Tma_02

TMA02 Question 1 (a) '2b: In cases where a calculation is required, it is often useful to include the actual data and the formula used in order to gain the result.  In this case you would use: 31x1800/100=558.  By doing this you ensure that, even if you have made some mistakes in the answer, you will gain some marks for the process involved.' 'Please use a spell checking system in order to improve the quality of your written document (see my notes in the inline comments).' (b) The first comment helped with question 3 (b) (ii) in TMA02; it helped me to show, whether right or wrong, that I can gain marks for showing the calculation using the correct units. The second comment helped me to understand how important it it to do a word count and a spell check to keep the text concise and clear; e.g. when writing a summary, as in question 3 (a). Question 3 What's the big deal about WiMax Margaret reardon (3 october 2008) A brief summary (a) WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is an IP-based technology which can be used in fixed, mobile, or portable devices. It's main purpose is to offer wireless broadband and It supports high data rates, which allows users a little more speed. This particular technology can be used to connect to the internet while on the move, through digital cameras and smartphones for example. It is claimed that WiMax can deliver 40mbps through each channel, split among many businesses, residences and mobile phone users. Wi-Fi and WiMax are both IP-based wireless technologies, Wi-Fi catering more for indoor connection over shorter ranges, used for home networks and libraries etc. One technology used is HSDPA (High Speed Data Package Access) which offers speeds upto 3.6 mbps, though in reality, something more like about a fifth of that; and the more users there are on a network the less capacity is available for users. also, the further a signal travels the weaker it becomes, which means slower bandwidth. WiMax and LTE (Long Term Evolution) are, it seems, leading the way in 4G networking, they are both IP-based and will offer users real broadband while they are on the move through consumer electronics and smartphones etc. (206 words) (b) (i) Table 1 comparative data on mobile broadband technologies | |Mobile WiMax |Wi-Fi |HSDPA |HSUPA | |Maximum download |10-20 mbps [1] |54 mbps [2] |Around 3.6 mbps [1] |20 mbps [1] | |data link | | | | | |Typical |2.0-4.0 mbps [1] |30 mbps [2] |400-700kbps [1] |4.0-6.6 mbps [1] | |downlink throughput | | | | | |Range |3 km cell radius [1] |30 m [2] |Similar to mobile phone |Similar to mobile phone | | | | |coverage |coverage | |Standard |IEEE 802.16e [1] |IEEE 802.11g [2] |UMTS [1] |UMTS [1] | | | | | | | [1] Reardon, M. (2008) ‘What’s the big deal about WiMax’, CNET News, 3 October 2008, http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10057282-94.html [accessed 5th October 2008]. [2] The Open University (2007) T175 Networked living: exploring information and communication technologies, Block 2, ‘Communication and identity’, Part 3, ‘Device to device’, Milton Keynes, The Open University, p. 47. (b) (ii) 150 mb = 150,000,000 bytes 4.0 mb = 4,000,000 bytes 150,000,000/4,000,000 = 37,500,000 bytes = 37.5mb. Question 4 (a) (i) Re: Social Websites. I disagree with you to a degree lee about not being able to see and talk to loved ones when away; these things are achievable through the pc, but what these sites cannot give is the chance to touch. Re(3): Social Networking Enhancing Friendships' I think the use of social websites, like most things in life, has its pros and cons. However, I do find it astonishing the amount of time some people spend on them. Yes, for many people who, for example, wish to keep contact with loved ones etc. it isn't necessarily a bad thing, but why on earth some people allow their lives to be infringed upon by so many new 'friends' they add to their contact lists is beyond me. Maybe for many people who, for any number of reasons, cannot get out of the house that often, these sites can bring back some kind of a social structure to their lives and help to restore their confidence in dealing with people, but surely, as has been suggested by most on here, it lacks the intimacy of real life relationships, it is an interaction of sorts and there are positives but, whether it enhances personal relationships or not, I would doubt. (a) (ii) I found my web resource for message 1 above through Google and also looked for related material through my web browser. I think message 2 above contributed well to the discussion in terms of the overall analysis of what social websites may or may not represent to different people. I think that I payed attention to what other people were saying and followed the thread accordingly. I believe that I described in detail what I thought were the pros and cons for people who use these websites on a regular basis. I think my interaction with the other students worked well, and the forum discussion went reasonably smoothly. Also, in terms of 'netiquette', I feel that my contribution was up to scratch. (b) (i) At the beginning of the group discussion on this subject, the general feeling was that the vast majority of people who use social websites, maybe have very little else to do with their time therefore, they take these sites as a new way of building up friendships/relationships with the comfort of knowing that they don't have to make much of an effort in terms of interaction with other people. However, as the discussion moved on a little, we had all agreed that there may be many other reasons why people would use these sites, for example, people who are disabled could stay in contact with friends/family, without having to leave their homes. Indeed, many other people use them for communicating with loved ones, be it members of their family who are far away from them, or friends they wish to correspond with around the world. Through websites like 'Facebook' or 'bebo,' people can communicate through writing messages, or by seeing each other over a webcam for example. I think the general consensus was, that social websites have many positives, but also a few negatives. (ii) One of the advantages of synchronous chat is that, a number of people can have a discussion about a particular subject and get instant feedback. With less delay in response time it can keep the discussion flowing, though, the flip side is, people may say something that they cannot retract. One advantage of asynchronous chat in a forum is, it gives people more time to think about what they wish to say, allowing them time to change their message before they send it. One disadvantage of communicating in this way is, it might be very time consuming.