Economic, Social And Environmental Impacts

Question 1

How are computers viewed now compared to previously?

Answer 1

They are now used more frequently and are more reliable nowadays meaning that people feel that they cannot live without their technology

Question 2

What are the positive economic impacts of technology in a business?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

How has the global marketplace affected job security in specialist roles?

Answer 3

Made more vulnerable as pressure/demand increases and expectations rise on employee performance

Question 4

What does the term ‘competitive advantage’ mean?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Explain the term ‘censorship’

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

What are positive examples of global citizenship?

Answer 6

More attention can be focused on hometown disasters because of online communication

Question 7

What are negative examples of global citizenship?

Answer 7

Terrorist propaganda videos can be widely circulated
Easy for hackers to share information and vulnerabilities
Local customs and cultures are disappearing

Question 8

What is meant by the term intelligent system?

Answer 8

An intelligent system is one which is used to perform an action that would require intelligence if they were performed by a human

Question 9

Name a disadvantage of the impacts of social technology

Answer 9

Individuals can become sedentary/isolated

It is easy for others to intercept your communications

Question 10

Advantages of the impacts of social technology include

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Why are there more computing devices available today than twenty years ago?

Answer 11

Prices have fallen
The increased use of the Internet has driven this rise in popularity
Devices are portable

Question 12

Three stages in the lifetime of a product which contribute to its lifetime carbon footprint

Answer 12

Manufacture
Use
Disposal

Question 13

Part of the ICT industry responsible for the greatest energy consumption

Answer 13

PCs and Monitors

Question 14

Why do virtual servers allow companies to reduce their carbon footprint?

Answer 14

The company is able to more closely match their storage capacity to their needs

Question 15

Maximum lifespan of most IT equipment

Answer 15

Three years

Question 16

What is environmentally the best way to dispose of computers once they reach the end of their useful life?

Answer 16

Recycling

Question 17

Which stage of the lifespan of a PC is responsible for the greatest carbon dioxide emission?

Answer 17

Usage

Question 18

Which of the following best describes network based lighting and heating?

Answer 18

Smart buildings - Control heating and lighting based on occupancy

Question 19

Access to specific web pages can be prevented by the use of

Answer 19

Web filtering

Question 20

What is the top method of keeping data within a laptop private?

Answer 20

Encryption of a hard disk drive as this will make them practically impossible to decrypt

Question 21

What is the main goal of an online community?

Answer 21

To serve as common ground for people who share the same interests

Question 22

How might a firm keep costs low whilst maintaining a competitive advantage?

Answer 22

Low wages allow products or services to be provided at a lower cost
Outsourcing brings much needed funding in to countries involved

Question 23

Improving operations

Answer 23

Video conferencing allows important meetings to still happen, while reducing travel and subsistence costs.

Question 24

Maintainability

Answer 24

Ease with which software can be modified to correct faults, improve performance or adapt to a changed environment

Question 25

Effect attributable to cost reduction due to the paperless office

Answer 25

Reduction in the amount of paper documents archived.

This reduces storage space required.

Question 26

Companies

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Scalability

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Maintainability

Answer 28

Systems have cost of maintenance, replacement and upgrading

Suitably skilled staff recruited and financial planning

Question 29

Business costs

Answer 29

Cost of hardware, software, installation and training and hiring IT staff to maintain systems
These costs recuperated through the growth and increased business profits

Question 30

Global Marketplace

Answer 30

Even the smallest of businesses can receive orders from any corner of the world
World Wide Web has caused this

Question 31

Online Communities

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Censorship and freedom of speech

Answer 32

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

Question 33

Privacy

Answer 33

Should there be a right to remain totally anonymous at all times
Even when someone has broken the law

Question 34

Encryption

Answer 34

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?

Question 35

Computer usage and carbon footprint

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Computer manufacture and carbon footprint

Answer 36

Components manufactured

Requires energy and raw materials including rare metals

Question 37

Computer disposal and carbon footprint

Answer 37

Requires energy to transport the system to a waste site and to recycle raw materials

Question 38

Computers and environmental benefits

Answer 38

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