What is digital device?

- pieces of hardware that use computer or microcontrollers

- can connect and work together to give us that data we need, when
and where we need it

- we use the digital device all the time and we can see them
everywhere
- they are always developing and changing

- used by individuals, organizations and local, national and global

societies.
 1979

This is a 250MB hard drive

 Types of digital devices
- there are many types of digital devices

To control washing machines,

Used by organisations for complex processing televisions and other household
tasks such as statistical analysis appliances
 Microprocessor

- electronic circuit or chip that can process data, perform calculations and act
upon the result by issuing instructions

- is the processing chip which makes the computer or electronic device work

They are found inside the CPU in all computers,

laptops, netbooks, tablets and so on.

They are also found embedded in many other

electronic devices, in your home, workplace,
school or everyday life.
Microprocessors in the home

examples of devices in your home that contain microprocessors

● Washing Machine
● Microwave cookers
● Fridge
● DVD player
● Remote control television
 Device Role of Microprocessor

controls the different wash cycle

programmes and ensures that the
machine goes through each stage
correctly
Washing machine

controls the speed the motor spins in

order to rotate the drum during the
spin cycle

controls the speed at which the DVD

spins
DVD player
ensures the correct image and sound
data is made available
Microprocessors in the work

examples of devices in your work that contain microprocessors

● Lifts
● Automatic doors
● Air conditioning system
● Barcode readers
● Video conferencing
● Photocopiers
 Device Role of Microprocessor

Interprets choices made by user i.e.

number of copies, double sided copies
and sends instructions to copier
software
Photocopier
Controls the display on the front of the
machine i.e if 100 copies chosen it will
subtract one from that number each
time a copy is produced
 Device Role of Microprocessor

Acts on the interpreted reading i.e. if

no person then the door remains shut,
if person is approaching then the door
opens
Automatic door

To determine when the person has

cleared the doors and it is safe to
shut them
Microprocessors in everyday life

examples of devices in everyday life which contain microprocessors

● Mobile phones
● Digital cameras
● Traffic light systems
● Remote controlled car
● Lifts
Device Role of Microprocessor

Controls the opening and closing of the door

Read data from door sensors to ensure that

Lifts door doesn’t close when some is entering or
exiting

Sends signal to software and motors to ensure

lift travels to correct floor
Device Role of Microprocessor

Controls sequence of lights from green to

amber to red
Lifts
Interprets data from sensors to recognise
when a car has approached the traffic light
 Types of computers

There are many different types of computer available today

Range from giant super computer to all handheld personal computer

● Supercomputers

● Mainframe computer

● Micro computer
Supercomputer

- fastest, largest and most expensive

computers in the world

- mainly used by governments such as

military, security services, weather office
and scientific research

- have huge storage capacities and

computing speeds
Mainframe computer

- Large, powerful, can carry out many

different task for many different user at the
same time

- can execute billions of instructions per

second

- can process large amounts of data

simultaneously
They are used by large companies such as:

● Utility companies e.g. gas and electricity suppliers to calculate customer bills.

● Banks - for managing thousands of customers accounts each day

● Airlines - for dealing with bookings, tickets, cancellations etc

● Police - for storing and processing all of the data collected each day about
crimes

● Health card - for storing and processing of patient data

Micro computer

1. Personal Computer
2. Laptops
3. Tablet
4. Smart Phone
 - It have more space for components than
laptops

- It provide users with the option to

upgrade them or add additional
components

- Usually need to have peripheral devices,

like monitor, printer, mouse and keyboard

Desktop (PC)
Some desktops are “all-in-one”. This means that they combine the monitor
with the PC hardware.
 Laptop

- Include keyboard, screen, touchpad and rechargeable battery

- Some laptop are called ‘desktop replacements’, larger than other

laptops, bigger and better-quality screen and higher performance
 Single-Board Computers

- SBCs are affordable computers used in education, embedded computing

project and physical computing project

- They carry out the specific tasks for the user

- Examples : The meter in taxis, fully automatic washing machine