Information Systems for you

Questions (Page 216)
(a)		Provides a connection to the Internet Provides content such as news, weather, adverts etc. Enables e-mail to be sent and received Provides search engines so that the Internet can be searched Allows instant messages (IM's) to be sent
(b)		A content provider provides and maintains material for access using the Internet.

Questions (Page 218)
	Fewer staff needed since customers type in their own details. High street premises are not needed for the sale of goods and this makes huge cost savings. Advertising costs are much lower as you can use banner adverts to link to your site.

	Allows parents and pupils to access school information from their own homes. It is much cheaper for schools to promote themselves using the Internet. It is easy to change information that varies from one year to the next (e.g. the dates of terms etc.).

	Other information that the school might include on this site is as follows: Calendar of events Details of teaching staff and their extensions and e-mail addresses Links to useful revision sites for pupils taking their exams Information about choosing options Examination timetables Details of sports results The latest school news

Questions (Page 219)
1(a)		Their computer may not be switched on and/or the computer may not be connected to the Internet at the time.
(b)	(i)	Mail that you have not asked for advertising products or services and which you can waste time reading or deleting.
	(ii)	The cost of sending a letter to lots of people is almost the same as for sending the same letter to just one person. This is not the case with the traditional mail.

2		You need to consider that the postal service delivers parcels and packages as well as just letters. Only when everyone has access to e-mail will the service replace the traditional mail. The parcel service is likely to grow as more goods are bought over the Internet.

Questions (Page 221)
1(a)		This is the method by which data is sent from one terminal to another.
(b)		Any two from: metal wire fibre optic cable infrared microwave radiowaves etc.
(c)	(i)	Connected to the Internet
	(ii)	There may be charges whilst on-line so it may be cheaper to compose e-mail off-line.
	(iii)	Less secure as it is possible to hack into e-mail.

2(a)		You can keep a list of the names and e-mail addresses of your contacts. To enter their e-mail address into an e-mail you can simply click on it.
(b)		These are lists of names of people and their e-mail addresses in certain groups. You simply select the group and the e-mail can be sent to every member of the group.
(c)		A file attachment is a file that accompanies an e-mail.
(d)		You may want to send some photographs, spreadsheets etc.

3(a)		If composing the e-mail on-line, the steps would typically include: Load the Internet Service Provider and connect to the Internet Type in the e-mail address of the person you are sending it to (or select the address from an address book). Type in the e-mail addresses of anyone else who needs to be sent a copy. Type in the e-mail and proofread Click on send.
(b)		Mail is sent immediately Quicker to write You can attach the original letter with the reply thus saving time searching for it. e-mail is cheaper to send than a traditional letter. Saves time because you don't need to buy stamps, envelopes etc.
(c)		Not everyone has an e-mail address e-mails are not as secure as ordinary mail People need some training to use the system.

Questions (Page 225)
1(a)		Software that is used to access the world wide web.
(b)		Software that enables the user to send and receive e-mail.
(c)		A company that provides users with a permanent connection to the Internet.

Questions (Page 231)
1		Any two examples such as: Pornography Instructions on how to commit crimes (e.g. bomb making instructions) Sites promoting the use of drugs Sites showing maps with the location of speed cameras marked.

2		Sites which start rumours (e.g. the outbreak of a new petrol blockade) Sites which are designed to pose as another site.

3		The e-mail sent by famous people could be tapped and sold to the newspapers if it contained anything of interest to the public.

Test Yourself (Page 231)
	A	Internet Service Provider
	B	content providers
	C	Internet
	D	website
	E	electronic mail
	F	web browser
	G	web servers
	H	e-commerce

Things To Do (page 232-233)
1(a)		Any two services such as: Availability of video on demand Home banking and home shopping facilities Interactive lessons (e.g. learning a new language, new software etc.)
(b)		(b) Any two of the services such as: Text messages Mobile access to limited services on the Internet Able to send and receive e-mail

2		Talk could be centred round the following points: • Hacking could invade people's privacy • Copyright material is harder to protect as more people spread the material around the world. • Children could access pornographic material. • Danger of fraud as more goods and services are bought on-line. • Addiction to using chat rooms. To minimise the risks: Use software such as cyber patrol which filters out pornographic material. Make sure that confidential information is not divulged in an e-mail. It is necessary to send sensitive private information over the Internet, then it should be encrypted. Use passwords so that unsupervised young children do not have access to the Internet. Make sure that all sites which use credit card details for the purchase of goods, use encryption to keep credit card details secure.

3(a)		Advantages/disadvantages to staff Staff can access their e-mail anywhere there is a computer (even at home). It is easy to send all staff the same e-mail by making use of mailing lists. All staff will need access to computer equipment which can be expensive. Staff will need to be trained in the use of e-mail. Less time is wasted trying to contact staff by phone.
(b)		A whole school network would be needed, with each pupil having their own account, and this is quite expensive. Post is easier because all pupils will have a letterbox but sending letters is time consuming and expensive. Many pupils will have mobiles so it is much easier to contact them via phone than in the past.
(c)		e-mail can be used to send class lists for exam entries and results between schools and the examination board and vice versa and if these lists are sent as file attachments, no errors will be made typing the information in again. e-mail may not be secure enough for results unless the files are encrypted. It may be hard for the headteacher to contact a specific person at the exam board headquaters as both parties are frequently in meetings.

4		Any three advantages similar to the following: It is easier to shop from home if you live a long way from the shops. The goods or services are usually cheaper. There is usually a much greater range of goods available. Some shopping sites allow you to compare prices.

5		Any three features, such as: Chat rooms - make friends with people having similar interests from around the world. Home shopping - you can take advantage of the cheapest products and compare prices easily and get them delivered to your door. Download - you can download free software. News and weather - you can see what is happening around the world. Internet access - you can search for information on the Internet. Instant messages - you can send instant messages to your friends who are on-line.

6(a)		Any three advantages such as; goods/services usually cheaper, greater choice, don't have to waste time shopping, easier to make comparisons, lots of special introductory offers etc.
(b)		Any three disadvantages such as: Credit card details could be intercepted, it may be a bogus company that you are dealing with, it is harder to return damaged goods, more difficult to deal with problems such as non delivery of goods etc.
(c)	(i)	Any two such as: Airlines, Insurance companies, Grocery stores, Travel agents, Book stores etc.
	(ii)	Any two such as: high street travel agents as more holidays are booked on-line, High street book stores, Record stores etc.

7		Chat rooms - they may arrange to meet someone who is not what they say they are. Pornography - they may access this purely by accident. Spending too much time on the Internet

8		Check the date that the material was produced to make sure that it is up-to-date. Only use known reliable sources for your information. Compare your new source of information with more traditional sources of information.

Examination Questions (page 349)
1(a)	(i)	The following should be ticked: Teleworking will be more widespread and more workers will work from home. More workers will need IT skills. Some workers in the UK will compete for jobs with workers throughout the world.
	(ii)	The following should be ticked: Employers will use the World Wide Web or advertising. Employers will train their workers using computer-based learning materials. Employers will use e-mail to communicate with their workers.

(b)		You can ask questions in specialist chat rooms to obtain help from other users. You can e-mail help requests to the help-desk. You can obtain on-line help from the software suppliers.