CAT- Module 1.1-1.4

• Input devices and health issues:

  • Maintain proper posture and use input devices correctly to avoid issues like neck strain
  • Move around every hour or adjust your stare from the screen to prevent eye strain
  • Use keyboard shortcuts and do exercises to relieve tension in joints
• For physically challenged users:

  • Visually impaired / Blind: Braille Keyboard, Magnification devices, Large-Key keyboards, Braille printers
  • Hearing Impaired / Deaf: On-screen notices, Vibration devices, Motor control, Eye tracking devices
• Advantages of interactive whiteboards:

  • Better interaction and notes can be made on the board, catering to different learning styles
  • Presenting content with better quality and increased flexibility
• Output devices:

  • Provide user feedback in various forms like visual, sound, and touch
  • Wireless technologies are used for output devices, enhancing their portability and ease of use
• Advantages of data collection devices:

  • Capture data automatically without human intervention, providing more accurate readings
  • Useful for monitoring weather conditions, patient's health, and other environmental factors
• Advantages of Point of Sale (POS) systems:

  • Faster processing and better stock control
  • Prices can be updated instantly, recording sales accurately
• Advantages of biometric input:

  • Mainly for security purposes, ensuring only authorized persons can access the system
  • Defeating biometric security is challenging for unauthorized individuals
• Advantages of scanners:

  • Large documents can be scanned and stored digitally
  • OCR software can convert scanned text into editable formats, enhancing document management
• Types of computers:

  • Servers provide services and resources to other computers (clients) linked in the network
  • Dedicated devices are designed for specific tasks
  • Hybrid laptops/tablets combine touch screens with hinges or allow screen removal
• Protecting information:

  • Record serial numbers of hardware
  • Use lockable cabinets and cable locks
  • Install motion sensors and alarms to detect movement
• Advantages of digital cameras:

  • Immediate image capture
  • Easy transfer of images to computers
  • Various types like digital, smartphone, compact, and DSLR cameras
• Input devices like scanners:

  • Capture images of barcodes, photos, and documents
  • Software allows DPI (dots per inch) adjustment for image quality
• Image quality factors for scanners:

  • Resolution, determined by DPI
  • Colour depth, higher depth allows more colours to be represented
• ICT devices for work and entertainment:

  • Computers and ICT devices used for surfing, communication, social networking
  • Laptops, tablets, smartphones are common devices
• Role of ICT in the workplace:

  • ICT influences work processes, communication, and decision-making
  • ICT is essential in virtually any job, requiring the ability to present information effectively
• Information access:

  • ICT allows quick access to information for leisure, analysis, and decision-making
  • Reliable sources include the internet, video on demand, online games, and fitness programs
• ICT's impact on life and lifestyles:

  • ICT influences how we interact, store and entertain ourselves, shop, communicate, and access information
  • It affects communication through social networking, instant messaging, blogs, emails, and websites
• Negative aspects of smartphones:

  • Constant need for upgrading software and hardware
  • Smaller pools of highly skilled ICT employees replacing large numbers of staff
• Advantages of tablets:

  • Portable computers ideal for quick, small-scale computing
  • Special operating systems designed for mobile devices with long battery life and wireless connections
• ICT worker tasks:

  • Take input, process it, produce output
  • Store input and output data quickly and accurately
• Communication through ICT:

  • Over-availability of communication channels
  • Social networking, instant messaging, blogs, emails, and websites play a significant role
• Advantages of blogging:

  • Share ideas and feedback
  • Personal and business use for advertising
  • Used as help forums where people with common interests can share ideas
  • Used for social change, promoting freedom of speech
• Disadvantages of blogging:

  • Must update constantly to maintain readers' interest
  • Responses posted can be worthless
  • Constant display of advertisements (free sites)
  • Postings appear from newest to oldest, making older postings less visible
• Software for Physically Challenged Users:

  • Operating systems contain settings and utilities to help make the computer easier for disabled people to use
  • Includes features like magnifying text, text to speech (narration), making the mouse cursor larger, and high contrast settings for easier reading
• Compatibility Issues:

  • Every company expects data to be encoded in a certain way, leading to errors if not followed
  • Solutions include saving the document in another format or having the latest versions of software
• Basic Troubleshooting:

  • Managing backups with specialist backup software
  • Disk scanning, disk defragmentation, and disk cleanup are essential tasks for maintaining computer performance
• Online Storage:

  • Advantages include accessibility from anywhere, backup and security managed by the storage provider, and the ability to share files with others
  • Disadvantages may include paying for storage, lack of control over data security, and the need for a good internet connection
• Memory:

  • Memory holds data and instructions that the computer is currently working with, while storage holds programs and data more permanently
  • Memory is electronic and fast to access, while storage is slower and needs power to keep its contents