Computers and the Individual

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lesson 29
Computers and the Individual
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• This lesson includes the following sections
• Ergonomics and Health Issues
• Privacy Issues

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Ergonomics and Health Issues

• Ergonomics Defined
• Repetitive Stress Injuries
• Avoiding Repetitive Stress Injuries
• Eyestrain
• Electromagnetic Fields

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Ergonomics and Health Issues - Ergonomics
Defined

• Ergonomics is the study of the physical
  relationship between people and their tools
  such as computers.
• Extended or improper computer use may result in a
  number of ailments, such as

• Repetitive injuries
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Eyestrain
• Exposure to electromagnetic fields

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Ergonomics and Health Issues - Repetitive Stress
Injuries

• Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) result from
  using the body continuously in ways it was not
  designed to work.
• RSIs have appeared in office workers who spend a
  lot of time using the computer keyboard and
  mouse.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common type of
  repetitive stress injury, which may be caused by
  extended or improper use of a computer keyboard.

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Ergonomics and Health Issues - Avoiding
Repetitive Stress Injuries

• One of the easiest ways to avoid RSIs is to use
  ergonomically correct furniture, including an
  ergonomically designed chair and keyboard.
• An ergonomically correct chair features
  adjustable height, lower-back support, and
  armrests. It should allow you to type with your
  forearms parallel to the floor.
• An ergonomically correct keyboard is designed to
  allow the hands to rest in a natural, comfortable
  position so you can type without overreaching or
  getting fatigued.

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Angles place hands in a natural position
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Ergonomics and Health Issues - Eyestrain

• Many computer users find their vision
  deteriorating after a while. This is caused by
  using the PC too long, poor positioning, or other
  factors.
• To avoid eyestrain, don't stare at the screen too
  long, place the monitor from 2 to 2 ½ feet away,
  avoid glare, and keep the screen clean.
• Use a monitor that holds a steady image without
  flickering. Look for a dot pitch no greater than
  .28 mm and a refresh rate of at least 72 Hz.

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Ergonomics and Health Issues - Electromagnetic
Fields

• Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) occur during the
  generation, transmission, and use of
  low-frequency electrical power. Some people are
  concerned that EMFs are linked to cancer.
• To reduce your risks from EMF exposure

• Take frequent breaks away from the computer.
• Sit at arm's length from the system unit and
  monitor.
• Use a flat-panel display (which does not produce
  EMFs).

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Privacy Issues

• Junk Faxes and E-Mail
• Beating Spammers at Their Own Game
• Privacy Issues Facing Corporate Computer Users

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Privacy Issues - Junk Faxes and E-Mail

• Junk faxes are unsolicited messages received from
  unnamed senders. Because they consume the
  recipient's resources, junk faxes have been
  outlawed.
• Junk e-mail (spam) is any uninvited e-mail
  message, but spam usually is commercial in nature
  and is delivered to many users at one time.
• Using a technique called spoofing, the spammer
  sends messages but hides his or her identity so
  the recipients cannot respond.

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Privacy Issues Beating Spammers at Their Own
Game

• Spam can cost businesses due to lost
  productivity. It can be annoying to individual
  users who must deal with junk messages.
• One way to fight spammers is to read your ISP's
  appropriate use policy and to report spam to your
  ISP and to the sender's ISP, if possible.
• You can also block messages from certain senders
  and domains, and use spam-blocking software
  provided by your ISP or a third party.
• You can reduce junk mail by not adding your name
  to mailing lists, and by making sure your credit
  records do not fall into the wrong hands.

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Privacy Issues - Privacy Issues Corporate
Computer Users
A business owns its computer systems and the data
they contain. Businesses are entitled to restrict
the use of their systems, to inspect them, and to
block employees from any or all
services. Businesses commonly monitor the use of
their systems to

• Protect trade secrets.
• Prevent the distribution of libelous messages.
• Prevent users from downloading inappropriate
  materials.
• Ensure that resources are not wasted.

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lesson 29 review

• Define ergonomics and list four health risks
  related to computer use.
• Define spamming and spoofing and explain how they
  affect computer users.
• Name three normal activities that result in a
  threat to personal privacy.
• List four reasons why a business may monitor
  employees' use of its systems.

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Project due Jan. 24

• Please use PC-cillin from Trend Micro to catch a
  virus, put it on a disk, and hand in the disk.
• Please write a detailed report on that virus
  about its name, creator, working mechanism, the
  problem it causes, ..., and so on.