What is ICT?

 Information Communication Tenchnology

It covers hardware:

Computers, Scanners, Digital cameras

And software:

Systems software,Word-processors,Databases, Spreadsheets

Remember:

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT!!!!

Components                                        Communications

People                                                 Digital TV

Data                                                    Digital Radio

Information                                          Internet

Procedures                                          E-mail

Hardware                                             Mobile Phones

Software                                              Wi-Fi

What is data?

• Numbers
• Words
• Images 
• Sounds

Data is meaningless

Ways in which data can arise:

• Survery
• Transaction
• Results if an experiment
• Automatic measurement of environmental quantaties
• Output of a management information system

Encoding images:

• GIF,JPEG,TIFF,WMF, Bitmapped,Vector

Encoding Sound:

• WAV
• MIDI
• MP3
• Shockwave Audio  

Processing:

• Making a decision, sorting, organising, grouping, performing calculations

Quality of information:

• Accuracy
• Understanding
• Relevence
• Up to date

Why keep information up to date?

• Data protection act 1998
• So people can contact the right person 

User requirements depend on:

• Experience
• Age
• Physical characteristics
• Environment
• Task

ICT Professionals:

• Buisness/systems analyst/ project manager
• Software developer/programmer
• Web Designer
• Technician/Engineer/Network Administrator
• Help-desk operator

Advantages of working in an ICT team

• Can produce better work
• Members are able to help and motivate each other
• Can conmplete the project in a reasonable time frame 
• Able to bounce ideas off each other
• Tasks assigned to best person to carry them out

Types of user interface:Command-driven interface

• Uses commands,Need to remember commands,Need to construct commands properly

Natural language interface                                          Graphical user interface

• Spoken or written,Uses ordinary language                                                                                                                           Windows,Icons,Menus,Pointers

Elements of an ICT network Communication devices:

• Router                                           Networking software:
• Switch                                                    Network operating                                                                                        Network managemnt software
• Hub
• Network interface card

Standards and procedures

• Enables devices to communicate with each other
• Ensures the security of the system

Data transfer media

• Metal wires
• Fibre optic cable
• Wireless

Network Topologies

Ring                                                     Bus

• Only one path for data                 Small amount of cable
• Faults hard to locate                    Easy to add extra devices
• Equal status of devices                Has a backbone cable
• Easy to add extra devices            Only suited for small networks
• Circular configuration

Mesh                                                 Star

• Fault tolerant                          Central connection hub
• Easy to locate faults               Fault tolerant
• Higher costs                           Easy to add extra computers
• Harder to maintain                 Higher cost because more cable needed

                                                       Dependant on central hub , switch, router or                                                              computer

Networks

Intranets:

• Private network
• uses same technology as internet
• only used by employees

Extranets:

• Not restricted to just employees
• Suppliers,customers and other trading partners can access it
• Can use public or private communication
• Uses same technology as internet

Networks Advantages:

• Share files
• Share hardware rescources
• Share sofwtare
• Lower software costs
• Improved security
• Easier to backup files
• Easier to implement acceptable use policies
• Improved communications
• Central maintanence and support

Disadvantages:

• Cost
• Technical knowledge needed
• Lack of acces when file sever fails

Privacy

• Keeping your life private  Systems that erode privacy:

• Surveilance cameras
• Loyalty cards
• Monitoring by employers
• Internet monitoring
• Mobile phone monitoring

Who collects personal information?

• Doctors etc
• Stores
• Market research organisations
• Goverment depts
• Schools, colleges etc

Reducing errors:

• Credit history
• Purchases made
• Medical details
• Video 
• Payment details

Monitoring

At work:

• Downloads made
• Websites visited
• E-mails sent
• Time spent on internet

When you shop:

• Loyalty cards
• Surveilance cameras

At home:ISP records

• Webpages vistied
• Downloads
• E-mail details

Cookies:

• Text files used to collect data,Collects data about use of a website

Spyware:

• Web browsing history,Keystrokes made- identity theft, user-IDs copied, passwords found

Problems with on-line banking Identity theft:

• Personal details found,Credit card/banking details found,Used to commit fraud

Phishing:

• Fake e-mails sent,Ask to reveal banking/card details,Ask for user-ID and password,Used to commit fraud

Trojans:

• Programs added to computers,Without user knowledge,Used to transmit personal details back

Protect:

• Never reveal personal details in an e-mail
• Shred all credit card slip/statements, etc.
• Never reveal banking details unless encrypted

Threats Internal:

• Within organisation
• User mistakes
• Theft
• Hacking by employee
• Negligence

External:

• Outside organisation
• Hacking 
• Arson

Crime:

• Illegal
• Punishable

Malpractice:

• Improper, careless use or misconduct
• Wasting time surfing internet
• No logging off
• Divulging passwords

Protecting ICT systems:

Hardware measures:

• Fireproof safes
• Access restrictions to computers
• Access restrictions to computer rooms
• Firewalls

Software measures

• User IDs and passwords
• Access restrictions ( read-only, read-write, append, no access)
• Firewalls
• Encryption

Procedures for protecting ICT systems: Separation of duties

• No one person being responsible for a process
• Helps prevent fraud

Non-disclosure

• Protects business data from falling into competitors hands
• Protects personal data

Training

• Prevents user mistakes
• Makes users aware of responsibilities

Acceptable use policy

• Document outlining what employees can and can't do
• Enforced by discliplinary action

Data protection act 1998 Data subject:

• Person who info is about and has rights under act

Personal data:

• Data about an identifiable person
• Who is alive
• Is specific to that person

Personal data- medical history, credit history, qualifications, religious beliefs, criminal records

Data controller:

• Responsible for compliance with act
• Person in organisation who controls way personal data is processed

Information commissioner: Enforces act and Promotes good practice

Computer misuse act 1990

Offences under the act:

• Planting or transferring viruses
• Carrying out unauthorised work
• Copying programs illegally
• Hacking
• Using an ICT system to commit fraud

Need to prove intent

Need to prove act was not accidental

Copyright,designs and patents act 1998

Problems with illegally copying software:

Viruses, no software support, do not qualify for upgrades and illegal

Crime to copy or steal software:

• Can copy with owners permission
• Can only run the number of versions as allowed by license

Punishments:

• Unlimited fines
• Up to 10 years imprisonment
• Sued for damages
• Confiscation of computers

The need for backup:

Malpractice and crime: User error, terrorist attack, viruses, hacking, theft, deliberate of damage

• Hardware failure
• Software bugs
• Power cuts
• Natural disasters
• Fire

Back up stratergy

What?

• Full?
• Incremental?
• Differential?

When?

• After a session of work?
• Hourly?
• Daily?
• Continuously?

How?

• Magnetic media?
• Optical media?
• Flash/pen drive?
• Transfer using internet?

Recovery of backups Alternative accommodation, availability of staff, availability of hardware, training for staff on how to recover data, availability of alternative communication facilities

• Fast repetitive processing
• Vast storage capacity
• Facility to search for and combine data
• Improved presentation of information
• Improved accessibility to information and services
• Improved security of data and processes

Limitations of ICT systems:

• Hardware
• Software
• Communications
• Inappropriate system design
• Operational procedures
• Current legislation
• Poor data control mechanisms

Types of processing:

Batch:

• Inputs are collected over a period
• Input documents batched together
• Processed in one go

Transaction:

• Slight delay in processing
• Constant dialogue between computer and user

Real-time

• Input data processed immediately
• No delay

Cultural

• Lack of skills
• No English
• Political problems

Economic

• Labour costs
• Fuel costs
• Access to internet

Social

• Job loss
• Addictions
• Less personal

Environmental:

• Use on the move
• Appropriate user interface

Legal

• Data protection laws
• Copyright laws
• Other laws

Ethical:

• Privacy
• Copying
• Accuracy
• Preventing unauthorised access 

Benefits to individuals

• Opportunities to telework
• You can shop from home
• Access to media anywhere/any place
• Access to on-line banking
• Access to huge amounts of information using the internet
• Creates new interesting jobs
• Easy to exchange ideas
• More leisure time
• Savings made when shopping on the internet

Problems to individuals:

• Health problems
• Information overload
• Worries about children accessing the internet
• Insecurity at work
• Having to keep up with new developments

Problems to society:

• Copying
• Access to ***********
• Lack of equality
• Lack of privacy
• Cyber bullying
• Misinformation
• Spreading rumours
• De-skills or eliminates certain jobs
• Misuse
• Globalisation
• Widens gap between rich and poor countries 
• Bogus sites
• Using digital editing to destroy images

Benefits to society:

• Shorter working week
• Higher standard of living
• Makes life safer
• Greater productivity and less wastage
• Greater democracy
• Helps disabled people to be more independant