https://padlet.com/antoniaskew20/ii483ourip3y Revision Material for Level 2 Technical Certificate in Digital Technologies en-us 2019-01-12 22:21:22 UTC 2019-02-10 15:29:48 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Planets.png antoniaskew20 https://padlet.com/antoniaskew20/ii483ourip3y/wish/319989442 There are 3 main types of fixed systems:
1. Desktop Computers
2. Mainframe Computers
3. Supercomputers
These 3 classifications are all unique in how they are used, meaning that each type of computer possesses both their own advantages, and disadvantages. 
1. Desktop Computers are your typical, everyday computer that are commonly used both in businesses and for entertainment at home. This is the case because of their multi-purpose use, ranging from web-surfing to playing games, or watching films. Business usage can be seen with these computers when an employee needs to work on files, documents, research and many more. 
2. Mainframe Computers are more powerful than desktop computers, they have much greater processing power, larger memory, and greater storage. A Mainframe Computer is mainly responsible for processing huge amounts of data, making it much more efficient than the other 2 fixed-system types in businesses that require trends to be found in sales. 
3. Supercomputers are extremely powerful, they are much more practical than Mainframe Computers in businesses that require a large amount of numerical/mathematical data to be processed at high speeds, which the Supercomputer performs very well in. Therefore the Supercomputer is normally used in banking businesses which require these large amounts of numerical data to be processed. ]]> 2019-01-12 22:28:39 UTC https://padlet.com/antoniaskew20/ii483ourip3y/wish/319989442 30061771 https://padlet.com/antoniaskew20/ii483ourip3y/wish/320696890 There are 4 main types of Mobile Systems, which include:
1. Laptops/Notebooks
2. Netbooks
3. Tablets
4. Smartphones
Again, just like the Fixed Systems, these 4 types of devices have their own distinct advantages and disadvantages.
1. Laptops/Notebooks are Mobile Systems that pretty much cross the boundary between a Fixed System, and a Mobile System, much like a Desktop Computer, (but with less processing power, memory, and storage) are capable of storing adequate amounts of data, more so than all of the other types of Mobile Systems to be mentioned, however due to their commonly large size, are less mobile than all the other main types of Mobile Systems. 
2. Netbooks are basically smaller laptops, which means that they differ in hardware specifications, usually with smaller storage sizes and less memory than laptops, (but more than Tablets), this can therefore hinder the performance of netbooks, but for reduced size, resulting in better mobility and portability than laptops. 
3. Tablets are devices which are essentially larger forms of Smartphones, resulting in greater storage and memory sizes, but lesser mobility and portability. 
4. Smartphones are the smallest forms of Mobile Systems listed, meaning they technically have maximum portability, and can therefore be handled with ease and transported in a more practical manner. The portability of these devices do however introduce the issue of reduced storage and memory, therefore establishing itself as the most minimal of all Mobile Systems, in terms of hardware quality.  ]]> 2019-01-15 11:23:25 UTC https://padlet.com/antoniaskew20/ii483ourip3y/wish/320696890 30061771 https://padlet.com/antoniaskew20/ii483ourip3y/wish/320748285 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
There are 2 types of CPU, both used by different companies:
1. Pin Grid Array (PGA)
2. Land Grid Array (LGA)
These 2 types of Processors differ essentially in how they connect to the Motherboard of the Computer. 
1. The PGA Processor connects to the Motherboard via integrated Pins/contact points which align with the points in the socket on the Motherboard, effectively connecting to the rest of the computer.
2. The LGA Processor connects to the Motherboard in a sort of inverted way to the PGA Processor, rather than having the pins/contact points integrated onto the CPU itself, the pins/contact points can be found within the socket of the Motherboard, again connecting the CPU to the rest of the computer. 
The advantages of PGA Processors mainly thrive from how the pins are integrated on the CPU itself; reducing the possibility of the pins becoming damaged through excessive force being placed on the Motherboard, which is a more likely case with the LGA Processor method. However, a massive benefit that the LGA Processor/Motherboard has over the PGA methodology is that if the pins on the PGA Processor become damaged, the entire Processor will most likely have to be replaced, which is cheaper than say the Motherboard that uses the LGA methodology as the Motherboard is much cheaper (on average) than the Processor. On the over hand, the LGA method can prove to be way less efficient if the pins become damaged simply because the entire Motherboard would have to be replaced, which although is cheaper, could spell issues with other hardware becoming damaged when trying to remove the component, and the problematic size of the component which can prove to be challenging when trying to remove and replace.

]]> 2019-01-15 13:55:46 UTC https://padlet.com/antoniaskew20/ii483ourip3y/wish/320748285 30061771 https://padlet.com/antoniaskew20/ii483ourip3y/wish/320767789 There are 2 forms of Memory contained within a computer system:
1. Volatile Memory
2. Non-volatile Memory
These 2 types of Memory differ for very significant reasons, and both play vital roles in computer system performance
1. Volatile Memory is necessary for temporarily storing data and information for the computer system, which the RAM (Random Access Memory), and Cached Storage are responsible for. These methods of storage are for the purpose of speeding up the performance speeds of the computer system, making it easier on the Processor which, when performing tasks, uses these volatile memory devices to fetch temporarily stored data. 
2. Non-volatile Memory is the form of system storage that is responsible for permanently storing data and information onto the computer system. This form of system Memory is necessary for storing data everlastingly, examples of this type of system Memory include HDD/SSD, (Hard Disk Drives/Solid State Drives), ROM, (Read-Only Memory), Flash Memory, Ferroelectric RAM/FeRAM (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory, Non-volatile alternative to the Dielectric DRAM/Dynamic Random Access Memory). ]]> 2019-01-15 14:26:47 UTC https://padlet.com/antoniaskew20/ii483ourip3y/wish/320767789 30061771 https://padlet.com/antoniaskew20/ii483ourip3y/wish/320826260 There are many types of storage devices, which fall into 5 main categories: 
1. Local Storage
2. Remote Storage
3. Solid State Drives 
4. Portable Storage
5. Optical Storage
These categories of storage are used to store data in different ways in contrast to each.
1. Local Storage is used to store data and information on the computer device itself, so if you saved data to the Local Storage, you would be storing data onto the Hard Drive/Solid State Drive contained within the computer. Think of the term 'Local', meaning "close to home" or "in the general area", which correlates with the storage as being "close to home" AKA within the Device. 
2. Remote Storage is the type of storage which can be connected to by any device within the same network as the Remote Storage device. This implies that the Remote Storage device must be a server computer such as a NAS which acts as network-connected device, giving users on the network the ability to save files, folders, ect. This allows users on the same network to access the files stored on the device freely, even from home. 
3. Solid State Drives are more advanced forms of Local Storage hardware such as HDD's, the difference comes from the fact that SSD's use the same technology as RAM hardware, this means that the data within the storage device can be accessed much faster than HDD's. Solid State Drives are considered 'Non-volatile' which means that it stores data permanently, its differences to Hard Disk Drives in read/writing speed mainly come from the fact that it stores data electronically with no moving parts, the HDD however stores data magnetically and counter-partly with moving parts. 
4. Portable Storage is a commonly used method for storing data for the purpose of using it "on the move", allowing the user to insert the Portable Storage device on a computer for convenient access to that data when they wish. Portable Storage comes in the form of Portable Hard Drives, and Universal Series Bus drives (USB drives), and more. 
5. Optical Storage, a type of storage which comes in the form of CD's (Compact Discs), and DVD's (Digital Versatile Discs), which can be used to store data temporarily for things such as 'burning' Operating Systems and downloading them onto a computer device, or permanently storing data for the purpose of backing it up, allowing organisations to alternatively store their data. 


]]> 2019-01-15 15:52:12 UTC https://padlet.com/antoniaskew20/ii483ourip3y/wish/320826260 30061771 https://padlet.com/antoniaskew20/ii483ourip3y/wish/323390727 Connection Methods are how we allow our devices to communicate with one another on networks, to transmit data from and to other hardware devices within a computer, and to connect peripheral devices to our computer devices for the creation of audio, visual data, and data input/output. These Connection Methods include:
1. Universal Series Bus (USB) 2/3
2. Video Graphics Array (VGA)
3. Digital Versatile Interface (DVI)
4. High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
5. FireWire (IEEE1394)
6. Thunderbolt
7. Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA)
The purpose of these connection methods differ as mentioned above, starting with:
1. The Universal Series Bus is a connection method for many reasons, as suggested by the word "Universal" which means "all". A USB cable can function as data transmission method, used between 2 devices. This type of cable can come in many different forms, however we'll only refer to USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, where both types differ in connectivity speeds; USB 2.0 runs at a speed of 480Mbit/s, AKA "High Speed" which contrasts greatly to the previous maximum transmission speeds of the USB 1.0 cable, which could only run at a max of 12Mbit/s. The USB 3.0 cable can run at "Super Speed" which at maximum speed is 5Gbit/s. 
2. The Video Graphics Array, or VGA cable is a connection method for peripheral devices, designed to provide video output on devices such as computer monitors and older Televisions, the VGA cable is a 3-row, 15-pin DE-15 connector and although has mostly been replaced by the commonly used HDMI cable, is still widely used for workstation computers today. The sole purpose of this cable is to transmit analogue data to the display of the device, which has been converted into visual data to provide a User Interface. 
3. The Digital Versatile Interface, or DVI cable for short, is another example of a video graphics cable, however it can be used for both analogue, and/or digital data transmission, proving to be more multi-functional than the previously mentioned VGA connection method, which can only run in analogue. 
4. The High Definition MultiMedia connection method, or HDMI for short, is currently the most popular method for digital data transmission, and can be used to transmit both video, and audio data. This connection method is commonly found in modern TV's, and computers. HDMI cables can support a multitude of different video outputs, including "Standard", "Enhanced", and "High-Definition". 
5. FireWire is Apple's take on the IEEE1394 connection standard. With this connection method, you can connect different digital peripheral devices to your computer, both audio and video. These digital devices can transmit data up to 400Mbps through this cable. 
6. Thunderbolt is the connection method designed by Intel in collaboration with Apple, and was designed to transmit data from and to external peripheral devices at high speeds (10Gbps). 
7. SATA is the connection standard for hardware storage devices, and primarily connects storage devices to the rest of the computer system through the connectors located on the motherboard. Transmission speeds run at about 6Gbs. ]]> 2019-01-23 11:44:43 UTC https://padlet.com/antoniaskew20/ii483ourip3y/wish/323390727