UNIT 1 – DIGITAL

DEVICES
Chapter 1: Hardware
Computer Hardware
Digital Devices
Input, output and storage devices

Input devices: Keyboard, mouse, scanners,

Microphone
Output device: Printer, projector, monitor,
speakers
Storage device: Hard-disk, USB Flash, CD
Types of Computers

Desktop, Laptop, Tablet, Notebook, Netbook, Smart-phone (Handheld), Games

console, embedded computer, mainframe computer, supercomputer
Embedded computers
Embedded computers have built in microprocessors the
control the machine.

Examples: Washing machine, dryer, microwave

Bar code scanner: (input device)
A bar code scanner/reader reads patterns of bars that represent code number of an
item.

What data does a barcode scanner retrieve:

- Product/Item number
- Product/Item descriptions

Type of device input data

Benefit of a bar code reader:
from a barcode scanner:
- Less time Queuing
- No human error
Barcode scanner
- Faster
Biometric scanner (Input device)
• Retina (eye)
• Finger print
• Voice recognition

Advantage: No need to remember password or carry

card.
Disadvantage: Not always accurate
Create and complete this table ( 12 mins)
Input device Examples of Advantages Disadvantages
uses ( image)
Barcode
Retina (eye
scan)
Finger print
Voice
recognition
EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale)
This is a general name for the computerized tills that you see in shops
and supermarkets.

Task : Find 3 different examples of POS Machines

Explain 2 features of each one
Correct order input data barcode scanner
Printers – create a table with the following
types of printers – with benefits and
drawbacks of each
• Dot matrix
• Laser
• Inkjet
• Plotters
Types of printers
Dot Matrix: Uses a ribbon. The ribbon
is ‘hit’ onto the page. Can be noisy
Inkjet: Contains ink cartridges. Tiny
dots from the cartridges are sprayed
onto the paper to form text and images
Types of printers
Laser: contains a rotating drum. A laser is used to
discharge certain points on the drum to produce an
image. A toner is attracted to the drum and is heated
onto the paper.
Plotter: A pen is used to draw lines on the paper.
Enables large paper sizes to be used.
Plotter
A plotter is used to draw lines on appear using
differently colored pens.
Printers: Inkjet and Laserjet (output
device)

Dot matrix
Plotters
projectors
Light Bulbs – have various brightness
levels (lumens) – expensive to replace
Resolution – e.g HD
Zoom Functionality – allows the image
to be made larger
speaker
Outputs sound from a computer
Stereo Sound: Sound that comes
from right and left
Surround Sound: Comes from 4 or
more sides. Gives realistic sound.
Mono Sound: Sound that comes
from one speaker.
Pointing devices
• Mouse – uses an optical sensor to
recognize movement
• Tracker ball – the ball is rolled to
move the pointer (has no buttons)
• Track pad – senses finger
movements, touches and presses
Pointing devices
• Joysticks – used in games to move
sprites around the screen
• Graphics tablet – a flat pad used
with a stylus. Often used by
artists and designers.
scanners
• Optical character recognition
(OCR)
• Optical Mark Recognition (OMR)
• Barcode Scanners
Optical mark recognition
• Interprets pencil marks on a piece of paper
• Marks must be very clear for the reader to
recognise it
• Don’t have to type anything in
• Sheets have to be printed very accurately
Optical character recognition (OCR)
• A page is scanned and the text is
converted by the computer (and can
be edited in Word etc)
• OCR is not always accurate
• Many apps on smartphones can do
this. You can take a picture of a page
and the app convers it into editable
text
Touch screen
• Resistive – requires pressure to make a connection. More
durable but less sensitive. Can only recognise one touch at a
time.
• Capacitive – used in most smartphones and tablets. More
sensitive, allows multi-touch. Uses the charge from our fingers
to register movement.
biometric scanners
Uses the unique physical characteristics of the user.
• Fingerprint recognition – reads the unique patterns
in a users fingerprint. Fingerprints can be damaged
or changed over time
• Facial recognition – identifies the structures of the
face
• Voice recognition – require a microphone. Compare
the voice against a saved sample.
• Iris recognition – more reliable as the human iris is
120 times more detailed
Card readers
Reads data stored on a card. Can be used to unlock
doors, make payments etc.
• Magnetic Strip – Not very secure as someone can
steal the card and use it without their knowledge
• Programmable Chip – Only readable when a correct
pin is entered into the reader. Has helped reduce
fraud.
Magnetic stripe card
Reads information from a magnetic stripe on the surface of a plastic
card.

Advantages: Data recorded on stripe card can be inputted directly to

computer.

Disadvantages: It can be damaged when near electromagnetic

devices.
Smart card
Similar to a magnetic stripe card but uses a microprocessor
chip.

• The chip is more secure than the magnetic stripe card

• can do some processing.

Customers electronic data is saved on the micro chip.

Sensors
Inputs data from a physical environment. No
need for human input.
• Less chance of human error.
• Can be used in dangerous places
• Can monitor the environment continuously
 Sensors

Type of Sensor Purpose Images Input Output

Smoke sensor To help prevent Smoke goes into Sound and or
injury or death the sensor water
Types of monitors:
• CRT (Cathode Ray Tube): Old type of monitor. Big, heavy and low
quality.

• LCD (Liquid Crystal Display): Flat screen monitor, light, takes less
space, better quality than CRT.
Types of Projectors:
Multimedia Projector: Displays output from a computer or laptop. It is
not touch-screen or interactive.

Interactive Projector: Touch sensitive projector allows users to interact

with it.
Feature phone
• Very basic
• No Wi-fi
• Slow 2G
• Very few apps
• Long battery life
• Cheap
Specialist phones

• Emergency phone
• Has an emergency button linked to emergency
contacts.
• Will call each person in the list until someone
answers
• Accessibility phone
• E.g Alto 2 ‘Talking Phone’, a specialist phone for
blind / partially sighted people
• Has larger buttons
• Reads out messages and buttons pressed
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7KXZpRlf
DI
SIM CARDS

• Allow a smartphone to connect

to the cellular network to make
calls
• Stores phone number
• Location and user information
Navigation aids
• GPS - Global Positioning System
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iAgggixkO8
• Can you think of any devices that use GPS?
• What apps do you use that use the GPS?
Cameras and camcorders
Use light sensors to capture
images
Most cameras now capture
moving images and most
camcorders can capture still
images
Frames per second
• Higher frame rates produce smoother results
• Lower frame rates produce results that stutter and appear to jump
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXLajXIbT6g
• 24 frames per second is considers adequate for everyday use
• Need higher rates for extreme slow motion
• https://youtu.be/Qzxy3GtSzt0?t=1m14s
Resolution explained
• Digital images are made up of Resolution Size of image
small dots called pixels (megapixels)

• The more dots the higher the 1.3 1280 x 960

quality of image
2 1600 x 1200
• Low resolution images appear
pixelated 3 2048 x 1536

4 2272 x 1704

8 2560 x 1920
Resolution explained
 Multifunctional
Devices
LO: What are multifunctional devices?
Starter: What does multifunctional mean?

?
 Multifunctional
Something that is multifunctional does
several different things or has several
different uses.
List three devices that are multifunctional
What is a interface?
A system of interaction or communication between a
computer and another entity such as a printer, another
computer, a network, or a human user.
Command Line - Interface
Menu-driven – Interface
Graphic user - Interface
Voice - Interface
Gesture - Interface
Software Security and Physical Security
 Examples of software security?
Biometric Password
PIN (Personal Identification Number)

Which one is the most secure:

1. ABCD1232
2. A9HgR723
3. jN#2sd333
Examples of physical security?
 Digital Devices
Home entertainment
systems
LO: What are home entertainment systems?
Home entertainment systems:
• Television, Sound systems, personal video recorders, Blu-
ray/DVD players are different components that make up a
home entertainment system.

• In pairs can you list what components make up your

home entertainment system at home.

• Write down the ones you discuss

UNIT 1 – DIGITAL
DEVICES
Chapter 2: Software
SOFTWARE
There are two types of software:

1. Application software: communications software, presentation software,

spreadsheet software

2. Systems Software: Operating system, utility software, drivers

• OS – Windows, Android, iOS
• Utility software -System restore, defragmenter
• Drivers – communicates to allow application software to be used on hardware,
hardware to work with the software
 SOFTWARE SUMMARY
Operating System Windows, Android

SYSTEMS Utility Software Defragmenting, system restore

SOFTWARE
Driver
SOFTWARE

COMMUNICATIONS EMAIL, Instant Messaging, Video

Gmail, WhatsApp,
SOFTWARE Conferencing
Skype
PRESENTATION
Brands: PowerPoint, Keynote
SOFTWARE
SPREADSHEET
Brands: Excel, Sheets, Numbers
SOFTWARE
APPLICATION DATABASE
SOFTWARE Brands: Access, SQL
SOFTWARE
WORD PROCESSING
Brands: Word, Pages
SOFTWARE

WEB AUTHORING
Brands: Dreamweaver, Kompozer, Word
SOFTWARE
System software
Application software:
 Open Source Software
Open source software is software with source code that anyone can
inspect, modify, and enhance.

Purpose of software license:

• Gives the right / permission to use /download the software
• If the user has a license it is legal to use the software / it is illegal without a license
• License shows that the software has been obtained legally /bought
• To acknowledge the author of the software
• Software producer / owner will receive payment
 Sort / (re)arrange (1) the folders into
alphabetical / date order (1)  Use search
facility (1) by typing in (part of the folder
name)(1
 Use meaningful
filenames eg include
the recipient or the
purpose / content of
letter(1)  Enable file
preview / extra large
icons(1
What is a operating system?
The operating system is a software program that manages the
components of a computer system and its resources.
The operating system performs many tasks such as resource allocation,
scheduling, data management and input / output control.
Examples of operating systems are Windows 10, Mac OS, Linux and
Unix.
Changes for visually impaired person:
• Computer system setting for visually impaired person:
contrast, screen resolution, brightness, zoom-in, font size,
icon size

• Hardware for visually impaired person: microphone braille

keyboard/mouse/printer
Purpose of software license:

• Gives the right / permission to use /download the software

• If the user has a license it is legal to use the software / it is illegal
without a license
• License shows that the software has been obtained legally /bought
• To acknowledge the author of the software
• Software producer / owner will receive payment
NOT ORGANISED
UNIT 1 – DIGITAL DEVICES
Chapter 3: Memory and
Processors
Key Terms –
MEMORY/STORAGE
They are all about memory and storage.

8bits – 1 Byte
1024 bytes = 1KB
1024 KB = 1MB
1024MB = 1GB
How are they are
1024GB = 1TB they related?
Types of Memory
What types of memory are there?

1. Main Memory = Primary Memory – RAM/ROM

(Part of the Processor)

2. Backing Storage = Secondary Memory – HARD

DRIVE, EXTERNAL DRIVES
Types of Memory
What types of memory are there?
1. Main Memory = Primary Memory –
RAM/ROM (Part of the Processor)
2. Backing Storage = Secondary Memory –
HARD DRIVE, EXTERNAL DRIVES
RAM: Random Access Memory,
Volatile, used for applications while
they are running. Read to and write
to. Temporary.
ROM: Read only memory, can not
be written to, permanent, non-
volatile. Contains instructions and
software to start up the computer.
Types of Main Memory
What types of main memory are there?
1. Main Memory = Primary Memory –
RAM/ROM (Part of the Processor)
RAM: Random Access Memory,
Volatile, used for applications while
they are running. Read to and
written to. Temporary.
ROM: Read only memory, can not
be written to, permanent, non-
volatile. Contains instructions and
software to start up the computer.
Types of Memory
What types of secondary memory are there?

1. Magnetic Memory – data recorded on surface area, Internal

Hard Disk

2. Optical Storage – use laser light to read data (CD, DVD, Blu-ray)

3. Flash Memory – USB pen drive, SD cards, SSD

Benefits and Disadvantages of USB pen
drive:
Benefits:
• Portable
• Durable (not broken easily)
• Large memory capacity

Disadvantages:
• Can easily be lost or stolen NEVER USE THE ANSWER “USB” IT MUST BE USB PEN
OR USB MEMORY STICK
 MEMORY-STORAGE SUMMARY
RAM
PRIMARY – MAIN
MEMORY
ROM
MEMORY
INTERNAL HARD DISK
MAGNETIC
STORAGE
MAGNETIC TAPE
BACKING STORAGE
SECONDARY MEMORY

OPTICAL STORAGE CD-ROM, DVD DISC, BLUE

RAY DISK

FLASH MEMORY USB STICK, SC CARD, EXTERNAL HARD

EXTERNAL
DISC
STORAGE
What types of storage devices with secondary memory are
there?

External – USB pen drive, SD Card, CD Disc

Internal – Hard drive Disk, SSD

PROCESSOR
What is the processor?

It is the brain of the computer, takes input, processes and produces an output.

It has memory to help it such as RAM.

There are processors for specific purposes for example:

-Graphics card
-Sound card
 Key Terms – SPEED
Hertz = one cycle per second

1000 Hertz = 1KHz

How are they are
1000 KHz = 1 Megahertz (Mhz) they related?

1000 MHz = Gigahertz (Ghz)

Main memory?
RAM – Random Access Memory – Volatile (Data lost if switched off)
• RAM is used for software that is running temporarily stores data in the
RAM. Reads and writes data.
• RAM holds software and data being used, gives faster access to software,
multi-tasking. RAM comes in size of 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 6GB, 8GB

ROM – Read only memory – Non-volatile

ROM is used to load the main computer software (operating system) when
the computer is booting (starting). Data can only be read.
Difference between RAM and ROM:
RAM: RAM is volatile. Data can be both read and
written.

ROM: ROM is non-volatile. Data can only be read.

Flash memory
Flash memory is a type of non-volatile storage. It retains its information
even without power. So it is ideal for devices such as cameras, solid
state drives and so on.

Example: USB stick, SSD cards

SSD – S0LID-STATE DRIVE
A solid-state drive or SSD is a storage device that uses
integrated circuit assemblies as memory or interconnected
flash memories to store data persistently even without power.
Unlike a hard disk drive or HDD that uses rotating metal
platters or disks with magnetic coating to store data, an SSD
has no mechanical or movable parts.
Advantages and Disadvantages of SSD
Advantages Disadvantages
1. Faster than hard disk drives 1. More expensive than hard
2. Low power consumption disk drives
3. Durable than hard disk 2. Limited storage capacity
drives 3. Poor availability
4. No noise while in operation 4. Shorter lifespan than hard
disk drives
Optical storage:

• CD – Compact disk (700 MB)

• DVD – Digital versatile disk (4.7 GB)
• Blu-ray – HD DVD (50 GB)
Types of CDs and DVDs
• CD-R and DVD-R: Read - Allows the user to write data
1 time
• CD-RW and DVD-RW: Re-writeable - Allows the user
to write data 1000 times
• DVD-RAM: allows user to write data 100,000 times
• HD DVD: Store high def videos and movies
• Blu-ray: Blu-ray has two layers and stored 50GB of
data
What is a back-up?

• It is a copy data on a storage device. Copy of a file. We

back up so in case the computer becomes damaged or
it is stolen we have another copy.
Reasons for Backing-up data
• Accidental damage
• Data may be accidently overwritten / erased /
corrupted
• Deliberate damage: Malware/viruses
• System / hardware failure
Decisions when making a backup
• What files to back up e.g. find/select
• How often to make a backup
• Type of software
• Type of Media/device (e.g. USB, External hard-disk, CD)
• Where to keep the backup e.g. away from computer
• Can it be stored securely e.g. encryption/passwords