The definition and scope of Information Technology, and how supercomputers, mainframes, desktops, mobile devices and embedded devices differ in processing speed, storage and portability.
5 narrated scenes. Press play, listen and read along — the points appear as they are explained. Use ‹ Prev / Next › or the scene bar to jump to any scene.
A bank in Kingston, a weather centre in Barbados and the microwave in your kitchen all run on computers, but they are very different machines built for very different jobs.
Narration uses your device’s built-in voice. No sound? Switch to “Captions only” — the captions advance on their own.
Copy these into your notebook in your own words — that is how they stick.
Use of computers, software and networks to create, store, process, retrieve, send and protect information.
Fastest processing; weather, research; e.g. Cray.
Many users, huge data; banks, airlines; e.g. IBM zEnterprise.
Not portable, powerful, upgradeable.
Laptops, notebooks, netbooks, smartphones, tablets, game consoles: portable.
Special-purpose computer inside another machine: microwaves, car ignition, answering machines.
Processing speed, storage, portability.
Embedded devices do one fixed job.
3 quick games on this lesson. Earn XP and badges as you play — your best score for each game is saved. Games are for practice and do not change your exam readiness. More games in the Information Technology Arcade.
8 items modelled on real CSEC Paper 1 questions. Choose one answer for each, then check. Aim for 80% or better. Work each item on paper first.
Write full answers, then reveal the mark scheme and tick the points you earned (15 marks in total). Show all your working — method marks count. Your answers are saved on this device.
Question 1 [15 marks]
A weather centre, a bank, a school and a car manufacturer each use a different kind of computer system.
(a) (a) Define Information Technology. [2]
(b) (b) Name the type of computer system that would be most suitable for the weather centre and give one reason. [2]
(c) (c) Explain why the bank would use a mainframe. [3]
(d) (d) Give two differences between a desktop computer and a smartphone. [4]
(e) (e) State two features of an embedded device and give two examples. [4]
Find these in your own past-paper booklets for extra timed practice. Items above are written in the style of these papers; any adapted from a specific question say so.