Chapter 7: The Use of Computer Technology in Society

Question 1

What are the three main types of computer related issues?

Answer 1

1. Legal
2. Ethical
3. Environmental

Question 2

What are the three main acts of Parliament regarding computer systems and legal issues?

Answer 2

1. The Data Protection Act: protects individuals’ data
2. The Health and Safety at Work Act: makes employers responsible for their staff
3. The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act: makes it illegal to use software without buying the appropriate licenses

Question 3

The Data Protection Acts states that an individual’s data must be… (8)

Answer 3

1. Used fairly and lawfully
2. Used for limited, specifically stated purposes
3. Used in relevant ways, and not excessively
4. Accurate
5. Kept for no longer than is absolutely necessary
6. Handled according to people’s data protection rights
7. Kept safe and secure
8. Not transferred outside the European Economic Area without adequate protection

Question 4

What does the Health and Safety at Work Act entail? (2, 4)

Answer 4

Designers of computer systems should consider:

1. Usability
2. Any health implications of software, screen layout, input methods and hardware

Individuals working with computers in the office can expect:

1. Appropriate desks
2. Adjustable chairs
3. Non-reflective lighting
4. Ventilation

Question 5

The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act

Answer 5

Protects the software writers from people making illegal copies, although it is difficult to enforce

Question 6

Common computer ethics issues (6)

Answer 6

1. Intellectual property rights e.g. copyrighted electronic content
2. Privacy concerns
3. The impact of computers on society e.g. loss of jobs
4. The digital divide: is it fair that some cannot afford computers or access the Internet?
5. Exploitation of certain countries, e.g. India, for cheap labour (e.g. programming, call centre work etc.)
6. Creating systems with accessibility problems

Question 7

What percentage of the world’s population had access to the Internet in 2011?

Answer 7

Only 32%

Question 8

Environmental considerations include… (4)

Answer 8

1. Does a computer system mean more manufacturing?
2. Do computer-managed engines work more efficiently i.e. less pollution and less fuel used?
3. Do computer systems allow people to work from home? Is this more eco-friendly than working in an office?
4. Carbon footprint and waste productions from manufacturing, although these are often outweighed by managing processes which might otherwise generate more pollution

Question 9

eWaste

Answer 9

Unwanted electrical items

Question 10

What regulations did the European Union draw up in 2007 to encourage the recycling of eWaste?

Answer 10

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations. They make sure that less eWaste goes to landfills and any valuable materials recycled

Question 11

How much eWaste does the UK throw away each year?

Answer 11

2 million tonnes

Question 12

What are a couple of examples of how eWaste materials can be recycled?

Answer 12

1. Zinc from old mobiles can be reused in ship building

2. The gold and platinum found in computers and consoles can be melted down to make jewellery

Question 13

Why do western companies ship recyclable items to developing countries?

What problems does this lead to?

Answer 13

It is legal and costs less: it only costs $2 to recycle a computer in China that would cost $30 in the US.

Many items sent are incorrectly classified, so as to avoid the costs of recycling.

Question 14

What areas of society has the use of computer technology impacted? (6)

Answer 14

1. Communication
2. Employment
3. Social interaction
4. Shopping
5. Manufacturing
6. Safety

Question 15

Pros of the impact of computers on Communication (2)

Answer 15

1. Communication is almost instant via email, text, etc.

2. Images, video and most file types can be sent and received almost anywhere in the world

Question 16

Cons of the impact of computers on Communication (2)

Answer 16

1. Employees can experience work-related stress due to the expectation to respond to messages at any time
2. Cyberbullying, which especially affects young people

Question 17

Pros of the impact of computers on Employment (5)

Answer 17

1. Offers millions of jobs (e.g. computer technicians, programmers, web designers, system analysts)
2. People no longer have to do some menial or dangerous jobs (e.g. there are robots to investigate bombs)
3. People have more time to do things besides menial tasks
4. Storing and processing data takes much less time (e.g. spreadsheets are much quicker than manual payrolls)
5. Money can be transferred to employees’ accounts automatically

Question 18

Cons of the impact of computers on Employment (5)

Answer 18

1. Computer-controlled warehouses only need a handful of staff, often replacing human workers in production lines
2. The skills of those who were in the printing industry are now out-of-date
3. Some jobs have disappeared as they can be done automatically e.g. marking multiple choice papers
4. Workers made unemployed are unlikely to have been re-skilled for new jobs
5. Cybercrime is a growing concern

Question 19

Pros of the impact of computers on Social interaction (5)

Answer 19

1. Social networking sites can be used to keep in touch with friends and family
2. Communication across the world is cheap and easy
3. Internet dating sites can be used to meet people instead of going to bars and clubs
4. People can game with friends in their own houses
5. Social networking using computer tech has become the norm

Question 20

Cons of the impact of computers on Social interaction (3)

Answer 20

1. eSafety problems
2. Cyberbullying
3. People are losing the ability to interact face-to-face

Question 21

Pros of the impact of computers on Shopping (4)

Answer 21

1. Opens the market to customers nationally and internationally
2. Enables smaller companies to compete with larger ones
3. Reduces in staffing reduces costs
4. Can provide 24 hour shopping at minimum additional cost

Question 22

Cons of the impact of computers on Shopping (5)

Answer 22

1. Stiffer competition: businesses can find themselves competing globally
2. Staff reductions mean less jobs
3. Restructuring costs
4. Customer concerns (e.g. the digital divide)
5. Cybercrime

Question 23

Pros of the impact of computers on Manufacturing (3)

Answer 23

1. Item production is faster and cheaper
2. Greater job satisfaction for employees, as menial jobs are done by robots
3. Computer regulated production lines are more consistent and precise

Question 24

Cons of the impact of computers on Manufacturing (4)

Answer 24

1. Software can be expensive
2. Loss of low skilled jobs
3. Less of a market for handmade, crafted items
4. High levels of training or re-skilling needed to operate the system

Question 25

Pros of the impact of computers on Safety (2)

Answer 25

1. Many dangerous jobs can now be done by remote controlled devices and sensors (e.g. bomb disposal robots)
2. Weather data can be collected from dangerous areas, (e.g. in a volcano) without scientists needing to collect it themselves every day

Question 26

Cons of the impact of computers on Safety (2)

Answer 26

1. Unknown safety issues from new technology (e.g. driverless cars)
2. Although computer systems tend to make tasks safer, failure can be catastrophic