Describe the benefits and inherent dangers of widespread use of the Internet, chat rooms and forums.Dangers

Addiction – spending vast amounts of time on line either chatting, playing games , gambling, just browsing. Well documented cases of people unable to go to work as they are up all hours

Social Networking – Is the person you are talking to who they are ? Follow the strict rules on identity, never meet an unknown person

Reliability of Information – Can you trust the information you find on the internet ? If it is from e.g. BBC , CNN Government Depts – yes. If it is not is it valid

Health – See later

Benefits

Wealth of Information (World Wide) – for research

Instant Information – No waiting for a book to be sent

Ecommerce – Buying goods on line ……….

Teleworking – Working from home ……

Describe security issues and consequences associated with the widespread use of email.

Issues

Interception – emaills have been “hacked” / intercepted by individuals they wre not meant for. The solution to this is encryption so even if they are intercepted they are meaningless without the key to the encryption

Eg Royal Family emails have been intercepted and sold to press

MPs emails “ “ “ “ “

Also industrial secrets

Spreading Viruses – Emails especially ones with attachments can contain viruses. Follow rules ……..

Health and SafetyDescribe the health and safety issues arising from computer use.

RSI– Repetitive strain injury. This occurs from using poorly design equipment (e.g. keyboards for long periods of time. It is arthritis type injury that can cause e.g. severe long lasting cramping of the hands

Issues

Back / Neck Problems – Using poor design chairs that are not adjustable also monitors at the wrong height / angle can lead to back and neck problems after prolonged computer use

Eye Problems – Prolonged use of (especially older) monitors can give headaches , eye focus problems from screen glare. Newer monitors help also screen glare covers. Blinds and lighting are essintial.

Solutions – All of the above – Correct equipment and regular breaks – ergonomic keyboards , wrist supports, chairs , blinds , lighting.

There is health and safety legislation that companies MUST follow

Obesity – as more and more of are our work and LEISURE time involves the use of computers obesity is becoming a huge problem (not all comp fault but a contributor)

Professional BehaviourDescribe the role of codes of conduct in promoting professional behaviour..

Code of Conduct– This is a set of rules / guidelines that computer users sign up to and should follow

They are used in various situations –

• Schools – you have all signed a code of conduct that you should follow or lose your privileges e.g.

• Computer Software Companies – Just like builders have organisations that can be signed up to – to guarantee stands, computer software developers do to. THE BCS (Above) have a code of conduct that all software developers should follow. If you employee a company with BCS membership this should guarantee there work.

• At work – If you are employed by a company that uses computers significantly in the work you will probably be asked to sign a code of conduct, which if you break could lead to disciplinary procedure or dismissal.

Effect on employment Describe the possible effects of computers on the nature of employment.

Unemployment

•The use of computers has and will still have into the future significant effects on jobs

•Many manual have been lost due to robotic / control systems

•Many clerical jobs have been lost due to the use of databases, word processors

•Many management jobs have been lost due to intelligent management software

Employment

•The use of computers has created jobs in system design / programming

•Software maintenance

•Hardware setup and maintenance

•Web Design

Bottom Line – Unskilled jobs reducing – skilled jobs available