Learn about ethical issues of IT including whistleblowing, discrimination, online safety and bias. Based on the 2016 OCR Cambridge Technicals Level 3 IT specification. 5.1 - Ethical Issues Exam Board: OCR Specification: 2016 - Unit 1 What are ethics? Ethics refers to what is right and wrong . The following issues are often linked to or backed up by legislation. Whistle Blowing Definition: When a member of staff reveals that the organisation they work for are engaging in unlawful practices . This could include breaking privacy laws , threatening staff or environmental damage . In the UK , whistleblowers are protected by the Public Interest Disclosures Act (1988) . Under this law, whistleblowers are protected from being fired or being victimised (e.g. ignored for promotion ) as a result of their whistleblowing. Large organisations should consider establishing a whistleblowing policy that would outline how employees can raise concerns , who they should speak to and the support available to concerned staff. A famous whistleblower is Edward Snowden , who revealed in 2013 that many governments, including the USA and the UK, were spying on their civilians with widespread undocumented surveillance. Should Martin reveal that his company is dumping old computers into a lake or just stay quiet? Graham feels that, because of his disability, he is being ignored for a promotion that he deserves. Discrimination Definition: When an employee is treated unfairly because of a personal or physical characteristic over which they have no control . The Equality Act (2010) ensures equal treatment for all people irrespective of: race sexuality gender disability marital status (and many more) Examples of discrimination include offensive talk, harassment, unequal pay and being ignored for promotion. Use of Information Definition: Laws such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation ) and specifically the Data Protection Act (2018) ensure that organisations must responsibly process personal data. Organisations have a legal obligation to keep their employee and customer personal data secure and out of reach from unauthorised viewers. Considerations should be made about how the information is ethically collected , stored and processed . DataDyne backs up customer information on cloud storage - what if this data is compromised ? As part of quality assurance, Selside Bank double check performance reviews before submission. Codes of Practice Definition: A set of rules which explains how people working in certain professions are required to behave . Organisations may have a code of practice for: Confidentiality (rules on what data can and cannot be shared with others), Quality assurance (ensuring high quality is maintained for all products/services), Behaviour (setting out how employees are expected to behave at work and in communication with each other and customers), Equality and discrimination (being understanding and providing fair access to all employees). Employees must agree to the codes of practice so they are clear on their expectations of what is and isn't acceptable at work. The organisation can then discipline employees that broke the codes of practice they formerly agreed to. Online Safety Definition: Often companies will provide an induction (training ) to new employees about the organisation’s code of practice for using the internet whilst at work . If an individual does not behave safely online or breaks the organisation's codes of practice (by gambling at work for example) then they may be punished (e.g. fined or fired). Employees can ensure that they are safe online by using secure passwords that are regularly updated and preventing web browsers from remembering login details . Miriam changes her password each month to minimise the chance of hackers accessing her account. The CEO of Honey Media apologies in public after biased information led to a lawsuit and loss of reputation. Bias Definition: This is technically correct, but slanted , information that presents a one-sided view . For example, end-of year financial data that focuses on profits and ignores significant losses. Poor quality information may lead to an organisation being misinformed and not sufficiently responding to their customers' needs - for example if a survey was only completed by a small number of people it could generate biased results. As a result of poor quality information, organisations may suffer from damage to their reputation due to negative feedback and reviews from customers, possibly posted online. A lack of trust can occur if customers feel neglected because of decisions made using biased information of a poor quality, therefore reputational damage may lead to loss of customers . Q uesto's Q uestions 5.1 - Ethical Issues: 1. Describe what whistleblowing is and give 3 examples . [4 ] 2. Describe what discrimination is and give 4 examples . [5 ] 3. Which law relates to the use of information ? [1 ] 4a. Describe 2 things that may be included in an organisation's codes of practice . [4 ] 4b. Explain why employees must agree to their company's codes of practice [4 ]. 5. Describe 2 things an employee should do to stay safe online . [2 ] 6a. What is biased information ? [2 ] 6b. Describe 3 possible effects to a company if they use biased information . [6 ] 4.6 & 4.7 - Bodies & Certification Topic List 5.2 - Operational Issues

Learn how to delay processes using the sleep command in Python. Try practice tasks and learn through text and images. Perfect for students learning GCSE Computer Science in UK schools. top Python 5b - Sleep Using Sleep To pause a program, import sleep from the time library . Type the word sleep followed by the number of seconds that you wish the program to break for in brackets . It must be a whole number . Below is an example of a program that imports the sleep command and waits for 2 seconds between printing: from time import sleep print ( "Hello!" ) sleep(2) print ( "Goodbye!" ) You can implement the sleep command within a for loop to produce an effective timer that outputs each second waited to the screen: You could also use a variable instead of a fixed value with the sleep command such as below: from time import sleep for second in range (1,11): print (second) sleep(1) from time import sleep seconds = int ( input ( "How many seconds should I sleep? " )) print ( "Going to sleep..." ) sleep(seconds) print ( "Waking up!" ) Sleep Task ( Slow Calculator) Create a slow calculator program that needs time to think in between calculations. Print a message to greet the user , then wait 3 seconds and ask them to enter a number . Wait another 3 seconds and ask them to enter a second number . Wait 2 more seconds , print “Thinking…” then 2 seconds later print the total of the two numbers added together . Example solution: ⬅ 5a - Rando m 5c - Date & Time ➡

Learn about different types of tools used in the data analysis process including data visualisation, data cleaning and GIS. Based on the 2016 OCR Cambridge Technicals Level 3 IT specification for Unit 2 (Global Information). 3.5 - Data Analysis Tools Exam Board: OCR Specification: 2016 - Unit 2 The fifth stage of data analysis is to select the most appropriate tools to analyse the collected data. The method(s) selected will depend on the type of project and the established objectives. Data Tables Databases are often split into tables to be easier to update , view and manipulate . For example, a supermarket database may include a table of product information, another table of suppliers and another for actual stock levels. Separating the data into tables allows for simpler editing and also allows for the display of basic patterns . For example, looking at a table of stock levels in a supermarket can quickly show which products need to be ordered in as they are close to selling out. Data tables allow for the most simple form of pattern discovery and are a good method of speedy, short-term data analysis . However they present data in its current format and cannot show change or trends over time - a product may have a high stock level because it is popular and has just been ordered in, rather than because no-one is buying it. A simplified data table for a supermarket. Visualisation of Data Visualising data (by producing a chart or graph of collected data for example) makes it easier for an audience to see trends and patterns . Visualising data, like the bar chart to the right of the supermarket table from the tool above, makes it easier to understand and quicker to interpret . In this example, It is easier to see using the chart that steak pies are low in stock and should be re-ordered soon. A bar chart of the supermarket data table. Trend & Pattern Identification This tool links heavily to visualisation of data in allowing trends and patterns to be viewed as a visual format - such as producing a line graph of last year’s stock sales. Statistical analysis allows data analysts to examine numerical data and, if done correctly, can highlight relationships between different data elements - such as the price of a product and how many have been sold. Discovering links between variables is known as regression analysis . Data Cleaning Data cleaning ensures that any stored data is up-to-date and accurate , in accordance with the Data Protection Act ( 2018 ). Forms of data cleaning include removing customers who have not made a purchase in a certain amount of time (e.g. two years) and periodically checking that user addresses are up to date. Data cleaning would reduce the size of any data table by removing redundant, incorrect or unnecessary data . This would make it easier to work with the data table and would improve the data quality by removing erroneous and irrelevant data. GIS / Location Mapping Geographic Information Systems (GIS ) can be used to add geographic data to any analysis. For example, an organisation can track the geographical location of items or staff e.g. tracking the movement of shipping containers around the world to see production flow. This also works for courier services to see delays and delivery times in real-time . Q uesto's Q uestions 3.5 - Data Analysis Tools: 1. Describe how Fresh Food UK, from the question in 3.4 , could use each of the data analysis tools when trying to determine and present the most profitable stores across the country in the past year . a. Data Tables [3 ] b. Visualisation of Data [3 ] c. Trend & Pattern Identification [3 ] d. Data Cleaning [3 ] e. GIS / Location Mapping [3 ] 3.4 - Stages of Data Analysis Topic List 3.6 - Information Systems

Navigate between all Unit F160 (Fundamentals of Application Development) topics in the OCR Cambridge Advanced National in Computing (AAQ) specification. Qualification: Cambridge Advanced National in Computing (AAQ) Unit: F160: Fundamentals of Application Development Certificate: Computing: Application Development (H029 / H129) Unit F160: Fundamentals of Application Development These pages are based on content from the OCR Cambridge Advanced National in Computing (AAQ) specification . Unit F160 YouTube Playlist Topic 1: Types of Software 1.1 - Programs and Applications 1.2 - Operating Systems 1.3.1 - Application Types 1.3.2 - Application Software Categories 1.3.3 - Application Software Types Topic 2: Software Development Models 2.1 - Software Development Models 2.2 - Development Phases Topic 3: Planning Development Projects 3.1 - Planning Projects 3.2 - Project Planning Tools Topic 4: Application Design Scoping 4.1 - Gathering Client Requirements 4.2 - Client Requirement Specifications 4.3 - Decomposition Methods Topic 5: Human-Computer Interface 5.1.1 - Types of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) 5.1.2 - Types of Devices 5.2 - HCI Visual Design Considerations 5.3 - HCI Design Documents & Diagrams Topic 6: Job Roles & Skills 6.1 - Job Roles 6.2 - Communication Skills

Learn how to use variables in Python. Try practice tasks and learn through text and images. Perfect for students learning GCSE Computer Science in UK schools. top Python 1d - Using Variables Printing Variables Within Sentences Join sentences and variables together using a plus symbol (+ ). Joining strings together like this is called concatenation . name = "Marina" print( "Hello " + name + ", nice to meet you." ) = Hello Marina, nice to meet you. Remember to use speech marks for your printed statements but no speech marks for variable names . You need to use the + symbol before and after each variable. direction = "north" country = "Wales" print ( "Have you been to the " + direction + " of " + country + "?" ) = Have you been to the north of Wales? Commas can be used an alternative to the + symbol but they will automatically add a space . day = "Saturday" print ( "My birthday is on a" + day + "this year." ) print ( "My birthday is on a" , day , "this year." ) = My birthday is on aSaturdaythis year. My birthday is on a Saturday this year. Using Variables Task 1 ( Pizza Toppings) Use a variable named topping1 and another named topping2. Print a sentence that uses both variables names. Example solution: My favourite pizza is ham and mushroom. Printing Number Variables Within Sentences To join strings and number values then you must use a comma as a plus will not work: cookies = 4 print ( "Munch! There's only" , cookies , "left." ) = Munch! There's only 4 cookies left. You need to use a comma before and after each variable. Using Variables Task 2 ( Stars ) Make a variable named stars and set it to a large number. Print a sentence with the stars variable. Example solution: I think there are 827392012 stars in the sky! Using Variables Task 3 ( Age & Month) Use a variable named age and set it to your current age. Make a variable named month and set it to the month you were born. Remember to use speech marks for text , e.g. month = "August" but no speech marks for numbers (your age). Print a sentence that uses both variables names . Example solution: I am 14 and I was born in August. Using f-Strings Another method of using variables within a printed sentence is to use f-strings . Type the letter f before your output and place your variable names in curly brackets - { } Variables of any data type can be used with f-strings. name = "Tony Stark" alias = "Iron Man" print( f"Did you know {name} is actually {alias} ?" ) = Did you know Tony Stark is actually Iron Man? Using Variables Task 4 ( F-Strings) Create and give a value to three variables : movie_name actor year Use an f-string to print a sentence that uses all three variables. Example solution: Did you know that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix stars Daniel Radcliffe and was released in 2007? ⬅ 1c - Creating Variables Sec tion 1 Practice Tasks ➡

Learn about the six parts of a data packet and how packet switching works. Based on the 2020 Eduqas (WJEC) GCSE specification. 3.2: Data Packets & Switching Exam Board: Eduqas Specification: 2020 What is a data packet? When sending data across a network, files are broken down into smaller parts called data packets . Whole files are too large to transfer as one unit so data packets allow data to be transferred across a network quickly . Each packet of data is redirected by routers across networks until it arrives at its destination. Data packets may split up and use alternative routes to reach the destination address. When all the packets have arrived at the destination address the data is reassembled back into the original file. Contents of a Data Packet Data packets contain six distinct pieces of data which are used to redirect the packets towards the destination address. Packet Switching vs. Circuit Switching The key difference is that a circuit-switched network sends data along the same route . A packet-switched network sends data packets along different routes . Packet Switching With a packet-switched network the data is split into packets . The data packets are transmitted over a network and may take different routes to its destination. When all the packets have arrived the data is reassembled . The Internet is an example of a packet-switching network. Advantages of Packet Switching: Transmission is more secure as it is harder for a hacker to intercept complete data because it can take different routes . If a network device fails the data packets can take an alternative route . Data packets can be sent efficiently and individually across less busy routes . Disadvantages of Packet Switching: Reassembling the data takes longer because packets may arrive out of order . It is less reliable than circuit switching as some data packets may not reach the destination (this is called packet loss ). Circuit Switching When data is transmitted over a circuit-switched network all of the data takes the same route to the destination address in one continuous stream . The data is quickly reassembled at the destination because it is already in the correct order . The old telephone system is an example of a circuit-switched network. Advantages of Circuit Switching: Reassembling the data is quick because the packets arrive in the order that they were sent. It is more reliable than packet-switching because data is sent in one continuous stream . The transmission is fast and should encounter fewer errors - once the connection has been securely established . Disadvantages of Circuit Switching: Less secure as hackers could intercept the data and more easily access the data as it all takes the same route. Establishing a connection takes time to set up. If any device fails on the route then the whole connection breaks and data transfer will be incomplete. Q uesto's Q uestions 3.2 - Data Packets & Switching: 1. Draw the data packet diagram and label all 6 pieces of information . [ 6 ] 2a. Describe how packet switching works . [3 ] 2b. Describe the advantages of packet switching . [3 ] 2c. Describe the disadvantages of packet switching . [2 ] 3a. Describe how circuit switching works . [3 ] 3b. Describe the advantages of circuit switching . [3 ] 3c. Describe the disadvantages of circuit switching . [3 ] 3.1 - Network Characteristics Theory Topics 3.3 - Network Topology

Learn about different types of hardware that allow data to be sent between systems, including router, modem, bridge and WAP. Based on the 2016 OCR Cambridge Technicals Level 3 IT specification. 1.5: Communication Hardware Exam Board: OCR Specification: 2016 - Unit 1 The devices on this page are used to create or link together networks , allowing data to be sent between computer systems . Hub A hub receives data packets from a connected device and transfers a copy to all connected nodes . Switch A switch receives data packets , processes them and transfers them on to the device s pecifically listed in the destination address of the packet. Modem Modems are used to send data across the telephone network . The telephone lines can only transfer analog signals so a modem is used to convert a computer's digital data into an analog signal . Another modem converts the signal back to a digital format at the receiving end. Router Routers are used to transfer data packets between networks . Data is sent from network to network on the internet towards the destination address listed in the data packet. A router stores the address of each computer on the network and uses routing tables to calculate the quickest and shortest path . Wireless Access Point (WAP) Provides a link between wireless and wired networks . It creates a wireless local area network that allows WiFi enabled devices to connect to a wired network. Combined Device Also known as a hybrid device , this provides the functionality of multiple communication devices (e.g modem, router, switch and/or wireless access point) in a single device . They can be more expensive than a single device but are more adaptable - if the routing part of the device fails it might still be able to function as a switch / wireless access point etc. However, you will see an increased performance from a standalone device rather than a combined one as standalone devices have more complex features (e.g. VPN support). Network Interface Card (Network Adapter) A Network Interface Card (often shorted to NIC ) is an internal piece of hardware that is required for the computer to connect to a network . It used to be a separate expansion card but now it is commonly built directly into the motherboard (and known as a network adapter ). Wireless network interface cards allow wireless network connection. Q uesto's Q uestions 1.5 - Communication Hardware: 1. What is the difference between a hub and a switch ? [2 ] 2. Explain how a modem works. [3 ] 3. Explain the purpose of a router . [2 ] 4. What is a Wireless Access Point (WAP )? [2 ] 5. Describe what is meant by a 'combined device '. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of using a combined device. [3 ] 1.4 - Connectivity 1.6 - Hardware Troubleshooting Topic List

Learn how to play sound files in Greenfoot. Part 5 of the Greenfoot Tutorial for the Eduqas / WJEC GCSE 2016 specification. 5. Play Sounds 1. Check the Sounds Folder Greenfoot Tutorial Sound files must be placed the ' sounds ' folder of your Greenfoot project to be used in the game. In the Component 2 exam of the WJEC / Eduqas 2016 specification , an audio file will be placed in the sounds folder already . For this example game you can download the audio clips to the right and paste them into your sounds folder . Watch on YouTube: Click the audio icon to download a zip folder of the two sound files below . Copy the files into the sounds folder of your Greenfoot project . < Part 4 - Remove Objects 2. Add the playSound Method Add the code to play the sound at the same time as when the collectible object is removed . The name of the file and its extension (e.g. .wav or .mp3 ) must be written in speech marks after the playSound method. Part 6 - The Counter >

Test your ability to create a more complex program in Python based on a given scenario. Perfect for students learning GCSE Computer Science in UK schools. Extended Task 2 Lottery 17 8 4 13 20 Create a program to simulate a lottery draw. First, create an appropriate print line to welcome the user to your lottery draw. Then let the user enter five numbers between 1 and 20. Next, randomise five numbers between 1 and 20. Check to see how many numbers match and output an appropriate response for each scenario (e.g. “You have not matched any numbers, better luck next time!”) Once you have made the base program implement subroutines and lists . Make it as efficient as possible and professional-looking. Use pauses to reveal each number one at a time like a real lottery draw to build suspense. For this task, you will need to create a document and include the following sections (with screenshots where appropriate): An introduction to explain the Purpose of your program . A List of Requirements for a successful program. Screenshots of your code (with comments in your code to show understanding). Testing – Create a plan to show how you will test your program and then explanations of any errors that you found and how they were fixed . An Evaluation of what worked, what didn’t, and how you met each of your requirements from your original list. Also, discuss further improvements that you could have made to improve your program. Example solution: Helpful reminders for this task: Inputting Numbers Random Numbers Logical Operators Subroutines ⬅ Extended Task 1 (Pork Pies) Extended Task 3 (Blackjack) ➡

Learn about the eight roles of an operating system including CPU management, security, managing interrupts and the user interface. Based on the 2020 Eduqas (WJEC) GCSE specification. 6.1: Operating Systems Exam Board: Eduqas Specification: 2020 What is an Operating System? An operating system (OS ) is software that helps to manage the resources of a computer system . There are eight main roles of an operating system: Manage the CPU A critical role of the OS is to manage the CPU so that applications and processes can be run efficiently . The CPU is effectively managed by performing three further roles: Manage Memory (RAM) The OS reserves memory space in RAM for stored programs to be copied into. The FDE cycle is executed continuously to carry out the instructions. The OS also ensures that programs are appropriately managed so that data is stored in correct memory locations and not corrupted . Manage Interrupts A interrupt is an alert signal sent to the CPU when an application or hardware device requires immediate attention . The OS must efficiently manage interrupts so that a problem can be dealt with quickly if one occurs. Manage Multi-Tasking The OS manages tasks so instructions can be executed by the CPU in turn - this is called scheduling . The OS prevents processes from interfering with others and crashing. Tasks should appear to run simultaneously even though only one process can be executed at a time. Manage Backing Store The backing store is another term for secondary storage devices such as the magnetic hard disk drive , optical drives or solid state memory sticks. The OS ensures data is stored correctly and can be efficiently retrieved from the backing store. Files are organised in a hierarchical (logical) structure . Manage Peripherals A peripheral is an external device connected to a computer system to input or output data . The OS manages the receiving of data from input devices (such as a keyboard or mouse) and the transfer of data to output devices (such as a monitor or speaker). Manage Security The OS allows users to create, manage and delete accounts with different permissions. It also permits multiple users to log in and change passwords . Antivirus and firewall software is managed by the OS as well as some data encryption processes. Manage the User Interface The final function of an operating system is to provide a user interface , allowing a human to interact with the computer system . The way in which a user can navigate a computer system is known as human-computer interaction ( HCI ). Graphical User Interface (GUI) The most common type of user interface is a graphical user interface (GUI ) which can be presented in the following ways: Icons are displayed to represent shortcuts to applications and files. Multiple windows can be opened at the same time and switched between. A folder and file system is displayed and manipulated allowing for copying , searching , sorting and deleting data. The interface can be customised , such as changing font sizes and the desktop background . The taskbar allows shortcuts to be pinned for quick access . Menus can be opened from the Start button to display files and shortcuts. System settings can be accessed such as network and hardware options . Q uesto's Q uestions 6.1 - Operating Systems: 1. Describe each role of the operating system : 1. Manage the CPU [ 2 ] 2. Manage memory [ 2 ] 3. Manage interrupts [ 2 ] 4. Manage multi-tasking [ 2 ] 5. Manage backing store [ 2 ] 6. Manage peripherals [ 2 ] 7. Manage security [ 2 ] 8. Manage the user interface [ 2 ] 2. Describe 5 different ways the operating system can provide a graphical user interface (GUI) . [5 ] 3. Describe two advantages and two disadvantages of using the following types of human-computer interaction (HCI) : a. Command-Line interface [ 4 ] b. Touch-Sensitive interface [ 4 ] c. Menu-Driven interface [ 4 ] d. Voice-Driven interface [ 4 ] Command-Line Interface Other types of user interface do exist, such as a command-line interface (CLI ). This type of interface is entirely text-based and requires users to interact with the system by typing commands . This is a complicated process and mistakes could easily accidentally delete data. There are many commands to learn so only experts who have been trained t o learn this interface will be able to efficiently make use of it. Menu-Driven Interface A menu-driven interface displays data in a series of linked menus . Examples include cash machines (ATMs) and old iPods . This type of interface is generally user friendly and easy to use as commands do not need to be memorised. However it can be annoying to find specific data through a large number of menus without a search feature. Touch-Sensitive Interface Another type of user interface is a touch-sensitive interface , used with smartphones and tablets . A human interacts with the device by pressing on a touchscreen , making it very intuitive and suitable for most users without training. Touch-sensitive interfaces may not work with dirty or wet fingers and it will take longer to write text compared to using a keyboard. Voice-Driven Interface A voice-driven interface can be controlled by speaking commands aloud to a listening device. Examples include Amazon's Alexa devices, Apple's Siri technology and Google Home . This interface is intuitive , can be used hands-free and helps to speed up processes . However commands may be misheard or limited in what can be performed. 5.1 - Data Structures Theory Topics 6.2 - Utility Software

Learn how to create and use two-dimensional lists in Python. Try practice tasks and learn through text and images. Perfect for students learning GCSE Computer Science in UK schools. top Python 8b - 2D Lists Creating a List with Multiple Dimensions Lists can be given another dimension to hold data that is related to each other . A scenario: Three students have taken two Chemistry tests, and their teacher has recorded the results in a 2-dimensional array (note that Python does not use arrays but uses lists instead): To create this in Python: Printing a 2D List To print the whole list, use a for loop to cycle through each record. I have altered the normal i variable to be 'record', so it is more descriptive: Use the index number to print a specific record . Look at the table above and remember that Python starts counting at 0 so Edward is record 0, Bella 1 and Jacob 2: To print a specific data value, you need to define the record number and then the data index . When using 2D lists, the first value is the row, and the second value is the column . Use the table at the very top to help you visualise this: Practice Task 1 Use the introduction at the top to help you create a 2D list with three friends in the first column, their age in the second column and their favourite colour in the third column. Print the whole list. Then print just the second person's information. Example solution: Searching Through a 2D List To search through a multi-dimensional list then you need to search through each record and then each data element for a specific value: Practice Task 2 Use the 2D list that you created in the first practice task. Ask the user to enter a name. Search through the list and print the record of that person's name. Example solution: ⬅ 8a - Using Lists 8 c - Dictionaries ➡

Learn about different formats for presenting data on the internet including webpages, blogs, streamed video and audio, document stores and RSS feeds. Based on the 2016 OCR Cambridge Technicals Level 3 IT specification for Unit 2 (Global Information). 1.6 - Information Formats Exam Board: OCR Specification: 2016 - Unit 2 The following formats are used to display information on the internet . Web Pages Web pages can be used for a diverse range of purposes including advertising products, reporting information , displaying images and eCommerce (online shopping). There are two types of web page: Static web page Static web pages contain content that is pre-built and remains the same each time the page is loaded . Static web pages are cheaper and easier to create and load quicker ; they use basic HTML. It can be changed by the site editor but will appear the same for everyone who has access to it, such as a classic promotional website for a small company. Dynamic web page Dynamic web pages are generated when they are loaded and can appear different to different users . Dynamic web pages are harder to code but they can be linked to databases to allow them to show personalised content to whoever is viewing the site; they are written in server-side languages like PHP. The Amazon homepage is an example of a dynamic web page as personalised deals based on previous user history will be shown if you are logged in with an account. Blogs Blogs are used to share information with like-minded individuals, such as those who enjoy the same hobbies or beliefs . Charities , game developers and other businesses also use blogs as a way of updating their customer base with what they have done or what they are working on. Blogs can feature multimedia such as text, images, videos and links to other sites. Advantages of Blogs Disadvantages of Blogs ✓ Share information with followers in the format of text, images and video . ✓ Blogs and vlogs can unite people with similar interests , such as a cookery blog or travel vlog. X Takes a lot of effort and time to create posts, especially if videos need to be edited before posting. Potential customers could be lost if blogs aren't updated regularly . X It can be difficult to build up a customer base directly from a blog. Posts must be engaging , researched and correct . Podcasts A podcast is a downloadable audio file , usually on a certain topic such as sports or gaming that can be listened to when convenient for the user. Spotify and Apple Music have a wide library of podcasts. Advantages of Podcasts Disadvantages of Podcasts ✓ Podcasts are not (usually) recorded live , so they can be edited and uploaded at a certain time each week. ✓ Podcasts can be listened to when convenient for the user, so they can't 'miss' it and can catch up when is best for them. ✓ Podcasts are becoming more and more popular , so the possible audience base is growing each year. Celebrity guests are one way to entice more listeners. X Takes time to record a podcast, especially if they need to be edited to add in music or sound effects or to remove mistakes . X It can be difficult to build up an audience directly from a podcast. Podcasts should be on a topic that interests people and spoken in an engaging way. Streamed Audio & Video Streaming is the process of receiving video / audio data in a continuous flow . This allows the user to access the video / audio immediately , without having to wait for the file to download entirely. For example, the BBC provide live radio streaming online for their radio shows and BBC iPlayer allows users to watch 'catch up' programs that previously aired. YouTube is a widely-used streamed video platform and Spotify is a popular streamed audio service. Advantages of Streamed Media Disadvantages of Streamed Media ✓ Streaming does not require data to be downloaded entirely before use - users can watch / listen as soon as the connection starts . ✓ Streaming is harder for users to share than downloading a file . Netflix uses this as a form of piracy protection . X Streaming requires high bandwidth so users may suffer performance issues on slower devices and networks . X Streaming requires a constant network connection compared to downloadable media which can be used when offline / outside. Social Media Channels Social media channels provide a huge amount of data on users in an informal space. Organisations can receive feedback through user posts and comments . Real-time statistics like views, likes and shares provide an insight to user opinion . Social media channels include traditional sites such as Facebook and Twitter as well as business and recruitment platforms such as LinkedIn . Discussion boards and forums , such as Reddit , are increasingly popular for users to discuss similar hobbies and interests such as politics, gaming and healthy eating. Advantages of Social Media Disadvantages of Social Media ✓ Social media can increase a business' online presence as it is online 24/7 for users to comment and interact with posts. ✓ Posts can be shared between users and their contacts, allowing a post to 'go viral' and be seen by potentially millions of viewers . ✓ Posts can be shared in different information styles such as text , images , video or hyperlinks to other websites. ✓ Businesses can use social media to communicate with their customer s , such as direct messages on Facebook if a customer is unhappy. X Businesses may need to hire a social media manager to interact with customers , update posts and remove spam. X Negative posts can be shared and spread very quickly , such as if a customer complains about how a business treated them poorly. X Businesses must be cautious about what they post , to not accidentally offend others and damage their reputation . Emails Emails can be used to provide information to a large amount of people almost instantly . A company may use an email to advertise new products , inform potential customers of a marketing promotion or target specific users based on previous interactions. Advantages of Emails Disadvantages of Emails ✓ Faster (almost instant) and cheaper (usually free) to send an email compared to traditional letters . ✓ Files can be attached to the email, such as images, videos or forms to complete. ✓ An audit trail can be kept, recording communication between the company and its customers. ✓ Emails can be sent, delivered and read at the user's convenience and to any internet-enabled device across the world . X An internet connection is required to open and read the email. Larger attachments may not open on mobile devices. X Malware can spread through email attachments. Phishers use emails to gain access to personal information and account details . X Some attachments sent via email may be unreadable on different devices / operating systems. X Emails may automatically go into the spam / junk folder and be deleted without being read . Document Stores Document stores allow users to store online files in cloud storage . Common services are Google Drive , Dropbox and Microsoft's OneDrive . Storing documents in the cloud allows users to edit and access them from any location with an internet connection and opens up opportunities for collaboration . Many organisations offer cloud storage space for free up to a certain amount before charging customers for more data. Document stores are very convenient for users and replace the need for portable storage devices like USB sticks. Teachers can use documents stores to share resources with other staff in a school . Documents stores can only be accessed with an internet connection so files will be unavailable during maintenance or network failure. Users rely on the cloud hosting provider, such as Microsoft and Google to keep the data secure and available . RSS Feeds RSS Feeds (short for Rich Site Summary ) allow users to subscribe to updates from their favourite websites. It is a web feed that updates whenever a subscribed site releases new information. For example, the BBC used to post updates for important news headlines which appeared in a subscribed user's RSS feed. As of 2020 most browsers no longer have built-in RSS functionality and it is rarely used . Q uesto's Q uestions 1.6 - Information Formats: 1. Describe the difference between static and dynamic web pages . [4 ] 2. For each type of information format describe its advantages and disadvantages . a. Blogs [8 ] b. Podcasts [8 ] c. Streamed Audio / Video [8 ] d. Social Media [8 ] e. Emails [8 ] 3. Explain how document stores could be used by organisations and individuals . [4 ] 4. Explain what an RSS feed is and how an organisation could use it . [3 ] 1.5 - WWW Technologies Topic List 1.7 & 1.8 - Internet Pros & Cons