The importance of computer systems in the modern world questions and answers
Q1. Explain what is meant by ‘tele-working’?
A1. Using ICT to work from home whilst still being in touch with the employer.
Q2. What is meant by ‘phishing’?
A2. Sending out large numbers of emails, to try to get people to reveal passwords and other sensitive information.
Q3. Describe how computers have changed the way some people shop.
A3. 24/7 shopping, a wider range of goods and services are available worldwide, can use price comparison websites to get cheaper prices, ability to review products online, able to set up grocery lists with supermarkets and get items delivered, able to get help online with a wider range of people if there is a problem e.g. setting up a new TV, able to view videos online to get help.
Q4. Describe some typical features of smartphones that aid communication.
A4. Access to the Internet to send and receive emails, using VOIP and 3g / 4g to phone, using SMS and MMS to send and receive messages and send and receive attachments, using GPS and maps for location services, using cameras to make video calls.
Q5. What is meant by a 'network' of computers?
A5. A network is more than one computer or computing device connected together so they can comminicate and share files and other resources like printers.
Q6. Describe some ways that someone looking for a job might use a computer or the Internet to help them.
A6. They could type up their CV on a computer. They could post their CV online on sites where employers might look for people to hire. They could browse sites where jobs are advertised or research the background of a company before filling out an application or going for an interview. Be careful what you post about yourself e.g. on Facebook, though! Potential employers can look you up on the Internet, too!
Q7. Many small businesses use only the Internet to sell their products. Describe some advantages to them of doing this.
A7. Small companies can appear much bigger than they really are. You can sell 24 / 7 / 365. You can easily add and change offers from just one place. You can run the business potentially from anywhere in the world, which means you can live and work and employ people in cheaper parts of the world. Some products e.g. digital downloads can be sent to the customer instantaneously. You can change mistakes in the description of your products in just one, central place rather than having to reissue lots of catalogues.
Q8. What is a FAX?
A8. Many companies still use this old but solid and reliable technology. A FAX machine scans a piece of paper, turns it into digital signals, sends it across the phone line to another FAX machine, which turns the digital signals into a doscument again and prints it out on paper. The quality of FAXes are fairly poor by comparison to an email, but they are perfectly readable usually.
Q9. Some burglars have been caught because the home owner of the place they were burgling, whilst on holiday in another country, rang the police and told them they were being burgled at the time it was happening! They had in their homes an IP camera. Do some research on the Internet. (There are some very interesting videos of burglars being caught in the act.) What is meant by an IP camera?
A9. An IP camera is a webcam that sends its signals to a computer. Using a network connected to the Internet and an app on your phone, you can connect to your camera from anywhere in the world and see what it is seeing, control and move the camera to different viewing angles and be informed automatically immediately when the camera detects some motion e.g. in your house.
Q10. A lot of devices and phones use wifi and the phone network . What is it about wifi and the phone network that some experts think might be dangerous, especially to young people?
A10. Wifi and phones use radio waves. These can heat up the body just like a microwave can. The SAR value in phones tell you something about the level of radio waves and there have been concerns raised for the health of people who live very close to phone transmitters. There was a report called the Stuart Report that looked into this whole area in 2000. Youngsters growing up are particularly at risk as their brains and bodies are still developing. There have also been some reports that sterilty and phone useage are linked.