IT Essay Questions:
Essay Title  June 2011:
Some companies sell music and video downloads rather than physical products.
Discuss the effects this has on the customer and musicians (6)
This essay will discuss the effects that selling music and video downloads over physical products have on the customer and musicians.
To download music and video, the user must have a compatible device for the file format that the downloads are in. This limits the number of people that the band can sell to unless they provide a range of formats for the user to download. Alternatively, however, the downloading of music and video is beneficial to the customer as it means they can listen to it or watch it any time they want. The requirement for this however is that the customer must have initial internet access and have the knowledge to download and play the media, meaning that the digital divide can make downloaded music difficult to obtain for some.
DRM prevents the unauthorised copying and distributing of copyrighted material such as music and video, meaning that the revenue of musicians is protected, as the only way to obtain the music or video is by paying for the download. The drawback of this however is that DMR prevents users from sharing music with other devices they may own, meaning they will need to pay for the music again to download it on another device. Despite this, downloaded files are generally more easily shared than physical products, proving to be beneficial to the user and both negative and positive for the musician as more people will hear their work however there will be an increased chance of the illegal copying of their work from people breaking the Digital Economy Act 2010.
Downloading allows musicians to create more popular music due to a reduction in sales caused by piracy, a negative to downloading. Oppositely however, as only certain artists distribute online, this will not affect everyone.
For digital downloads, a different style of advertising it required compared to physical products, adding to the cost of allowing for music to be downloaded. To reduce the amount of money that is taken away from the musician from publishers however, downloading allows for musicians to more easily and effectively operate, increasing the amount of money that they can keep for themselves. Despite this however, the downloading of music means that the user must have an online bank account, something that not all may have, again limiting the number of people that the artist can reach.
To listen to downloaded music, the user must have software and hardware, an expensive cost that not all users will have and therefore reducing the number of people that will use the downloaded version of physical version. Some people may also argue that a physical version has a better sound quality than that of a downloaded version, causing some users to be drawn away to using the downloaded version.

Essay Title  June 2011:
Laura has many online accounts.
Discuss the privacy concerns associated with individuals’ use of the internet (6)
This essay will discuss privacy concerns associate with an individuals’ use of the internet.
One privacy concern that somebody may have when using the internet is the collection of covertly, including data transferred from transactions when buying online without the user knowing and using recent browsing and searching habits to perform personalised advertising using cookie files. In addition, ISPs will also be able to view data from the user, with the government and police also occasionally looking at specific individual’s data without a warrant for security concerns.
Furthermore, the user may have data collected about them overtly but not understand the consequences that it can have on them. For example, when purchasing goods online or filling out forms the user will provide personal data knowingly but without consideration over the implications. Also, some services will require users to opt into the collection of data from the user which are difficult to opt out of and therefore difficult to retain security. Privacy policies are often complicated and lengthy too, leading to some users not understand how their data will be collected or used.
The use of social networking can also be a danger to security as such sites require the collection of many aspects of a user’s personal data. When uploading images to these sites the user may allow them to be viewed by anyone, causing a problem with the GPS and metadata being stored in the file of the image and being used to find out where the user is located. In social media and online some people may also appear in media when they do not wish to be so, such as in Google’s Street View software. Celebrities may be especially vulnerable from unwanted attention and security issues online, meaning that their personal data is more likely to be intentionally exposed.
The Data Protection Act is a law that dictates how organisations uses and stores a user’s personal and sensitive data. This law however is difficult to enforce and any insecurities on a server with such data on it could be targeted, possibly leading to the exposure of many different users’ personal and sensitive data.

Essay Title  May 2015:
“Blogging gives you the right to say anything, any time, in any way.”
Discuss the legal, ethical and moral responsibilities and challenges associated with digital communication (6)
This essay will discuss the legal, ethical and moral responsibilities associated with digital communication.
As anybody from around the world and create their own blog, such a community reinforces freedom of speech and human rights, allowing people to express their concerns of political matters to people from other countries. On the contrary however, blogs could therefore be used for abusive speech and trolling.
Copyright law could also be infringed on digital communities that share material illegally, this would affect the intellectual property rights holder as they will not be receiving money from their own material as it can be accessed through digital community illegally.
Morally and ethically however, posts can be offensive and cause harm and shock to the audience, particularly a younger audience that may have accessed the website. Such posts would also cause damage to the creator’s reputation when applying for a job as employers will review the applicants online accounts to find more information about employees.
Censorship can be both a positive and negative for an online community and discussion. Positively, censorship can remove abusive and hateful speech that has no substance and is instead intended to upset a particular person. On the other hand, however, censorship can silence an individual’s political views and opinions, meaning that they cannot effectively share their thoughts and ideas with the world.
 When using online communities, the user should ensure that they are operating with good netiquette, in terms of both security and responsibility. People should consider the above factors when making a post or comment to prevent a negative response from others, in terms of abusive speech, or others in terms of having a job application turned down from what they post online.
Currently, existing laws are not formed around the digital world and as such are hard to enforce. Consequently, people should have a right for anonymity on the internet to prevent security risks and also a right to be forgotten, so that an individual is not always affected by the actions they have made online. As a result of these two factors, a change may occur to culture and law in the future, because of the nature of digital communities facilitating the wide distribution of content.

Essay Title  May 2014:
The digital world is constantly evolving, as people find new ways of using information technology in their every day lives.
Discuss the impact of these new uses of information technology on people’s daily lives. (6)
This essay will discuss the impact that new uses of information technology have on people’s daily lives.
In terms of security, through using a digital footprint that is created from transactional data for example, it is easier for police departments to track criminal activity, allowing for the faster arrest of criminals. In contrast with this however, the tracking of some individuals may be a privacy concern, as the social networks accounts of people are monitored unknowingly by an additional party.
The advancement of GPS has also had a positive and negative effect on people’s lives. Positively as meta data and GPS information is saved with the picture taken, allowing intended others to know where the person is, on holiday for example, and negatively in the same respect as such information could be used in criminal activity for stalking or theft of the individual as unintended people can also view the images.
In recent years, wearable technologies have been changing the way that people exercise, with people now being able to view the effectiveness of their workout and identity areas in which they need to improve.
Wireless technologies such as WiFi or 4G has allowed for people to keep up to date with friends, family, and the news online wherever they are, more convenient for those that have active lifestyles and change location a lot. Being able to access these services when out of the house allows them to receive content that is of importance to them instantly, without having to return home to get updated again.
Although technology is generally used for positive activity, due to their wide accessibility and functions there is a need for legislation regarding the digital storing, distributing and copying of data, as well as what can and cannot be done on a computer system. The placement of such laws prevents individuals from using technology to directly or indirectly cause harm to an individual or organisation, such as the computer misuse act preventing computers to be used for the creation of viruses and other such malicious software that can cause harm to a digital device. It is important however, as these laws can be broken, that an individual operates online safely and responsibly, ensuring that they do not share personal or sensitive information for people they do not know to see.
Furthermore, through the digital divide and disabilities, some people do not have proper access to ICT, meaning that they are put at a disadvantage for education, financially and socially. Despite this, technology can be used to assist the user in using the device or educating them on what they can do on the device. Technologies such as text to speech software or tablets and computers designed for a specific disability, such as those with poor sight featuring a larger screen and UI, will allow even those within the digital device because of a lack of technological education and those with disabilities to be given the same access to technology as others.

As technology has become so influential and prominent in the modern world, there is a need for sustainability in terms of the resources that are used to create these products and the impact that they have on the environment. Organisations such source materials sustainably so that the impact that digital devices have on the environment is reduced.

Essay Title  May 2014:
Discuss how an individual’s access to a wide range of online services affects their ability to operate safely in a digital world. (6)
This essay will discuss how an individual’s access to a wide range of online services could affect their ability to operate safely in a digital world.
When applying for a job, employers will learn more about a candidate and existing employees to protect the organisation’s reputation through the reviewing of their accounts on social media. If the user uploads inappropriate or hateful content to these accounts, they may be denied the job or lose their existing job.
Positively however, access online services allow for information to be extremely accessible, allowing for the easy enhancement of knowledge and understanding of subjects. The improvement of communication in addition to this allows for the distribution of information to be must faster than what was possible just a few years ago. People and also share information regarding how they can operate more safely online.
Furthermore, for people that do suffer from online crime, such as identity fraud or piracy, there is a lot of support that will allow them to recover their losses or prevent the distribution of their material illegally.
Online services have also become useful in allowing police departments and the government in tracking criminals who break the law. Through the reviewing of a user’s digital footprint, such organisations are able to track the activity of the criminal and eventually find ways in which their actions can be prevented.
The use of online communities allows for people to develop social skills that will help them in both current life, when interacting with new people, and future life such as when applying for a job. The worldwide nature of the internet allows for people of different cultures and races to communication easily with each other, enhancing knowledge of the world and improving social ability.
Data, however, can be at risk online if the user does not take effective steps into preventing such from occurring. Personal and sensitive information about an individual can be obtain by criminals for example to perform identity fraud, where the person affected will likely suffer from a financial loss. To counter this, therefore, individuals should understand to set strong passwords and change them frequently, using a different password for a different service. The monitoring of people and accessibility of information of an individual through social media sites for example cab invade privacy and have a negative emotional, and sometimes financial impact on the user.
In addition to digital threats, there are also physical threats to an individual such as grooming, stalking and cyber bullying. The user should be aware of ways in which these threats can be mitigated or removed entirely from their online accounts to operate safely online.

Essay Title  May 2016:
The nursery manager searches online for information about people who apply for a job at her nursery.  She finds a comment on a blog that worries her.
Discuss the impact of the widespread use of the internet on the availability, accuracy and control of online information about an individual. (6)
In this essay I will be discussing the impact of the widespread use of the internet to availability, accuracy and control of online information about an individual.
During a job application process, an organisation will review the online activity of an applicant or current employee as a way of maintaining their reputation. This benefits the business as it ensures that they do not employee people who operate irresponsibly online however is a negative for the employee as any past activity that they have performed will remain with them in their permanent digital footprint, even if they have changed how they operate online.
People or businesses can use social and specialist business networks to promote themselves or their views to people around the world. This is beneficial as they are able to increase brand awareness to the general public and those in specialist industries, increasing the chances of brand recognition and an increase in profits.
Information about an individual or organisation online however can sometimes be misleading or factually incorrect unintentionally or intentionally to support an alternative view without the person or organisation knowing. Because of this, individuals should be responsible when sharing images and content about people to others. Although somebody’s opinions and behaviours may change online, their previous actions and opinions may still exist online as taking down archived information removed is difficult. These actions may be one reason why an organisation chooses not to employ them when applying for a job, as doing so could damage the reputation of the business.
As there is a possibility for others to share, with and without permission, somebody’s actions or opinions with others online to an unintended audience, individuals should be considerate in what they post online for their own reputation and benefit. Personal information about an individual should also not be available to others, as such would be a danger to their own security and privacy.
The data protection act, a law depicting what an organisation can and cannot do with an individual’s personal and sensitive data, allows for individuals to have a level of control over what data is held about them, improving security and increasing privacy of such data.
The widespread use of the internet, as discussed, can have positive and negative impact on employment and reputation but also on relationships. Positively, the internet allows for people to share information about each other online quickly and easily, improving relationships. Negatively however, the widespread use of the internet means that rumours and false information can be shared in a community, leading to misunderstandings and the denouncing of innocent individuals in a relationship.

Essay Title  May 2013:
ICT has improved banking and other financial services. Make a reasoned argument to support this statement. (6)
In this essay I will make a reasoned argument to support the statement saying that ICT has improved banking and other financial services.
Compared to tranditional methods, online banking can save time as the customer does not need to travel to the bank within its opening hours as online banking is available 24/7 365 days a year. This is more convenient for the customer as it means that they can monitor and make changes to their account from home.
Another positive of banking online is that the processing of transactions is much quicker than waiting for banks to clear payments. This, again is more convenient for the customer and the other party they are sending money to.
A further advantage of banking online is that there are improved security features, including encryption, that making such a service more secure than ever. This means that the user can confidently store their money in a savings account with relatively little risk to them losing their money, making it perhaps more secure than storing money physically.
The final advantage I will discuss is that stocks and shared can be checked online and amounts raised or lost can be viewed in real time. This allows for greater profit margins as traders have the ability to trade more quickly and in larger sums effectively.

Essay Title  January 2012:
Anyone in the developed world can publish anything anytime, and the instant it is published it is globally available and readily findable.
Discuss the impact of the internet on the news and information services. (6)
This essay will discuss the impact the internet has on news and information sources.
Online news sources, such as through social media, give people freedom of speech and access to information locally and globally. As a result of this, people around the world become more informed and kept up to date on recent events across the world much quicker than traditional methods.
Online news also gives people a choice of what author and publisher they want to listen to. As most online newspapers are free, many providers have to work especially hard to overcome their competition and release high quality articles and an improved service, benefiting and drawing an audience.
The online nature of news websites also allows for people to post their own opinions, frequently, in the comments of an article, increasing the awareness that one can have for alternative views and encouraging constructive discussion.
Furthermore, some countries may censor physical newspapers to create bias articles that sway the public’s opinion unfairly. The accessing of online news sources however prevents this, allowing for even those living in such countries from consuming accurate, reliable and realistic news stories from around the world without bias. Bias, however, could also be a problem from people who only read news stories from a website that they prefer, as such an organisation may have an overlying opinion that they will accommodate their articles to.
Online news sources can be published by anyone, however, meaning that the quality of writing and the legitimacy of sources must be considered by the user as making sure sources are correct is difficult to check and police. In addition, sensitive data may be made public more easily from these reports and, if they go viral, can severely impact the privacy of the individual.

Essay Title  January 2013:
Some businesses give their delivery drivers GPS-enabled smartphones.  The smartphones are used to monitor the drivers’ movements and for communication. Discuss the advantage of the use of GPS-enabled smartphones. (6)
This essay will discuss the advantages of using GPS enabled smartphones.
One advantage of using a smartphone with GPS enabled is that a business is able to record communication between an employee and the customer and the business. This allows for the business to inform the customer on how fair their delivery is away from them and when they can expect it to arrive, improving customer satisfaction.
Another advantage would be that the phone can be used to set tasks, alerts and reminders and update calendars that improve the efficiency of work and inform the employee on what work they need to be doing during the day.
The use of GPS allows for drivers to find their way quickly, informing them on traffic ahead before rerouting them through a different road to save time. This decreases the amount of time that the customer has to wait to get their product and improves their shopping experience with the business.
Furthermore, an additional advantage to the business is that they can monitor the amount of work that the driver is doing, ensuring that they stay within legal requirements and, on the other hand, are working hard enough. This improves customer service as it will result in a lower delivery time.
Apps can be installed on smart phones that help to improve productivity, for example the driver can be sent through a messaging service a list of jobs and instructions for the day without needing to go back to the office. This saves times and means that the customer has to wait a shorter amount of time for their delivery. Additionally, the fact that the smart phone is multifunctional also means that the business saves money, as they only need to purchase one device per driver that can do the job of many different devices. This saving can then be passed onto the customer, meaning that the business is more competitive in terms of cost.
In addition, smart phones frequently have a camera feature that allows the driver and business to capture product images, record incidents on the road, make fall calls, texts and emails. This enhanced communication between the driver and the business allows for a better understanding as to how long the delivery will take, improving the experience that the customer has.
As a marketing tool, the smart phones can also be used to tweet and update the company website and social media pages when jobs are completed, enhancing prestige and gaining a positive online presence.