Other Impacts of Digital Technology on Society

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Other Impacts of Digital Technology on Society

Software updates

Software updates play an important role in keeping digital devices secure and functioning well.
- They often fix bugs, patch security vulnerabilities, and add new features that improve user experience.
However, updates can also cause problems: older devices may struggle to run newer versions, leading to slower performance, and some updates are mandatory, meaning users have little control over when changes happen.

Cost of manufacturing

As technology improves, companies can mass-produce devices more cheaply, making smartphones, laptops, and tablets affordable for a wider range of people.
This helps reduce the digital divide.
However, manufacturing can still be expensive for companies, and these costs are passed on to consumers.
Producing electronics often creates environmental issues, such as pollution and e-waste, and can raise ethical concerns about working conditions in factories.

Use of individuals’ data for security purposes

Many modern systems use personal data to improve security.
- Examples: fingerprints, facial recognition, or location information.
These methods can make devices more secure and help organisations detect fraud or suspicious activity more quickly.
However, storing personal data also creates risks. If the data is misused, shared without consent, or stolen in a cyber-attack, individuals may lose privacy or become victims of identity theft.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI can automate tasks, analyse large amounts of data quickly, and support important services like healthcare, transport, and customer support.
- It can also personalise experiences, such as recommending videos or helping users with disabilities.
However, if AI systems are trained on biased data, they can make unfair or inaccurate decisions.

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

BYOD policies allow employees or students to use their own laptops, tablets, or phones for work or study.
This can save organisations money because they do not need to buy as many devices. Users often work more efficiently on familiar equipment.
However, BYOD introduces new security risks as personal devices might not have strong protection, may use outdated software, or could be lost or stolen.
- This makes it harder for IT departments to manage security and protect sensitive data.

Examples in Areas of Technology Advancement

Medical technology

Software updates improve the accuracy of medical devices like MRI scanners, but outdated equipment in hospitals may become incompatible after major updates.
Use of personal data improves patients' safety but increases privacy risks if records are hacked.
AI helps diagnose diseases, predict patient outcomes, and analyse scans, but biased AI could misdiagnose underrepresented groups.
BYOD improves the speed with which doctors access, but increases security risks.

Farming technology

Software updates improve the performance of several systems, but farmers may struggle if updates require new hardware.
Manufacturing costs make smart farming tools expensive.
Use of data from sensors helps farmers track soil conditions and crop health, but sharing this data with companies raises ownership concerns.

Engineering and manufacturing

Software updates keep CAD and modelling software secure and feature-rich, but may require powerful computers, increasing costs.
AI automates quality checks, predicts machine failures, and improves design efficiency, though it may reduce certain manual jobs.
BYOD lets engineers access blueprints on-site, but unauthorised devices pose intellectual-property risks.

Finance and banking

Software updates secure mobile banking apps and ATMs, but updates that fail can disrupt essential services.
Use of personal data helps detect fraud through pattern analysis, but storing financial data makes banks major cyber-attack targets.
AI is used for fraud detection, credit scoring, and customer service chatbots. However, biased AI could make unfair lending decisions.

Education

Manufacturing costs affect access to laptops, tablets, and interactive boards by schools with lower budgets.
Use of student data helps personalise learning and track progress, but raises concerns about how children’s data is stored and shared.
BYOD allows students to use their own devices in class, reducing school costs but causing inequality if some students lack suitable technology.

1Computer Systems

1.1Systems Architecture

1.1.1Fetch-Execute Cycle

1.1.2Common CPU Components & Their Function

1.1.3Von Neumann Architecture

1.1.4Factors Affecting CPU Performance

1.1.5Embedded Systems

1.1.6Exam-Style Questions - Von Neumann Architecture

1.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Embedded vs General

1.2Memory & Storage

1.2.1Types of Memory

1.2.2Flash Memory

1.2.3Properties of Flash Memory

1.2.4Running Out of Memory

1.2.5Virtual Memory

1.2.6Units of Capacity

1.2.7Calculating Capacity Requirements

1.2.8Solid State Storage

1.2.9Properties of Solid State Media

1.2.10Magnetic Storage

1.2.11Properties of Magnetic Media

1.2.12Examples of Magnetic Storage

1.2.13Optical Storage

1.2.14Properties of Optical Media

1.2.15Examples of Optical Storage

1.2.16Types of Optical Disk

1.2.17Number Bases

1.2.18Converting Number Bases

1.2.19Hexadecimal

1.2.20Using Hexadecimal

1.2.21Converting Denary & Hexadecimal

1.2.22Binary Addition

1.2.23Binary Shifts

1.2.24Representing Text

1.2.25ASCII & Unicode

1.2.26Representing Images

1.2.27Converting Binary & Images

1.2.28Representing Sound

1.2.29Data Compression

1.2.30Grade 9 - Storage

1.2.31Exam-Style Questions - Primary Memory

1.2.32Exam-Style Questions - Storage

1.2.33Exam-Style Questions - Data Conversions

1.2.34Diagnostic Misconceptions - RAM vs ROM

1.2.35Diagnostic Misconceptions - Bits, Nibbles & Bytes

1.2.36Diagnostic Misconceptions - Bits Required to Store

1.2.37End of Topic Test - Computer Systems

1.2.38End of Topic Test - Representation

1.3Computer Networks, Connections & Protocols

1.4Network Security

1.4.1Forms of Attack

1.4.2Penetration Testing

1.4.3Malware

1.4.4How Malware Spreads

1.4.5Social Engineering

1.4.6Phishing

1.4.7Cracking Passwords

1.4.8Denial of Service Attacks

1.4.9Data Interception

1.4.10Methods of Data Interception

1.4.11SQL Injection

1.4.12Network Administration

1.4.13Network Forensics

1.4.14Protecting Against Malware

1.4.15Firewalls

1.4.16User Access Levels

1.4.17Passwords

1.4.18Encryption

1.4.19End of Topic Test - Networks

1.5Systems Software

1.5.1System Software

1.5.2Utility Software

1.5.3Operating Systems

1.5.4User Interfaces

1.5.5Memory & Process Management

1.5.6File Management

1.5.7Device Management

1.5.8User Management

1.5.9Encryption Software

1.5.10Defragmentation Software

1.5.11Data Compression Software

1.5.12Backup Software

1.6Ethical, Legal, Cultural & Environmental Concern

2Computational Thinking, Algorithms & Programming

2.1Algorithms

2.1.1Computational Thinking - Abstraction

2.1.2Computational Thinking - Decomposition

2.1.3Algorithmic Thinking

2.1.4Pseudocode

2.1.5Flowchart Diagrams

2.1.6Interpreting Algorithms

2.1.7Correcting Algorithms

2.1.8Completing Algorithms

2.1.9Search Algorithms

2.1.10Binary Search

2.1.11Linear Search

2.1.12Overview of Sort Algorithms

2.1.13Bubble Sort

2.1.14Merge Sort

2.1.15Insertion Sort

2.1.16Exam-Style Questions - Sorting Algorithms

2.2Programming Fundamentals

2.3Producing Robust Programs

2.3.1Defensive Design

2.3.2Validation & Sanitisation

2.3.3Authentication & Contingencies

2.3.4Maintainability

2.3.5Purpose of Testing

2.3.6Types of Testing

2.3.7Test Plans

2.3.8Types of Errors

2.3.9End of Topic Test - Programming

2.3.10Exam-Style Questions - Testing

2.4Boolean Logic

2.4.1Binary Systems

2.4.2Logic Circuits

2.4.3Boolean Logic

2.4.4Boolean Operators

2.4.5Grade 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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