The Impact of ICT on Personal Communications

Luke Bratch

For students in Year 11 at Les Quennevais School

The groups I will look at will be:

My family

Physically disabled people

My Groups

• My FamilyIn my family there is my mum, my dad, and my two sisters.

• Year 11 Students at Les QuennevaisThese are students who are in my year at school.

I will write about how ICT effects each of these groups using:Mobile phones

andInternet and email

How and What (Group 1)

My Family• Dad - Mobile phones to communicate with

colleagues - Internet to email colleagues

• Mum - Uses phones to speak to and SMS friends

• Me - Internet to email, and chat with people using messaging software or online communities

- Mobile phone to speak and SMS people

• Sisters - Internet to chat using messengers - Phones to SMS people

How and What (Group 2)

Students in Year 11• These students use the internet to do research for

various subjects. It especially helps in subjects where all the research has to be done for homework.

• Most students use mobile phones, which means they can send messages and phone each other wherever they are.

• Many people also use email to communicate with each other, within and outside of school.

Advantages of ICT developments on Personal Communication (Family)

Phones• Emergency calls made from anywhere• GPS – Useful for on a business trip• Business calls received without being by a land line

Internet• Wireless internet – children can move around whilst

chatting on the internet– Dad can receive email anywhere

• Teenagers – cheaper to chat on internet than making a phone call

Advantages of ICT developments on Personal Communication (Year 11)

Internet and email• Messaging software such as Yahoo Messenger is

used a lot to communicate, can be useful for discussing homework

• Students can do research inside and outside of school for various subjects using search engines and other websites

Mobile phones• Used to plan things outside of school such as social

activities

Disadvantages of ICT developments on Personal Communication (Family)

Email and internet• Internet connection isn’t free• Lots of spam and viruses circulate email systems• Chat rooms – could be dangerous• Not much security – insecure websites, unsuitable

content• Need to have basic skills in using computers

Mobile Phone• Cost of messaging and updating can be very expensive• Can be not very strong

Disadvantages of ICT developments on Personal Communication (Year 11)

Internet and email• Can spend valuable lesson time sending emails or

browsing the internet• Whilst doing homework can be distracted very easily• Spam email can hinder the use of email

Mobile Phones• Can send messages in lessons• Usage very expensive with students often sending far

more than they realise

Social, Moral and Ethical Issues

• Could be unsuitable material• Spam and adverts• Expensive to stay up to date• Easy to get in contact with strangers

• Information rich and poor– Computers aren’t cheap– Computer literate and non-literate society

• Changes the way we interact• Over-reliance on technology• Impact on reading and writing ability

Consequences of not having access

• Unable to speak so frequently to those who use the technology

• Less ability to be helped in an emergency• Expensive to get the technology in the first place

to gain access to ICT technologies

Future Developments

• More video conferencing and web cam use

• Easier and better video clip sending on phones

• Internet even faster for everyone and more security

• Portable technology that you do not need to hold