Chapter 6
ICT applications
Unit 6.1:Communication
There are several communication systems
that act as a communications media to
show information.
These medias make use of ICT technology.
6.1
Newsletter
These are very useful methods to convey a message or
information to a target group. Like fundraising, or any other
activities of a business or an organization, containing details
about the activity directed towards a target audience.
Newsletters are produced with a word processor software that
allows to add photos and edit them based on the needs. This
software also includes spell checkers and grammar checkers.
Some guidelines to follow for an attractive newsletter include:
Avoid squeezing too much information
Clear, easy-to-read fonts
Avoid using capital letters, as it appears to be 'shouting'!
Use bold text in headings
Use real photos rather than clip art
6.1
Posters
Posters are a good way of publicising, for example, a sporting
event or an advertisement for a forthcoming movie. They can also
be made with a word processor software.
A sporting event poster would need to include at least the
following information:
Nature of the event and where it takes place
Date, time and place
Admission fees (if any)
Contact details
Any other related information or facilities for special needs
The movie poster would need to include:
An image taken from the movie to specify its genre
Release date
List of main characters
As with newsletters posters can be printed in high quality or
posted online, they can be any size, and situated in strategic
positions to attract most eyes. Its drawbacks include costs of
display and limited life due to weather conditions
6.1
Websites
6.1
These are online platforms that can be used for advertisement as an alternative to the
printed form. This method requires a company to either develop their own website or
pay another company to advertise on their website.
The first option may require a team of web designers and developers with all the
hardware and software to be purchased. Also to make sure of the security aspects of the
website.
Although it has been made cheaper for smaller organizations to host and create their
own website, using ready-made off-the-shelf systems. Which then requires hosting fees
to rent space on a web server.
Ads and Dis of using websites for
communication
6.1
(rather than printed methods)
Advantages
Sound/ video/ animation can be added
Links to other pages and websites can be added
Buttons for easier navigation and more information
'hit counters' allow the owner to see the number of
visitors of the website
Can be seen by a global audience
Cannot be thrown away
Easier to update a website than reprinting
Disadvantages
Could be hacked and modified
Risk of pharming, which is a threat that redirects the
user to the attacker's page in a masked link, causing
customers to go to undesired websites
Potential customers must have internet connection
Maintenance can be expensive
Since it's a global system, audience targeting can be
difficult
Ways must be found to help people know about the
website
MULTIMEDIA
PRESENTATIONS
6.1
Presentations that use animation, video and sound or music are generally
much more interesting than static presentations done on slides or paper.
These are made by one of many software, then using a multimedia
projector its content is displayed for a whole audience to see.
Advantages of using a presentation start with its ability to be more
eye-catching by adding animations, video, images or sound. Could
be more interactive with addition of hyperlinks to redirect to websites
or files on a cloud. Ability to be more flexible to target an audience because
of links to external resources.
Disadvantages as always start with expenses, as the special equipment for this
method can be costly. The failure of the equipment is no something unfamiliar
during these presentations. Internet access could be needed to accommodate
the interactivity. The focus could be shifted from the message of the presentation
to the presentation itself. And another problem could be the overuse of
animations and images that makes it too flashy.
Media streaming
Media streaming is when users watch
movies/videos or listen to music on devices
connected to the internet. When using media
streaming there is no need to actually
download and save the video or audio
files.Streaming is a continuous transmission
of video or audio files from a remote server
where the files are stored. This means data is
transmitted and played in real time.
6.1
With streaming, the file is sent as a series of packets of data. Each
packet is interpreted by the web browser. Streaming only works well if
the internet speed is stable.
Because the playback of the media files is usually much faster than the
rate at which data is received over the internet, data packets are
buffered in the computer. Buffering makes sure the video plays back
smoothly without freezing.
e-publications
Most material which is published on paper is also available in an
electronic format:
e-books
Digital magazines
Digital newspapers
Digital libraries
In all cases, the publication can be downloaded to a device
connected to the internet where it can be read.
Moving between pages is usually done by swiping a finger across
the screen. E-publications also have the advantage
that pages can be expanded in size and it is possible to include
media.
6.1
Communication media
Communication systems that make use of ICT technology:
Newsletters and posters
Websites
Multimedia presentations
Media streaming
e-publications
6.1
Mobile communication
6.1
Mobile phones communicate by using towers inside many cells
networked together to cover large areas. Each tower transmits within
its own cell. If you are driving a car and get to the edge of a cell, the
mobile phone signal starts to weaken. The network recognizes this
and lets another tower in the next cell pick up the signal. However if
someone communicates with another abroad, then satellite
communication is used.
Mobile devices either use a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card, to
allow it to connect to the mobile phone cellular network, or they use
wireless internet connectivity. Together they allow all of the following
features:
SMS (Short Message Service)
Phone calls
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) communication
Video calling
Internet access
SMS messaging
SMS or text messaging allows a very quick way of communicating
with another person by typing on a keyboard (the keyboard is
often virtual on a mobile phone or tablet).
the other person does not need to be available, and can pick up
the message as and when they want.
Some of the features of SMS/text messaging include:
Quicker and less expensive than making phone calls
Can be sent at any time of the day even if the recipient’s
phone is switched off
Predictive texting, where the system auto completes a word
6.1
Phone calls
Probably the most obvious use of a mobile phone is its ability to
make a phone call on the move. Because mobile phones are so
small and they have their own power source, they are an ideal
way of keeping in touch anywhere, provided there is a network
signal.
Mobile phone networks are still not as stable as landline systems
and for that reason alone, landline phones are still in common
use.
Using mobile phones to make phone calls has the following
advantages:
In case of emergency, no need to look for public telephones
Possible to make calls on the move
Easier to keep contact with co-workers when outside work
6.1
VoIP and Video call
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a method used to talk to
people using the internet. VoIP converts sound, picked up by the
mobile device’s internal microphone, into digital data packets
that can be sent to their destination via the internet.
One of the big advantages is that phone calls themselves are free,
no matter where in the world the caller and receiver are.
The main problems are usually related to sound quality, with
security aspects as well, as it is with other internet technologies.
The most prominent security issues over VoIP are identity theft,
viruses and malware, spamming and phishing attacks.
One of the big advantages of using VoIP is that the device’s builtin cameras can also be used so that it becomes a type of video
call. Video calling uses software such as FaceTime or Zoom.
Video calls permit:
Live video and audio chat
Screen-sharing during the call
Recording during sessions
6.1
6.1
Access to the internet from a mobile device is another
valuable feature. Any mobile device can connect to the
internet either using a wireless broadband connection or
via the mobile phone network.
Internet access
Internet pages display differently based on the device
they access on. Software detects which type of device is
connected and viewing the page, and based on that the
display is optimized.
Mobile devices also have a built-in feature which
automatically selects wireless broadband connectivity (if
available) instead of mobile phone network.
This has several advantages like:
Less expensive
Low power consumption
Quality of service
Unit 6.2: Modelling applications
Computer modelling is the use of computers to simulate and study complex systems.
Simulation is the creation of a model of a real system in order to study the behaviour of
the system, to predict future behaviour and what could influence the behaviour.
The model is computer-generated and is based on mathematical representations.
Advantages of using these systems:
Using computer models is less expensive than having to build the real thing
It is safer to use a computer model, chemical processes for example
Computer modelling allows you to try out various different scenarios in advance
It is nearly impossible to try out some tasks in advance in real life
It is often faster to use a computer model than do the real thing
Disadvantages are:
A model is only as good as the programming or the data entered
Sometimes computer modelling is also a very costly option
People may not trust the results
6.2
PERSONAL FINANCE
The figure at hand is a simple spreadsheet to model the sales of a tuck shop in
school. it shows the principal of using spreadsheets to carry out any type of
modelling that can be represented in a mathematical form. Spreadsheets are often
used in some form to carry out financial modelling.
6.2
Bridge and building 6.2
design
When an engineer or architect designs a new building or bridge, it is
necessary to test the design long before any construction work is
started. 3D computer modelling is used to try out a number of
scenarios to ensure the final design meets critical criteria.
When building, the modeller has to consider a number of scenarios,
after testing, any needed modification will be adjusted. Scenarios like:
The amount of traffic that might be caught in a traffic jam on the
bridge in the event of an accident
The effects of strong winds
Effect of earthquakes
Effect of tidal waves
Effects of vibrations
It is the same procedure for modelling buildings as well, as different
scenarios are simulated to test the structure and design. Examples can
include natural phenomena such as hurricane winds, flooding,
earthquakes or any other damaging phenomena. Fires disasters is one
of the main potential outcomes to consider, along with how to move
large masses of people around efficiently
Bridge and building
design
6.2
Computer modelling provides the following
features:
It is possible to zoom into images so that fine
details can be seen
The design can be rotated in a number of different
ways to allow different views of the design to be
made
Building a bridge or building is expensive and
dangerous if the design has a serious flaw, the
modelling should highlight the flaws
Various scenarios can be tried out to see the effect
on the design
Flood management
Flood water management uses computer modelling to perform a risk
assessment to identify sources of potential flooding, the extent of
flooding and how protection measures could work . Used to predict
water levels, water flows and potential flood depths.
Input to the system could include :
Cross-section of rivers and sea inlets
Dimensions of any bridges, weirs or sluices in the flood area
Factors that can affect water flow rates(time of year,strong wind)
Boundary conditions of water levels
Start and finishing date for the simulation
Observation of actual flooding in the past
Once a model exists which simulates the area where there is
potential flooding, a plan can be put forward to guard against future
flooding. Data is continuously added to the model once the flood
defences have been put into place.
The main advantages of doing this are:
Sensors could be used out in the bay area to monitor sea height
Using a computer system is safer
Data from the sensors could also be fed into the simulation
Data collection is continuous and more accurate than manual
6.2
Traffic management 6.2
Computer modelling can be used in traffic management. There are two
situations to consider:
Closure of motorway lanes is a scenario when repairs need to be made and
different models need to be tested to see how will traffic flow work, different
models of lane changing formations will be tested at different times of days
with the effects of different speed limit to see which is most efficient.
This is considerably safer, cheaper and much quicker than trying out different
traffic closures on a real motorway.
Traffic light simulation is another modelling to test the flow of traffic at
junctions with the help of traffic lights. Some measurements do need to be
taken to foresee the outcomes.
For example the number of vehicles passing the junction, time of day needs
to be recorded along with a vehicle count, how many vehicles build up at the
junction, data should cover weekends and holidays, how long it takes a
vehicle to clear the junction.
Data from the above list is entered into the computer and the computer
model is run. Once the designers are satisfied that the model simulates the
real situation. The system will work with the help of sensors that gather data
and send it to a computer to then be compared with the model.
Weather forecasting
6.2
Weather stations are set up to automatically gather data from the environment. They are
usually automatic and use a variety of sensors to measure:
Rainfall
Temperature
Wind speed
Wind direction
Air pressure
Humidity
The data needs to be gathered every hour of every day of the week. This data can then be
input into a model which simulates weather patterns.
The foundation for weather models are complex mathematical equations that represent
air movement and how heat and moisture are exchanged in the atmosphere.
Data is input into the model and a prediction of the weather for the next few days is
made
At the end of the weather forecast period, the model compares its weather forecast
with the actual weather that occurred
The model ‘learns’ from previous weather situations
The new data is then input into the model
A very powerful computer is needed to run this model
6.3: Computer controlled systems
Robotics in manufacturing
Robots are used in many areas of manufacturing, from heavy work to delicate operations .Control of robots is either
through built in microprocessors or linked to a computer system.
Robots are used for repetitive heavy work like paint spraying of car bodies, welding bodywork on cars and also
delicate detailed tasks like manufacturing of microchips and electrical goods.
Programming of the robot to do a series of tasks is generally done in two ways:
The robot is programmed with a sequence of instructions which allow it to carry out the series of tasks
Alternatively, a human operator manually carries out the series of tasks as a teaching experience, which can be
either:
1. The robot arm is guided by a worker then each arm movement can be stored as an instruction
2. The worker straps sensors to his own arm and does the task, the sensors gather data and store as instruction
Whichever method is used, once the instructions have been saved, each series of tasks can then be carried out by a
robot arm automatically. Each instruction will be carried out identically every time.
Robots are equipped with sensors so they can gather important information about their surroundings and prevent
them from doing stupid things. for example, stopping a robot spraying a car if no car is present, or stop the spraying
operation if the supply of paint has run out
6.3
Ads and Dis in using robots
Advantages
They can work in environments harmful to human
operators
They can work non-stop
Initially expensive but cheaper overall (no wages)
They have higher productivity
They provide greater consistency
They can do boring, repetitive tasks
They can carry out different tasks by fitting them with
different attachments and tools
6.3
Disadvantages
Robots find it difficult to do ‘unusual’ tasks
They can cause higher unemployment
Certain skills could be lost if all is done by robots
The initial set-up and maintenance of robots can be
expensive
Production line control 6.3
Production line control using robots is used extensively in industry,
for example filling bottles with a liquid, capping the bottle and
applying a label or same with cans.
The production line will be continuous, with various robots at each
station given a specific task. This distribution of tasks leads to:
Faster operations
Greater productivity
Better consistency
Auto testing for quality control
Reduced costs for consumer
In a bottling factory for example this is how the robots will operate
with the use of sensors, having two sensors, sensor 1 being a
detector sensor, and sensor 2 being a level sensor:
Sensor 1 detects the presence of a bottle, brought with a
conveyor belt
Liquid is released into the bottle
Sensor 2 is used to detect the correct liquid height
When it's full, liquid valve closes
The whole process is continuous until stopped for maintenance
or a change in process
School management
systems
6.4
With the rise of technological development, there is are
constant efforts to automate school management
Schools have to manage a number of different tasks in
their day-to-day running:
Registration and attendance records of students
Student performance
Computer-aided learning
Many approaches can be tried to facilitate these tasks
with the use of technological systems and automation.
Registration and
attendance
6.4
The traditional way of taking attendance is rather time consuming and prone to
faults. An automated system can help with the use of hardware and software.
Method 1, Issue each student with an ID card that has a magnetic stripe on back
that contains student name, school name, student data, and unique ID. Each
morning it will only take a swipe to record attendance and same process when
school is over. This will give a comprehensive statistic of the students
registration, which can be checked on a regular basis by the teachers.
Some functionalities can be added like:
Use of a PIN to stop another student swiping in with the wrong card
Use of GPS tracking, so the exact whereabouts of a student would be known
Registration and
attendance
6.4
Method 2, fingerprints of each student can be recorded in the school database and
each morning instead of card swiping they would scan their fingerprints.
There can be some Advantages of using this method oppose to Method 1:
Fingerprints are unique, so it would be impossible for someone to impersonate
ID cards could easily be lost
ID cards could be affected by magnetic fields
Easy to clone (copy)
There also are a bunch of opposing factors that can be Disadvantages:
It would take a long time to collect the fingerprints
The equipment needed is more expensive
A student can cut a finger
There are invasion-of-privacy issues (not like ID cards are better)
Student performance 6.4
Performances can be tracked through the use of
spreadsheets to have a expansive and detailed
comparison between students in terms of their
performance which can include grades,
attendance and behaviour.
School systems then can create an end of the
year/ term report about each student's
performance according to the recorded data.
Computer Aided Learning (CAL)
Computer-aided learning (CAL) is the use of computer-based systems to assist in the
academic teaching of students. Students would use computers as part of their learning
and complete online tests to monitor their performance.
Advantages of using CAL include:
Students can learn when they want to and at their own pace
Virtual Reality (VR) can be used to make the learning experience immersive
The student can stop at any point and return later to continue where they left off
It is possible to re-take tests until the student reaches the required skills level
Makes learning more interactive
Makes use of various multimedia like videos, animation, music, etc
It can deliver micro-learning, breaking down the topic into smaller modules
Disadvantages
CAL cannot give students the experience of handling laboratory equipment
It is expensive and time consuming to integrate CAL properly
Students can easily be distracted while online
It can lead to the isolation of a student
CAL cannot answer unusual questions
6.4
6.5: Booking systems
Online booking systems
6.5
Online booking systems rely on the ability to update files immediately, thus preventing double-booking
Online booking systems are used in:
Travel industry
Concerts
Cinema tickets
Sporting events booking
Before delving into any examples, it is worth mentioning pros and cons of online booking systems:
These automated systems can have many Advantages in terms of customer service like any time of day
booking, immediate feedback on booking status, special promotions sent to customers via email, also
prevention of duplicate booking, reserving a seat temporarily, and having no printed ticket does reduce
the postal costs.
Disadvantages of these systems include its costs when set up and maintained, difficulty in canceling
and refunding a ticket, servers can go down, ill-designed websites can lead to mistakes, and online
booking lacks the human interaction which you can ask for special offers or recommendations
Travel industry
The user only needs to fill in the
appropriate fields and the system will
automatically search for available flights,
make bookings and transfer the funds
from their bank account.
Unless something goes wrong, there will
be no need to talk to a human operator
at any stage of the booking process.
6.5
Events
(concerts, theatre,and
cinemas)
6.5
In terms of events such as the ones mentioned above, they all have the same
booking method as they all involve booking a seat inside a building,
navigating the system includes a few steps:
Customer clicks on the performance
Date and time is typed in
Required number of seats
User selects their seat(s) by highlighting the actual seats on the screen
Database is then searched to check availability
If the seats are available, the total price is shown
CONFIRM
Seats are now temporarily held
Customer then enters their personal details
Payment method is then selected and made
The theatre seats are then booked in the customer’s name
Final details are again shown
The e-ticket is sent to the customer via email
The database is finally updated with the booking transaction and the
seats are permanently confirmed
Sport events booking
Just as in the events section, it is relatively similar with the
same procedure steps. But in most stadiums the seats are
offered inside blocks depending on the availability.
Some sporting events such as rally races or golf course
tournaments there are no seat reservations, the customer
just purchases an entry ticket.
Another difference is that with sporting events, hotel
accommodation and flight bookings are also offered if the
event takes place overseas.
6.5
Unit 6.6: Banking systems
The use of computer technology has revolutionised how we all do our banking
transactions. In this section, we will consider:
The use of automatic teller machines (ATMs)
Electronic funds transfer (EFT)
Credit/debit card transactions
Cheque clearing
Internet banking
6.6
teller
ATMs (Automatic
machines )
6.6
These machines allow the customer to:
withdraw cash
deposit cash
deposit cheques
check the balance of their account
see a mini bank statement
pay a bill
do a money transfer
Operating an ATM starts when a card in inserted and the personal PIN is
entered to access the account. Meanwhile it is checked if PIN is right or not
also if card is stolen. After granting access, a few options are given, in the
cases of money withdrawal, that option will be chosen.
Then account is checked to see if sufficient amount is available before money
is dispensed and the account is updated.
If an ATM is used to deposit a cheque, the process will still start with insertion
of the card, PIN entry and deposit cheque option chosen.
Then a drawer is opened to accept the cheque which is then scanned by an
OCR, to read all details. Alas the amount will be confirmed and the amount
on the cheque will be added to the account, with a printed receipt.
teller
ATMs (Automatic
machines )
6.6
These machines can have their own drawbacks and also good
aspects:
Advantages:
It is possible to withdraw cash at any time of day
They offer many banking services without the need to go into
the bank
It is possible to access an account from anywhere in the world
It usually provides quicker service
Disadvantages:
They are often in places where theft can take place
There is potential for shoulder-surfing and card-cloning scams
Some banks charge customers for using ATMs
Cash withdrawal limits
If the debit card is faulty then no transaction can take place
There is a loss of the personal touch?
EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer)
6.6
EFT is a system that allows money transfer instructions to be sent directly
to a bank’s computer system. No actual money is transferred; the whole
system relies on electronic transfer of money between accounts.
The computer system automatically transfers the specified amount from
one account to another.
One example is when a company pays out the salary of its employees,
another is making payment at a store using EFT at POS (Point of Sale).
Advantages:
Secure payment method
Quick
Less expensive than, for example, using cheques
Customer has the right to dispute an EFT payment for up to 60 days
Disadvantages:
Once an amount has been transferred the bank cannot reverse
The customer needs to have funds available immediately, unlike
using cheques
It cannot guarantee the recipient
Credit card
6.6
Debit card
Advantages:
Advantages:
there is customer protection if a company stops trading or goods do
Money comes from customer’s current account, therefore no
not arrive
interest charges
internationally accepted method of payment
Safer than carrying cash
interest-free loan if money paid back within agreed time period
Can buy items online
can buy items online
Disadvantages:
can be charged high interest rate
Annual fees often apply
Easy to end up with credit damage as sums mount up
Security risks when used online
Disadvantages:
less customer protection than credit card if goods do not arrive or
company goes out of business
no credit allowed; customers must have the funds available
Security risks when used online
Centralised cheque clearing
This is more of a recent and faster way to clear out cheques. When a bank is presented with a
cheque, its image is taken by OCR to store the person info and the sum to be payed. Then the
cheque info is sent to the bank the payer has an account in, they will analyze the cheque in detail
to see if the payer has sufficient funds or if it's missing a signature or it's fraud. If it is all in order,
the payment will be approved and the cheque will become obsolete, if not it will be refused. All
this happens in less than 24 hours.
Cheques 6.6
Cheques are one of the oldest ways of paying
somebody for services or goods. Because it is a
relatively expensive, slow and less secure way of
making payments, cheques are slowly being
phased out.
6.6
Internet banking
6.6
Internet banking, also known as e-banking or online banking, is an electronic
payment system that enables the customer to make financial transactions via the
internet. This service gives online access to almost every banking service.
Users can use a web browser or an app to look at their account details , transfer
cash, set up or cancel recurring payments and keep track of investments. Users
must ensure to have a reliable password and adhere to all security features
suggested by their bank to avoid their personal info being hacked.
Advantages:
User can view their account details 24/7
They can make EFT using their smartphone
They can move money between accounts in real time
Easy to see when run out of money
Disadvantages:
Security - login and password details can be hacked
It is also easy to send money to the wrong person
Unit 6.7: Computers in medicine
Patient and pharmacy records
Computers are used in many areas of medicine, keeping records is one its significant uses.
Doctors and hospitals need to keep accurate records of all their patients. This is essential to ensure correct
diagnosis and treatment. The data is stored in the hospital database shared with the doctors and the pharmacy as
well, to prevent use of unprescribed drugs. Databases also allow a quick and easy search for patient records – this
could be very important in an emergency, when accessing the patient’s medical history.
The data that would be in a patient's record includes:
Unique ID
Name and address
Birthdate
Gender
Medical history
Blood group
Known allergies
Doctor
Current treatment
Current diagnosis
Additional info such as CT scans, X-rays and so on
6.7
Use of 3D printers
Surgical and diagnostic aids
It is possible to print out anatomical parts using 3D printers, which aids towards
surgical and diagnosis procedures. The patient is first scanned by either:
CT (Computed Tomography): Producing images of the internal parts of the body in a
series of thin slices.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): Uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to
produce a series of images of the internal organs in the body.
A 3D printer can then produce a three-dimensional representation of a patient’s
internal organs, blood vessels, major arteries, tumours and so on, using hard nylon
and plastic. The doctor or surgeon can use this to show the patient exactly what is
wrong and then show them what procedures are required. Also helps them plan out
the surgery beforehand to narrow down the room for errors during surgery.
Prosthetics
3D printers are now being used to print out prosthetics (false arms, hands and
legs). While state-of-the-art myoelectric prosthetics cost tens of thousands of
dollars, the price for 3D-printing a prosthetic arm or hand can be as little as $100.
6.7
Tissue engineering
6.7
Recent advances have allowed the 3D printing of bio-compatible materials, cells and
supporting structures. This has enabled the viability of producing artificial cells and
tissues within a 3D printed object. 3D bio-printing (using bio-inks) is a very complex
process and requires input from biologists, medical engineers, physicists and other
engineers. It has already been used successfully to produce multi-layered skin tissue,
bone tissue and heart/artery. the goal of growing replacement organs, using cells from
the actual patient, is getting ever closer thanks to 3D printing technology.
Artificial blood vessels
One particular type of tissue engineering is the 3D printing of artificial blood vessels
using human cells. These bio-printed tissues work in much the same way as natural
blood vessels. Biomimetic blood vessels can be fabricated using 3D printing and bioinks.
Biomimetic: Refers to the imitation of elements that occur in nature (such as human
cells) to create solutions to human anatomy problems.
Bio-ink: Biological inks developed to work with 3D inkjet printers. By using 3D layering,
they produce artificial live tissue. These biological inks are made up of human cells and
other materials.
Customised medicine 6.7
3D printing techniques now allow scientists to customise medicines to
suit the individual. 3D printed medicines are sometimes referred to as
printlets (printed tablets).
Some of the advantages of this technology include:
tailor-made medicines to suit the individual
better control of medicine release into the body
saves money
its effects can be optimised
less chance of an overdose
In the future it should be possible to send medicines to local
pharmacies in the form of a blueprint; each blueprint would be custommade for a patient.
Unit 6.8: Expert systems
Expert systems have been developed to mimic the expertise and knowledge of an expert in a
particular field. It attempts to reproduce the decision-making process of an expert human. Expert
systems gather data by asking the user questions about the problem. Which questions can lead to
further questions.
Based on the knowledge it has and the with the use of the user‘s responses, it will rule out various
possibilities that will allow it to eventually reach a decision or diagnosis.
Expert systems are made of five parts:
User interface: The on-screen form through which the user interacts with the expert system.
Knowledge base: A database of related info about a particular subject.
Rules base: A set of rules that will be used to produce an output or decision by the expert system.
Inference engine: The program that can apply the rules to the data in order to get sensible
judgements.
Explanation system: Provides an explanation of the reasoning processes used to arrive at a
particular decision.
6.8
Unit 6.8: Expert systems/ setting up an
expert system
How to set up an expert system:
Information needs to be gathered from human experts or from written sources such as textbooks,
research papers or the internet.
Information gathered is used to populate the knowledge base, which needs to be first created.
A rules base needs to be created; this is made up of a series of inference rules so that the
inference engine can draw conclusions.
The inference engine itself needs to be set up; it is a complex system since it is the main
processing element, making reasoned conclusions from data in the knowledge base.
The user interface needs to be developed to allow the user and the expert system to communicate.
Once the system is set up, it needs to be fully tested; this is done by running the system with
known outcomes so that results can be compared and any changes to the expert system made.
6.8
Expert system examples
Examples include:
prospecting for oil and minerals
diagnostics (finding faults in a car engine, finding faults on a circuit board, etc.)
medical diagnosis
strategy games (e.g. chess)
tax and financial planning
route scheduling for delivery vehicles
identification of plants, animals and chemical compounds.
For detailed description of all the examples refer back to the book: pages 114 - 115
6.8
6.8
Example 2: Oil prospecting
An interactive user screen appears (this is often made up of multiple-choice questions or yes/no
responses).
Questions are asked about geological profiles.
Answers to questions/geological profiles are typed in by the operator.
The next questions asked are based on the previous response(s) input by the operator.
The inference engine searches the knowledge base using the rules base.
The system suggests the probability of finding oil as an output.
It also indicates the probable depth of deposits (usually as a % probability).
The explanation system will also explain how the expert system arrived at its conclusions.
It makes predictions about geological deposits above the soil.
It produces contour maps showing concentration of minerals, rocks, oil, etc.
6.8
Example 3: route scheduling for
delivery vehicles
An expert system could be employed to find the most efficient
route for a parcel delivery van. The software will determine the
fastest and least expensive route, as well as suggest the number of
vehicles and drivers that should be used.
The example in this figure is fairly simple, but some national and
international routes can be very complex.
The inputs needed for the delivery system are:
the number of drop-off points and their location
the distance between the drop-off points
the type of vehicle used
delivery times expected at each drop-off point
layout of the road network.
6.8
Unit 6.9: Computers in retail
Computers are used in the retail industry at point-of-sale (POS) terminals, where they are also used in the
automatic stock control systems.
POS(Point Of Sale)
Barcodes now appear on most products sold in shops. They allow quick identification of product details once the
barcode has been scanned by a barcode reader. The number underneath the barcode usually consists of four
parts: a country code, manufacturer’s code, product code and a check digit (to make sure it's read correctly).
Barcodes are used in the automatic control of stock levels in a supermarket which, Each barcode is associated
with a stock file which contains details such as price, stock levels, product description.
Stock control system is a computerised system to automatically maintain records of stock levels. They are
automatically informed of the numbers sold to customers and delivered from suppliers. They can automatically
order new items when they get below a certain level.
.
6.9
Funds Transfer at
EFTPOS Electronic
6.9
Point Of Sale
When payment is made by card or electronic device (such as a mobile
phone) at the POS terminal, it is known as electronic funds transfer at
the point-of-sale.
When paying and checking credit and debit cards at a supermarket
EFTPOS, a communication is established between the supermarket
EFTPOS terminals and the bank through a secure connection over the
internet to proceed with the payment.
We will consider payment by the following methods:
Chip and pin
Contactless cards
NFC (Near Field Communication) devices
NFC Near Field Communication
6.9
When using NFC payment at a POS terminal, the electronic device is
held close to the reader at a distance up to 5 cm. When the
contactless payment is initiated, they pass data back and forth, and
this data is encrypted and dynamic, meaning the data changes at
each transaction.
Use of tokenisation with mobile phones
Tokenisation is a method used by mobile phone manufacturers
which enables the phone to act as the card, by replacing the codes on
the card with tokens, which are randomly generated numbers, the
bank does this and authorises and sends this token to the phone
manufacturer to program it into the phone.
This mobile wallet uses tokens so even if the random numbers get
hacked they are useless because they are not the real account
numbers.
NFC Near Field Communication
6.9
NFC operates like RFID, at a particular frequency. In contrast to
general RFID, the frequency at which NFC operates requires the
sender and receiver to be in very close proximity, which makes
communication more secure. also NFC devices can act as a receiver
(passive) or a reader (active).
NFC has 3 distinct modes of operation:
Peer-to-peer mode: Allows two devices to exchange information
with each other, devices switch between being active or passive
.
Read/write mode: This is a one-way transmission of data, devices
are either passive or active.
Card emulation mode: In this mode, an NFC device can function
as a smart or contactless card to make payments or grant access.
Internet shopping
Advantages:
No travel
Worldwide market
Access for non-ables
24/7 access
Time efficient
Disadvantages:
Isolation
Health risks
Security issues
Fraud shopping sites
Have to have a computer
Decrease of customer
loyalty
Online banking
Less embarrassing when
asking loan
No queues
Shops save money
Less robberies
Lack of interactivity
Delivery causes traffic
High shops are closing
Local independent shops
can't compete
Easy to make errors and
send money
unintentionally
6.9
Unit 6.10: Recognition systems
OMR (Optical Mark Recognition)
OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification)
Biometrics
6.10
Unit 6.11: Satellite systems
Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and satellite navigation
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Satellite television and satellite phones
6.11
GPS Global Positioning Systems
6.11
is a U.S.-owned utility that provides users with positioning, navigation, and
timing services. In terms of cars, GPS is referred to as satellite navigation
systems (satnav).
Satellites surrounding the Earth transmit signals to the surface. Computers
installed in the mode of transport receive and interpret these signals. Each
satellite transmits data indicating its position and time.
Satellites use atomic clocks to accurately determine their position in
relative to earth.
The receiver device calculates its position based on info from at least 3
satellites.
Advantages:
No paper maps, so safer
Can choose fastest route
Can warn drivers to avoid errors
Estimation of arrival time
Show useful locations on map
Disadvantages:
Maps can be not up-to date
Road closures due to accidents or roadworks, can cause problems
Loss of satellite signals can cause problems
GIS Geographic Information Systems
6.11
A geographic information system is a type of database containing
geographic data, combined with software tools for managing,
analyzing, and visualizing those data according to their location.
It allows to edit and interact with what is shown, combining maps
with computer graphics and databases.
It enables complex analytical calculations then presenting the
results and info on easily understood maps.
It eases for geographers, scientists and engineers to see the data in
several different ways in order to see patterns and relationships.
Learning how to operate it along with the cost of the software are
the main drawbacks but the positives are much more.
Media Comm Systems 6.11
Communication media refers to a method of delivering and receiving data/
information using telecommunications.
There are many types of media used to send and receive information like
fibre optics, copper cable and Wi-Fi, but on a global scale, satellites are
used.
Satellites contain antennas, transponders (for exchange of data), solar
panels (for power), and propulsion (making sure it stays in orbit).
The signals sent from these satellites are delivered by carrier waves which
consist of radio waves. Each signal has its own frequency and bandwidth.
Advantages:
Global coverage
Cheaper than cables
High bandwidth
Easy to expand the network
Secure transmission as data is coded
Easy to re-locate
Good for broadcasting, as one signal
can be picked up by many receivers
Disadvantages:
There is a time delay in receipt of the signals (especially voice)
The signals received can be affected by bad weather
Sunspot activity can affect the performance of a satellite
They have to stay in correct orbit
Revenge is never a straight line. It's a forest, and like a forest it's easy to
lose your way ... to get lost ... to forget where you came in.
-Hattori Hanzo-