Internet Protocols - The set of standards responsible for ensuring that data packets transmitted over the Internet are routed to their intended destinations. Abbreviated IP.
HTTP - A protocol used to request and transmit files, especially webpages and webpage components, over the Internet or other computer network.
FTP - A communications protocol governing the transfer of files from one computer to another over a network.
TCP/IP - The rules about transmission; i.e. speed and routing
Cookie - A data file written to a hard drive by some Web sites, contains information the site can use to track such things as passwords, login, registration or identification, user preferences, online shopping cart information, and lists of pages visited.
Listserv - The software (server) used to maintain an electronic mailing list. Also known as list server.
Web Cam - A digital camera capable of downloading images to a computer for transmission over the Internet or other network.
Internet Languages - A system of symbols and rules used for communication with or between computers.
Netiquette - The set of rules or "etiquette" that should be followed when moving about the web
Intranet - A privately maintained computer network that can be accessed only by authorized persons, especially members or employees of the organization that owns it.
URL - An Internet address (for example, http://www.hmco.com/trade/), usually consisting of the access protocol (http), the domain name (www.hmco.com), and optionally the path to a file or resource residing on that server (trade).
hyperlink - A segment of text or a graphical item that serves as a cross-reference between parts of a hypertext document or between files or hypertext documents. Also called hotlink, hyperlink.
Bandwidth - The amount of data that can be passed along a communications channel in a given period of time.
WWW - a system of extensively interlinked hypertext documents: a branch of the Internet. Abbreviation: WWW
Browser - a software program that allows the user to find and read encoded documents in a form suitable for display, esp. such a program for use on the World Wide Web.
Search Engine - A software program that searches a database and gathers and reports information that contains or is related to specified terms.
E-mail - A system for sending and receiving messages electronically over a computer network, as between personal computers
Convergence -
Teleconferencing - A conference held among people in different locations by means of telecommunications equipment, such as closed-circuit television.
Videoconferencing - A teleconference using video technology, such as closed-circuit television.
Telecommuting - Performing job-related requirements using Telecommunications to transmit data and textual messages to the central organizational office without being physically present. Many of the job requirements of today's organizations involve information processing, which is the primary capability of telecommunications. Telecommuting utilizes telecommunications to accomplish these job requirements while avoiding all of the inconvenience and expense of physically commuting to work as well as requiring less organizational Overhead.
Digital Television - Television in which picture information is encoded into digital signals on the transmitter, and decoded at the receiver.
Push-Pull Technologies - A data distribution technology in which selected data are automatically delivered into the user's computer at prescribed intervals or based on some event that occurs. Although no longer in service, PointCast was the first Internet product to become popular for pushing selected news and stock quotes into a user's machine at prescribed intervals.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
GOF 4.8 and 4.10
4.8 Consider the case described in Section 4.1.2, in which a boy was assumed to be a drug abuser because two schools used different disciplinary codes in their computerized records.
a) Is this kind of problem more likely to occur with computerized record than with paper records? Why. or why not?
Yes. Paper records would probably be reviewed by a person and then filed away; however, a computer file sent via internet can just be dragged and dropped into a a file with all the student records.
b) Describe some policies or practices that can help prevent such problems.
Each school could send their key of acronyms to the other schools when records are sent. This would ensure the abbreviations would be checked and information would be verified.
4.10 Consider the standardized-test score-reporting error discussed in the box in Section 4.1.3. Suppose the scores had been reported to the schools as significantly higher, rather than lower, than the correct scores. Do you think the schools would have questions the scores? Do you think the error would have been discovered? If so, how? Give a few examples of situations where you think computer errors would not be reported. for each example, give your reason (e.g., optimism, ignorance, gullibility, dishonesty.)
Yes, I think they would have questioned the scores. Yes the error probably would have been found. They could have checked the class' scores from the previous years and based on scores from the previous class they could have estimated the correct range of scores and back checked it these scores.
a) Is this kind of problem more likely to occur with computerized record than with paper records? Why. or why not?
Yes. Paper records would probably be reviewed by a person and then filed away; however, a computer file sent via internet can just be dragged and dropped into a a file with all the student records.
b) Describe some policies or practices that can help prevent such problems.
Each school could send their key of acronyms to the other schools when records are sent. This would ensure the abbreviations would be checked and information would be verified.
4.10 Consider the standardized-test score-reporting error discussed in the box in Section 4.1.3. Suppose the scores had been reported to the schools as significantly higher, rather than lower, than the correct scores. Do you think the schools would have questions the scores? Do you think the error would have been discovered? If so, how? Give a few examples of situations where you think computer errors would not be reported. for each example, give your reason (e.g., optimism, ignorance, gullibility, dishonesty.)
Yes, I think they would have questioned the scores. Yes the error probably would have been found. They could have checked the class' scores from the previous years and based on scores from the previous class they could have estimated the correct range of scores and back checked it these scores.
Monday, November 30, 2009
TrueCrypt
Investigate TrueCrypt; what are three advantages to using this or similar software on your personal computer? Evaluate those advantages.
You can encrypt a whole partition or drive where Windows is installed. This would make it impossible for someone to use any part of that drive. It would be quicker than having to encrypt each file. You are able to encrypt everything in the drive.
It allows you to encrypt an entire partition or storage device such as USB flash drive or hard drive. Information on flash drives or hard drives that are not encrypted can easily be stolen or looked at. If you find a flash drive and plug it into your computer you can view its contents immediately. But if it is encrypted and you do not know the password or decryption code, you are unable to view the files inside.
Encryption is automatic, real-time (on-the-fly) and transparent. Some encryptions can take really long, but programs like TrueCrypt make it quick to encrypt and encrypt.
You can encrypt a whole partition or drive where Windows is installed. This would make it impossible for someone to use any part of that drive. It would be quicker than having to encrypt each file. You are able to encrypt everything in the drive.
It allows you to encrypt an entire partition or storage device such as USB flash drive or hard drive. Information on flash drives or hard drives that are not encrypted can easily be stolen or looked at. If you find a flash drive and plug it into your computer you can view its contents immediately. But if it is encrypted and you do not know the password or decryption code, you are unable to view the files inside.
Encryption is automatic, real-time (on-the-fly) and transparent. Some encryptions can take really long, but programs like TrueCrypt make it quick to encrypt and encrypt.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
ATM's
Describe 3 advantages to using an ATM. Evaluate those advantages.
1/2. You are able to withdraw.deposit money after the bank has closed.
Many banks close at 5 and even the ones that stay open later are closed by 7. People who commute or work late shifts are unable to make it to the bank before it closes can deposit cash into the ATM to be put in their account the next morning or can withdraw money at any hour of the night. A downside to using an ATM at night is that you are alone. If it is 1 a.m. and you are at the ATM in an abandoned shopping plaza, no one is there to see a crime committed. Criminals can wait for you to exit the ATM and rob you.
3. You can withdraw money from any bank's ATM, at a cost.
Because your debit card has your bank account information on it, you are able to withdraw money from any ATM all over the world, regardless of which bank the ATM is owned by. However, it costs $2 to withdraw money from a different banks ATM.
There are also things called counterfeit ATM's. These ATM's are loaded with counterfeit bills and are solely meant to steal the banking information of those who use the ATM.
1/2. You are able to withdraw.deposit money after the bank has closed.
Many banks close at 5 and even the ones that stay open later are closed by 7. People who commute or work late shifts are unable to make it to the bank before it closes can deposit cash into the ATM to be put in their account the next morning or can withdraw money at any hour of the night. A downside to using an ATM at night is that you are alone. If it is 1 a.m. and you are at the ATM in an abandoned shopping plaza, no one is there to see a crime committed. Criminals can wait for you to exit the ATM and rob you.
3. You can withdraw money from any bank's ATM, at a cost.
Because your debit card has your bank account information on it, you are able to withdraw money from any ATM all over the world, regardless of which bank the ATM is owned by. However, it costs $2 to withdraw money from a different banks ATM.
There are also things called counterfeit ATM's. These ATM's are loaded with counterfeit bills and are solely meant to steal the banking information of those who use the ATM.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Networks/Communications Quiz
1. A school has a local area network (LAN). When students work on the computers in their school,
they can save their work onto the hard drive on the network server or a USB flash memory drive
(memory stick). Some schools provide their students with USB drives at the beginning of the
school year.
(a) Identify two tasks performed by a network server apart from the storage of users’ files. [2 marks]
A network server assigns IP addresses to computer connect to the network and manages shared hardware, such as modems and printers.
(b) Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of schools providing their students with USB drives. [4 marks]
One advantage is that the students will always have their work available to them. They will no longer be able to use the excuse of the homework not printing or saving at home because they can just print it at school. The student’s work will also not be cluttering up the school computers making them slower. One disadvantage is the cost. USB drives are not cheap and if the school is providing every student with a USB the school will be shelling out a large amount of money on these USB drives. If the students lose or break the USB drives then the student no longer has one and the school is out that money they spent.
Explain two precautions that a student should take when using USB drives for saving important work. [4 marks]
A student should make sure they backup their work on another piece of equipment to ensure that if the USB device is lost or broken the data can still be recovered. The students should also make sure to safely remove hardware from the computer because otherwise the information on the device can be lost.
2. An author writes IT text books at home using his PC. He illustrates his work with many screen
shots and images obtained from web sites, showing readers how to carry out various actions.
He sends the images as bitmapped files. He sends his work to the publisher using his broadband
internet connection.
(a) Define the term bandwidth. [2 marks]
Bandwidth is the transmission capacity of an electronic communications device or system; the speed of data transfer.
(b) With reference to one benefit and one problem, explain why there may be advantages and disadvantages for an author when working from home instead of in the publisher’s office. [4 marks]
A problem with sending his work over the internet rather than having hard copies at the publisher’s office is that his work could be intercepted and someone else could publish it as their own. If the author worked at the publisher’s office then the author’s work could be put on a flash drive or onto a private computer to computer network to ensure safety of transportation of information. A benefit of working at home will allow an author to save all data on his/her computer or hard drives without anyone else having access.
they can save their work onto the hard drive on the network server or a USB flash memory drive
(memory stick). Some schools provide their students with USB drives at the beginning of the
school year.
(a) Identify two tasks performed by a network server apart from the storage of users’ files. [2 marks]
A network server assigns IP addresses to computer connect to the network and manages shared hardware, such as modems and printers.
(b) Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of schools providing their students with USB drives. [4 marks]
One advantage is that the students will always have their work available to them. They will no longer be able to use the excuse of the homework not printing or saving at home because they can just print it at school. The student’s work will also not be cluttering up the school computers making them slower. One disadvantage is the cost. USB drives are not cheap and if the school is providing every student with a USB the school will be shelling out a large amount of money on these USB drives. If the students lose or break the USB drives then the student no longer has one and the school is out that money they spent.
Explain two precautions that a student should take when using USB drives for saving important work. [4 marks]
A student should make sure they backup their work on another piece of equipment to ensure that if the USB device is lost or broken the data can still be recovered. The students should also make sure to safely remove hardware from the computer because otherwise the information on the device can be lost.
2. An author writes IT text books at home using his PC. He illustrates his work with many screen
shots and images obtained from web sites, showing readers how to carry out various actions.
He sends the images as bitmapped files. He sends his work to the publisher using his broadband
internet connection.
(a) Define the term bandwidth. [2 marks]
Bandwidth is the transmission capacity of an electronic communications device or system; the speed of data transfer.
(b) With reference to one benefit and one problem, explain why there may be advantages and disadvantages for an author when working from home instead of in the publisher’s office. [4 marks]
A problem with sending his work over the internet rather than having hard copies at the publisher’s office is that his work could be intercepted and someone else could publish it as their own. If the author worked at the publisher’s office then the author’s work could be put on a flash drive or onto a private computer to computer network to ensure safety of transportation of information. A benefit of working at home will allow an author to save all data on his/her computer or hard drives without anyone else having access.
Cryptography p. 129 q. 3.1 & 3.2
Describe at least three different kinds of uses of encryption that have social value. (Indicate why they are valuable)
Protecting communications from unauthorized access.
- to keep your conversations private i.e. email or instant messenger.
Protecting stored data from unauthorized access.
- to keep information stored on a computer private i.e. social security number, bank account numbers, credit card numbers.
Protecting data in transit from unauthorized access (and manipulation for fraudulent purposes)
- to keep personal information sent over the internet private i.e. credit card numbers or social security number.
What is an important difference between public-key cryptography and secret-key cryptography?
Public-Key cryptography has a an algorithm for encrypting and a separate algorithm for decryption. Secret-key has one key for both.
Protecting communications from unauthorized access.
- to keep your conversations private i.e. email or instant messenger.
Protecting stored data from unauthorized access.
- to keep information stored on a computer private i.e. social security number, bank account numbers, credit card numbers.
Protecting data in transit from unauthorized access (and manipulation for fraudulent purposes)
- to keep personal information sent over the internet private i.e. credit card numbers or social security number.
What is an important difference between public-key cryptography and secret-key cryptography?
Public-Key cryptography has a an algorithm for encrypting and a separate algorithm for decryption. Secret-key has one key for both.
Hospital Is Watching
RFID tags and systems have some obvious advantages and a few disadvantages as well. The RFID tags and systems make procedures that normally take hours much faster. They allow nurses and doctors to track down equipment easier and quicker. The system also cuts down the amount of errors that occur when administering and moving medicine. It is crucial that the correct medicine and proper doses are issued to a patient and this system makes it simple to locate and administer medicine in a timely error-free manner. The RFID tags also make locating patients easier. When a patient with Alzheimer's forgets where they are in the middle of the night and wanders off. The RFID tags will enable to nurses to look on the computer and locate the patient anywhere in the building. Before RFID tags the nurses would have had to to run all over the floors searching for the patient.
However, there are a few important disadvantages to this new technology. The first problem is radio frequencies. Hospitals already have a myriad of radio frequencies running throughout the building and the added frequencies of the RFID tags can interfere with the frequencies already in place and cause catastrophic damage. The frequencies could cause a ventilator to turn off, a pacemaker to beat to fast or too little, or cause an IV to administer too much fluid. The creators of the technology have worked at great lengths to try and prevent this from happening, but it is always a possibility. The second problem is the cost. For a 907-bed hospital in Newark. Delaware the total cost to install the system was around $1 million. With the economy in the current state that is in, one might wonder whether the errors being avoided are worth $1 million.
However, there are a few important disadvantages to this new technology. The first problem is radio frequencies. Hospitals already have a myriad of radio frequencies running throughout the building and the added frequencies of the RFID tags can interfere with the frequencies already in place and cause catastrophic damage. The frequencies could cause a ventilator to turn off, a pacemaker to beat to fast or too little, or cause an IV to administer too much fluid. The creators of the technology have worked at great lengths to try and prevent this from happening, but it is always a possibility. The second problem is the cost. For a 907-bed hospital in Newark. Delaware the total cost to install the system was around $1 million. With the economy in the current state that is in, one might wonder whether the errors being avoided are worth $1 million.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Software Fundamentals
Application software - computer software designed to help the user perform a particular task.
Shareware -
Public Domain - The status of publications, products, and processes that are not protected under patent or copyright,
Freeware - Software that is available for free, usually over the internet.
Commercial Software - Software that is designed and developed for sale to the general public.
Integrated Software - A collection of computer programs designed to work together to handle an application, either by passing data from one to another or as components of a single system, A collection of computer programs that work as a unit with a unified command structure to handle several applications, such as word processing, spread sheets, data-base management, graphics, and data communications.
User Manual - Intended to give assistance to people using a particular system. It is usually written by a technical writer, although user guides are written by programmers, product or project managers, or other technical staff, particularly in smaller companies.
Registration Card -
Serial Number - A number that is one of a series and is used for identification, as of a machine, weapon, or motor vehicle.
Warranty -
Copyright - The legal right granted to an author, composer, playwright, publisher, or distributor to exclusive publication, production, sale, or distribution of a literary, musical, dramatic, or artistic work.
License - Official or legal permission to do or own a specified thing.
Compression/Decompression -
Back-up - Duplicate a file or program so that the original is not lost.
Back Door -
Upload/Download - To transfer data or programs from a server or host computer to one’s own computer or device.
Wizard -
Template - A document or file having a preset format, used as a starting point for a particular application so that the format does not have to be recreated each time it is used.
GUI - An interface for issuing commands to a computer utilizing a point device, such as a mouse, that manipulates and activates graphical images on a monitor.
Command-line Interface - On a display screen, the space following a prompt where a text instruction to a computer or device is typed.
Voice Recognition - The conversion of spoken words into computer text. Speech is first digitized and then matched against a dictionary of coded waveforms. The matches are converted into text as if the words were typed on the keyboard.
Shareware -
Public Domain - The status of publications, products, and processes that are not protected under patent or copyright,
Freeware - Software that is available for free, usually over the internet.
Commercial Software - Software that is designed and developed for sale to the general public.
Integrated Software - A collection of computer programs designed to work together to handle an application, either by passing data from one to another or as components of a single system, A collection of computer programs that work as a unit with a unified command structure to handle several applications, such as word processing, spread sheets, data-base management, graphics, and data communications.
User Manual - Intended to give assistance to people using a particular system. It is usually written by a technical writer, although user guides are written by programmers, product or project managers, or other technical staff, particularly in smaller companies.
Registration Card -
Serial Number - A number that is one of a series and is used for identification, as of a machine, weapon, or motor vehicle.
Warranty -
Copyright - The legal right granted to an author, composer, playwright, publisher, or distributor to exclusive publication, production, sale, or distribution of a literary, musical, dramatic, or artistic work.
License - Official or legal permission to do or own a specified thing.
Compression/Decompression -
Back-up - Duplicate a file or program so that the original is not lost.
Back Door -
Upload/Download - To transfer data or programs from a server or host computer to one’s own computer or device.
Wizard -
Template - A document or file having a preset format, used as a starting point for a particular application so that the format does not have to be recreated each time it is used.
GUI - An interface for issuing commands to a computer utilizing a point device, such as a mouse, that manipulates and activates graphical images on a monitor.
Command-line Interface - On a display screen, the space following a prompt where a text instruction to a computer or device is typed.
Voice Recognition - The conversion of spoken words into computer text. Speech is first digitized and then matched against a dictionary of coded waveforms. The matches are converted into text as if the words were typed on the keyboard.
Monday, October 26, 2009
FBI Database Evaluation
The database will definitely be faster and more accurate; however, it could be considered as a violation of privacy and anonymity. The database will have biometrics from not just the US, but from abroad as well. Some might say this is a violation of personal rights to have biometrics from people who don’t even live in the United States. The database might also hurt employees. Employers will give the FBI their employees fingerprints and in turn will be notified when the employee has any law violation; even those as meaningless as a parking ticket.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Database Vocabulary
Field - An element of a database record in which one piece of information is stored.
Key Field - A field in a segment or record that holds the value of a key to that record.
Record - to set down in writing or the like, as for the purpose of preserving evidence. to make a record.
Search - to examine (one or more files, as databases or texts) electronically, to locate specified items.
Query - A user's (or agent's) request for information, generally as a formal request to a database or search engine.
Sort - To arrange according to class, kind, or size; classify.
Database Management System - A special data processing system, or part of a data processing system, which aids in the storage, manipulation, reporting, management, and control of data. Abbreviated DBMS.
Mail Merge - The process of combining a form letter with a list of names and addresses to produce individualized letters.
Flat-file Database - A database system in which each database contains only one file, which is not linked to any other file.
Relational Database - A database system in which any database file can be a component of more than one of the database's tables.
Data Redundancy - When the same data values are stored more than once in a table, or when the same values are stored in more than one table
Data Integrity - The assurance that data is consistent and correct.
Key Field - A field in a segment or record that holds the value of a key to that record.
Record - to set down in writing or the like, as for the purpose of preserving evidence. to make a record.
Search - to examine (one or more files, as databases or texts) electronically, to locate specified items.
Query - A user's (or agent's) request for information, generally as a formal request to a database or search engine.
Sort - To arrange according to class, kind, or size; classify.
Database Management System - A special data processing system, or part of a data processing system, which aids in the storage, manipulation, reporting, management, and control of data. Abbreviated DBMS.
Mail Merge - The process of combining a form letter with a list of names and addresses to produce individualized letters.
Flat-file Database - A database system in which each database contains only one file, which is not linked to any other file.
Relational Database - A database system in which any database file can be a component of more than one of the database's tables.
Data Redundancy - When the same data values are stored more than once in a table, or when the same values are stored in more than one table
Data Integrity - The assurance that data is consistent and correct.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
A Gift of Fire - p. 38-44
2.8 List two government databases that probably have information about you. For each one, tell what service or benefit, if any, you got in exchange for providing information about you.
IRS - no benefit
Army - job
2.9 List two private databases that probably have information about you. For each one, tell what service or benefit, if any, you got in exchange for providing information about you.
Facebook - Online P2P database that allows you to connect with other people.
Citizens Bank Online - debit card and bank account
2.10 A company that supplies filtering software to schools (to block access by children to Web sites with violence or pornography) sold statistical data about the sites visited by school children. The data did not identify the children or the individual schools. Was this a privacy violation? Why or why not?
No. The statistics contain no personal data such as names, schools or locations. The data simply shows statistics about school children as a whole. Tracking these sort of things without recording personal data is a good thing because it allows developers to target specific areas/websites that are unsafe for children and update their software.
IRS - no benefit
Army - job
2.9 List two private databases that probably have information about you. For each one, tell what service or benefit, if any, you got in exchange for providing information about you.
Facebook - Online P2P database that allows you to connect with other people.
Citizens Bank Online - debit card and bank account
2.10 A company that supplies filtering software to schools (to block access by children to Web sites with violence or pornography) sold statistical data about the sites visited by school children. The data did not identify the children or the individual schools. Was this a privacy violation? Why or why not?
No. The statistics contain no personal data such as names, schools or locations. The data simply shows statistics about school children as a whole. Tracking these sort of things without recording personal data is a good thing because it allows developers to target specific areas/websites that are unsafe for children and update their software.
Social and Ethical Questions - IT Developments
Social issues
What are the social issues associated with a particular IT development?
Some IT developments can be too selective like the “smile measurement” and could affect a person’s job and wellness. An employee’s job, who knows their every movement is constantly being monitored, will be affected by the stress they will feel because they are worried about keeping their job. In turn they will be more focused on doing the right thing and make more mistakes.
2. How did the IT development emerge?
IT developments have emerged due to the increasing competition between businesses. The method companies use to get ahead of the competition is finding fast cheap ways to increase revenue and business value.
3. Who are the stakeholders—individuals, institutions, societies who initiate and control the IT developments and are affected by them?
Omron Corporation, Venu Govindaraju - University of Buffalo in New York, Unilever, Tabanar, Fujitaka, Toronto Rehabilitation Technologies
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages for the stakeholders?
Advantages - Quicker than humans, environmentally friendly, cheaper, more accurate than humans, safer, can boost sales and revenue
Disadvantages - Takes jobs away from people, hurt the economy, technology breaks, need qualified people on call 24/7 to fix. expensive
5. What feasible solutions can be applied to overcome problems?
Provide training to maintain the new technologies to maintain the amount of jobs available. A company could make sure to keep their technology updated and maintained.
6. What is the social impact of the IT development on human life? This may include some or all of the following areas: economic, political, cultural, legal, environmental, ergonomic, health and psychological.
IT Development takes away jobs in a company. In a bar for instance, a computerized vision system to detect underage customers eliminates the need to hire a bouncer. Companies that constantly monitor how happy and excited their employees are can cause stress for the employee and not only make them worried about job security, but also cause them to be stressed on the job; they will have less patience with customers and will be more worried about doing/saying the right thing than just being friendly.
Ethical issues
What are the ethical issues associated with a particular IT development?
IT development such as the computer-vision system in cars will cause the cost of cars to increase even higher than they already are. Those people with these systems in their cars can be tracked for their whole life; wherever they go, whatever they do can be monitored by those with the technical capabilities.
2. Who is responsible?
The makers of the IT developments and the people using the products are both equally responsible.
3. Who is accountable?
Again the makers of the It developments and the people using the products.
4. What policies, rules or laws apply to the situation?
The fourth amendment - no unreasonable searches or seizures without a warrant.
5. What are the alternative ethical decisions?
People can decide not to use these products. Developers and companies can not abuse the ability to track people.
What are the social issues associated with a particular IT development?
Some IT developments can be too selective like the “smile measurement” and could affect a person’s job and wellness. An employee’s job, who knows their every movement is constantly being monitored, will be affected by the stress they will feel because they are worried about keeping their job. In turn they will be more focused on doing the right thing and make more mistakes.
2. How did the IT development emerge?
IT developments have emerged due to the increasing competition between businesses. The method companies use to get ahead of the competition is finding fast cheap ways to increase revenue and business value.
3. Who are the stakeholders—individuals, institutions, societies who initiate and control the IT developments and are affected by them?
Omron Corporation, Venu Govindaraju - University of Buffalo in New York, Unilever, Tabanar, Fujitaka, Toronto Rehabilitation Technologies
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages for the stakeholders?
Advantages - Quicker than humans, environmentally friendly, cheaper, more accurate than humans, safer, can boost sales and revenue
Disadvantages - Takes jobs away from people, hurt the economy, technology breaks, need qualified people on call 24/7 to fix. expensive
5. What feasible solutions can be applied to overcome problems?
Provide training to maintain the new technologies to maintain the amount of jobs available. A company could make sure to keep their technology updated and maintained.
6. What is the social impact of the IT development on human life? This may include some or all of the following areas: economic, political, cultural, legal, environmental, ergonomic, health and psychological.
IT Development takes away jobs in a company. In a bar for instance, a computerized vision system to detect underage customers eliminates the need to hire a bouncer. Companies that constantly monitor how happy and excited their employees are can cause stress for the employee and not only make them worried about job security, but also cause them to be stressed on the job; they will have less patience with customers and will be more worried about doing/saying the right thing than just being friendly.
Ethical issues
What are the ethical issues associated with a particular IT development?
IT development such as the computer-vision system in cars will cause the cost of cars to increase even higher than they already are. Those people with these systems in their cars can be tracked for their whole life; wherever they go, whatever they do can be monitored by those with the technical capabilities.
2. Who is responsible?
The makers of the IT developments and the people using the products are both equally responsible.
3. Who is accountable?
Again the makers of the It developments and the people using the products.
4. What policies, rules or laws apply to the situation?
The fourth amendment - no unreasonable searches or seizures without a warrant.
5. What are the alternative ethical decisions?
People can decide not to use these products. Developers and companies can not abuse the ability to track people.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Unit 1 Practice
1. As a web master she will need the most up to date products and the fastest computer in order to do multiple things at once. The first problem with the computer is the amount of memory. The RAM only has 512 MB available. The lower amount of RAM available the slower the computer will process requests. The second problem is the Processor. This computer uses Intel Pentium 4. This processor is not very fast because it cannot multitask. It has to jump back and forth between programs. More up to date processors like the Intel Core2 Duo can do many things at once speeding up the time it takes to load web pages, open programs, etc. The third problem with the computer is the operating system. Microsoft XP is the old operating system and some products don't work on it. Within a few years it will be virtually non-existent and she will run into many problems trying to maintain her websites. One way she could upgrade the machine's capabilities would be to install a new processor like Vista. Another way would be to install more RAM. High speed computers have 2-3GB of Ram; she could also upgrade her processor to the Core 2Duo or higher.
2.
a. A computer worm differs from a computer virus in that a computer worm can run itself. A virus needs a host program to run, and the virus code runs as part of the host program. A computer worm can spread without a host program, although some modern computer worms also use files to hide inside.
b. The first action an employee could do to increase the risk of a virus infecting their company's computers is downloading music and videos via limewire and frostwire. Many files that people download onto computers contain viruses because its an easy way for hackers to transfer viruses computer to computer. The second way employees can increase the risk of infection is not updating the virus protection on the computers and running programs without virus protection or firewalls.
c. Computer viruses can limit the use of programs, copy programs and send them to other computers and cause system failure.
d. The first procedure is to backup all files regularly onto an external hard drive. This ensures that whenever a virus attack happens only information being used at the moment of intrusion is lost.
3.
a. Spam is a disruptive, esp. commercial message posted on a computer network or sent as e-mail.
b. If an organization spams its employees all at once with an email containing a video or just a popup on their computers, it will slow down the internet speed because all the employees will be trying to a watch a video at the same time. Some spam emails contain viruses and when opened can destroy computers. If an email is spammed to a company’s employees under the guise of an email from the boss, but is actually a virus, once opened the email could do serious damage to these computers and shutdown a company for a considerable period of time.
c. One step that a government can take to reduce spam is to make it illegal for companies to give out and for spammers to gain access to people’s emails. An ISP can provide email addresses to its customers that provides a spam blocker. This way any customer can mark certain emails and senders as spam which allows these emails to be sent to a separate section.
2.
a. A computer worm differs from a computer virus in that a computer worm can run itself. A virus needs a host program to run, and the virus code runs as part of the host program. A computer worm can spread without a host program, although some modern computer worms also use files to hide inside.
b. The first action an employee could do to increase the risk of a virus infecting their company's computers is downloading music and videos via limewire and frostwire. Many files that people download onto computers contain viruses because its an easy way for hackers to transfer viruses computer to computer. The second way employees can increase the risk of infection is not updating the virus protection on the computers and running programs without virus protection or firewalls.
c. Computer viruses can limit the use of programs, copy programs and send them to other computers and cause system failure.
d. The first procedure is to backup all files regularly onto an external hard drive. This ensures that whenever a virus attack happens only information being used at the moment of intrusion is lost.
3.
a. Spam is a disruptive, esp. commercial message posted on a computer network or sent as e-mail.
b. If an organization spams its employees all at once with an email containing a video or just a popup on their computers, it will slow down the internet speed because all the employees will be trying to a watch a video at the same time. Some spam emails contain viruses and when opened can destroy computers. If an email is spammed to a company’s employees under the guise of an email from the boss, but is actually a virus, once opened the email could do serious damage to these computers and shutdown a company for a considerable period of time.
c. One step that a government can take to reduce spam is to make it illegal for companies to give out and for spammers to gain access to people’s emails. An ISP can provide email addresses to its customers that provides a spam blocker. This way any customer can mark certain emails and senders as spam which allows these emails to be sent to a separate section.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Reliability Article
http://blogs.computerworld.com/macbook_air_reccomendation_wait
This article explains the problems with the new MacBook Air. One problem is that the motherboard was created to have a 45nm chip, however; Intel is late in delivering this chip. For now the Rev 1 MacBook Airs will have the wrong chip. The difference between chips is battery life, power usage and porcessor speed.
This article explains the problems with the new MacBook Air. One problem is that the motherboard was created to have a 45nm chip, however; Intel is late in delivering this chip. For now the Rev 1 MacBook Airs will have the wrong chip. The difference between chips is battery life, power usage and porcessor speed.
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