Topic 1 - Personal Digital Devices

Topic 1 - Personal Digital Devices

1. Mobile Phones

   • Definition: a telephone with access to a cellular radio system so it can be used over a wide area, without a physical connection to a network.
   • Pros: A lot of features, Easy to use, Useful. Makes communication easier, especially from a distance, Helps you keep track of things, Internet everywhere, Camera always available, Can upload pictures taken onto a computer, Can talk to people in different ways, Keeps your personal information secure
   • Cons: Generates cyber bullying, Distracts drivers when driving, Breakable, Needs signal, Expensive, Monthly bill, Privacy and security risks, Addiction, Issues with battery life, Issues with social interaction

2. Personal Computers

   • Different types: Desktop computer, Laptop computer, Notebook computer, Netbook computer, PDA computer
   • Features: CPU, Storage, Memory, Wireless connectivity, Optical drive, Sound/Graphics card, USB ports
   • Input: Keyboard, Microphone, Scanner, Flatbed scanner, Mouse, Webcam, Controller
   • Output: Speaker, Headphones, Printer, Monitor, Projector
   • Storage devices: Internal storage, Flash memory, External hard drive, CD-R, DVD-R
   • Cloud computing: Dropbox, Google docs

3. Cameras and Camcorders

   • Features to look for: Good quality, Easy to use, Decent price, Not overly expensive, Focus, Zoom
   • Camcorder: Has an image sensor, a standard high definition resolution, HD camcorders are much more expensive but deliver higher quality video. Has a long zoom lens that allows you to magnify far away objects. A camcorder's video format refers to the kind of digital file you camcorder will create.
   • Cameras: Flash, the majority of digital cameras have red eye reduction, where the flash of a camera causes a person's eyes to go red- this allows a person to reduce the red in a person's eyes, by default a camera will automatically focus on whatever is in the middle of a picture, the shutter button takes the picture, many cameras allow you to add effects to pictures to change the colour of the picture

4. Game Consoles

   • Pros: Helps motor skills, Helps social skills, Entertainment, Enjoyable for people.
   • Cons: Addicting, Stops people from going outside and interacting with others, Consoles may break

5. Home Entertainment Systems

   • Digital Living Network Alliance
     • DLNA is an industry-wide standard for sharing data over a home network. Depending on the DLNA-compatible devices you own, you might be able to stream films from your laptop to your TV, play an MP3 stored on your phone over your hi-fi system, or print a photo from your tablet on your home printer. DLNA stands for 'Digital Living Network Alliance'. It's a group of organisations, including many consumer electronics manufacturers, that has created a standard enabling all DLNA devices to share media over a home network. If you have a router in your home, you'll most likely be able to link DLNA-compliant products across your home network. If your router is wireless (which most are these days), then you can do it all over wi-fi too. However, it’s important to note that you won’t be able to add DLNA support to your existing devices. Tech products either have the feature built-in, or don’t support it at all.
   • Chromecast £30
     • Chromecast is a media streaming device that plugs into the HDMI port on your TV. Simply use your mobile device and the TV you already own to cast your favourite TV shows, films, music, sport, games and more. Chromecast works with iPhone®, iPad®, Android phones and tablets, Mac® and Windows® laptops and Chromebooks.*
   • Amazon Fire 17 £35
     • Fire TV Stick connects to your TV's HDMI port. It's an easy way to enjoy over 4,000 channels, apps, and games including access to over 250,000 TV episodes and movies on Netflix, Amazon Video, HBO GO, Hulu, and more.

6. Media Players

   • Security Features: Virus protection, Passwords, Antivirus software, Backup, Turning off wireless sharing, Deactivating device if stolen
   • Key features: Small device/Compact, Plays music, Uses memory, Long battery life, Portable, Set playlists, Large capacity
   • Digital rights management: Digital rights management is a systematic approach to copyright protection for digital media. The purpose of DRM is to prevent unauthorized redistribution of digital media and restrict the ways consumers can copy content they've purchased

7. Navigation Aids

   • GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, is a radio navigation system that allows land, sea, and airborne users to determine their exact location, velocity, and time 24 hours a day, in all weather conditions, anywhere in the world.
   • Satellite Navigation uses GPS to find out your location and creates a virtual map to view when you want to know where to go
   • Advantages of using a SmartPhone: Easier than carrying a phone and a GPS, You'd have it on you anyway, You don't have to buy a GPS, Can be combined with contacts, Easier to upgrade
   • Disadvantages of using a SmartPhone: Isn't as efficient as a GPS, Isn't as accurate as a GPS, Battery draining, Uses internet data, Won't work in poor connectivity, Privacy issues, Nowhere to put in car