SS2 DATA PROCESSING

2ND TERM 2022/2023

COMPILED BY
ONOJA D.E., IFESANWO SAMUEL, EMMANUEL KAYODE
THEME: APPLICATION OF ICT IN OUR EVERYDAY LIFE

1. TOPIC:
Areas of ICT application in
communications

Definition of communication
Mode of communication (Audio, Visual, Audio visual) visual information are often
representated in form of text and images)
range of communication applications (e.g. newsletters, websites, multimedia
presentations, music scores, cartoons, flyers and posters)
use of mobile phones for communication (e.g. text messaging, phone calls,
accessing the internet) Internet telephony, including Voice Over Internet Protocol
(VoIP)
applications for publicity and corporate image publications (e.g. business cards,
letterheads, flyers and brochures)
2. TOPIC:
Areas of ICT applications in data
handling

Define data handling

describe the uses of data handling applications (e.g. surveys, address lists, clubs and
society records, school reports and school libraries)
describe measurement applications (e.g. scientific experiments,
weather stations)
Difference between analogue data and digital data
The need for conversion between analogue and digital data
describe the use of microprocessors and computers in a number of applications (e.g.
pollution monitoring, intensive care units in hospitals)
discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using computers in measurement rather than
humans

3. TOPIC:
Areas of ICT applications in control, monitoring and detection systems
describe the role of a microprocessor or computer in control applications, including the
role of the pre-set value

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 describe the use of computer control in applications (e.g. turtle graphics, automatic
washing machines, automatic cookers, computer controlled central heating systems,
burglar alarms, computer controlled glasshouse)
describe the use of computer modelling in spreadsheets (e.g. for personal finance)
describe a range of computer controlled applications (e.g. robotics in manufacture
and production line control)
discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using computer controlled systems rather than
humans

4. TOPIC:
Areas of ICT applications in education
describe how systems are used to manage learner registration and attendance project:
design and a create a user registration form.
describe how systems can be used to record learner performance
describe how systems can be used for organizing examinations, creating timetables
and managing teaching cover/substitution
5. TOPIC:
Areas of ICT applications in lifestyle
describe the positive effects microprocessors have on aspects of lifestyle (e.g. the
amount and use of leisure time, the degree of social interaction, the ability to leave
the home)
describe the negative effects microprocessors have on aspects of lifestyle (e.g.
lack of exercise)
describe repetitive strain injury (RSI) and what causes it
identify other health issues (e.g. back problems, eye problems,
headaches)
describe some simple strategies for preventing these problems
evaluate the use of IT equipment and develop strategies to minimize the health risks

6. TOPIC:
Areas of ICT applications in booking and reservations
identify areas where booking systems are used (e.g. travel industry, theatre
and cinemas)

describe the online processing involved in booking tickets

discuss the advantages and disadvantages of online booking systems

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7. TOPIC:
Areas of ICT applications in electronic fund transfer
describe the computer processing involved in Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
describe the computer processing involved in using automatic teller machines (ATM)
(e.g. withdrawing cash, depositing cash or cheques, checking account balance, mini
statements, mobile/cellphone recharge/top up, bill paying, money transfers, ordering
paper-based goods)
describe the use of processing credit/debit card
describe the clearing of cheques
describe phone banking
describe internet banking, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of it

8. TOPIC:
Areas of ICT applications in medicine
describe the contents of information systems in medicine (including patient records,
pharmacy records, monitoring and expert systems for diagnosis)
describe how 3D printers can be used in producing medical aids (e.g. surgical and
diagnostic aids, development of prosthetics and medical products, tissue engineering,
artificial blood vessels and the
design of medical tools and equipment)

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TOPIC: AREAS OF ICT APPLICATION IN COMMUNICATIONS

Communication the act of conveying information between two or more persons with the

intent of mutual understanding usually through a communication channel or through a

range of communication devices and applications. ICT has made information communication

such as business or personal information to be shared very fast and securely,

Information can exist in various modes (audio, visual, or audio-visual form)

and are usually shared using two platforms

1. Paper-based communication
2. Digital communication

PAPER-BASED COMMUNICATION

Paper-based communication involves producing information on hard copy (printouts),

often called Desktop Publishing (DTP), desktop publishing involve using a computer and
associated software to produce a high-quality printed document with attractive layouts
and colouring.

Objects used in DTP include

DTP software gives access to varieties of tools like templates, text, shapes, ruler,
colour picker, page/paper size options etc., examples include Microsoft publisher,
Corel draw, adobe Photoshop, adobe illustrator etc.

Examples of paper-based communication that can be created using DTP software are

- newsletters - brochures
- posters - catalogs
- flyers - business cards
- banners - letterheads
- magazines - ID cards
- paperback books - etc

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BUSINESS CARD

A business card is usually sized 3” by 2.5” and printed on minimum 120g card paper, it
contains information of a company or individual such as company logo, description of
business, motto, name of holder, designation of holder, office address, telephone
number, email address, website address etc.

Some advantages of a business card are

a. professionally designed business card gives potential clients a good first

impression of the company, it creates an assumption of a grantee of high
quality business transactions.
b. it doesn’t require electricity to transfer information to potential clients, it can be
handed out and read anywhere.

LETTERHEAD

A letterhead, or letterheaded paper contains some information such as company name and

address placed on the heading or top of a sheet of letter paper (stationery).

A letterhead provides information that makes it easy eary for the receipient to respond
to the letter.

FLYER

Flyers are normally printed on a single sheet of varying paper sizes, flyers are handed
over to people to promote an event, product, special offers, job vacancies, etc. A flyer is

cost-effective and so they are usually printed in large numbers and help information
to spread quickly.

BROCHURES

The information contained in a brochure is similar to that of a flier, they are designed to
provide information about a product, event etc.

TASKS: 1. Explain how flyers are cost-effective

2. Compare and contrast a flyer and a brochure in two ways
3. Use any DTP software to design a business card.
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DIGITAL COMMUNICATION

Digital communication also known as data communication or data transmission is the transfer of data
or information using digital signals through a communication channel.
Communication applications are a set of information and communication technology
components that are integrated using a particular Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)
to increase the productivity of an organization and/or improve the quality of users'

experiences.Communication applications are used to transmit digital information which

exists in form of multimedia i.e. information that combines different content forms such as

audio, video, graphics and animations in addition to traditional media (i.e. text, graphics

drawing, images) into a single interactive presentation in contrast to paperbase

communication which featured little to no interaction from users, such as printed material

or audio recordings. Examples of digital communication applications include: Skype, Google

meet, Zoom, Whatsapp, Team viewer, yahoo messenger, face time, twitter, cloud storage

services etc.

Digital information i presented in the form of

- Website & Apps - Films

- Multimedia presentations - Augumented reality
- Chat and conferencing - Cartoons and animations

- Phone calls - Messaging(SMS/ Instance

- Email messaging)
- Social media - Web chat
- Television - podcast

- Radio - Internet telephony (VoIP)

- Streaming media
- Etc.

Advantages of digital communication

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1. The effect of distortion, noise, and any other interference is less effective on digital communication signals.
2. Digital circuits are more reliable

3. Digital circuits are easier to design and cheaper than analog circuits.

4. Easy access to information

5. The interference that happens on digital communication is very rare

6. Cost-efficient and convenient to use

7. Uses handy digital devices

Disadvantages of digital communication

1. It consumes more electricity

2. Often requires expensive software
3. Some software may be difficult to use
4. More complex document requires more time to build
5. It will require a specialist to fix some errors

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WEBSITE

A website is made up of different web pages, a webpage is a document written in HTML

and can only be view using an web browser. A web page may contain text, graphics,
sound,video and hyperlinks to other web pages and files. Notable examples are
wikipedia.org, google.com, loyolajesuit.org

Websites are typically dedicated to a particular topic or purpose, such as news,

education, commerce, entertainment, or social networking.

Users can access websites on a range of ICT devices, including desktops, laptops,
tablets, and smartphones. The number of users who access website via smartphone
keep growing, making the website an effective means of communiation to wide coverage
people.

MOBILE PHONE

A mobile phone also known as a wireless phone, cell phone, or cellular telephone is a
small portable radio telephone used to communicate over long distances wirelessly.

A mobile phone can be used to exchange digital information in form of text messaging
also known as SMS (Short Message Services), phone calls, or accessing the internet.

As mobile phones became more popular they became more affordable and have
replaced pay phones and phone booths.

In recent times, a new type of mobile phones are called smartphones, these devices are
portable and combines mobile telephone and computing functions such as an operating
system, web browsing, and the ability to run software applications.

Mobile phones come in handy for communication on Facebook,

Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn etc. All these platforms have mobile apps that a user can
download from their phone's app store. These apps make it possible for smartphone
users to post personal and business updates and media while on the go.

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Third-party wearable devices, such as smartwatches, can connect with a smartphone
to monitor an individual's health statistics, such as heart rate, and send information to
be aggregated on the phone.

Because the smartphone is typically smaller than a desktop computer,

business users typically use it for quick tasks, such as sending an email. Tablets
and 2-in-1 devices have also joined the mobile device market as alternatives to both
smartphones and PCs for enterprise use.

Important features

One of the most important elements of a smartphone is its connection to an app store.
An app store is a centralized portal where users can search for and download
software applications to run on their phones. A typical app store offers thousands
of Mobile apps for productivity, gaming, word processing, note-taking, organization,
social media and more.

The following are some of the other key features of a smartphone:

Internet connectivity. The ability to download applications and

run them independently.
A mobile browser.
Support for third-party applications.
The ability to sync more than one email
account to a device. The ability to run multiple applications
simultaneously.
Embedded memory.
Touchscreen.
A hardware or software-based QWERTY
keyboard. Wi-Fi.

Wireless synchronization with other A digital camera, typically with video

devices, such as laptop or desktop capability.
computers.
Gaming.

Unified messaging.

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 GPS.

A smartphone also has the ability to support accessories, including Bluetooth

headphones, power charging cables and extra speakers. Because of the fragile outer
casing of most smartphones, users often also purchase screen protectors and more
durable cases to put their phones in.

Because they run an OS and applications, smartphones get consistent software

updates. Vendors update their mobile OSs a few times a year. Individual mobile apps in
an app store also get constant software updates that users can either choose to install
or ignore.

Popular vendors, manufacturers and prices

Some top smartphone hardware manufacturers are Apple, Samsung, Huawei,

Lenovo (which includes Motorola), Oppo, OnePlus and Google.

Apple is the only vendor that builds the iPhone and its iOS operating system. The most
recently released iPhone is the iPhone 13

Google is another smartphone vendor, offering the Google Pixel series. Within the Pixel
line up there is currently the Pixel 3 and 3a.

Samsung offers two different popular lines of smartphones: The Galaxy S series, and
the Note. As an example, the Galaxy S10.

Camera

Cameras on a phone help users create audio-visual information, they commonly

include a normal camera lens, a telephoto lens and a wide-angle lens. A telephoto lens
allows users to take a photo of a faraway subject while a wide-angle lens allows the
user to take a photo at a wide field of view with a short focal length. On the front-
facing screen, there is usually a selfie camera and, in some cases, a wide-angle lens.

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TELECONFERENING

Teleconferencing is the use of telecommunication devices to communicate between

participants in different locations.

Teleconferencing is the umbrella term for connecting two or more participants

electronically. The term is mostly used to describe a telephone meeting between two or
more than two people.

Teleconference at its simplest case, is audio conference call (voice only) done with both
or one ends of the conference that shares a speaker phone, other types of
teleconference are videoconferences (voice and video), and web-Teleconferences.

AUDIO CONFERENCE

Audio conferencing is the conduct of an audio conference (also called a conference call
or audio teleconference) between two or more people in different locations using a
series of devices that allow sounds to be sent and received, for the purpose of
communication and collaboration simultaneously.

Audio conferencing can be conducted either through telephone line or the Internet by
using devices such as phones or computers. If one only wants to listen, he/she just
needs speakers. If he/she decides to speak as well, he/she may need a microphone.

VIDEO CONFERENCING

A video conference is a live, visual connection between two or more people residing in
separate locations for the purpose of communication. At its simplest, videoconferencing
provides transmission of static images and text between two locations. At its most
sophisticated, it provides transmission of full-motion video images and high-quality
audio between multiple locations. For example, a point-to-point (two-person) video
conferencing system works much like a video telephone. Each participant has a video

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camera, microphone, and speakers mounted on his or her computer. As the two
participants speak to one another, their voices are carried over the network and
delivered to the other's speakers, and whatever images appear in front of the video
camera appear in a window on the other participant's monitor.

Multipoint videoconferencing allows three or more participants to sit in

a virtual conference room and communicate as if they were sitting right next to each
other. Until the mid-90s, the hardware costs made videoconferencing extremely
expensive for most organizations, but that situation is changing rapidly. Many analysts
believe that videoconferencing will be one of the fastest-growing segments of the
computer industry in the latter half of the decade.

WEB CONFERENCING

Web conferencing may be used as an umbrella term for various types of online
collaborative services including web seminars ("webinars"), webcasts, and peer-level
web meetings. It may also be used in a more narrow sense to refer only to the peer -
level web meeting context, in an attempt to disambiguate it from the other types of
collaborative sessions.

In general, web conferencing is made possible by Internet technologies, particularly

on TCP/IP connections. Services may allow time point communications as well
as multicast communications from one sender to many receivers. It offers data streams
of based messages, voice and video chat to be shared simultaneously, across
geographically dispersed locations. Applications for web conferencing include meetings,
training events, lectures, or presentations from a web-connected computer to other
web-connected computers.

Most web conferencing platforms support voice and video conferencing. Some
platforms also support screen annotation, polling, speaker management, chat
discussions, shared whiteboards and much more. Platforms that support video
conferencing may also integrate with room-based video conferencing systems. Web
conferencing allows users to conduct business meetings and seminars, lead

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presentations, provide online education and offer direct customer support via remote
keyboard mouse control. Control of the session can be passed among users, so any
attendee can act as the main presenter.

Most web conferencing platforms are accessible via a web browser, but downloading
and installing a client is often required to take advantage of all features, such as voice
and video conferencing and content sharing.

MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATIONS
Multimedia presentations go beyond the use of text and images in presentation slides.
These presentations generally include animation, video, audio, or interactive features
like forms, popups and lots more. Multimedia presentations have been around since
Microsoft PowerPoint started offering animations and video many years ago.

FAX
Fax (short for facsimile), sometimes called telecopying or telefax (the latter short
for telefacsimile), is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material (both text
and images), normally to a telephone number connected to a printer or other output
device.
The original document is scanned with a fax machine (or a telecopier), which processes
the contents (text or images) as a single fixed graphic image, converting it into a bitmap,
and then transmitting it through the telephone system in the form of audio-frequency
tones. The receiving fax machine interprets the tones and reconstructs the image,

printing a paper copy.[1] Early systems used direct conversions of image darkness to
audio tone in a continuous or analog manner. Since the 1980s, most machines modulate
the transmitted audio frequencies using a digital representation of the page which is
compressed to quickly transmit areas which are all-white or all-black.

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 Fax machine

RADIO
In radio communications, a radio receiver, also known as a receiver, wireless or
simply radio is an electronic device that receives radio waves and converts the
information carried by them to a usable form. It is used with an antenna. The antenna
intercepts radio waves (electromagnetic waves) and converts them to tiny alternating
currents which are applied to the receiver, and the receiver extracts the desired
information. The receiver uses electronic filters to separate the desired radio
frequency signal from all the other signals picked up by the antenna, an electronic
amplifier to increase the power of the signal for further processing, and finally recovers
the desired information through demodulation.

The information produced by the receiver may be in the form of sound, moving images
(television), or data. A radio receiver may be a separate piece of electronic equipment,
or an electronic circuit within another device. Radio receivers are very widely used in
modern technology, as components of communications, broadcasting, remote control,
and wireless networking systems. In consumer electronics, the terms radio and radio
receiver are often used specifically for receivers designed to reproduce sound
transmitted by radio broadcasting stations, historically the first mass-
market commercial radio application.

The most familiar form of radio receiver is a broadcast receiver, often just called a radio,
which receives audio programs intended for public reception transmitted by local radio

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stations. The sound is reproduced either by a loudspeaker in the radio or
an earphone which plugs into a jack on the radio. The radio requires electric power,
provided either by batteries inside the radio or a power cord which plugs into an electric
outlet. All radios have a volume control to adjust the loudness of the audio, and some
type of "tuning" control to select the radio station to be received.

Modulation types

Modulation is the process of adding information to a radio carrier wave.

AM and FM

Two types of modulation are used in analog radio broadcasting systems; AM and FM.

In Amplitude Modulation (AM) the strength of the radio signal is varied by the audio
signal. AM broadcasting is allowed in the AM broadcast bands which are between 148
and 283 kHz in the long wave range, and between 526 and 1706 kHz in the medium
frequency (MF) range of the radio spectrum. AM broadcasting is also permitted
in shortwave bands, between about 2.3 and 26 MHz, which are used for long distance
international broadcasting.

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In frequency modulation (FM) the frequency of the radio signal is varied slightly by the
audio signal. FM broadcasting is permitted in the FM broadcast bands between about 65
and 108 MHz in the Very High Frequency (VHF) range. The exact frequency ranges vary
somewhat in different countries.

FM stereo radio stations broadcast in stereophonic sound (stereo), transmitting two

sound channels representing left and right microphones. A stereo receiver contains the
additional circuits and parallel signal paths to reproduce the two separate channels.
A monaural receiver, in contrast, only receives a single audio channel that is a
combination (sum) of the left and right channels. While AM stereo transmitters and
receivers exist, they have not achieved the popularity of FM stereo.

Most modern radios are "AM/FM" radios, and are able to receive both AM and FM radio
stations, and have a switch to select which band to receive

Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) is an advanced radio technology which debuted in

some countries in 1998 that transmits audio from terrestrial radio stations as a digital

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signal rather than an analog signal as AM and FM do. Its advantages are that DAB has
the potential to provide higher quality sound than FM (although many stations do not
choose to transmit at such high quality), has greater immunity to radio noise and
interference, makes better use of scarce radio spectrum bandwidth, and provides
advanced user features such as electronic program guide, sports commentaries, and
image slideshows. Its disadvantage is that it is incompatible with previous radios so that
a new DAB receiver must be purchased. As of 2017, 38 countries offer DAB, with 2,100
stations serving listening areas containing 420 million people. Most countries plan an
eventual switchover from FM to DAB. The United States and Canada have chosen not to
implement DAB.

DAB radio stations work differently from AM or FM stations: a single DAB station
transmits a wide 1,500 kHz bandwidth signal that carries from 9 to 12 channels from
which the listener can choose. Broadcasters can transmit a channel at a range of
different bit rates, so different channels can have different audio quality. In different
countries DAB stations broadcast in either Band III (174–240 MHz) or L band (1.452–
1.492 GHz).

TELEVISION SET
A television set or television receiver, more commonly called a television, TV, TV set,
telly, or tele, is a device that combines a tuner, display, and loudspeakers, for the
purpose of viewing and hearing television broadcasting through satellites or cables, or
using it as a computer monitor. Introduced in the late 1920s in mechanical form,
television sets became a popular consumer product after World War II in electronic
form, using cathode ray tube (CRT) technology. The addition of color to broadcast
television after 1953 further increased the popularity of television sets in the 1960s, and
an outdoor antenna became a common feature of suburban homes. By the early 2010s,
flat-panel television incorporating liquid-crystal display (LCD) technology, especially
LED-backlit LCD technology, largely replaced CRT and other display technologies.
Modern flat panel TVs are typically capable of high-definition display (720p,1080p) and
can also play content from a USB device..

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There are four primary competing TV screen technologies:

CRT
LCD
OLED
Plasma

CRT

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)

The cathode ray tube (CRT) is a vacuum tube containing one or more electron guns (a
source of electrons or electron emitter) and a fluorescent screen used to view
images. It has a means to accelerate and deflect the electron beam(s) onto the screen
to create the images. The images may represent electrical waveforms (oscilloscope),
pictures (television, computer monitor), radar targets or others. The CRT uses an
evacuated glass envelope which is large, deep (i.e. long from front screen face to rear
end), fairly heavy, and relatively fragile. As a matter of safety, both the face (panel) and
back (funnel) were typically made of thick lead glass so as to block most electron
emissions from the electron gun in the very back of the tube. By the early 1970s, most
color TVs replaced leaded glass in the face panel with vitrified barium glass, which also
blocked electron gun emissions but allowed better color visibility. This also eliminated

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the need for cadmium phosphors in earlier color televisions. Leaded glass, which is less
expensive, continued to be used in the funnel glass, which is not visible to the consumer.

In television sets and computer monitors, the entire front area of the tube is scanned
repetitively and systematically in a fixed pattern called a raster. An image is produced
by controlling the intensity of each of the three electron beams, one for each additive
primary color (red, green, and blue) with a video signal as a reference. In all modern
CRT monitors and televisions, the beams are bent by magnetic deflection, a varying
magnetic field generated by coils and driven by electronic circuits around the neck of
the tube, although electrostatic deflection is commonly used in oscilloscopes, a type of
diagnostic instrument.

Since the early 2010s, CRTs have been superseded by flat-panel display technologies
such as LCD, plasma display, and OLED displays which are cheaper to manufacture and
run, as well as significantly lighter and less bulky. Flat-panel displays can also be made
in very large sizes whereas 40in (100 cm) to 45in (110 cm) was about the largest size of
a CRT.

Plasma

A Plasma Display Panel (PDP) is a type of flat panel display common to large TV displays
30 inches (76 cm) or larger. They are called "plasma" displays because the technology
utilizes small cells containing electrically charged ionized gases, or what are in essence
chambers more commonly known as fluorescent lamps.

LCD
A generic LCD TV, with speakers on either side of the screen.

Liquid-Crystal-Display televisions (LCD TV) are television sets that use Liquid-crystal
displays to produce images. LCD televisions are much thinner and lighter than cathode
ray tube (CRTs) of similar display size, and are available in much larger sizes (e.g., 90
inch diagonal).

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In 2007, LCD televisions surpassed sales of CRT-based televisions globally for the first
time and their sales figures relative to other technologies accelerated. LCD TVs quickly
displaced the only major competitors in the large-screen market, the plasma display
panel and rear-projection television. In the mid-2010s LCDs became, by far, the most
widely produced and sold television display type.

LCDs also have disadvantages. Other technologies address these weaknesses,

including OLEDs, FED and SED.

LCD TV

OLED

An OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) is a light-emitting diode (LED) in which

the emissive electroluminescent layer is a film of organic compound which emits light
in response to an electric current. This layer of organic semiconductor is situated
between two electrodes. Generally, at least one of these electrodes is transparent.
OLEDs are used to create digital displays in devices such as television screens. It is also
used for computer monitors, portable systems such as mobile phones, handheld games
consoles and PDAs.

An OLED display works without a backlight. Thus, it can display deep black levels and
can be thinner and lighter than a liquid crystal display (LCD). In low ambient light
conditions such as a dark room, an OLED screen can achieve a higher contrast ratio than
an LCD, whether the LCD uses cold cathode fluorescent lamps or LED backlight.

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 OLED TV

DLP

Digital Light Processing (DLP) is a type of projector technology that uses a digital micro
mirror device. Some DLPs have a TV tuner, which makes them a type of TV display. It
was originally developed in 1987 by Larry Hornbeck of Texas Instruments. While the DLP
imaging device was invented by Texas Instruments, the first DLP based projector was
introduced by Digital Projection Ltd in 1997. Digital Projection and Texas Instruments
were both awarded Emmy Awards in 1998 for the DLP projector technology. DLP is used
in a variety of display applications from traditional static displays to interactive displays
and also non-traditional embedded applications including medical, security, and
industrial uses.

DLP technology is used in DLP front projectors (standalone projection units for
classrooms and business primarily), DLP rear projection television sets, and digital
signs. It is also used in about 85% of digital cinema projection, and in additive
manufacturing as a power source in some printers to cure resins into solid 3D objects.

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 The Christie Mirage 5000, a 2001 DLP projector.

INTERNET TELEPHONY (VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL (VOIP).

Voice over Internet Protocol (also voice over IP, VoIP or IP telephony) is a methodology
and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia
sessions over the internet.

VoIP functions much like any other data you send over the internet such as Slack
messages or e-mail) in that it converts voice communication into data packets and
sends it over an IP network. VoIP makes it unnecessary to have a traditional phone line
installed in your business or residence, since you can make calls using your internet
connection.

That’s the short answer, but obviously there’s a lot more that goes into a VoIP system
that makes it an ideal solution for personal and business use. One of the main benefits
to using a VoIP system for your communications is that it cuts down on the number of
providers and solutions you need. Rather than having a separate phone company and
internet company, VoIP makes it possible to combine your voice and internet
communications into the same service. It’s also much easier than traditional voice
communications to scale for growth or add new features that essential to your business
needs.

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Since VoIP runs over an IP network, all of your data is stored in the cloud and settings
are accessible through a universal online dashboard or application. This dashboard
allows users to access their data (contacts, phone numbers, client information), setup
new call settings, and add new phone numbers, whether you’re traveling or in the office.

With all communications in one place, it’s no wonder businesses have been rapidly
adopting this new technology over the past few years.

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TOPIC:
Areas of ICT applications in data handling

DATA HANDLING

Data handling refers to the process of gathering, recording and presenting information
in a way that is helpful to others to analyze, make predictions and decisions - for
instance, in graphs or charts.

A core aspect of data handling is the ensuring that research data is stored, archived or
disposed-off in a safe and secure manner during and after the conclusion of a research
project.This includes the development of policies and procedures to manage data
handled electronically as well as through non-electronic means

Data handling is important in ensuring the integrity of research data since it addresses
concerns related to confidentially, security, and preservation/retention of research data.
Proper planning for data handling can also result in efficient and economical storage,
retrieval, and disposal of data. In the case of data handled electronically, data integrity
is a primary concern to ensure that recorded data is not altered, erased, lost or accessed
by unauthorized users.

ICT devices are very efficient tools for handling data handling processes, these
processes involve

- Collecting data using a planned methodology.

- Recording data with precision and accuracy.
- Analysing data to draw conclusions.
- Sharing data in a way which is useful to others.
- Safeguard collected and already used data.
- Safely discard collected and already used data.

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Some real-life related examples of data handling are

1. Students creating documents using the computer in the computer lab

2. Keeping records of their continuous assessments
3. Drawing a pie chart to show how many teachers are in each department.
4. Making a bar chart to show different people’s favourite colours.
5. Finding the mean, mode and median of a data set.
6. The National Census
7. Voter Polls
8. Online Marketing Surveys
9. Surveys
10. address lists
11. Tuck shop records
12. clubs and society records
13. school reports
14. school libraries

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Monitoring and Measurement applications (Data Logging)

Monitoring and Measuring systems: This involves the use of a computer or

microprocessor- based device alongside sensor to monitor or measure physical
variables over a period of time, this is known as data logging.

They are not be mistaken for control systems, unlike control systems they use collected
data to take actions that modify the environment, monitoring and measuring systems
only record data for the purpose of enabling users to identify trends in patterns of
changing data.

Physical variables exist as analog data without distinct numerical representation of

values, sensors play an important role in monitoring and measuring system, they are
input devices used to automatically detect and input data about the physical changes in
the environment that has been monitored. Sensors provide more accuracy and enable
automatic or immediate processing.

Types of sensors

- Temperature - Sound
- Pressure - Blood pressure machine
- Humidity - pH scale (acidity)
- Moisture - proximity
- Light - motion

Examples of Computer Measurement Applications

Monitoring and measuring system in electronic timing (Case study: 100m Olympics race)

Sound sensor to record when the race is started.

Infrared sensor to record when the athlete crosses to the finish line

ADC is to convert analogue data to digital data from the sensors.

Computer and software to receive and the log the digital data and calculate race time.

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Monitoring and measuring system in water temperature System uses

- Thermostat: To measure the temperature of water

- ADC: To convert the analogue temperature data into digital.
- Computer: To log and receive the digital temperature data.
- Software: To analyse the received data.

Medical Application of monitoring and measuring system

Monitoring and measuring system are used in intensive care units in hospitals.

Sensors to collect variables such as pulse rate, rate of breathing, blood pressure, body
temperature, oxygen level, heart rate, MRI and Xray scans etc., are connected to the
patient and are fed back to the computer, then the computer is constantly comparing
the physical variables to the range of pre-set values which serves as the limit of
acceptability. Values outside the range triggers sounds the alarm.

Each patient has their own computer monitor networked to a central display system for
observation and a control system that would take action to restore the status quo.

Weather monitoring

The main function of the computer is to collect data from the sensors measuring these
key variables;

Wind speed – rotation of rotor generating pulses proportional to wind speed

Wind direction – angle sensor

Temperature – temperature sensor

Barometer pressure – pressure sensor

Rainfall – tipping mechanism

Humidity – humidity sensor

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Sunshine – light sensor

These data are collected and input in a database or spread sheet, weather statistics
are calculated and are used to observe trends such as global warming and also forecast
weather reports.

Climate monitoring involve plot graphs of different weather variables collected over
many decades that can be used over time.
Monitoring the environment

Wide range of data is collected to warn the public of very high levels shift in pollutants
such as the air quality using regards to the levels of nitrogen dioxide and other toxins,
water quality, noise level.

Noise levels are also monitored, and so are rivers by measuring the temperature,
acidity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity (cloudiness of liquid caused by individual particles
which are usually naked to the human eye) and water levels.

- Thermometer to measure temperature.

- Humidity sensor to measure the amount of water in air.
- Barometer to measure air pressure.
- Anemometer to measure wind speed.
- Rain gauge to measure the amount of rainfall over a certain period.

Monitoring and measuring system in scientific experiments

Many of the scientific experiments relate to chemical experiments which take place over
a short or long period of time. Many experiments can be set-up and left to run with a
data-logging system measuring things like the temperature of a liquid, etc.

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Data collected are used to create a table of values that can be imported into a data
analysis software, and desktop-publishing software for inclusion of report of
monitoring and measurement findings.
Why use a computer to measure sensor data instead of a person?

The main reasons computer-based data-logging system will be used to take

measurement instead of a person are

- Computers, whist they can rarely suffer from hardware and software failure, are
more reliable, a person may be ill and not available to take readings or due to
lack of concentration or improper training may take wrong readings.
- Computers will read data more accurately.
- Computers work at a faster rate than humans, and can react much quicker to
logged data.
- Computers can remain switched on, read data all day, every year without getting
bored or tired.
- Computers can read data more frequently than humans, it can read millions of
instructions in one second if needed
- Computer can take readings from dangerous environments that are harzadous to
humans.
- Logged data is already in a computer, the data can be analysed more quickly and
presented easily.

Analog and Digital Data

Data stored using storage methods such as the magnetic tape of a VCR cassette, printer
documents or other non-digital media are referred to as analog data.

Analog data tends to be slower than digital data, but it can also be more precise. Since
analog data allows for intermediate values; some believe it provides higher quality.

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Some storage media can be used for both analog and digital data. Tapes are widely used
for analog recordings in professional settings, but they can also be used to store ones
and zeros for use with computers, and many companies still use tapes for hard drive
backups.

BASIS ANALOG SIGNAL DIGITAL

SIGNAL

Asic An analog signal is a continuous A digital signal is a discrete wave

wave that changes over a time that carries information in binary
period. form.

Representation An analog signal is represented by A digital signal is represented by

a sine wave. square waves.

Description An analog signal is described by A digital signal is described by bit

the amplitude, period or frequency, rate and bit intervals.
and phase.

Range Analog signal has no fixed range. Digital signal has a finite
numbers i.e. 0 and 1.

Distortion An analog signal is more prone to A digital signal is less prone to

distortion. distortion.

Transmit An analog signal transmit data in A digital signal carries data in the
the form of a wave. binary form i.e. 0 nad 1.

Example The human voice is the best Signals used for transmission in
example of an analog signal. a computer are the digital signal.

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Analog to Digital converter (A-D-C) and Digtal to Analog converter (D-A-C)

Physical variable collected by the sensor cannot be used directly by the computer
because they computer only works with digital data, that is data stored as 1s and 0s.

When manual data is to be stored electronically, it has to be converted into electronic

format that the computer understands. Conversion to digital format also facilitates
dissemination of such data.

The A-D-C (Analog to Digital Converter) is used to covert the analog data into digital
data that the computer can measure it.

Microprocessor in controlling, monitoring and measurement application.

Micro Processor: A microprocessor is a computer processor which incorporates the

functions of a computer's Central Processing Unit (CPU) on a single integrated circuit
(IC), or at most a few integrated circuits.

Applications and Uses of Microprocessor:

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- Microprocessors are used widely as controllers in industries and home
appliances.

In industries, we use them to control temperature, speed of motor and other

parameters. On the other side we also use them in our home appliances like
Microwave Oven and Washing machine etc.

- In Instruments:

In this field, we use microprocessors in other instruments that may be lab

instruments or industry instruments. This type is just like above. Some examples are:
Frequency Counters, Function Generators and Spectrum Analyzers.

- In Communication Systems:

Microprocessor is widely used in communication systems. In telephone industry they

are used in telephone handsets, Telephone Exchanges and Modulator-Demodulator

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 etc. Microprocessors are also used in television broadcasting and satellite
communication.

- In other Office and Home Applications:

As we all know about Personal Computers and almost we all have them at our
homes, offices etc. So we daily use them for different tasks. Daily new software
programs are made to do things more quickly. Microprocessors are also used in
some toys and other entertainment appliances. There are also many sectors where
we make use of microprocessors.

COMPUTER MODELLING

A computer model is a computer program that creates a simulation of the real-world

feature or phenomenon or event. They are used in many ways including in astronomy,
economics and sciences such as physics and biology.

When you gather enough data, you could simulate future scenarios. You could use
AutoCAD to design how you want a city or an estate or road should be. You could also
use Excel to design forecast for finance for an organization or nation.

Advantages of using computer controlled systems

Using a computer to control a process has a number of important advantages over

controlling the same process manually.

1. Computer systems respond more quickly than humans. A computer system can
take readings from sensors and turn devices on and off many thousands of times a
second.

2. Once the initial purchase cost has been paid, control systems are usually
reasonably cheap to run. Most computer control systems have lower operating costs
than similar systems which are manned by humans.

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3. Computer control systems are very reliable. Unlike a human a control system will
not lose concentration. Computer systems can continue to operate reliably twenty four
hours a day.
ROBOTICS
Robotics is the study of robots. Robots are machines that can be used to do jobs. Some robots can do
work by themselves. Other robots must always have a person telling them what to do.
These technologies are used to develop machines that can substitute for humans and
replicate human actions. Robots can be used in many situations and for lots of purposes,
but today many are used in dangerous environments (including bomb detection and
deactivation), manufacturing processes, or where humans cannot surviv e (e.g. in space).
Robots can take on any form but some are made to resemble humans in appearance.
This is said to help in the acceptance of a robot in certain replicative behaviors usually
performed by people. Such robots attempt to replicate walking, lifting, speech, cognition,
and basically anything a human can do. Many of today's robots are inspired by nature,
contributing to the field of bio-inspired robotics.

The concept of creating machines that can operate autonomously dates back to classical

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times, but research into the functionality and potential uses of robots did not grow
substantially until the 20th century. Throughout history, it has been frequently assumed
that robots will one day be able to mimic human behavior and manage tasks in a human-
like fashion. Today, robotics is a rapidly growing field, as technology advances,
researching, designing, and building new robots serve various practical purposes,
whether domestically, commercially, or militarily. Many robots are built to do jobs that
are hazardous to people such as defusing bombs, finding survivors in unstable ruins,

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and exploring mines and shipwrecks. Robotics is also used in STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as a teaching aid.

DISADVANTAGES OF USING COMPUTERISED SYSTEMS

1. The initial cost of designing a new system and purchasing hardware and software
may be high.

2. There may be job losses as computers replace humans.

3. The control system will only operate correctly if the software program which runs
the system has been designed well. Flaws in the design may produce unexpected
problems during operation.

4 Most electronic devices including computer are electricity dependent and so

when the source of the electricity is no longer there, they cannot function, even
though some utilize other sources of energy

Effects of micro-processor devices on our lifestyle

The Effect of These Devices on Our Lives

Microprocessor-controlled devices mean that we have more leisure time to relax and
enjoy ourselves instead of doing household chores.

We are able to communicate with people very easily using computers, mobile phones,
etc. We can become part of online social networks, making friends with people from all
over the world.

Computers and Internet connections mean that many of the tasks that involved us
leaving the house, for example, shopping for music, clothes or food, can now be done
on-line.

Online shopping gives us more choices of products and saves us time. It is also great
from those who are unable to get out of the house easily, such as the elderly, or the
disabled.

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The effects on leisure time – microprocessor controlled domestic appliances such as
washing machines, cookers, heating systems etc. do not need direct human control
because they have timers, operating programs and safety checks built in. This means
the user can leave them to complete their tasks so they have more leisure time.

The effects on social interaction – from the comfort of the home people can
communicate in many more ways than the traditional telephone and postal service.

Email allows fast efficient communication with the ability to send files as attachments
and email many people at the same time.

- Online messaging allows users to send text, images and files in real time, as well
as communicate via voice and video.
- Wireless phones and mobile phones allow interaction by telephone conversations
from any room or the garden.
- SMS (Short Messaging Service) text messages, images and video clips to be sent
between mobile phones and computers.
- Answer machines allow messages to be left for users who cannot answer the
telephone.
- Social interaction websites allow users to interact by leaving messages and
adding comments to blogs. Users can also upload and share image and video
files.
- The effects on the need to leave the home – computers linked to the Internet have
greatly reduced the need for people to leave the home.
- Entertainment – music and games can be downloaded. Movies can be downloaded
and this, along with Interactive digital television, means there is no need to go to
the cinema or video rental shop.
- Goods – these can be easily ordered from online stores and delivered to the
home. Food – takeaway food and groceries can be ordered online and delivered
directly to the door.
- Services – banking, ordering insurance and many other services can be carried
out over the telephone or the Internet.

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RSI –REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY:

RSI –Repetitive Strain Injury: Is a condition in which the prolonged performance of

repetitive actions, typically with the hands, causes pain or impairment of function in the
tendons and muscles involved.

Health issues related to RSI

a. Back problem
b. Eye problem
c. Headaches
d. Wrist pain etc.

Some simple strategies for preventing RSI

1. Take regular breaks: The best way to prevent damage performed by repetitive
actions is to stop doing the action! Ensure you’re not typing for long periods of
time without pause. If you’re guilty of “getting into the flow” without realizing it,
set a timer to alert you when it’s time to take a break. You could also use a word
processor that tracks your word count in real time and opt to relax your hands
after you hit specific milestones.
2. Check your posture: Correct posture is a crucial step to helping prevent RSI. RSI
Pain Relief recommends sitting with your back straight and fully supported,
monitor at eye level, with your keyboard at around elbow height. If you catch
yourself slouching, be sure to correct your posture before continuing.
3. Try a wrist pad: Wrist pads fit nicely under your arms and give your hands some
additional support. Ideally, your typing posture should keep your wrists above the
pads, so they’re not used while you type; however, if you have lazy hands or need
somewhere to rest them after a typing, a pad can help. They come in all shapes
and sizes, so you can find one that suits you regardless of whether you use a
laptop or computer keyboard. There are even pads for mice usage, so you can
cover every single base.

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4. Try an ergonomics key board: Ergonomics is the study of how humans interact
with manmade objects. The goal of ergonomics is to create an environment that
is well-suited to a user's physical needs. While ergonomics is relevant in many
areas, it is commonly applied to the workplace environment. Ergonomic
keyboards are shaped in a funny way but for good reason: they improve upon the
base design of a keyboard by making it contort to the shape of the hand. This
means your hand is straining less to hit the keys and reducing the RSI risk as a
result.

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5. Switch to a trackball mouse: The benefit of trackball mouse is for comfort and
ergonomics that will reduce the chance of a RSI, not to mention that it is really
handy on a desk with limited space.

6. Resisting the strain: Repetitive strain injury is a very real problem for typists and
computer enthusiasts everywhere. There are plenty of ways to help stay off the
effects before you need to go in for surgery. Now you know some of the ways as
well as some great products to get you started.

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TOPIC:
AREAS OF ICT APPLICATION IN ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER

POS – Point of Sale

The point of sale (POS) or point of purchase (POP) is the time and place where a retail
transaction is completed. At the point of sale, the merchant would calculate the amount
owed by the customer and indicate the amount, and may prepare an invoice for the
customer (which may be a cash register printout using a thermal printer), and indicate the
options for the
customer to make payment. It is also the point at which a customer makes a payment to
the merchant in exchange for goods or after provision of a service. After receiving
payment, the merchant may issue a receipt for the transaction, which is usually printed,
but is increasingly being dispensed with or sent electronically.

To calculate the amount owed by a customer, the merchant may use any of a variety of
aids available, such as weighing scales, bar code scanners, electronic and manual cash
registers. To make payment at EFTPOS terminals, touch screens and a variety of other
hardware and software options are available.

The point of sale is often referred to as the point of service because it is not just a point
of sale but also a point of return or customer order. Additionally, current POS terminal
software may include additional features to cater for different functionality, such as
inventory management, CRM, financials, warehousing, etc.

Advantages and disadvantages of Internet shopping

Four Benefits of Online Shopping

1. Convenience
There is no doubt that shopping online can be very convenient for busy people. You can
shop from your home or office - or any other location where you have access to a
computer, tablet device or smartphone and Internet access. You can browse and make
purchases any time of the day or night from any location that is convenient for you rather
than having to take time out of your day or evening to go to local stores in person during
their hours of operation.
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 2. Ease of Comparison Shopping

When you shop online, you can compare offerings and pricing at different stores with
the simple click of a button rather than having to get in your car and spend your precious
time and hard-earned gas money running from one store to another to see what stores
carry what product lines and how much each one is charging.

With the help of shopping comparison sites like NexTag.com, you can go to a central
place to narrow down to the online retailers that are likely to have the best deal on the
items you want without even having to run key words through search engines to find out
where to look.

3. Extensive Product Mix Availability

When you shop online, you might find that there are more options available to you than
if you focused your product search only on items available in your local areas. That's
because store buyers have to make decisions about what items to carry in their physical
stores, and those decisions are impacted by local market demand, past purchasing
success and failures and shelf- space constraints.

4. Identify Unique Solutions

When you start shopping for a product to address a specific need, it's possible that
there's a solution you don't even know about, or that isn't available locally. Sometimes
special purchase deals and highly specialized items are only available for online
purchase - even from companies that operate physical stores. Walmart, for example,
has items that are only available for purchase via the retail giant's website.

It's also possible that there is an ideal solution for your shopping need that has just been
introduced to the market. It often takes innovations a while to make it to the shelves of
traditional retail stores - especially in small to medium-size markets, but they tend to
become available online very quickly. Without spending some time shopping online, you
wouldn't have an opportunity to find out about these types of opportunities.

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Four Drawbacks of Online Shopping

1. Lose the Tactile Experience

When you shop online, you don't have an opportunity to touch and feel items you are
considering purchasing. With some products - like books and electronic equipment -
this isn't an important consideration. However, with clothing, bedding, pillows, furniture,
rugs and other textile-based merchandise, it can be hard to gauge quality without
hands-on contact. Fit is also a concern with any kind of apparel.

2. Shipping Adds to the Cost

What looks like a bargain might not be such a good deal when the shipping and handling
charges are tallied and added to the total. Make sure that you look closely at exactly how
much you are likely to need to pay to have your merchandise delivered to your door - or
to the person you are purchasing it for - before finalizing your purchase decision.

3. Returns Can Be Costly

It's essential to be aware of the return policy for any e-commerce retailer you are
considering doing business with. The majority of sites do not pay return shipping if you
have to send something back, so it often costs you more money than you planned to
spend if you need to exchange an item.

Returning merchandise for a refund can also be costly. Most online retailers do not
refund shipping costs - not the cost of return postage or the original shipping charge.
This can mean that, for relatively low-dollar items, it can cost you nearly as much to
return an item as it does to just keep the merchandise.

4. Dealing with an Unknown Vendor

When you are shopping online, unless you are purchasing from a well-known e-tailer
likeAmazon or Zappos or the online arm of a department store like Kohl's or JC Penney,
you really don't know who you are doing business with. Anybody can open an online
store - especially with products that are easy to access through a drop-shopping
company - but not everyone is honest and reputable.

43
When you are shopping with an online store that you don't know anything about, it can
be difficult to feel confident that they'll still be there if a problem arises with your order
and to feel that the personal information you are required to share when making a
purchase will really be protected. Online security concerns can certainly be an important
consideration when selecting an e-tailer.

MICR. MAGNETIC INK CHARACTER RECOGNITION

MICR. Magnetic Ink Character Recognition is a character recognition system that uses
special ink and characters. When a document that contains this ink needs to be read, it
passes through a machine, which magnetizes the ink and then translates the magnetic
information into characters. MICR technology is used by banks.

OCR: Optical Character Recognition, or OCR, is a technology that enables you to convert
different types of documents, such as scanned paper documents, PDF files or images
captured by a digital camera into editable and searchable data.

44
 Uses of OCR

- Data entry for business documents e.g. check, passport, invoice, bank statement
etc.
- Extracting business card information into a contact list
- Automatic insurance document

OMR: Optical Mark Recognition (also called optical mark reading and OMR) is the process
of capturing human-marked data from document forms such as surveys and tests.

45
RFID stands for Radio-Frequency Identification. It is a form of wireless communication
that incorporates the use of electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling in the radio
frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an object, animal
or person. The RFID device serves the same purpose as a bar code or a magnetic strip
on the back of a credit card or ATM card; it provides a unique identifier for that object.
And, just as a bar code or magnetic strip must be scanned to get the information, the
RFID device must be scanned to retrieve the identifying information.

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RFID Works Better Than Barcodes

A significant advantage of RFID devices over the others mentioned above is that the RFID
device does not need to be positioned precisely relative to the scanner. We're all familiar
with the difficulty that store checkout clerks sometimes have in making sure that a
barcode can be read. And obviously, credit cards and ATM cards must be swiped through
a special reader.

In contrast, RFID devices will work within a few feet (up to 20 feet for high-frequency
devices) of the scanner. For example, you could just put all of your groceries or
purchases in a bag, and set the bag on the scanner. It would be able to query all of the
RFID devices and total your purchase immediately. (Read a more detailed article on RFID
compared to barcodes.)

RFID technology has been available for more than fifty years. It has only been recently
that the ability to manufacture the RFID devices has fallen to the point where they can
be used as a "throwaway" inventory or control device. Alien Technologies recently sold
500 million RFID tags to Gillette at a cost of about ten cents per tag.

One reason that it has taken so long for RFID to come into common use is the lack of
standards in the industry. Most companies invested in RFID technology only use the tags
to track items within their control; many of the benefits of RFID come when items are
tracked from company to company or from country to country.

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Common Problems with RFID

Some common problems with RFID are reader collision and tag collision. Reader
collision occurs when the signals from two or more readers overlap. The tag is unable
to respond to simultaneous queries. Systems must be carefully set up to avoid this
problem. Tag collision occurs when many tags are present in a small area; but since the
read time is very fast, it is easier for vendors to develop systems that ensure that tags
respond one at a time. See Problems with RFID for more details.

How RFID Works

RFID is an acronym for “radio-frequency identification” and refers to a technology

whereby digital data encoded in RFID tags or smart labels (defined below) are captured
by a reader via radio waves. RFID is similar to barcoding in that data from a tag or label
are captured by a device that stores the data in a database. RFID, however, has several
advantages over systems that use barcode asset tracking software. The most notable is
that RFID tag data can be read outside the line-of-sight, whereas barcodes must be
aligned with an optical scanner.

If you are considering implementing an RFID solution, take the next step and contact the
RFID experts at American Barcode & RFID (AB&R).

How Does RFID Work?

RFID belongs to a group of technologies referred to as Automatic Identification and Data

Capture (AIDC). AIDC methods automatically identify objects, collect data about them,
and enter those data directly into computer systems with little or no human intervention.

RFID methods utilize radio waves to accomplish this. At a simple level, RFID systems
consist of three components: an RFID tag or smart label, an RFID reader, and an antenna.
RFID tags contain an integrated circuit and an antenna, which are used to transmit data
to the RFID reader (also called an interrogator). The reader then converts the radio
waves to a more usable form of data. Information collected from the tags is then
transferred through a communications interface to a host computer system, where the
data can be stored in a database and analyzed at a later time.

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RFID Tags and Smart Labels

As stated above, an RFID tag consists of an integrated circuit and an antenna. The tag is
also composed of a protective material that holds the pieces together and shields them
from various environmental conditions. The protective material depends on the
application. For example, employee ID badges containing RFID tags are typically made
from durable plastic, and the tag is embedded between the layers of plastic. RFID tags
come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are either passive or active. Passive tags are
the most widely used, as they are smaller and less expensive to implement. Passive
tags must be “powered up” by the RFID reader before they can transmit data. Unlike
passive tags, active RFID tags have an on-board power supply (e.g., a battery), thereby
enabling them to transmit data at all times. For a more detailed discussion, refer to this
article: Passive RFID Tags vs. Active RFID Tags.

Smart labels differ from RFID tags in that they incorporate both RFID and barcode
technologies. They’re made of an adhesive label embedded with an RFID tag inlay, and
they may also feature a barcode and/or other printed information. Smart labels can be
encoded and printed on-demand using desktop label printers, whereas programming
RFID tags is more time consuming and requires more advanced equipment.

RFID Applications

RFID technology is employed in many industries to perform such tasks

– Inventory management

– Asset tracking

– Personnel tracking

– Controlling access to restricted areas

– ID badging

– Supply chain management

– Counterfeit prevention (e.g., in the pharmaceutical industry)

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Although RFID technology has been in use since World War II, the demand for RFID
equipment is increasing rapidly, in part due to mandates issued by the U.S. Department
of Defense (DoD) and Wal-Mart requiring their suppliers to enable products to be
traceable by RFID.

Whether or not RFID compliance is required, applications that currently use barcode
technology are good candidates for upgrading to a system that uses RFID or some
combination of the two. RFID offers many advantages over the barcode, particularly the
fact that an RFID tag can hold much more data about an item than a barcode can. In
addition, RFID tags are not susceptible to the damages that may be incurred by barcode
labels, like ripping and smearing.

For more information about how RFID works and how to integrate this technology into
your business processes, read our RFID Basics.

RFID products, services, and solutions from AB&R.

Monitoring employees/Members using RFID

In organizations where employees use RFID cards, it becomes easy to monitor the
location of an employee during official hours. Some people however see this technology
when used for staff as intrusion of personal privacy.

This RFID technology is synonymous to the blue chip that the developed world is hoping
to embed in the human body such that with one’s physical appearance, access is granted
to almost everything about you which would invariable be used for all types of
transactions (mark of the beast).

It should also be noted that the RFID technology is used by immigration officers to read
passports, visas for alteration/marks which might indicate a counterfeit.

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Automatic Number Plate Recognition System:

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) is a technology for automatically reading

vehicle number plates. It is used by law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom to
help detect, deter and disrupt criminality including tackling organized crime groups and
terrorists.

Vehicle movements on UK roads are recorded by a network of nearly 8000 cameras

capturing between 25 and 30 million ANPR ‘read’ records daily. These records are stored
for up to two years in the National ANPR Data Centre, which can be accessed, analyzed
and used as evidence as part of investigations by UK law enforcement agencies.

Processing of cheques:

Cheque clearing (or check clearing in American English) is the process of moving a
cheque from the bank in which it was deposited to the bank on which it was drawn, and
the movement of the money in the opposite direction. This process is called the clearing
cycle and normally results in a credit to the account at the bank of deposit, and an
equivalent debit to the account at the bank on which it was drawn.

The process would take a number of days as cheques would have to be physically taken
back to the issuing bank until the development of cheque truncation in the 1990s. In many
countries this would be via a central clearing house operated by the banks to make the
process more efficient. If there was not enough funds in the account when the cheque
arrived at the issuing bank, the cheque would be returned as a dishonoured cheque
marked as non-sufficient funds.

ONLINE BOOKING SYSTEM

An online booking system is a software you can use for reservation management. They
allow tour and activity operators to accept bookings online.

Areas where booking systems are used:

(a) Airport flight reservation

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(b) Hotel accommodation management system

(c) Admission processing system

(d) Purchase orders

(e) Cinemas for movies, theatres etc.

TASK: Students are expected to discuss how online ticket reservation/booking system
works. Reference should be made to their experiences when travelling during the holiday

MERITS AND DEMERITS OF ONLINE BOOKING SYSTEMS

Many individuals use online booking to accomplish a variety of tasks. Instead of going to
a brick-and-mortar travel agency and manually buying flight and hotel tickets, or going
to a concert hall and buying performance tickets, an individual can simply go online and
order them. There is no need to discuss the matter with another person. The process of
online booking sidesteps many of the usual inconveniences and saves time.

Available Options

One of the advantages individuals get from online booking is the amount of options
available to them on the websites. By booking holiday flights and hotels online, these
individuals have instantaneous access to a comprehensively detailed list of both flights
and hotels, often with the ability to separate the information into fields more useful for
a specific search. For example, if an individual wishes to only choose between lists of
business class flights, or wishes to stay in a hotel ranked three stars or above, a
narrowed search is easily achieved at the touch of a button.

Collection of Information

Another advantage with online booking is the fact that the Internet has established links
between the large national and international airline companies and the large hotel
companies. This combined information is advertised freely on the Internet, making it

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much easier for individuals to make complete plans for their holidays. The existence of
these packages deal means that individuals don't have to worry about booking flights
and hotels separately and worry about the timing. They merely choose a package that
meets their preferences.

Greater Competition

One of the disadvantages of booking online is directly linked to one of the biggest
advantages. Due to being online, there is a much wider customer base to the information.
In other words, information that in the past was more available to individuals in a specific
country is now available to anyone in the world that has an Internet connection. This
creates an environment of first-come-first-serves competition. The cheapest options
are then available to the individuals who see the advertisements first and have funds to
purchase immediately.

OTHER DISADVANTAGES

A number of other disadvantages exist with the use of online booking. Because of the
need for exchanging sensitive personal data, such as home addresses and bank and
credit card details, the online booking process is an attractive target for cyber criminals
looking to steal this information. Fake websites created for the sole purpose of stealing
personal information is also an ever-present danger. Plus, as individuals don't have
another individual to deal with in the booking process, it is left to them to read and
understand the often complicated terms and conditions.

EFT: Electronic Funds Transfer

Electronic funds transfer (EFT) is the electronic transfer of money from one bank
account to another, either within a single financial institution or across multiple
institutions, through computer-based systems and without the direct intervention of
bank staff.

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It is possible to use a smart device like an iPAD, Desktop computer/laptop to transfer
funds from one person to another in and outside a country.

Process involved in using automatic teller machines (ATM)

ATM Machine stands for Asynchronous Transfer Mode Technology from which we now
have the automated teller machine. This is an electronic device installed in kiosks at
malls, road sides, beside markets and banking halls that can be used to carry out a
number of financial transactions like transferring cash, dispensing cash, checking
account balances, buying of airtime and to mention a few. ATM machines work smartly
provided the user knows what exactly to do. When using the ATM machine, time lag
should be avoided as much as possible to eliminate avoidable complications that could
arise. A smart card embedded with a microchip is needed to put the ATM machine to use
and of course, the user has to be verified and authenticated accordingly.

ATM machine

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Use of processing credit/debit card transactions

Credit and debit cards are types of cards that could be used in electronic funds
transfer/transactions. Some people are of the belief that credit cards tend to allow
people spend more than they actually intend to spend as scheduled on their budget.
Whereas debit card is only useful if there is fund in the account. Whether it’s a debit or
credit card that one uses, discipline in financial spending is the watchword.

Cheques/Clearing of cheques

A cheque, is a document that orders a bank to pay a specific amount of money from

a person's account to the person in whose name the cheque has been issued. Cheques also

have their own verification and validation mechanism which cannot be compromised,

provided the banker follows the set out controls to eliminate fraud or fraudulent tendencies.

Properties of a cheque

1. Every check has a serial number

2. It is issued by a bank

3. It has a signatory (ies) that is/are authorised.

4. Specifies the amount it is meant to pay and duly dated

The type of check that is issued determines the kind of procedure that would be followed
in clearing/claiming the cheque.

Phone Banking

This is the process of using a phone in carrying out banking transactions. Usually, the banks

provide their USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) for their customers to carry

out transactions without going to the bank. Phone banking is not exactly the same with

internet banking because without the internet, one can carry out the transaction. Examples of

bank USSD are *966# which is for Zenith bank, *901# for access bank and *894# for First

Bank.
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A smart phone in the hands of a vast technologist can do the unthinkable. This is why
APT (Advanced Persistent Threat) is on the rise daily with regards to mobile technology
cyber- attacks. Apart from creating a scheduler, making calls, chatting a good smart

phone can be used to check account balances, access payment portals/gateways, make
online transfer, hack into systems and many more. DO NOT under-estimate the prowess
of a smart phone.

Internet Banking

Any form of banking transaction that uses the internet, be it on a desktop computer,
laptop or smart phone is known as internet banking. To use internet banking, you have to

download the bank application form the play store.

Advantages of Internet Banking

1. It is super-fast

2. Its global in function

3. It is easily accessible

Disadvantages of Internet Banking

1. It is prone to cyber-attack

2. Its availability could be affect by network/weather.

Information systems in medicine
There is hardly a field of endeavour that does not require the use and intervention of
information system to survive and thrive in this 21st century. The field of medicine is also
not left out. All around the world now, there is the growing need to share patient data
from one hospital to another within states and outside countries without necessarily
moving physical files/X-ray films or report diagnosis around. This is to also preserve
the confidentiality, integrity and availability of such patient data to prevent it from getting
into the wrong hands. This is part of why laws like HIPAA (Health Information Portability
and Accountability Act) and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) were enacted
across Europe which is also far spreading in African countries today.
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EXPERT SYSTEM

In artificial intelligence, an expert system is a computer system that emulates the decision-
making ability of a human expert. Expert systems are designed to solve complex problems
by reasoning about knowledge, represented primarily as if–then rules rather than through
conventional procedural code. The first expert systems were created in the 1970s and then
proliferated in the 1980s. Expert systems were among the first truly successful forms of
AI software.

The major components of expert system are:

- Knowledge base: – a set of rules as representation of the expertise, mostly in IF

THEN statements.

- Rule-base: - the knowledge base is represented as a set of rules. When the

conditional part of a rule base is satisfied, the rule is said to fire and the action part
is executed.

- Inference engine – It applies inference rules to the knowledge base to derive a

conclusion or deduce new information

- User interface – the code that controls the dialog between the user and the system.

There are a number of features which are commonly used in expert systems. These
features allow the users to fully utilize the expert system’s capability conveniently in
providing the most logical and reasonable decision in a problematic situation.

Backward chaining – an inference technique which continuously break a goal into smaller
sub-goals which are easier to prove via IF THEN rules

Dealing with uncertainties – the system has the capability to handle and reason with
conditions that are uncertain and data which are not precisely known

Forward chaining – an inference technique which deduce a problem solution from initial
data via IF THEN rules

Data representation – the method where the specific problem data is stored and accessed
in the system

User interface – that portion of the code which creates an easy to use system

Explanations – the ability of the system to explain the reasoning process that it

used to reach a recommendation.

Applications/systems that use Expert System

o Car assembly plant

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o Chemical/Nuclear Weapon Plant(s)

o Steel Industries

o Production Factories etc.

Application of 3D Printers in Medical Diagnosis/Aid

3D Printers are printers that can produce images in 3-dimensions. It makes it easier for
surgeons to examine body organs as if such an organ is seen physically. This has made
medical surgeries for appealing for patients to embrace and has built trust in what
technology can help achieve when it comes to medical surgery.

Application of 3D Printers in Engineering

Manufacturing industries/architects are also not left out in the benefits that 3D printers
have brought to us.

With 3D printers, it is possible to design artefact exactly the way we want.

Print speed and quality: 3D printing is slow, and at present, there's no way to get around
this. You should expect a 3- to 4-inch model to typically take between 6 and 12 hours to
print, depending on the print quality you select. That's because of the way 3D printing
works: The print is constructed in layers. The thicker these layers are, the quicker the
print is produced but the lower the print quality is, as the layers become more visible.
So, there is a trade-off between print speed and print quality.

The best printers will allow you to determine which way you want to go with this,
producing prints quickly or more slowly but at higher quality. The best printers offer a
wide range of quality settings, from fast (but low quality) to slow (but high quality).

Note: The teacher would show a video on how 3D Printers work

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REFERENCES

IGCSE Computer Science – David Watson, Helen Williams

HiiT- Data Processing for Senior Secondary Education

Advance College Computing

http://Wikipedia.org

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