Digital Devices -

Audiences and their Uses Wants and Needs

Different audiences have different When choosing a digital device people have wants and needs.
uses for digital devices. For example
Teenagers - social networking, Wants Needs
gaming
Older people - emails, work Big screen Small device to carry
applications. Stylus Cheap
Types of Computer

 Mainframes are the Biggest

 Minicomputers are in the middle
 Minicomputers are less powerful than mainframes but are more powerful
than micros
 As a result, they cost less than mainframes- but still require a special
operating environment
 They are typically used to run medium-sized systems in small businesses
 Microcomputers are the most common
Microprocessors

 Small microprocessors are also embedded in many consumer

products such as household appliances, cars, microwave ovens,
video recorders and DVD players
 Used to control
 We don't notice them because they input, process and output data
all inside the equipment.
Mainframe Computer

• A mainframe computer is a large computer,

often used by large businesses, in government
offices, or by universities.
• Multi-user - they allow several users
(sometimes hundreds) to use the computer at
the same time, connected via remote terminals
(screens and keyboards)
• Some of the most powerful mainframe
computers can process so much data in such a
short time that they are referred to as
'supercomputers'
Mainframe Computer

 Mainframes are very powerful- they can perform hundreds of millions of

instructions per second (MIPS)
 They're very large, and generate a lot of heat- so they need big air
conditioned rooms
 They're very expensive- typically costing around £3-4 million
 They are used to run large computer systems and networks in bank, insurance
companies and e-commerce firms on the Internet
 Minicomputer

 What is a minicomputer?
 A category of computer that holds the maximum of the structures and competencies of a regular computer but
is smaller in size is known as a minicomputer.
 A minicomputer falls somewhere in between the microcomputer and the mainframe, as it is larger in size than
the former and smaller in size than the latter.
Microcomputers
 Microcomputers were designed to stand alone, but are now often linked together in a network
 They are far less powerful than mainframes but can cope better with the demands
 made by individual users They typically cost around £1000
 PC's can either be desktops or laptops (also called notebooks)
 Desktops often have more facilities than laptops.
 Laptops have the advantage that they can be used anywhere because they can run on battery
power.
 But laptops use an LCD monitor and this can easily be damaged, especially when exposed to
strong sunlight.
 They're also more expensive, and can be lost.
Personal Computer

Desktops: include ‘All in one’.

 A desktop computer usually needs to have peripheral devices connected to it, such as a monitor, a
printer, a mouse and a keyboard. Need input + output peripherals. Have hard disk drives, optical
drives: CD & DVD drives
 storage devices. Powerful processors.
 Good connectivity ( USB, firewire, HDMI). Bluetooth + Wi-Fi - wireless communication.
 Easy to upgrade + enhance by adding extra functions.
 Laptop Computer
 A 'laptop' computer is a light, compact and portable PC.
 Laptops refers to a computer where all the components (monitor, keyboard etc.) are together on a single device.
 Laptops contain a rechargeable battery so that they can be used even when not plugged in to a mains power supply. They also have
a built-in LCD monitor.
 The main advantage of a laptop computer is that it is portable and can connect wirelessly to network connections.
 Can be used for either personal or work use.
 Communication
 Gaming
 To make them as portable as possible, most laptops try to avoid any sort of cable or wire. Instead of a mouse, a trackpad is used.
Instead of a wired connection to a network or printer, 'wireless' radio connections are used.
 Battery powered/ use electricity supply.
 Monitor, pointing device + webcam built in.
 Hard disk drives etc + slots for SD cards

 Battery powered/ use electricity supply. Monitor, pointing device + webcam built
in. Hard disk drives etc + slots for SD cards
 Bluetooth + Wi-Fi built in. Good connectivity ( USB, firewire, HDMI). Less easy
to dismantle + upgrade.
Palmtop Computer

 A palmtop computer is similar to a laptop computer, but smaller. It's small enough to fit
in the palm of your hand (hence the name!)
 Palmtops are usually not very powerful since fast CPUs require a large battery and get
hot - both problems in a small device.
 A typical palmtop have a very small keyboard - too small to type on normally. Instead
the user types using both thumbs. Also there is no room for a trackpad, so a touchscreen
or tiny joystick is used instead.
 Palmtops are extremely portable, but the small keyboard and screen make the devices
tiring to use for long periods.
 Palmtops are often called ultra-mobile PCs (UMPC)
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)

 A PDA is similar to a palmtop computer, except it is even more compact, and typically has no
keyboard, using a touchscreen for all data input. Since the screen is so small, many PDAs have a small
stylus (plastic stick) that is used to press things on the screen.
 Most PDAs use some sort of handwriting-recognition system to allow the user to write on the screen,
and have their writing converted into text.
 PDAs tend to be used a 'digital diaries' allowing users to take their e-mail, documents, appointments,
etc. with them wherever they go.
 Note: You never see PDAs any more since modern 'smart' phones can do all of this, and work as a
phone too!
 PDAs are often called Pocket-PCs (for obvious reasons!)
 Tablet Computer
 Tablets are very similar to smart phones.
 They have an internet connection via a wireless connection including 3G/4G.
 Tablets make use of touch screen technology to select options on a menu or to select particular icons.
 Applications can be downloaded and installed.
 Sensors including speech recognition.
 Tablets are able to connect to any wireless networks.
 Users are able to use the internet as long as they are in range.
 4G is a mobile communications standard intended to replace 3G, allowing wireless Internet access at a much
higher speeds.
 Would allow for internet connection on the move.
 Light + portable. Battery powered. Touch screen interface. Virtual, on-screen keyboard.
 Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3Gg. Cameras - still + moving images.
 Playing media, Internet use, reading ebooks. Can download + run apps.
 Mobile Phones
 Mobile phones use a SIM card to connect to a mobile phone network.
 SIM stands for subscriber identity module, and a SIM card is used to identify
the subscriber to a mobile phone network.
 Mobile phones are increasingly being used as simple computers- for example
to send and receive text messages and connect to the internet
 take a picture, connect to Wi-Fi, connect to Bluetooth
 make calls, receive calls, hands free function, play games, play music, access
the internet, calculate
 touch screen, video calling, download apps, send pictures, send text
messages etc.
Mobile Phones

Functions:
 Cameras / video camera: still images & videos, video calls
 Data storage: store photos, music and video; removable storage = easy
transfer
 Internet browsing: stream music and videos
 Productivity: learning, financial management, entertainment, travel apps
boost productivity & save time
 GPS receiver: pinpoint position on map, get local information, navigational
device
 Entertainment: play music & video, play games
Smart Phone
 A smartphone is basically a portable computer, and it typically has a large screen. It also has an operating
system.
 Smart phones have operating systems which allows them to run multiple applications.
 Like the Tablets Computers Smart Phones have many features including:
 Touch Technology
 Internet connection (Wireless/3G/4G)
 Sensors
 Cameras
 Greater functionality
 Better suited for email, social networking, surfing the web and running mobile applications
Smart Phone

Use
 Send and receive emails
 Browse the internet
 Voice over Internet Protocol (Voip) – voice/video calls.
 Streaming music/video content
 Communication via social networking applications
 Global Positioning System – to help navigate
Convergence
 Convergence - carries out many functions originally done by many devices
 Modular smartphones e.g. Project Ara
 Different component features - can be changed
 Less waste, cheaper repairs, enhanced personification
 Specialist phones
 Designed for a specific target market e.g. elderly people, partially sighted
 Cameras and Camcorders
 Zoom in using optical zoom ( Brings light from subject closer - moves lens away from sensor +
closer to subject) + digital zoom ( crops + enlarges part of image - affects quality)
 View on LCD screen
 Store files with SD and micro SD cards
 View files on TV using USB and HDMI ports
 Download files to computer using USB or Bluetooth
 Resolution: pixels: more = more detailed = more the image can be enlarged + larger the file size
 GPS receiver: geographical coordinates stored in metadata. See exactly where image is taken.
 Wi-Fi: in addition to cable + Bluetooth. Email images, upload to online albums/ social networking
 sites without downloading
 Peripherals
 Removable storage
 Media Players

Personal audio players. Personal video players. E-book readers.

 Small, light, easy to carry
 Solid state memory
 Long battery life
 Lot of media
 Simple interfaces
Common formats:
 Audio: MP3, WMA
 Still images: JPEG, GIF, PNG
 Video: MPEG-4, WMV
Media players
Security features:
 Locks automatically - if not used for certain period of time
 Uses antivirus software
 Hard reset feature - delete all data in event of selling / disposing
 Remote management (deactivation) if stolen
 Hides Bluetooth/ wireless sharing
 Backup features
 Encrypts data
 Reactivates only - enter correct password/ biometric authentication
Connectivity
 Wireless transfer: WI-Fi, Bluetooth, infrared
 HDMI port: view HD movies on TV through HDMI cable
 USB port: transfer of files up to 5 Gigabits
Media players
 Streaming video - with Wi-Fi connectivity - view in real time
 Streaming: Modern media players play files as they are downloaded.
The file is sent compressed over the internet, displayed in real time.
Saves time waiting for download
 Users with a slow internet connection will buffer.
 Use less storage space
 Cannot keep local copy for offline
 Limited availability
 User experience dependent on connection quality
Peripherals
 Speakers/headsets
 Games consoles
Features:
 High resolution output for high definition games
 CD, DVD and Blu-ray optical drives
 Capable of multiplayer online gaming
 Connectivity: USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ethernet network cable
Peripherals
 Wireless controllers
 Wireless headsets
 Hard drive transfer cable
 Webcam / speaker / microphone set
 Motion sensors
 High Definition equipment
 Removable storage
 3D – using glasses/parallax: Parallax 3D is a barrier placed in front of an image to give a
 sense of depth. 3D is also used in TV
Games consoles

 Nintendo Wii + PlayStation 3 - motion sensor

 Xbox Kinect - true hands-free gaming - identifies which body parts moving
Health risks:
 Overuse injuries: set sensible time limits + frequent breaks
 Obesity: Sensible time limits + do physical activities
 Muscle + joint problems: Regular breaks + Use an ergonomic chair
 Eye strain: Adjust screen's constrant + brightness, Move furniture, Take 'gaze' breaks
 Satellite Navigation
Use GPS to plan routes & give directions
 In-car sat navs: An in-car sat nav could be a separate unit or integrated into the dash.
 Specialist sat navs, e.g. for walkers and cyclists
 Use sats navs: check speed, warn about speed cameras, live traffic report, avoid congestion, scenic
routes/conveniences e.g. service stations
Health & safety risks:
 May take eyes off road
 Blind spot
 Could lead driver down hard-to-navigate roads / to incorrect destinations
Satellite Navigation: Using a smartphone app

Advantages:
 Always likely to have mobile phone with you = always have sat nav with you
 Generally small, light + easy to carry around
 Can buy applications for phone
Disadvantages:
 Might have to pay
 Can be subject to charges
 Using GPS runs battery down quickly
 Does not always update quickly enough
 Home entertainment systems
Designed to provide high quality audio & video throughout house + integrate content on separate
digital devices
 Televisions (incl Smart TVs and 3D TVs): have access to internet & use apps. Newer televisions-very
high resolution screens- ‘4K’,- (approximate) 4,000 pixel horizontal resolution.
 Projectors - if Digital - project HD images to screen/wall
 DVD players/recorders
 Blu-ray players
 Personal video recorders (PVR) - /digital video recorders (DVR) - contain hard disk drive> record TV
programmed
 Set-top boxes (STB) - devices may fall into multiple categories, e.g. a Sky+ box is both a STB and a
PVR. - transform + enhance signal from cable/ satellite to form that TV can display
 Media stations - devices that provide video/audio to a television, e.g. Apple TV. This could be by
streaming from a remote source or from local storage.
 Sound systems (HiFi)
 Home entertainment systems
 Smart speakers - combine wireless speakers with a microphone and intelligent personal assistant
software that allows users to give voice commands.
Digital television:
 More channels than analogue TV & High quality pcitures & sounds
 Digital radio stations accessible on TV
 Electronic programme guide (EPG) displays programme information on-screen
 More accessible subtitles, audio, sign language descriptions
 Interactive features e.g. extra coverage, voting, shopping capabilities
 Greater control: save programmes & pause live TV
 Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA): two devices DLNA certified = compatible straight out of box
Enhancements:
 Home cinema / theatre systems include: DVD/Blu-ray player, amplifier & six speakers =
 high - fidelity surround sound
Features of digital devices
 Methods of charging (wireless/ USB etc)
 Wireless or ‘inductive’ charging allows short-distance wireless energy transfer between two devices
 Sensors - (such as accelerometers) often found in personal digital devices.
 Data from them is used by the device’s software to enhance the user experience.
 NFC (Near Field Communication) - E.g. Contactless payment debit cards and smartphone
 NFC chips.
 Convergence
 Digital devices often contain multiple features that allow device to provide multiple functions.
 Functions would have previously only been available in single-purpose devices.
 This multifunctionality increases convenience, However, each function could be of lower quality
than could be found on a single-purpose device.
 Intelligent personal assistant
 E.g. Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa, Microsoft Cortana
Features of digital devices

Connectivity
 Devices can be connected together through different ways; device to device,
device to internet, device to peripherals.
 Methods of connecting devices are;
× Bluetooth
× Memory cards
× Internet access
× Infrared
× USB connection
Features of digital devices
Connectivity
 Synchronisation: two devices connected -automatically exchange data
 Cloud synchronisation: e.g. Apple's iCloud, allow to store all data files on a
remote server – access files from all digital devices
Features of digital devices
Connectivity
 Duel band – supports two frequencies of Global System for Mobile communications (GSM).
 It is a basic service.
 Tri band – supports three frequencies of GSM. Accessible in most parts of the world where
 there is GSM service.
 Quad band – supports four different frequencies of GSM. It will work almost anywhere in
 the world with GSM.
 GPS stands for Global Positioning System and is a satellite based navigation system. GPS
 satellites orbit the Earth and send signal information to GPS recievers. These take the
 information and use triangulation; a way of determining a location using the locations of
 other places, to calculate the users exact location.
Uses of Digital Devices
Leisure
 People use Digital Devices for Leisure such as:
 -Displaying Photos With Digital Photo Frames
 -Watching HD Films on Blueray
 -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
 -Keeping in Through Social Networking Sites
Uses of Digital Devices

Communication
 Text Messages-(Short Message Service SMS)
 Social Networking Sites
 Instant Messaging
 Media Messages-(Multimedia Messaging Service, MMS)
 Voice Calls
 Video Calls
 Emails
Uses of Digital Devices

Security
 How secure and hard your personal device is to hack and get into. You can
improve your security by having:
 Passwords
 Pin
 Lock Screen
 Biometrics
 Facial Recognition
Uses of Digital Devices

Travel
 People use digital devices when travelling! Digital Devices can:
 Use GPS (Gobal Positioning System)
 Track The Location Of Cars And Vans
 Geotag Images(A geotagged photograph is a photograph which is associated
with a geographical location by geotagging. 
Type Advantages Disadvantages
Desktop/Personal • Always connected to the mains. • Not portable
Computer • Monitors can come in any sizes • Takes up more desk space.
  • Can be upgraded and parts easily replaced. • Separate components like keyboard, mouse, monitor,
• Tend to have a higher specifications than speakers etc.
laptop computers. • Loose cables which could be trip hazards.
   
Laptop • Its portable due to small size and weight. • Limited battery life.
Computer • Battery can be recharged. • Laptops are difficult to repair and upgrade.
  • Can connect wireless to internet. • Can be stolen or lost.
• No loose cables. All components connected • Some users find it difficult to use pointing device.
together.  
 
Tablet • High definition anti-glare display. • Limited memory compared to laptops.
Computer • Wireless, 3G/4G & Bluetooth connection. • Expensive to use 3G/4G internet
  • Data can backed up or synchronised with other • Typing can be more difficult compared to a normal
devices. keyboard.
• Touch screen technology • Not all files are compatible with tablets.
• Battery life longer than a mobile phone.  
Smart Phone • Small in size and easier to carry around. • Small screens make it difficult to read.
• Can be used whilst on the move using wireless • Battery life is short
or 3G/4G Connectivity. • Could be misplaced or stolen
• Touch screen technology • Limited storage/memory compared to other types of
  computers.
Peripheral Devices

 A peripheral device defined as a computer device, such as a keyboard or

printer, that is not part of the essential computer.
 Peripheral devices can be external or internal.
 Examples of external peripherals include; mouse, keyboard, printer, monitor,
external Zip drive or scanner.
 Examples of internal peripherals include; CD-ROM drive, CD-R drive or
internal modem.