Unit 1.4 Local Divide

Bridging the Gap: Examples of Initiatives

There have been and still are numerous initiatives to bridge the gap sponsored by the national government, local government, private industry and charities. These are:

• UK Online is a major government project started in 2001 and this give access to people in the community to help them learn new ICT skills.
• University for Indutry(Ufi) is a partnership between the government and private industry aimed at improving job prospects for individuals and bossting competitiveness for businesses through the use of Learn Direct centres.
• Learn Direct aims to teach adults on how to use ICT.
• British Educational Communication and Technology Association (BECTA) aims to help education professionals such as teachers to make the most of ICT.
• Wired up Communities initiative connects seven disadvantaged communities to the internet to test what impact this would have on their lives.
• Computers within reach is an initiative  aimed at helping learners on benefits by enhancing their employment prospects and learning opportunities through providing  access to computers.
• Get Started campaign aims at giving a kick start to access for the elderly, the unemployed, the disabled and other disadvantaged groups to show them the benefits from accessing IT.
• Community Access to Lifelong Learning(CALL) aims to enable schools, libraries and other lifelong learning institutions to become conneceted to the internet.

Task:

Learn Direct

What is its purpose?

- Aim to transform the skills and productivity of the working population by using technology to bring people together to work, share and learn online.
 

How it relates to the digital divide?
- This relates to digital divide because it helps UK to reduce digital divide by helping people to learn ICT.
 

Who are its main target clients?
- It specialises in teaching adults on how to use ICT in school, libraries and colleges. It is also working with businesses to provide them with the skilled staff they need to thrive
 

What are its strengths and weaknesses?
- One strength of learn direct is it helps people to learn how to use ICT in order to find a job online. This also helps reduce digital divide in the UK. Another stregth is it also provides qualification that can be used in finding a job.
-One weakness of learn direct is it does not provide online lessons and the learners still need to go school, libraries and colleges.
 

What improvements could be made?

- One improvement that could be made is it should provide online lessons for the learners who are not able to go to learn direct centres.
 

Source: www.learndirect.co.uk
 

Unit 1.3 Digital Divide - Worldwide

ICT can be very empowering for example, it can be cost-effective.

Broadcasting:
Digital broadcasting is an example of both of an empowering technology and of the political barriers that sometimes may stall the elimination of the digital divide. Satellite broadcasting allows geographically remote areas to receive news and information in a manner that was previously unavailable or difficult to achieve. This provides educational, entertainment and informative benefits for the populations of otherwise remote places.
However, in some states such as some in the Middle East and North Africa, digital TV is a major problem this is because access to Western values and norm is not universally regarded as a good thing.

Mobile Phones:
The use of cellular phones has improved the quality of life in rural Pakistan and Bangladesh because it allows people to stay in touch in remote areas.

Governance:
Low technology solutions are not the only answer to problems. A major challenge often comes in the form of governments of the under-served nations.

Tasks:
Case Study: Laos

Source: Applied ICT book
             www.cia.gov/

Civil Rights

Civil rights refer to the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.
ICT has also an impact to civil rights. Technology is used to monitor and control people in order to keep society safe. Data or information of people are monitored or can be gathered and this compromises the people's right to privacy and civil right as a whole.

Task:

• One of the issue that affected by the ICT is the gay rights. The article below shows how information gathered from a newspaper could lead to a murder of a gay activist. It also shows how a petition against Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill can be done online.

• Another issue that affected by the technology is the rights of neighbours. The article below shows how a factory worker woman created noise nuisance that affected her neighbours in Strafforshire. She continued to persist her behaviour and as a result the Environmental Health Officers put up a monitoring equipment in a neighbour's home to monitor noise nuisance.

• Technology also helps to regulate the safety of people. The article below shows how the US government planning to change their gun laws. As a result of a terrible incident wherein a man killed 20 children and six adults with an assault rifle, the US president is negotiating with the congress to ban assault weapons and reinstate strict background checks on those people who are buying high-capacity guns. The strict background checks could help to stop crime such as murder.

• Another issue that affected by the technology is the rights of job seekers. The UK government launched a jobwatch website where job seekers need to use it to apply for three jobs every week. If they fail to do this then they will be withdrawn from their benefits.

• Some countries issue death penalty for homosexual acts whilst other countries do not have any legislation for homosexuality. The article below shows the different legislation about homosexuality in different countries:

 

The Open University

The Open University is the world's first successful distance teaching university. It was founded with the belief that communications technology could bring high quality degree-level learning to people.

Why was it set up?

It was set up to open up higher education to everyone regardless of their circumtances or where they live. They have students of all ages and backgrounds: school students wanting expererience of university level, school leavers who choose to beging their careers while they study for a degree, people wanting to develop or update their skills, or change career entirely, and retired people wanting to explore new interests and keep mentally active.

When did it start?

The OU opened to its first students – 25,000 of them - in January 1971 with a choice of four multi-disciplinary foundation courses in the arts, social sciences, science or maths.

How was it different from other Universities?

The Open University has developed its own style of distance learning called 'supported open learning'.

• Open learning means their students work whenever they choose in their own homes, workplace or at a library or study centre, and can plan their study around their other commitments.
• Supported open learning means that their students have support from a tutor or online forum, they have students advisers and study facilities in theor own region and they have contact with other students at tutorials,day schools or through online conferencing, online social networks, informal study groups and events.

How many students have been taught by them?

• The Open University has more than 250,000 students.
• In November 2010, 18,475 students studied directly with the University overseas and more than 36,800 students on validated programmes.
• More than 12,000 people with disabilities study with the University each year.

Source: http://www.open.ac.uk/

Crime & Crime Prevention

 

The rise of technology has brought different types of crimes and new crimes. These are theft, fraud and violence against person. Hoever, technology has also brought ways to identify and prevent crimes.

Different Types of Technology Crime:

•  Internet theft such as scam and spam. Emails could lure people to websites that ask personal information such as names and credit card numbers. This could lead to identity theft which can use your identity to steal your money.
•  Internet fraud is a fraud scheme that takes place over the internet. This includes financial theft and identity theft.

Some of the new crimes include:

Text crime such as spam texting is the sending of unsolicited ads to cellphones and pagers via text messaging.  Spam texting has developed because of the strong popularity use of mobile phones. The article below shows how spam texting is dealt by authorities to stop people from doing it.

 

Phishing is also one of the new crimes.  This is the act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft and also used for financial theft.

How technology has changed how crime is committed and how it is detected?

• One way that the technology has changed how the crime is committed is it becomes quieter. Earlier technology crimes are visible for the reason that it is seen as genius. However the new technology crimes now are less visible and quieter. For example, in the past the crimes such as theft are harder to prevent and identify but now authorities can identify and prevent them by using tools such as CCTV. Therefore criminals are now conducting technology crimes quietly to avoid getting caught.
• On the other hand, technology has also changed how crime is detected. For example, in the past police didn't have tracking devices and surveillance systems to detect crimes and find criminals. Now they have the tools like gps for tracking and cctv to monitor people and prevent crimes.
• Crimes now are also detected through social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter. The article below explains how a thief was caught in the act and identified with the help of a picture posted on facebook.

• Technology can also influence the decision of court on how to manage crimes. The internet can now also be used in identifying and tracking people. These changes are shown with the articles below about how radio programmes can affect the decision of jury and how a website can help identify and trace people.

• New crimes such as cryber attacks are increasing, this is because cyber criminals are becoming the new money making. Many people are victims of cyber attacks and it is hard to prevent them. The article below explains how cyber-attacks are conducted.

• Criminals also use the internet to find and follow victims and then rob them. The article below shows how internet helps robbery and how did the authorities punish them.

Crime Prevention and Detection

DNA is now used for solving crimes. For example, DNA profiling can identify people, and in terms of crimes, it can be used to identify suspects.
CSI is also a strong tool for preventing crimes and detecting criminals. It is processing the crime scene and helps to understand how the crime is happened and identify suspects. It also gathers or looks at evidence than can be helpful in detecting criminals.
There are also now cyber detectives who can detect cyber crimes. Cyber Detection softwares are also now available to install to peoples computer to prevent cyber crime attacks like hacking, online theft and spam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entertainment & Leisure

How has the Entertainment and Leisure industry changed?

Access to Original Entertainment

Technology has massively influenced the entertainment and leisure world.

·         It has changed the way radio, film and television are broadcasted. This is because of the introduction of digital television, digital radio, digital films and digital games.

·         The digital recording has helped the professionals and beginners to record videos or sounds easily. They are also able to broadcast or upload their works online or broadcast it on radio and television.

·         Videos and Films have also changed because of technology. They are now available in different formats from DVD to HD-DVD and to Blu Ray. They can also be viewed online in different film viewing services.

·         Satellite and Freeview Television have also improved. People are now allowed to record television programmes easy and simple without the use of video recorder. There are now HD televisions and some companies are now offering 3D televisions. The television companies are also offering red button where users can click it if they want to watch a live coverage programmes or special TV offers.

Pirated Entertainment

·         The advantage of paying a supplier such as Apple for a legal music is it avoids people from breaking the law of downloading illegal music. It is also cheap and people can buy how many songs they like from an album without the need of buying the whole of it Another advantage is it supports the artists that people like.

·         The disadvantage of buying a pirated DVD from a market stall is it is illegal. It does not also guarantee that you will be able to get a high quality DVD.

·         The disadvantage of getting a pirate download of the latest Hollywood blockbuster before its UK release is it is illegal. It is also not a good quality and people might be affected of computer virus for downloading.

·         The main disadvantage of visiting an illicit music download site is the virus it spreads online that affect people’s computers or laptops.

·         The widespread illicit downloading can discourage the funding of new talent. This is because illegally downloading a song does not support the artist who owns it therefore this affects the funding of new talent.

Creating a website that allows people to illegally watch free movies can lead to legal disputes. A Sheffield Hallam University student faced copyrights offences in US courts for making a website that illegally allows people to watch tv programmes for free online. This shows that technology not only improved the entertainment and leisure indsutry but it also brings negative impacts.

 

Impact of games players

ICT has also a big impact in home games. Technology has made computer games so popular. Based on the New Scientist article, $3.8 thousand millions of games were sold in 1995 and increased to $7 thousand millions by 2003.

·         Computer games are so popular now because of the different wide range of games introduced. There are different games genres that are available to any age groups. They are fun to play and some are challenging which most people find fascinating.

·         Some researchers argue that violent computer games make some players more violent. A study from Brock University in Canada found that those teenagers who play violent games over a long period may become more likely to react aggressively to unintentional provocations.

·         Computer games may make people isolated especially when they play games that are addictive and also games that require time.

·         If players play too much of networked computer games, they may be more likely to be less social and spend their time playing. Some people find enough satisfaction by only playing computer games more than meeting their friends.

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2214346/Violent-video-games-make-teens-aggressive-girls-affected-boys.html

SMS

SMS stands for short message service and is also called texting or text messaging. SMS messages or ‘texts’ are usually sent from one mobile phone to another, but can also be sent from some home phones. It is a quick and convenient way of sending a short message to someone.

How does SMS work?

Cell phones are always sending and receiving information through signals even when the phone isn't in use. The signals are sent and received from a cell phone tower or control channel. In order for the phone calls and messages to come through, the control channel needs to know which phone belongs to which phone number. Depending on the location of the cell phone, it will communicate with different towers as the user moves around the city, state, country and even the world. If the phone is unable to communicate with a tower, then it will not receive a signal and can't be used.

The control channel maps the path for SMS, or text messages. When a message is sent, it first must go through the nearby tower and then the SMS center. The SMSC receives the message and sends it to the appropriate tower closest to the location of the cell phone and then to the destination. SMS formats the message in a way that it is able to travel to and from the town, and still be received by the cell phone. SMS also sends data associated with the message, such as the length of the message, destination, format and time stamp.
The messages are sent using the Short Messaging Service, which limits each message to no more than 160 characters (including letters, spaces, and symbols).


How SMS changed and influenced the world?

Neil Papworth sent the first SMS message in 1992. Years later, sending short messages via mobile became a focus for telecoms companies in the UK. Vodafone launched text messaging in 1994 and this gained instant popularity. By January 2001, texts sent in a month hit a billion in the UK and last year, 150 trillion messages were sent.

SMS is widely used in businesss industry as it helps deliver good customer service. For example, it allows businesess to reach their customers and notify them with their new products or new offers. This is an easy and quick way to send information to their customers without the nees of calling them or the need to talk to them face to face.

The growth of text messaging has also affected the ability to write and speak in English. This has produced various ways of spelling of words like 'feb' for February and 'ur' for the word your. Text messaging or the use of mobile phones in general is strictly prohibited during school exams and lessons. This is because mobile phones can be used for cheating.

Text messaging is now the most popular way of communication. The traditional phone call and face to face communication have declined. However text messaging is under threat from applications such as Viber, WhatsApp, Line, Tango and many more that offer free text messaging, free phone call and free video call that can only be used with internet.



Source:
www.bbc.co.uk/webwise
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/mobile-phones/9718336/Text-messaging-at-20-how-SMS-changed-the-world.html
http://www.ehow.co.uk/about_6501816_text-ability-write-speak-english_.html