learning aim a

• Ad hoc networks


  Temporary networks with two or more computing devices that do not require Wi-Fi access points or routers to work
• Ad hoc networks


  • Could be used between two laptops to connect them together so they can share files and internet access
• Advantages and disadvantages of an ad hoc network

  • Advantages: Easy to set up, No specialist hardware required such as routers
  • Disadvantages: Less secure, No central device has control which can make them unmanageable
• Ad hoc networks


  • Normally less reliable than traditional ones, Poor signal can reduce access to the internet, Devices can disconnect if they use Bluetooth and are too far away, Many devices sharing a connection can make it very slow
• Open Wi-Fi


  Offered, often for free, in many places such as hotels, trains, and airports, where you don't need a password to connect and it doesn't use encryption, so it is very unsecure
• Connecting securely to open Wi-Fi

  You should only connect to Wi-Fi that uses WPA2 encryption, Alternatively, you could use a virtual private network (VPN) which encrypts everything between you and the VPN provider
• Security issues with open Wi-Fi

  Open Wi-Fi sends all data from your device to the access point in plain-text, which means that a hacker can view sensitive data such as passwords to services
• Personal hotspots


  Allow you to connect devices to either a smartphone or small pocket device using either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, Connecting to a hotspot is known as tethering
• It is important to make sure that a strong password is setup on the portable access point
• Personal Area Networks (PANs)


  Connect computers or devices together using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, such as a phone connecting to an in-car entertainment system to play music and make hands-free phone calls, These networks have a range of a few meters, Devices need to be paired for security
• Pairing


  The process of connecting devices securely in a PAN
• Satellite connections may be the only possibility for communication technologies in some areas
• Internet connections in the UK

  Most homes and businesses connect using copper cable, Fibre connections often only provide fibre to the green cabinet in the street (FTTC), Speeds are typically up to 80 Mbps, Some businesses and homes have fibre to the premises with speeds up to 300 Mbps or more
• Generations of mobile networks

  • 1G was only analogue, 2G was digital and added text messages, 3G improved data speeds to up to 2 Mbps, 4G and 5G increase speeds further
• Many rural homes and businesses only have the option of connecting to a mobile network for Internet access
• Many people trying to connect to the same network base station at a large music festival


  The phone can see the network and may show signal bars, but calls cannot be made
• How networks try to prevent connectivity issues at music festivals

  • Phone companies can bring in more base stations on vans which make new cells for phones to connect to, EE installed a new permanent 4G base station for Glastonbury 2017, which could transfer up to 40 Terabytes of data over a five day period
• Blackspots


  Areas with no mobile phone transmitter, so there is no signal, Hills and buildings can also block signals and create blackspots
• City locations normally have faster internet than rural ones, The cost of installing infrastructure such as fibre cables can be shared by many customers if the population is denser, City locations often have the option of fibre to the home, copper and mobile, Some rural locations may not have fibre or even a mobile signal
• In 2017, only 22% of people in Africa had an internet connection, compared to over 90% in the UK, Europe and North America
• Reasons why some countries have low numbers of Internet connections

  • Infrastructure is needed, Some countries have limited infrastructure for power, They also have fewer cables for Internet connections, so may need to use expensive satellites, Major backbone connections to Africa are not yet sufficient, so the Internet may be slow even when customers are connected
• Work in pairs and make up a story that uses all the following words: Open Wi-Fi, Tethering, Personal hot-spot, WPA2, Mbps, Blackspots, Base station, Encryption
• Describe features and uses of cloud storage

  • Setting and sharing of access rights
  • Synchronisation of cloud and individual devices
  • Availability (24/7)
  • Scalability
• Describe features and uses of cloud computing

  • Online applications
  • Consistency of versions between users
  • Single shared instance of a file
  • Collaboration tools/features
• Describe how the selection of platforms and services impacts on the use of cloud technologies

  • Number and complexity of features
  • Paid for vs free
  • Interface design
  • Available devices
• The cloud


  Another name for services offered via the Internet
• Cloud storage


  Allows users to store files and data on the Internet
• Cloud computing


  Online applications do most of their computing and processing in the cloud
• Cloud storage features


  • Data stored in multiple locations
  • Professional company will manage the data storage
  • Synchronisation of devices to the cloud
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Redundancy
  • Multiple file versions
  • Only pay for storage used
  • Scalability
• Scalability


  The ability of the storage system or cloud computing resources to increase in size
• Dropbox


  • Cloud storage service that works across many platforms
• Data centre protections


  • Door entry locks – biometric and physical
  • Security staff and CCTV
  • Fire protection systems
  • Power backups including diesel generators and batteries
  • Backups of the data both onsite and offsite
• Cloud storage access rights


  • Owner/manager rights
  • Read/view rights
  • Edit/write/modify rights
• Amazon S3


  • Data is stored in multiple locations
  • Versions of files are stored
  • Only pay for storage used
  • Different storage methods including for archiving
  • Data security – including SSL and encryption
  • Scalability
• Online applications


  Applications are typically accessed either through a web browser or an app on the user's device
• Online applications


  • Office suites such as G Suite / Google Docs and Office 365
  • Specialist software such as Accounting and CRM
• Advantages of online software

  • Consistency of versions of the software between users
  • Everyone can edit the most up to date copy of a file
  • Versions of files can be regularly automatically saved
  • Collaboration tools show who is editing a file and allow messaging and chat
  • Access files from any browser/computer in the world
  • Easy to set up new employees – no specialist software to install
• Netflix uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) to deliver video. Netflix statistics for 2018 were: 137 million members, 190 countries, 100,000 Amazon Web Services (AWS) instances, 1 billion hours served per week
• Platform


  The computer hardware and operating system that runs on it
• Platform features


  • Input method (keyboard, voice, touch, controller)
  • Hard disk technology (magnetic / SSD)
  • Durability
  • Portability
  • RAM
  • Screen size