Compiled by: Fatima Rizwan
Chapter 5(The effect of using ICT)
Potential Health problems related to prolonged use of IT
Equipment’s:
Health risk Causes of health risk How to reduce health risk
» Use fully adjustable chairs to
give the correct posture
Back and neck Caused due to prolonged sitting » Use foot rests to reduce
strain in front of the computer screen posture problems
»Use tiltable screens to ensure
the neck is at the right angle
» Change screens to LCD if older
Caused by staring at a computer CRT screens are still used
screen for too long » Take regular breaks
Eyestrain Having incorrect lighting in the » Make use of anti-glare screens
room Flickering screens if the room lighting is incorrect
Dirty screens » Users should have their eyes
tested on a regular basis
» Ensure correct posture is
maintained » Make use of a
Damage to fingers and wrists wrist rest when using a mouse
Repetitive strain caused by continuous use of a or keyboard
injury keyboard or repetitive clicking of » Take regular breaks
mouse » Make use of ergonomic
keyboards » Use voice-
activated software
» Make use of anti-glare screens
Caused by incorrect lighting if the room lighting is incorrect
Headaches screen reflections » Take regular breaks
flickering screens » Users should have their eyes
tested on a regular basis
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» Proper ventilation should exist
to lower the ozone gas levels
Caused by laser printers in an » Laser printers should be
Ozone irritation office housed in a proper printer room
» Use inkjet printers where
possible
Effects of using microprocessor-controlled/ micro- contoller
devices in the home
Using microprocessor-controlled devices in the home can have
positive and negative effects on our:
• lifestyle
• leisure time
• physical fitness
• data security
• social interaction.
Many common household devices are now fitted with
microprocessors to control a large number of their functions.
The devices fall into two main groups:
Labour-saving devices (group 1):
• automatic washing machines
• microwave ovens
• cookers
• automatic dishwashers
• robotic vacuum cleaners
• smart fridges and freezers.
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Other devices (group 2):
• alarm clocks
• television sets
• central heating and air-conditioning systems
• mobile phones and tablets.
Lifestyle, leisure time and physical fitness
Advantages and disadvantages of microprocessor
controlled devices:
Advantages Disadvantages
» People no longer have to do manual tasks »Smart fridges due to seasonal changes
at home can order food which isn’t even needed
» They give people more time for leisure » Labor-saving devices can lead to
activities. unhealthy lifestyles as their is lack of
» There is no longer a need to stay home exercise
while food is cooking etc. » They tend to make people rather lazy.
» It is possible to control ovens and » There is a potential to lose household
automatic washing machines, for example, skills. » As with any device which can
using smartphones. communicate using the internet there is
» Automated burglar alarms give people a the risk of cybersecurity threats
sense of security »It causes issues like microwave leakage
» Smart fridges and freezers can lead to » They can be more complex to operate
more healthy lifestyles like they can for people who are not very confident
automatically order fresh food from around electronic devices.
supermarkets using their internet » Leaving some devices on standby is
connections. wasteful of electricity.
» Microprocessor-controlled devices save
energy because they can switch themselves
off after inactivity for a certain time period.
» It can be easier 'programming' these
devices to perform tasks rather than turning
knobs and pressing buttons manually
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Data Security Issues:
Having a microprocessor-controlled device connected to the
internet can lead to cybersecurity issues. For example:
• By hacking into a central-heating controller it is possible to
find out holiday dates, which then makes a home an easy
target for break-ins.
• If the fridge/freezer automatically orders food from a
supermarket, then it is possible for a hacker to gain key
data, such as credit card numbers.
It is therefore important to have passwords on devices
Social Interactions:
Advantages:
• Easier to make new friends using chat rooms
• Easier to find people who share similar interests/hobbies
• Less expensive to keep in touch using VoIP technology (a
type of video conferencing)
Disadvantages:
• People do not meet face-to-face as much
• A lack of social interaction may make people more anxious
of meeting people in real life
• People behave differently when interacting online –
sometimes they can be ruder or more aggressive
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The use of microprocessors in transport systems is becoming
more and more widespread. Examples:
• Monitoring of traffic on motorways
• Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR)
• Automatic control of traffic lights
• Air traffic control systems
• Railway signalling systems
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Smart motorways are motorways in which monitoring and
control of traffic or the information displayed on motorway
signs is done by central computer system.
Advantages and disadvantages of transport monitoring and
control system
Advantages Disadvantages
Traffic offences for example, driving in the
A hacker could gain access to the computerized
wrong lane can be automatically penalized
system and cause disruption
using ANPR.
Stolen cars and criminals can be spotted ANPR systems mean that innocent people’s
using ANPR.
movements can easily be tracked
Computerized control systems minimize
human error, which reduces the rate of Poorly designed systems could compromise safety
accidents.
Transport systems are more efficient If the computer system fails then the whole
transport system could be brought to a standstill
Advantages and disadvantages of autonomous vehicles in
transport
Advantages Disadvantages
Stress-free parking for motorists (the car will
A hacker could gain access to the computerized
find car parking on its own and then self-
system and cause disruption
park)
Driver and passenger reluctance of the new
Reduced travel times
technology
Computerized control systems minimize
human error, which reduces the rate of Poorly designed systems could compromise safety
accidents.
Transport systems are more efficient If the computer system fails then the whole
transport system could be brought to a standstill
Reduction in the need for taxis could lead to
unemployment
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Very expensive system to set up
Advantages and disadvantages of autonomous trains
Advantages Disadvantages
A hacker could gain access to the computerized
Improves the punctuality of the trains
system and cause disruption
Reduced travel times Passenger reluctance of the new technology
Computerized control systems minimize
human error, which reduces the rate of Poorly designed systems could compromise safety
accidents.
Transport systems are more efficient If the computer system fails then the whole
transport system could be brought to a standstill
Minimizes energy consumption because Very expensive system to set up
there is better control of speed
No drivers mean there will be a need for CCTV to
It is easier to change train scheduling monitor railway stations
Autonomous aero planes
Some of the main features of a control system on a pilotless aero plane
would include:
• sensors to detect turbulence to ensure smooth flights
• an increase in self-testing of all circuits and systems
• use of GPS for navigation and speed calculations
Advantages and disadvantages of autonomous aero planes
Advantages Disadvantages
A hacker could gain access to the computerised
Improvement in passenger comfort
system and cause disruption
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Reduced travel times Passenger reluctance of the new technology
Computerised control systems minimise
human error, which reduces the rate of Poorly designed systems could compromise safety
accidents.
Improved aerodynamics at the front of the Emergency situations during the flight may be
aeroplane difficult to deal with
Very expensive system to set up
Disadvantages of minimizing health problems due to
long use of IT equipment’s:
1- Over reliance on the equipment’s
2- Safety equipment’s can be expensive
3- It is difficult to position the screen of laptops at eye
level(90 degrees)
4- If an error comes in voice activated system it may increase
RSI while correcting them.
5- Taking regular breaks increases work time
To reduce RSI equipment’s
1- Ergonomic keyboards
2- Ergonomic mouse
3- Microphone
4- Foot rest
Health risks related to computer keyboards and ways to
minimize them
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It causes RSI (repetitive strain injury), carpel syndrome tunnel
and back neck pain.
To reduce it we should use wrist rests, ergonomic keyboards,
maintaining correct posture for example right position of arms
and hand on keyboards, use of voice activated software, taking
frequent breaks and not pressing the keyboards hard.
Disadvantages of connecting home devices to the internet
1- The devices can be hacked and the malware can be
installed.
2- If the hacker hacks the device, he/ she can know the
private details of the user.
3- If the user loses the controller then the devices cannot be
operated.
4- The devices should be in range with the controller
otherwise the devices cannot be operated.
5- Due to electricity or internet connectivity issue, devices
wont function.
6- Smart fridges due to seasonal changes can order food
which food which isn’t even needed.
Advantages of connecting home devices to the internet
1- Devices can be turned out remotely for example before
coming to home we can turn on the central heating system
to warm the house.
2- Smart fridges can order the food needed automatically
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3- If one wants to watch up to date films then one can
connect tv to the internet.
4- Smart washing machines can automatically analyze if the
incorrect materials are present in the washing machine
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