Health and Safety steps when connecting to Peripherals

Health and Safety steps when connecting to Peripherals

Printers

All printers should be examined, tested and checked thoroughly before being connected, these are the guidelines offered by the Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and all sockets must also be switched off before inserting the plug.  It is recommended that laser printers should be situated one metre away from were people are sitting.

Digital Camera’s

You should connect and set up your digital camera in accordance to the instructions provided by the supplier or manufacturer and make sure that the computer is switched off at the electrical mains and the plugs have been removed from the socket before connecting the digital camera. You should also use and anti-static band this discharges any static that you may have in your body before you connect the digital camera.

Hard Drive

Before connecting a hard drive to your computer make sure that the system is turned off and is not connected to the wall socket. You should also use an anti-static band to get rid off any static you may have in your body. Handle the hard drive with care when connecting it, never force it too much. Carefully remove VDU from system and use the proper utensils.

 

General Health and Safety steps when using a Computer

General Health and Safety steps when using a Computer

It is important to work safely for the safety and welfare of you and others around you. If you do not follow the safe practices you could hurt yourself and others and equipment could be damaged.

When connecting peripherals to a computer make sure that the computer is switched off at the mains before connecting any external hardware.

To avoid health problems while using a computer you should sit up straight in your chair and make sure your eyes are at level with your computer that your neck does not have to bend for you to see your screen properly. You should adjust your seat to your liking and make sure that there is no sun or light reflecting off your screen which will lead you to strain your eyes which can cause headaches, neck strain and eyestrain. Make sure you have plenty of room on your work station for your arms and that your wrists are resting on your desk. A footrest is also of great help as it can reduce problems when working in front of a computer for long hours. Repeated movement of your wrists and fingers can lead to repetitive strain injury to avoid this you must always follow the safe practices for your own welfare and by taking a break from your computer at least every hour or so for 15 minutes.  Do not put food or drink beside your computer as this is a safety issue. If liquid is to spill on electrical equipment the outcome can be very dangerous and life threatening. Also make sure that all leads and cables are out of the way to avoid falling and causing an injury and that sockets are not overloaded with plugs. A fire extinguisher should be available at all times and the fire exit locations should be on notice beside the door in each room.

Connecting Peripherals to a PC

Connecting Peripherals to a PC

In my photographs and print screens below I will be showing you how to safely connect peripherals to a PC safely such as speakers and a digital camera. The print screens will show the step by step process of safely uploading photographs from a digital camera to your H.Drive.

In this picture I am switching off the main source of electricity which is the wall sockets before inserting the speakers and camera.

This is a picture of the CPU (Central Processing Unit) before the speakers were inserted.

This is a picture of me inserting the speakers into the Central Processing Unit.

This is a picture of the CPU after the speakers have been inserted. I tested the speakers to ensure that they were working by playing music.

In this picture I am connecting the USB lead to the Central Processing Unit.

This is a picture of me connecting the camera to the USB lead which is connected to the CPU. It is obvious from the pictures that the camera is in working order. 

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Here are some screen shots of me uploading pictures of me safely inserting speakers and a USB lead into the CPU from a digital camera to my H.Drive.

Step 1…Go to computer and click on FinePix1x300 and then click into External memory as shown below

Step 2….Double click on the DCM folder.

Step 3…Then double click on the 100-FUJI folder.

Step 4…You then click on the photos of yourself.

Step 5…Then drag your photos to your H.Drive to your Computer Systems folder and this is the process complete.



General Health and Safety steps when using a Computer

It is important to work safely for the safety and welfare of you and others around you. If you do not follow the safe practices you could hurt yourself and others and equipment could be damaged.

When connecting peripherals to a computer make sure that the computer is switched off at the mains before connecting any external hardware.

To avoid health problems while using a computer you should sit up straight in your chair and make sure your eyes are at level with your computer that your neck does not have to bend for you to see your screen properly. You should adjust your seat to your liking and make sure that there is no sun or light reflecting off your screen which will lead you to strain your eyes which can cause headaches, neck strain and eyestrain.

Make sure you have plenty of room on your work station for your arms and that your wrists are resting on your desk. A footrest is also of great help as it can reduce problems when working in front of a computer for long hours. Repeated movement of your wrists and fingers can lead to repetitive strain injury to avoid this you must always follow the safe practices for your own welfare and by taking a break from your computer at least every hour or so for 15 minutes. 

Do not put food or drink beside your computer as this is a safety issue. If liquid is to spill on electrical equipment the outcome can be very dangerous and life threatening. Also make sure that all leads and cables are out of the way to avoid falling and causing an injury and that sockets are not overloaded with plugs. A fire extinguisher should be available at all times and the fire exit locations should be on notice beside the door in each room.

Health and Safety steps when connecting to Peripherals

All printers should be examined, tested and checked thoroughly before being connected, these are the guidelines offered by the Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and all sockets must also be switched off before inserting the plug.  It is recommended that laser printers should be situated one metre away from were people are sitting.

Digital Camera’s

You should connect and set up your digital camera in accordance to the instructions provided by the supplier or manufacturer and make sure that the computer is switched off at the electrical mains and the plugs have been removed from the socket before connecting the digital camera. You should also use and anti-static band this discharges any static that you may have in your body before you connect the digital camera.

Hard Drive

Before connecting a hard drive to your computer make sure that the system is turned off and is not connected to the wall socket. You should also use an anti-static band to get rid off any static you may have in your body. Handle the hard drive with care when connecting it, never force it too much. Carefully remove VDU from system and use the proper utensils



Printers

Security Risks

 

Staff are allowed to install and remove software

Allowing staff to install and remove software could lead to staff installing non protected programs carrying viruses and uninstalling actual important programs that the company paid for and needs which may lead to data being lost and money being lost. A solution to this problem is to allow limited access to certain programs for the staff and to monitor what is being installed and uninstalled at all times also installing and anti virus software to protect the system from threats.

                                                 Data is backed up once a month

If data is being backed up once a month then this is not enough. Data should be backed up at least once a week as the system could crash at ant given time which will lead to data and important information being lost which could consequently lead the company to lose important information and business.

Data Tapes in a Plastic Box

Having data tapes in a plastic box on top of a server is by no means secure. The sever heats up which could melt the plastic box which could then lead to a fire starting and the data and other equipment being destroyed therefore the business being destroyed as all important data has been lost. And also as the data is not secure it could be stolen and the data on those tapes could be used by someone planning on committing identity theft. The safest way to secure your backed up files is in a fire and waterproof case that has a lock and placed in a different location.

Records in a Database on Customers

Allowing all staff to access a database that consists of the customer’s purchases, account numbers, bank details, name and address and purchase history is very risky. Any of these users could steal a customer’s personal information at any time and use that information which is known as identity theft for example they could use their bank details to purchase goods for themselves. To tolerate staff that discusses customer’s information to other staff and over the phone to other suppliers is forbidden. The Data Protection Act 1998 that is in place must be followed here and as it is being breached the company and the users are breaking the law this makes your business look very unprofessional. Let your staff know that discussing customers details is unacceptable as it is breaking the law and will lead to a written warning or being Paid Off.

Email is Available to All

Emails being available to all staff can lead to spam and malware as staff may click in to emails, links to websites that ask for personal details and adverts that consist of viruses, worms and Trojans. Worms and viruses carry out nasty actions like shutting down the system, making the system slow and unresponsive.  Viruses spread from one program to another and from one computer to another. Trojans steal information and harm computers. The outcome of this is a slow responsive system which means business can not be run to standards. I recommend that you install an anti virus software and give authorisation to a few members of staff to access emails.

IP Address Log

Not keeping the IP address log of the sites visited means you can not see what websites your staff are visiting during working hours and as there are no restrictions for internet access the staff could be viewing inappropriate and offensive sites. Sites that carry viruses and worms may be viewed by the staff. Firstly I suggest that you install an anti virus software and secondly I suggest that you set more discipline within the company to monitor the sites that are being visited by your staff.

No Firewall

Having no firewall in place means you have no form of protection from worms, viruses, Trojans etc. Without a firewall your network is vulnerable to viruses and hackers. Therefore unauthorised individuals can get in to your personal details, files and documents and steal this information and ruin your business and corrupt your system and with no internet restrictions the network is even more vulnerable to threats from the internet. You should install a powerful and recommended anti virus software to protect your files and the personal details of your customers from hackers and viruses.

Downloads are not Monitored

When downloading media files like videos, music, photos, these downloads must be monitored as the files that are being downloaded could be corrupt and contain viruses and also to know when and why they were downloaded. As there is no form of protection on the system then it is more than likely that viruses will get through when downloading which will corrupt the system, slow it down and slow business down. When an anti virus is in place it will scan the download for viruses, worms, Trojan etc before downloading it so it is recommended you install one.

Entrance Doors are not Protected by Keypad

You should keep a building secure to prevent unauthorized personnel from entering the building and viewing important files, stealing some ones identity, viewing confidentiality files and stealing information. If this were to happen your business would crash and burn as no one would trust you with their details therefore no new customers and current customers would cancel their account. You can secure a building by having CCTV…giving all employees an ID card that has to be swiped through a keypad to enter the building. Also a security man to stand at the entrance at all times depending on how large and important the information inside the building is.



Egos a catalogue sales company has asked me to evaluate a network for security threats and this is what I have found;

No log on to the network

Having no log on to a network means anyone can access the network and as there are 50 users this means 50 people within the same company have no security on their documents or files. This could lead to a user accessing another user’s network and deleting or stealing their files. It is recommended to have a log on to a network to keep information secure.

Unrestricted Internet Access

With no restriction to what is accessed on the internet within the company, could possibly lead to viruses, worms, spam, malware etc and this usually leads to the system being non responsive or failing which means customers may be impatient while making orders and cancel their order which looks unprofessional and the company will lose money. To avoid this it is recommended to put restrictions in place and to install an anti virus software to protect the network from viruses.

 

Assignment 3 Distinction

Assignment 3

My friend has contacted me about her computer as she has become a fan of computer games but is not happy as it is slow at responding and the video quality is not to standard.

First of all your internet connection could be slow and the signal may be bad so I would recommend a better ISP (internet service provider) as the one she is currently with could be low in speed. TalkTalk have up to 20Mb which is very good and great speed. It will be worth changing from her current ISP to TalkTalk as they also have a great deal at the moment which costs next to nothing.

The poor video quality could be down to her monitor as it may not have the features of HD or LED which makes a livelier picture with enhanced colours and images. I would recommend a new up to date monitor as this will make her gaming experience more thrilling as it will bring lifelike images to the screen and will show her a new world of colour.

I would also recommend buying a graphics card for your computer which is ideal for gaming, watching movies and viewing photos and videos. They are very cheap and will make the world of a difference to your monitor and gaming experience.  I also suggest RAM (random access memory) this is a form of computer storage which gives you faster speeds and much more. It is essential for upgrading your computers performance and efficiency.

Also an antivirus software to scan your computer for viruses and spyware and to remove them. An antivirus will scan and clean out your computer to keep it running effectively and keep your information safe from theft and fraud. There are many types of antivirus software that can be purchased although the most popular is Norton Security and this can be bought in any computer shop.

Assignment 3

Assignment 3

 A friend has contacted me for help and advice regarding purchasing a PC to work from her home. I have asked a few questions so I can research specific hardware and software components that will suit her needs. The basic things first are the monitor and base unit.

This is a PC monitor. I have chosen this monitor for my friend as it is a great price and a great monitor at just £119. You will achieve the blackest black and the whitest of white. You are able to enhance the colour, brightness, contract and sharpness to suit you to your liking.

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&q=pc+monitor&safe=active&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=11282828642681482431&sa=X&ei=Z9jpTp_hK426hAer6tmXCA&ved=0CJgBEPICMAM#

I have chosen this base unit because it has great quality. It is ideal for the entire family for either work or play. It has 500GB which makes it perfect for storing photos, music, movies, important information etc. It is at a reasonable price at £449.00 and is pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium.

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.210-8224.aspx?utm_source=GoogleShopping&utm_medium=GSF_NormalFeed&utm_campaign=GSF_TescoDirect&utm_content=210-8224

Database and Spreadsheet

I have chose Microsoft Office Home at £80 as it is cheap and a very convenient  to install. It offers a great way to bring forth your best work in the office, school or at home. It has spreadsheets, databases, excel, publisher, visio, access and word. All the essentials you need for office or home work.

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=active&q=microsoft+office+home&gs_upl=3353l10373l0l14397l31l29l4l12l13l1l250l2463l0.8.5l13l0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=14523371762404478444&sa=X&ei=pNvpTqCWA5Gr8AOYpKifCg&ved=0CKUBEPMCMAQ#



Internet and Email

TALKTALK

£3.25

Up to 20Mb

I have chosen TalkTalk as the ISP (internet service provider) because it has free wireless router and free connection. Evening and weekend calls and 12 months half price and it has up to 20Mb in speed also because it is a great deal and connection is free.

http://www.uswitch.com/broadband/providers/talktalk/?bb=1&gclid=CMe04vn-g60CFUhrfAod_iuQTA

Transfer Large Video Files

I chose a Seagate external portable hard drive because it is compact and perfect for on-the-go at just £46.00. You can add more storage space to your computer and take large files with you werever you go. Setup is straight forward and easy, you simply connect a USB cable and you are ready to transfer files. Plus, it is automatically accepted by Windows, so there is no need to install software. Saving files is easy too, just drag and drop the things you want to save. It's easy to use, fast and energy efficient. It has fast data transfer speed with USB 2.0 connectivity and 5400 RPM drive performance. Built-in power management so energy is saved.

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=active&gs_upl=2745l2745l0l3837l1l1l0l0l0l0l156l156l0.1l1l0&q=Seagate+external+portable+hard+drive&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=993205249345296868&sa=X&ei=k9zpTqCZII338QOsm_CICg&ved=0CJABEPMCMAA#

Computer Games and Joystick

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=Sims+3&hl=en&safe=active&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=2421973134292855187&sa=X&ei=y9zpTte1IMKn8QOK9bDnCQ&ved=0CJgBEPMCMAM#

At just £14.00 online I have chosen the computer game Sims 3 because it is enjoyable and you or your child will experience the variety of everyday life. It is educational on the realities of growing up and adult life. It also helps you or you child express your creativity and has great ratings.

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=joystick&hl=en&safe=active&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=3798911601946917754&sa=X&ei=D93pTs-XNsjA8gPBiZmFCg&ved=0CIUBEPMCMAA#

I have recommended the joystick as a controller for computer games because for just £25.00 it makes the experience of playing games more exciting and thrilling. It is easy to use and control. It has handle rotations, hat switch and throttle.

Digital Camera and Printer

I recommend this digital camera because it is just £49.38, is a brilliant make and one of the most common makes. It is attractive and easy to use. It has 12 mega pixels and 3x optical zoom and a 3.4 inch LCD Screen with digital image stabilization which is brilliant for taking pictures and making videos. It can be plugged into your computer simply using a USB to transfer photos and videos to and from your PC hassle free.

http://www.dabs.com/products/fuji-finepix-l55-digital-camera---red-7Q9W.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product+search&utm_content=Q200

I have chosen this printer/copier to recommend to my friend as it is only £57.00 and is an all in one colour ink jet. It uses high quality ink cartridges which are at a low cost so therfore affordable. It has an effortlessly wi-fi set up and can be easily connected to your wireless home network. It delivers high quality photos that dry instantly with brilliant detailed graphics and documents.

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=active&biw=1280&bih=822&q=printer&gs_upl=3182l4290l0l6022l7l7l0l0l0l0l250l1327l0.4.3l7l0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=17519885893012865496&sa=X&ei=KN7pTqW9K9Lc8gOs6PiDCg&ved=0CJ4BEPMCMAI#