There are 3 sports centres in Brent that offer entertainment and services such as a sports hall and gym along with a venue hall to accommodate events. Brent Vale sports centre, Wilson leisure centre and the Bridge Park complex. They are all lacking in equipment and are under funded by the government. They can also become breeding grounds for violence gangs and drug meeting area for criminals, the Bridge Park complex was one such area but the council invested a lot of money and time to get rid of the drug dealers and trouble makers. Jobs could be used to help get young people of the streets and into a good job.
In Brent there is a high rate of unemployment because there are a lot of low skilled immigrants who do not know how to take advantage of courses offered by the council to
gain new skill or re skill. If the people were made more aware of the things on offer on an everyday basis these people would apply for courses hopefully pass and get a job to lower unemployment rates. By advertising these free courses e.g. on TV there would be more people enrolling in courses. So by advertising these courses people can get into a satisfying job that they are able to hold down and that can support them.
Brent has a high number of offenders. And it is a hard job keeping track of them all and making sure they do not re-offend. The police keep track of offenders by having a criminal database which has records on each person who has committed an offence and what it was when it was committed etc. There is a need for databases because without them it would be near impossible for police to examine whether someone has offended before or not. Databases also help police to make the decision whether or not to arrest a person who has been stopped on suspicious grounds. A quick check on the car database will reveal whether the person has a clean record or has offended before.
In Brent there is a lack of enough phone companies and communication technologies. Most of the phone lines in Brent were laid down and are still owned by BT this means that lots of people who do not want to be with BT face the choice of either staying with BT or paying higher charges on their phones with other phone companies. There is also a need of communication as when the unemployed get into a job they will need a mobile phone to communicate with workmates and friends. It is also a very good advantage to have a mobile phone in today’s day and age.
Technology One
CCTV (closed circuit television) is the use of cameras, either placed secretively to observe and monitor an area, or placed openly to deter offenders. It is a means by which crime rates are reduced in areas which are dogged by high crime rate and youth offenders. CCTV is able to capture images of offenders or a chain of events to be used as evidence in court. CCTV is fed back to 1 or more main control rooms where a number of personnel scan the various cameras to locate a problem and take appropriate action. CCTV has been in place since 1961 and is used up to this date. CCTV uses a series of coaxial cables and records the images onto a hard drive to be reused at later date. Since installation of CCTV in problem areas, police say crime rates have dropped. The use of CCTV is regulated by a series of rules in the privacy protection act.
EVALUATION INTO THE EXTENT THAT THE TECHNOLOGY MEETS THE COMMUNITIE’S NEEDS:
Brent has a need for CCTV as it is an area that is plagued by gangs, drug crime, gun crime and other forms of crime such as vandalism. The installation and monitoring of CCTV will help as it will deter offenders and it will help sentence criminals when used in court as evidence. CCTV also helps build up a picture of the crime rate of the area. Although CCTV is expensive and quickly becomes redundant and the older versions do not record in real time. CCTV meets the need I’ve identified by monitoring areas and helping make a better and safer area for people to live in. It does not meet the need as CCTV is restricted by the location it is placed in. When placed openly it may deter criminals but it might push offenders into a different area without CCTV therefore causing problems for that area.
CCTV could be improved by either installing high tech CCTV that can record crystal clear images to ensure there is no confusion of identity. CCTV could be improved by installing a grid network and ensuring there is no area left unseen in problem areas. This would be an expensive process but would greatly improve the quality of life of people. I believe there is no technology that meets this particular need better than CCTV as it has been created to serve this need specifically.
Technology 2
EXPLANATION OF ITS USE:
My second technology is databases. Databases are an invaluable resource used by a number of organizations namely the police force. Who use databases on a daily basis as an information source on past and present offenders. Databases where made in the early 50’s and became cost effective methods for data storage for private companies. Data bases are also used by other things like health records, a doctor can simply type you name and view a list of every prescription and symptom you’ve come to him about. This is good in the sense that it is less time consuming and allows the doctor to compare your previous ailments, but it creates the security problem of who can view and access this type of data. Although new ways of protecting and encoding this data are being come up with every day new ways of getting to this data are also being made.
It meets the needs of the community as it provides a fast and effective means for the police force to come up with previous evidence on criminals, allows doctors to access patients medical records and much more.
EVALUATION INTO THE EXTENT THAT THE TECHNOLOGY MEETS THE COMMUNITIE’S NEEDS:
Databases can store huge amounts of data that can be accessed and viewed at anytime by authorized personnel, this ability to recall a specific piece of data using a query or a search. This saves a lot of time and effort on the part of the person or organisation using the database. Databases allow this vast amount of info to be organised efficiently so it can be used with ease later on. The police need info on the growing number of offenders that are under 18. Tabs could be kept on these young offenders so if they offend again they are dealt with correctly. Police are able to simply type in the number plate on a car and the database recalls any information known about the car, where it was bought, who owns it, whether it is reported stolen, or if the license plate is a fake.
Databases although they are equipped with security are still vulnerable to the many hackers and unauthorized personnel after such data for miscellaneous ends. Some databases such as large SQL databases are also expensive and require a lot of maintenance and updating. Databases could come with more high tech means of stopping these intruders trying to get at the information and trace them so the necessary actions could be taken. Other technologies such as CCTV could be integrated with databases to run searches on cars and so on so the work load of the police could be cut.
Technology 3
The third technology I have chosen Mobile phones can be used to communicate with people, message people and also other things. Store contact information, Keep track of appointments and set reminders, Send or receive e-mail, Get information (news, entertainment, stock quotes) from the Internet Play simple games (Or more advanced on the newer phones). Integrate other devices such as PDA’s, MP3 players and GPS receivers. Mobile phones are fast becoming small portable laptops. This fast effective means of communicating all over the world is becoming very successful. Many millions are being invested by companies to further the technology of phones.
EVALUATION INTO THE EXTENT THAT THE TECHNOLOGY MEETS THE COMMUNITIE’S NEEDS:
Mobile phones meet the needs of my community as they will be able communicate with workmates and friends. Mobile phones allow people to access a range of features and services. Mobile call and text costs are relatively cheap and they have a wide range of companies to choose from and packs to opt for. Although mobile phones can create a situation where someone cannot bear to be without it. Mobile phones can also be a nuisance at the wrong places. Mobile phones could be improved by adding a voice activation system so it would reduce number of mobile phone related car accidents. New technologies such as smart phones integrate computerise and phones they sometimes work better than mobile phones.
Technology 4
My fourth technology I chose is entertainment technology such as games consoles, mp3 players and digital TV and internet. Games consoles have been around since the mid 19th century, the first of its kind was the super Nintendo. Primitive mp3 players were first bought out by Sony, in the form of the walkman. Digital TV’s today are advanced and slim, with high resolution images and many channels. Shops that offer internet surfing and game consoles with coffee and other things are now commonplace on the high street. The first major home console was the playstation also from Sony. It revolutionized the gaming industry offering high resolution graphics at home. Other companies soon followed after such as sega and Microsoft. Mp3 players are now available as slim and portable devices with USB storage capabilities. The internet allows people to communicate with each other and access fun things.
EVALUATION INTO THE EXTENT THAT THE TECHNOLOGY MEETS THE COMMUNITIE’S NEEDS:
When these entertainment technologies are employed and installed in places like youth clubs and after school activities they can aid to combat the increasing number of young offenders on the street. In this way the offenders are kept from offending, kept occupied and do recreational activities, hopefully peacefully interacting with people. The other form of entertainment would come in the form of sports centres that would serve a similar purpose as entertainment technologies; they would occupy these offenders keeping them off the streets and giving them a recreational activity to do. Activities such as listening to music watching a movie, while not useful to them in the long run is good for the community as it provides yob free streets.