CHAPTER 5 : THE EFFECT OF USING ICT Microprocessor Controlled Devices What 21S a mecroprocessor? A microprocessor iS really just a tiny cpu u built onto a Single chip Microprocessors are put nto electronic devices to control how they function, Microprocessor controlled devices affect our Lives in Lots of dif jorenk ways including in our homes, our LerSure time, how we interack Socially they even have an af geck on our needS to actually leave our houses. Ejfects oj mecroprocessor$ in the home Any clectronrce device in gour house that needs to be controlled xrn some way is likely to contain a microprocessor. Examples of these are Listed below: Computer System Your desktop PC or Laptop wll contain a microprocessor called a cru (power ful machines will contarn more than one).The CPU controls alt the processing that ge’ S on wethin the computer, Washing Machines Washing machines contain mcroprocessors to o control things Like Water temperature ValveS to let water xn Pumps to Leck water out ALarm Sys temS The microprocessor inSide a bur glar alarm is used to detect xszntruders and they al8o Sek the alarm of}. Some even contack the police jor you autowakically, Heat ing Systems Heating Systems use microprocessors to o control things Like: Time when the heating is swetched on OR oHKeeping a_ conStant temperature Some can even make the temperature different from room to room Intelligent Ovens OR Microwaves OR Fridges The microprocessor inside entelLigent ovens S can read the barcodes on packaging and. then automatically set the temperature and cooking time to the perject Levels. Intelligent microwaveS work xn much the same way Intelligent fridges can read the barcodes on food and determine the ‘use by ‘dates, Food that is duc to good bad 1S then automatically moved to the front °} the jridge so that you uSe Lt perst Ej jects of microprocessors on leisure time Microprocessor-controlled devices allow us to do our daily tasks quicker. This gives usmore time Jor Leisure and other things that we meghe cn joy. For enample we could Sek the washing machine to wash and then dry our clothes while we read a book or watch a movie. Other ways in which microprocessors can apject how we Spend our Lersure time are Listed below: Working on the wove Laptops, PDA's, Mobile Phones, Pads ctc, allow us to work on the move which means we get to enjoy more jree Lime. For example, I could complete my wor k jor the evening using a Laptop on the train, ThiS meanS J don’t have to do it when I get home. More time Spent gemeng There haS been a huge increase in the e demand jor gaming over the last 20 jars, More and more people Spend a large amount of jree time playing the Latestcomputer gancs Increased Leisure time MicroprocesSor$ in houSehold appliances can n make surc that the task is completed without you actually being there. Once you have Started the applrance you can ge off and do Something else and return to it Later. Lack o} Fitness Because mecroprocessor- controlled devices do most of the work jor us it means that we are nok doing as much hard manual work as we used fo. For crawple, before we had waShing mach ines, doxng the Laundry was actually quite a demanding task You had to wash the clothes by hand and then hang them on a washing line. Now all we need to do it put them in the machine and press “ go’. Increased FitnessBecause m croproce$sor~ controlled deviceS can n reduce the amount of time it takes us to complete our every da’ Lask3 we are Lejt with more free time to do the things we want to do. Some people choose to Spend some of this entra time un the gy” getting fe. Effects °4 microprocessors on social interaction Microprocessor- controlled deveces Like e computers and mobile phones have made vk caSicr jor use to contact and stay Ln touch with jreends and janily. For example, i} we want to chat to a friend we can cither cath OR text them on a wobile, skype Ehem, chat on mS8n or even email. Examples 0} mecroproccssor-controlled devicc3 that we use to unterack with: Mobile PhonesMobile phones allow us many ways in which h to unterack or chat to friends and j amily, These ways in clude: Calling Text OR SMS EmarL focelitics AceesSing Social networking Site and d inkeracking there Accessing chat rooms and chatting there Instant messaging (Black terry Messenger - - BBM. Social Networking Sites Social networking SiteS are growing more and d more popular aS a way to keep in contact with jreends, Facebook atone has almost | trdlion active users. These sites have many ways in which you can inkerack including: Private messaging Status updates Emails. VoIP service Such aS SkypeSkype is known aS a ‘VoIP’ (voice over Internet protocol) service which allows you to wake very cheap phone calls over the Internet. Skype Ls especially use jul tf you wank to talk to Someone xn another country as the preces are very cheap. Emails Good old emails are Still Sent in their r billions, They are quack and easy and allow us to send and recerve messages, no matter where we arc in the world, at the click of a button, Emarling can now be carricd out on the move thanks to pork able devices (Like mobile ph oncS, IPadS and Laptops) and We-FL Positive ef fee L304 mecroprocessors on social interaction Easy to make new friends in chat-rooms, Easy to find people with the same xnterestsor hobbicS a8 you in Specialist chat- rooms, Cheap Internet phone collS can be wade using VoIP. Easy to Spread the news °F social events using Social networking, Old or disabled people can still interact without having to Leave their homes. | You don't actually meck people jace Lo face as much, Thrs 2S known aS ‘Social-isolation’. 2 Interacti ng through a computer does not require much phys ical ackiv ity and can Lead to health problems Like obesity, Effects oj microprocessors on the nced to leave the home IcT has progressed to a point where it £ would be possible to never have to Leave your home.Many ever gday £a8ks can be carried out at hore using MLCr opr oc e$S0r~¢ ontrolled devices, Examples of how microprocessors can afject the need to Leave the house: OnLine Shoppeng (E-Commerce? Goods (o any kind) can be ordered over r the Internck and delivered to your door. Any device that allows you to connect to the Internet can be used to shop online. Retailers that offer customers the ability to buy items online include: Supermarkets Entertainment businesses (DVD, Music, Games) Clothing. TeLewor king (working qrom home) Meany people work from home and use ICT to per jorm taskS and contack clients and colleagues, TeLewor king requires the jotloweng equipment:Computer or Laptop Internet connection Email jac ity Videocon ferencing Software (weekings help over the Internet) Entertainment We can entertain ourSelves very easily using microprocessor deviccS and the Internet. For example: YouTube (videos, music etc) Gaming Social networking to chat to 4riends Downloading mp3's to the computer Downloading and wakching DVD's Chat- rooms. OnLine Ban king Banking can now be carried out online. We c can perform alL sorkS of taSkS wthout actually visiting the bank These tasks include: Transferring ey Viewing statements to krack your SpendingPaying bills Setting up new accounts Appling for Loans, ReScarch ReScarch can be carried out using a a computer weth an Internet connection. For example we can find the jollowing information online: Bus kimetables Shop opening Limes Movie showing Limes Information for a school assignment, Positive epjects of not having to Leave the ce house Elderly or disabled people can Still carry out day- Eo- day task8 such as Shopping and paying bills,You can pind enterkainment cven } you cannot go outside duc to bad weather, You can carry out day- Lo- daly LaSkS even uf you are suck You don't actually meek people jace to Jace e as much This 2vS known as ‘Social-isolakron'. Not leaving the houSe is bad jor you - Lack oj exercise cke.