Year 10 · ICT · Autumn 1
Computer systems, devices and storage; document production · Lesson 2 of 5
Types of computer and emerging technology
Theory1.4 Types of computer1.5 Emerging technologies
Year 10 · ICT · Computer systems, devices and storage; document production · Lesson 2 of 5
You will learn to
- Describe desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones and phablets.
- Compare types of computer for portability, expandability and typical uses.
- Explain the difference between virtual reality and augmented reality.
- Describe an emerging technology, such as AI or extended reality, with one use and one risk.
Year 10 · ICT · Computer systems, devices and storage; document production · Lesson 2 of 5
Success criteria
You have got it when you can say:
- I can fill in a comparison table for four types of computer.
- I can choose a type of computer for a given job, and justify it.
- I can give one use and one risk of my emerging technology.
Year 10 · ICT · Computer systems, devices and storage; document production · Lesson 2 of 5
Retrieval starter
Questions from before. Write your answers, then show them.
- Last lesson
Which is application software?
A A device driverB The operating systemC A spreadsheet
C. A spreadsheet
- Last lesson
Exporting means…
A DeletingB PrintingC Saving in a format another program can open
C. Saving in a format another program can open
- Last lesson
A .pdf is used because…
A Anyone can edit itB It is the smallest fileC It looks the same on every computer
C. It looks the same on every computer
Year 10 · ICT · Computer systems, devices and storage; document production · Lesson 2 of 5
Key words (1 of 2)
- System software
- Software that runs and maintains the computer, such as the operating system and drivers.
- RAM
- Random access memory: volatile memory holding the programs and data in use.
- ROM
- Read-only memory: non-volatile memory holding the start-up instructions.
- Operating system
- System software that manages the hardware, files and programs, and gives the user an interface.
Year 10 · ICT · Computer systems, devices and storage; document production · Lesson 2 of 5
Key words (2 of 2)
- Expandability
- How easily parts can be added or upgraded.
- Artificial intelligence
- A computer system that does tasks normally needing human thinking.
- Virtual reality
- A computer-made world that fully replaces what the user sees.
- Augmented reality
- Computer images added on top of a live view of the real world.
1.4 Types of computer · The explanation · step 1 of 5 · part 1 of 2
Desktop computers
A desktop computer sits in one place, usually on a desk. It has a separate monitor, keyboard and mouse.
Expandability means how easily parts can be added or upgraded. Desktops are very expandable: you can add more RAM or a better graphics card.
Uses: office work, school computer rooms, gaming, video editing.
1.4 Types of computer · The explanation · step 1 of 5 · part 2 of 2
Desktop computers (continued)
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Easy to upgrade and repair, because parts are standard and easy to reach | Not portable, so you can only use it in one place |
| More processing power for the price than a laptop | Needs a mains power supply, so stops if the power fails |
| Full-size keyboard and large monitor, better for long periods of work | Cables and separate parts take up desk space |
1.4 Types of computer · The explanation · step 2 of 5 · part 1 of 2
Mobile computers
A laptop has the screen, keyboard, touchpad and battery in one case.
A smartphone is a phone with an operating system that can run apps and use the internet.
A tablet is a flat touch-screen computer, bigger than a phone. A phablet is in between: a large phone with a screen of about 6 to 7 inches.
All run on batteries and connect by Wi-Fi or mobile data, so they work almost anywhere.
1.4 Types of computer · The explanation · step 2 of 5 · part 2 of 2
Mobile computers (continued)
| Type | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop | Portable and still has a real keyboard, so good for typing on the move | Harder to upgrade than a desktop; easier to steal or drop |
| Smartphone | Fits in a pocket; always with you; calls, apps and internet in one device | Small screen and keyboard make long documents hard; battery runs out quickly with heavy use |
| Tablet | Larger screen than a phone, good for reading and video; long battery life | On-screen keyboard is slow for long typing; little or no expandability |
| Phablet | Bigger screen than a phone but still pocket-sized | Harder to use with one hand; too big for some pockets |
"Portable" alone rarely earns a mark. Say what it allows: "can be used on the train because it runs on a battery and is light."
1.4 Types of computer · The explanation · step 3 of 5
Comparing the types
In an exam, compare on the same feature each time: portability, screen size, processing power, expandability, battery, cost.
| Feature | Desktop | Laptop | Tablet / smartphone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portability | Low | Medium | High |
| Expandability | High | Low | Very low |
| Power supply | Mains | Battery or mains | Battery |
| Typing long text | Best | Good | Poor |
| Typical use | Office, gaming, editing | Students, travelling workers | Messaging, browsing, reading, photos |
1.5 Emerging technologies · The explanation · step 4 of 5 · part 1 of 2
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a computer system that does tasks that normally need human thinking. Examples: recognising faces, understanding speech, making decisions.
Many AI systems learn from large amounts of data. The more examples they see, the better they get.
Uses: voice assistants, chatbots on shop websites, spotting fraud in bank payments, medical image analysis, self-driving cars.
1.5 Emerging technologies · The explanation · step 4 of 5 · part 2 of 2
Artificial intelligence (AI) (continued)
| Positive impacts | Negative impacts |
|---|---|
| Can work all day without tiring, so faster and more consistent | Can replace some jobs, causing unemployment |
| Can spot patterns in data humans would miss, e.g. early signs of disease | Only as good as its training data, so it can be biased or wrong |
| Can do dangerous or boring tasks | Expensive to develop; people may rely on it too much |
1.5 Emerging technologies · The explanation · step 5 of 5 · part 1 of 3
Extended reality: VR and AR
Extended reality (XR) is the general name for technologies that mix the real and computer-made worlds.
Virtual reality (VR) replaces the real world completely. The user wears a headset and sees only a computer-generated world. Sensors track head movement.
Augmented reality (AR) adds computer images on top of the real world. The user looks through a phone camera or smart glasses and still sees what is around them.
1.5 Emerging technologies · The explanation · step 5 of 5 · part 2 of 3
Extended reality: VR and AR (continued)
| Virtual reality (VR) | Augmented reality (AR) | |
|---|---|---|
| Real world visible? | No, fully replaced | Yes, with extra images added |
| Equipment | Headset, often with hand controllers | Smartphone, tablet or smart glasses |
| Example uses | Pilot and surgeon training, games, virtual tours of a museum | Seeing furniture in your room before buying, navigation arrows on a street, games like catching virtual creatures |
| Disadvantage | Can cause motion sickness; user cannot see real hazards | Needs a good camera and processing; drains battery |
1.5 Emerging technologies · The explanation · step 5 of 5 · part 3 of 3
Extended reality: VR and AR (continued)
Do not mix them up. VR = you are inside a virtual world. AR = virtual things are added to your real world.
Year 10 · ICT · Computer systems, devices and storage; document production · Lesson 2 of 5
Quick quiz · 1 of 3
A touch screen that senses the electricity in your finger is…
- A Capacitive
- B Resistive
- C Infra-red
A. Capacitive
Resistive needs pressure; infra-red uses a grid of beams.
Year 10 · ICT · Computer systems, devices and storage; document production · Lesson 2 of 5
Quick quiz · 2 of 3
A 3D printer is…
- A An input device
- B A storage device
- C An output device
C. An output device
It produces something from the computer: output.
Year 10 · ICT · Computer systems, devices and storage; document production · Lesson 2 of 5
Quick quiz · 3 of 3
Chip and PIN checks…
- A Your fingerprint
- B Only your signature
- C The chip, then the PIN you type
C. The chip, then the PIN you type
The terminal reads the chip and the PIN confirms it is you.
Year 10 · ICT · Computer systems, devices and storage; document production · Lesson 2 of 5
Exit ticket
Answer on paper before you go. Then check.
Magnetic tape is used for…
A Large, cheap backupsB PhonesC Fast game loading
A. Large, cheap backups Slow to find things, but huge capacity at low cost.
A Blu-ray disc is…
A Solid stateB OpticalC Magnetic
B. Optical Read by a laser, like CD and DVD.