Topic One -Personal Digital Devices

Topic One -Personal Digital Devices

1. Personal Computers

   • Input: keyboard, Microphone, Scanner, Flatbed Scanner, Mouse, Webcam, Gaming Controller
   • Output: Speaker, Headphones, Printer, Monitor, Projector.
   • Different Types: Desktop Computer, Laptop Computer, Notebook Computer, Netbook Computer, PDA computer
   • Cloud Computing is a use of a hardware and software to deliver services over a Network (typically the internet) with Cloud Computing users can access files and use applications from any device that can access the internet. An example of a Cloud Computing provider is Google's Gmail.

2. Mobile Phones

   • It is a defined telephone with access to a cellular radio system so it can be used over a wide area without any physical connection to network
   • Advantages
     • A lot of features
     • Easy to use
     • Helps you to keep track of things
     • Keeps personal information secure
     • Internet everywhere
   • Disadvanteges
     • Generates cyber bullying
     • Distracting
     • Lack of social interaction
     • Issues with battery life
     • Expensive

3. Cameras and Camcorders

   • 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 your camcorder will create.
   • Cameras: Flash, the majority of digital cameras have a red eye reduction, where the flash of the camera causes a persons eye to go red - this allows a person to reduce the red in someones 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.
   • Camera devices: some cameras have sensors equipped.
   • Camcorder: security camera, video camera, tape.
   • Joint cameras and camcorders: more efficient to use, more useful, more expensive because it includes both, difficult to work.

4. Game Consoles

   • Pros
     • Helps Motor Skills
     • Helps Social Skills
     • Entertaining
     • Enjoyable for people
   • Cons
     • Addicting
     • Stops people from going out
     • Stops interacting in the real world
     • Consoles may break

5. Home entertainment systems

   • Storage
     • Amazon Fire Stick
       • The Fire TV Stick is petite and powerful. It fits flush with most TV's HDMI ports and, unlike its main competitor Chromecast, comes with a fairly decent remote. In terms of content, you'll find just about everything here. Netflix, iPlayer, Sky News, Spotify, while Amazon's Prime Instant Video basically sits at the head of the proverbial table.
   • Chrome Cast
     • 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.*
   • 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.

6. Navigation Aids

   • GPS or The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defence. GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system available for civilian use.
   • Satellite Navigation uses GPS to find out your location and create a virtual map that you can view when you want to know where to go.
   • Advantages of using a Smartphone: Easier to carry than a GPS, You would take your phone everywhere rather than a GPS, Money saving, Combine with contacts (For address) Easier to upgrade
   • Disadvantages of using a Smartphone: Isn’t as accurate as a GPS, Not very efficient, Battery draining, Uses internet data, Doesn’t work with poor connectivity, Privacy issues, Nowhere to place in car

7. Media Players

   • Key features: Small device, plays music, uses memory, long battery life, large capacity, portable, set playlists
   • Security Features
     • Hard to reset and delete everything
     • passwords
     • backup features
     • turn off sharing capability
     • virus protection
     • deactivate if stolen
   • Digital rights management
     • It is a systematic approach to copyright protection for digital media