IT in Society (9626 A Level Topic 12) – Study Notes

Welcome to Topic 12! This chapter moves beyond the technical mechanics of IT and focuses on its huge impact on the world around us. Understanding "IT in Society" is crucial for A Level success because it tests your ability to analyse, evaluate, and discuss real-world issues, which are high-level assessment objectives (AO3).
Let's explore how technology is changing money, knowledge, and social interaction!

12.1 Digital Currencies

Digital currencies are changing how we view and exchange money. You need to know the different types and the systems they run on.

Types and Characteristics of Digital Currencies
  • Digital/Electronic Currency: Money stored and transferred digitally. This is a very broad term. (Example: When you transfer money via a banking app.)
  • Virtual Currency: Unregulated digital money, often used in specific virtual communities. (Example: In-game currencies like V-Bucks.)
  • Cryptocurrency: A type of virtual currency secured by cryptography and running on a decentralised distributed ledger (like a blockchain). (Example: Bitcoin, Ethereum.)
  • Central Bank Digital Base Money (CBDC): A digital form of a country’s official currency, issued and backed by the central bank. It is the digital equivalent of physical cash.
  • Stored Value Cards: Cards where monetary value is stored digitally on the card itself, not in a bank account. (Example: Gift cards, travel cards.)
Centralised vs. Decentralised Systems

A quick analogy: Think of Centralised systems as a traditional bank (one authority controls everything). Decentralised systems are like a public Google Doc where thousands of people verify every change.

  • Centralised Systems: Controlled by a single authority or institution.
    (Examples: Debit cards, credit cards, Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) systems.)
  • Decentralised Systems: Not controlled by a single entity. Transactions are verified by a network of users.
    (Examples: Bitcoin, Litecoin, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) electronic monetary systems, mobile electronic wallets that handle cryptocurrency.)
Blockchains: The Distributed Ledger

The core technology behind most cryptocurrencies is the blockchain.

  • Definition: A distributed ledger is a database that is shared, replicated, and synchronised across a network of computers.
  • Use of Blockchain: It functions as a public record book (ledger) for cryptocurrencies. Each 'block' contains records of transactions, and once validated, it is linked to the previous block using cryptography, making it almost impossible to tamper with past records.
Impact and Risks of Digital Currencies

Impact on Individuals:

  • Advantage: Financial autonomy, lower transaction fees (especially P2P).
  • Risk: Extreme volatility (prices change rapidly), potential for scams, high energy consumption for mining (cryptocurrencies).

Impact on Businesses:

  • Advantage: Faster international payments, potential new revenue streams, reduced need for physical cash handling.
  • Risk: Regulatory uncertainty, difficulty in accounting for cryptocurrency value, need for specialised IT security infrastructure.

Impact on Governments and Global Economy:

  • CBDCs could offer governments greater control over monetary policy.
  • Decentralised currencies present regulatory challenges (taxation, money laundering).
  • Cryptocurrency adoption affects global financial stability and trade flows.

Key Takeaway (12.1): Digital currencies range from bank-controlled electronic money to decentralised cryptocurrencies running on blockchains. Be ready to compare the security, volatility, and regulatory implications of centralised vs. decentralised systems.


12.2 Data Mining

Data mining is essentially the process of digging through huge datasets to find hidden patterns and useful information. Think of it like a detective searching a massive room for one specific clue!

The Six Stages in the Data Mining Process (CRISP-DM Model)

This process is sequential and structured:

  1. Business Understanding: Defining the goal. What problem are we trying to solve? (e.g., Why are customers leaving our service?)
  2. Data Understanding: Collecting initial data and getting familiar with it. Are there missing values?
  3. Data Preparation: Cleaning and transforming the data into a usable format. This is often the longest step (removing errors, anonymising data).
  4. Data Modelling: Applying algorithms (like machine learning) to the prepared data to find patterns.
  5. Evaluation: Assessing the models generated. Do they actually meet the initial business goals?
  6. Deployment: Using the discovered patterns/models in the real world (e.g., changing marketing strategies based on the findings).
Uses of Data Mining

Data mining is used everywhere, often without us knowing:

  • National Security & Surveillance: Identifying suspicious patterns in communications or financial transactions to prevent crime.
  • Businesses: Analysing purchasing habits to target advertisements (personalised recommendations).
  • Scientific Research: Finding relationships in complex scientific datasets (e.g., genetics, astronomy).
  • Healthcare: Predicting disease outbreaks or optimising treatment plans based on patient history.
  • Analysis of Social and Economic Trends: Forecasting stock market changes or understanding voter behaviour.
Advantages and Disadvantages (A&D)
  • Advantages:
    • All Information in One Place: Allows organisations to gain a single, comprehensive view of customers or trends.
    • Enables highly accurate predictions and targeted decision-making.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Ethical and Privacy Concerns: Huge risk of misuse of personal data, leading to discrimination or bias if the models are trained on biased data.
    • High initial cost and complexity required to set up systems and hire skilled analysts.

Key Takeaway (12.2): Remember the six stages of the data mining process and be ready to discuss the ethical balance between useful predictions and personal privacy.


12.3 Social Networking Services/Platforms

Social networking covers a huge range of communication methods we use daily.

Types of Platforms
  • Direct Messaging: Chat rooms, instant messaging (IM).
  • Asynchronous Communication: Email.
  • Content Sharing: Social media platforms (forums, blogs, microblogs like X/Twitter).
Uses of Social Networking
  • Individuals: Meeting new people, keeping in contact with family/friends, joining common interest groups, exchanging ideas.
  • Businesses: Advertising, releasing product information, sharing safety information about products, managing customer feedback.
  • Organisations (NGOs/Charities): Disseminating information, issuing weather warnings or disaster relief updates.
  • Governments: Distribution of useful information, updating regulations, seeking feedback from citizens, government news dissemination.
The Impact of Social Networking (The Discussion Points!)

When discussing impact, always consider the positive and negative consequences:

On Individuals:

  • Positive: Reduced geographical barriers, maintaining social connections.
  • Negative: Intellectual isolation (only consuming similar viewpoints), ideological polarisation (echo chambers), negative impact on physical and mental health (due to comparing oneself to others), exposure to stereotyping and misinformation.

On Governments:

  • Positive: Quick distribution of advice, democratic discussions.
  • Negative: Need for censorship to control hate speech or illegal content, dealing with widespread false/distorted information (fake news).

Quick Review Box: Common Mistakes
Students often forget to discuss the *negative* consequences. In A Level IT, evaluation (AO3) requires a balanced view. Ensure you mention isolation, polarisation, and the spread of misinformation.

Key Takeaway (12.3): Be specific about the type of impact (e.g., don't just say 'social impact', specify 'ideological polarisation').


12.4 The Impact of IT in Society

IT affects every sector of modern life. You must be able to describe specific impacts across various areas.

General Impact of IT on Society
  • Sport: Data analytics for athlete performance, virtual training, electronic officiating (e.g., VAR in football).
  • Manufacturing: Robotics, Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM), automated production lines leading to increased efficiency but potential job losses.
  • Healthcare: Remote patient monitoring, digital record keeping, advanced diagnostic imaging (MRI, CT scans).
  • Education: Online learning platforms, educational apps, digital resources.
  • Banking, E-business, and Finance: Online transactions (24/7 access), automated trading, global interconnectivity.
  • Family and Home: Smart home devices (IoT), remote working, access to entertainment/media streaming services.
  • Government and Politics: E-voting, public consultations, digital services delivery, political campaigning via social media.
Impact of IT on Monitoring and Surveillance

Monitoring and surveillance technology raises significant questions about privacy vs. security.

  • Individuals: Tracked via mobile phones (location data), CCTV, internet usage (cookies). This leads to targeted advertising but risks loss of anonymity.
  • Organisations: Monitoring employee emails, network activity, and location (for logistical reasons). Used for productivity tracking and data loss prevention.
  • Security and Policing: Facial recognition software, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), predictive policing algorithms. This improves crime prevention but raises concerns about civil liberties and potential false identification.

Did you know?
Many cities use "smart city" infrastructure, relying heavily on sensors and IT systems to monitor traffic flow, air quality, and waste management. This constant data collection is a prime example of IT's role in surveillance and monitoring.

Key Takeaway (12.4): For assessment questions, ensure you describe *how* IT impacts the area (e.g., in manufacturing, IT enables CAM, which increases speed and accuracy).


12.5 Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL)

TEL refers to the use of technology to support and enhance learning and teaching.

Methods of Delivery
  • Computer-Based Training (CBT): Software installed locally, providing interactive training (often self-paced).
  • Online Tutorials: Structured lessons accessed via the internet (often asynchronous).
  • Networked Courses: Learning delivered across a dedicated network, allowing collaboration and resource sharing.
  • Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC): Large-scale, free or low-cost online courses accessible to anyone globally (e.g., Coursera, edX).
  • Video-Conferencing: Live interaction between students and teachers remotely (synchronous learning).
Impact of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL)
  • Student and Teacher Motivation: Interactive resources and multimedia can increase engagement (positive impact). However, technical difficulties or lack of social interaction can decrease motivation (negative impact).
  • Achievement: TEL can provide personalised, adaptive learning paths, potentially improving results. However, digital divide issues (Topic 6) can prevent equitable access, hindering achievement for some.
  • Autonomy: Students gain more control over their learning pace and schedule (self-paced learning). This requires good self-discipline.
A&D of Different Delivery Methods

When comparing delivery methods, consider flexibility, cost, scale, and interactivity.

  • MOOCs:
    • Advantage: High scale (massive audience), low cost.
    • Disadvantage: Low interactivity, high dropout rate.
  • Video-Conferencing:
    • Advantage: Real-time interaction, immediate feedback.
    • Disadvantage: Requires high bandwidth, time zone challenges.

Key Takeaway (12.5): Understand the difference between high-scale (MOOC) and high-interaction (Video-Conferencing) methods, and discuss TEL’s impact on access and motivation.


Comprehensive Chapter Review (IT in Society)

The "IT in Society" chapter demands that you move beyond mere descriptions and focus on analysis and evaluation. Every topic requires you to weigh the benefits against the risks and ethical implications.

Core Concepts to Master:

  • Digital Currencies: Centralised vs. Decentralised, the function of blockchain, and regulatory challenges.
  • Data Mining: The six stages (understand the flow: from Business Goal to Deployment) and the privacy/ethical concerns.
  • Social Networking: Specific negative impacts (polarisation, mental health) alongside collaboration benefits.
  • General Impact: Be able to name a specific IT application for at least 5 different sectors (e.g., ANPR for policing, robotics for manufacturing).
  • TEL: Know the methods (CBT, MOOC, VC) and how they affect student autonomy and achievement.

You've got this! By focusing on the *consequences* of technology, you are demonstrating A Level thinking. Good luck!