Homework due for November 4, 2008

Now that we have looked at some negative aspects of IT (hacking, viruses, etc.) and some legislation to protect users it is now time to study how computers affect society. Please read the sections on Information Systems and Society on pages 178-181 and answer the following questions:

Pgs. 178-179

1. What is a teleworker? (2 pts)
2. What is the advantagee of teleworking? (3 pts)
3. Summarize (in your own words) the way an information system affects how supermarkets operate? (4 pts)
4. How have banks been affected by computerized information systems? (3pts)
   

Pgs. 180-181:

1. Write a 4-6 line summary (in your own words) for each of the 3 subheadings: Economic Effects, Social Effects, and Environmental Effects of IT. (4 pts each)
2. Answer 2 of the questions raised under the legal, ethical & moral effects section, giving your opinion on each. (4 pts each)

Good luck.

Homework due for October 31, 2008

We are going to talk about Data Protection on Friday. To prepare please read pages 176-177 and answer the following questions:

1. List 4 ways to protect data. (4 points)
2. Why is the data protection act important. (4 points)
3. Explain the difference between data subjects and data controllers. (2 points)
4. Give 2 ways the Data Protection Act works. (2 points)
5. What rights do individuals have regarding the information that is held about them? (2 points)

Good Luck!

Computer Misuse Act

We have already answered the questions on Pg. 175 on the Computer Misuse Act but I want to take a look at it in more detail. Here is a video about it.



Please Note: I am not responsible for the music/noise that accompanies it!

Contemplating Photo Manipulation & Effects on Society

Mr. Ringling showed me this and I thought you might find it interesting considering our unit on Graphics last year:



And this:



Seriously though, what does this say about the emphasis our society places on beauty? Or the very concept of beauty itself?

This is not the only example of this being done in magazines. Can you spot the number of touch ups? The answer is here.

Some other issues to consider about the role Photoshop plays in our society:

Should we expect our information to be presented to us naturally or with touch ups? What are these women saying about how news and information should be presented to the public?



Are the images magazines present to us doing more good or harm to our society in general?

Some Interesting Videos For Oct. 10

On Friday we are going to do our best to take up our homework (see the last two blog entries) and discuss Copyright issues before you guys have to go for your medical checkups.  To help us cover the issue of Copyright here are a couple of videos:

Piracy is a Crime

And the response

You Tube Sued!  Will Copyright Kill the Video Star?

The Disney Trap:  How Copyright Steals Our Stories

And, of course, our good friend Gunter! 

Next Topic: Hacking

In class next we are going to discuss hacking. To help here are some videos that help frame the issue:

The first is on wireless hacking:

Next we are going to hear from the hackers themselves:



Finally the Worlds No. 1 Computer Hacker on the History Channel:

We will have some homework for Friday on hacking, copyright and the Computer Misuse Act. You can start by reading pages 174-175 and answer the following questions:

1. What is meant by copyright & hacking?
   
2. What are the 4 main types of piracy?
   
3. What are 4 things the Computer Misuse Act of 1990 make it illegal to do?
   

Good luck!

Homework due for Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Please read pgs. 172-173 and answer the following questions:

1. What is a computer virus?  How does it work? (5pts)
   
2. What are the 3 main types of computer viruses? (3 pts)
   
3. List 4 ways to prevent a computer from becoming infected with a computer virus. (4 pts)
   

Also, please remember to complete Worksheet 1 that was found in the studentserver.  If you did not copy it from there you can always get it from www.teach-ict.com/gcse/theory/virus/teacher/virus_lessonideas.htm.

Good luck!

Some Interesting Videos For Oct. 3

On October 3 we are going to be discussing computer viruses.  To further the discussion here are some interesting videos to introduce to the concepts we will cover:

Are MACs really virus proof?

A long one that talks about some things beside just viruses (but it is very interesting)

Tim & Moby give a very brief, simple summary of viruses

Here is one from How Stuff Works

What are the social effects of computer viruses?

And some final tips!