Environmental Issues

Test yourself

E-Waste

E-waste refers to discarded electronic devices.

Technology is hard to repair

Manufacturers often make technology which is difficult to repair, and so it is sometimes cheaper to replace a product than repair it. This contributes to e-waste.

Newer models

Many consumers will replace a working device with a newer model each year.
This is unnecessary e-waste.

Disposal of e-waste

E-waste can include toxic chemicals.
There are strict rules about the disposal of e-waste imposed by the Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
To bypass these rules, many organisations send e-waste to countries with fewer regulations - such as China and India.

Energy Consumption

It's no surprise that technology uses a lot of energy. But it might be more than most people think.

Data centres

Data centres are some of the worst offenders for energy consumption.
Not only do the servers need to be powered, but they also need a lot of energy for their cooling systems.

How much energy?

In 2011, the US department for energy calculated that data centres in the US alone need 70 billion kWh of electricity each year.
- To put that in perspective, that's 2% of America's total power consumption.
- It's also the same as leaving over 80 million lightbulbs turned on.

Reducing energy consumption

Energy consumption in data centres can be reduced by using hot and cold aisles. This is making sure that one server's air outtake (hot) does not blow into another server's air intake (cold).
We can also reduce consumption by using server virtualisation.
- This reduces the number of redundant servers by running multiple virtual servers on a single piece of hardware.

1Computer Systems

1.1Systems Architecture

1.1.1Architecture Introduction

1.1.2Von Neumann Architecture

1.1.3Fetch-Execute Cycle

1.1.4Factors Affecting CPU Performance

1.1.5Elements of Computer Systems

1.1.6Exam-Style Questions - Von Neumann Architecture

1.2Memory & Storage

1.3Computer Networks, Connections & Protocols

1.4Network Security

1.4.1Forms of Attack

1.4.2Malware

1.4.3Social Engineering

1.4.4Phishing

1.4.5Common Active Attacks

1.4.6Information Security

1.4.7SQL Injection

1.4.8Network Administration

1.4.9Protecting Against Malware

1.4.10Authentication & Passwords

1.4.11Encryption

1.4.12End of Topic Test - Networks

1.5Systems Software

1.5.1Types of System Software

1.5.2Operating Systems

1.5.3Operating System Managers

1.5.4File Management

1.5.5Device Management

1.5.6User Management

1.5.7Utility Software: Encryption & Defragmentation

1.5.8Utility Software: Data Compression & Backup

1.6Ethical, Legal, Cultural & Environmental Concern

1.6.1Open Source vs Proprietary Software

1.6.2Licensing Issues

1.6.3Ethical Issues

1.6.4Ethical Issues 2

1.6.5Exam-Style Questions - Ethical Issues

1.6.6Legal Issues

1.6.7Legal Issues 2

1.6.8Freedom of Information Act (2000)

1.6.9Cultural Issues

1.6.10Environmental Issues

1.6.11Positive Environmental Impact

1.6.12Privacy Issues

1.6.13Stakeholders

1.6.14End of Topic Test - Software & Issues

2Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming

2.1Algorithms

2.1.1Computational Thinking

2.1.2Algorithmic Thinking

2.1.3Pseudocode & Flow Diagrams

2.1.4Interpreting & Correcting Algorithm

2.1.5Completing Algorithms

2.1.6Search Algorithms

2.1.7Binary Search

2.1.8Overview of Sort Algorithms

2.1.9Bubble Sort & Insertion Sort

2.1.10Merge Sort

2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Sorting Algorithms

2.2Programming Fundamentals

2.2.1Fundamentals

2.2.2Program Flow 1

2.2.3Program Flow 2

2.2.4Arithmetic & Relational Operators

2.2.5Boolean Operators

2.2.6Data Types

2.2.7Arrays

2.2.8Strings

2.2.9File Handling

2.2.10Structuring Data

2.2.11End of Topic Test - Programming

2.2.12Exam-Style Questions - Translation

2.3Producing Robust Programs

2.3.1Defensive Design Considerations

2.3.2Defensive Design Considerations 2

2.3.3Maintainability

2.3.4Testing

2.3.5Test Plans

2.3.6Error Types

2.3.7End of Topic Test - Programming

2.3.8Exam-Style Questions - Testing

2.4Boolean Logic

2.4.1Computational Logic

2.4.2Boolean Logic

2.4.3Boolean Operators

2.4.4Grade 9 - Logic

2.5Programming Languages & IDEs

2.5.1High-Level vs Low-Level Languages

2.5.2Translation - Compliers & Interpreter

2.5.3Translation - Assemblers

2.5.4Integrated Development Environments

2.5.5Exam-Style Questions - Translation

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