Chapter 5. The effects of using ICT

Transcription

1 Chapter 5 The effects of using ICT 1) Which are the 4 main areas of employment where ICT has had an effect? a. Manufacturing- Robots have replace human workers in many areas of manufacturing. Example: welding car bodies, spraying metal items, assembling items, etc. b. Shop work- Online shopping has reduced the need for high street shops, leading to a loss of staff. c. Banking- Introduction of ATMs and online banking has led to the closure of many high-street branches. d. Office work- Spreadsheets, word processors and databases have taken over many of the tasks carried out by office staff. 2) The introduction of computers into the workplace has caused some changes in employment. a) Identify two different types of job where employment has decreased. 1) Office Work 2) Manufacturing b) Identify two different types of job where employment has increased. 1) Website Designers 2) Computer Programmers 3) What are the advantages of robots over human workers? The advantages of robots over humans are: Higher productivity

2 More consistent results They work non-stop without breaks, holidays or time for shift handovers. They don t get bored by repetitive tasks. They don t go on strike. 4) What are the disadvantages of robots over human workers? Robots are expensive to purchase and setup in the first place. They often need to be reprogrammed for every new task, which can be expensive and time-consuming. If error occurs in the robot s programming, or if it develops a mechanical problem, a number of production errors will occur until the fault has been identified. 5) What are the effects of ICT on working patterns? The introduction of ICT into workplace has led to a number of changes in working patterns for staff. The four main additional types of work pattern are: 1. Part-time working: Staff works fewer hours per week than full-time staff. This can be either fewer hours per day or fewer days per week. 2. Flexible working (Flexi-time): Flexi-time is the ability to choose the start and finish times, but they must complete a full day s work. This requires agreement with the employer to ensure the office is manned at all the required times. 3. Job Sharing: With job sharing, a full-time job is divided between two parttime workers. Both workers are doing the same job; one picks up the work where the other left off.

3 4. Compressed hours: In compressed hours, an employee works their full hours for the week, but works for fewer days. 6) What are the advantages in different work patterns? A contented workforce is more likely to stay in the job, thus reducing the company s recruitment and training costs for new staff. Flexi- time allows them to remain open for longer hours. Job sharing ensures the company has more than one person with a particular skill set. Compressed hours often lead staff to be more focused on their work. Provides more flexibility during busy times and during staff sickness. 7) Give advantages and disadvantages of microprocessor-controlled labour-saving devices. Refer Page No: 83 Microprocessor-Controlled Devices in the Home 8) What is a Microprocessor? A microprocessor is a small CPU built into a single 'chip'. Very powerful microprocessors can be found in PCs (the Core 2 Quad processor made by Intel is one example) but smaller, less powerful microprocessors can be found in many everyday devices in our homes. Typically, a special type of microprocessor, called a microcontroller, is used in everyday devices. In a single chip, a microcontroller contains: A CPU

4 Some RAM Some ROM (Used for storing the devices software) Often microcontrollers also contain ADCs and DACs to allow easy connection to devices such as sensors and actuators. Examples of Microprocessor-Controlled Devices Many of the electronic devices that we use contain a microprocessor... Some devices are used for entertainment: Games consoles DVD players MP3 players Some devices help to make our lives easier (labor-saving devices): Programmable microwave ovens Programmable washing machines Home security systems Mobile telephones Robotic vacuum cleaners Automatic dishwashers Smart fridges and freezers When people talk about computer 'chips' they are referring to the little, black, square devices that you can see stuck to computer circuit boards. Inside these lumps of black plastic are tiny electronic circuits that are built on slices (or 'chips') of a special substance called a semiconductor.

5 These miniature circuits can contain millions of tiny parts called transistors (you would need a very powerful microscope to see one of the transistors). These computer chips have revolutionized our world. They have enabled us to pack huge amounts of computing power into tiny devices such as mobile phones. The Effect of These Devices on Our Lives Microprocessor-controlled devices mean that we have more leisure time to relax. We are able to communicate with people very easily using computers, mobile phones, etc. Computers and Internet connections mean that many of the tasks that involved us leaving the house, can now be done on-line. Online shopping gives us more choice of products and saves us time. It allows those who are unable to get out of the house easily, such as the elderly, or the disabled.