Economic, Social And Environmental Impacts Flashcards
How are computers viewed now compared to previously?
They are now used more frequently and are more reliable nowadays meaning that people feel that they cannot live without their technology
What are the positive economic impacts of technology in a business?
You can sell goods online 24 hours a day
Social Media can be an inexpensive marketing trend
You don’t need to pay expensive high street rental prices for stores
How has the global marketplace affected job security in specialist roles?
Made more vulnerable as pressure/demand increases and expectations rise on employee performance
What does the term ‘competitive advantage’ mean?
Refers to companies trying to ensure that they can offer services services or products that are better than their competitors in the market, giving consumers a reason to choose their business over others
Explain the term ‘censorship’
When organisations or governments restrict an individual’s ability to access particular material, or to produce certain materials. This may be for reasons of morality or control.
What are positive examples of global citizenship?
More attention can be focused on hometown disasters because of online communication
What are negative examples of global citizenship?
Terrorist propaganda videos can be widely circulated
Easy for hackers to share information and vulnerabilities
Local customs and cultures are disappearing
What is meant by the term intelligent system?
An intelligent system is one which is used to perform an action that would require intelligence if they were performed by a human
Name a disadvantage of the impacts of social technology
Individuals can become sedentary/isolated
It is easy for others to intercept your communications
Advantages of the impacts of social technology include
It is easy to text someone, use FaceTime, or have them on speed dial
Social networking has made is easier to keep up to date with friends/family
Freedom of speech can be exercised online in areas where there controls by dictatorships
Why are there more computing devices available today than twenty years ago?
Prices have fallen
The increased use of the Internet has driven this rise in popularity
Devices are portable
Three stages in the lifetime of a product which contribute to its lifetime carbon footprint
Manufacture
Use
Disposal
Part of the ICT industry responsible for the greatest energy consumption
PCs and Monitors
Why do virtual servers allow companies to reduce their carbon footprint?
The company is able to more closely match their storage capacity to their needs
Maximum lifespan of most IT equipment
Three years
What is environmentally the best way to dispose of computers once they reach the end of their useful life?
Recycling
Which stage of the lifespan of a PC is responsible for the greatest carbon dioxide emission?
Usage
Which of the following best describes network based lighting and heating?
Smart buildings - Control heating and lighting based on occupancy
Access to specific web pages can be prevented by the use of
Web filtering
What is the top method of keeping data within a laptop private?
Encryption of a hard disk drive as this will make them practically impossible to decrypt
What is the main goal of an online community?
To serve as common ground for people who share the same interests
How might a firm keep costs low whilst maintaining a competitive advantage?
Low wages allow products or services to be provided at a lower cost
Outsourcing brings much needed funding in to countries involved
Improving operations
Video conferencing allows important meetings to still happen, while reducing travel and subsistence costs.
Maintainability
Ease with which software can be modified to correct faults, improve performance or adapt to a changed environment
Effect attributable to cost reduction due to the paperless office
Reduction in the amount of paper documents archived.
This reduces storage space required.
Companies
Manufacture more while spending less
Communicate faster within the company and with clients
Target potential customers through information gathering
Make more informed decisions - based on market analysis
Scalability
Ability to adapt to changing hardware requirement - Sudden increase in website hits
Software requirements - Sudden need for increased security measures
Cloud providers specialise in this area - scale up capabilities very quickly
Maintainability
Systems have cost of maintenance, replacement and upgrading
Suitably skilled staff recruited and financial planning
Business costs
Cost of hardware, software, installation and training and hiring IT staff to maintain systems
These costs recuperated through the growth and increased business profits
Global Marketplace
Even the smallest of businesses can receive orders from any corner of the world
World Wide Web has caused this
Online Communities
Millions of daily users which has removed borders and barriers
Global community created by this
Smartphones and tablets ensure that access is no longer limited to desktop computers
Censorship and freedom of speech
Across the world different countries have laws in place
Some give total freedom of what someone can view/post
Some have total control over this
Privacy
Should there be a right to remain totally anonymous at all times
Even when someone has broken the law
Encryption
Should there be a right for people to hide the content of every message which they send and every file they store
Even if this threatens national security or is obscene?
Computer usage and carbon footprint
Quantities of electricity required during its use
Any production of electrical energy creates a carbon footprint
Software written will have taken time and energy to produce
Computer manufacture and carbon footprint
Components manufactured
Requires energy and raw materials including rare metals
Computer disposal and carbon footprint
Requires energy to transport the system to a waste site and to recycle raw materials
Computers and environmental benefits
Computers saving energy
Products produced more accurately - less waste - saves energy
Controlled heating systems produce efficiency savings - reduces energy bills
Analysis of delivery routes - Most efficient way of delivering to houses can be found which saves energy
