5- Effects of using ICT

Engineer Amina Dessouky Information & Communication Technology 1

 In this chapter you will learn about:
– The effects of ICT on employment
– The effects of ICT on working patterns
– Microprocessor-controlled devices in the home

The four main areas where ICT has had an effect on

employment include:
•Manufacturing:- robots have replaced human workers in many
areas of manufacturing.
•Shop work:- online shopping has reduced the need for high-
street shops leading to loss of staff
•Banking:- ATM & online banking led to closure of many high-
street branches
•Office work:- spreadsheet, word processors & databases have
taken over many of the tasks carried out by the office staff.

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 5.1 The effects of ICT on employment
5.1.1 negative effects –job losses
Because companies now have access to so much cheap,
reliable computing power, they have changed the way
they are organised and the way they operate. As a
result, many people’s jobs have changed...
Office work
» Due to introduction of computers & new software work
could be done by fewer staff which led to redundancies
and retraining to remaining staff.

» Most software used: word processing, spread sheet &

database

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 5.1.1 negative effects –job losses
Word processors: documents can be stored on HDD or SSD in an
electronic format which made editing and printing much easier also
eliminate the need of file cabinets. Documents can be transferred
anywhere in the world by email or any newer technology such as
‘cloud storage’.
Spreadsheets: can be used in many areas where calculations,
graphs or charts need to be produced. Spreadsheet have good
advantages such as:
graphs and charts can be produced to compare between values
The use of conditional formatting to show different values
The use of built in functions
Databases:
Tasks like updating personnel data on regular basis can now be done
more effectively using database software.
DB can be centralised to transfer data between sites electronically.
This make it very quick and easy task to produce staff shortlist when a
new job opportunities were created.

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 5.1.1 negative effects –job losses

Manufacturing:
Job losses due to ICT have affected industry even more than in the
office environment. Introduction of robots in car manufacturing
reduced the need for manual labourers.
Robots are carrying out the following tasks:
• Spraying the bodies with paint
• Assembling all the body parts
• Assembling of the engine and transmission
• Fitting the windscreens
Robots are fitted with different devices known as end effectors that
allow various tasks to be completed:
• Spray gin to paint car body
• Welding gun to assemble body parts
• Vacuum/ suction cups to gently pick up windscreen and attach
them to the car
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 5.1.1 negative effects –job losses
Manufacturing:
There are tasks that usually carried by skilled human
workforce as:
• Fitting seats
• Dashboard
• Interior trim

Factory workers have to be retrained to do:

 maintenance of the robot
 quality control
 design and development
 marketing
 training other workers

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 5.1.1 negative effects –job losses
Manufacturing:
Advantages of using robots over human:
 Higher productivity
 More consistent results
 Robots work non-stop without breaks
 Robots don’t get bored by repetitive tasks
 Robots don’t get on strike asking for pay raise

Disadvantages of using robots over human:

 Robots are expensive to purchase and set up in the first place
 Robots often need to be programmed for every new task they
have to carry out
 If an error occurs in the robot’s programming or if it develops
mechanical problem number of production errors will occur

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 5.1.2 Positive effects
Offices have become more pleasant and safer places to work, while
the introduction of robots in manufacturing has led to cleaner, safer,
quieter and more pleasant working environment.

There have been a large increase in job opportunities

in some areas:
 network managers and computer technicians
 website designers
 system analysts
 programmers to write operating systems, applications software and
computer games
 computer engineers
 computer programmers
 delivery drivers to deliver goods to customers

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 5.2 The effects of ICT on working patterns

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 5.2 The effects of ICT on working patterns

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5.2 The effects of ICT on working patterns
Advantages of these working patterns:
 a contented workforce is more likely to stay in the job, thus
reducing the company’s recruitment and training costs for new
staff
 flexi-time allows them to remain open for longer hours
 job sharing ensures the company has more than one person with
a particular skill set
 compressed hours often lead staff to be more focused on their
work
 varied work patterns give more flexibility during busy times and
during staff sickness

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 5.3 Microprocessor-controlled devices in the
home
Many common household devices are now fitted with microprocessors
to control a large number of their functions.
Labour-saving devices:
Automatic washing machines
Microwave ovens
Cookers
Automatic dishwashers
Robotic vacuum cleaner
Bread-making machines
Smart fridges and freezers
Other types of devices:
Alarm clocks
Television sets
Central heating &air conditioning systems
Home entertainment systems

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5.3 Microprocessor-controlled devices in the home
Advantages & disadvantages of microprocessor-
controlled labour-saving devices:
Advantages Disadvantages
• People no longer have to do manual • Can lead to unhealthy lifestyle
tasks at home (reliance on ready made meals)
• No to stay home while food is cooking or • They tend to make people lazy since
clothes are being washed
• It is possible to control ovens and central
there is dependence on devices
heating systems using smart phones- a • People can become less fit if they
web-enabled phone allows devices to be just lie around at home while the
switched on or off while the owner is out devices carry out many of the manual
• Automated burglar alarm give people a tasks
sense of security and well-being as they • Tasks carried out by people in the
give a very sophisticated level of intruder past are now done by
warning at all times
microprocessor-controlled devices,
• Smart fridges and freezers can lead to
more healthy lifestyle & prevent food this means that these household skills
waste can be lost

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5.3 Microprocessor-controlled devices in the home
Advantages & disadvantages of other microprocessor-
controlled devices:

Advantages Disadvantages
• Microprocessor-controlled devices • The devices lead to a more wasteful
save energy since they are far more society-as it is usually not cost
efficient and can switch themselves off effective to repair circuit boards once
after inactivity for a certain time period they fail, the device is just thrown away
• It is easy to program these devices to • People who are not very confident
do tasks. around electronic devices
(technophobes) can find them complex
to operate
• Leaving devices on stand-by is very
wasteful of electricity

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5.4 Potential health problems related to the
prolonged use of ICT equipment
• Eye-Strain
This is caused by looking at a monitor which is a constant
distance away. The muscles that focus your eyes do not
move, and so get tired and painful. Eye-strain can also
cause headaches.
This problem can be solved:
• Look away from the monitor at regular intervals – re-
focus on distant or close objects to exercise the muscles
in the eye.
• Take regular breaks.
• Use an anti-glare filter in front of the monitor to cut
down on screen reflections that can also tire the eyes.

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 Back and Neck Ache
Many people suffer from back and neck pain
after working at a computer for a long time.
This is usually due to them having a bad
sitting posture.
This problem can be solved:
• Use an adjustable, ergonomic chair, and take
the time to set it up properly.
• The computer keyboard and monitor should be
at the correct height for the seated person
(keyboard lower than the elbow, top of monitor at
eye level).
• Take regular breaks: get up, walk around,
stretch your muscles

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 Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) in Wrists and
Hands
Any repetitive movement (same movement over and over
again) can result in a health problem called repetitive
strain injury (RSI).
In particular, typing and using a mouse for long periods
are common causes of RSI in the wrist (it is often called
carpal-tunnel syndrome).
This problem can be solved:
• Use a wrist-rest to support the wrists while
typing and when using the mouse.
• Take regular breaks from typing or using
the mouse.

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 Safety Issues
Trailing Cables :
Solution: Place cables inside cable ducts, or
under the carpet / flooring
Spilt Drinks or Food
Solution: Keep drinks and food away from
computers
Overloaded Power Sockets
Solution: Never plug too many cables into a
socket. Always make sure there are fire
extinguishers nearby
Heavy Objects Falling
Solution: Make sure equipment is placed on
strong tables / shelves
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