Digital Divide

   With more and more new technology being created and sold many people spend less time outside or socialising face to face. People use sites like Facebook and msn to communicate with people but don’t actually go out to see them because they no longer need to. In our free time most do a variety of things but almost everything involves technology such as: watching the telly, checking emails and playing games on pc or a consol. For example if you had some friends who were on their Xboxes you could just go on yours and speak to them without going out.

   Technology affects communities as many shops and businesses are now online only and this can make it harder for people to find jobs. However this can make it easier for elderly people as they do not need to risk a painful journey.

   Most jobs now require you to have good knowledge on working a computer. If an elderly person was to attempt to get a job they would find it difficult as computers weren’t around when they were younger; therefore they may not know how to work them. It is also very hard for an elderly person to learn how to use computers.

   All these different pieces of tech require an energy source which can cost a lot. With technology becoming a bigger part of our everyday lives they need to be constantly supplied with energy. Unfortunately this energy is hard to come by and it is expensive to get. This means you will have to pay more and the energy becomes harder to get.

   Copyright is a law that gives you the ownership over what you create. Whether you write a book or paint a picture it is yours and no one else has any rights over it unless you allow them. Plagiarism is when you take somebody’s work without giving them the credit for it. For example copying and pasting from the internet without changing anything is plagiarism as it is not your work but you are using it. This is a form of cheating as is not allowed in educational buildings or at work.

   On computers you can access your bank by using your details. Unfortunately you can get emails from people pretending to be the bank trying to steal your information. If you write on a blog or social networking site then everyone can see it. There was a case of a girl who moaned about her job being boring online and she got fired for it. Another case is when a man posted on Twitter that if his plane didn’t hurry up he would blow up the airport for a joke and he got fined one thousand pounds (£1000).

   WiMAX is a new internet source which means you will no longer need to search for hotspots. WiMAX is also going to be free to use. Broadband speeds vary depending on where you live. Urban areas have fast and therefore better internet connections compared to those in rural areas. 

   When we throw out our old computers there is a chance they will end up in a 3^rd world country where they will dismantle the computer themselves. When they do this they need to burn parts of the computer which lets of a toxic gas that can cause long term damage to person.

Young

Brought up around computers

Stay indoors more

Can fall victim to paedophiles

Games to play online

Easy to learn at a young age

Communicate with friends

Helps with homework

Old

Online shopping

Takes time to learn

Talk to loved ones

Vulnerable to scams

Overwhelming

Cost of energy

Rural

Slow internet

Fairly new, hard to understand

Bad signal (mobiles + internet)

Lack of Wi-Fi

Lack of TV stations

Urban

Wi-Fi access

Quick internet

Good signal (Mobiles + internet)

Lots of TV stations