ANDINET INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

YEAR 11 - LECTURE NOTE

UNIT 1 DIGITAL DEVICES

✓ In this unit, you will learn about the features, purpose and
use of a range of digital devices and the software that can
be used with them.
✓ Understanding the rapid developments in the features and
functionality of digital devices will help you to understand
their current and possible future uses by individuals,
organizations and society.
✓ This unit covers:
❖ Chapter I: Digital Devices
❖ Chapter II: Software
❖ Chapter III: Memory and Processors

I. DIGITAL DEVICES

Understanding the range of digital devices available is important.

This includes comprehending how developments in their features and
functionality influence individuals, organizations, and society.
The focus is on the principles of these devices and selecting
appropriate hardware and software for various scenarios.
A. Types of Digital Devices An awareness of various types of
computers and other digital devices, and their common usage, is
expected.
1. Mainframe Computers: These are powerful computers primarily
used for complex processing tasks. They handle large-scale
computational operations, such as those found in major financial
institutions for transaction processing or large organizations for
data analysis (e.g., airline reservation systems). (Note: Specific
examples like banking systems are external common knowledge, not
explicitly listed in the source).
2. Microprocessors: These are small, integrated circuits that are
embedded in products. They provide the computational power for
various devices without being a standalone computer. An example
provided is washing machines, but they are also found in cars,
smart home appliances, and many other electronic gadgets (Note:
Cars, smart appliances are external common knowledge).

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3. Personal Computers:

✓ This category includes laptop computers and desktop

computers.
✓ Some laptops are powerful enough to be used as desktop
replacements, offering similar performance with the added
benefit of portability.
4. Mobile Phones:

✓ This encompasses smartphones (devices with advanced

capabilities like internet access, apps, and multimedia
functions) and specialist phones (phones designed for
specific purposes, such as rugged phones for outdoor use or
basic phones for calls and texts).
✓ Connection to the network for mobile phones is typically
achieved via a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.
5. Tablet Devices: These are portable personal computers,
typically with a touchscreen interface, larger than a smartphone
but smaller than most laptops.
6. Other Digital Devices: These devices have specific purposes and
uses:

✓ Cameras and camcorders: Used for capturing still images and

video footage.
✓ Games consoles: Dedicated electronic devices used for playing
video games (e.g., PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch).
(Note: Specific console names are external common knowledge).
✓ Home entertainment systems: Integrated systems for
multimedia consumption, often including audio, video, and
sometimes internet streaming capabilities.
✓ Media players: Devices designed for playing digital audio,
video, or image files (e.g., MP3 players, streaming devices).
7. Navigation Aids: Devices like GPS (Global Positioning System)
units are used to provide location information, directions, and
mapping services.

8. Key Concepts:

✓ Multifunctional: This term describes devices that integrate

several functions into a single unit. For instance, mobile

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 phones are multifunctional as they commonly include a camera,
limited game-playing functionality, and GPS.
✓ Convergence: This refers to the increasing trend where the
functionality of different digital devices becomes more
similar. An example is the growing resemblance in
capabilities between smartphones and tablet devices.
B. Features of Digital Devices When evaluating or discussing
digital devices, several key features are important to consider:
1. Portability: This refers to how easily a device can be carried
and used in different locations. Devices like smartphones and
laptops prioritize portability.
2. Performance: This measures how quickly and efficiently a device
can execute tasks and process data. It's often influenced by the
processor, RAM, and storage speed.
3. Storage: This relates to the amount of data a device can hold,
which can be internal or external.
4. User interface: This is how a user interacts with a device,
including input methods (e.g., touchscreens, keyboards, voice
commands) and output displays.
5. Connectivity: This describes the ability of a device to connect
to networks or other devices, using technologies like Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth, or mobile data.
6. Media support: This indicates the types of media (e.g., audio,
video, images) a device can play, record, or display.
7. Energy consumption: This refers to the amount of power a device
uses, which impacts battery life for portable devices and running
costs for stationary ones.
8. Expansion capability: This is the ability to add or upgrade
components or peripherals to a device, such as adding more storage,
RAM, or connecting external devices.
9. Security features: These are mechanisms designed to protect the
device and its data from unauthorized access, damage, or theft
(e.g., passwords, biometric scanners, encryption).

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II. SOFTWARE

Understanding the types of software used in digital devices,

differentiating between system and application software, and
familiarity with available software applications are crucial.
A. System Software vs. Application Software It is important to
identify the distinct purpose of both types of software.

✓ System Software: This software manages and controls the

computer hardware and provides a platform for application
software to run. It includes operating systems and utility
programs.
✓ Application Software: This software is designed to perform
specific tasks for the user, such as word processing,
browsing the internet, or playing games.
B. Operating Systems and System Software Tools
1. Operating Systems: These are fundamental software that manage
computer hardware and software resources, providing common
services for computer programs. Key roles and functions include:

✓ Single user and network operating systems: A single-user OS

supports one user at a time (e.g., Windows on a home PC),
while a network OS manages multiple users and resources
across a network.
✓ Memory management: The OS allocates and deallocates memory
to different programs and processes to ensure efficient use
of RAM.
✓ Resource management: This involves managing the computer's
resources, such as the CPU, input/output devices, and
storage, to ensure all programs and users can function
effectively.
✓ Security: The OS implements security measures to protect data
and system integrity, such as user authentication and access
controls.
✓ Print spooling: This function manages printing tasks by
temporarily storing print jobs in a queue and sending them
to the printer one by one, allowing the user to continue
working while documents are being printed.
2. System Software Tools: These include utilities, which are
programs designed to help analyze, configure, optimize, or

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maintain a computer. Examples include disk defragmenters,
antivirus software, and backup utilities.
C. Software Applications (Apps) Knowledge of various applications,
commonly referred to as apps, is expected:

✓ Office-productivity tools: Software suites designed to

increase productivity in an office environment, such as word
processing (for creating documents), spreadsheet (for data
analysis and calculations), and database management (for
organizing and querying data).
✓ Web authoring: Software used for creating and designing
websites.
✓ Image and sound editing: Applications for manipulating and
enhancing digital images and audio files.
✓ Presentation software: Programs used to create and deliver
multimedia presentations, typically involving slides with
text, images, and other media.
✓ Control software: Software designed to operate or manage
external hardware or processes, often used in industrial or
automated systems.
✓ Project management software: Tools used to plan, organize,
and manage resources to complete a project successfully.
D. Software Licensing Types Understanding different ways software
can be legally distributed and used is important:

✓ Free/open-source software: Software that is freely available

for use, modification, and distribution. Its source code is
open and accessible to anyone.
✓ Proprietary software: Software that is legally owned by an
individual or company, often requiring a license fee for its
use, and whose source code is usually kept secret.
E. Communication Software The primary purpose of communication
software is to provide remote access to systems and to exchange
files and messages between different computers or users. This
exchange can involve various formats, including text, images,
audio, and/or video. Examples include email clients, instant
messaging apps, and video conferencing tools.
F. Software Updates It is important to understand why software is
updated, how updates are performed, and the potential risks to
data/systems associated with them. Updates are typically released
to fix bugs, improve security, add new features, or enhance

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performance. While crucial for system health, failed updates can
sometimes lead to data loss or system instability.
G. Identifying Appropriate Software The ability to select software
that effectively meets specific requirements is an important
skill.

II. MEMORY AND PROCESSORS

A. Memory Digital devices utilize different types of memory for

various functions.
1. RAM (Random Access Memory):

✓ RAM is used to store data and program instructions that are

currently in use by the computer. It acts as a temporary
workspace for the CPU.
✓ It is volatile memory, meaning its contents are lost when
power is turned off.
✓ The size of RAM directly impacts the user experience and
system performance; more RAM generally allows more programs
to run simultaneously and complex tasks to be handled more
smoothly.
2. ROM (Read Only Memory):

✓ ROM stores permanent instructions, such as the boot-up

sequence that initiates the computer when it is turned on.
✓ It is non-volatile memory, meaning its contents are retained
even when power is off.
✓ The size of ROM is also significant for the user, as it
stores essential firmware for device operation.
3. Flash Memory:

✓ This is a type of non-volatile storage that can be

electronically erased and reprogrammed.
✓ Its characteristics make it suitable for various uses, such
as in USB drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), and memory cards
for cameras and mobile devices. (Note: Specific devices like
USB drives, SSDs, and memory cards are common examples of
flash memory uses).
B. Processors (CPU - Central Processing Unit) The processor is the
"brain" of a digital device.

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1. Function of the Processing Unit (CPU): The CPU's primary
function is to execute instructions of a computer program. It
performs basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction),
logical operations (comparisons), control flow operations
(managing instruction execution), and handles input/output
operations.
2. Processor Speed Measurement: The speed of a processor is
typically measured in gigahertz (GHz). A higher GHz value generally
indicates that the processor can execute more instruction cycles
per second, leading to faster performance.
C. ICT Systems to Meet Specified Needs It is important to be able
to apply this knowledge to practical scenarios:

✓ The ability to identify digital devices and associated

peripheral devices that meet particular needs, including
accessibility requirements, is expected. This involves
choosing hardware that is appropriate for the task and the
user.
✓ Similarly, identifying appropriate software that meets
specific user or task requirements is key.
✓ Understanding that settings of ICT systems can be configured
to meet the accessibility needs of individuals is important,
ensuring technology is usable by a diverse range of users.
✓ Finally, the ability to justify choices made when identifying
and configuring hardware and software is a critical skill,
demonstrating a reasoned approach to ICT solutions.

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