IT(Information Technology) – A Level

2023-24 (9626)

1.1 IT in Society
(The Role and Impact of IT in Society)
 CONTENTS

1 Digital Currencies

2 Data Mining

3 Social Networking Services

4 The Impact of IT

5 Tech. Enhanced Learning

IT in Society
 e-Business
What is e-Business?

E-Business refers to performing all type of business activities through internet. It includes activities like
procurement of raw materials/goods, customer education, supply activities buying and selling product, making
monetary transactions etc. over internet. Internet, intranet, extranet are used in e-business. Websites, apps,
ERP, CRM etc. are required for e-business.

(Examples) Activities of E-Business are :

•Online store setup
•Customer education
•Buying and selling product
•Monetary business transaction
•Supply Chain Management
•E-mail marketing
Note: Amazon, Game business like Xbox and PlayStation
 Online Shopping

Online shopping or e-shopping is a form of electronic commerce which allows consumers to directly
buy goods or services from a seller over the Internet using a web browser or a mobile app.

➢ The first shopping transactions were completed through NetMark and Internet Shopping Network in 1994.

➢ Amazon.com and eBay launched their websites in 1995, offering online shopping options for customers.

Advantages:

One of the main advantages of this is how quickly the customer is able to receive products.

Online shopping has become even more popular with the rise of smart devices, because of applications that
allow you to order anything online by using your phone, regardless of where you are. It saves time.
Disadvantages:
➢ Lack of interactivity in online shopping.
➢ Lack of shopping experience.
➢ It can affect the physical or local vendors.
 Online Banking

Online banking is a computerized version of the majority of services that a normal bank would offer. It is also
known as internet banking or virtual banking where a customer can do a range of financial transaction through
the official website or mobile banking app.

Activities we can perform using net-banking:

➢ checking their bank balance

➢ viewing bank statements

➢ setting up direct debits

➢ applying for loans and overdrafts paying bills

➢ transferring money between accounts.

➢ Needing to visit a branch less as many services can be used online.

➢ Avoiding queues in bank branches.

 Digital Currency

Digital currency is any currency, money, or money-like asset that is primarily managed, stored or
exchanged on digital computer systems, especially over the internet.

Types of digital currencies include cryptocurrency, virtual currency and central bank digital
currency. Digital currency may be recorded on a distributed database on the internet, a centralized
electronic computer database owned by a company or bank, within digital files or even on a stored-
value card.
 Data Mining

Data mining is the act of sorting through large sets of data to identify patterns and establish relationships. The

goal of mining data is to extract information from sets of data that can be used to inform and instruct future

decisions, by identifying past and present trends.

Data mining normally involves analyzing data in different ways. These include:

Anomaly detection - identifying unusual data that may require further investigation.

Association rule - finding relationships between variables. This is how recommendation services work for

shopping sites.

Cluster detection - identifying groups and sub groups in data.

Classification - classifying data into existing groups or categories. This is how a spam filter works for an email.

Regression - creating predictive models based on a range of variables.

 Social Networking

A social networking service or SNS is a type of online social media platform which people use to build

social networks or social relationships with other people who share similar personal or career

content, interests, activities, backgrounds or real-life connections.

 Social Networking

Blogs and Microblogs are also added in social networking. They are more one way communication channel
as the person blogs abouts their life and experience.
Social networking websites are used for may purposes, both good and bad. They have allowed many
people to stay in touch over great distances and with greater ease. However, They leave people open to
abuse from issues such as online bullying, identify theft and other criminal acts.

Another issue with social networking websites is that they enable companies to track and assess your
online data to target advertising.
For example, if a company wants to advertise a sports product, they can find out how many people on
Facebook are interested in that product, and information about them. This involves tracking and
sometimes selling your personal data and online actions and some people feel this is extremely intrusive.
It is also limited in the sense that not all of a company’s target audience will necessarily be on a particular
social networking site.
More about Blogs

The word blog comes from web log. Blogging is probably older than you think. It developed towards

the end of the 1990s with services such as Open Diary, Live Journal and Blogger all launching during

1998 to 1999. Microblogging is a new format of blogging and is carried out on sites such as Twitter,

Facebook and Tumblr. Video blogs or Vlogs’ have become a popular video format on sites such as

YouTube
 Video Conferencing

Video conferencing is when computers are used to provide a video link between two or more
people. Previously people made conference calls by logging into a telephone based system and
several people could speak on a telephone call st any one time. Video conferencing aims to provide
this same service, but with the added addition of video, so people can see each other as they
speak.
To carry out video conferencing , a range of equipment required:
❖ A computer system
❖ A web cam
❖ A microphone
❖ Speakers
❖ A good broadband connection
❖ Video conferencing software.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Video Conferencing
 Web conferencing

A web conference is another form of carrying out a meeting or event. Itis a real-time communication where
a number of people are viewing the same content on their computer screen at the same time. A business
may set up a web conference to hold a meeting, make a presentation or provide online education, amongst
other services to carry out a web conference, a range of equipment is needed, This includes:
A computer system, A web cam, A microphone, Speakers, A good broadband connection, Web conferencing
software
The web conference host or presenter will lead the web conference. They will mostly control what is shown
on the screen. To see the same screen, each attendee will be sent (normally by email) a link Lo enter the web
conference meeting. This will normally require the person to download the necessary software to do this, if
they have not attended a web conference using that software before.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Web Conferencing
 Teleworking

Teleworking is essentially using IT to work away from an office. Employees of a business use IT to work from
their home or another location. This could include using their PC, laptop, tablet, mobile and internet
connection, amongst other devices, to carry out their work.
❑ It allows an employee more freedom over the hours they want to work It can give them freedom as to
what time they want to start and finish their work.
❑ They can also take a break and have their lunch whenever they want to.
❑ Employees may still be restricted to company working hours though if their employers requires this.
❑ Employees may also find that there are too many distractions in their home and their productivity may
suffer as a result.
❑ Employee can work from home, this can save oncosts as they will not need to travel to their place of
work every day.
❑ They may also have to worry about the confidentiality of any sensitive documents. They will need to rely
on an employee to store and them safely if they have them in their home or another location.
 Technology in sport

In sport, technology has been introduced to aid referees in making important decisions that could change the
outcomes of games. In rugby union, the referee will regularly use technology to see if the ball was put over the
goal line for a try to be scored, This was very difficult to judge without the use of technology, as the referee was
often having to see around a pile of players trying to aid or stop the try occurring, Technology has been both
welcomed and criticised in sport for this use. People support its use as it means the outcome of games are often
more accurate, as decisions made can be carefully considered based on recorded footage that can be accessed.
Other feel that the introduction of this kind of technology stops the flow of games and makes them less enjoyable
to watch. Technology is also used in sport such as tennis, to allow players to challenge the decisions of the officials
who are judging the match.

TASK: Research the Hawk-Eye in Tennis

 Technology in Medicine

In medicine, technology has given us the ability to monitor patients and make sure they are healthy. We’re able
to measure their heart rate, analyze DNA samples to see if any infection is present, and even use technology to
train doctors and nurses in how to perform certain procedures through simulations. Technology has enabled
many advancements to occur in medicine. Itis now possible to provide people with artificial limbs that can be
controlled through the use of technology. This means that people who previously had debilitating disabilities can
be provided with a new life through the use of these artificial limbs. They could be given the ability to walk again
or regain the use of the arms and hands, allowing them to live a fuller life. This type of treatment has been very
beneficial to soldiers who have been wounded, by providing them with the ability to use their wounded limbs
again, or have them replaced all together. The use of nanotechnology in medicine has provided great
advancements, especially in the use of drugs to treat disease. Nanotechnology is when technology is used to
manipulate individual atoms and molecules. In medicine, it can be used to target the delivery of drugs in a very
precise way. Particles can be engineered to locate particular cells in the body to which to deliver the drug, cancer
cells for example. This can help to reduce any damage or unnecessary treatment being delivered to health cells.
 Technology in Manufacturing

Manufacturing uses robotics to create assembly lines of products such as cars, where heavy elements like the
chassis are moved to an area where humans can then fit items to them to build a car. This has meant that
humans can be removed from working on the mare dangerous elements of manufacturing, By using robotics in
manufacturing, its possible to create a more consistent and accurate product. This is because the robot can be
programmed to produce a product and will do this to the same standard repeatedly. A human may differ in their
standard of production depending on the mood they are in or how tired they feel that day. Also, if a manufacturing
system is completely robotic, it can run for much longer periods of time and will not require the same level of rest
as a human. With the correct level of maintenance, robotic manufacturing could be set to run for 24 hours a day
Some feel that the introduction of robotics into manufacturing has resulted in a loss of jobs for people. This has
often created animosity toward the use of robotics in manufacturing, despite their benefits. Also, if a company
cannot afford the robotic equipment, this can sometimes put them at a competitive disadvantage against those
companies in their industry that can.
 Technology in Enhance Learning

Teaching has not only been improved by technology, but now also involves subjects such as information
technology and computer science. Computers are a feature in most classrooms now and teaching can also be
provided at a distance using online courses. Students can be provided with resources and guidance online, and
with services that allow them to upload work to a portal where it will be marked. Interactive whiteboards can be
used to enhance the teaching and the demonstrations that are being carried out. This means that students may
benefit from a greater understanding of the subject because of an increase in the quality of the demonstrations
that can be carried out and the level at which resources can be shared. A large part of technology's growing
influence on society is the introduction of online learning and online courses. There are many tutorials available
on websites such as YouTube, and more educationally oriented sites like Lynda.com. There is no shortage of people
willing to teach and learn online through small courses on websites such as Codecademy for learning computer
coding, or offering accredited courses on websites such as Coursera and Udacity. This means that people can now
gain access to teaching often without! a fee, other than the cost of their internet connection. This also means they
are able to learn at their own pace and in their own time. With sites such as YouTube, they also have a greater
level of visual aids available when learning.
Thank You