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Digital & Computing
Introduction to cyber security: stay safe online
Protect your digital life with this free course introducing the essentials of cyber security. Learn how to spot online threats, keep your information safe and understand key topics like malware, network security and identity theft — helping you stay secure at home, at work, and beyond.
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Digital & Computing
Timeline: The History of Technology and Silicon Valley
Who created the computer? What was the first video game? When did Apple first make $1bn? When was Facebook founded? Get the answers in our interactive timeline.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Do you have a photographic memory?
Can you hold an image in your mind by just looking at it for a brief amount of time? Try our photographic memory test and see whether you have eidetic memory.
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Digital & Computing
Successful IT systems
Information technology (IT) systems are a critical part of our world, in business and the public and voluntary sectors. They are often highly complex and interconnected combinations of technology, organisations and people. Success and failure of IT systems can be seen in many different settings. Many are highly successful; others fail, sometimes...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Digital forensics
Digital evidence features in just about every part of our personal and business lives. Legal and business decisions hinge on having timely data about what people have actually done. This free course, Digital forensics, is an introduction to computer forensics and investigation, and provides a taster in understanding how to conduct investigations...
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Digital & Computing
Introducing ICT systems
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) systems now dominate our everyday lives. This free course, Introducing ICT systems, 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 ...
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Digital & Computing
Exploring communications technology
This free course, Exploring communications technology, looks at some of the principles underpinning communications technology. It looks at the properties of signals and media (such as optical fibre and radio waves), error control, data compression, and the principles of 4G mobile communications, wi-fi and DSL broadband.
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Digital & Computing
Simple coding
Have you ever wanted to try out simple coding? Want to understand the basics of what it entails? This course introduces you to the skills, concepts and jargon of coding.
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Digital & Computing
Digital communications
Optical-fibre communications became commercially viable in the 1970s and innovation continues today. This free course, Digital communications, 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 ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Software and the law
In this free course, Software and the law, you'll look at the laws relevant to software and its use, taking a global perspective. A major part of this course is devoted to intellectual-property law, the issue of who owns software and digital content and how that ownership can be protected using instruments like copyright and patents. We also...
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Digital & Computing
From Zero Day to Doomsday – Public Lecture
We are delighted to invite you to From Zero Day to Doomsday, a lecture by Mike Richards on the WannaCry ransomware cyber-attack, which had serious implications last year for the NHS and businesses around the world.
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Digital & Computing
DRM explained
The EFF's John Perry Barlow and Ray Corrigan of The Open University decry attempts to provide digital locks on content.