ICT 2014 Technology Update

Memory cards -> flash memory, shock resistant, small, inside camera and phones.

USB flash drives -> flash memory with USB port, smallish, moves data back forth quicky.

Optical Disc's (CD,DVD,Blu-ray disc's) -> read by lasers (optical disc drives)

External (USB) hard drive disks -> large memory up to GB's

SD- Standard definition    HD- High Definition

Digital Camcorders is the difference between SD and HD, apart from the price, is the resolution of the images.

SD - less pixels (720 x 560), lack sharpness

HD - more pixels (1920 x 1080) , higher quality images.

A parallax barrier is a device placed in front of a screen, such as LCD, to allow it to show 3D images without the need for the viewer to wear 3D glasses. Can be seperate or built in.

A personal video recorder (PVR) is a device that records video in a digital format to a disk drive.

A set-top box (STB) is a device that generally contains a TV-tuner input device and displays output to a television. They are used in cable television & satellite television.

A media station is a device that provides video/ audio that can connect to a home network to stream digital media files. e.g Apple Tv, Windows Media Centre

Sat-Navs can be seperate of integrated in the dash board into the dash.

1. seperate unit: cheaper to update / can be used elsewhere / can distract more / can be a target for theft / small screen

2. intergrated into the dash: manufacturer quality installation / connected to the sound system /expensive to repair if damaged.

GPS itself just gives your location.

This is short-distance wireless energy transfer between two devices.

Advantages: connections are protected so durable, good for medical implants

Disadvantages: slower charging, costly, inconvenient

Sensors are found in personal digital devices -data inputted into them improves the user's experience.

Accelerometer is a sensor which measures the titlting motion and orientation of a mobile, this ensure photos are presented correctly depending on the way the phone is held.

Also used in games to control action.

A short-range contactless payment system (data transfer)

e.g. debit card, electronic ticket & smartphone chips using radio frequencies

Using Ports, USB, Firewire, Thundebolt, Lightening cables transfer data fast (in order of speed and invention)

eSata is similar but needs an external power source

Allows to send different types of media across a cable at the same time. SPDIF is a type of digital audio cable used to connect devices in a home entertainment systems.

HDMI is a compact interface for transferring digital video and audio data between devices in a network or home entertainment system.

A Switch allows multiple inputs to be output to one device.

A Splitter allows one input to be output to multiple devices. 

Infrared transmits data over the infrared radiation spectrum.

Bluetooth transmits data over short distances using ultra high frequency (UHF) radio waves.

Wifi transmits data over short distance using UHF & SHF radio waves. All reasonably short distance to transfer data.

Mobile phone networks are increasing in speed of online access in the order:

GSM 1993/EDGE 2003/ 3G 2007/ HSPA (high speed packet access) 2010/ 4G 2012.

Mobile phone bands: dual, tri, quad and penta bands describe the number of radio frequencies that a phone can use. The bands used dicatates whether your phone can access signal abroad, whch countries and how good that is.

Home network equipment can include : modem,router, switch.

Powerline networks use the house's electric wiring to carry data

Radio can be Broadcast by AM (low quality, only audio , wide range, mono) or FM (better quality analogue but less range, stereo) or Digital (Digital Audio Broadcast Radios)/ Internet (greater access, best range as it is worldwide but quality is dependent on you)

Tv can be broadcast by analogue (no longer within the UK- lower quality generally)/Digital/Internet signals/ Cable / Satellite

Every computer has an IP (Internet Protocol)  address. Using an IP filtering service you can allow or block visitors based on their IP address. You do this by setting an IP filter policy.

An AUP (acceptable use policy) is a set of rules applied by a network manager that restrict ways in which the network is used. Preventing people from downloading executable files.

RSS (Rich Site Summary) feed enable a website to publish data automatically. Subscribing to an RSS feed removes the need for a user to manually check the website. All new content can be notifed or downloaded to you.

QR Codes (Quick Response) allow a device to link to an online service(often a  website) using a camera (or scanner app(hardware)) and QR reader(software)

Geo-Tagging is the process of adding geographical information to media content. This shows where the media was posted/taken/recorded.

Chip Authentication Devices are to authentication users and transactions in online and telephone banking. They are able to generate a one-time password for a certain transaction.

Social Networks are online communities which for connections/links between users' profiles through their personal information. They often have features thta include:

• Blogging
• Direct Chat
• Photo/Video Share
• Games

MMO's (Massively Multiplayer Online) Communities can be social communities.e.g Second Life or Gaming communities e.g World of Warcraft

They share some characteristics including:

• Persistent game environment
• Some form of character progression
• Social interaction
• In-Game culture
• Membership
• Character customisation