Learning Aims and Objectives:
Aim: In this week's page, students will learn about areas of emerging or evolving technology and innovative applications within a commercial and domestic context.
Objectives:
1. By the end of this week's page students will be able to discuss and reflect on new mediums for storing information (for example DNA data storage) and their potential impact on the sector.
2. By the end of the week's page students will be able to
3. By the end of the week's page students will be able to
4. By the end of the week's page students will be able to
5. By the end of the week's page students will be able to
What storage devices are there? what ones have you used?
What is DNA in data storage?
Advantages:
Adenine (A)
Thymine (T)
Cytosine (C)
Guanine (G)
Individual Activity: Research and Report
Instructions: Find a current use case of DNA data storage, summarize the application, and discuss its impact.
Example Questions for Research:
What is the use case you researched?
How is DNA data storage being utilised in this scenario?
What are the benefits and potential challenges of this application?
Outcome: A deeper understanding of real-world applications of DNA data storage and enhance you research and writing skills.
Group Activity: Innovative Application Brainstorm
Instructions: Divide into small groups. Each group brainstorms new potential applications for DNA data storage in both commercial and domestic contexts. You should consider feasibility, benefits, and potential challenges.
Outcome: Each group will present their ideas to the class, promoting critical thinking and teamwork.
Ethics Discussion: Ethical Considerations
Instructions: A discussion on the ethical implications of using DNA for data storage. Consider issues related to privacy, security, potential misuse, and the long-term impact on society.
Discussion Points:
What are the privacy concerns associated with DNA data storage?
How can we ensure the security of data stored in DNA?
What are the potential risks of misuse, and how can they be mitigated?
Outcome: Development of critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills.
Case Study 1:
Scenario: A research institution used DNA data storage to archive large genomic datasets, ensuring the longevity and accessibility of critical scientific information.
Discussion Points:
How did the research institution benefit from using DNA data storage?
What challenges did they face during the implementation?
Case Study 2:
Scenario: A technology company invested in DNA data storage for its data centers to reduce physical storage costs and enhance data preservation.
Discussion Points:
What were the primary reasons for the company's investment in DNA data storage?
How did this technology impact their data management strategy?
Example:National Library: A national library adopted DNA data storage to preserve cultural heritage documents, ensuring that future generations have access to these valuable resources.
Discussion Points:
Why is DNA data storage suitable for preserving cultural heritage documents?
What are the long-term benefits of using DNA for archival purposes?
What is quantum computing?
The way in which quantum computing works is very different to that of traditional computing where the system uses binary 1's and 0's to represent a data file that could be an image, document, video or a range of other objects on a computer, instead it uses qubits.
What is a qubit? Quite simply put it is a unit used in super computing, similar to traditional computing bitnary bit that can be a 1 and 0, however this unit in quantum computing can represent both at the same time in different positions and versions. This can be represented like the following image;
An image file on a tradition computer is represented by a number of binary digits representing 1's and 0's. On a quantum computing the same file using qubits could represent the same image or different variations but using the same file data. This works on the principle of a multiverse, or alternative world, similar to physics.
IoT, or the Internet of Things refers the the ever interconnected world we live in and the devices that connect together. Not a new technology IoT enables users to gain access to services through devices that are internet or network enabled remotely were ever they are around the globe.
How has this affected us? In our every day lives we will in some way have interaction with something that is interconected to a device that makes something happen, from a sensor on a door that opens the door for you, to a monitor within a digital smart watch that assesses your heart beat and blood presure, to a accellaromiter in mobile phone that notices sudden movment changes that are simular to that of a car accident and calls the emergency services to assist.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a big part of the digital support sector in IT, which is all about helping people solve tech problems. In this field, AI is being used to make customer support faster, smarter, and more effective, often in ways that feel quite futuristic.
Chatbots and Virtual Assistants
AI-powered chatbots are now common on websites and in apps to give quick answers to common questions. For example, if you have a problem with your phone plan, the chatbot might help you troubleshoot. These bots are trained to recognise keywords in your messages and respond with relevant information. This saves you from waiting for a human advisor and lets you get answers 24/7. A good example of this is the “Live Chat” feature on many customer service websites.
Automated Ticketing Systems
When a problem is reported, support systems usually create a “ticket” to keep track of the issue. AI can help sort these tickets automatically, categorising issues and even prioritising urgent ones. It can suggest solutions based on similar problems it’s seen before, which speeds up the process. Microsoft and ServiceNow are popular companies offering AI-driven ticketing systems, which help customer service teams work more efficiently.
Predictive Analytics
AI can look at large amounts of data from past customer interactions to predict common issues or behaviours. For instance, it can see patterns, like when an app crashes more often on a certain device. With this information, companies can fix issues proactively before they get too serious. Google and IBM use predictive analytics to identify problems early and reduce support calls.
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
NLP is a branch of AI that helps machines understand human language. This is what powers the “understanding” that chatbots and virtual assistants have. It helps support systems understand what customers are actually asking and respond with the right information, even when they phrase things in different ways. A great example is Amazon’s Alexa, which uses NLP to answer customer questions about orders and other account details.
Real-Life Example of AI in Digital Support: Amazon Customer Service
Amazon uses AI-powered virtual assistants and chatbots to help with common questions, like checking order status or processing returns. It also uses machine learning to recommend solutions based on past customer problems. If you’d like to see how this works, here’s Amazon’s support page: Amazon Customer Service.
Benefits:
• Speed: AI can process requests quickly, meaning less waiting time for customers.
• Availability: AI systems work 24/7, so people can get help anytime.
• Efficiency: AI can handle simple problems, freeing up human agents for more complex issues.
Challenges:
• Lack of Human Touch: Some people find chatbots impersonal and prefer speaking to a human.
• Understanding Limitations: AI still struggles with complex or unusual questions, so it’s not perfect.
AI in digital support is making a big impact and will likely continue to develop. If you’re interested in IT support, learning how AI works could be useful for future careers. Companies are using AI more and more to improve customer experiences, and the technology is only getting better at understanding and helping us.
“Design Your Own AI Chatbot for Digital Support”
Objective
Each group of 3 will brainstorm and design an AI-powered chatbot concept tailored for a specific digital support scenario (e.g., helping with phone issues, assisting online shopping customers, or supporting students with tech at school). This activity allows you to apply your understanding of AI’s role in solving common problems, while creatively thinking through the chatbot’s functions.
Materials Needed
• Paper and pens for notes
• (Optional) A whiteboard or a digital space for sharing ideas if you want groups to present
Instructions (15 Minutes)
1. Divide into Groups and Pick a Scenario (2 Minutes)
Each group picks a scenario where your chatbot will provide digital support. Example scenarios include:
• Helping a student troubleshoot a laptop issue
• Assisting with online shopping or a returns process
• Answering questions about setting up a new phone
• Providing support for a school’s online learning platform
2. Plan Your Chatbot’s Functions and Responses (8 Minutes)
In your groups, brainstorm:
• What Questions or Issues: What are some common questions or problems users might have in your scenario?
• Bot Responses: How would your chatbot answer these questions? Think about different ways users might phrase the same question (e.g., “My screen isn’t turning on” vs. “Laptop is dead”).
• Extra Features: What other helpful features could your chatbot have? For example, could it offer quick links to resources, connect to a live support agent, or provide step-by-step troubleshooting?
3. Discuss or Present (5 Minutes)
Each group briefly shares their chatbot concept with the class. You should explain:
• The scenario you chose and the common problems it addresses.
• How your chatbot would respond to a typical question.
• Any extra features you included to improve support.
Reflection (Optional Extension)
Groups to consider:
• What challenges might their chatbot face (like understanding slang or technical terms)?
• How might a real chatbot improve with time through AI learning?
This activity is quick, but it prompts creative thinking about how AI chatbots work, helping students grasp both the potential and limitations of AI in digital support.
XR, or Extended Reality, is a broad term that refers to all real-and-virtual combined environments and human-machine interactions created by technology. XR includes three major technologies: Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR). Let’s break these down:
Augmented Reality (AR)
Augmented Reality adds digital elements to the real world, often through your phone or tablet. Imagine pointing your camera at a park, and seeing a Pokémon appear on the grass – that’s AR. It’s like overlaying computer-generated content (like images or information) onto the real world. You might be familiar with this from games like Pokémon GO or Snapchat filters, which add things like dog ears or masks onto your face in real-time.
AR can be used in education too. For example, students can use AR apps to learn anatomy by pointing their phones at a textbook page, and seeing a 3D heart beating in front of them. This makes learning more interactive and engaging.
Example Experience:
Try Pokémon GO or Snapchat filters on your phone to see AR in action.
More Info on AR:
• What is AR?
• AR in education
Virtual Reality (VR)
Virtual Reality is a fully immersive experience. When you put on a VR headset, like the Oculus Quest 2 or PlayStation VR, you’re transported into a completely digital world. You can look around and move as if you’re inside that world. Imagine putting on a headset and suddenly being in space, floating among the stars, or in the middle of a jungle adventure. Everything you see and hear comes from the digital world.
In education, VR can be used for virtual field trips. For example, students can “visit” the Great Wall of China or dive deep into the ocean to explore coral reefs – all from the classroom.
Example Experience:
Check out the Oculus Quest 2 to play games like Beat Saber, where you slice through blocks to the beat of music, or take a virtual tour of historical places using apps like Google Earth VR.
More Info on VR:
• VR and its uses
• Virtual reality in education
Mixed Reality (MR)
Mixed Reality is where AR and VR meet. With MR, digital objects can interact with the real world, making the experience more immersive. Imagine wearing a headset and seeing digital characters in your living room that can move behind your furniture or bounce off the walls, blending the physical and digital seamlessly. Unlike AR, where digital objects just float over the real world, in MR they behave as if they were part of it.
An example of MR is the Microsoft HoloLens, where you can see digital 3D objects in the room with you and even interact with them using your hands. This could be useful in education, for example, where a biology class might involve dissecting a 3D frog that’s floating right in front of you, without needing a physical specimen.
Example Experience:
The Microsoft HoloLens is a headset that shows MR objects in your real-world environment. You can see it used for design, education, and even training simulations in healthcare.
More Info on MR:
• What is Microsoft HoloLens?
• How MR is used in education
How XR Helps in Learning
XR technology is reshaping the way we learn by making education more immersive and interactive. Imagine being able to walk through ancient Rome in VR during history class, or learning how to code by manipulating 3D objects in AR. These technologies allow for hands-on learning experiences that wouldn’t be possible in the traditional classroom.
Digital support services can integrate XR tools to enhance learning for students with disabilities. For instance, AR apps can help students with visual impairments by providing auditory descriptions of objects in the real world, or VR environments can offer safe spaces for social skills training for students with autism.
By making learning more interactive and accessible, XR opens up new possibilities for both teachers and students, offering personalized support and experiences that adapt to different learning styles.
Explore XR in Education:
• AR and VR in Education: A Guide for Teachers
• How Mixed Reality is Changing Classrooms
With XR, learning becomes an adventure, unlocking new worlds, tools, and methods that can help students not only understand the content but experience it firsthand. The future of learning is just a headset or smartphone away!
o AR
o VR
o mixed reality (MR)
The growth of digital currrecy or its better known name cryptocurrency has been significant over the past decade. The question is what is it and how does it work?
The process of crypto mining and processing of cryptocurrency uses computers to run and crunch significant numerical calculations called blockchains. These blockchains used ledgers that are distributed across a wide network of computers to each process and calculate the data. As a result of allowing this processing to be done on these machines a small amount of currency is given to one of those that process the data.
The way in which content from a computer can be printed has been changed significantly from how it used to be. Where printing ink on to paper was the norm, we are now able to print using filaments such as PLA plastics, ABS plastics, resins, concrete and even food.
The advent of 3d printing meant that home and business users could print replacement plastic parts for objects that needed them, renders or models of prototypes before they are finalised and even homes.
The final quality of the printed projects has improved recently with the development of more precise tracking of print heads and use of lasers to fuse resins together.
Lets look at the impact of 3D printing on the wider society and business. The capabilities of 3D printing as discussed earlier means that jobs and rolls within the digital sectors and manufacturing industries could be replacing skilled workers. The impact of this would result in the loss of jobs and possible skills over time.
Benefits to the use of 3D printing within the digital sector can lead to reduced material wastage due to the machines being able to give precise measurement of the amount of matieral required to generate the product. This efficicncy is not only cost effective in reducing wastage but improves the need for organisations to stock pile material for long periods of time that may never be used again.
Task: Research and Present the Impact of 3D Printing in Digital Support
Objective:
To explore the ways in which 3D printing technology is being utilized to enhance digital support services.
To understand the benefits and potential challenges associated with the application of 3D printing in this field.
To develop presentation skills and the ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner.
Procedure:
Individual Research:
Students will conduct individual research on the topic of 3D printing in digital support. They can utilize online resources, articles, case studies, and interviews with experts in the field.
Some potential areas of research include:
The use of 3D printing in creating assistive devices for individuals with disabilities.
The application of 3D printing in prototyping and manufacturing digital products.
The role of 3D printing in providing educational resources and training materials.
The potential impact of 3D printing on job creation and economic development in the digital support sector.
Case Study Analysis:
Students will be provided with a simple case study illustrating the application of 3D printing in digital support.
They will analyze the case study, identifying the key benefits, challenges, and lessons learned.
The case study can be a real-world example or a hypothetical scenario.
Presentation Development:
Based on their research and case study analysis, students will develop a presentation of approximately 10-15 minutes in length.
The presentation should include:
A clear introduction to the topic of 3D printing in digital support.
A concise overview of the research findings, supported by evidence and examples.
A detailed analysis of the provided case study, highlighting its significance and implications.
A discussion of the potential benefits and challenges associated with the application of 3D printing in this field.
A conclusion summarizing the key points and offering insights into future developments.
Presentation Delivery:
Students will deliver their presentations to the class or a small group.
They will be evaluated on their clarity, organization, depth of understanding, and ability to engage the audience.
Assessment:
The students' presentations will be assessed based on the following criteria:
Content knowledge and understanding of the topic.
Quality of research and use of evidence.
Clarity and organization of the presentation.
Effectiveness of communication and engagement of the audience.
Overall presentation skills.
Case Study: 3D Printing Assistive Devices for Individuals with Visual Impairments
Imagine a young student with a visual impairment who struggles to use traditional textbooks and educational materials. With the help of 3D printing technology, customized tactile diagrams, models, and braille labels can be created to enhance their learning experience. These assistive devices can provide a more inclusive and accessible learning environment, empowering students with visual impairments to reach their full potential.
This case study demonstrates how 3D printing can be used to address specific needs and challenges in the digital support sector, creating innovative solutions that improve accessibility and inclusivity.
How we communicate wirelessly and remotely has greatly been advanced with the evolution of cellular networks and frequency's. From its infancy in and first Mobile call in 1973 the cellular network has provided huge flexibility to mobile communication (within the boundary's of coverage). Step forward almost two decades and the improvement of technology and microchips mobile phones were capable of receiving text based messages known as SMS (Simple Messaging Service).
The first message was sent on 3rd of December 1992 that said "Merry Christmas" which was sent by a then 22 year old software programmer Neil Papworth.
Step forward another 10 years to 2002 mobile phones now have more technological ability than the technology that was used to send man to the moon. Phones have become capable of taking photos and able to connect to a basic web technology called WAP. These devices started to use a new wireless technology called 3G that allowed data and calls to be made on the devices.
Moving foward 5 years to 2007 Apple announce a new product, the IPhone! This device moved the capability of mobile phones forwards again once more, a device that makes called, uses the 2G version of the internet called EDGE, enables users to play videos and listen to music and receive and send email all on a then 2G device. One year later they released a 3G capable device.
The evolution and investment in to mobile networks is moving at a fast pace and in December of 2009 the LTE technology was deployed in the Scandinavians of Stockholm, Oslo and Finland telephone operators and was branded as 4G.
Almost 10 years later the next evolution of the cellular network starts to emerge, 5G. Still in development and production 5G is set to offer another huge jump forward of users. Real time response to data requests and activities could open the door to services and abilities to business and users that can improve thier lives and the way we operate tomorrow.
Review the tools and features of your own mobile device, reflect on its current capabilities and functions. Once you have reflected consider what other features you might want included on it, how could the 5G network enable this to be effective.
The ability to remotely review situations that could pose risk to others has always been something of a golden egg to most emergency services, however with the development of drone technology and reduction in costs drones have found there way in to one of the tools used by most emergency services and the general public.
Still a relatively new technology the popularity of drones has exploded catching many authoristies that regulate airspace on the back foot in terms of regulation. Drones today are capable of flying miles in any direction and altitudes that make them potential hazards to domestic aircraft.
Regulation had to be changed quickly and promptly to protect those that use the airspace above our heads. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which monitors and regulates the UK airspace introduced regulations that required and made it mandatory for drone operators to register them selves on a government portal that has a required test to be passed before a lice's if issued for the flying of a drone. This test will review responses on how to operate the drone in situations of emergency, oncoming aircraft, legal respncerbilities and limits.
Drone offer a range of additional benefits to those that operate them in a number of different sectors. The capabilities of drones have increase significantly over the past decade, to the point that Amazon are looking in to them for parcel delivery
But these devices can offer significant other benefits to organisations that use them, other than the previously covered areas of emergency services, those looking to install network infrastructure to areas that have limited accessabilty, drones are able to get in to the areas for assessment and viability reporting.
Drones both flying or ground operations have enabled safe monitoring of hazardous situations as seen in the nuclear disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear power stations
In small groups of no more than 2-3 discuss the uses of a drone and situations that they could be used in. Research and review situations and example where they have been deployed.
The movement towards decarbonisations has in recent times become a key core value of most organisations. The movement toward making products and services at carbon neutral has reflected the issues and impact of global warming and our impact on the planet.
Companies like Apple have made thier drive part of their publicity in many of thier key note speaches
Consider your own usage of computers and electrical devices. What changes to your useage could you make to improve your own impact on the environment.
Create infographic that could be used in locations where you could spread the work on simple changes to our habits and actions. Consider including the following factors;
1. Vampire devices.
2. Power Management service's and settings.
3. Energy star.
4. Replacement equipment.
5. E-Waste.
6. Paper management.
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