Personal digital devices

Personal digital devices

1. Comparing devices

   • Storage
     • Maximum space the device has available to store files. It is measure bytes
   • Speed
     • Speed is determined by the speed of the processor and is measured in Hertz.
   • Resolution
     • Maximum number of pixels that can fit in screen to improve quality of picture.
   • Smallest is the byte, secong smallest kilobyte, third smallest Megabyte, second biggest is the giga byte and the biggest is the terrabyte

2. Mobile phones

   • Multi-functional phones
     • Multi-functional device is a device that has features and functions that are used in multiple devices
     • Talk Time- amount of time you can talk on your phone before it runs out of battery life.
       • Limitation- More talk on your phone the quicker the battery runs out
     • SMS- Short messaging service allows you to send and recieve texts on your phone.
       • Can only have a maximum of 160 charaters.
     • MMS- Allows person to send messages using images, sound and text
       • Normal pictures are compressed so they will lose quality.
     • Camera- camera built in phone allows you to take photos and videos using your phone.
       • Limitation- Quality of picture dependent on resolution of camera
     • 3G- Third generation offers high speed internet access.
       • In some areas there are limited or no access of 3G.
     • Bluetooth- Users to receive data from nearby devices.
       • Will not work if not in range.
     • Music playback- Store and listen to music on the move.
       • Music files can be large so can use up a lot of storage space
     • WI-FI- Similar to bluetooth but has a larger range.
       • Need to be in range of wireless network.
     • Mobile Internet- Browse internet on your phone
       • Small screen, limited signal range of the internet.
     • GPS
       • Global positioning system- uses satelites to find our location
         • Drains battery
   • Security
     • Keep phone out of sight so not tempting for thieves, set a pin or password so it not easily accessible, Make an IMEI number so if phone is lost or stolen blocked., Locking sim card, Turn off bluetooth to prevent bluejacking.
   • User types
     • Elderly: Large buttons and screen, Lightweight, panic button, , limited number of features, Simple user interface
     • Businesses: Email, mobile phone, GPS, Qwerty keyboards, Installable apps.
     • Teenagers: SMS, MMS, Installable apps, mobile internet and music video player.

3. Personal computers

   • RAM
     • All the programes and files that are open at the time.
   • HDD
     • Permanetly store files and apllications.
   • Optical drives
     • Read CD Roms and DVD Roms

4. Cameras

   • Zoom
     • Optical zoom
       • Make a person or object clearer without reduced quality
     • Digital Zoom
       • Enlarge part of the picture reducing quality.
   • Storage
     • Memeory cards to store images. Most commkon is the security data(SD).
   • Resolution
     • More megapixels the higher the resolution.
   • Geotagging
     • Images tagged with specific loaction they were taken.
   • Digital camcorders
     • Specifically refers to cameras that can be used to record videos as the main function.

5. Games consoles

   • Controllers
     • Most controllers still require to e physically held and no movement of the body: however, there are controllers where you can move your body and use your voice and hand gestures as an interface for the device.
   • Media
     • Up until recently you could only play games you had on disk or Cd but now you can download games.
   • Portable gaming
     • You can play games on games consoles on the move but now it does not make sense to people as they can just play these games on the move.
   • Health
     • Repetitive strain injury, eye strain, obesity,
     • Improve fitness with WII fit.

6. Home entertainment

   • Digital TV
     • Provide us with hundreds of channels to chose from instead of the just five from analouge TVs.
   • High Definition TV
     • More detailed picture of what is going on.
   • Formats
     • DVDs have been turned into blu-ray disks so we can now watch films and TV shows on high definition on a blu-ray instead of a SD disk.
   • Personal video recorders
     • Allows you to watch TV shows on catch up and is saved on a HDD.
   • Smart TVs
     • Additional features so you can access the Internet and other services on your TV.
   • On Demand
     • Gives you acccess to range of shows by using an Internet connection.

7. Peripheral devices

   • External devices you connect to a computer or other digital device
   • Input devices input data into a digital decice: Mouse, keyboards and touchscreen
   • Output devices take out data in ways humans can understand : printer, Headphones and speakers.
   • Storage devices allows you to store and transport data through digital devices: USB stick, memory card, External HDD.