1.17 Economic, Moral, Legal, Ethical and Cultural Issues

Question 1

Give 3 effects of computer science.

Answer 1

1. The ease in which money can be transferred across the globe.
2. Unemployment due to advances in computer science.
3. Easier to spend money online.

Question 2

Define moral and ethical.

Answer 2

What is right and wrong and what is not clear cut.

Question 3

State 2 moral and ethical effects of computer science.

Answer 3

1. Are parents being protective or intrusive when they monitor their children’s internet activity?
2. What freedom of speech should users enjoy on the internet e.g. social networking?

Question 4

What does legal mean?

Answer 4

Anything relating to law.

Question 5

What does cultural mean?

Answer 5

This term relates to how society works, can mean anything relation to human civilisation.

Question 6

State 2 cultural effects computer science has.

Answer 6

1. Politics is increasingly digitised in contemporary society.
2. Owning a smartphone is increasingly the norm and people can more easily meet
   others from beyond their social circle.

Question 7

What are some effects on employment do to computing? (4)

Answer 7

1. Most people now expected to have some level of IT skills.
2. Training expected in workplaces.
3. Use of email in offices can make communication more efficient, meetings can be quickly scheduled using email software. This can have an isolating effect if
   people use it as a substitute for more personal communication.
4. Telecommuting is being more common.

Question 8

Define telecommuting.

Answer 8

Working from home and communicating with work electronically.

Question 9

State 4 advantages for telecommuting.

Answer 9

1. Companies save money on office space, heating & lighting costs if staff work from home.
2. Extreme weather doe not stop employees from doing their jobs.
3. Less time wasted travelling to work.
4. Staff have more time to spend either doing their jobs/ enjoying leisure time.

Question 10

State 3 disadvantages for telecommuting (1).

Answer 10

1. Purchase and distribution of equipment can be expensive initially.
2. Networking costs to each employee rather than just a single connection to
   office location.
3. Security can be difficult in such a
   distributed environment.

Question 11

State 3 disadvantages for telecommuting (2).

Answer 11

1. If equipment needs to be maintained or repaired , this is much more inconvenient for the company as the equipment is no longer together and centralised.
2. Staff can become distracted and less productive at home.
3. Staff may request extra pay for extra responsibility.

Question 12

State the 3 main acts for computers.

Answer 12

1. The Computer Misuse Act
2. The Data Protection Act
3. The Freedom of Information Act

Question 13

What does the computer misuse act consist of? (5)

Answer 13

1. Hacking
2. Data misuse and unauthorised transfer or copying.
3. Copying and distributing copyrighted software, music and film.
4. Email and chat room abuses.
5. Identity and financial abuses
6. Viruses