COMPUTING AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY

1. What is meant by computer Technology?

Term Referring to the hardware, software and infrastructure that underpin current and
emerging computer systems.
2. Write 5 examples of computer technology.
Embedded processors, web servers, sensors, hard drives, smart phones
3. Explain what is e-waste?
Any form of discarded electronic equipment, including computer technology
4. What is non-renewable materials?
Non-renewable materials resources that cannot be replaced naturally, only certain amount
exists
5. What are the Raw materials used in the manufacture of computer products?
Silver, gold, copper, palladium, arsenic
6. Explain how these raw materials damage the environment and human Health.
Damaging landscape with holes and waste heaps
Contaminating water supplies and putting wildlife habits in danger.
Miners are in a risk of long term breathing illnesses
7. What are the manufactured components in a computer production process?
Circuit boards, chips, screens, disk drives
8. What is the environmental damage caused by the production of computer components?
Uses lot of energy, Large amount of non-renewable fossil fuels (coal, oil)
Burning fuel produces CO2 leads to global warming.
Semiconductors uses a very large amount of water; this can result water shortages.
9. List the most hazardous materials used in the manufacture of computer technology.
Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, etc..

10. What is done by The Restriction of Hazardous Substances(RoHS) around the world?
Restrict the use of hazards materials in computer technology, forcing producers to find
more environmentally friendly alternatives.

11. How are these materials harmful to human health?

It causes both physical and neurological damage
Chemical emissions and waste water from manufacturing plants put people living nearby
at risk

12. Governments are imposing tough recycling targets. Write two of them
a. Designed to ensure that More reusable material is from unused computing
technology.
b. Growing public awareness is putting pressure on manufactures to improve
working conditions in their plants.
 13. Write 2 ways of energy usage in the computer manufacturing process.
Cloud computing and Data centers – vast amount of electricity are needed to power and
cool all the computers

14. Write two Ways in which computing technology can help to reduce energy consumption?
Energy efficiency measures
Use of renewable energy
15. What is meant by carbon footprint?
Amount of carbon dioxide an individual or organization produces as a result of the
energy they consume
16. Why is dumping e-waste in landfill sites harmful to the environment?
Toxic substances will leak out into the ground, contaminating water supplies, infiltrating
the food chain and polluting the air.
17. What is meant by Green computing?
• Efficient use of resources in computing
• Use of safer materials during the manufacturing process and promoting
environmentally friendly systems.
18. Write 2 ways in which computing technology is helping to preserve the environment.
• NASA is analyzing satellite data and measuring sea surface temperature to learn
more about how and why sea levels are rising.
• early warning systems use sensor networks to detect approaching tsunami and
issue timely warnings.
• GPS and satellites is being used to track animals