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• Digital devices


  • Consist of both hardware and software components
• Hardware


  Technologies that enable digital devices
• Software


  Licensing and maintenance
• Understanding both hardware and software will enable students to assess and select components to meet the requirements of an individual, organisation or scenario
• Portability


  • Key feature of many contemporary digital devices, especially mobile phones and tablets
  • Devices are designed to be carried around and used on the go
  • Wearable computers, such as smartwatches, are becoming increasingly popular as they allow users to access information and control devices without needing to take out their mobile phone
  • Microprocessors/single board computers are often used for embedded systems, such as in cars or appliances, where compact size is important
• Performance


  • High performance is important for devices that need to process large amounts of data quickly, such as computers and supercomputers
  • Games consoles are also designed for high performance, with powerful processors and graphics cards to handle demanding games
  • Microprocessors/single board computers are often used for specific tasks that require high processing power, such as in robotics or data processing
• Storage


  • All contemporary digital devices have some form of storage, such as hard drives, solid-state drives, or removable storage media
  • Network-attached storage (NAS) is a type of storage that can be accessed by multiple devices over a network
  • RAID storage is a type of storage that uses multiple hard drives to protect against data loss in case of a drive failure
• User interface


  • Refers to how the user interacts with the device, including input devices, such as keyboards and touch screens, and output devices, such as monitors and speakers
  • The design of the user interface is an important consideration for manufacturers, as it can affect the usability of the device
  • Some devices, such as biometric scanners and barcode readers, provide additional input methods for secure authentication or data input
• Connectivity


  • Important for allowing devices to share data and resources, through cables, such as USB and HDMI, or wirelessly using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other wireless standards
  • Devices such as printers and scanners often have multiple connectivity options to make it easier for users to connect to them
  • Some devices, such as microprocessors/single board computers (Raspberry Pi, Arduino), can be connected to sensors and other devices to allow for data collection and processing
• Media support


  • Contemporary digital devices support a wide range of media formats, including audio, video, and images
  • Some devices, such as cameras and scanners, are specifically designed for capturing media
  • Other devices, such as smart TVs and games consoles, are designed to display high-quality video and graphics
• Energy consumption


  • An important point to consider for manufacturers, as it affects the cost of running the device and its impact on the environment
  • Mobile phones and tablets often have batteries that can be recharged, while other devices are designed to be always plugged in
  • Some devices, such as smart thermostats, are designed to be energy-efficient to reduce their impact on the environment
• Expansion capability


  • Some devices, such as computers and microprocessors/single board computers, have expansion slots for adding additional hardware, such as graphics cards or network cards
  • Network-attached storage (NAS) can be expanded by adding additional hard drives to increase storage capacity
  • Other devices, such as printers and scanners, can be expanded by adding additional trays or modules to allow for more functionality
• Security features


  • Security is an important consideration for many digital devices, especially those that store sensitive information or are used for secure transactions
  • Devices such as biometric scanners and chip and pin devices provide secure authentication to prevent unauthorised access
  • RAID storage provides redundancy and protects against data loss in case of a drive failure
• RAM (Random Access Memory)


  • Fast, quickly accessible
  • Volatile (loses data when power turned off)
  • Usually low storage capacity compared to secondary storage
• ROM (Read Only Memory)


  • Fast
  • Can be read from but not written to
  • Holds BIOS/firmware which is needed to load the Operating System (OS)
• Types of ROM


  • PROM (Programmable ROM)
  • EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM)
  • EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM)
• Cache


  • L1, L2, and L3 caches inside processor
  • Very fast memory
  • Very expensive
  • L1 is fastest, L3 is slowest
  • Store most frequently accessed data
• Processors


  • x86 Architecture most common (Intel and AMD processors)
  • High performance
  • Upgradeable parts
  • Relatively old
  • Used in desktops and laptops
  • ARM architecture is SoC (System on Chip) (Snapdragon, Apple M1)
  • Relatively lower performance
  • More efficient
  • Everything in one chip
  • Newer
  • Not upgradeable
• Processor performance


  • More cores
  • Faster clock speed
  • More cache
• Magnetic Tape


  • Magnetised bits of tape
  • Very high capacity
  • Very cheap
  • Very slow read/write speeds
• Optical Hard Drives


  • Moving disks have magnetised bits that are read/written by a head
  • High storage capacity (1-32 TB)
  • Inexpensive
  • Slow read/write speeds
  • May be damaged by shock
  • Large magnet can erase all data on it
• Solid State Drives


  • Very fast read/write speeds
  • Expensive
  • No moving parts so resistant to damage
  • Low power
  • Relatively low storage capacity
• Removable Solid State (SSID) Cards - SD Cards


  • Mid price range
  • Very small and portable
  • Used in phones and cameras as expandable storage
  • Low power, medium capacity
• Network Attached Storage (NAS)


  • Normal storage devices connected to a network
  • Remotely accessible
  • Susceptible to network failure
• RAID Storage


  • Replicate data over multiple drives
  • Increases data reliability and I/O performance
• HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface)


  Capable of transmitting audio and video signals at high speeds of up to 18 Gbps, making it ideal for high-definition multimedia content such as 4K and 8K video
• USB (Universal Serial Bus)


  A versatile interface that can transfer data at speeds of up to 10 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2), with backwards compatibility to older USB versions
• Ethernet


  A wired network technology that can transmit data at speeds of up to 10 Gbps (10GBASE-T), with faster speeds of up to 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps available for enterprise-level networking
• DisplayPort


  A video interface that can transmit audio and video signals at high speeds of up to 32.4 Gbps (DisplayPort 2.0), making it ideal for high-resolution displays and gaming
• Thunderbolt


  A high-speed interface developed by Intel that can transfer data at speeds of up to 40 Gbps (Thunderbolt 3), with support for multiple protocols such as USB, DisplayPort, and PCIe
• The speeds listed above are theoretical maximums and actual data transfer rates may be lower depending on various factors such as cable length, device compatibility, and signal interference
• Global Positioning System (GPS)


  • Allows devices to determine their location and track movements, enabling applications such as navigation, location-based services, and geotagging
• Biometrics


  • Enables devices to recognise and authenticate users based on physical characteristics such as fingerprints, iris, face or voice, improving security and convenience for access control and payment systems
• Touchscreen


  • Allows users to interact with devices through touch, simplifying user interface design and enabling new forms of interaction such as pinch-to-zoom and swipe gestures
• Sensor


  • Provides devices with the ability to detect and respond to changes in their environment, such as movement, light, temperature, and pressure, enabling features such as automatic screen rotation, ambient light adjustment, and fitness tracking
• Memory


  • Enables devices to store and retrieve data quickly and efficiently, improving performance and enabling features such as multitasking and fast app switching
• Storage


  • Provides devices with the ability to store large amounts of data, such as documents, music, and videos, enabling users to access their content on-the-go
• Battery power


  • Provides devices with the ability to operate untethered from a power source, enabling mobility and convenience, while advances in battery technology have led to longer battery life and faster charging times
• Miniaturisation


  • Enables devices to become smaller and more portable, while maintaining or improving their performance and functionality
• Processor


  • Provides devices with the computing power to perform complex tasks, such as running applications, processing images, and playing games, while advances in processor technology have led to faster performance and improved energy efficiency