Chapter 6.1 The digital divide or information literacy

Question 1

What is the Digital divide?

Answer 1

The term digital divide related to the gap between
those people who are able to make effective use of
ICT and those who are not.

Question 2

What cause the digital divide?

Answer 2

1 It could be a lack of access to the Hardware or
Software.
2 Lack of skills to use them.

Question 3

Why are the poor or racial minorities most effected?

Answer 3

Advance technologies are not developed for the poor,
therefore they are very basic and rarely cause these
people to enhance ICT skills.

Question 4

Where are individuals impacted due to the digital divide?

Answer 4

Individuals are effected in many areas of life that will include:
1 Health services
2 Employment Opportunities.

Question 5

Explain how individuals health services are affected by the digital divide?

Answer 5

• Many online health services are online. These might include some basic treatments to any ailments,
or may recommend a specialist.
• Some doctors have their own website, through which an appointment can be taken to save patients time.
• Some website sell medicines online, but are strictly being monitored.
• Some hospitals are using portable based computer systems. Instead of getting hard copy of X rays and patients health charts on a trolley based computer system at the bed side of the patient.

Question 6

Explain how individuals Employment Opportunities are affected by the digital divide?

Answer 6

• Use of office automation software’s is a prerequisite these days.
• Better equipped schools and colleges have ICT in
there regular program, thus creating a digital divide
between those that cannot and are not doing so.
• In online recruitment, those that have access to the
internet can post there resume online as compared to
those that cannot, therefore create a less opportunity
to the later.
• Moreover, those that have this facility can find more
job opportunities that are posted online, they can find
out the tread towards a particular program or area
etc.

Question 7

How as the internet enabled disabled people to perform activities?

Answer 7

• People that are deaf can now use instant messaging
and internet to communicate and learn. Webcams
can be used to share more elaborated information to
the user.
• People with sight problem can use different font sizes
and types to help them.
• There are now many input devices that can help an
individual with disability to work effectively

Question 8

What are the different Specialized hardware for disabled?

Answer 8

1 Sticky Keys: When turned on, it allows the user to use
individual keys to represent multiple keys.
2 Filter Keys: It is an accessibility function that tells the keyboard to ignore brief or repeated keystrokes, in order to make typing easier for people with hand tremors.
3 Mouse Keys: The number pad can be configured to be used as a mouse.
4 Head Pointers: These use a camera positioned on top of the monitor to detect the movement of the head through the use of reflective materials, software later converts these into mouse movements

Question 9

What are the advantages of online shopping for disabled people?

Answer 9

• Advantage for the disabled as they cannot do any type of physical shopping.
• Do not have to travel.
• Its is 24/7.
• It is much more easier for the disabled to take time and make a decision while on the internet.
• Many shopping centers do not cater for the disabled, therefore their website do not tailor for the disabled as well. For example, making use of too much text/data entry or popup.
• An ecommerce based website should always have a search facility and other facilities like easy navigation that will facilitate the user.
• Text on some website is Hard Coded, meaning that it is not possible to increase the size of the font.

Question 10

Advantages of online banking to disabled people?

Answer 10

• Online banking has been a great help to the disabled.
• Many points same as ecommerce.
• Banks website do not again cater for the disabled and
the elderly ones.

Question 11

Advantages of Booking systems to disabled people?

Answer 11

• In order to book in advance it is much more easier for the disabled to use the online system rather than going to a railway station or a cinema house.
• Some systems might give preferences of the seating arrangement for the disabled otherwise they can choose their own seating arrangement.
• Many sites clearly identify the disabled facilities available at a particular hotel/aircraft, trains etc.
• Different prices can be compared.
• Travel brochure/ Term and conditions etc can be viewed/ zoomed in to be read carefully.
• Again choosing from different options will be a lot more easier from a computer rather than actually visiting a place.

Question 12

Advantages of Health Services to disabled people?

Answer 12

• Disabled people can contact and gain feedback from their doctor or other health professional online.
• General health issues can be discussed online. Through the use of expert based websites.

Question 13

Advantages of Employment to disabled people?

Answer 13

• It is accepted that ICT has improved and given more chance for the disabled to work.
• Disabled people have many favourable positions in the ICT industry were their skills can be appreciated.
• The training of the disabled will eliminate the digital divide that is between the more able and the disabled.
• By gaining ICT the disabled are in a better position to find jobs that can be done from home. Or maybe the employer can facilitate these people to work from home.

Question 14

Legal and political systems

Answer 14

• The internet has lead the growth of websites owned by many legal firms, they might offer some legal services for free online so that they can be hired for a much more detailed service.
• Many issues such as the power o attorney or a renew of a contract etc can be discussed online. Many other advises are available on such websites.

Question 15

What are focus groups?

Answer 15

Focus groups are people that are involved in the research to gather the drawback or benefits of a product or service.

Question 16

What is a moderator?

Answer 16

A moderator is a person that is involved in the discussion with the focus group and ask questions.

Question 17

What is an observer?

Answer 17

An observer sometimes present behind the two way mirror can be a part as well.

Question 18

How can the internet aide in focus groups?

Answer 18

• Internet can facilitate the focus groups to discuss more often or they might use message board to post their respective comments, moderator can be present here as well to see the type of discussion that is taking place.
• Focus groups from all over the world can participate covering more geographical area. Therefore, it results in time and cost saving.
• In such a case the moderator might not have a much influence in an online meeting, who happens to be a very important person in the research.
• Observers will note be able to see the reaction of the focus groups.

Question 19

What are forums?

Answer 19

• The use of internet has increased the political criticism.
• Discussions and posting of information can be done on these forums.
• Administrators and Moderators are involved in such as kind of forums.
• The administrator has more rights as compared to the moderator. Administrators have the overall control over the forum, whereas the moderator has the power to delete edit the postings.
• Internet forums are different from chat rooms.

Question 20

What are blogs?

Answer 20

1 Weblogs, short form [blogs], were initially used by individuals to keep record of their daily lives.
2 The first posting or reply in a blog you will see to be the latest one, and the rest preceding posting you will see them as the newest first and oldest last.
3 Another feature of a blog is that a blog is not being monitored by any one. Therefore the information posted on blogs is uncensored and unfiltered.
4 Many senior politicians have their own blogs, which enables them to be much more closer to their voters and get their reviews and suggestions. Therefore contact them has become much more easier.

Question 21

What is Wikis?

Answer 21

1 A wiki is a form of a software that allows the user to create their own website.
2 It is interactive, meaning that the user can change the details in order to correct the errors.
3 But this can result in some distorted information as well.

Question 22

Explain computer fraud

Answer 22

• With the advent of computers, mobile phones has made
computer fraud much easier.
• An employee of a company can issue multiple invoices for equipment that they do not require.
• Identity theft is the most common issue these day, which means to take the identity information of some other person and misuse it.
• There are many ways he/she can do so.
• Searching trash bins for documents of individuals. Eg
getting credit card / debit card information.

Question 23

What are the different types of Antisocial use of ICT?

Answer 23

1™ Misuse of personal data
2™ Deleting personal data
3™ Amending personal data
4™ Distributing personal data
5™ Viruses
6™ Spam's
7™ Cyber bullying

Question 24

When does Antisocial use of ICT occur?

Answer 24

1 Occurs when the other person has the control over someone else computer, directly or indirectly.
2 Many PCs lack proper antivirus and spywares, due to which the information is leaked out.

Question 25

Explain Misuse of personal data

Answer 25

1 Name, address, postcode, date of birth, ethnic group, gender or occupation.
2 The following data above can be deleted passed over to someoneelse or edited

Question 26

What is a logic Bomb?

Answer 26

A logic bomb is a nasty piece of software that is designed to cause some damage on a computer or network. Such an attack is triggered by a certain event or series of events; it could be something as simple as the passage of a certain amount of time or a given user logging in.For example, when the system clock on a target machine reaches a certain date and time… Bam! The critical data residing on it is destroyed, or maybe the computer crashes.

Question 27

explain Deleting personal data

Answer 27

1 use of a logic bomb
2 There are software’s that can generate a combination of passwords to be used for a particular ID.
3 Even though even after entering into the computer system most files will have passwords on them. Either some other software to crack the password of the software can be used or these files can be deleted .
This is an act of vandalism. Just aimed to cause inconvenience either to an individual or to an organization.

Question 28

What is Amending personal data

Answer 28

Severe embarrassment could be faced either by an individual or an organization if sensitive data is found to be have changed.

Question 29

What information do hospitals hold?

Answer 29

• The physical or mental status of an individual

* Racial / ethnic origin of individuals.

Question 30

What information do Police hold?

Answer 30

• Criminal offence by an individual/group

* Details of any court cases that might have occurred.

Question 31

What information do Government security forces hold?

Answer 31

• Political opinion of individuals

Question 32

What is distributing personal data?

Answer 32

When personal data is collected by companies of individuals, they are responsible not to distribute the information to other companies

Question 33

What are Viruses?

Answer 33

• Viruses are program codes written to disrupt the normal functioning of a computer system.

Question 34

What is Spam?

Answer 34

• Spam also know as bulk mail. Several copies of the mail are send to different people. Therefore it uses up the memory of the device or server.
• Organizations have to spend more on the hardware and software to avoid spam’s.
• Spam filters can be used, but sometimes they might delete an important email.
• Various email addresses are collected with the help of a software that searches for @ sign in different websites, and later saves these into its database

Question 35

What makes up a Home entertainment system?

Answer 35

• Home theaters system
• Surround sound
• Large, wide screen
• Clarity of picture
• A high definition source

Question 36

How Does Satellite TV Work?

Answer 36

1 Satellite TV works by broadcasting video and audio signals from geostationary satellites to satellite dishes on the Earth’s surface.
2 Each of these satellites carries a number of transponders. These transponders each carry a signal back to the Earth.
3 The signals that are transmitted by the transponders on a satellite are received by the parabolic dish. On account of traveling a substantially large distance, the signal received by the dish is weak. The signal is reflected
towards the feedhorn, a device mounted at the focal point of the dish. The function of a feedhorn is to collect the received signal and conduct it towards the low-noise block down converter (LNB).

Question 37

What is Terrestrial television?

Answer 37

Terrestrial television is a mode of television broadcasting which does not involve satellite transmission or cables — typically using radio waves through transmitting and receiving antennas or television antenna aerials.

Question 38

What are Internet auction sites>

Answer 38

Internet auctions are giant flea markets. Sellers may offer one item at a time or multiple lots of the same item. In theory, online auctions run much like local auctions, but behind the scenes there is a collection of data going on
continuously. Just like local auctions, there are sellers and bidders and winners and losers. Winners are expected to pay for what they bid on at the
conclusion of the auction. But that is where the similarities between online and local auctions end

Question 39

explain Registration for online auctions

Answer 39

At online auctions you will be required to register before you can buy or sell an item (s). This is required to track items you bid on or sell, keep up with the bids, determine the winning bids and build a database on seller and bidder feedback.

Question 40

Explain a winning bid in actions

Answer 40

The bidding for each auction closes at the scheduled time. In the case of sales of multiple lots, the participants with the highest bids at the close of the auction are obligated to buy the items. If no one bids at or above the reserve price, the auction closes without a winner. At the close of a successful auction, the buyer and seller communicate, usually by email, to arrange for payment and delivery of the goods.

Question 41

What are the different kinds of auctions?

Answer 41

1 Business-to-person

2 Person-to-person

Question 42

Explain Business-to-person Auctions

Answer 42

Sellers of business-to-person auction sites have physical control of the merchandise being offered and accept payment for the goods.

Question 43

Explain Person-to-person Auctions

Answer 43

In person-to-person auctions, individual sellers or small businesses offer their items for auction directly to consumers.

Question 44

What are the different methods of payment at online Auctions?

Answer 44

1 credit card
2 debit card
3 personal check
4 cashier's check
5 money order
6 cash on delivery 
7 escrow services

Question 45

Why do people usually use credit cards when using online auctions?

Answer 45

Credit cards offer buyers the most consumer protections, including the right to seek a credit from the credit card issuer if the product is not delivered or if the product received is not the product ordered

Question 46

Explain escrow services

Answer 46

The service releases the money to the seller only after the buyer receives and approves the merchandise. This helps protect buyers from ending up empty-handed after paying their money. Using an escrow service can delay the deal. As with any business transaction, investigate the escrow service’s reputation before signing on to the
service.

Question 47

What are some of the customer concerns with online auctions?

Answer 47

• Do not deliver the advertised goods.
• Deliver something far less valuable than they advertised.
• Do not deliver in a timely way.
• Fail to disclose all the relevant information about the product or terms of the sale.

Question 48

Where do customers Turn for Help with internet auctions?

Answer 48

• If you run into a problem try to work it out directly with the buyer or seller or with the auction web site.
• If that does not work, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by calling toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) or visiting the FTC’s web site.
• Although the Commission cannot resolve individual problems for consumers, it can act against a company if it sees a pattern of possible law violations.
• You also may want to contact your state Attorney General or your local consumer protection office.

Question 49

What are Forward auctions?

Answer 49

items are sold to the bidder with the highest bid.
During a forward auction, the seller puts items up for sale. Bidders compete by posting bids - these drive the price up. Sellers can choose not to sell below a given level by fixing a reserve price

Question 50

What are Reverse auctions?

Answer 50

suppliers compete on price and the lowest bid
wins the business. In a reverse auction, suppliers compete for a contract. The buyer sends out a tender document to favoured suppliers who compete for the business. They drive the price down during the auction event, which lasts only a few hours.