Digital devices

Unit 1 - Pack A
Objectives
• Describe digital devices that form part or all of IT
systems:
• multifunctional devices, personal computers, mobile devices,
servers, entertainment systems
• digital cameras – still, video
• navigation systems, data capture and collection systems,
communication devices and systems
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Starter
• A smartphone is one of
the most widely used
digital devices
• What are five functions of
these devices?
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Smartphone functions
• Making calls, sending text messages
• Clock, alarms, timer
• Application software (Apps)
• Email
• Web browser
• Internet banking
• Social networking and messaging
• Games
• Video calling
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Multifunctional devices
• A multifunctional device is one that
performs many different functions
• Many school photocopiers are
multifunctional devices as they offer
many of the following features:
• Photocopying
• Printing
• Scanning
• Sending faxes

• Name two other multifunctional devices

Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Multifunctional devices
• Other examples of multifunctional devices:
• In-car entertainment systems
• Smart TV
• Mobile phone, tablet
• Laptop or PC
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Digital devices
• A device is digital if it is
controlled by a microprocessor
• The microprocessor can
be programmed
• The following are examples of
digital devices with one function:
• Microwave oven
• Digital radio
• Alarm clock
• Washing machine
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Types of digital devices

• Digital devices are often classified into different
types depending on their usage:
• Multifunctional devices
• Mobile devices
• Entertainment systems
• Digital cameras – still, video
• Navigation systems

• Which of the above categories could a

smartphone fit into?
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Worksheet 1
• Now complete Task 1 on Worksheet 1
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Personal computers
• Personal computers are small, general purpose
computers designed to be used by one person at
a time
• Popular personal
computers include:
• Desktop
• Laptop
• PC
• Mac
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Desktops vs laptops
• Desktop advantages:
• Screen at eye level so helps with
better posture
• Easy to upgrade

• Laptop advantages:
• Lighter so more portable
• Integrated camera, speaker
and microphone
• Give two more advantages
or disadvantages for
desktops and laptops
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Desktops vs laptops
• Desktop advantages:
• Generally faster processor and graphics processor for price
• Easier to expand, modify and upgrade
• Harder to steal

• Laptop advantages:
• Batteries can take over if
power supply fails
• Fewer compatibility issues
with integrated devices
• More power efficient
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

PC sales
• PC sales rose from 71 million in 1996 to 365 million
in 2011
• They fell back down to 259 million in 2018
• Why do you think the number of PCs sold has decreased
since 2011?
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Mobile devices
• Smartphones and tablets have
transformed how people
use computers
• What are three
advantages of
these types
of devices?
• How can
businesses make
use of these types
of systems?
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Mobile devices
• Advantages of mobile devices
• Very light and stored in a pocket, bag or handbag
• Use solid state storage which is fast and durable
• Very fast to log in from standby
• Internet connection allows for better use of cloud applications

• Business use
• Email and other work functions can be carried out whilst at
home or away from the office
• Apps can extend functionality. e.g. use the phone to run a taxi
service or to take images of receipts
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Worksheet 1
• Now complete Task 2 on Worksheet 1
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Entertainments systems
• Entertainment systems include:
• TV
• Stereos, sound systems
• Radios
• Games systems
• Home cinema

• TVs used to be analogue

• What advantages do digital
and smart TVs have?
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Digital and smart TV

• Digital TV
• Better picture quality (HD, UHD/4K), better sound quality
• Clearer sound quality, surround sound
• More channels

• Smart TV
• Recording programmes
• Streaming TV
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Games consoles
• The global games market was worth over
£100 billion in 2018. Games consoles are dedicated
to computer games and entertainment
• The controllers are customised to games
• Motion sensors can be used for
hands-free gaming
• What other features or
advantages do games
consoles have over
other platforms?
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Servers
• A server is a hardware unit that provides a service to
other programs
• It will usually be fast and powerful as it will need to
server many devices and users
• A web server will serve
web pages to user’s
web browsers
• What are three
other types of
server that you have
used in the last week?
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Servers
• Servers that you may have used:
• Mail server – for email
• Web server – for web pages
• Database server – many websites like social networks will
store their data in a database
• File server – for files on a school network
• Print server – for printing files
• Game server – used for running multiplayer video games
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Worksheet 1
• Now complete Task 3 on Worksheet 1
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Digital cameras
• Digital cameras increased in popularity between
1999 and 2010
• At their peak they sold more than 120 million per year

Data source: CIPA

• Why do you think sales have fallen since then?

Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Case study: Huawei P30

• The Huawei P30 Pro phone released in 2019 has
cameras with the following features:
• 40 Megapixel wide angle quad camera (rear)
• 5x optical zoom
• Low-light photography
• Flash
• High Dynamic Range
(HDR) video
• How do standalone
digital cameras compete
against this?
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Navigation systems
• Navigation systems allow users to:
• Plan routes
• Receive audio and visual instructions
• Reroute drivers around traffic problems

• How do navigation
systems know
where the device is?
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

GPS
• The Global Positioning System (GPS) has 31
satellites which orbit the earth
• Each satellite transmits a unique time signal
• A position is calculated by the time taken for the signal to
reach the devices
• At least three satellites are needed to calculate a position
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Case study: what3words

• What3words divides the world into a grid of 3m x 3m
square?
• It allows a unique location to be given anywhere in the world
with just three easy to remember words
• Using a mobile app and GPS it is possible to find any location

in the world with just three words

Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Worksheet 1
• Now complete Task 4 on Worksheet 1
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Data capture devices

• Data capture devices are used to collect data
electronically to be processed. Examples include:
• GPS receiver
• Credit/debit card reader
• Automatic number plate
recognition (ANPR) camera
• What are three other data
capture devices?
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Data capture devices

• Barcode readers
• Biometric capture devices: fingerprint reader,
iris reader
• Near Field Communication (NFC) devices – used in
mobile/contactless payments and to connect
electronic devices
• RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) – used in
contactless payment cards
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of using RFID
for contactless payments?
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Case study: Mobile payments

• In 2018, contactless payments overtook chip and pin
with more than 50% of card payments made using
the technology
• The payments make use of an RFID chip
• They can be used for payments
up to £30
• Paying for goods is very fast
• The cards are less secure
as they normally don’t
require a PIN to be entered
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Communication devices
• Computers, mobile phones and tablets
can all be used for communication
• These can be connected together in
networks using:
• Wi-Fi
• Network cable (copper and fibre optic)
• Routers

• Give four other technologies that allow

people to communicate electronically
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Communication devices
• Wireless: Wireless Access Point (WAP), Bluetooth
• Mobile phone: 2G, 3G, HSDPA, LTE, 4G, 5G
• Fibre: Fibre to the cabinet (FTTC), fibre to the
premises (FTTP)
• Hardware: Network Interface Card (NIC),
switch, router
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Worksheet 1
• Now complete Task 5 on Worksheet 1
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Plenary
• What digital devices may people
use whilst doing the following tasks?
• Walking
• Driving a car
• Travelling on a train
• Travelling on a plane
Digital devices
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems

Plenary
• Walking
• Mobile phone, CCTV

• Driving a car
• Satnav, in car entertainment system, Bluetooth, mobile
phone, ANPR (Automatic number plate recognition), CCTV,
cruise control, auto/self parking, engine management system
(EMS)
• Travelling on a train
• Mobile phone, laptop, LED passenger information system /
departure board
• Travelling on a plane
• In flight entertainment, tablet, mobile, autopilot