A Level Computer Science AQA - Consequences of Uses of Computing

Question 1

What is meant by morals?

Answer 1

The internal principles that an individual uses to make decisions about what it right and wrong

Question 2

What is meant by ethics?

Answer 2

Shared morals that a particular group of people recognise as necessary to ensure that the group behaves positively based on its own context

Question 3

Give 4 examples of ethical impacts of technology

Answer 3

• The empowerment of one group at the expense of another
• Any harm that comes as a result of a technology, whether physical or otherwise
• A technology that restricts access to services for a group of people
• Unequal access to computers based on region or demographic (this gap between those with and without access is often referred to as the digital divide)

Question 4

What is meant by society?

Answer 4

One or more groups of people that exist with shared beliefs, practices and ethics

Question 5

What is meant by culture?

Answer 5

The shared beliefs, practices and ethics of a particular group within a society

Question 6

What is meant by legal issues?

Answer 6

Issues conflicting with laws passed by a government

Question 7

What are the 6 principles of the Data Protection Act 2018?

Answer 7

• Personal data must be fairly and lawfully processed
• Personal data must be obtained for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes
• Personal data must be adequate, relevant and not excessive
• Personal data must be accurate and up to date
• Personal data must not be kept for longer than is necessary
• Personal data must be handled in a way that ensures appropriate security

Question 8

Under the Computer Misuse Act 1990, what is it illegal to do?

Answer 8

• Make any unauthorised access to a computer system
• To change programs or data without permission

Question 9

What is the purpose of the Copyright, Designs and Patents act?

Answer 9

It makes it illegal to copy any work without the owner’s or copyright holder’s permission

Question 10

What are the main problems with IT related copyright?

Answer 10

• The person copying the work can often be hard to trace
• Copies are easily made and shared

Question 11

Give 3 examples of copyright violations that relate to technology and computing

Answer 11

• Software piracy (the illegal copying or downloading of software)
• Using software without the correct, or any software licence
• Theft by a business of the methods and ideas of other ICT businesses

Question 12

Describe the energy consumption due to data centres

Answer 12

• It was reported that in 2015, data centres that provide cloud storage consumed about 3% of the world’s energy
• Huge amounts of energy are required in data centres for operating cooling systems for server rooms
• Some companies are now building data centres in colder regions such as the Arctic Circle to reduce the need for cooling
  Describe the energy consumption due to data