How the components of technology systems work together

Computer and technology systems

● a computer is a machine that processes digital data

● a technology system is the complete collection of components (hardware, software, peripherals, power supplies, communication links) making up a single computer installation.

Applications and issues of technology systems

● application of technology systems used in different sectors, including construction, finance, health, manufacturing (including CAD/CAM/use of robots) and retail

● issues involved in the use of technology systems, including health and safety, security measures (passwords, authentication, levels of access), environmental, sustainability, privacy and copyright

● reasons why future development of a technology system is important to organisations, including competitive advantage, reduced costs and improved performance.
 

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Learning aim A: Understand how the components of technology systems work together

How the components of technology systems work together

Computer hardware devices

● devices (PC, server, laptop, tablet, games console and other programmable digital devices)
● input – keyboard, mouse, sensors, touch screen, microphone, scanner, digital camera
● output – printers (inkjet, laser, impact), speakers, force feedback devices, actuators, screens, projectors, robot arms, other control devices
● storage devices – solid state, optical media, magnetic media
● that modern technology devices are often multifunctional (have both input and output functionality)
● how hardware components and software can be combined to form an automated technology system (self-service checkout, production line)
● the uses of devices that capture data for automated systems (barcode readers, magnetic strip readers, optical character readers (OCR), optical mark readers (OMR) and radio frequency identification systems (RFID))
● suitable devices to suit the requirements for a specific user and purpose, and justify their use.

Computer networking

● the purpose of different types of network (local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), personal area network (PAN), mobile broadband)
● the common uses of network systems (resource sharing, data sharing, entertainment, communication)
● the benefits of computer networking
● the need to synchronise data held on devices forming a PAN.

Data transfer

● physical methods of transferring data between devices using wireless or cabled topology to meet the requirements for a specific user and purpose
● wireless methods of transfer including the use of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies
● cabled methods for transfer of data between devices, including the use of optical fibre, unshielded twisted pair (UTP) and coaxial cables
● the benefits and drawbacks of these physical methods.

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Learning aim A: Understand how the components of technology systems work together

How data flows between internal components of a computer and is processed to provide information

Internal components of a computer

● the motherboard – printed circuit board (PCB) holding main components of the system
● central processing unit (CPU) – arithmetic and logic unit (ALU), control unit, registers
● memory (RAM, ROM, including Flash memory)
● graphics/sound/video hardware
● heat dispersal systems – fans and heat sinks
● storage devices – solid state, optical and magnetic
● how internal components of a computer affect performance and user experience
● comparison of different specifications of internal components

● how the features of the central processing unit and graphical processing unit affect performance and user experience:
o clock speed
o caches
o multiple processing cores o heat, power consumption

● how the features of mobile devices affect performance/user experience: o System-on-a-Chip (SoC)
o CPU and GPU
o battery life
● comparing how mobile systems are different from traditional platforms

● how the features of memory and storage devices affect performance/ user experience:
o memory (cache and RAM)
o storage devices (solid state, optical and magnetic media)

● the role of computer buses in carrying data between the internal components of a computer.

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Learning aim B: Understand how data flows between internal components of a computer and is processed to provide information

Analogue and digital data

● the differences between analogue and digital transmission of data
● the need to convert analogue signals to digital signals and digital signals to analogue signals
● how data in a computer is represented using binary notation (bit, bytes, word length).
Understand and use binary format and the concepts of data storage, including:
● how characters can be represented in binary format and convert whole numbers into binary numbers (zero up to 10)
● conversion of binary numbers (up to 8 bits) to whole numbers (base 10)
● units used to describe memory and data storage (bit, byte, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte, petabyte).

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Learning aim B: Understand how data flows between internal components of a computer and is processed to provide information

Different types of software

Software

● software as a series of programs used to direct the operation of technology systems
● the differences between custom-made and off-the-shelf programs
● the advantages and disadvantages of using custom-made and off-the-shelf programs.
Understand the concepts, implications and structures of programming, including:

● the hierarchical structure of a computer as:
o application software package (user interface) o high-level programming language
o low-level programming language
o machine code (binary number notation)
o hardware
● the main characteristics of high-level programming languages, including imperative,
procedural, event-driven and object-orientated programming languages
● the main characteristics of low-level programming languages, including assembly language and machine code
● the main distinctions between programs in high-level and low-level forms in terms of structure, closeness to spoken language and intuition of use.

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Learning aim C: Understand different types of software

Different types of software

Introduction to computer programming concepts

● flowchart symbols as described in the British Computer Society’s BCS Glossary of Computing and ICT (ISBN 978-1-906124-00-7, or subsequent editions), including terminators, connectors, processes and decision boxes
● the purpose of simple processes represented in flowchart diagrams (decision making, finding largest/smallest number in a sequence, rates of discount/interest/payments)
● inputs and/or outputs from simple processes represented in flowchart diagrams, including currency conversions, converting marks to grades, calculating wages including overtime payments
● completion of flowchart diagrams with any missing decision statements and decision outcomes.
Recognise and understand:
● the terms used in a computer programs, specifically: declaration, input, output, assignment, variables (local and global) and constants, sub-routines, scope of variables
● the need to annotate code to allow for maintenance
● the use of data types, including character, string, integer, real and Boolean
● the use of data structures, including records and simple arrays.

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Learning aim C: Understand different types of software

Different types of software

Operating systems and applications

Understand the concepts, functions, and implications of operating systems, including:
● the role of an operating system in terms of file management, hardware management (drivers), resource allocation and security
● the role of utility applications, including disk defragmenters, firewalls and anti-virus software
● the differences between graphical user interfaces and command-line user interfaces
● the features of an operating system with a graphical user interface, including user interface, accessibility and ease of use
● the features and benefits of operating systems for mobile devices, including user interface, accessibility and ease of use
● the role of productivity applications, including office software, graphics, multimedia and web-authoring software
● the benefits of using suites of productivity applications

● the factors to consider when installing or upgrading an operating system or productivity application:
o hardware platform
o accessibility features
o compatibility with preferred applications and hardware o cost (licence, set-up, training, maintenance)
o speed
o security features (including firewalls, malware management, setting user permissions, user support).

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Learning aim C: Understand different types of software