Tuesday 4 December 2007

Benefits of ICT (10.4)

This topic can be tricky, as the benefits of ICT seem so obvious. As discussed in lesson, the benefits include vast storage capability, the ability to search and combine data from various sources and fast processing speeds. However, you are often asked to provide examples of where these benefits can be seen, such as in the question below. Prepare a written answer to this question for your next lesson.

Companies use ICT systems because of the benefits that they provide.
Giving examples, explain how the use of ICT systems can result in each of the following benefits to a company. Your example must be different in each case.

(a) Reduction in costs (2 marks)

(b) Increased speed of operation (2 marks)

(c) Increased business opportunities (2 marks)

Saturday 3 November 2007

Police ordered to delete records

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7072241.stm

It appears police forces keep details of any crimes on their computers indefinitely, no matter how minor the offence. The Information Commissioner has ordered some police forces to delete records of minor crimes that took place several years ago after people complained they showed up on criminal records checks by potential employers.

Who is the Information Commissioner?
Which ICT-related piece of legislation is this article related to?
Which specific rule(s) has/have been broken?
Why is there ambiguity in this situation with regard to the law?

Friday 12 October 2007

Is it OK to Share Music?

You wouldn't steal a mobile.
You wouldn't steal a car, handbag etc.
You wouldn't leave a shop without paying for a CD. I hope.

But.....

Many of you probably share files on the internet, such as music and films, that are subject to copyright laws. Copyright gives the creator of a piece the right to say how it is distributed, broadcasted, copied and modified. So, sharing files over the internet that are protected by copyright is technically theft as the work has not been paid for.

A woman has been fined $200,000 US dollars for shraing files:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article3033364.ece

Apparently, it could haapen here too:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3395161.stm

Do you think file sharing is theft? Why?
Should people be prosecuted for sharing files that are copywritten?
Have you shared protected files? Would you feel guilty about doing so?
Why do people share files?
How could the industry prevent copyright infringement?

Tuesday 9 October 2007

Computer Ownership Survey

Please can my year 8 classes complete this survey once only. This will help us in the setting of homework and in the provision of computers outside lesson times.



Click here to take our Online Survey

Friday 21 September 2007

Homework for 13/IT1

Create a presentation on the following subject. You have covered this as part of your AS Level. I will pick some people to deliver the presentation as part of next lesson.

Kathryn/Chantelle: Data Protection Act
Helena/Danielle: Computer Misuse Act
James/James: Copyright, Design and Patent Act
Andrew/Andrew: Health and Safety at Work Act (sections relevant to computer use only)

We will be looking in lesson at how companies enforce this legislation.

Thursday 20 September 2007

Fat Max

I'm afraid this is as exciting as the title may suggest, but it is a fantastic website packed full of A Level ICT resources.

http://www.fatmax.org/

Loads of useful presentations, questions, resources, links and advice compiled specifically for the AQA specification.

Add your own links to this story please....

Sunday 16 September 2007

Computer systems failure

It seems many government computer systems don't deliver what they were supposed to or they are delivered way over budget. Over the last few years, the Child Support Agency and Passport Agency computer systems spring to mind. Have a look at a couple fo these BBC stories and discuss the points below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1171471.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4421341.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/661987.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1993586.stm

In which stages of the systems life cycle are the failures?
What are the main reasons for computer systems not doing their job?
Do government computer systems fail more than those in the private sector? If so, why?