Unit 1 – Living in a digital world
Ms Fahmeeda Khan
1. Lets communicate
Choosing a phone
• Picture resolution – higher the resolution, the
better the quality (pixels)
• Camera resolution – higher the resolution, the
more detail the camera picks up, but picture files
can be very big (megapixels (MP))
• Storage capacity – internal memory (gigabytes
(GB))
• Memory card – secondary storage device: users
can store, back up, copy and remove their files.
SD and SDHC commonly used. (GB)
Be safe. Page 8
1. Lets communicate
Mobile phones
• Music and video player – Different formats
 Music: MP3 and WAV
 Video: MP4 and AVI
Different phones - different file formats: compatibility?
• Connectivity – Connect to internet/share information >
send and receive signals: connect wirelessly.
Most common ways of connecting devices (eg. Phones, router,
computers) to each other are Bluetooth and WiFi.
• Online access to email accounts, your phone needs to
support
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POP3: download your inbox, or
IMAP4: view your entire inbox and subfolders.
1. Lets communicate
Mobile phones
• Network band – Different frequencies in different
countries
 Dual band – picking up 2 frequencies
 Tri band – picking up 3 frequencies
 Quad band – picking up 4 frequencies (5 different
continents)
• Mobile phone batteries – more features needs more
amounts of power. Which feature will take up more
battery charge?
• Mobile phone designs – design and user interface.
 Fashion phones
 Business phones
 Multifunctional phones
1. Lets communicate
Mobile phones for everyone?
• The impact that age, gender and disability have on the
choice of device
 Weight of phone, size of screen and buttons, volume
capacity of speakers, interface, screen resolution,
navigation or menu system, number of features available,
‘panic button’ to reach relatives easily.
• The health, safety and security risks when using
phones.
• Pros and cons of mobile phones
 Repetitive strain injury (RSI) – too much of texting/games
 Government health advisers recommend that children
under 16 should not use mobile phones regularly.
 ‘Text speak’ impact on his ability to spell words correctly.
Mobile phone etiquette and safety
 Victims of bullying and crime
advice. Page 14
1. Lets communicate
Which kind of computer?
• Types of portable computers
 Laptop, notebook, netbook, Personal digital assistant (PDA)
• Buying a computer
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Processor (CPU): gigaherts (GHz)
Memory: Random Access Memory (RAM)
Hard drive size: Primary storage – bytes/GB
Wireless enabled: pick up WiFi signals> connect to a network, internet
and devices without wires.
 USB connection
 Sound card/graphics card
 Optical drive
• Peripherals
 Input devices
 Output devices
 Storage devices/media
Be safe – how to conserve (save)
power. Page 17
Future proofing
1. Lets communicate
Internet
• Socialising on the internet - Using the internet to keep in
touch:
Do you know the
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IM (instant messaging)
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
Social networking
Web page with a blog
• The internet as a work tool
advantages and
disadvantages of IM, VoIP,
Social networking, blogs,
Email, VLE and different
types of websites using
the internet?
 Email
 Protocols: Two types of common protocol used by email services
providers – IMAP4 and POP3
 Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
 The internet
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User-generated websites
User forums
News websites
podcasting
Be safe – Rules for using the internet.
Page 26
1. Lets communicate
Internet safety
• Dangers associated with the internet
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Viruses
spyware
Cookies
Spam
Hackers
Phishing
Identity theft
Do you know how these are
problems that can occur from
internet use? Make sure you know
how you can protect yourself from
these dangers too!
Be safe – ICT and the Law.
> Computer Misuse Act 1990
> Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
> Data Protection Act 1998 –Principles?
Page 28
• Ways to protect yourself from the dangers
associated with the internet. Do you know how?
1. Lets communicate
The digital divide
• The implications of the digital divide
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Social
Economical
Educational
Cultural
Do you know the SEE C influences
of technology?
• Government initiatives
 Government schemes to help people who cannot
afford them
• Constant change
E-commerce, Globalisation
 Keeping up to date with technology?
2. On the move
• Search engines
• Online encyclopaedias
• Finding information
– Do you know how to recognise a governments official site?
• Using passports for identification and authentication
– Microchip
– Biometrics
Do you know what microchip and
biometrics are?
Radio Frequency Identification chip stores the user’s
photograph and all of the personal information printed on the
safe. RFID were introduced to increase security, especially at
airports.
Can you answer the exam questions
on Page 44?
2. On the move
Keeping in touch
• Sending messages and taking photos/videos
• Features of netbooks
• Transferring images
 Transfer photos from camera/mobile phones using
one of these methods: Bluetooth; USB cable;
Flash memory card.
Can you recommend and explain or
discuss the most appropriate digital
devices for a given scenario? Page 46
2. On the move
How can we connect?
• Connecting to the internet
 Cyber cafes – cable connection
 WiFi Access – wireless connection (hotspot)
Cable connection to a network is always quicker than a
Can you consider the security of WiFi
wireless connection.
connections when you are out and
about? Page 50
• Online photo albums
• Cloud computing: a system in which all computer
programs and data is stored on a central server owned by
a company (eg. Google) and accessed virtually.
Can you consider the advantages and
disadvantages of cloud computing?
Hotspot, Roaming, Web app
2. On the move
Finding the way
Global positioning systems (GPS) have lots of positive
applications for those who are lost:
• GPS sat navs (created for drivers not pedestrians)
• Convergence – when one device is developed to carry out
functions that were originally performed by several
different devices.
 More convergence (Metadata & Geographical coordinates)
 GPS tracking (eg delivery vans fitted with a GPS system and
modem, location can be constantly sent via the mobile phone
network to the firm’s computer system. )
• Privacy issues
Can you consider any privacy issues
of using GPS?
Can you answer the Exam question on
Page 54?
Metadata, geographical coordinates,
Geotag
2. On the move
Digital devices
Weight
Can you select a
suitable digital
device/features
to meet
particular needs?
Ease of use
Cost
Digital
device
Robustness
Battery life
Functionality
3. Entertain me – what to buy?
Multimedia system
• Choosing the best method to view films, listen to
music and play games. Devices available:
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Media players
Desktop
PCs
Laptops
HDTV
Games console
Blu-ray
DVD
MP3 player and many more
3. Entertain me – what to buy?
Multimedia system
• Choosing a laptop for multimedia purpose,
consider:
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Features
Functions
Hard disk drive (HDD) size
Performance
Connectivity
Future proofing
Upgradability
Support
Do you know what to consider?
Page 64
Can you answer the exam question
on page 66?
Terabyte (TB), Hands-free
3. Entertain me – what to buy?
Which games console?
Playing online games with friends/others
Do you know the advantages and
• Console versus laptop
disadvantages of console vs laptop?
Page 67-68
• More options
 Hands-free gaming (eg. Nintendo Wii – balance
board to go snowboarding)
 Sense movement
 Detect facial expressions
Research games consoles and
investigate some hands-free games
consoles.
3. Entertain me – what to buy?
Choosing an ISP
• There are lots of ISPsfactors to consider
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Cost
Speed
Download limits
Email and web space
Storage
Security
Parental control
Reliability and customer
service
Choosing an ISP - Page 71
Be safe – protect your computer.
Page 71
Can you answer the exam question
on Page 72?
Firewall, Spyware, Ethernet
3. Entertain me – what to buy?
Connecting to the internet
• Broadband (high-speed connection to the
internet)
– Fibre-optic cables (Fastest broadband)
– Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) (copper
telephone lines
• Broadband connection with large bandwidth =
download films and play online video
Do you know what ADSL is? Page 70
Broadband, bandwidth, bps, Kbps,
Mbps
3. Entertain me – what to buy?
How to create a home network
• Local area networks
• Types of network
 Ethernet cable
 Wireless (WiFi)
 Powerline
Do you know the types of network?
Can you state the advantages and
disadvantages of ethernet cable and
wireless networks? Page 74
• Security – wireless networks are less secure than
cable ones.
 Encryption - scrambles the data on your network and only
official computers with the correct encryption key can read it.
Can you answer the exam question
on Page 76?
Internet protocol (IP), bandwidth,
latency
3. Entertain me – what to buy?
Downloads and on-demand services
• Downloading
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Do you know how to donload good
quality files and avoid the risks of
viruses and spyware? Page 77
Avoid peer-to-peer (P2P)
Avoid free sites
Check the download conditions in the small print – (DRM)
Use reputable websites
Check the reliability of the different sites
• Video streaming
 Streaming technology (eg. BBCi player is an on-demand
streaming)
• Restrictions
 Copyright
Read ‘Watch out’ on page 78.
Digital Rights Management (DRM),
copyright
3. Entertain me – what to buy?
Precautions – covert, overt
• Covert data collection – collecting information
without a person knowing about it
 Maleware
 Spyware
• Overt data collection – a person has knowingly given
a company/other people information about
themselves.
Can you answer the exam question
 Cookies
on Page 80?
• Cyber crime – what data is collected (personal, nonpersonal, usage, transactional)
Read more on Page 79-80.
Malware, Spyware, Cookies
3. Entertain me – what to buy?
Dangers
• Risks of being online
 Addiction
Can you explain the risks of being
online? Page 81-82
 Damage to health
 Predators (meeting people online)
Do you know some of the health effects of
spending too much time on the computer?
Can you answer the exam question
on page 82? Also read ‘Watch out’.
Identity theft, Predators, Repetitive
strain injury (RSI)
4. Smart working
Safe workplace
• Computer related health problems
 Back pain
 Eye strain
 Repetitive strain injury (RSI)
 Stress
Can you explain health and safety
How to avoid them
issues associated with computer use
 Breaks
and ways of avoiding them? Page 89
 Training
 Eye care
Repetitive strain injury (RSI),
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
4. Smart working
Safe workplace
• Ergonomics – creating a well-designed work
station to avoid fatigue (tiredness), discomfort
and injury in the workplace. Do you know how to create a well
designed work station? Page 90
• Other safety considerations
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Electrical sockets
Storage space
Clean workspaces (bacteria and viruses)
Food and drink – avoid spills
Read more on page 91
Well- ventilated room
Right safety equipment
Repetitive strain injury (RSI),
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
4. Smart working
Any time, Anywhere
• Mobile broadband
– Advantages
– Disadvantages
Do you know the advantages and
disadvantages of mobile broadband?
Page 93
• Factors affecting the broadband signal
• Privacy issues
Read more on page 94
Dongle, 3G signals
4. Smart working
Collaborative working
• Advantages of working collaboratively
• Different ways of working collaboratively
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Video conferencing
VoIP
Online workspaces
Wikis
Online forums
Read more on page 95
Read ‘Did you know?’ and password
protection on page 96
• Teleworking
Do you know the advantages and
disadvantages of teleworking? Page 96
Collaborative, multitask, remotely,
Access rights
4. Smart working
Software choices
• Types of software
 General-purpose (generic) software
 Specialist software
• Buying and upgrading software
 Locally installed software
 Leasing the software
 Software as a service (SaaS)
Read more on page 98
Read examiners tip on page 99
• Open source software
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No licensing fees
Distribute and copy software
File compatibility
Upgrades, fixes and modifications
Can you answer the exam question
on page 100?
Hot desking, open source
software/licence
4. Smart working
Storing and backing up data
• Primary and secondary storage
• Different storage media/devices
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Other storage devices
Online data storage – Outsourcing
Do you know the advantages and
disadvantages of online storage? Page 102
Issues with storing data online
 Advantages and disadvantages of online storage
• Backing up data
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Read ResultsPlus on page 104
Data being stolen
Corrupt and unreadable
Human error – accidentally deleted or written over
Natural or manmade disaster, e.g. fire, flood, lightening
• Disaster recovery – ways to protect data in the event of a disaster
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Backing up data
RAID technology
Data, Outsourcing, RAID (redundant
Fitting surge protectors
array of inexpensive disks), UPS
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
Fire precautions – installing alarms and fire extinguishers
Running anti-virus software and firewall to stop unauthorised access
Data Protection Act 1998
Data Protection Act 1998 Page 103
4. Smart working
Communicating with customer
• Different forms of online communication with
customers:
Do you know the advantages and
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Email
Instant messaging (IM)
Online help
Blogs
Video conferencing
VoIP
Remember to read question properly >
business or customer?
disadvantages of communicating with
customers online? Page 19-20
Do you know the benefits to
customer relations?
Can you answer the exam question
on page 108?
Presence awareness
4. Smart working
Running a business online
• How the internet has affected the business
world
• The advantages of running a business online
• Internet advertising> WHY?
• Advertising online, including
 Search engines
 Content networks
 Viral marketing
Do you know the benefits of the internet
to an industry and individual business?
Page 110
Read ‘Watch out’ on page 112
Viral marketing
5. Shopping experience!
Is shopping online a good thing?
• Advantages of shopping online
• Disadvantages of shopping online
• How and why organisations sell and advertise
online
• The impact that buying goods and services
online has on lifestyles
• Online customer rights Read online customer rights on Page 121
Viral marketing
5. Shopping experience!
Setting up an online account
• The use of usernames and passwords and
other security measures (challenge tests,
security questions) when accessing online
systems
• Internet forms
 Required fields, Combo boxes, verification
Read online customer rights on Page 121
Secret answer, Captcha tests
5. Shopping experience!
Paying online
• Payment systems
• Banking and other financial services
• Security and privacy issues that arise when
information is transmitted and stored digitally
• Security risks and how to minimise them by use
of
 Encryption
 Authentication
 Digital certificates
Read more on page 127
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
5. Shopping experience!
Paying online
• Credit or debit card
 Credit card validation code
 Further checks
Do you know the advantages of online
 Secure sites
banking? Page 129
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Online banking
Third-party payment processors
Gift vouchers
Read more on page 127-130
Online shopping and the environment
5. Shopping experience!
Avoiding online fraud
• Defrauding money
• How can criminals get hold of personal
details
 Computer viruses – Trojans
 Phishing
Read more on page 131
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
5. Shopping experience!
Is my data safe?
• Personal data
• Data protection – Data Protection Act 1998
• Privacy policy
Read more on page 135
Read Examiners tip on page 136
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)