based menu; voice calling. Has no Bluetooth, camera or WAP browser, which are all items she does not require for her desired use. She would be able to send SMS messages if she wished to.
This item is unavailable in the shops as it is an old model, however can be bought direct from Samsung for £??:??.
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Discussion: Impact of Game Players
Perhaps on of the largest impacts of ICT on the personal lives of young people has been the explosive growth of home game players or ‘play’ stations. An article in New Scientist (23 October 2004, p.26) stated that $3.8 thousand million of games were sold in 1995, rising to $6 thousand million in 1998 and $7 thousand million by 2003. It is estimated that 25% of these games were violent.
☻Computer games are so popular because they allow people to take themselves away from reality and immerse themselves in the world of the game. Many people enjoy playing these games because they have been well produced to engage the players.
☻Computer games make you more violent sometimes depending on what games you play. This is because some are violent and if people get used to this very a start to apply to real life situations, instead of the simulated ones in these games.
☻Computer games make you more isolated because you are less likely to wish to socialise with friends or family because you will have more enjoyment from playing with the console on your own. It may make you more social if it is networked.
☻Networked computer games make you more social because you are able to communicate with friends, where you may not usually, if you are use to playing on your own. However, there can be some disadvantages because you can sometimes be unsure who you are playing with.
☻Computer games are so popular because they allow people to take themselves away from reality and immerse themselves in the world of the game. Many people enjoy playing these games because they have been well produced to engage the players.
☻Computer games make you more violent sometimes depending on what games you play. This is because some are violent and if people get used to this very a start to apply to real life situations, instead of the simulated ones in these games.
☻Computer games make you more isolated because you are less likely to wish to socialise with friends or family because you will have more enjoyment from playing with the console on your own. It may make you more social if it is networked.
☻Networked computer games make you more social because you are able to communicate with friends, where you may not usually, if you are use to playing on your own. However, there can be some disadvantages because you can sometimes be unsure who you are playing with.
Friday, 10 October 2008
Discussion: Pirated Entertainment
☻The advantages of paying a supplier such as Apple for a legal music download are that you know that you are not doing anything illegal. Also, you know that what you have bought online is what you are actually going to get and it will be a full quality version, because sometimes when you download files of other sites you are not always sure what you are downloading or whether it is the correct version that you want, (i.e. correct artist, live version).
☻The disadvantage of buying a pirate DVD from a market stall are that the quality if often poor, parts can be missed as the film has often been filmed in a cinema and if it does not work or is not the film you wished to buy you have no comeback, because it has not been bought from a shop and has been bought illegally and so you have no comeback.
☻The disadvantage of getting a pirate download of the latest Hollywood blockbuster before its UK release is it is not of a very high quality and can ruin your enjoyment of the film as pieces could be missing or it could be hard to interpret what is being said or happening.
☻The disadvantage to you of visiting an illicit music download site is that your IP address is logged and when you do download a site you cannot be sure what you have downloaded and you may have a feeling of guilt as you have not bought the file.
☻Widespread illicit downloading discourages the funding of new talent because it is too expensive for record companies to sign new talent because they know that the files will be distributed illegally where the company will not receive any income and so there is no point the company producing these songs if they are not going to make any profit from them.
Discussion: Access to Original Entertainment
It has never been easier to publish original entertainment, this is because many people have access to the internet, and on this vast interface people are able to share original entertainment on a variety of sites such as YouTube and MySpace. In addition, it has become much easier for people to record their own music at home without much specialist hardware or software; this is because of the advances and sophistication of sound cards. This has meant that users can use computerised drum kits and use software to enhance tracks etc. Also, mistakes can be edited very easily by using the software which allow you to edit very much like a work processing package allows you to.
It has never been harder to see and hear original entertainment online, this is because a lot of ‘rubbish’ is often published online which means that it can be very hard to find original entertainment online. Due to the high volume of rubbish posted on the internet, it means that users have to look through numerous pages to find some original entertainment which has been well produced.
It has never been harder to see and hear original entertainment online, this is because a lot of ‘rubbish’ is often published online which means that it can be very hard to find original entertainment online. Due to the high volume of rubbish posted on the internet, it means that users have to look through numerous pages to find some original entertainment which has been well produced.
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Business Communications
I have undertaken some research into the best practices in modern business communications and have created a short presentation on the topic covering main uses, benefits and drawbacks. The following is a summary of several methods of business communication, including:
● Web-based communication - for better and improved communication, anytime anywhere;
● e-mails, which provide an instantaneous medium of written communication worldwide;
● Reports - important in documenting the activities of any department;
● Presentations - very popular method of communication in all types of organizations, usually involving audiovisual material, like copies of reports, or material prepared in Microsoft PowerPoint or Adobe Flash;
● Telephoned meetings, which allow for long distance speech;
● Forum boards, which allow people to instantly post information at a centralized location;
● Web-based communication - for better and improved communication, anytime anywhere;
● e-mails, which provide an instantaneous medium of written communication worldwide;
● Reports - important in documenting the activities of any department;
● Presentations - very popular method of communication in all types of organizations, usually involving audiovisual material, like copies of reports, or material prepared in Microsoft PowerPoint or Adobe Flash;
● Telephoned meetings, which allow for long distance speech;
● Forum boards, which allow people to instantly post information at a centralized location;
Finding Reliable and Valid Information
I have visited the following hoax sites listed below:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blhoax.htm
http://www.dreamweaverstudios.com/moonbeam/moon.htm
http://www.dhmo.org/
http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Network/9000/
http://zapatopi.net/afdb.html
http://www.sedftw.com/jackcon.htm
We can assess that information on the internet is probably real by checking:
● How does the website look and feel?
● Are the listed in common databases?
● Check for proper contact information.
● Who owns the website?
● What country are they based in?
● Check Google or other search engines.
● Is it a home-based business?
The following are signs which should make us distrust a website, if the information looks untrue, has a number of spelling and grammatical errors, not professional presented, the meaning is not clear etc.
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
Evaluation of my communications
This is an evaluation of my personal, social and college related uses of the other communication services. I feel that communication I vital in today’s society, especially now that you can communicate with people all over the world and they do not need to be stood in front of you. I feel that communicating using IT is very important especially because it is cheap and is easy for you to be able to do so. I feel that communicating in this manner has meant that I communicate with people when I would often not and allows me to communicate with a wide rang of people using a variety of methods, using the best one which suits my needs. My favourite method of communication, other than face-to-face is email, this is because it is free and I am able to check emails regularly as I check my emails several times a day, and when I have my computer on I am automatically alerted if I receive one and I able to reply back immediately which is a major advantage.
When do I use email?
The following is an evaluation of my personal, social and school work use of email:
● The purposes I use email for include communication with both friends, family and teachers. I use email when I need to communicate and don’t need an instant response or need to talk to the person face to face.
● I use email in a number of places, however, I am unable to use it anywhere, this is because you require access to the internet, this can be set up on your mobile phone, which means you can access the benefits of email almost anywhere, however, I am yet to take advantage of this. I mainly use email at home and college, I occasionally use it when I go away on a computer at the place which I am staying.
● The major benefits in using email is that is free (proving you have a computer and access to the internet) and you are able to send file attachments which can be useful, especially when you wish to send a piece of work to somebody or just sending from school to home for you to complete.
● The problems and disadvantages I have in using email is that often my mailbox becomes full when uncompressed photographs are sent to me, and I often do not receive some. It can sometimes take a long time to download your emails if you have a lot and many emails are junk or spam.
● Email makes me more productive because I am able to communicate with people and allows me to undertake activities over the internet without leaving my home.
● Email fulfils its intended purposes because messages can be sent over an internt connection and you are able to attach files and send messages to multiple recipients and most importantly free, which is a novelty today.
When do you use mobile phones?
The following is an evaluation of my personal, social and college related uses of mobile phone:
● The purposes I use my mobile phone for include communication with friends and family. This can be for a number of different reasons, for example it could be that I just want to talk to somebody, or I could be calling for a specific purpose e.g. asking about homework.
● I use my mobile phone in a number of different place, I use it wherever I need to or have the desire to communicate. This is an advantage of having a mobile phone, because as the name suggests, I am able to communicate anywhere, providing that there is a signal, I don’t have to be within my house to use the phone.
● The major benefits for me in using my mobile phone are that it is portable and can be used anywhere. A major advantage is that I am still able to use the phone even if my parents are on the home phone for ages as I can use my mobile. Another benefit, it that I can text people, this is useful I don’t really want to talk to the person, or are unable to contact them. In addition, all my contacts are stored in the phone book on my phone, this means that I don’t have to enter numbers every time I wish to text or make a phone call.
● The problems or disadvantages I have in using my mobile phone are that there is not always a signal, which can be a nuisance and that it is often more expensive to use a mobile than a landline and that if you are on pay-as-you-go, if you run out of credit you are unable to use your phone for communicating until you ‘top-up’.
● My mobile phone fulfils its intended purpose because it allows me to communicate anywhere, and I am able to both send text and voice messages using it. It stores all of my contacts and has a number of additional features which can be used at my disposal such as camera, games, radio, music player etc.
● The purposes I use my mobile phone for include communication with friends and family. This can be for a number of different reasons, for example it could be that I just want to talk to somebody, or I could be calling for a specific purpose e.g. asking about homework.
● I use my mobile phone in a number of different place, I use it wherever I need to or have the desire to communicate. This is an advantage of having a mobile phone, because as the name suggests, I am able to communicate anywhere, providing that there is a signal, I don’t have to be within my house to use the phone.
● The major benefits for me in using my mobile phone are that it is portable and can be used anywhere. A major advantage is that I am still able to use the phone even if my parents are on the home phone for ages as I can use my mobile. Another benefit, it that I can text people, this is useful I don’t really want to talk to the person, or are unable to contact them. In addition, all my contacts are stored in the phone book on my phone, this means that I don’t have to enter numbers every time I wish to text or make a phone call.
● The problems or disadvantages I have in using my mobile phone are that there is not always a signal, which can be a nuisance and that it is often more expensive to use a mobile than a landline and that if you are on pay-as-you-go, if you run out of credit you are unable to use your phone for communicating until you ‘top-up’.
● My mobile phone fulfils its intended purpose because it allows me to communicate anywhere, and I am able to both send text and voice messages using it. It stores all of my contacts and has a number of additional features which can be used at my disposal such as camera, games, radio, music player etc.
Discussion Digital Communication versus Voice Conversation
Communicating with SMS in text language has a social downside compared with having a proper voice conversation because the meaning is not always clear, as there is no set language to use; people use their own abbreviations which are not always understood by all. If you are intending to have a long conversation with somebody, it can sometimes be quicker to phone them instead of firing messages backwards and forwards.
There are also some social downsides to firing off a quick email rather than having a short conversation because you are often unable to tell the mood of the person you are communicating with, this is because you are unable to see their body language, which can give some important clues.
There are also some social downsides to firing off a quick email rather than having a short conversation because you are often unable to tell the mood of the person you are communicating with, this is because you are unable to see their body language, which can give some important clues.
Monday, 6 October 2008
Analysing the "Good Old Days"
Two different office applications that could be used by the small business to improve upon the paper-based systems employed in the 1970s could be Microsoft Excel and MS Works Spreadsheets.
Two advantages of Microsoft Excel over the paper-based system are that formulas can be used to carry out mathematical calculations which can be replicated down and cross the columns and rows. Another advantage is that you are able to link worksheets together so that you can calculate complex calculations and budgets. Two advantages of MS Works over the paper-based system are that is that if there is not a mistake, the whole sheet does not need to be retyped, you can simply ‘write over’ the mistake. In addition, you are able to copy and paste, which means that if there is any data that can be replicated, you can do that simply, instead of having to retype it again.
One advantage of a spreadsheet is that you are able to work out complex calculations with out the need to use a calculator or work it out yourself. This is advantageous as you do not need to do this and it is less likely that there will be a human error.
Secretaries’ and typists’ employment prospects were affected by the advent of these office packages because now it was easier and faster for just one person to do the work of many and as this was more cost effective than employing a number of people, many unfortunately would have lost their jobs.
A number of new job opportunities were opened up by the advent of office applications for example some secretaries and typists jobs changed into personal assistants, there would need to be a number of technicians who were able to troubleshoot, when these applications failed. In addition, there would need to be trainers who would be able to teach employees how to use the applications effectively and there would be more jobs in the production of IT equipment as more and more equipment was being purchased.
Two advantages of Microsoft Excel over the paper-based system are that formulas can be used to carry out mathematical calculations which can be replicated down and cross the columns and rows. Another advantage is that you are able to link worksheets together so that you can calculate complex calculations and budgets. Two advantages of MS Works over the paper-based system are that is that if there is not a mistake, the whole sheet does not need to be retyped, you can simply ‘write over’ the mistake. In addition, you are able to copy and paste, which means that if there is any data that can be replicated, you can do that simply, instead of having to retype it again.
One advantage of a spreadsheet is that you are able to work out complex calculations with out the need to use a calculator or work it out yourself. This is advantageous as you do not need to do this and it is less likely that there will be a human error.
Secretaries’ and typists’ employment prospects were affected by the advent of these office packages because now it was easier and faster for just one person to do the work of many and as this was more cost effective than employing a number of people, many unfortunately would have lost their jobs.
A number of new job opportunities were opened up by the advent of office applications for example some secretaries and typists jobs changed into personal assistants, there would need to be a number of technicians who were able to troubleshoot, when these applications failed. In addition, there would need to be trainers who would be able to teach employees how to use the applications effectively and there would be more jobs in the production of IT equipment as more and more equipment was being purchased.
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