Me, Myself and I.C.T

In this piece of coursework I will be describing the technology I use at school, home and socially. I will describe how to use them and how they meet my needs.

Promethean Whiteboard

Theses are interactive whiteboards; we have them in most classrooms. They can be linked up to the internet, and everybody can learn more while having fun. You can play games and have everybody involved; you can show aims and objectives for different lessons so people can leave it on for people to copy down at their own pace. The teachers can present all their work to the students easily without the cost of printing and dozens of photo copies. You can also get a blank worksheet up and use the pen included with the whiteboard to write information needed also students can get more involved as they get a chance to use yourself. You don’t have to use an over head projector any more, and have a danger on tripping over wires. The programme used is active studio.

Some of the disadvantages are sometimes the pen will not work properly, when you try and write, it misses out letters so you have to put pressure on the pen as you write. You have to get permission off the teacher, whose room it is that has the whiteboard fixed inside. Another disadvantage is you can’t use a normal pen on the interactive whiteboard, because it won’t come off, you will have to use mentholated spirits to get the pen off the board.

I use these interactive whiteboards in Science, History and English, in History it helps with solving how reliable or detailed the source is. In Science they show word equations and our objectives. In English our teacher can put on the board what we need to do in that lesson or a document which we have top copy up.

The Interactive is one thousand pound, the projector is two thousand pounds the pens are forty pound and the speakers are two hundred to three hundred pound.

This meets my needs by improving the quality of my education, I am able to see easily and I can get involved more as it is interactive.

HL6050D Brother Printers

We can print off any of work at any time. We can do homework at home and send it to school and print off at school. This printer will print off black and white at school we also have a coloured printer. Printing can make your work look more professional and can keep your work for further reference. Printers are fast and an easy way to print your work and pictures.

The disadvantages of this printer are, staff or technicians have to replace the ink cartridges that cost quite a lot of money also have to buy the paper or photo paper.

The printer costs three hundred and fifty pound.

Telephone

In the reception there is a phone in reception for anyone to use in an emergency. You have to pay on the pay phone twenty pence for a few minutes. This is good because you can ring your parents or guardians at ask them if they can bring something to school you have forgot or if you want to stay behind at school and do work or extra curriculum. I feel it meets my needs as I can always contact my parents, family or friends so they will know where I am, so they know I am safe.

The disadvantages are, that you may not have any money, but there is another phone you could use free of charge. Also if you want to talk to the receptionist’s and they are on the phone, if it as important message they may be on the phone for a long time, so you may never get to tell them your message as you will have had to go because of the bell going for end of break, dinner or next lesson.

Compared to a Mobile Phone the telephone will come below the mobile because the mobile is transportable but there is the problem of low signal which the telephone doesn’t suffer with.

The average cost of a home or offices phone varies from twenty pound to one hundred pounds.

R.M Computers/Laptops

I can use these computers when ever we want, to get work done or finish our homework. I generally use Microsoft Word to publish all of my documents as it will look more professional. I also use Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint and Mind Manager Smart 2.1. These programmes are useful because they look professional once produced as there is a grammar and spell checker.

The disadvantages of computers are they freeze occasionally and they loose your work if you don’t save properly. The disadvantages of laptops are they have tendency to freeze which may cause loss of work. It means that I can never loose my work as it can always be backed up. It also means that I can work on a computer anywhere in the school and I don’t have to go to the same computer every time I want to complete work.

I think the wireless laptop is better than the normal laptop because the wireless can be moved around whilst doing work but the normal laptops have to be plugged in for it to work, but wireless laptops are known to be very slow using the internet and programmes which doesn’t enable you to complete work in lesson time.

R.M computers on average cost seven to eight hundred pounds. R.M laptops on average cost from five hundred and fifty pounds.

Compared to a desktop computer the laptop, the desktop computer is quicker and has more memory, depending on the type of computer.

Televisions

We occasionally use televisions to watch films or recorded tapes for a lesson, for example in History we would watch a programme of medieval times that someone has recorded for us, and this helps us get information by a fun way of learning and may help remember it quicker.

The disadvantage is that the teachers have to book a time, date and lesson so sometimes the television is ...

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Compared to a desktop computer the laptop, the desktop computer is quicker and has more memory, depending on the type of computer.

Televisions

The disadvantage is that the teachers have to book a time, date and lesson so sometimes the television is not available for the day we were going to use it. The televisions are hardly needed any more as most classrooms now have Promethean whiteboards. If the television is not already in the room by the time we get to the classroom, someone will have to be sent to fetch and wheel the computer to the room and set it up which may take quite a bit of time.

Televisions are more useful than laptops and computers in the way of watching DVD’s and Videos and the screen resolution (widescreen) but laptops and computers can’t play videos they can only play DVD’s but doesn’t have a variety of screen sizes such as widescreen.

Televisions cost from fifteen pounds to thousands of pounds. It depends on what make, model and size, to how much a television cost.

School Bell

A programmed school bell is to be played at certain times of the day to alert us when to change lessons, when break and dinner has started and ended.

There is a disadvantage because some days they don’t work, and we are late for lessons or teachers don’t let us out on time. People without watches will turn up late to their next lesson.

I think there should be a manual bell that an assigned person should ring, so then there would be less confusion, and you would be certain the bell would go off in time for next lesson or end of lesson and there would me no need for people to be late but a person may forget which will cause confusion and people to be late for a lesson. For it to be loud enough you may need to plug it in to an amp.

There is software called BellComander to help control and set the bells.

Calculators

We use scientific calculators generally for maths, sometimes for science too.

There are lot’s of additional buttons on a scientific calculator are that help you work out equations in more detail. They help in tests as they do allow you to have calculators in certain tests.

The advantages are students can use these to check answers and depending on which paper students need to take, a calculator is needed.

The disadvantages of calculators are that batteries go and when they it does the screen fades so you can’t see the numbers on the screen.

USB Stick

I use these to save my work on, so when I am on another computer and I want to finish my work and can put my USB stick into the back of computer then that information will be sent to the computer.

The USB stick is 256 Mb, it is more reliable than e-mail because sometimes it hasn’t sent and you can be in a lot of trouble but with an USB stick it will defiantly be stored.

The disadvantages of a USB stick are that if you mislay it, everyone will have access to your work or personal records if they are on the stick.

With an USB Stick I can complete work, from school, at home. Memory sticks are more reliable than E-mail. This will mean you will spend more time at school finishing work than having to stay behind at school.

Internet

At our school we use broadband internet. I use the internet at school daily, to find information, if you can’t find information in a book also it is quicker, and pictures. I mostly use the internet in English, ICT and Maths, when we have homework.

The disadvantages of the internet are that the system breaks down so we are unable to use the internet. There is a programme called Easy Mail, where we can read our emails that student’s or teachers have sent us. We can receive e-mails from our friends or teachers will send us our grades, such as I.C.T will send us our grades to a project.

E-mail

We have our owm E-mail set up at school it is called EasyMAil.

We are each issued with a user name, which is normally your surname followed by the first initial of your first name in my case it would be, brookesc, then we are each given a password to start with, once we get used to the system we can choose our own password. We can send and receive messages from pupils and staff, or if we have work at home we can send it in to school and we can send work at school to home via E-mail, so we can finish any outstanding work in our own time at home.

Xbox

I use an Xbox at home, to play games. I go on games such as The Sims, Hunter, Halo and others.

The disadvantages are that sometimes they freeze, when you ask them to do too much.

Xbox is run by Microsoft, you can get a range of accessories for your Xbox such as Xbox controllers, Xbox memory unit and an Xbox remote.

This meets my needs because it entertains me when I am bored.

I have never been on Xbox live; you play against people all over the world playing the game that you are playing.

Motorola Razor V3i

This is my phone I use daily, this satisfies my needs because I can arrange days out with my friends, and find out what time I will be back, how much money I will need and where we will be going, so my parents know exactly where I am it also makes me feel safer.

Mobile phones are clever because its portable which allows you to take it places with you in your pocket or handbag.

This phone has expandable memory which allows you to add more songs and videos. It has games to play, when I play when I am bored.

My mobile is on Virgin network, I have a package where when you pay £10 a month you get 300 free texts and minutes and if you don’t use the 300 texts and minutes in a month it goes over and you have 300 and the left over texts and minutes left. This means that I am spending money for a service that I am not using. One way that I could improve my phone is to buy one of the new I Phones this would mean that I could communicate more with my friends. It would mean that I could communicate with them on MSN and watch videos and listen to music. I could use it to carry files on it so I would be able to do more work that I am currently doing.

Television

Televisions satisfies my needs because when I am bored I can watch television programmes, Sky Plus have a package when you can record programmes and watch them back at any time, any day, it also allows you to pause live television, Telewest have a similar package which allows you to do the same things as Sky Plus, I have that package. My television is a Samsung and it is HD, High definition, ready.

This is good because if I miss a programme, I can pre set the programme to be recorded which allows me to watch it at any time.

Also I can get on to teleport replay, when I can watch programmes on BBC channels, Challenge, Living TV, E4 and Channel Four. It lasts a week, for example if I missed a programme on Monday the following Tuesday I won’t be able to watch it, as the week will be over.

I use this when I am at home or at a friends if we get bored, music channels I tend to watch with my friends.

I can use this socially because if my friends comer round we can watch television together.

One way I could improve my entertainment is to have one of the satellite services. This would mean that I would have more channels to watch I could watch movies and listen to music and be better entertained. I could also set the box to record my programmes so that I would never miss them.

Computer

I use a computer most days to read my e-mails, go on msn, and go on the internet. I can go on lots of sites, for education and entertainment.

I can use this socially because some game sites you can play against people all over the world.

I also have music stored on my computer, played on Windows Media Player.

The disadvantages are that some times they freeze and if you haven’t saved your work then you could lose it all.

CD Player

This allows you to play CD’s, tapes and listen to the radio. When I am bored I can listen to music. If I listen to the radio, I tend to listen to Galaxy, BRMB, Radio 2 or Heart FM.

I can use this socially because I and friends can listen to music together, and we can find out what types of music we each like.

MP3 Player

I listen to music which I have put onto my MP3, from my computer. To get music onto your MP3, from your computer, you need to plug the MP3 into the USB slot, which is situated on the tower of my computer.

My MP3 needs one AAA battery it is 128 Mb, which I have to change about every two months. The disadvantages of an MP3 are that the headphones may break from the connection of the MP3, so you will need to change them, which may be difficult, if the original headphones are attached to the MP3.

It is a good invention because you can listen to your favourite music while on the move. The disadvantage to that is that it may distract you, from road safety.

I can use it socially by allowing my friend to have one ear piece in their are, and I have the other ear piece on my ear.

Portable DVD Player

I use a portable DVD, when travelling long distances or when I am bored.

These are light, and can be charged, there is a facility that allows you to plug in an adapter, if you haven’t got any battery, so you can watch films. You can also plug headphones in to the DVD player, which lets you; hear your film, without disrupting everyone else’s activities.

The screen easily gets finger prints and smudges on, so I have to clean it, when I want to watch a film.

There is a remote to use to but you have to get it directly in line with the remote sensor for it to work.

I can use this socially because me and my friend can watch films together.

MSN Messenger

I use MSN Messenger daily, I talk to my friends, make arrangements, and it is also instant.

MS|N is quicker than sending an e-mail, MSN is instant, as long as the person you need to talk to is online. You can also arrange days out with your friends, you can ask a friend a question about homework or something important, without having to worry about the cost of a phone call. MSN is free, even though you have to pay for the internet. You can have a package that you only have to pay for the internet that includes a phone package too. I have a package, when you pay for the phone, internet and television, monthly.

I can also arrange my social life with my friends, such as if we all arrange to meet up I will know what day, what time and where to meet, so I can tell my family so they know where I am.

E-Mail

I have an e-mail account on Hotmail. I read my e-mails regularly and sometimes e-mail back.

I can receive e-mails form all over the world, also pictures from people’s holidays, or general pictures. E-mail is not instant.

It looks very professional, if you are writing to a company to complain or praise a product, and companies may take you more seriously on an E-mail, using the correct language and punctuation.

Internet

I use the Internet socially by going on different sites, such as music sites or game site, I can look at these with, my friend and we will both be interested.

You have to pay for the Internet but I have a package for the Internet, Phone and Television paid altogether.

Nintendo DS

With my Nintendo DS, I have two games to play on. It needs charging regularly, but once charged it will last a few days.

It does scratch easily though, it never freezes. There’s even software on it that is like msn, but you can’t be a certain distance apart, other wise it won’t work and you become disconnected.

I use it to take to my friends or families houses, if they have got a Nintendo, so we can play together. Ds too

You can buy accessories for your DS, such as extra pens, bags or special protection cases or a handle to attach on, which allows you to hang the DS off your wrist.

This piece of technology, allows you to play on a wireless connection as long as you are a certain distance apart, co you can play the same game together.

With this I can go on long journeys without getting board easily, this will give me something to do.

House Phone

My home phone is the BT freelance XD510 model.

I can make calls to my friends and family and arrange days out or to catch up on news and gossip and by doing this I am using the phone socially.

It also has a built in answering machine, so i can listen to messages people have left, when the house has been empty and no ones in. I can record my own message for people to hear before hey leave a message. To let me no if i have a message the phone will beep every certain amount of time, it also flashes the number of message I have received whilst being out.

There is a Page button, which when I press I can Find the phone and put it back in the holder to charge. There are volume buttons to increase or decrease the sound.

Xbox

I can use this when I am bored, to keep me busy for a while.

The disadvantage I may want to use the Xbox but can’t because there is somehting on the television that we want to watch.

Motorola Razor V3i

I use my Motorla Razor V3i personally by saving memo’s or arranging alarm clocks set at different times of the day or playing games.

I can also ring home, to say I will be late or to arrange where I am going.

Televison

I use a television personally for watch my favourite programes, DVD’s and listening to music.

The disadvantage is that I may want to watch a programme but am not able to becauses there may be a channel that others may want to watch.

It is a HD, High definition, ready television, it also has a Telewest package where I am aloud to watch programmes that I have missed on Teleport Replay.

Computer

I uses a computer personally by going on the Internet, paint, word applications and for saving and downloading music.

I also use Msn, where I can talk to all my friends, and arrange days out.

I use the internet for finding out information, for homework or quizes and for entertainment such as game sites or music sites.

My internet is Telewest broadband.

MP3 Player

I use a MP3 player personal by listening to my music, I can also store documents, such as school work i can tarnsport straight ointo the computer similar to a Usb stick on there and use it similar to a USb stick.

The disadvantage is that I can put videos and pictures onto it but I cannot view them, also it can only store a certain amount of songs.

Portable DVD Player

I use this personally by being able to watch films whenever I want.

I can use this travelling on long journeys, so I will not get bored as easy.

The diadvantage is that the battery may go, whilst watching a film, so I will need to charge it before hand, so it doesn’t run out.

Burglary Alarm

I use a burglary alarm personally because it helps protect your house whilst you are out.

For it to work before you leave the house I have to put the pin code in, that you are issued with or make up yourself, and then I can go out and know that my home is protected.

Digital Camera

I use a digital camrea to take picture for sentimental value or catching memories or a beautiful scene.

I can then transport my pictures from the camera onto the computer, so then incase of a fault to do with the camera and the memory of the card, but being on the comuter you can then put them onto a disk.

This is more reliable to a normal camera beacuse you can take pictures and not have to go to a photo develpers, and have to wait a week or so to get your photos back. This saves money, time and effort, by not having to go down the town, spending the money on getting the photographs developed and arranging a time to pick the photographs up as you may be too busy.

A digital camera is more useful than a normal camera because a digital camera has better quality and doesn’t need develping you can do it yourself whereas a normal camera has to be devolped professionally and has a poor wuality.

Nintendo DS

I use this personally by playing games. If I am bored I can switch my gamestaion on and play a game on my own.

Fridge/Freezer

My fridge is an Hotpoint fridge, freezer.

I use it personally by being able to go into the fridg and get food or snacks at any time fo the day.

The disadvantage of fridges and freezers are

when you have a power cut the freezer will start to defrost, which makes the frozen food defrost, the fridge will start to get warm, so all the food in the fridge that needs to be cold will start to get warm and may start to go off.

It even tells you what temperature the fridge is at, on a digital clock.

Washing Machine

My washing machine is a Hotpoint washing machine, it is model WF000, 1000 spin.

I use this personally because sometimes I load and unload the washing machine.

It has a key on the top left hand side of the waching machine, which tells you what letter stands for a certain wash such as;

A – Prewash J – Hand Wash Wool

B – White Cotton K - Silks
C – Superwash L - Fast Wash

D – Coloyrfast Cotton M – Hand Wash

E – Fast Wash

F – Colourfast Cotton

G – Coloured Synthetics

H – Acrylics

The is a final sign that stands for pump out, that is not represented by a letter.

The letters and symbols on the key, are all on the dial but as there is not enough room in the dial to tell you what every letter or symbol means, they have designed a key for ease.

There are also buttons that you can press to change settings, there is an on/off button on the top right corner placed next to a start/cancel button. There are also buttons for an Energy Save, Ruduce Creases, Rinse Hold, Time Save and Extra Rinse.

There arr also lights, to alert you of any change or to tell you what the washing machine is doing now, these show you when the Door Locked, Prewash, Wash, Rinse and Spin and Final Wash.

The draw to place tablets or softner is to the left side near the corner.

Dishwasher

My dishwasher is a Hotpoint dishwasher it is the model FDW60.

I use this personally because I load and unload the dishwasher.

It has a Start/Reset button and an On/Off button, when the dishwasher is on a red light is permanently on.

There is also a button to select the option you want the dishwasher to preform, Delay Start, Prewash, wash, Rinse and Drying. There is another button to selcet what type of wash you want, Intensive – 65 degrees, Normal – 55 degrees, Eco – 45 degrees, Fast Prewash – 40 degrees and Delicate – 50 degrees.

Tumble Dryer

My tumble dryer is a Bosch tmble dryer, model WTA 2000.

I uses this personally because I load and unload the tumble dryer.

It has a start button which lights up red, when the tumble dryer is in action. The dial shows times, simple turn the dial until you reach the time you want, for it to dry the clothes inside. It has a key which tells you the different materials and the times and temperatures needed to dry the materials.

Microwave

My microwave is a Hinari Elipse microwave oven and grill, 800WE.

I use this personally by reheating or defrosting the food I am about to eat.

It has a start/quick strat button and a stop/cancel button. There are options for example, 1 – Coffee, 2 – Rice, 3 – Spaghetti, 4 – Potato, 5 - Auto Reheat, 6 – Fish, 7 – Chickem, 8 – Beef/Mutton and 9 -m Stewered Meat. The dial allows to to change the time, to the tome needed to cook something. The are other buttons, Power button, Grill/Combo button, Clock button and Auto Cook button.

Internet

I use the the internet personally by being able to find information for myself, independantly or go on game sites, music sites or friends sites, such as Bebo or Piczo.

The advantages are that I can use the internet at any time of the day, for personal and school work.

You do have to pay for the Internet but I have a package which allows you to payn for the Internet, Telephone and Television at one time.