Use of networks at work and at home

3.3.4

The aim of this presentation

You will need to be able to Discuss the use of networks both in the workplace and at home.

Because of this, you will need to:› identify different uses, their short term impact

and long term consequences for different groups of people or

› identify the pros and cons of networks and the impact and consequences they have.

Introduction

Networking computers has made information and data sharing easier than ever before…

And as such, communication has been even easier!

Introduction

People used to communicate information using basic methods which made use of Light and Sound. Setting fires was one of the fastest ways of providing warnings about enemies attacking.

Introduction

But times have changed since then…

And an uncountable amount of data is transferred across networks each day.

Data is transferred for different reasons…both in the workplace and at home…

The list is exhaustive and cannot be completely covered in this presentation…so it will be down to you to find other examples that aren’t included.

The Internet

The Internet is the best example of a network.

Computers connected all over the world sharing information.

It is used by many different people for many different things…

Networks at work

The use of networks is key for management and communication.

Work files can be shared and can be collaboratively worked on from different work stations.

Printing can be centralised and software updates installed easily.

Also, networks allow workers to be monitored and their actions recorded. Files can be kept secure using user access rights.

Networks at home

Allows multiple devices to be connected together:› Laptops and PCs› Consoles› Wireless photo albums and music hubs

Many households now make use of network storage devices to store all media on including Films, Music and Pictures.

Printing can also be centralised.

How to take this further…

Now that you have identified some of the basic uses of networks…

You need to talk about short term impacts and long term consequences from different points of view.

For example, you might like to talk about how a student makes use of a network and how a parent might make use of a network at home.

In the text book…

Rather than telling you all about it…

There are some excellent examples in the text book on pages 137 to 140.

Read through the examples and mind map out ideas for the following things:› What are the uses› What are the short term impacts› What are the long term consequences› Any pros and cons that you have found

Example Questions

Describe how a family might make use of a home wireless network.› [6 marks]

Discuss the use of networks in the home.› [11 marks]

Explain how the management could make use of a network at work.› [4 marks]

Discuss the use of networks in the workplace.› [11 marks]