The Impact of ICT on Society

By: Mr Saem Mashhud Tariq

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The digital divide

The term digital divide related to the gap between
those people who are able to make effective use of
ICT and those who are not.
It could be a lack of access to the Hardware or
Software.
Lack of skills to use them.
Poor or racial minorities become the most effective in
this case.
Advance technologies are not developed for the poor,
therefore they are very basic and rarely cause these
people to enhance ICT skills.

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The digital divide

Individuals
Individuals are effected in many areas of life that will include.
Health services
Many online health services are online
These might include some basic treatments to any ailments,
or may recommend a specialist.
Some doctors have their own website, through which an
appointment can be taken to save patients time.
Some website sell medicines online, but are strictly being
monitored.
Some hospitals are using portable based computer systems.
Instead of getting hard copy of X rays and patients health
charts on a trolley based computer system at the bed side of
the patient.
Such a kind of online system can be accessed remotely by
the doctor.
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The digital divide

Employment Opportunities.
Use of office automation software's is a prerequisite
these days.
Better equipped schools and colleges have ICT in
there regular program, thus creating a digital divide
between those that cannot and are not doing so.
In online recruitment, those that have access to the
internet can post there resume online as compared to
those that cannot, therefore create a less opportunity
to the later.
Moreover, those that have this facility can find more
job opertunities that are posted online, they can find
out the tread towards a particular program or area
etc.
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Catering for disablities

The internet have enabled the disabled ones to perform
such a kind of activities that have been taken granted
by the able.
People that are deaf can now use instant messaging
and internet to communicate and learn. Webcams
can be used to share more elaborated information to
the user.
People with sight problem can use different font sizes
and types to help them.
There are now many input devices that can help an
individual with disability to work effectively.

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Specialized hardware for disabled

Sticky Keys: When turned on, it allows the user to use
individual keys to represent multiple keys.[To enable or
disable press shift key 5 times]
Filter Keys: It is an accessibility function that tells the keyboard to
ignore brief or repeated keystrokes, in order to make typing easier
for people with hand tremors. [To enable or disable press and hold
right shift for about 8 sec]

Mouse Keys: The number pad can be configured to be used as a

mouse.

Resize the WIMP

Head Pointers: These use a camera positioned on top of the

monitor to detect the movement of the head through the use of
reflective materials, software later converts these into mouse
movements.
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Concept Keyboards: Larger and more easily assessable by

disabled people.
Predictive Word processors
Speech Recognition software
Tracker balls.
Joysticks
Touch Screens
Head Wands:

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Shopping

Advantage for the disabled as they cannot do any type of physical

shopping.

Do not have to travel.

Its is 24/7.

It is much more easier for the disabled to take time and make a
decision while on the internet.

Many shopping centers do not cater for the disabled, therefore their
website do not tailor for the disabled as well. For example, making
use of too much text/data entry or popup.

An ecommerce based website should always have a search facility

and other facilities like easy navigation that will facilitate the user.

Text on some website is Hard Coded, meaning that it is not possible

to increase the size of the font.
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Banking
Online banking has been a great help to the disabled.
Many points same as ecommerce.
Banks website do not again cater for the disabled and
the elderly ones.

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Booking systems

In order to book in advance it is much more easier for the disabled to use
the online system rather than going to a railway station or a cinema house.

Some systems might give preferences of the seating arrangement

for the disabled otherwise they can choose their own seating
arrangement.
Many sites clearly identify the disabled facilities available at a
particular hotel/aircraft, trains etc.
Different prices can be compared.
Travel brochure/ Term and conditions etc can be viewed/ zoomed
in to be read carefully.
Again choosing from different options will be a lot more easier
from a computer rather than actually visiting a place.

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Health Services

Disabled people can contact and gain feedback from their

doctor or other health professional online.

General health issues can be discussed online. Through the

use of expert based websites.

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Employment

It is accepted that ICT has improved and given more chance

for the disabled to work.
Disabled people have many favourable positions in the ICT
industry were their skills can be appreciated.

The training of the disabled will eliminate the digital divide

that is between the more able and the disabled.

By gaining ICT the disabled are in a better position to find

jobs that can be done from home. Or maybe the employer
can facilitate these people to work from home.

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Legal and political systems

The internet has lead the growth of websites owned by many legal
firms, they might offer some legal services for free online so that
they can be hired for a much more detailed service.

Many issues such as the power o attorney or a renew of a contract

etc can be discussed online. Many other advices are available on
such websites.

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Increased involvement in focus groups

Focus groups are people that are involved in the research to gather
the drawback or benefits of a product or service.

A moderator is a person that is involved in the discussion with the

focus group and ask questions.

An observer sometimes present behind the two way mirror can be a

part as well.

Internet can facilitate the focus groups to discuss more often or they
might use message board to post their respective comments,
moderator can be present here as well to see the type of discussion
that is taking place.

Focus groups from all over the world can participate covering more
geographical area. Therefore, it results in time and cost saving.

In such a case the moderator might not have a much influence in an

online meeting, who happens to be a very important person in the
research.

Observers will note be able towww.mrsaem.com

see the reaction of the focus groups.

Increased influence with political representatives

Forums
The use of internet has increased the political criticism.

Discussions and posting of information can be done on these forums.

Administrators and Moderators are involved in such as kind of forums.

The administrator has more rights as compared to the moderator.

Administrators have the overall control over the forum, whereas the
moderator has the power to delete edit the postings.

Internet forums are different from chat rooms.

Blogs
Weblogs, short form [blogs], were initially used by individuals to keep record of
their daily lives.
The first posting or reply in a blog you will see to be the latest one, and the rest
preceding posting you will see them as the newest first and oldest last.
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 Another feature of a blog is that a blog is not being monitored by

any one. Therefore the information posted on blogs is uncensored
and unfiltered.
Many senior politicians have their own blogs, which enables them
to be much more closer to their voters and get their reviews and
suggestions. Therefore contact them has become much more easier.

Wikis

A wiki is a form of a software that allows the user to create their

own website.

It is interactive, meaning that the user can change the details in

order to correct the errors.
But this can result in some distorted information as well.

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Computer Fraud
With the advent of computers, mobile phones has made
computer fraud much easier.
An employee of a company can issue multiple invoices for
equipments that they do not require.
Identity theft is the most common issue these day, which
means to take the identity information of some other
person and misuse it.
There are many ways he/she can do so.
Searching trash bins for documents of individuals. Eg
getting credit card / debit card information.

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Antisocial use of ICT

Misuse of personal data

Deleting personal data
Amending personal data
Distributing personal data
Viruses
Spam's
Cyber bullying

Occurs when the other person has the control over someone else
computer, directly or indirectly.
Many PCs lack proper antivirus and spywares, due to which the
information is leaked out.
Misuse of personal data
Eg
Name, address, postcode, date of birth, ethnic group, gender or
occupation.
The following data above can be deleted passed over to someone
else or edited.
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Deleting personal data

A logic bomb is a nasty piece of software that is designed to cause

some damage on a computer or network. Such an attack is triggered
by a certain event or series of events; it could be something as simple
as the passage of a certain amount of time or a given user logging in.
For example, when the system clock on a target machine reaches a
certain date and time Bam! The critical data residing on it is
destroyed, or maybe the computer crashes.

There are software's that can generate a combination of passwords to

be used for a particular ID.

Even though even after entering into the computer system most files
will have passwords on them. Either some other software to crack the
password of the softwares can be used or these files can be deleted .
This is an act of vandalism. Just aimed to cause inconvenience
either to an individual or to an organization.
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Amending personal data

Severe embarrassment could be faced either by an individual
or an organization if sensitive data is found to be have
changed.
Hospitals hold information:
The physical or mental status of an individual
Racial / ethnic origin of individuals.
Police hold information on
Criminal offence by an individual/group
Details of any court cases that might have occurred.
Government security forces hold information on
Political opinion of individuals

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Distributing personal data

When personal data is collected by companies of individuals, they
are responsible not to distribute the information to other companies.

Viruses

Viruses are program codes written to disrupt the normal functioning of

a computer system.

Spam

Spam also know as bulk mail. Several copies of the mail are send to different
people. Therefore it uses up the memory of the device or server.

Organizations have to spend more on the hardware and software to avoid

spam's.
Spam filters can be used, but sometimes they might delete an important
email.
Various email addresses are collected with the help of a software that
searches for @ sign in different websites, and later saves these into its
database.
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Home entertainment systems

Home theaters system

Surround sound
Large, wide screen
Clarity of picture
A high definition source

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How Does Satellite TV Work

Satellite TV works by broadcasting video and audio signals from geostationary

satellites to satellite dishes on the Earths surface.

Each of these satellites carries a number of transponders. These transponders

each carry a signal back to the Earth.

The signals that are transmitted by the transponders on a satellite are

received by the parabolic dish. On account of traveling a substantially large
distance, the signal received by the dish is weak. The signal is reflected
towards the feedhorn, a device mounted at the focal point of the dish. The
function of a feedhorn is to collect the received signal and conduct it
towards the low-noise block down converter (LNB).

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How Does Satellite TV Work

LNB

The LNB amplifies the radio signal bouncing off the dish and filters out
the noise (radio signals not carrying programming). The LNB passes the amplified,
filtered signal to the satellite receiver
inside the viewer's house.
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Satellite with transponder

Uplink satellite dish

Receiving satellite dish

Satellites are higher in the sky than TV antennas, so they have

a much larger line of sight range.
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Terrestrial television

Terrestrial television is a mode of television broadcasting which does not

involve satellite transmission or cables typically using radio waves through
transmitting and receiving antennas or television antenna aerials.

The broadcast center and the transmitters

All send the programmer signals in a straight
Line. This means that if there are any obstacles
In the way such as hills and mountains, they
Will prevent the signals from reaching,
Otherwise trees and small buildings are not a
Problem.
The transmitters need a lot of energy to
Transmit and therefore need a very good
Cooling system as well.

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Internet auction sites

Internet auctions are giant flea markets. Sellers may offer one item at a time
or multiple lots of the same item. In theory, online auctions run much like local
auctions, but behind the scenes there is a collection of data going on
continuously. Just like local auctions, there are sellers and bidders and
winners and losers. Winners are expected to pay for what they bid on at the
conclusion of the auction. But that is where the similarities between online
and local auctions end.

Registration:

At online auctions you will be required to register before you can buy or sell
an item (s). This is required to track items you bid on or sell, keep up with the
bids, determine the winning bids and build a database on seller and bidder
feedback.

Winning Bids:

The bidding for each auction closes at the scheduled time. In the case of
sales of multiple lots, the participants with the highest bids at the close of the
auction are obligated to buy the items. If no one bids at or above the reserve
price, the auction closes without a winner. At the close of a successful
auction, the buyer and seller communicate, usually by email, to arrange for
payment and delivery of the goods.
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Internet auction sites

Kinds of Auctions:

There are two types of Internet auctions - business-to-person or

person-to-person.

Sellers of business-to-person auction sites have physical control of

the merchandise being offered and accept payment for the goods.

In person-to-person auctions, individual sellers or small businesses

offer their items for auction directly to consumers.

Generally, the seller, not the site, has physical possession of the
merchandise. After the auction closes, the seller is responsible for
dealing directly with the highest bidder to arrange for payment and
delivery.

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Internet auction sites

Payment Options:

Buyers may have several payment options, including credit card,

debit card, personal check, cashier's check, money order, cash on
delivery and escrow services. However, all sellers do not accept all
forms of payment.

Credit cards offer buyers the most consumer protections, including the right
to seek a credit from the credit card issuer if the product is not delivered or if
the product received is not the product ordered.

Typically, sellers using business-to-person auction sites accept payment by

credit card. But many sellers in person-to-person auctions do not. Usually
they require payment by cashier's check or money order before they send the
item to the winning bidder.

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Internet auction sites

Escrow Services:

Some sellers agree to use an escrow service. For a fee, generally 5

percent of the cost of the item paid by the buyer, an escrow service
accepts payment from the buyer via check, money order or credit
card.

The service releases the money to the seller only after the buyer
receives and approves the merchandise. This helps protect buyers
from ending up empty-handed after paying their money. Using an
escrow service can delay the deal. As with any business transaction,
investigate the escrow service's reputation before signing on to the
service.

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Internet auction sites

Consumer Concerns:

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Internet auction fraud

has become a significant problem. Most consumer complaints center
on sellers who:

Do not deliver the advertised goods.

Deliver something far less valuable than they advertised.

Do not deliver in a timely way.

Fail to disclose all the relevant information about the product or terms
of the sale.

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Internet auction sites

Where to Turn for Help:

If you run into a problem try to work it out directly with the buyer or
seller or with the auction web site.

If that does not work, file a complaint with the Federal Trade
Commission by calling toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) or
visiting the FTC's web site.

Although the Commission cannot resolve individual problems for

consumers, it can act against a company if it sees a pattern of
possible law violations.

You also may want to contact your state Attorney General or your
local consumer protection office.
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Internet auction sites

Forward auctions - items are sold to the bidder with the highest bid.
During a forward auction, the seller puts items up for sale. Bidders
compete by posting bids - these drive the price up. Sellers can choose
not to sell below a given level by fixing a reserve price.

Reverse auctions - suppliers compete on price and the lowest bid

wins the business.
In a reverse auction, suppliers compete for a contract. The buyer
sends out a tender document to favoured suppliers who compete for
the business. They drive the price down during the auction event,
which lasts only a few hours.

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Information Services
International Trading

Countries need to know the rules and regulations that are

applied with other countries. Such as taxes etc
Information is available on countries website.
For exporting the target market needs to be identified.
Languages, likes and dislikes need to be considered.

Foreign exchange rates can be found

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Information Sevices
Governments
Example www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm
Services offered

Education and learning

Motoring
Home and entertainment
Employment
Money, tax and benefits
Health and well-being
Travel and transport
Environment and greener living
Crime, Justice and the law
Rights and responsibilities

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Information Services
Academic Institutions
Need to advertise to recruit students
Internet has become the most important tool to
achieve this target on global scale.
The website should and includes all the details such
as the Courses, fee, extra-curricular activities.
Should a proper application process installed on the
website, to facilitate the international/ and local
students to fill up their applications online.

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Information Services
Stocks and Shares

Some of the websites offer free services that include updating about the
stocks.

Some of these will also provide the user to create a vertual portfolio,
that allows the user to practice before investing. This will help them to
know how the market is fluctuating and should they invest and at what
time of the year.

Most of these websites will allow the user to purchase the actual shares
as well, but will charge a fee for that. The shares can be sold back
again and again a fee will be charged.

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Information Services
Public Interest

Some of the websites offer free services that include updating about the
stocks.

Some of these will also provide the user to create a vertual portfolio,
that allows the user to practice before investing. This will help them to
know how the market is fluctuating and should they invest and at what
time of the year.

Most of these websites will allow the user to purchase the actual shares
as well, but will charge a fee for that. The shares can be sold back
again and again a fee will be charged.

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