
Help you understand how to:
› Discuss hardware and software developments that are
changing, or might change, the way we live.

This is a discuss topic and relies on you having kept up to date
with your background reading whilst studying on this course.

OCR provided this list of possible topic areas:
› Examples might include:

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
Advances in treating injuries or diseases
Leisure activities
The environment
The home
Education
Freedom of speech and movement.
It is important to remember that this list is not exhaustive as
questions will reflect the current use or abuse of ICT in society.

In order to achieve high marks in a Discuss question you
must do the following:
› Pick at least two things to talk about.
 Do not answer bounce (i.e. listing as many things as possible)
› Look at different points of view.
 If this is too difficult, look at the pros and cons.
› If you look at pros and cons, don’t just list them…justify why
they are a pro or a con.
› Form a balanced conclusion.
 You can only form your own opinion IF you have considered the
views of different people and have demonstrated a clear
understanding of the topic you are talking about.

The 20th Century saw some huge advances in the
medical industry, including:
› Artificial hearts and pace makers.
› Keyhole surgery.
› CT or CAT (Computerised (Axial) Tomography) scans.

Patient aftercare also improved with things like:
› TV and internet access at the bedside.
› Texting patients with appointment reminders.
› Improved surgery resulted less time spent in hospital.

But what will the 21st Century hold?

Check out this video about Nano technology.
› http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jqQxuVncmc

Other developments include:
› Digital x-rays
 No longer a need to wait for the images to be printed…time
saves lives.
› Stem cell research
 The full extent of how stem cells can impact on our health is
not fully known yet…but there is the potential to cure a lot of
diseases.
› Genetic engineering
 This is probably the best topic to be talking about as it is easy
to see that it has pros and cons and people have strong views
as to whether it is morally and ethically sound…

The
› Imagine…being able to prevent a child from developing a
physical or mental disability whilst in the womb…
› To prevent disorders which are hereditary…
› There is clearly a huge advantage to this type of
development…

It is no surprise that some people would consider this to
be a huge advantage as they can feel assured that
their child would not develop a disease that perhaps
their parents have.

The
› Some people claim that scientists are trying to play God.
› Is it morally or ethically correct to change a person as they
are growing without their consent – even if it could benefit
them in the future?
› Being able to dictate the sex, eye colour, hair colour…
› Who was it that actually tried to have the perfect race?...
 Oh yeah…Hitler.

The topic is about hardware and software
developments.

Simply put:
› Hardware:
 You need the hardware in order to work on such a small scale:
 Powerful microscopes
 Possibly robotic instruments to handle the cells
› Software:
 You may need software to handle and process the images
from the microscopes.
 Advanced software that can calculate properties of the cell…
 Software might be needed to control the hardware.

Discuss the impact of ICT on the medical industry.
› [11 marks]

Technology has, and continues, to impact on our
leisure activities.

Influences can be found in:
› Theme park rides
› Technology such as image and video cameras
› Computer games
› Travel
› Movies

Technology has, and continues, to impact on our
leisure activities.

Influences can be found in:
› Theme park rides
› Technology such as image and video cameras
› Movies

We’ll look at the two that are highlighted.
Project Natal: Microsoft’s attempt at changing the way
we interact with computer games.
Check out this video to see it in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYuJivFFa-c

The Wii has become a
household name with more
and more families buying the
console.

It is seen as the family console
as it has intuitive controls and
a simplicity that allows
younger and older gamers to
enjoy it.

Care homes are even using
them to help the elderly find
new and fun ways to
exercise!

Some people find computer
games very addictive.

Some people have even died
because they have been so
obsessed with the game they
are playing.

Schools are finding that students
are playing games more and
more and spending less time
revising, doing coursework and
sleeping!
› Can be a lot of fun to play.
› Can improve hand-eye coordination and reflexes.
› Can be a social activity between friends either online or
playing on the same console.
› Possibly anti-social as people may not go out to see their
friends.
› Can be very addictive
› Computer games have been linked to poor behaviour in
young people.

Richard Branson has a vision…

He wants regular people to travel
into space and enjoy the great
experiences that it offers.

However, the experience only
lasts a short time and the cost is
extremely high…

This could be one of the first steps that is required to get
people living on other planets.

There are two main problems:
› How to build on the surface of planets and satellites (e.g. the
Moon) – how to get materials and equipment there.
› How to get people to those locations.

Perhaps this new type of technology could help answer
one of those questions?

Check out this YouTube clip about moon colonization.
› http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRSNT_9ru2U
› Super cool experience!
› Wouldn’t need to be a professionally trained astronaut.
› Could potentially pave the way to off-world interplanetary
travel.
› Really expensive – only the richest of the rich can afford to
travel.
› Dangerous? – You are strapped to a rocket after all!

Discuss the impact of ICT on the way we play
computer games.
› [11 Marks]

Discuss the impact of ICT on travel.
› [11 Marks]

Global warming is a very
topical issue at the moment.

It is widely believed that
humans have helped to
increase the natural rate of
global warming through
burning fossil fuels.

What results from this
burning process is an
increase carbon dioxide
emissions.

So what is causing it?
› Burning of fossil fuels.
› Increase in the amount of energy we are using.
› Deforestation
› Melting of the ice caps
› And other natural reasons (volcanoes etc)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/s
ci/tech/2784227.stm
› The above article talks about
this technology.

Essentially, these artificial
trees could capture the
same amount of CO2
produced by 15,000 cars.

They don’t release oxygen
like real trees but they could
be used to help clean up our
atmosphere.

Scientists have been able to create
synthetic life.

Researchers hope eventually to design
bacterial cells that will produce medicines
and fuels and even absorb greenhouse
gases.

You can read more information about this from here:
› http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/science_and_environment/10132762
.stm

And the ethics about it from here:
› http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/science_and_environment/10138831
.stm

The use of wind
power has been
around for a while…

But modern wind
powered generators
are able to power
whole villages…

And often actually
add more energy to
the national grid.

The Sun’s power is very
reliable.

You know that the Sun
will appear every
day…

And you don’t even
need direct sunlight for
solar panels to work.

Solar panels are
becoming increasingly
popular for homes
across the country.

A new technology in development…

The ‘Sea Snake’ bobs in the ocean and generates power
from the natural, and constant, movement of the ocean
surface.

Check out this video to see how it works!
›
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0mzrbfzUpM

Cars currently use fossil fuels to
generate power.

Hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius uses
both a petrol motor and an electric
motor.

Newer developments will allow cars to
run on hydrogen gas – the most
abundant element known to man.
Honda’s new hydrogen car, the FCX

The problem is…hydrogen is usually attached to something…like
oxygen (which forms water).

Removing the hydrogen from other elements requires a lot of
energy…and at the moment…that energy is coming from fossil fuel
and nuclear power stations.

Create a table which compares the advantages
and disadvantages of:
› Wind power
› Solar power
› Wave power

Discuss the impact that ICT might have on the
environment.
› [11 marks]

Internet fridges
› Download recipes
› Order food automatically
› Leave messages!

Internet oven
› Control your oven over the
internet or using your mobile
phone.
› Ovens can cook food
perfectly based on the type
of food it is and by its weight.
Fridge:
Makes use of Remote
Frequency Identification
tags (RFID) which allows it
to know what is in the
fridge.
Pro
Con
It can then automatically
reorder stock when it runs
low or provide recipes.
Stock orders might occur
at different times
because food gets stock
gets consumed at
different times.
Can provide visual
warnings about which
food needs to be eaten
soon before it goes off.
Can send text messages
to the owner saying what
extra ingredients they
might want to get so they
can make a different
meal.
Oven, baths, curtains,
windows, doors etc:
Things in the house that
can be controlled
remotely over the internet
or using mobile
technology.
Pro
Con
People can control
devices in their home
from a mobile device.
They can run a bath and
set the temperature just
before they arrive home,
or preheat the oven etc.
If someone managed to
get your device they
could gain access to your
home.
Owners can turn on lights
and close curtains, lock
doors and shut windows
to ensure their house is
secure.
Although the technology
exists, the cost is very high
(at the moment).

Cleans the house whilst
you are out.

Parks itself in a charging
bay.

Very quiet.

Doesn’t have the same
power as a regular
vacuum cleaner
though…

But the aim is to clean
little and often.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q
vxXFtOeUmA
Pro
Robotic devices e.g.
Lawn Movers and
Vacuum Cleaners:
Complete this table…
Con

Wireless powered devices around the home…

Is it really possible?

Check out this video to see it in action!
› http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfQCmerO1ss
Pro
Wireless Power:
Complete this table…
Con

Discuss how ICT will impact they way we live in our
home.
› [11 marks]

This area should be fairly apparent to you…so I’ll let
you do some of the hard work in this section…

You could look at areas such as:
› Use of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
› Virtual teachers
› Podcasts
› Recorded lessons
› Online tests and marking
› They way teachers and students communicate
Complete the table by listing three different ways in which ICT is being
used in your school at the moment.
Then explain the pros and cons for each one you have listed.
Innovative use of ICT
Use 1:
Explain what it is.
Use 2:
Explain what it is.
Use 3:
Explain what it is.
Pro
Con

Virtual Learning in
action…

Check out this video
from Teacher’s TV…
› http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=m4XuDVaT-A0
Now do the same thing but thinking about possible future developments.
It is here you might want to look at virtual teachers etc.
Remember…an examiner can not say something will not happen…so be
creative in your answer!
Again, explain the pros and cons for each one you have listed.
Future use of ICT
Use 1:
Explain what it is.
Use 2:
Explain what it is.
Pro
Con

This section has huge ethical and moral implications…

Areas that you could look at include:
› Tracking criminals and children.
› Monitoring people
 Phone calls
 Emails

Things to remember:
› Issues of privacy
› Pros and cons of the technology (different points of view)
› Moral implications

Tracking criminals
already happens using
electronic tags that are
secured to their ankles.

Check out the next
step in criminal
tracking…
› http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=I5UgDrX9
Q7c

Discuss how hardware and software developments
could affect the freedom of speech and
movement of criminals. Do not limit your answer to
current technologies, but instead, look at future
developments.
› [11 marks]