The Effect of ICT on the way we work

ICT has effected many aspects in todays society one thing that it has hugely effected is the way that we work. ICT has become such a big aspect in todays society that for nearly every single job you go for you will need to be computer literate. Many jobs nowadays use computers and many use programs such as databases. spreadsheets, power-points  and much more. ICT is a vital part in the way we work and knowledge of it is important.

Mobiles have greatly changed the way we work and especially BlackBerry. The brand BlackBerry was developed and designed in 1996 but in the last couple of years there success has been amazing.  This Smartphone  is used in most companies and is often compares to iphones with constant debates over which is the best phone.  BlackBerrys ae brilliant for work as they contain so many good features. You are able to send and receive email, make conference calls, access the web send texts and much more. BlackBerrys are so popular because they have so many different features making everything so much more efficient. With email on your phone you no longer have to carry around your laptop all you need is your BlackBerry. This also means you can work anytime of the day, at home, on the train, absolutely anywhere you no longer are restricted to a office and computer to do your work. Emails receive on your BlackBerry just like a text message does it comes up  straight away without having to sign onto an email provider on the internet. BlackBerrys also include other features built in like a music player meaning you do not need a separate Mp3/Mp4 player . BlackBerrys also have their own chat messenger built in BBM. This works just like msn messenger but is only for BlackBerry mobile customers, meaning you can talk to anyone else who has a BlackBerry. Each BlackBerry has its own BBM pin and friends can add this pin to their mobile which will automatically add you to their BBM contacts. BlackBerrys are also able to send files as well as compose word files, spreadsheets and presentations. All of the aspects to a BlackBerry are very impressive and you can see why they have become so popular the last couple of years. 
My dad uses a BlackBerry every working day so i interviewed him on this and how he uses his phone.


So how important is your BlackBerry to you?


My BlackBerry is very important it is our company phone and i am always using it for some reason or another.

What do you use your BlackBerry mostly for?


Id say i use it most for sending emails in my job it is important to always be in touch with everyone in my department.   And the use of email is so much easier. I always have to contact people in other countries and this would cost quite a lot if i was always calling and texting them but with my BlackBerry i am able to contact them without all the extra costs.


Would you say that you use your laptop less than used to before them?


For certain things yes. I barely ever email on  my laptop now but i still use my laptop for making documents and presentations. BlackBerrys now have an application that lets you do all of these sort of things like Microsoft Powerpoint on it but for me personally i think it is much easier do these things on a computer instead.


Do you ever use BBM (BlackBerry Messenger)


No. In our company we are not allowed to use this but to be honest i don't really need to use it. Email and calling people is fine.


Do you think the calling features on the BlackBerry are better than other phones?


Yes definitely im always on conference calls and on other phones before this used to be hard as we were only able to have a certain amount of people on the call but on BlackBerrys this is much easier.


So would you say this is your favourite work gadget?


Yes definitely it just makes my working style so much more efficient everything is available all in one place.






News Stories


BlackBerry helps police fight crime


Are BlackBerrys Secure?

Online Banking

Online banking is a service that allows customers to do financial transactions over the the internet. Some of the feature of online banking websites include performing financial transactions, pay bills, apply for loans, investment purchasing, online statements, balance check and much more. You are able to search through your account and see your statements and transaction details and search these in date order. With their internet system you are also able to check your details up to the very minute. As well as checking you own account you are also able to transfer money to differnet accounts aslong as it is within the same bank. As you are now able to check your balance and pay your bills online there is also an option whree you can stop bills being posted and instead they will just email you when a new bill arrives.

Advantages of Online Banking

• Conveninet open 24/7
• Easy and simple to set up only need to answer a few simple question.
• Allows you to do a variation of different things
• As long as you have internet you are able to bank anywhere around the world
• If you dont have time to go out you can easily do it over the internet
• Can get better investment deals over the internet ("Online Only" deals)
• Hassell free and easy to use
• This way is also much better for the environment as you are not wasting paper.

Disadvantages of Online Banking

• Security is a big issue with online banking many people are not willing to bank online as they feel other people may somehow access their account.
• People can get unsure about the transactions they make wondering if it actually went through or not.
• For some people it may also take a while to get used to using the service.
• Can get no help if you have a problem or query unlike if you went into a traditional bank.
• Many people also find online banking impersonal. 

Online banking can always be slightly risky like everything in life. But the security used for online banking is improving day by day and fraud rates are quickly decreasing. The link below shows an article proving this showing how fraud rates are going down.

Online Banking Fraud Down 36%

The next link shows how the rates of people using online banking websites have increased.
Online Savings Accounts And Checking Accounts Grow In Popularity


ATM Machines

ATM machines (automated teller machines) is "An unattended electronic machine in a public place, connected to a data system and related equipment and activated by a bank customer to obtain cash withdrawals and other banking services". ATMs allow you to access your bank account so you can make cash withdrawls, credit card cash advances and check your balance. Many now also let you purchase phone credit. You are able to take out cash from an ATM all around the world with the money you want being converted at a wholesale exchange rate which also makes it popular for many tourists as you often get the best exchange rates using an ATM. ATMs are stand alone machines and do not require anyone else to help operate them ie a bank clerk.

When you insert your bank card into an ATM the magnetic chip on your card will be read and then your transaction will be processed. You then have to prove that the card belongs to you by entering your own unique PIN number.

The Effect Of ICT On school life

ICT has hugely affected education. There are many different sites on the internet focusing on online learning and aim to help children and adults with absolutely any subject. One of the main things are online education sites such as BBC bitesize. These types of websites can help you with nearly any subject. From work for KS1 to GCSE. They are brilliant for revision and i know many people that rely on websites such as this to revise for exams. They contain tests activities and explain to you everything that you need to know. The knowledge that is in BBC bitesize is amazing and you are able to get really in depth information if you want it. There is no longer a need to go out and purchase book as we are now able to learn nearly everything we want through the Internet. By this we are able to save a lot of money instead of buying endless supplies of books. The internet has an endless supply of resources and you are certain to find an answer to your problem somewhere.

Sites such as BBC bitesize has made it so much easier for people personally they are now able to use these sites to find out information for things they don't understand do online test to make sure they are on track and work on any subject you want. As it is on the computer as well this appeals more for young people instead of writing down endless amounts of class notes. They are also able to play games making learning fun and making sure that they do not get bored while working.

Advantages and disadvantages of online learning

Advantages
There are lots of advantages about online learning firstly it has to be the amount of resources. The internet truly gives us an endless supply of resources, there are specific websites focusing on certain subjects such as mymaths, there are website such as BBC bitesize that have loads of different subjects to choose from and with school based websites such as fronter you are able to download many different resources that your teachers may have put up for you. The internet has no limit to knowledge you are almost always able to find the thing you are looking for. With websites such as Yahoo Answers we are also able to ask specific questions and get other people help you. You don't even have to pay for lots of different books as all the information you need is in one place. We are also able to access the internet all over the world meaning you are not limited to a classroom; you are able to learn on the go. Websites such as BBC bitesize also have tests which can assess your learning so you can find your strengths and see the places that you need to focus on. As they are on the internet most of the websites are free to use with the exception of very few which you have to sign up for.

Disadvantages
There are also some disadvantages towards online education. One is the spelling and grammar, as many of the website on the internet were made in other countries such as America they spelling may be different. Also the schemes of work may be different on the website you are looking on thats why it is important to make sure you are looking at work under the right examining board otherwise you may be looking at false information and spending extra time learning things that you do not actually need to know. One of the other disadvantages of Online education includes actually having false information on the internet, websites such as Wikipedia actually include a lot of information that is wrong as anyone is able to edit what it says on there, so if you do not check the work you may find out the things you are writing are completly wrong. One disadvantage is that the whole experience off learning of a computer is impersonal, lots of people find it hard to learn of the internet as there is no one there to help explain it if you do not understand it. Many people also get distracted and end up playing games instead of actually working.

[JING VIDEO ON BBC BITESIZE]

Interactive Whiteboards

It was not very long ago when each classroom had a chalkboard but now Interactive whiteboards are a new aspect in Online Education.  Interactive whiteboards are large touch sensitive screens that connect to a computer and a projector and as the name sugests they are interactive. SMART Boards (from SMART technologies) are the main provider for interactive whiteboards and they are common in most schools aswell as places such as the work place. Each smart board is fitted with four pens (a red, blue, blakc and green one) and an eraser.  You have to sync the board up to make sure that the board works and once you have done that you are free to go. With the whiteboard being attached to the computer and projector you are able to show documents, presentations and many things on the screen the pictutre on your computer scene i. Also instead of having to sit at the computer and control the screen you are able to control the whiteboard using your finger or a pen. Making it even easier to navigate around the pages. You are able to write on the screen by usng one of the pens on the SMART board meaning you dont need a normal whiteboard or chalkboard to write on. The board realises when you pick a pen up from the holder and so knows which colour you are using enabling you to write in any colour you want. The pens use Zero Ink technology which mean they actually contain no ink but react with the sensors on  the smart board letting you write. The interactive whiteboard recognizes touch from fingers, pens or any other solid object.
 


Advantages And Disadvantages of Interactive Whiteboards


Advantages

• Any computer can be fitted with an interactive whiteboard
• Can make classes and work more exciting with the interactive aspect
• Board will always look clean because of the Zero-ink
• Presentations and work on the computer can easily be seen 
• Notes that you make on the board can be stored and saved for future reference or to show to another class making work easier.

Disadvantages

• One disadvantage of Interactive Whiteboards are the cost. They are very expensive much more than a projector and a normal whiteboard
• Damage is quite usual in interactive whiteboards as many people have picked up the wrong pen and have ended up staining the screen resulting in costly replacements.
• Obviously interactive whiteboards require electricity so if you have a power cut then you are not able to do anything on it.
• If not synced up properly your writing may end up in a completely different place to where you want.
• It is not a multi-touch surface which means you are only able to touch one thing at a time

Online Shopping

One of the big things used in todays society is the internet and one of the most handy services availbale on the net comes through online shopping. Online shopping is a online service which allows you to buy and sometimes sell products. These websites can range in variety from grocery shopping, technology, bidding websites such as ebay and specialsed online shops.

Online shopping is revolutinary it lets you buy anything you want with a click of a button and you are certain to find what you want with the millions of online shopping websites that are in use. One of the biggest markets for online shopping is clothes shopping. There are so many websites over the internet letting you purchase clothes. Almost every highstreet shop has an online shop aswell making it easy to find what you want. One website that is brilliant for showing online shopping is Sainsburys. Sainsburys is a supermarket but their websites offer much more than groceries. You are able to buy Food and Drink, Home and Garden products, Appliances, Technology such as Mp3s and Mobile Phones, Entertainment, Toys and games, Sports and leisure products, clothing and much more. You are even able to get insurance quotes on their website. Many websites such as sainsburys and tescos now have a feature which remembers what you nought last time and so can predict what you may want to by next, this makes it easier to find the items you want with no searching around to find the product. All the things here are in one place making life for shoppers much simpler and hassle free.



Survey of womens experience and views on online shopping



Aswell as online shopping, shops now use lots of ICT equipment which makes the whole process of buying products easier.

EPoS- EPoS also known as electronic point of sale. This is the solution that uses computers and other electronic terminals along with devices like barcode scanners using lasers to instanlty capture the transaction and store all the information. EPoS then is able to automatically update the stock, when the system shows that the stock is low it can then also automatically gets re-ordered. The EPoS system is so effecient and this ICT is vital in the running of shops now as it saves so much time and effort. Online shopping makes it easier for customers as it means you dont even have to leave the house to do your shopping, if you are pushed for time and dont have time to go out you buy stuff quickly over the interenet and most things can be delievered within a short amount of time. Online shopping opens you to an huge selection of different products and for many high street shops it is a very good service to use as there are more sizes and stock online.

Chip and Pin- Another big aspect of ICT in shops is the Chip and Pin System. It was not very long ago when the Chip and PIN system did not exist and instead everyone had to sign for the things they wer buying. But chip and pin has made the process of buying quicker and easier. The concept of chip and pin is quite simple to understand. On your credit and/or debit card you have a little electronic chip where your personal pin and other pieces of information are stored on. When you insert your pin into the chip and PIN device it then makes sure that the number you type in is the same that is stored on the chip.

Self Checkouts

 Self checkouts are machine that enable you to purchase things yourself with no need for cashier staff to scan all your products for you. In self service checkouts the customer can scan the barcodes of the items they are buying and once scanned it will come up on the screen. The self checkout knows how much the product weighs and will notice if there is extra objects in your bagging area making sure you cant steal from the shops. Once it weighs the product to make sure you have put your brought objects into the bagging are it will let you continue with your purchase. Using self servcie checkouts are quite easy and simple to use once youve got the hang of it. At first you may not be able to scan things very quickly but once used a few times you can quickly finish your purchase. You are then able to pay for your products using cash or card and many checkouts also now allow you to scan vouchers and specialsed points card e.g. Nectar cards and Boots advantage cards. The checkouts arent completely self use though as there will be an attendant nearby manning a big group of the checkouts, as they need to verify your age if you are buying certain products and to help customers if they get confused. A few advantages of self checkouts include a reduced checkout time, a sense of privacy when buying products and retailers will need less staff. Disadvanatges though can include much longer service time if you are unable to use the checkouts, sometimes the software can also mess up too bringing stress to many different people. Another disadvantage is the scales many times the checkout will fail to realise that you have put your item in the bagging area, this especially happens when you ahve weights fluctuations like when you are buying fruit as some apples may way less or more than thought.

Aswell as EPoS, Chip and Pin and Self Checkouts there are also other pieces of ICT that are used in Shops

• Keyboards
• CCTV




The graph above shows the how UK citizens
use onlien shopping


• Stock Contol
• Controlling the temperature of fridges and freezers in supermarkets
• SEC (Shelf Edge Computers)
• Scales

Advantages of Online Shopping

·         Many websites offer the products you want for a lower price.

·         Much easier than going out to the shops and buying the stuff you need. So much more convenient.

·         Great if you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to go out.

·         There is so much choice online and you are almost certain to find the thing you want. You will never find anywhere with more choice than the internet.

·         Many companies are trying to make more people shop online so offer discounts or free postage and packaging if you order something online.

·         Can buy anything anytime of the day internet is open 24/7 unlike shops.

·         Price comparison sites let us buy the things we want for the cheapest that they can find.

Disadvantages of Online Shopping

·         If you buy something off the internet and it is faulty the products can be hard to return and many companies have a policy which means if you do not return it within a certain amount of days you cannot send it back.

·         One obvious disadvantage is that you have to wait for your items to arrive sometimes this can sometimes only take a day or two but some websites can take forever to send you your items.

·         Some websites can also be scam websites. This can lead to fraud and all range of different problems.

·         Another disadvantage is that many websites may be based in different countries so shipping charges to bring over to this country can be very expensive.

• Some websites can also be very misleading and make you think you are buying a completley different product to what you actually are.

To find out some extra information about about online shopping i surveyed 10 members of mty friends/family on how they use Internet shopping and their views on it.

Below are the graphs i produced from the

results.

To the right show the results i gathered from the question "How often do you use the internet to buy products". With the most popular answer being twice a month at 40%

From the question "Why do you online shop?" the most popular was "Because it's convenient wuth 9 out of 10 people agreeing with this statement.

 

 
 

On the right shows the results from the question "what products do you buy online?" there was a variety of results from this question but the largest catergory was CDs/ DVDs with 7 out of 10 people buying these over the internet. 

The fourth question i asked was about their experience with online shopping and if they found it more enjoyable than visiting with 60% saying sometimes or no. People commented that there are things they like more about online shopping like easy use and easy to find all the products but many many people said they just enjoyed the "feel" of actually going into a shop.

My final question was "Would you recommend online shopping to others?". For this question the results for online shopping were quite good with only 1 out of 10 people saying that  they would not recommend it.