Poverty is a large factor for the reason of Digital Divide. Obviously, Lesser Economically Developed Countries (LEDC) are going to suffer greatest with their lack of technology for multiple reasons. Residents living in countries that have high poverty levels are more than likely going to spend their wages on their family and bringing food to the table- the average wage is so low that they cannot afford to sustain a family and own technological goods. This makes it near to impossible for those families to purchase luxury goods like phones or computers. This also means very basic technological goods have probably not been used that we usually see as a basic need for living e.g. ovens, microwaves, internet and cars. The country which we most relate to being and LEDC is Africa, where there is cases of famine and disease which all lead to death. This makes it clear that technology is something that nearly every person needs to survive.
We can see clearly from this map alone that there so few computers in LEDC's such as South Africa and parts of South America. Whereas in the richer parts of the world such as Europe and America we can see that near enough every household (49.74 - 89 per 100) has a computer which they have easy access too. Aswell as this they probably will have access to the internet which I expect the majority of people cannot live without.
The police service are improving very rapidly due to the introduction of ICT. They can now take advantage of a situation due to their use of ICT. It affects police officers whereever they are e.g. street officers are able to to keep in contact with the rest of the forces with the use of high quality radio systems which are clear and secure to only the police force. They also use word processors in order to type out quickly and efficiently crime reports which would have taken much longer if it had to have been written out. Furthermore, the police use huge intergrated crime database systems in order to record every crime that has ever committed. This ca help solve them aswell as they are able to look for links and patterns between all fo the cases. Aswell as this they can store handprints, fingerprints and DNA evidence. Police can use CCTV and other computerised forensic analysis machines in order to aid them in finding evidence to help them find and charge the right criminal.
Speed Cameras
A traffic enforcement camera also known as a speed camera is a system, including a camera which may be mounted beside on over a highway or installed in an enforcement vehicle to detect traffic regulation violations, including speeding, vehicles going through a red traffic light, unauthorized use of a bus lane, for recording vehicles inside a congestion charge area and others. These cameras have the ability to take clear pictures of any moving vehicle enabling police to see the numberplate allowing them to easily track down the owner of the car in order to charge them accordingly. To do this the cameras use Automatic number plate recognition which is a mass surveillance method that uses optical character recognition on images to read the license plates on vehicles. Speed cameras are extremely controversial, this is because people believe they are a distraction to drivers, causing them to panic and slow down causing an accident. On the other hand, they dramtically decrease speeding in areas. Speed cameras are gaining £20million worth of fines to the treasury every year.
Benefits of Speed Cameras
1. Speed Costs Lives
Road traffic accidents cost the lives of over 3,100 people in the UK alone.
It is the biggest cause of death for those under 30 years of age.
Being hit by a car at 40mph 9/10 people die:
Being hit by a car at 30mph 5/10 people die:
If speed camera's are used and placed in the best locations, then cutting speed, can and will save lives.
In 2002, 3431 people lost their lives on our roads. 33% of these deaths were due to excessive speed. 179 of those killed were children. The Association of Chief Police Officers says that speed is the most important factor in road crashes, more so than even drink or drug driving. [1]
2. Economic Benefit.
The economic benefit is not from the small amount of revenue raised. The economic benefit is from the reduction in accidents and deaths. The economic cost of a road death is estimated at £1 million. This includes costs of police, hospitals, lost earnings e.t.c. Saving lives, especially that of young people definitely has an economic benefit. Of course, it is difficult, if not impossible, to place a value on a human life, but there is a definite measurable economic cost which does justify reducing deaths through speeding.
3. Speed Camera's are a tax on the rich and stupid.
Speed camera's are not really a tax because there is no obligation to pay it. If you drive safely and stick to the speed limits you will never have to pay it. People who either don't care about paying a fine or drive carelessly, will however pay it. This means money is raised to be spent on various improvements. When other people pay fines for speeding, it means other real taxes can be lower. The rich and reckless, are just subsidising those who drive responsibly.
4. Good for environment
Lower speed is more efficient leading to lower fuel consumption. This will help reduce carbon emission and global warming.
5. High Speed is bad for communities and other types of exercise.
Many villagers ask to have speed cameras because they know quality of life improves when speed limits are introduced. Studies have shown that excessive speed supreses cycling and walking
Criticisms of speed cameras
1. They cause accidents because people brake from 40 to 30mph.
People shouldn't be driving at 40mph
Government should use average speed cameras
2. Speed is not the main cause of death.
Here people misquote DFI statistics. Speed definitely is a cause of death on the roads.
3. Countries without speed cameras have lower death rates.
It is not possible to compare countries because factors vary significantly. What is important is the effect speed cameras have on reducing death and accidents on that particular road.
CCTV Cameras
Normal security cameras work in a similar way to traffic cameras in that the police men can watch what is happening live. Security cameras are not as useful when it comes to recognising people as they can not recognise an individual person. However, they can be programmed to alert the police to anyone who looks similar to the suspect. Although not as useful as traffic cameras, this is still very useful as the police will still be informed, whereas without the camera the police would not know until later if at all.
CCTV cameras work in much the same way as speed cameras in that police are able to view footage of a particular location enabling them to have an idea of what could have happened at that particular incident. Saying this, CCTV is sometimes quite poor quality and can not always recognise the criminal. However, they can be programmed to alert the police to anyone who looks similar to the suspect. Although not as useful as traffic cameras, this is still very useful as the police will still be informed, whereas without the camera the police would not know until later if at all.
Police Radios
Police use radios called Airwaves, to keep in contact with the rest of the force including other officers and also back to the computer aided dispatch room back at base. With these radios officers are able to communicate with the base station so they are aware of the situation the are able to enter. Also they might need to ask them details about the person they are about to charge this gives them a better outlook on the criminal they may be about to deal with. If an officer is in trouble then they are able to talk with other street officers for back up this is usually the case when there are not enough officers to deal with the specific siuation. This enables police to more successfully co-ordinate an operation, whether it is a car chase or a raid on a building. These increased levels of communication mean that the police can work more efficiently as a team which results in more arrests being made and less convicts escaping.
Police Tagging
Criminals who are release from prison, but do not pose an immidiate threat to the community as a whole may be tagged. This involves an electronic GPS emmiting device to be attached to the leg of th offender and signals are continually sent to a monitoring centre which is able to track the criminals location at all times. If the tag is forcebally removed of tampered with, then the polic are alerted and come within minutes to check that the individual has not breached th agreed terms and the they have not commited another crime. Sex offenders for example are often barred from going near parks or schools. They may also be confined to a certain area around their home and may have a curfew stopping them from being out too late at night.
Tagging could be the answer to rising prison populations as it enables police to make sure the criminal is out of trouble all the time plus they do not need to take up space in a prison for a petty crime such as the one they have probably commited. The tags also keep the society aware of who is a criminal because it can be easily visible on the culprits leg. This allows people to keep away from a person such as this. Furthermore, these tags are savng money because the goverment does not need to pay out a lot of money on prison supplies such as food and hygeine. This is one of the reasons why tagging is used more than a straight prison sentance.
Advantages
Stops overcrowding prisons
Allows minor criminals to still suffer a punishment
The criminal is being tracked at all times
police are able to reach the criminal within minutes
saves a lot of money because they do not need to sustain them in a prison
Disadvantages
Criminals could see this as an easy way out and may recommit crimes as it could be that they are not getting punished properly for it
May have a negative effect on the criminals mental state
The tags may malfunction ad allow the criminal to be free for some time. (can be seen below)
New Stories
Breakdowns in police radio system
The hi-tech Airwave system was introduced in 2005
A new police communication system has been plagued by breakdowns, including during some of the biggest emergencies in Devon and Cornwall.
"Airwave" failed on 93 occasions between 2005 and 2008, according to figures released under a Freedom of Information request.
The hi-tech digital radio system failed when the MSC Napoli ran aground and looters descended on Devon in 2007.
Devon and Cornwall Police said it was working hard to build new masts.
The force admitted problems had occurred in remote areas or when the volume of calls had overwhelmed the system.
Home Affairs Correspondent Simon Hall explains the "Airwave" police radio system
The police federation told BBC South West's Home Affairs Correspondent Simon Hall it was concerned about the reliability of the Airwave system.
Federation spokesman Sgt Steve Tovagliari said: "It's a major issue for us because our primary concern is for officers' welfare and safety.
"If the system fails, obviously the officers aren't going to be afforded the protection for them or the people of Devon and Cornwall."
AIRWAVE BREAKDOWNS
2005 - 26 faults logged
2006 - 19 faults logged
2007 - 14 faults logged
2008 - 34 faults logged
But Devon and Cornwall Police said Airwave was an improvement on its old analogue radios.
"It works and there's been investment which will allow it to move into the future," force spokesman Tim Bishop said.
"The public should be assured it provides us with the communication we need to support public safety."
ICT has allowed many different ways for people to to bank and supervise their finances. It has also affected the way people shop either instore or from the comfort of your own home either through internet shopping or by using your debit or credit card to make virtual transactions from your bank account without the use of physical money.
ATM machines
An ATM machine also known as a Cash Machine , is a computerised device that provides people with access to financial transactions in a public space without the need for a cashier, human clerk or bank teller. On most modern ATMs, the customer is identified by inserting a plastic cashpoint card with a magnetic stripe , that contains a unique card number and some security information such as an expiration date. Authentication is provided by the customer entering a PIN.
Using an ATM, customers can access their bank accounts in order to make cash withdrawals, credit card cash advances, and check their account balances as well as purchase prepaid cellphone credit. This is hepful when you are in need If the currency being withdrawn from the ATM is different from that which the bank account is denominated in (e.g. Withdrawing Japanese Yen from a bank account containing UK Sterling), the money will be converted at a wholesale exchange rate. This is very useful when a client is in a rush in a foreign country.
Internet Banking
Internet Banking keeps you in touch with your account whenever you like. It’s fast, convenient and easy to use the following services every day. You are able to search through your statements eithe by date, how much is in your account or the payment type. You can view all of your transactions and download statements into a spreadsheet or a financial software package. By using online banking you are able to check your up to the minute balance online and keep on top of the money going in and out of your accounts. Also with internet banking you are able to move money between the various accounts which you may have within a bank. This also allows you to recieve bills online which you can be alerted by emails when new bills arrive and you can make bill payments whenever you want. Furthermore, you can now choose not to recieve paper bills which is a lot easier for the person managing their accounts. This is also better for the enviroment as less paper will be used. Finally, you can manage all of your accounts with the bank and view your other accounts which include most credit cards, savings and loan balances.
Advantages of online banking
1. An internet banking account is simple to open and use.
You just enter a few answers to questions in a form while sitting comfortably in your own home or office. To access your account, you establish security measures such as usernames and passwords. To complete the set up of your account, you just print, sign and send in a form.
2. Internet banking costs less.
Because there are fewer buildings to maintain, and less involvement by salaried employees, there is a much lower overhead with online banks. These savings allow them to offer higher interest rates on savings accounts and lower lending rates and service charges.
Even traditional brick and mortar banks offer better deals such as free bill paying services to encourage their customers to do their banking online.
3. Comparing internet banks to get the best deal is easy.
In a short time, you can visit several online banks to compare what they offer re savings and checking account deals as well as their interest rates.
Other things you can easily research are what credit cards are available, credit card interest rates, loan terms and the banks own rating with the FDIC.
4. Bouncing a check (accidentally) should be a thing of the past because you can monitor your account online any time, day or night.
You can track your balance daily, see what checks have cleared and when and know when automatic deposits and payments are made. This is all possible by simply going online to the banks website and logging into your account.
5. You can keep your account balanced using your computer and your monthly statement.
Your bank account information can be downloaded into software programs such as Microsoft Money or Quicken, making is easy to reconcile your account with just a few mouse clicks. The convenience of the data capture online makes it much easier to budget and track where your money goes. Your internet bank account even allows you to view copies of the checks you have written each month.
6. With the ability to view your account at anytime, it is easier to catch fraudulent activity in your account before much damage is done.
As soon as you log into your account, you will quickly see whether there is anything amiss when you check on your deposits and debits. If anyone writes a check or withdraws funds from your account and you know it wasn't you, you will see it right away. This lets you get started on correcting the problem immediately rather than having to wait a month to even have a clue it is happening as would be the case with a traditional bank.
7. Internet banking offers a great deal more convenience than you could get from a conventional bank.
You aren't bound by 'banker's hours' and you don't have to go there physically in your car. Time is not wasted when you have work to do because you can do your office's banking without leaving the office. No matter where you are or what time it is, you can easily manage your money.
There are sound reasons why internet banking is growing. The economic advantages have encouraged banks to provide an increasing range of easy to use services via the internet.
Disadvantages of online banking
1. Impersonal. Doing transactions on the internet can be very impersonal. In other words, you only do business with the use of a computer. No individual to receive and check your money or correct some wrong information that you might have written on a certain form. And so for people comfortable dealing with real people who provide personalized services and using paper and money, internet banking is not ideal. 2. Security fraud. Many people shy away from internet banking because of the security threat. They can't help but worry about this aspect what with news on fraudulent bank transactions that pop up every now and then. However, this should not be a problem as banks that provide internet banking services prioritize security above anything else. Since they value their customers, they always use the most advanced security technology in protecting their websites.
3. Difficult for first timers. For a first time user, navigating through a website of an internet bank may be hard and may take some time. Opening an account could also take time as some sites ask for numerous personal details including a photo identification which can inconvenience the potential customer. Because of this complexity, they may be discouraged to use this internet banking service. Tutorials and live customer support may be provided, though, to help the client in his or her needed tasks so it's best to take the time to know the virtual environment.
Online Shopping
Online shopping is the process where consumers directly buy goods or services from a seller in real-time, without the need to hand over money, over the Internet. If a transation is present the process is called ecommerce. Nearly every mainstream shop in the UK will have an internet website connected to its products allowing people to browse and buy from the comfort of their own home.
A good example of online shopping are supermarket sites such as Tesco, Asda or Sainsbury's.Tesco operates a grocery homeshopping service, as well as providing consumer goods, telecommunications and financial services online. Tesco gives customers the opportunity to buy goods online as if they were in one of the large tesco stores themself. This make shopping a lot easier for many people. When you are in a rush, the tesco website will save all of the products which you usually purchase for the next time you visit the website. This makes it quick and easy for people to do shopping which could take someone a number of hours. Furthermore, the older generation of people may find it difficult to get to a large supermarket chain, so it gives them the advantage of being able to do a big shop with no worries of how they are going to get their goods home. Also with Tesco.com you are offered the option of Tesco banking and insurance. This allows you to manage your bank accounts as well as sorting out your wide range of insurances from car to pet insurance. This is very handy as you are able to keep everything you need with one standard company rather than having many different organisations being apart of your life. Tesco are also linked with LOVEFiLM.com so you are able to rent DVDs through the Tesco website enabling them to recieve it with their shopping. This is very helpful because you do not have to go out to specifically get the DVDs. Lastly, Tesco has its own clothing range which is reasonable cheap affordable goods which are of pretty good quality.
Advantages of Online Shopping4. Lack of trust. Let's face it, many people still don't trust the internet. For the new users who have performed financial transactions for only a few times, they may still have this doubt whether or not they did the right thing such as clicked the right button and so on. They can only be comfortable once they print the transaction receipt and the transaction appeared on the bank statement.
Convenient
Convenience includes the overall ease of finding a product, time spent on shopping, minimization of overall shoppoing effort. Online shopping allows consumers to shop at the convenience of their own home, and to save traveling time to retail stores and spend their time on other important tasks and hobbies. Researchers idenfity convenience as a 'fundamental objective' related to online shopping. This is relevant to 72% of online shoppers' claim that they would rather surf online than go to retail store to attain information about a product . According to a study, 72% of online shoppers chose convenience over privacy. In addition to ease of finding products online and shopping time reduction, consumers can shop without time limitation with 24-hr access at their convenience because the World Wide Web never closees. Lokken mentions 24-hr access as a beneficial characteristic of online shopping. Also, consumers can exchange information online through chatting and discussion forums to help them make wise consumer decisions.
No need for vendors and no pressure to buy
Online shopping benefits both the society as a whole and individuals. The society can save human resources when consumers help themselves by browsing freely online instead of asking for assistance from vendors. In addition, consumers are freed from the pressure to buy from the vendors and can spend more time to make wise purchase decisions. But it is imorpant that Web sites have good product descriptions because it is one of the significant condition that satisfy consumers.
"Infinite shelfspace" available
Consumers desire a variety of products because they look for the right product that will fully satisfy them. There is infinite variety of products available online because online shopping allows consumers to browse through products that are made all around the world without geographical boundaries.
Able to compare product price and features
With the online tools that enable product comparison, consumers can compare product prices and features to make a better decision with less effort. More details are included in solutions section.
Disadvantages of Online Shopping
Enjoyment of retail shopping lost
Many enjoy shopping with others and it is often a good way to make social connections. When shopping independently online, the enjoyment is lost.
Privacy and security issues
Privacy is the number one reason that non-online shoppers do not shop online. Almost 95% of Web users have declined to provide personal information to Web sites at one time or another when asked (Hoffman, Novak, & Peralta, 1999). Another recent study has found that privacy was the top concern of customers while security ranked bottom. This proves that many do not trust the privay of the Internet and are concerned with their credit card fauds, unwanted solicitation, and use of their information for other purposes. Security of Web sites is not the top concern because many shop on Web sites that they trust so that other factors appear to be more important than security.
Access to the Internet and computer necessary
Because one needs money to buy a computer and to have internet connection, online shopping seems to be limited people of reasonable amount of income. Also, since it is harder to learn computer at an older age, the elderly people tend shop at traditional retail stores.
Product category risk
Product category risk is related to functional products such as apparel, perfume, and electronics, that have functions that cannot fully be expeirenced online. Online shopper are worried that the products will not be what they have expected by viewing online. This is a clear disadvantage of onlins shopping because it shows that "the likelihood of purchasing on the Internet decreases with increases in product risk". Apparels in particular had negative rating in online shopping because of it is difficult to feel and see the texture of color online that is incomparable to going to a retail store, even with magnifying tools online. Also, one cannot try on a clothing before buying it online, so it would be very inconvenient if the size did not fit the person and he/she had to return it.
Too many choices Although having access to a very large number of products is highly desirable, consumers have limited cognitive resources and may simply be unable to process the potentially vast amounts of information about these alternatives. Online stores need to provide the variety in an organized way that will facilitate shopping online.
NEWS STORIES
Internet bank fraud probe widens
Three men have been released on police bail after being arrested by officers investigating Britain's first break-in at an online bank. The men were arrested in dawn raids by officers of the National Crime Squad on seven homes around Milton Keynes following a six month investigation into internet fraud at Egg, Britain's first online bank. The men were released without charge.
Egg said on Wednesday that fraudsters, who attempted to establish bogus accounts, stole "a handful of thousands of pounds" from the bank, in which Prudential has a majority stake.
We can confirm that our inquiries now indicate that it is possible that other internet banks ... may also have been victims of similar fraud
National Crime Squad
The National Crime Squad confirmed that other internet banks may also have been targeted.
"We are not prepared to discuss the detail of the fraud but we can confirm that our inquiries now indicate that it is possible that other internet banks ... may also have been victims of similar fraud," the NCS said on Wednesday.
Bank of Ireland refunds 'forgotten' ATM cash
More than 43,000 bank customers in the Republic and Northern Ireland are being refunded after failing to take their cash from Bank of Ireland (BoI) ATMs.
About 14,000 customers will receive 1.3m euro in refunds, while 1.7m euro will be returned to 29,000 customers of other banks who used the bank's ATMs. The average refund is 93 euro including 728 transactions in Northern Ireland totalling £34,721. There are 17m ATM transactions valued at £1.3bn carried out annually by BoI. When users complete a transaction and walk away from an ATM machine, leaving their cash and/or card behind, the machine pulls the money or card back in after a certain period of time. However, during a four-year period ending in October 2009, those users' accounts were still debited for the cash by Bank of Ireland. Bank of Ireland said the issue arose following the installation of anti-fraud measures, which resulted in the normal system response of an automatic refund failing for these particular transactions. The bank discovered the issue during internal monitoring. Bank of Ireland has apologised for the error and said it had enhanced procedures for handling "all such incomplete transactions so that customers accounts will not be debited". The bank said about six people per ATM machine per year walk away leaving their cash and/or card.
Digital technology has impacted entertainment and leisure enourmously and it is still evolving. Basically every area of entertauinment you can think of has been effected by new technology. With technology you now have to opportunity to produce inexpensive products such as music, video, radio, videogames books and sounds. The majority of these can be be sent around the world virtually using only a computer. It is now a great easier to make, record and distribute music, with out the need of creating CD's etc. A good example of this is iTunes.
ITunes is a digital media player application, used for playing and organizing digital music and video files. The application is also an interface to manage the contents on Apple's iPod and iPhone lines, as well as the iPad.
iTunes can connect to the iTunes Store via the Internet to purchase and download music, music videos, television shows, iPod games, audiobooks, podcasts, feature length films and movie rentals. It is also used to download applications for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Apple have effected many peoples lives with their iPod range enabling them to share and listen to music with out even leaving their homes to go to the local record shop.
As well as music media transfer you are also able to use the internet to transfer movies such as Lovefilm.com. Films can be sent to a multitute of locations in digital or dvd form and so release dates can be brought forward: and DVD release and broadcast distributuin can be brought closer to the original date, this allows more movies and more choice. With LOVEFiLM you are able to look through thousands on DVDs online and choose to have them sent to your house for a very low price per month. You can then keep the films for as long as you want and send them back free of charge. This is much easier and cheaper than going to your local film rental store because you have a much wider selection of films, you do not have to leave your house when choosing your DVD and finally its much cheaper than buying or renting DVDs. They also give you the choice to watch movies and programmes online or get them sent straight to your TV. This is new to the site and seems to be very handy for when programmes or series are missed on the television.
Furthermore, when you have missed programmes on TV you can now rewatch them on either the internet or on your TV using Sky+ or V+ (VirginMedia). In addition to the standard Sky Box features, Sky + allows the viewer to effectively control the TV. The Sky + Box has the ability to pause, rewind and record live TV, so that you have complete control of your Sky Digital TV viewing.
So if you want to leave the room to go to the toilet and the programme you wanted to watch starts. Well, with Sky + you cant miss it. Using your Sky + Box you can pause the live feed and then start it again from the time you left when your return. You don't miss a second of your programme.
Also if there are two programmes you want to watch on at the same time. With conventional TV you have to choose, but with Sky + you don't. The cleaver Sky + system allows you to watch one programme while simultaneously recording the other to watch later. In fact Sky + will let you record two programmes at the same time.
That is not all. With Sky + and using the Sky programme guide, you can tell your system to record a future programme or even to record an entire series. It is as simple as selecting your programme from the guide and pressing the 'R' button. With this service you can make sure you record your favourite programme even when you are away from home. Sky + customers can now also command their system remotely using their mobile phone. You can also set your Sky + system using the Internet. This has been a great help for millions of people round the country and has revolutionised the way people now watch television.
Advantages -
Pause and stop TV even live TV (it records it when you stop it and it automatically deletes it when you are done watching it)
You can record TV shows just like recording it onto a tape or disk (it saves it to the drive inside of it)
You can Pin protect anything you have recorded so only you can can delete it (of the drive)
You can Pin protect shows or films that are age rated (so minors wont be able to watch it)
It locks the box up if you enter the pin in to many times (disadvantage and advantaged)
Perfect picture quality
Disadvantages -
You get charged monthly
Theres quite a lot of repeats
You have to pay for the sky + box
The picture sometimes jumps in bad weather
It's not HD (high definition)
It locks the box up if you enter the pin in to many times (Disadvantage and Advantaged)
News Stories
Lovefilm ties up with Amazon DVD
Lovefilm will have 20% of the UK DVD rental market
Online DVD rental service Lovefilm has taken over Amazon's UK and German DVD rental businesses in a deal which sees Amazon become its biggest shareholder.
As part of the deal, Amazon will make a cash investment in Lovefilm.
Amazon's DVD rental customers will be switched to Lovefilm, whose customer base will rise to 900,000 while its UK market share will rise to 20%.
Lovefilm subscribers receive DVDs by post and do not have to return them within any particular length of time.
Its services will now be promoted on Amazon's UK and German websites.
Lovefilm's other investors include private equity backers and the firm's management.
Its main direct competitor is Blockbuster online.
Web scam hits iTunes and Paypal users
By Maggie ShielsTechnology reporter, BBC News, Silicon Valley
iTunes app store has millions of users
ITunes accounts linked to Paypal have been targeted in a scam with a number of users complaining that they have been cleaned out.
Apple and Paypal refused to discuss the details of the incident.
Experts told the BBC that victims had most likely fallen for an e-mail scam, rather than being targeted via a flaw in iTunes or Apple servers.
"I just got hacked for $1,000 worth of software, videos and music," tweeted one victim.
Another told the technology blog TechCrunch: "My account was charged over $4,700. I called security at Paypal and was told a large number of iTunes stores accounts were compromised."
Another turned to Facebook to post details.
"My iTunes account just got hacked and someone made about $700 worth of purchases. I contacted Paypal and they said Apple has gotten so many attacks since June, they can barely keep up with reporting them all."
Apple would not comment but said that they had recently implemented new security measures.
In a statement to BBC News, Apple said: "iTunes is always working to prevent fraud and enhance the password security of all of our users.
"But if your credit card or iTunes password is stolen and used on iTunes we recommend that you contact your financial institution and inquire about cancelling the card and/or issuing a chargeback for any unauthorised transactions.
"We also recommend that you change your iTunes account password immediately."
Communication has always been a key part of our lives and they way we communicate which each other has changed enormously over the years. E-mail, chat, SMS and digital voice and mobile videophones have rapidly become the way we all communicate in the 21st century. In 2004 there were more than 40 million mobile phones in the UK and over 30000 base stations. People can now work anywhere, play anywhere and keep in touch with everyone - anywhere. We can now communicate much more, more quickly and more globally.
Mobile phones
Home screen for Iphone
ICT has had a huge impact on mobile and telephones. Just 20 years ago mobile phones were carried in brief cases and used to cost a lot of money for what they were. Nowdays, you can pick up a mobile with internet connectivity, E-mail, instant messenger and much more for little over £100. With the internet people can also download apps such as skype and IM, this allows them to communicate with people around the world for free, there may be a price to download some apps but this is one of few drawbacks of the mobile phone. Phones also allow people to take photos or videos with cameras which exceed some of the more cheaper digital cameras which their purpose is to take pictures. You are able to share these features either by text or uploading them to the internet which aswell can be done straight from your phone. Some of the latest phones such as the iPhone4 have touch screen technology this is very popular to the public as its a very advanced piece of technology and probably the equivilant to any laptop on the market at the moment.
E-mail
E-mail is one of the biggest things to come out of the internet. In 2001 it was estimated that 12 thousand million messages were sent daily and that by 2003 there were 31 thousand million sent every day. The reasons for this are to do with the massive benefits email can bring to individuals and businesses.
Email is effective in providing quick answers to yes and no, type questions. This is helpful when you want to ask someone across the other side of the world a simple quick question for free. For example, If you are purchasing something from eBay then you can ask quick questions about the product you are able to purchase.
Email is effective in finding the right person in an organisation or company to answer your question.
Email is good to make appointments for busy people.
Email can distribute information quickly to many people for the time it takes to email one person. This is good for a business as they do not need to hand write out every single message that they need to send in the post. It is also free so you do not need to pay for postage.
The major, overall advantage of Email is that it is completely free apart from you internet bill, which even that is rapidly decreasing in price as time goes on. However, providers are trying to find ways of charging for servies that have traditionally been free. Apart from this, there are some slight drawbacks of Email.
Email can become timeconsuming for answering complicated questions and misunderstandings can arise because cultural differences in the interpretation of certain words. The telephone, is much better for providing detailed answers or if you feel that the question is not absolutely clear.
Email can compromise the security of an organisation because sensitive information can be easily distributed accidently or deliberately. Email should be entrusted to well trained and trusted staff members.
Email can become impersonal or misunderstood.
The use of pronouns can lead to serious misunderstandings. Users should always try to write the full description rather than abbreviate their sentences with pronouns.
One of the major drawbacks of Email is spam or junk mail. These are emails sent from 3rd party organisations that have nothing to do with you as a person. They are often trying to advertise or sell you something. Most estimates suggest that betweeen 30 per cent and 40 per cent of all Email sent is junk.
Skype
Similarly to email, there are video conferencing sites such as skype. Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system. Skype has also become popular for its additional features which include instant messaging, file transfer, and video conferencing.
SkypeOut allows Skype users to call traditional phone numbers, including mobile phones, for a fee. It allows Skype users to receive calls on their computers dialed by regular phone subscribers to a Skype-provided phone number. The number need not be in the same location as the user. For example, a user in Southend could create a local telephone number in Helsinki. Callers in Helsinki could then make a local call to reach that user. I have found Skype very useful in the past contacting people that i have not seen for a long period of time. It was also helpful just chatting to friends online.
News Stories
Skype files for $100m US flotation
Skype says it has 560 million registered users
Internet phone firm Skype has filed for an initial public offering in the US.
The Luxembourg-based company hopes to raise up to $100m (£63m) in the stock market flotation. Skype will sell American Depositary Shares - which represent shares in foreign companies - and expects to trade on the Nasdaq index. Skype's software lets computer and mobile phone users talk to each other for free and make cut-price calls to mobiles and landlines. The company did not specify when its shares would go on sale, or at what price. According to the regulatory filing, in the first half of 2010 Skype had 560 million registered users, who logged 95 billion minutes of voice and video calls.
O2 yet to resolve iPhone data roaming glitchs
The mobile operator O2 says it is still investigating iPhone customer complaints that they have been wrongly charged for data roaming while abroad.
Customers have complained that the switch that deactivates data roaming doesn't work, a fault O2 was first made aware of in May. Neither of the other UK networks that carry the iPhone, Orange and Vodafone, says it has been hit with the problem. Apple forum posts suggest the problem may lie with O2's "visual voicemail". The fault can cause big bills for customers who receive emails and web pages when they are overseas - even though they didn't choose to receive them. The default setting on the iPhone should prevent data from loading up abroad. However, customers on the Apple and other forums are complaining that e-mails and web pages are sometimes downloading when they are abroad - even when the data roaming setting is off. O2 says it is "investigating these reports with Apple".
