Digital Divide

Today ICT forms the corner stone for life within the western world. Everyday employees, students, teachers and society in general use computers in aid of a task within their day. ICT has revolutionised the way in which people operate today not only in work, but leisure too. However the use of ICT in today’s world is not without its problems. Within digitalization two issues have occurred splitting society due to ICT and the infrastructure created as a result, these are the Digital divide and the Local divide.

Global Divide

· Gap between what people have in western society as opposed to the developing world.

· MEDC’s as opposed to LEDC’s.

· Microchip has been in the western world for many years.

· Allows computers to become smaller, and has lead to the development of PC’s (Personal Computer).

· Computers have allowed people to develop more in-depth technology to improve and simplifying their lives.

· Occurrence of digitalizing occurred within America first.

· Without this technology there are obvious disadvantages, this can be seen within the developing world.

· LEDC’s do not have the infrastructure to allow for computers to be correctly and efficiently used.

· Ranges of techniques have had to be developed to allow people of a young age to learn and develop ICT skills.

· Some places within the subcontinent computers are within a village, allowing communities to use a computer.

· Internet café’s in Eastern Europe allow user to access the internet.

· Nowadays without internet access countries cannot economically function efficiently.

· Internet today is essential to the use of countries for economic growth and development.

Local Divide

· Outreach centre breaches the divide within communities and their understanding of ICT.

· Often occurs due to economic problems and generation, the old age have no interest in ICT.

· This effect runs parallel to the global divide.

· Internet shopping has become a new phoneme.

· Without this, those without the internet lose out on these features, low prices, functionality, and delivery.

· Access to current information is more accessible within the internet and online.

· Operation of new terminals and touch screen may seem imposing to those who have never used ICT before.

· Using hardware today for those old aged, may seem difficult and imposing.

· New interfaces prevent those within local societies from interacting fully due to lack of knowledge.

· Local divide is as problematic as the global divide, however to our societies it can cause a more apparent gap, which those in western countries can see directly.

The Global Divide is the divide between the western world and MEDC’s as opposed to third world countries the LEDC’s.

The divide stretches far beyond the divide in the countries ability to produce the new digital devices. Civilians within the populations of third world countries are unaware of the benefits of ICT, and are limited in their ability to operate it subsequently. Therefore not only are skills required for the operation of ICT equipment to be profitable, sufficient infrastructure must also be in place to allow the countries to fully reap the rewards that computerisation brings.

MEDC do not have this problem of infrastructure, constant power supplies allow computerisation and all its equipment to be used at any point of the day. To this extent the use of ICT is the only problem LEDC may experience, however in recent years money has been invested into education to allow students the opportunities to be taught within the use of ICT. This enables those within society to become aware of the use of ICT and to familiarise themselves with it from an early age, making the transition of operating it simple, as they grow and there learning extends.

The Social Divide does not differ dramatically from the Global. It too creates barriers between individuals, however on a local scope, as opposed the Global degree seen before. The Social Divide is the divide created through communities within countries. This seen many within MEDC’s where the technology is already in place. Here society can be seen to have split, those cable of operating the new computerised devices and those not.

This split is due to two main factors, the divide in generations and the wealth of those within a country. Here those who have retired and no longer require technology for work, and those who cannot afford the new technology or similar are not given the opportunity to use it, can be seen to have of split from younger wealthier generations who have the ability to use the technology at their will.

Those within the economic and generational caption area gain the benefits of the new technology; however those outside this area do not. With this in mind MEDC’s have invested in education (as previously mentioned) and new schemes have been created to allow learning of new technology and integration of societies to use these new digital devices and technology.

The Social Divide therefore is the divide within communities today, and can be seen to have a parrel effect to that of the Global Divide, as both problems split communities and countries into segregated groups, with those fortunate enough to possess the new devices operating them, and those without left outdated and trying to catch up.

Civil Rights

Today in ICT the issue of civil rights has become ever more pressing. The impact of the security and privacy today is arising as an ever more controversial issue. Within Civil Rights the proposed introduction of certain policies such as the compulsory ID card scheme and similar Teen Arrive Alive GPS policy. All these issues have a variety of different views from individuals within society however, within the policies understanding of the advantages and disadvantages needs to be assessed in order to attain a balanced view on if they should, or should not be introduced.

Compulsory ID
The Compulsory ID scheme has still not been introduced; however it is the idea for the policy that all British citizens must obtain an Identification Card. The card itself will provide much more than merely the personal details of the citizen which are shown on the card. It will allow for a wealth of information to be stored on a database ranging from personal contact information and details, to medical history and even to identification tools, such as recording retinal, vocal and finger scans. However some members of the public are against the scheme and see it to be a breach of their privacy and civil rights.
The civil rights themselves are class of rights that protect the members of society, the British citizen, from unwarranted government action. As the policy of ID cards has not yet been introduced, members of the public still retain an element of privacy within their lives. With this said many fear that with information like this stored on a database, anyone at any time can dip and out of their personal details, doing as they see fit with the information at their disposal. ICT therefore has been the prime reason for this scheme being allowed to arise, and with a national database looking to be invented, one can argue that the private information of a citizen, is not something a government neither needs nor requires.

Teen Arrive Alive
Aside from the National ID scheme wishing to be emplaced, many today argue about the further infringement through Teen Arrive Alive GPS. This is an additional gadget which allows parents to monitor the actions of their children who own a car, be it their own or the families. An additional onboard device records a mass of data such as the location of the car, the speed travelling etc. However all this information is logged within the device and can be reviewed by the parent, revealing hidden information such as sudden acceleration or handbrake usage.
For some parents Teen Arrive Alive is a must have. Currently it has only been launched in America; however it is set to soon be migrating to the UK and other European countries. Some see this as just an excuse to disguise a breach of privacy and this is more than mere teenagers. Civil Rights activists argue, how long until this technology is used by government to track all cars and citizens. With Team Arrive Alive, a location update can be received every two minutes, how long until a constant live feed prohibits anyone from venturing out unknown and alerted.
Teen Arrive Alive is therefore seen to many as the beginning of the end, for all privacy seen today. It is true that the service offers benefits, however personal breaches within privacy and one’s personal life are set to be intruded and undermined.




Email & Internet Monitoring
Breaches in Civil Rights can be seen to occur today throughout all walks of life, many see that within workplaces and schools email is an error which needs to be corrected. Monitoring of email and internet use is today argued as an area of correction. The ability for employers and ISP’s (Internet Service Providers) to monitor what an employee / consumer has viewed, is again a breach of privacy. To some it is a way in which one can assure employees are staying on task, or similarly for ISP’S to reveal and view downloaded data of a client. However to some this is too much, and breaches their private life for the means of an analysis.
Monitoring what an individual does on the internet and what email they receive, is seen to many as intruding on their personal information, such as reading their post and recording what books they’ve read. It unveils a part of a consumer that should be private and away from a recorded database, for it to be accessed when seen fit. To this extent the introduction of Email and Internet monitoring breaches the rights of an individual and Civil Right activists are campaigning to stop ISP’S and Employers monitor there personal files and viewing history, be it at home or at work.

US Passports & RFID
American has come to light in recent news due to civil rights with the introduction of US Passports being intended to contain Radio Frequency Identification chips. The intention of the chips is to allow custom officials to scan the passports using special radio receivers, in doing so the official will not have to approach the passport holder. Instead they can scan the passport from nearby attaining numerous information specifying, much more about the holder than a regular passport would.
The passports themselves will contain biometric information, which will contain; Photographs, signature examples, fingerprints and much more. With all this information at the disposal of customs officials civil Rights Activists argue that it is a breach of their personal information unnecessarily being displayed via a simple radio frequency. It is not the display of information to customs officials that is the minor problem, the disposal for others to receive this information via a mere frequency is something of a concern. With this in mind information can merely be distributed an received when a passport is kept within someone’s home, therefore the information is always on access and able to be received via those who may use it for their own means and principles. The security side of this new technology is something that needs to be addressed and it is for this reason that many argue for it to be reconsidered, as they would prefer the standard passport with its simplistic nature, rather than the new digital model.

Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages and Disadvantages of all topics covered such as; Compulsory ID Cards, Teen Arrive Alive and Internet and Email monitoring can be seen below. Although there are numerous positives this technology can quickly be used for the wrong reasons and abuse the rights it was implemented for primarily.

Advantages:
· Records of Citizens can be useful in ties of emergency, for medical records and contact numbers.
· Regulating age restrictions would be much more effective with ID cards.
· Teen Arrive Alive would allow parents to monitor their children in case of an emergency, such as being lost.
· Similar a parent can prohibit their child from driving through certain areas where accidents are common.
· Monitoring Email and Internet usage would ensure employees kept on task.
· It would be possible to cut down on piracy crime.

Disadvantages:
· ID schemes would make fraud a lot easy if cards where lost or stolen.
· ID schemes would allow for sensitive medical information to be viewable at any time.
· Teen Arrive Alive could spread to a government monitoring system.
· Teen Arrive Alive may be costly an ineffective if satellite has temporary glitch.
· E-Mail monitoring and Internet usage would mean therefore the internet may become restricted and freedom of speech within it lost.
· E-Mail monitoring may prevent some individuals from using computers and phoning or texting instead.

Crime Prevention

ICT in today’s society has affected the law enforcement agencies in a verity of manners. The introduction of ICT into crime prevention has revolutionised the way in which the police and other services operate, it has allowed for a more analytical approach to crime ensuring the offenders see justice and are commitment for their felony.

Analytical and recognition introduction are the main benefits that have arisen from the computerisation of law agencies. The benefits are today seen in all walks of life and in one way or another massively influence the way in which Police officers function. Today Communications, Recognition and Analytical areas have been incorporated due to computerisation and this can be seen in the following sub categories;

· CCTV

· Criminal Database

· TV License Database

· Finger Print Scanner

· Voice Recognition

· Tags

· Digital Speed Cameras

· Alarms

· DNA and Forensics

· Tracking

· Breathalyser

· Communication

I intend to analyse these sections to reveal their importance within the law enforcement as a whole, and how influential they have been since their introduction as crime reduction equipment.

CCTV, Close Circuit Television has massively aided in reduction of crime within the United Kingdom. Its uses allow for an operator to view an array of cameras within a location and sight possible threats within them. Close Circuit Television is linked to a digital recorder enabling the viewing of all recordings to be saved upon a disk for further analysis, if a crime has been committed.

CCTV fits into the category of Recognition and therefore as technology has advanced as a whole so has the uses of this recording equipment. Today it can be combined as facial recognition software; using information provided from the criminal database, CCTV has advanced so that today, individuals can be identified automatically, detecting a threat potentially missed by operator of the equipment. This facial recognition can be seen in use today within Airports and alerts the authorities to potential threats, that before may have gone unseen.

The criminal database itself has today been revolutionised due to computerisation through ICT. Today information and profiling of all criminals and crimes has to be entered onto the database. The movement from a paper system to a digital one, enables crimes to be viewed from any computer linked to the criminal database, due to this policing is much more efficient in information can always be accessed on suspects. With the database information entered, crimes can be viewed form officers on the force, with not only basic text, but pictures and videos uploaded as well. This aids in the CCTV approach to facial recognition as suspects can be accessed and updated automatically so they are updated within CCTV cameras networked to the database.

TV License database, again this is a database that has migrated from a paper based scheme into the digital era, the loading of information onto the database for view at any time, allows for government officials to quickly view those missing payments and deal with them subsequently. However it is not solely the TV Licensing database that has been revolutionised due to computerisation, many other databases have migrated onto the digital scheme to allow for culprits to be found and punished faster in all areas of tax, such as; car tax (road tax), income tax, and many other alike.

Finger print scanners; Security overall as a general topic is one area that has been massively improved due to computerisation, we can see this alone with the introduction of CCTV, however Finger print scanners today are used for an extra layer of protection for users who need an additional layer of protection over their documents and other files alike. Finger print scanners, work in reading the unique arrangement of the finger prints of the individual, memorizing them and from this point onwards only grant that character access to certain files and documents. This system has been incorporated onto date pens and laptops alike, therefore meaning; even if the device is stolen an external user may not access the files within. Due to this security has been bolstered upon these devices, and it is surely a feature of protection that we can see added to many new digital devices in the future.

Voice Recognition software is yet another area that has been developed and implemented into devices today. The software adds an increased layer of security and can be seen in use generally with that of the finger print scanner. The voice recognition software allows for a user to be identified due to their voice, this may not seem as complex as the finger print scanner itself, but it no doubts works as an additional security measure. The voice recognition software therefore has the same uses as the finger print scanner, in that it grants access to the specific user to files within the device and allows them to view and manipulate them after passing the test. The software can be seen in a very primitive form within that of mobile phones today in that a user merely says the name of their contact once a button has been held down and the phone dials that relating number. Both the voice recognition software and the finer print scanner aid in crime prevention as if a device is stolen it is essentially useless to the culprit as they cannot make use of it nor access its files.

Tags’, tagging today is used by the police to enforce ASBO’s. The Anti Social Behaviour Orders are enforced by that of a tag bound to the offender’s angle. The tag is monitored by a geostationary orbiting satellite monitoring their movement. The tag confines the culprit within the residence between certain hours, due to this if the curfew is broken, police units are dispatched to apprehend the individual and return them home. Tagging has reduced public spending within prison as it confines a person to house arrest, ensuring they stay within their housing. This aids in crime prevention as it allows for police to be despatched to more pressing issues rather than that of monitoring previously convicted suspects.

Digital Speed Camera’s, today speed regulation are enforced by digital speed cameras monitoring stretches of road 24/7.The cameras are used in order to enforce the speed limit and act as a deterrent to drives, forcing them to slow down , or receive fines and points on their license, which may ultimately result in it being removed. The digital speed cameras take an array of pictures of both the driver and vehicle enabling the correct driver to be convicted of the offense. Using digital speed cameras today has made road increasingly safer and has reduced the chance of drivers speeding on particular roads.

Alarms, another advancement in security and crime protection are that of alarms. Today there are arrays of new digital alarms that help to detect and alert intruders to a specific individual or the police general. Today fire alarms are linked directly to the emergency services, however alarms intended to detect and protect property or items work on the same base, however are more advanced. Alarms today sense movement and alert an individual to their presence be it by a sensor, producing light and an alarm or a more discrete silent alarm used for capturing criminals in the act. Sensors are the main development which allow for intruders to be detected due to their motion, these alarms are the most efficient in preventing crime, and can be seen on houses today in order to prevent burglars.

DNA and Forensics, within crimes themselves DNA can prove the most important asset to a case in convicting a criminal and bringing them to justice, just a small fragment of tissue is required but it is enough to tie an offender to the act and bring them to justice. DNA testing and validation can be use in order to identify suspects within a specific case if they are tied to the criminal database, or similarly its cross reference with suspects is all that is needed to identify the culprit. Overall the advance in DNA testing and validation within the law enforcement agencies allow for criminals to see justice and for the offenders to face up to their crime committed. Forensics themselves is the process in analysing the DNA, the technology itself is used by those who are directly connected to this sector, all they require is a tissue fragment possessing some DNA material and a crime can be pieced together and protect those who innocent, whilst convicting those guilty.

Tracking, this revolves around the essentials of the Tagging process, a geostationary satellite can be used to survey criminals and suspects, and however this process is with them being unaware. Satellite tracking allows for targets to be tracked by a satellite for surveillance purposes without a suspect being aware. It is important and is used mainly in high profile cases in recording the movements of criminals without their knowledge. Therefore it aids in the apprehension and conviction of culprits, in stringing together information and bring them to justice.

Breathalyzer are used today by police across the country in convicting drivers of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol. They are used by police who are intended to enforce road safety, the device itself requires the culprit to breath into it, and it delivers a digital reading analysing their breath of the alcohol within their blood. This device has enabled police to combat dangerous drivers enforcing the law and therefore making the roads safer. Computerisation due to this device is an important factor and without alcohol on the roads would be a wider problem today.

Communication in general is the final factor that has had an influential effect on reducing crime. The use of it affects many areas and is not used directly within the police forces. The use of mobile phones, mobile radio handsets and ear pieces all have aided in the communication of forces and reduction of crime. Computerisation allows for more efficient discrete devices to be used, in order to not alert a culprit of the police’s presence. Communications within the force itself allow for crimes to be alerted quicker, and units dispatched to the scene and a faster rate. Due to this it is the most important development in computerisation and crime prevention and aids in general civilian protection, due to threats and crimes being alerted at a faster rate from any location.

In conclusion the introduction of computerisation into Crime Prevention has enabled for increased levels of security and reductions in offenses. Without the developments we have today crime prevention forces would not be able to operate as efficiently as they do, and many crimes would go undetected and alerted.

Open Source software

Open source software alone is one of the most heavily downloaded items throughout the entire internet; however operating systems of these are few and far between. Ubuntu and Linux are the two main open source software’s that are operating systems ,and due to this are set to compete with the likes of apple Macintoshes operating system OS leopard and Microsoft’s Windows 7 alike.

Because of their free nature they are perfect for those who purchase computers without an operating system pre installed within the machine, and it is through these users that many of the downloads derive. Similarly many users download these systems as they are compatible with an array of hardware systems that Microsoft may not support, due to this again notebook users can be seen downloading these software’s for old models, looking too be sped up.

However the question that many ask is why if they are free do we all not save ourselves money and download them. The question relies within that of the corporate power of big companies such as Microsoft and Macintosh. Their ability to buy out software manufactures to make the upcoming products exclusive to their software or indeed both can be troublesome for the free operating systems who receive little revenue from their products, and however many see these system as being far superior offering the user a greater degree of freedom, but with limited money their software having limited popularity their chances of major success is slim. It is because of this that they may persevere however with all open source software, the problem arises in that the support is not great enough and with large scale business creating exclusive goods to work solely on their machines, we can only hope that these operating systems continue to be produces and flourish as functioning computer software operating systems.

ICT Education

ICT has affected all areas of life throughout its major introduction into the business environment. Due to this it has branched out its effectiveness into new areas of lifestyle and education has been a subsequent one.

ICT has affected education in a number of ways, not only the teacher experience but student one similarly. Its integration into today’s learning environment and prepares our students for everything that future business life encapsulates. With this in mind it is important that students learn the basic functions of a computer and how to operate them accordingly. In previous times this would not have been necessary but with computerisation affecting the job market in at least one way or another, the use of computers has to be taken ever more seriously as a students in ability to operate one, would and will in no doubt have repercussions in later life and subsequent employment.

How has computerisation and ICT affected our education today. Within a classroom there are arrays of equipment and apparatus that at first glimpse may be seen as having limiting importance, however when further analysis of this machinery and their use within the education environment comes under further study, it is apparent that there are drastic changes from previous years, to how children are taught to day as opposed to say ten years ago. The most apparent features and effects of computerisation can easily within any classroom be it within St Gregory’s or other subsequent school of today, these are;

· Smart Boards – The idea of these boards is to allow for a teacher to interact with the computer screen through a touch sensitive pad. Due to this lessons can be conducted and explained within the screen, and due to this written notes on the screen can be saved for future lessons.

· Projectors - These are linked to the smart bored itself and allow for large images of the computer screen to be projecting onto a wall, or the smart board. Due to this the view of all students has been greatly extended and it has become ever increasingly easier for interactions within lessons to be extended with all work conducting be able to be recapped, a dramatic features of that of the old white bored, considered to be outdated and limiting to today’s standards.

· Computers – The computer itself is the most apparent feature that can be seen to be present throughout each classroom. The log in of each staff member and the data and software these retain allow an increased teaching experience involving an array of software un-parrel to that of “old times” were simple bored teachings were used.

· Software – The software run throughout the computer itself has allowed for teachers to plan, and carry out lessons in a more efficient and interesting manner.

· virtual learning environment (VLE) – The most important piece of software by far throughout schools today allows for the students to track there personal progress and stay in constant contact with their teachers allowing for a more personal learning experience never before seen with teachers and learners.

These are just brief overviews of how education itself has been revolutionised, there are online websites similarly that aid the learning of a pupil, however for this essay I intend to focus more on what resides within the classroom and how that has aided and affected the teaching and learning experience of today.

Computers themselves offer an array of software alone that can be used to heighten and extend the learning experience. Mainly word processors and their variations seen within the Microsoft office series have allowed for adaptations and extension of student learning. The use of PowerPoint in creating presentations, that today slide by slide reveal information within a certain topic, are an important addition to many teachers, who find this an ever increasingly easier way to cover topics and retain the attention of students, with pictures animations and entry and exit techniques of block text itself. The use of PowerPoint today within education I believe is a crucial factor in delivering a more in-depth and extensive learning experience. The increased ability of this are the array of printing methods, that allow staff to print off the slides within their presentation with lines, in turn allowing students to annotate the slides as the teacher progresses with the presentation on display.

In order for PowerPoint learning to work effectively the use of a smart board and projector is essential. These two key components allow for display of the on screen work to a wider audience. The smart board itself acts as an additional learning aid, with teachers being able to write upon the touch sensitive board with a pen from the tray of their own finger if need be. Due to this personal teacher annotation and on screen interaction allows for points to be emphasised to a further degree and with one being able for additional understand and important points to be expressed at the time of teaching to a greater effect. The smart boards themselves have greatly enhanced the learning experience, the combination of these with a subsequent projector allows for all within a class to see clearly the work and teachings displayed by the staff, for a greater educational knowledge.

The use of the Sims system within some schools is an additional piece of software introduced to heighten the efficiency within the running of a school. The Sims system allows for teachers to see a display of their students within the class, and acts therefore as a visual digital register. However its uses progress past purely this. Heighten information such as informing a teacher upon reports and general communication with other staff members can all be done via this system. It is designed for the staff alone, allowing them to view personal information surrounding students, communicating progress through it, similarly punishments or other information to any other teachers within the school, however its main use still resides with that of an digital register, through its popularity the functionality of it has extended and in turn its subsequent use.

Software alone in the form of Sims and PowerPoint, hardware in the form of computers, projectors and smart boards have all been assessed, however how does it all interconnect? The networking of systems throughout school today is a key prospect that all have acknowledged and applied. Each student today is given a unique user name and password. From here they are able to access the networked computers within the school, giving them access to a vast array of programmes, the internet and even an email function. Due to this school today really do allow students to explore and expand on their knowledge through an array of hardware and software features that all contribute to an ever more in-depth and expansive learning experience. However the actions of the student within these computers is constantly monitored, as each computer is networked to a master server, staff in the form of ICT technicians have the ability to few the work being done by a students, making sure they are keeping on task and not misusing their time spent within the school computerised systems. This is similarly extend to that of the school blocking websites deemed to be inappropriate or not of a working nature and intern make sure the students within the school make correct use of the time they are given within the school computers.

The final extension of an overall improvement of ICT within schools that I have yet to touch on is that of the printer and photocopier. These too many teachers are essential tools in creating an effective teaching experience. The introduction of the computer today has meant many documents can be completed however the printer hardware is required in order for physical viewing of the document and distribution through the class as a result. Whilst the photocopier alone may not be connected directly to a computer it is still a massive advance in creating a machine capable of increasing a learning experience. The photocopier allows for documents to be copied and again distributed throughout a class for increased annotation and personal use. These two essential pieces of hardware can be found in any school today throughout England and in combination with that of other hardware and software have all had a contributing factor to play in the expansion and extension of a heightened learning environment and experience.

ICT Future Employment

With jobs today changing as technology advances we should look to the future and asks ourselves what jobs may be required due to the introduction of computerised systems.
Today much of our travel and transport is already controlled by computerised systems, Air travel, trains, tubes, traffic lights and in some cases even boats are all operated with a computer system at the “heart”. Similarly factory assembly, packaging and all round manufacture of items today has limiting human interaction as much is done through the use of machinery either solely or with a technician operating the functions. Switch bored that are computer based again control phone calls and their crossover to other lines, even with pre-recorded messaging trying to market and sell a consumer items.
With all this in mind we must ask ourselves how far technology can really advance to which limitless human interaction is required. I foresee in the not to near future their being a greater need for technicians, as more advanced machinery is put into production and use. However with this in mind as technology grows the need for humans in certain jobs will in no doubt decrease. We may find employees within supermarkets replaced by that of the self service checkouts, as seen within various food chains, air ports and cinemas, with ticket administer machines replacing the ticket clerk.
With more maintenance jobs being required, there will therefore be a greater need for programmers, creating software to be used on new devices as they are released and used. Programmers and Engineers are the most obvious jobs that should see a greater need for employment, as more and more business upgrade and embrace more computerised machinery. With this in mind we can believe that more jobs will be lost to due to ICT in the future, as advanced mechanised systems become ever more efficient and effective there will in no doubt be loss in generic jobs that require repetitive functions of an employee.
Due to this we can look to educate our and future generations with skills, so that in the event of their future jobs being replaced by mechanised computerised systems, they rejoin the job market with their previously learnt skills, applying them to the maintenance of computerised machinery and other employment alike.
Therefore looking to the future is an important area of education we can start to consider, with the ever adapting and growing technology market, the employment of new unforeseen jobs will intern affect our generation or the next, because of this adapting education within computerisation and ICT need to assessed so that mass employment is not seen in the future due to mechanised replacement.

Employment Opportunities

ICT has revolutionised the way in which jobs operate today. The advance in computerisation across all jobs throughout the United Kingdom and other subsequent countries has allowed processes of all kinds to be carried out and completed in a more efficient process and manor. Computerisation has introduced a mass of new jobs through the global spectrum whilst similarly it has removed them also. Today there are radical changes in the way businesses operate and the introduction of IT has been the main effect in order for the introduction of this.
Being the next generation as a culture within Britain we have grown up knowing of the advances within ICT and have been educated subsequently with it. However for those already within the job market not being aware of the advances within computerisation, job losses widespread have occurred and this can be represented with there recent Royal Mail strikes due to the cut’s in employment to a more efficient machine counter part. However it is not merely job cuts that have occurred, with the introduction of computerisation jobs themselves have been created, requiring a new skill base of ICT techniques.
There have been in recent years a mass of new employment opportunities due to the introduction of computerisation. Engineers, programmers, system analysts and skilled technicians are just a few of the jobs created due to the advances within technology and the job market. These jobs have all been provided for due to the demand of computerisation throughout business and other areas of employment not only in England but globally. This has counteracting effect as although computerised machinery may remove the need for employment within an individual task, the application of the new equipment has made new jobs available for the maintenance of the machinery, or be it through other areas of its application. There are an array of new jobs that have been created due to computerisation such as;
· Engineers - Needed to manufacture the computerised products and subsequent parts.
· Programmers – Needed to write the software for a particular computerised product.
· System Analysts – Needed to design new computerised systems altogether.
· Skilled workers – Need to 1. Operate the new computerised machinery. 2. Operate the new computerised software.
· More staff overall may be needed due to the growth of the business due to efficiency of overall operation.
The new jobs created have allowed for many to learn new important skills that can be applied not only to their jobs directly but across all computerised systems alike. The importance of this may not be apparent at first but after reassessing the need for basic ICT skills one can see that the mass computerisation ahs affected all areas of work in some way or another.
With computerisation having a major effect on all areas of work, the need for basic computer skills has become an essential. Jobs have changed radically due to the introduction of ICT into the workplace, and this has allowed for employees to see benefits throughout their work. Computerisation has been seen to be a massive advance in the way businesses operate, and it has particularly improved the efficiency in the way in which one operates. Because of this employees can see changes in within their jobs over the past years due to;
· Reduced working hours – This may have come into effect as the efficiency of businesses has rapidly improved with the introduction of advanced computerised systems.
· The need for new skills – With all the new technology available, employees need to be trained in order to operate it effectively.
· Changes in skill level - Although a level of training is required, jobs that may have required a high level of skill may now be replaced by someone capable of operating a piece of simple machinery.
· Education – Advances in home education have provided students with the ability to gain qualifications from their own home.
· Communication – This has allowed for employees to access and work from either home or areas where before they would not have been able too.
· Increased efficiency – This has allowed for employees to produce more work increasing pay and rewards of that individual.
As we can clearly see the introduction of ICT has allowed for many new jobs to be created and completed by those who normally would not have been able. With this in mind we can see the computerisation of England and the UK a successful venture with benefits seen in other countries alike. The benefits it brings provide many businesses with the drive to aspire and expand with machines doing much of the work at an increased rate incapable to that of a regular human being.
ICT has similarly however reduced the need for many jobs as computer based machines have replaced those who would normally be employed to carry out the task. Jobs have been lost across the country and the effects of these can be seen due to the recent Royal Mail strikes occurring within England at present. Computerisation due to this does have a negative effect, its ability to carry out tasks more efficiently then an employee and its low maintenance costs mean job cuts can be seen throughout business. This can be due to;
· Skilled jobs – Those usually requiring many skilled engineers can now be carried out by one technician operating an array of computerised machinery.
· Data jobs – Jobs required for monitoring can now be replaced with sensory nodes which today provide the data logging rather than an employee.
· Quality Control – The sampling of products can now similarly be done by a machine removing the need again for employment.
· Loading and sorting – Today can be carried out by a machine and can be seen as a severe negative effect, due to the Royal Mail strikes.
· Typists – Today replaced by an individual capable of operating wood processing software.
· Organization clerks – Today can the work can be simply operate by that of a data based scheme.
· Telephone exchange –Today can be operated by computerised connection schemes.
· Car park – Attendance and payment can now be operated with a machine.
· Online shopping – This has meant masses of retail has moved online for reduced costs and larger profit margins, as no shop need be rented or purchased for item sales.
· Stock control – Today has been replaced by systems and the introduction of the bar code reader.
· ATM machines – Money today is withdrawn using a machine again rather than a clerk.
ICT and computerisation has rapidly changed the workplace, removing jobs, however subsequently creating them. Computerisation therefore has had massive benefits for society and created downturns. However with the next generation growing and learning to use ICT from an early age, the need for future training will be reduced and this can only be a good thing for reducing time in education and out of earning within a workplace.

Information Age

Life today has changed rapidly due to the introduction of computerised software and equipment. It has revolutionised the way that business operates making it more accessible and innovative for all.

In the past employees where used to manually sort files and documents. This was both time consuming and inefficient. Today this old primitive system would be replaced by that of a computerised one. However the introduction of computerisation within business has led to numerous job cuts and in turn has allowed for many big businesses to reduce the amount their employees, cutting costs spent or salaries.

There are numerous advantages to the advances in technology within business; however there are similarly disadvantages to match.

Advantages:

· The efficiency that computerisation offers allows for tasks to be carried out at a faster rate as opposed to that of an employee.

· The costs for maintaining a computerised system is relatively cheap compared to that of paying an employee’s wage.

Disadvantages:

· Within widespread computerisation companies can rapidly reduce their employment levels, this can be devastating for the employee, and due to the widespread economic depression unemployment is a key factor that needs to be addressed and corrected. Due to this the negative effect of being replaced my a computerised system is something companies must take very seriously and can be seen today in widespread self service machines in supermarkets and is the reason for many postal strikes seen today.

· The costs to repair a damaged machine can be catastrophic for small business and massively effect the overall profit for large. Machines maybe cheap to maintain but are notoriously expensive to replace when a fault occurs.

ICT today itself can be seen throughout all areas of business in the form of communication and is an important factor shared by all types of employees. Communications has rapidly developed in a verity of forms such as that of mobile phones, email communications and internet fax. The arrays of unique sub categories such as IM messenger are abundant and all have been incorporated into a verity of business devices such as PDA and Notebooks. However with all this accessibility to technology business individuals lives have changed in accordance. Working at home and on transport is a rapid change within business life and has allowed for developed in new unique products to aid this type of vocation.

Advances within laptops, PDA even phones have allowed for businessmen to operate within transport and other situations not normally accessible in recent years. With business becoming and increasing in a wider more lucrative environment the competition within it has similarly escalated and employees can be seen taking full advantage of wasted time to progress their unique job tasks.

This new application of work can be shown within electronic appliances today. Phone today have an array of features that make them more accessible to working needs. Email has been incorporated into an array of software’s making it trouble-free for users to access their ever updating message inbox. Word processing, spreadsheets processing and PDF readers can been seen implemented within almost all smart phone devices, be it as an additional feature or built into the device. Smart phones again are an innovation allowing for businessmen to make use for there spare time further and the array of blackberry smart phones along with Nokia’s counterpart have made these features and email an increasing easy venture.

Laptops and Notebooks have advanced in both design and functionality, making them more accessible to use throughout travel and non working environments alike. This can be seen through the mass use of notebooks and laptops within both air and rail transport. This has allowed for business personal to make use of what used to be considered as dead working time, now it has been replaced with what is deemed to be additional working and revision hours/minuets for personal to familiarise themselves, add and or even edit work previously done that day or night before. With the advances within design and technology on laptops and notebooks work can be done from even the most remote areas with their extend battery life’s, increased programme array and be it through WIFI or mobile internet, a web connection similarly. All this innovation has made office essential more accessible outside of their usual environment and give their employees the chance to make use of wasted hours that prior to innovation would have gone amiss.

The use of mobile internet itself is a recent leap in increased web accessibility. The internet offers an array of possibilities not within just communication but extended towards that of education, applications and information. The internet offers an array of possibilities, and today can be seen through the use of funds transfer, educational sites such as Bitesize and mymaths.com; however the main use of the internet is the vastness of information it offers and the array of topics it covers, with almost everything being accessible to either view by picture or merely read upon through the epic assortment of topics. Without doubt the internet is the biggest advance in the information age, as it allows for an every growing archive of information to view at a users convenience whenever, wherever they wish.

ICT today has been incorporated similarly into education. All students are required to have computing lessons up to year 9. In many schools this is compulsory through their education within the secondary school up to year 11 and many offer it as an increased course throughout A level, this can be further progressed at university if the user wishes.

Due to the demand of schools offering ICT courses it is no surprise that teachers throughout education are too required to have training within the use of it. Many schools are equipped with specific computing software for the staff/ teachers to use to aid their teaching. These can include Projectors, Smart Boards, and Speaker equipment, the advances within education and the tools used have not made only increases in the hardware used but the software too. The introduction of the VLE (virtual learning environment) within schools, has allowed for advances within efficiency of general running of the school and relations with the students. Here teachers are able to set homework for the student and keep in constant contact with them. Students are able to keep a view of their progress, track their grades and attendance, and even view comments sent from the teacher all from within their own home. This advance in technology within education makes it increasingly more efficient for students to track their progress, and their parents to view important information regarding their children’s academic performance within the school.

Advances in technology within high street stores have seemly advanced in recent years to new levels. Introductions of EPS (Electronic point of sale), here a barcode may be scanned to display the price and full title of the product adding it to the overall bill, this may seem primitive as it has been around for a number of years but new features added to the software has made it an ever evolving software. The item itself may be purchases by cash or EFTPS (Electronic funds transfer point of sale), again here funds are transferred wirelessly due to a consumer handing over a bank debit card. No money needs to be held just the correct PIN need to be entered and the product is purchased. Payment systems like this have evolved limiting the work needed to be done by an employee reducing the chance of human error. They similarly allow for increased information to be attained though that of stock check information and overall paper based accounts once printed after each day of sale. There have been increased advances, self service checkouts and fast track systems again have allowed for consumers to quickly add items to their own shopping basket, making scanning at a till obsolete, or for those customers with a few items, self service checkouts allow a customer to quickly scan and pay for items independently, this therefore has reduced the need for employees within some supermarket chains and may be seen as a negative factor of computerisation.

Design and Graphic design today have even been affected by the computerisation with CAD systems aiding them in drawing accurate designs for their intended subject. These systems offer greater degree of accuracy and allow the final and process pieces to be viewed from all angles allowing continuous and further editing. The CAD system along with computer design tablets, allow for a user to draw their images onto a computer screen as they wood paper with greater effect and the change to correct and erase mistakes if they occur. The innovation of technology shows us how it has affected almost all walks of life and there are very limited jobs today that do not require some kind of computer interactions.

Emergency services are an important area in which technology has affected. Today once a call has been received from a civilian a computer has the ability to trace the call to an exact point, alerting all nearby units to its location and from of incident, finial the computer displays vital information on the nature of the crime and what the individual should do to the unique situation. The advances in emergency services for that of the Fire, Police and Medical departments, make today’s services much more efficient and response times increasingly shorter due to only relevant users in vicinity being alerted to the incident.

To summarise computerisation has affect almost all areas of life today and as they are numerous advantages there are similar disadvantages. Overall however there is no doubt that the effect they have on today’s world has made almost all services faster and more efficient for all in society as we know see it today.

Archiving

Archiving Online is recently developed service within the Internet. Previously the service had been in operation however recently it has advanced and many more consumers are starting to make use of it today. Online Archiving involves uploading files, such as documents, pictures, video and general data online into a safe storage area, from here it may be recovered at a later point if the previous data had been lost or corrupted for whatever reason.
Online archiving allows data to be backed up online within separate services and therefore different companies allow for information backup internal of their sites and software. Some antivirus software allow for internal back up online through subscription to their service, Norton antivirus allows users who already have paid for their subscription to back up files online and buy additional space if need be, therefore if in the unlikely effect of loss or damaged files they can always be recovered.
With hard drive space nowadays being a problem for many who wish to store large files on both laptops and notebook computers, online archiving is perfect. It offers the ability for them to store a file, that is networked, and can be accessed whenever they want from any computer, without compromising there computer hard drive space. This is one of the many appealing factors surrounding achieving files online, and is a reason for many using it. Similarly the prospect of the file being able to be accessed from any web based computer is another appealing prospect; this constant access is one of the most appealing services that online archiving offers. Due to this many business offer there clients the options to backup and files online so that they may access them from other sources both at home and within company computers.
It is not only documents that may be backed up. For home users the main use of online archiving is the ability of them having a safe storage location for precious family photos and videos. The ability of online archiving to safe both video, audio and photo files, makes it a safe back up service for the whole family. Many use online backups to allow for easy file retrieval in the unlikely effect of data within the computer become corrupt or lost, due to this it has frequently become a renowned service throughout the internet for both business and recreational users.
Admittedly there are other mans of backing up date within a computer, such as burning it to dicks, pen drives and external hard rives. However all these peripherals may become lost or damaged. Within online archiving there is always the guarantee of safety and security throughout the files uploaded. However it is through the uploading of files that some may have unease. Dedicated services within business and home use such www.backup-technology.com and www.symantec.com allow for safe secure uploading of files, and therefore base there services on the protection of uploading and uploaded files. However technology has advanced the protection has too, and that of the protected and uploaded files is a high priority of the website, due to this online uploaded files are seen to be today one of the safest places to keep data, for there constant recovery and protection.
All files may be uploaded to online archives that would normally be placed within a computers hard drive, and dependent on the online backup space purchased customers are able to back up all there hard drive data online, for an entire recovery in unfortunate circumstances. It is for this reason that business and home users utilize the service.
Advantages:
· The service offers recovery of all data files uploaded to any computer retaining the account login.
· Data can easily be uploaded and recovered.
· The networking the system offers, allow for files to be safely transferred.
· The system prevents the need for hard drives to be upgraded, as files can be saved straight to an online safe.
· The system is immensely safe and offers security fare greater then that within home computers.
Disadvantages:
· Some users may not like the idea of uploading precious files, to an online vault.
· The service does cost, and for lots of space may be expensive, in some cases upgrading a hard drive may be better.
· Uploads may become corrupt due to internet connection cutting out.

However with all the positives and negatives in mind the service is an advance in online security and backup and for this reason many in business at home make use of the service, and it has now been incorporated for free within many antivirus software packages such as Norton 360 and others alike. Online archiving today therefore is seen to be a safe and secure means of saving data that can be easily accessed and recovered in unlikely circumstances.

Entertainment

Throughout the internet there are a mass of services and sites set up to entertain the consumer and entice them into either purchasing or using the sight/software. Entertainment range throughout a number of services some which have been around for a number of years, however recently have migrated onto the web and may now be accessed at any time by an end user, these are; Radio, Games, Streamed Video and Online TV.

The idea of moving these services to the internet has major benefits to both the consumer and distributer. The benefits of consumers visiting the sites allow for the promotion of other goods, and companies using the sites as a promotional outlet make similarly creates an income as there is a charge for advertisement within sites. This is just one reason for site migrating services, however it is without doubt that the main benefit is received by the customer using the site.

Radio has been moved onto the internet, and has been on the internet for a number of years. The internet grants Radio the means to allow there consumers to listen whenever they want and catch up on special features missed within previous shows. The BBC radio website is a great example of website linking all the BBC radio services from one main hub allowing the consumer to cycle through the various stations and listen to the current show.

Games have been on the internet for years. Both recreational and educational games exist within the internet and all appear within an array of sites featuring different selection of games. The renowned leader of browser games is the website Miniclip. Here users may access the vast selection of games and find old classics to new releases. Gaming online has also again been incorporated to the BBC website in the form of education within the BBC Bitesize website. Here consumer may use the games to aid in there educational learning whilst having fun at the same time. Gaming is a major outlet for millions worldwide and due to this is marketing hub in its own. The use of marketing within gaming sites is vast and the sites rapidly see a influx of business within those who promote within them.

Streamed Video is an area of entertainment within the internet like no other. Websites such as YouTube and iPlayer allow customers to watch video and pre recorded programmes at the click of a button at their own convenience. Streamed video has been applied to many services and can be seen throughout clothing stores such as ASOS and with electronic distributer such as Play. Again online promotion is a big part of the success of websites. YouTube is one of the most used website daily within the world, and due to this the makers take millions in revenue thanks to advertising costs. Streamed video can be seen as an essential to the online community and provides all consumers with an indication and taster of many products from console games to recently released movie trailers.

The use of Online TV and Streamed Video is very similar. Online TV works on the bases of an Online feed whilst, streamed video is an uploaded and shared file. Online TV has become successful as it allows for a mass of digital TV services to be viewed, with mere access to the internet. Online TV is often a subscription service however Sky television recently allowed free online viewing of the Ashes Cricket games to all Sky TV customers. Online TV to many has become an essential and is a service set to expand within the near future.

E-government

E-government

As the world develops and improves new and existing technology, its uses are being applied to more areas throughout both the world and the United Kingdom. The improvements within technology have lead to an improvement within the global infrastructure and today it has been applied the government schemes as well. The advance in technology has been incorporated within internet and has lead rise to the scheme now known as E-government or electronic government.

The scheme and use of E-government has been applied to a wide verity of government service and today is incorporated within almost every sub scheme. The goal is migrate all paper based administration to an online application scheme, in turn this is set to reduce government spending and save 1.3 thousand million pounds over the three years in which the scheme will divert to the new system.

When we talk about the migration of schemes to an online service it is important for us to point out which schemes themselves will be moved from the previous paper based managed ones. The overall migration will include shifting the following schemes and services to online based applications and transaction. They include;

· Crime Justice and Law Online

· Employment Online

· Home and Community Online

· Money Tax and Benefits

· Government, Citizens and Rights

· Education and Learning Online

· Motoring Online

· Environment and Greener Living Online

· Health and Well Being Online

· Travel and Transport Online

The migration of schemes to online can be seen to be successful as there is a wide array of options to be accessed through the www.direct.gov.uk website and there partnering sites, however some sites can be seen to be more successful then others due to there accessibility and range of services on offer within them.

Particular services have advanced and proved to be more popular than others, motoring online is one sub section that has made advances from the previous paper based systems. Divisions within the services and advances have made the whole system more accessible and therefore effective for the public to operate and submit. Areas such as;

· Updating a licence

· Registering a vehicle

· Transfer/ Retention of a DVLA registration

· Tax or apply for refund

· Declaring a vehicle SORN

· Check MOT records

These are just a few of the successful areas within motoring on the direct.gov and partnering sites. The www.direct.gov.uk has a mass of information informing users on almost every aspect of motoring that involves the government or there related policies and schemes. The migration of motoring to an online based informative website has been seen to be a huge success. With it being a website there are of course the notorious benefits, 24hour accessibility range of help files, partnering sites etc. However the www.direct.gov.uk has also incorporated additional features making the overall experience more enjoyable and informative. This can be seen with the example of the root planner, this service shows you how to get to your destination however in the greenest manor in the shortest time, useful for those who are concerned about their carbon footprint and overall effect on the environment.

The verity of services under motoring includes the application and registration of Tax disc, Mot records, DVLA personal registrations, vehicle details enquiry and a driving theory test feature. There are similarly a mass of other options including the previously mentioned root planner, and a map of disabled parking spaces, these are just an example. Throughout we can see that motoring online movement has been a successes and the range of services reflect this and support the governments ideas to migrate more schemes to the online counterparts.

Education and learning, within the www.direct.gov.uk website there is again a verity of options available to the consumer these include;

· Find a course

· Learning and careers advice

· Student loans and grants

· Schools

· Childcare support for your family

All the information found within the Education and learning again leads to partnering sites and increased detailed information throughout. The aspect of schools however is rather extensive and has an assortment of information such as application to primary and secondary school, term dates, holiday schemes and many more. The overall section can be seen as an informative aid to allow users who are unfamiliar with how the system works an informative description on sub topics and what truly appeals to them. Certain sections such as; Help with school transport costs and free school lunches are particularly informative as many more users will access the site for their own personal enquires within these to topics.

Travel and transport online is another section that many apply too for information on mass of topics, the site itself gets regular hits on the passport section as many seek to renew and apply, as travel worldwide increases and the number of English passengers likewise. Other subsections include;

· Travel advice

· Visas for visitors to the UK

· Problems with roads

· Plan a journey to anywhere in Britain

· The Weather

· Parking

· Problems with pavements

· London congestion charge

· Disabled persons railcard

Again we can see there is an array of topics that range through all including crucial information. As the name suggests this topic covers travel both within and outside of the UK and transport within. However with the weather included consumers can be redirected to the external site www.metoffice.gov.uk . Within the subsections links such as payment of a congestion charge and application for appeal or payment on parking fines is also submitted.

This section really is very detailed and includes an array of schemes that would normally have to be submitted with application from the post office, however know payments and inquires can all be submitted online therefore at the ease of a consumer and in their own time. The section of Travel and Transport incorporates the sue of passport renewal however an added feature can be obtained throughout the use of submitting online, the tracking of a passport progress is an additional sector of information that many may find helpful if they are concerned of when there passport is to be returned. This feature can see to be used throughout other policies and similarly allows for tracking off other renewals.

Crime Justice and the Law online, the introduction of this allows for not only clarity of authority but the added information on additional law services such as that of jury service, seeking a legal advisor or contacting a police authority. The migration of the overall scheme has lead to subtopics including;

· Contact the police

· Paying a Court Fine

· Get a jury service reminder

· Get legal advice

· Report suspect activity to MI5

· Sort out consumer complaints

· Report benefit fraud

· Criminal injuries compensation

· Get crime figures for your area

· Join the police force

Law and Crime Justice online have branched out in numerous areas to provide an increased service this can be seen with the ability to pay a court fine online. The accessibility that the government website allows makes it easy for almost anyone to pay a fine or permit, at any time that suits them. This allows for further prosecution to those trying avoiding the law and payment as the means of the website make instant debit credit card payments, due to this there can be no excuses for not being able to submit a fine on time. An additional service Join the police force, is an extensive scheme spreading awareness for the benefits, that working within the police force can bring. The use of this link again redirects the page to partnering sites such as www.policecouldyou.co.uk .

The final service within the www.direct.gov.uk website which I intend to mention is Health and well-being sector. This allows the ability for the consumer to find both local doctors and dentist, get travel health advice and much more. Subcategories include;

· Services from the NHS

· Blood and organ donation

· Help for carers

· Support and residential care in your area

· Health benefits

· Your health abroad

· Healthy living

This subsection has an increased awareness topic; the Blood and Organic donation is a crucial link that allows for a redirection n to yet another partnering government site www.blood.co.uk . Other important topics include information on careers within healthcare that many may refer to for information and inspiration for a future job in care. There is also essential health advice for travelling to foreign countries and includes the crucial injections (jabs) that individuals must receive before entering and leaving the UK.

Overall the E-Government website includes numerous factors that all can use and relate to in order to seek advice help or to fulfil their personal requirements such as inquiry into payment of fines, or obligations against them. The website has a mass of extensive links all redirecting the user to partnering government sites which similarly include more useful informational and insight into topics, such as that in the policecouldyou.co.uk website and metoffice.gov.uk weather.

The sights extensive nature make it a useful reference point for many and allow it to save much time for the consumer, and money for government as the original goal was. Overall I would see the sight as a resounding success and with personal use of it such as tracking my own passport; I can happily say the service was swift, smooth and informative.