CLASS DISCUSSION: QUESTIONS

1 You would normally find in today’s supermarket and grocery stores the use of
barcode readers to enter information about products into the computer. Can you
think of another way of entering product information into the computer without
the use of a barcode reader?
2 Do you think your method would be more difficult or easier, more time
consuming or less?
3 If barcode readers were to be removed from today’s supermarkets and groceries,
would there be much difference to the customer or merchant?
4 Give some advantages of using barcode readers over your method.
5 Imagine someone has told you that you have to retype an entire document to
make changes. The only copy of the document that you have is a previously-typed
document on a couple of sheets of paper. A friend has told you that you do not
have to retype the document: you can use a certain device to get it onto your
computer. Is it possible to get it onto the computer without having to retype the
document? What device can you use? Would it be possible to make changes if the
document was hand written? Give reasons for your answers.
6 A friend of yours wants to buy a mouse for his/her computer. They have also
heard mentioned it being called a pointing device. Explain to your friend the
meaning of a pointing device and recommend a suitable pointing device for him/her,
explaining your choice.