What are digital devices?
Electronic devices that use digital data (1s and 0s) as opposed to analogue data (such as sound wave).
What are the 5 commonly used types of digital devices?
Multifunctional devices, personal computers, mobiles devices, servers, entertainment systems.
What are multifunctional devices?
These devices can perform multiple functions, such as inputting and outputting data. An example is a touch screen, it outputs an images whilst alloweding the user to input data by pressing the screen. Another example is a force feedback game controller. Input is buttons, output is the rumble vibration.
What are personal computers?
Small and inexpensive computers used by individual users. Examples are desktops and laptops.
What are servers?
These are powerful computers that provide services to other computers connected to a network. An example is a mail server that provides users access to email services.
What are mobile devices?
Smartphones and tablets are made with portability in mind to give people computer and internet access while on the go.
What is an entertainment system?
Devices for watching tv/films, listening to music and playing video games. (usually with powerful graphics processors)
Name the 4 types of everyday digital devices
Digital cameras, navigation systems, communication devices and systems, data capture and collection systems.
What are navigation systems?
Uses GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) receiver to locate the user's position on a digital map and give directions to a destination. E.g. car satnav.
What are communication devices and systems?
These devices can send and receive analogue or digital data to and from another device. (traditional analogue examples would be phone and faxes) modern digital example is router which directs data across a network.
What are digital cameras?
capture images and videos digitally using an image sensor and store them as digital data on media such as a memory card.
What are data capture and collection systems?
These collect and input data through automated systems rather than direct data entry. E.g. barcode scanner in a shop, saves the cashier manually typing in the item code. It also automatically can update stock levels, sales details etc.
What are input and output devices?
These are hardward peripherals that connect to a system to provide additional functions. E.g. a printer.
What are the 7 input devices you learnt about?
Keyboard, mouse, scanner, graphics tablet, microphpone. Webcam, sensor.
What are the 6 output devices you learnt about?
Monitor, projector, printer, plotter, speakers, headphones.
Input device - what is a sensor?
Takes and inputs readings from the physical environment, such as changes in temperature.
Output device - what is a plotter?
Specialist type of printer draws very high quality images on very large paper.
What do we mean by accessibility devices?
devices designed to perform many specalist fnuctions to make it easier for people with disabilities to access a computer system.
What are the 4 different accessibility devices you learnt about?
Trackball, large keyboard, eye motion and head motion trackers. Braille embosser.
What is a trackball?
easier-to-use alternative to a mouse, consisting of a movable ball on a base.
What is an eye motion sensor?
Tracks eye movement to control a computer system. Useful for people with significantly limited mobility.
What is a braille embosser?
A type of printer that outputs text as braille. For people who are visually impaired.
What are adaptive technologies?
Tech that has been designed specifically to aid people with disabilities. Including both hardware and software. Also known as accessibility devices.
What the difference between manual and automatic data processing?
Manual processing is someone physically typing in data by hand. Automatic data processing is where the computer system collects and inputs the data. It can reduce human error and save time.
Name the 4 automatic data processing devices/processes
Biometric readers (fingerprints, face ID), Barcode readers, Optical mark recognition (ORM) readers (automatically read a form and input the data). Radio-frequency identification (RFID). Smart meters.