GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE The Bigger Picture 4.2 Impact of Computing

Impact on Individuals and Society As we progress further into the future, computer systems will become even more integral to our everyday lives. The impact of digital technology on our lives is huge, here are two examples: Portable music players looked like this 50 years ago. They had very short battery life, the records could get scratched and they could have terrible sound quality. Typewriters were mechanical machines for writing text. They were heavy, the text was difficult to correct, and there was no spell checker. It was also difficult to make multiple copies of a document.

Environment We must be able to consider what affect technology has on our environment. Not all of these impacts are negative, here we look at two positive and three negative examples.

Monitoring Climate Change Environment POSITIVE IMPACT 1 Monitoring Climate Change Devices can be used to monitor the environment and transmit and analyse the data. Computers use the data to build complex models that are used to understand the factors affecting climate change and make predictions for the future.

Environment POSITIVE IMPACT 2 Conservation Digital tracking devices can be attached to animals to study their behaviour. Conservationists use digital tracking devices with GPS and digital maps to track and study the lives of endangered species. The results are then analysed by computers to help improve conservation strategies.

Environment POSITIVE IMPACT 3 Energy Production Computer software is used to design efficient devices to produce electricity from wind and wave power. The designs can then be tested without having to first build the models and modify them in the light of results. Computer software is also involved with the production and installation.

Environment NEGATIVE IMPACT 1 Energy Consumption All electronic devices use electricity in order to work. Even if they use solar cells to provide the electricity, they are still using energy, and the production and disposal of solar cells have some environment impact. All electronic equipment consumes electricity when it is working and also when it is recycled. In the production of computer equipment, huge quantities of electricity are used in addition to non-renewable and in some case, dangerous materials. As more people are using computers, tablets and smartphones then more electricity is required and electricity production has harmful effects on the environment. Social networking makes the problem worse as all those tweets, status updates, snaps and selfies have to be stored somewhere. They are stored on servers in huge data centres; in 2011 it was calculated that there were half a million worldwide. Data centres consume vast amounts of electricity for the running of the servers and more importantly for cooling them down.

Environment NEGATIVE IMPACT 2 E-Waste Most people do not dispose of digital devices properly. E-Waste is any waste created by these devices that have been thrown away, as well as waste substances created in the manufacture and use of electronic devices. Issues include: Landfills taking up land that could be used for other purposes. Toxic substances such as lead , mercury and cobalt leaking into water supply and causing illnesses. Some companies illegally e-waste to developing countries. Ghana as become a huge dumping ground for e-waste. Computers from British firms, universities and even government departments have been found in African landfills. As a result, people in these countries are exposed to toxic substances which in turn affects their health. Safe disposal of E-waste: Many firms and organisations pay private companies to recycle their old computers safely. Councils also pay these companies to recycle electronic items collected at household waste sites. Another solution is to donate equipment to people who need it but cannot afford it.

The Digital Divide DEFINTION People without access to technology, or who do not know how to use technology, are at a disadvantage to those who do. There is a digital divide between countries and also between individuals within the same country. For example, in England, in 2017, there are areas without high speed Internet yet! The divide can have a huge impact on people: Having low ICT literacy can lead to low-paid employment or even being unemployed (work hard kids!) The Office of National Statistics has calculated that in 2015 over 3.5 million households in the UK had no Internet access. In 2013, it was estimated by the charity Age UK that is costs households without Internet access and extra £276 per year because they cannot shop or pay bills online. 38% of those that who are not online are also unemployed but: From 2013 they had to prove that they are actively searching for jobs online using the governments job website. If they do not do this, their benefits can be stopped. Therefore they have to travel to libraries for access.

Answer the following questions: Activity 1 Answer the following questions: You have seen two examples of how technology has improved our lives with the progression of music players and typing devices. Find and explain two others. [4] Name and describe two negative effects on individuals from the use of technology. [4] Explain two positive impacts on the environment technology has. [4] Explain two negative impacts on the environment technology has. [4] Explain what the digital divide is. [2] Describe two negatives the digital divide has on society. [4] Using online research, explain what is being done to combat the digital divide. [2] Can you think of any positives to come from the digital divide? Who benefits from it? [2]

puzzle maker criss-cross conservation, monitorchange, society. Activity 2 Crossword Create a crossword based on this topic using the online crossword generator linked below. It should have a minimum of 10 questions. When you have finished, paste your crossword on to a Powerpoint slide and name it 4.2 Impact of Computing. Print out one copy (include your name) and stick it in your book. http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/CrissCrossSetupForm.asp puzzle maker criss-cross Keywords to include: digitaldivide, environment, ewaste, energyproduction, energyconsumption, conservation, monitorchange, society.