ICT

Personal Digital Devices

• - Uses of digital devices
• - Using digital devices
• - Common features
• - Input and Output devices
• - Connectivity
• - Mobile phones
• - Personal computers
• - Cameras and camcorders
• - Media players
• - Games consoles
• - Home entertainment systems
• - Satellite navigation
• - Impact on organisations
• - Example exam questions

Uses of digital devices

• Digital devices allow communication via a number of different ways such as:
• Text messages (SMS)
• Social networking sites
• Instant messaging
• Multimedia messages (MMS)
• Voice calls
• video calls
• E-mails
• Some use devices on the move to:
• Find the route using sat nav and Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Track the location of cars and vans
• Geo-tag images
• There are a number of leisurely uses of a device, these consist of:
• Watching high definition films on Blu-ray players
• Watching more channels on digital TV
• Streaming films
• Downloading music
• Listening to music and watching films with personal media players
• Playing games with consoles or computers
• Reading with eBook readers
• Keeping in touch through social networking sites
• Taking photos and videos with digital cameras and camcorders
• Displaying photos with digital photo frames

Using digital devices

• When companies design a device they have to think about the audience and purpose to make it appeal to a wide range of people. When choosing a device for a particular individual, it is important to think about the user requirements and weigh up what they want and what they need.
• For example;
• I want as big a widescreen as possible but I need something small that I can carry easily.
• Factors to consider;
• Battery life
• cost
• Purpose
• Speed of interent connection and processor
• Compatibility wiht other devices
• Convenienze (size and weight)
• Storage capacity/memory
• Reliability and support services offered
• Security
• Connectivity
• User interface

Common features

• There is a processor in all digital devices, from desktop computers to mobile phones. It controls all the functions of the device . There are specialist microprocessors for different devices.
• While the microprocessor is working it needs to store the program instructions and data in its internal memory. Different devices have different amounts of internal memory which is measured in bytes.
• Digital devices are storage devices. In addition to their internal memory, digital devices contain components that can store data. For example, computers contain high capacity hard disk drives.
• Flash memory is a type of peripheral that is ideal for portable digital devices because:
• It doesn't lose data when turned off
• It has no moving parts so cant be easily damaged
• It is removable and can be used to transfer data between devices.
• Types of flash memory include an SD card, micro SD cards, SDXC card, USB flash drive and an SDHC card.
• 1 Byte
• 1 Kilobyte = 1000 Bytes
• 1 Megabyte = 1000 Kilobytes
• 1 Gigabyte = 1000 Megabytes
• 1 Terabyte = 1000 Gigabytes

Input and Output devices

• There are three type of peripherals: storage devices, input devices which allow users to give instructions and input data to the device and output devices which allow the user to see or hear information after it has been processed.
• Output devices:
• Speakers
• Docking station
• Headphones
• Printer
• Headset
• Scren
• Input devices:
• Touch-sensitive jog dial
• Mouse
• Keyboard
• Game controller
• Webcam
• Touch screen
• Microphone
• Joystick
• Graphics tablet
• Scanner

Connectivity

Diapositiva 7

Example Exam questions

• Kelly uses her smartphone to communicate with colleagues at work. State two ways that Kelly might use her smartphone for leisure or travel. (2 marks)
• Ryan and Michael take their personal digital devices with them when they travel to international competitions. Discuss what they need to consider if they want to use their devices when they are away from home. (6 marks)
• Suggest two reasons why SD cards are suitable for personal media players. (2 marks)
• List two peripheral devices that could be connected to a personal media player (2 marks)