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Latest Engineering and Technology OpenLearn units

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URL: http://www.open.edu/openlearn/rss/content/653
Updated: 4 min 16 sec ago
  • Online Rights and the Law
    4 min 16 sec ago
    How does the law stand in relation to web privacy? Do we have the same rights online as we do in life? The online revolution has moved rapidly but has the law managed to keep up with it and what has been the impact on our legal rights? These two films touch upon issues that have emerged as a result of a growing online community like the complications that arise when attempting to reconcile how various countries use different laws to police an individual’s omnipresent profile on the net. It also explores who owns the information we publish when we create an online account. This material forms part of the Open University course TU100 My digital life. The iTunes U team. The iTunes U Team at The Open University produce audio and video podcasts
    First published on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 as Online Rights and the Law. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website.
  • Living with the internet: learning online
    4 min 16 sec ago
    Learning online is one of the great advantages of information technology. This unit will help you establish a safe and comfortable working environment to ensure that your study time at the computer screen does not impact on your health. It also looks at the basic skills for online study, such as file management and installing software. First published on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 as Living with the internet: learning online. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 1970
  • Design thinking
    4 min 16 sec ago
    Are you ever frustrated with something that you thought you could design better? Design thinking can structure your natural creativity to come up with solutions to all kinds of problems, and have fun in the process too! First published on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 as Design thinking. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 2000
  • 9/11: Attack on the Wires
    4 min 16 sec ago
    What happens when one of the worst terrorist attacks in history strikes the densest cluster of networks on the planet? How did the largest communications provider in the United States handle the surge in demand? Despite surviving earthquakes, hurricanes and other man-made and natural disasters, the staff at AT and T struggled to cope with the flood of calls that followed the tragic events of September 11th. Over the course of the day they handled in excess of 400 million calls as people in America, and all over the world tried to contact friends and family in New York. This collection gives a snapshot of how the communications company dealt with the unprecedented technological challenges by using techniques such as call gapping to help free up other services. The iTunes U team. The iTunes U Team at The Open University produce audio and video podcasts
    First published on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 as 9/11: Attack on the Wires. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website.
  • Living with the Internet: Online shopping
    4 min 16 sec ago
    Online shopping – think of it as a shopping centre in cyberspace, with online auctions as the car-boot sale in the car park. This unit will help you understand how to use online shopping sites, how to ensure that you are using the best sites and the best ways to protect your security. First published on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 as Living with the Internet: Online shopping. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 1970
  • Living with the internet: Keeping it safe
    4 min 16 sec ago
    Computer crashes are often the result of viruses, worms or Trojans as unfortunately some internet users want to cause havoc or vandalise your computer. This unit provides a guide to the downsides of living with the Net. Advice on how to deal with these dangers is provided and security issues like spyware and adware are explained. The unit also deals with protecting children online, and provides links to various helpful websites which deal with the problems raised. First published on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 as Living with the internet: Keeping it safe. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 1970
  • Key skill assessment unit: Information technology
    4 min 16 sec ago
    Skills in information technology (IT) cover a broad range, from using software packages effectively to developing a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of IT solutions. Developing your IT skills means planning your work, practising your skills, seeking feedback from others and reviewing your approach. In developing and assessing your IT skills, you will learn to use and adapt your skills effectively and confidently in different situations and contexts. This unit is designed to be studied for 1 hour per week over 50 weeks First published on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 as Key skill assessment unit: Information technology. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 1970
  • Digital communications
    4 min 16 sec ago
    Optical-fibre communications became commercially viable in the 1970s and innovation continues today. This unit will illustrate how very high data rates can be transmitted over long distances through optical fibres. You will learn how these fibres are linked, examine the technology used and assess the future direction of this continually developing area of communication. First published on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 as Digital communications. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 8400
  • ICTs: e-government
    4 min 16 sec ago
    www……..gov.uk You can now access government directly through the web. E-government in action. While studying this unit you look at the scope of e-government, the databases that are necessary, the use of biometrics in identification and verification of identity and assess the usability and accessibility of websites. First published on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 as ICTs: e-government. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 1970
  • ICTs: Information
    4 min 16 sec ago
    BBC News 24, Sky News, CNN – we live in an era where news has become almost instantaneous. This unit will look at how news is gathered and the technology used for its dissemination. You will also be encouraged to examine how information might be manipulated by questioning its reliability. First published on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 as ICTs: Information. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 1970
  • Presenting information
    4 min 16 sec ago
    Tables and charts are a great way to present numerical information in a clear and concise form. This unit explains how to use the Windows calculator to carry out basic operations and calculate percentages. You will then learn how to use charts and tables to represent and interpret information. First published on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 as Presenting information. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 1970
  • ICTs: Technology news
    4 min 16 sec ago
    To develop as an independent, confident learner you will need to learn the study skills involved in reading articles, taking notes and summarising the information that you have obtained from an article. The unit explores the use of the Web as a resource for keeping up to date, looking in particular at how to assess material available online. First published on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 as ICTs: Technology news. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 1970
  • Key skill assessment unit: Information literacy
    4 min 16 sec ago
    As the volume of information grows in databases, libraries and on the internet, information literacy skills are key to being able to find and manage information effectively in a complex society. Information literacy is about recognising when information is needed, and locating, critically evaluating, using and presenting the information to suit a specific purpose. These skills are increasingly in demand by individuals and employers alike. In developing and assessing your information literacy skills, you will learn to use and adapt your skill confidently and effectively in different situations and contexts. This unit is designed to be studied for 1 hour per week over 50 weeks. First published on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 as Key skill assessment unit: Information literacy. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 1970
  • The database development life cycle
    4 min 16 sec ago
    No idea how relational database systems are constructed? Did you know that they underpin the majority of the managed data storage in computer systems? This unit has been designed to give you an overview of the developmental lifecycle for a database system, explaining the importance of data analysis and highlighting how database development differs from traditional software development. First published on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 as The database development life cycle. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 1970
  • ICTs: device to device communication
    4 min 16 sec ago
    Are you a technophobe? Bluetooth, Ethernet WiFi – are they terms that mean nothing to you? This unit will gently guide you to an understanding of how devices 'talk' to each other and what technologies and processes are involved. You will also look at wired and wireless communication technologies, introducing you to some of the key methods involved. First published on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 as ICTs: device to device communication. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 1970
  • Web guide
    4 min 16 sec ago
    Frightened of the internet? This unit will help you make effective use of the internet, giving you the basic skills required for using web-based resources. Useful tricks and tips are provided as well as information on web browsers, the main features of a browser window, how to look at websites, using hyperlinks, searching for information on the internet, copying text, avoiding computer viruses, and using PDFs. First published on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 as Web guide. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 1970
  • ICTs in everyday life
    4 min 16 sec ago
    We now live in a global village where distance in no longer a barrier to commercial or social contact. This unit will enable you to gain an understanding of the information and communication technologies that drive our networked world and how they now permeate our everyday lives. First published on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 as ICTs in everyday life. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 1970
  • Introducing ICT systems
    4 min 16 sec ago
    Information and communication technologies (ICTs) systems now dominate our everyday lives. This unit will explain what constitutes such a system and how ICT systems work. You will also look at how ICT systems convey, store and manipulate data, and how they process data. Finally you will learn how these systems are used. First published on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 as Introducing ICT systems. To find out more visit The Open University's Openlearn website. Creative-Commons 1970

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