BTEC Digital Information Technology Component 3

Knowledge Organiser
Learning Aim A: Modern Technologies

Mr Moorcroft Copyright © 2020

01 Ad Hoc Networks

Key Terms
Personal
Bluetooth A short range technology that connects multiple devices. Hotspot

Ad Hoc Network A wireless network that does not require fixed hardware.

Personal Area Network A network of computers based on or around a person.

Tethering Where a smartphone acts as an internet access point.

Ad Hoc
Personal Hotspot Using a phone’s internet connectivity on another device.
Bluetooth Networks
PIN ‘Personal Identification Number’ Headphones

Encrypted Means that data cannot be read without a key.

Open
USB A standard for connection sockets on computers. (Free) Wi-Fi

Insecure A connection vulnerable to interception.

Streaming A continuous flow of data sent over the internet.

Advantages Disadvantages
Issues affecting
availability
More devices can be More open, so they are
added any time. less secure.

Unorganised, with no
Can be set-up anywhere.
device in control.
Rural locations Varying speeds Blackspots
The more devices, the
They require limited set-up.
slower the speed.
02 Cloud Storage

Cloud Key Terms

storage is where
Server A computer that delivers data over a network (the internet).
files created and used
on one or more computers or Downloading The process of transferring from a server to computer.
devices are stored and managed
Uploading The process of transferring from a computer to a server.
remotely. The files are stored on servers so
that they can be accessed via the Synchronising When files on two devices are updated to be the same.
internet.

Advantages Disadvantages Scalable

You can access your data from You cannot access your files
any device on the internet. without the internet.

It is scalable, meaning more You have no control over how Synchro-

nisation
storage can be added easily. your data is stored by providers.
Cloud
Storage
What can be stored in the cloud? Features
Data back-ups

Photos and videos Dispersed

Documents
03 Cloud Computing

Advantages Disadvantages

Doesn’t require local computing Requires a stable internet Cloud computing is when applications
like Microsoft Office are installed on
power, meaning they can run on connection. Without this, online
the cloud instead of your computer.
any device/computer. applications are inaccessible.
This means they do not require any
computing power but do require an
internet connection.

Synchronised No installation
Applications/files can be Can be used entirely in a
accessed from any device. web browser.

Benefits of Online
Applications

No updates Cost effective

Updates are managed Organisations only pay for
automatically. what they need.
04 Platforms and Services

Key Terms Cost

Stakeholders Those with an interest or investment in an organisation. Security

Downtime A period when a computer/services are unavailable.

Geo-data Location information used by smartphones/tablets.

Ease
of Use

Features
that affect
Frequency
platform
of Updates
selection

Accessibility

Common Platform Types

Storage
Space

Desktop PC Laptop Tablet Smartphone

05 Cloud + Traditional Systems

Key Terms

Synchronisation When files on two devices are updated to be the same.

Notification A message that notifies the user of a change or update.

Online Connected to/uses the internet. Popular Cloud Storage Platforms

Offline Not connected/doesn’t use the internet.

Microsoft OneDrive

Why is it useful to
synchronise content
Apple iCloud
across devices?

Google Drive

Dropbox
Access files Share files with Watch media
anywhere other users across devices
06 Choosing Cloud Technologies

Compati-
bility

A disaster recovery policy is typically

Consider- designed to set out the actions that
ations will need to take place after a
Data disaster, for example a cyber attack or
Security a natural disaster, to restore an
Disaster organisation’s services quickly.
Recovery
Policies

Advantages Disadvantages

They can reduce the It is not always possible to

Uses for a disaster
recovery policy amount of time it takes to think of single risk that
recover following a cyber could occur before an
security disaster. attack is carried out.

They set out the roles of

Once the policy has been
Natural disaster Power cut Cyber attack each person so everybody
created, it needs to be
knows what to do following
continually updated.
an attack.
07 Maintenance, Set-Up and Performance

Key Terms

Virtual Machine Software applications that behave like a physical computer.

Administrator A person responsible for configuring and maintaining technologies.

A cloud server is usually maintained Spam Electronic junk mail, usually sent with a commercial purpose.
automatically by the cloud service
Downtime A period when a computer/services are unavailable.
provider. They ensure the virtual
machines running on their servers
are healthy and operating efficiently.

Most cloud computing solutions Downtime can be caused by:

have web-based dashboards that
allow users to monitor their
performance.
Interrupted internet
connectivity

Setting up a traditional server requires: Setting up a virtual machine requires:

Cyber attacks

Purchase of hardware Selecting a provider

Building hardware Creating an account Scheduled updates

Operating system/application installation Selecting performance requirements

Stable network connection Supplying payment

08 Collaborative Technologies

Benefits of Collaborative Technologies

Communicating and collaborating using technology can help build relationships between
Global and multicultural workplace
people of different ages, gender, religion or culture.

Where technology has functionality for those with physical limitations. For example, people
Inclusivity
with visual impairments can take advantage of being able to enlarge text.

Having employees work from anywhere in the world means longer working hours. For
24/7/365 working hours
example, live chat agents working in different time zones will be working 24/7/365.

Teams can be made up of a variety of employees, like casual staff. These staff might be on
Team flexibility
short-term contracts or freelance suppliers who are self-employed.

Version Control Features

If several people are required to work

Workflow on the same document, they could
each save the document onto their
Only one person can work on the computer, which would create
document at one time. Other users History multiple versions of the same
can only view the document. document. Version control prevents
When a log is kept of what has a clash in the different versions of a
changed and who has changed it. document between users.
Users have to agree on these
changes.
09 Scheduling and Planning

Key Terms

Setting start and end dates for a project, which automatically

Scheduling
calculates the days needed.
Scheduling Tools
Planning Allocating tasks and controlling a schedule.

An individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned to

Project
achieve a particular aim. Kanban
To Do Doing Done

Benefits of scheduling
and planning tools

Gantt charts

File access Progress tracking Timelines and deadlines

Files and folders can be Project deadlines and key

stored in one place so that Project managers can track milestones can be
all members of the team progress and monitor the automatically synchronised
can access them. activities of team members. in a team.
10 Communication with Stakeholders

Society Customers
A Owners
stakeholder
is an Why would a business
individual communicate with
with an interest stakeholders?
or
investment Commu- Stake-
nity Employees
in a holders To promote products or
business
services with advertising.
or
organisation.

To deal with customer

Lenders queries/complaints.
Govern-
Suppliers
ment

To update investors on
business finances.

Communication Technologies
To update employees on
Telephone For conversations with individual customers, suppliers, etc. business operations.

Email For conversations with larger groups like employees or customers.

Live chat To provide support to customers on an informal basis.

Social media To promote new products and provide general product guidance.
11 Accessibility and Inclusivity
Hearing Workplace Adjustments
impairment
Visual
impairment
Someone recovering from
an operation and unable to A mother with a
drive should be allowed to young child should be given
work from home. maternity leave in the first
Accessibility instance and then be able to
needs return to work flexibly to suit
Motor her childcare needs.
impairment
Dyslexia/
dyspraxia A shop assistant with
hearing difficulty should have a
hearing loop fitted with a microphone
at the checkout, allowing them to
converse with customers.

Accessibility Features

Screen Reads text aloud for users with visual

Reader impairments/blindness. Features of good
interface design
High Uses more contrasting colours for those with
Contrast visual impairments.

Zooms in on a particular part of the screen for

Magnifier
the visually impaired. Responsive Consistent Accessible
Text description of an image for screen
ALT Text
reading software.