BTEC IT Level 3 - Unit 1
What is a digital device? - answerPiece of physical equipment that uses digital data,
such as by sending, receiving, storing or processing it.
What 9 types of digital devices are there? - answer1. Personal Computers
2. Mobile Devices
3. Servers
4. Entertainment Systems
5. Navigation Systems
6. Multifunctional Devices
7. Digital Cameras
8. Data capture and Collection Systems
9. Communication devices and systems
What is a personal computer? - answerA general-purpose computing device small and
cheap enough to be used by individuals.
How are PCs able to perform common tasks? - answerBy installing a new software
application the computer becomes capable of performing a new function.
What 3 things do PCs contain? - answer1. Individual processors
2. RAM
3. hard disk components with expansion ports.
What additional capabilities can be upgraded on a PC? - answerReplacing hard disk,
more storage or adding a graphics card to an expansion port, improves graphics
processing power.
Give 2 examples of a PC - answer1. Desktop
2. laptop
How are PCs used in workplace? - answerWord processing, desktop publishing,
spreadsheets, database management systems, creative tasks (music, film editing).
How are PCs used in personal lives? - answerAccessing Internet, surfing the web/email,
gaming (requires expensive graphics card normally)
What is a server? - answerA computer that manages access to different resources and
services over a network.
How do PCs connect to a server? - answerVia Ethernet cable and WiFi (forming a
network)
,What is the difference between servers and PCs? - answerContain larger storage
capacity, higher processing power and larger amount of memory.
Give 4 examples of servers? - answer1. Mail servers
2. web servers
3. print servers
4. file servers
How do web servers work? - answer-Web server stores the web page and associated
files.
-Client computer makes request for a web page to server (by entering URL).
-Web server locates correct files and sends back to client.
Why are web servers used? - answerTo manage access to web pages.
Why are mail servers used? - answerTo manage access to email
How do mail servers work? - answer-When you write an email/press send on PC, goes
to outgoing mail server.
-This mail server then sends across a network to recipient's mail server and stores in
their mailbox.
-When recipient logs into their email client the mail server will forward email to their
computer.
Why are file servers used? - answerTo store your files such as word processors and
spreadsheets so they are accessible from any computer on the network.
Why are print servers used? - answerTo share access to a printer.
How do print servers work? - answerBy using a print server, you can send your files to
print from any computer on the network.
What is a mobile device? - answerA computing device that is designed to be portable as
it is compact, light-weight and capable of running for extended periods on battery
power.
What key feature helps make mobile devices more compact and reduce power
consumption? - answerSystem-on-a-Chip
What is System-on-a-Chip? - answerThe core components of the computer are
integrated onto a single chip. (CPU, GPU and RAM)
What is a disadvantage of System-on-a-Chip? - answerIt is hard to upgrade a mobile
device as all the components are integrated on the chip.
What are 2 examples? - answer1. Tablets
,2. smartphones
What are uses for mobile device? - answerAccessing internet on the go, playing games,
calendars, email access.
What is a disadvantage of mobile devices? - answer-They all use touchscreen so are
bad for word processing tasks.
-Also have limited processing capabilities so are bad for graphic games/film editing.
What is an entertainment system? - answerComputing devices that are designed to
entertain (watching tv, listening to music, playing video games)
Advantages of entertainment systems? - answer-Good hard disk storage for storing
tv/films, music and games.
-Built in internet connectivity capabilities (WiFi).
-Access to streaming and online gaming services.
3 examples of entertainment systems - answer1. Digital media players
2. mp3 players
3. video game consoles
What is the use of digital media players? - answerAllows us to stream digital media
(films, tv) over a network.
What is the use of portable media players? - answerPortable media players download
media to device and are played off hard disk.
What is the use of MP3 players? - answerUsed to access and listen to music on a small
portable device.
What are MP4 players? - answerThey are the same as MP3 players but can watch
videos as well.
What is the use of video game consoles? - answerAllow you to play video games. Can
even use internet to play games online with people globally.
What are navigation systems? - answerA digital device that uses GPS (Global
Positioning System) to provide a real-time map of our current location, allowing us to
plan a route to be directed to a chosen destination.
What features do some Navigation systems have? - answer-Identifying traffic,
roadworks and accidents that may delay your journey. -Provides an accurate
destination time.
What is an example of navigation systems? - answerIn car satnav
, What is the use of in car satnav? - answerUsed instead of traditional maps to help direct
you along the fastest route. Can be integrated directly into car's dashboard but is often
standalone. (e.g. TomTom)
Why has standalone satnavs been replaced? - answerAs navigation systems are now
being used in mobile devices for driving, walking, cycling.
What is a multifunctional device? - answerA device that is capable of performing more
than one specific function. (Also known as MFD and multifunctional peripherals)
What are examples of a multifunctional device? - answerMultifunctional printers,
touchscreens, force-feedback game controllers.
What is a multifunctional printer? - answerA device that usually combines printing,
scanning and faxing functions all into a single device.
Where are multifunctional printers used? - answerThey are popular for use in home
offices for people who work from home and do not have the space or money for three
separate devices.
What are touch screens used for? - answerThey are used on tablet devices to allow
users to input without a separate keyboard or mouse.
What are force-feedback game controllers? - answerThey are used on games consoles
to allow you to control the game and receive vibration output.
Give an example of a vibration output on a games console? - answerrumbling in a car
game when you go off track/fighting game when you're hit.
What is a digital camera? - answerA device that is capable of taking photo and video
and recording it as digital data.
How does a digital camera store photos/videos as digital data? - answerBy using a grid
of photosensors that convert light into digital pixels that our computer can store, usually
on a memory card.
What is a megapixel? - answerMegapixels is the number of individual pixels of colour
that are used to record an image.
The more megapixels a camera has... - answerThe higher the quality the image is.
How many megapixels does a modern digital camera have? - answer20 megapixels
What doe most digital camera devices have? - answerThey contain a built-in memory
card slot to store the digital pictures and videos directly on the digital camera device.
What is a digital device? - answerPiece of physical equipment that uses digital data,
such as by sending, receiving, storing or processing it.
What 9 types of digital devices are there? - answer1. Personal Computers
2. Mobile Devices
3. Servers
4. Entertainment Systems
5. Navigation Systems
6. Multifunctional Devices
7. Digital Cameras
8. Data capture and Collection Systems
9. Communication devices and systems
What is a personal computer? - answerA general-purpose computing device small and
cheap enough to be used by individuals.
How are PCs able to perform common tasks? - answerBy installing a new software
application the computer becomes capable of performing a new function.
What 3 things do PCs contain? - answer1. Individual processors
2. RAM
3. hard disk components with expansion ports.
What additional capabilities can be upgraded on a PC? - answerReplacing hard disk,
more storage or adding a graphics card to an expansion port, improves graphics
processing power.
Give 2 examples of a PC - answer1. Desktop
2. laptop
How are PCs used in workplace? - answerWord processing, desktop publishing,
spreadsheets, database management systems, creative tasks (music, film editing).
How are PCs used in personal lives? - answerAccessing Internet, surfing the web/email,
gaming (requires expensive graphics card normally)
What is a server? - answerA computer that manages access to different resources and
services over a network.
How do PCs connect to a server? - answerVia Ethernet cable and WiFi (forming a
network)
,What is the difference between servers and PCs? - answerContain larger storage
capacity, higher processing power and larger amount of memory.
Give 4 examples of servers? - answer1. Mail servers
2. web servers
3. print servers
4. file servers
How do web servers work? - answer-Web server stores the web page and associated
files.
-Client computer makes request for a web page to server (by entering URL).
-Web server locates correct files and sends back to client.
Why are web servers used? - answerTo manage access to web pages.
Why are mail servers used? - answerTo manage access to email
How do mail servers work? - answer-When you write an email/press send on PC, goes
to outgoing mail server.
-This mail server then sends across a network to recipient's mail server and stores in
their mailbox.
-When recipient logs into their email client the mail server will forward email to their
computer.
Why are file servers used? - answerTo store your files such as word processors and
spreadsheets so they are accessible from any computer on the network.
Why are print servers used? - answerTo share access to a printer.
How do print servers work? - answerBy using a print server, you can send your files to
print from any computer on the network.
What is a mobile device? - answerA computing device that is designed to be portable as
it is compact, light-weight and capable of running for extended periods on battery
power.
What key feature helps make mobile devices more compact and reduce power
consumption? - answerSystem-on-a-Chip
What is System-on-a-Chip? - answerThe core components of the computer are
integrated onto a single chip. (CPU, GPU and RAM)
What is a disadvantage of System-on-a-Chip? - answerIt is hard to upgrade a mobile
device as all the components are integrated on the chip.
What are 2 examples? - answer1. Tablets
,2. smartphones
What are uses for mobile device? - answerAccessing internet on the go, playing games,
calendars, email access.
What is a disadvantage of mobile devices? - answer-They all use touchscreen so are
bad for word processing tasks.
-Also have limited processing capabilities so are bad for graphic games/film editing.
What is an entertainment system? - answerComputing devices that are designed to
entertain (watching tv, listening to music, playing video games)
Advantages of entertainment systems? - answer-Good hard disk storage for storing
tv/films, music and games.
-Built in internet connectivity capabilities (WiFi).
-Access to streaming and online gaming services.
3 examples of entertainment systems - answer1. Digital media players
2. mp3 players
3. video game consoles
What is the use of digital media players? - answerAllows us to stream digital media
(films, tv) over a network.
What is the use of portable media players? - answerPortable media players download
media to device and are played off hard disk.
What is the use of MP3 players? - answerUsed to access and listen to music on a small
portable device.
What are MP4 players? - answerThey are the same as MP3 players but can watch
videos as well.
What is the use of video game consoles? - answerAllow you to play video games. Can
even use internet to play games online with people globally.
What are navigation systems? - answerA digital device that uses GPS (Global
Positioning System) to provide a real-time map of our current location, allowing us to
plan a route to be directed to a chosen destination.
What features do some Navigation systems have? - answer-Identifying traffic,
roadworks and accidents that may delay your journey. -Provides an accurate
destination time.
What is an example of navigation systems? - answerIn car satnav
, What is the use of in car satnav? - answerUsed instead of traditional maps to help direct
you along the fastest route. Can be integrated directly into car's dashboard but is often
standalone. (e.g. TomTom)
Why has standalone satnavs been replaced? - answerAs navigation systems are now
being used in mobile devices for driving, walking, cycling.
What is a multifunctional device? - answerA device that is capable of performing more
than one specific function. (Also known as MFD and multifunctional peripherals)
What are examples of a multifunctional device? - answerMultifunctional printers,
touchscreens, force-feedback game controllers.
What is a multifunctional printer? - answerA device that usually combines printing,
scanning and faxing functions all into a single device.
Where are multifunctional printers used? - answerThey are popular for use in home
offices for people who work from home and do not have the space or money for three
separate devices.
What are touch screens used for? - answerThey are used on tablet devices to allow
users to input without a separate keyboard or mouse.
What are force-feedback game controllers? - answerThey are used on games consoles
to allow you to control the game and receive vibration output.
Give an example of a vibration output on a games console? - answerrumbling in a car
game when you go off track/fighting game when you're hit.
What is a digital camera? - answerA device that is capable of taking photo and video
and recording it as digital data.
How does a digital camera store photos/videos as digital data? - answerBy using a grid
of photosensors that convert light into digital pixels that our computer can store, usually
on a memory card.
What is a megapixel? - answerMegapixels is the number of individual pixels of colour
that are used to record an image.
The more megapixels a camera has... - answerThe higher the quality the image is.
How many megapixels does a modern digital camera have? - answer20 megapixels
What doe most digital camera devices have? - answerThey contain a built-in memory
card slot to store the digital pictures and videos directly on the digital camera device.
