TC2-Computer Literacy Mr. Sencer February 4, 2010

Effects of Computers Society has experienced many positive benefits of using computers. There have been so many positive benefits that now computers are replacing humans in many jobs.

The User What exactly is a user? A user is anyone who communicates with a computer or uses the information it generates.

Advantages of Using Computers Benefits from using computers are possible because computers have the advantages of: Speed Reliability Consistency Storage Communications

Speed When data, instructions, and information flow along the electronic circuits inside a computer, they travel at high speeds. Many computers process BILLIONS of operations in a single second. Some examples of processing: computing (adding, subtracting, etc.), sorting (e.g., alphabetizing), displaying images, recording audio, playing music, showing a movie or video.

Reliability The electronic components found in most modern computers are dependable and reliable. How often does your computer break because of the parts inside? Since they rarely break or fail computers tend to be considered very reliable.

Consistency If you give then computer the same input and the same processes to complete, a computer will always produce the same results. An expression has grown in the computer field that describes consistency. “Garbage in, garbage out” What exactly does that mean? The consistency of a computer depends on how good the data given to it is, if it is not good it will not produce the expected results. An example, if you do not use the flash on a digital camera when in a dark place, the pictures that are taken might be too dark.

Storage A computer can transfer data quickly from storage to memory, process it, and then store it again for future use. Many computers store enormous amounts of data and make this data available for processing anytime it is needed. Where does the computer store its long term data? Where does the computer store the data it is about to process?

Communications Most computers today can communicate with other computers, often wirelessly. Computers with this capability can share any of the four information processing cycle operations with other computers or another user. What’s an example of the communications computers provide? The Internet InputProcessOutputStorage

Disadvantages of Using Computers What are some disadvantages to using computers? Some disadvantages of computers: Health risks Privacy Public Safety the impact on the work force Environmental factors.

Health Risks The expression best to describe it “Too much of one thing is never good” Prolonged or improper computer use can lead to injuries or disorders of the hands, wrists, elbows, eyes, neck, and back. Computer users can protect themselves from these health risks through proper workplace design, good posture, and appropriately spaced breaks.

Health Risks Two behavioral health risks are computer addiction and technology overload. Computer addiction is when someone becomes obsessed with using a computer. Technology overload is when individuals feel distressed when deprived of computers and mobile devices. However both computer addiction and technology overload are treatable disorders.

Privacy Nearly every life event is stored in a computer somewhere Examples include medical records, credit reports, tax records. Over the course of time where computers have been used to store private information, people have found that their privacy violated and identities stolen when the information was stored in unsecure ways.

Public Safety People around the world use computers to share their photos, videos, journals, music, and other personal information publicly. Some of these unsuspecting computer users have become victim to crimes committed by strangers. It is important that you protect yourself by being careful in what you send in messages and on Web sites you give personal information to. For example, do not share information that would allow others to identify or locate you and do not publicly display identification numbers, passwords, or other private details.

Impact on Labor Force Computers have increased productivity throughout the world. An entire industry has been formed by computers and hundreds of thousands of jobs have been created to support it. However, we have seen that people are now being replaced by a computer in the workplace. Outsourcing Some companies are outsourcing jobs to foreign countries instead of keeping their jobs in their homelands

Impact on Environment As with any industrial process, natural resources are used and waste is generated. Computer manufacturing is no exception to this. Recycling When computers are discarded in landfills and not recycled, they release toxic materials and potentially dangerous levels of lead, mercury. This is why when you purchase a new computer some retailers offer the option of recycling computers and their batteries. Green Computing What is green computing? Green computing is the reduction of the electricity used and environmental waste generated when using a computer.