Topic 2 - Home Entertainment

How do we use ICT to entertain ourselves?

Interactive televisione.g. watching satellite/digital TV (Sky)

Television offers interactive services such as;

•Pay to view (sport/films)

•Online Games

•Email

•Televoting voting in opinion polls,

•

Interactive choice

  • selecting local information - news, sport, the weather and traffic news,
  • answering questions in real time during quiz shows,
  • changing camera angles in football matches,

Teleshopping

  • Direct shopping - ordering a pizza after having seen an advertisement on television.
  • Book holidays

Disadvantages of interactive TV:

  • Cost of subscription
  • Bad weather disrupting the satellite signal

Social networking/chat

These are usually free services which allow you to communicate with people of similar interests or friendship groups.

Features

  • Allows you to stay in touch with family and friends who have moved away
  • Can share photographs, video clips and music
  • Birthday reminders
  • Play games

Disadvantages

  • Paedophiles People may not be who they say they are so never give out personal information do not invite people to be friends you do not know. Set the security setting high not the default ones.
  • Online bullying can happen
  • Employers check social networking sites for Cvs and any embarrassing pictures or comments could lead you not to get the job or get sacked.

Gaming

Some children and adults spend a great deal of time playing computer games both online or on own p.c.You can buy a game on disc or thereare many gaming sites some of which some are free but others you have to pay a subscription.

Advantages of using computer games are:

  • Some games e.g. simulations are thought to be educational historic battles/flight simulation
  • learning key skills
  • help to relax and are fun recreation which can be played lone or in a group
  • developing skills in problem-solving./ quick thinking
  • Lead to game designer jobs

Disadvantages of using computer games are:

  • less socialising,
  • less physical exercise,
  • becoming addicted to games,
  • a number of the games are violent and unsuitable for young children,
  • you can suffer from repetitive strain injury (RSI),
  • you can waste a lot of time
  • Can be violent
  • Waste time

Photography

Digital cameras have revolutionised the way in which we take photographs and we can have hours of fun editing and morphing them. Digital cameras can take movies or still photographs which can then be edited with software packages such as Adobe Photoshop, Windows Media Player or Windows Movie Maker.

Pixels and image size :Digital cameras capture images as pixel elements, known as pixels. Simply put, a megapixel is equal to one million pixels. Digital images are made up of thousands of these tiny, tile-like picture elements. The more pixels, the higher the image resolution.

Resolution relates primarily to print size and the amount of detail an image has when viewed on a computer monitor at 100%. If you buy a digital camera with too few megapixels for your printing and editing needs, resulting prints will become degraded. A photo made into a large sized print from a camera with a low megapixel count will look fuzzy, or pixelated

ZoomAn optical zoom is a true zoom.As thefocal length extends, an image is magnified by the lens itself. An optical zoom produces the best quality imagesat all resolutionsavailable ona digital camera. Zoom lenses canmagnify an image 3X, 20X, 20X and more. Very long zooms are particularly prone to camera shake. To help prevent this, a gowning number of digital cameras that zoom incorporate Image Stabilization.

A digital zoom is not a true zoom. It is a simulated zoom that enlarges the central portion of an image. The actual length of the lens does not change. A digital zoom pre-crops the center area of an image. Resolution is reduced, giving the appearance of zooming in. It is similar cropping with photo editing software. Because of reduced image quality, usea digital zoom only if you have no other options.

Extra flash memory cards can be inserted into the camera to increase the number of photos which can be taken, or increase the length of film footage.

Advantages

•Instant processing

•Special effects

•Print only what you want

•Store in non degradable electronic album

Disadvantages

•Cost of photo paper and ink

•Misuse of digital photographs

Webcam services

  • Webcam can be used for videoconferencing with friends or can be used to stream still images at fixed intervals. Webcams are set up to monitor conditions such as weather, ski conditions or traffic in congested roads.
  • Home security cameras
  • Baby’s rooms
  • Remote sites not easily reached by humans e.g.Antarctica

Disadvantages

  • Invasion of privacy you may not be aware you are being watched
  • Could do something embarrassing which is then broadcast to the world

Music

Download music from the Internet.

There are many sites where you can listen to music both old and the latest releases as a try before you buy.

Problems

Copyright laws forbid the illegal copying of music including downloading from illegal sites.

Home entertainment Past Exam Questions

  1. Digital TV has the facility of interactive online betting. Describe one advantage and a disadvantage in using the betting service. (2)
  1. Give one advantage of using computer gaming. (1)
  1. Describe a health problem that the prolonged playing of computer games could cause. (1)
  1. Many home users will use digital image editing software with their digital images. Give three features of image editing software. (3)
  1. A digital camera is advertised as a 10 megapixel camera. Explain what is meant by a megapixel and why it is important quantity when purchasing a digital camera. (3)
  1. Many people have joined social networking sites. Explain what a social networking site is and give two things you might do using the site. (3)
  1. Social networking sites are not without their dangers. Give two dangers of using a social networking site. (2)
  1. Besides making a phone call, list three tasks a mobile phone can perform. (3)
  1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages the use of mobile phones has brought to society.(6)