Unit 1

IAS compulsory unit

Externally assessed

1.1 Unit description

The way we live and work in today’s society is enabled by the use of digital technologies. In
this unit, you will develop an understanding of what these technologies are, how they work
together, and how they enable our digital world to function.
Hardware and software underpin all digital technologies. In this unit, you will understand a
range of digital technologies, understand how to evaluate their characteristics and select digital
components to provide solutions to today’s challenges.
Networks are the backbone of communication in today’s society. In this unit, you will
understand how networks enable communication and collaboration, and understand how to
ensure that communication is secure. You will understand the internet as a network and the
world wide web as a collection of information. You will understand how cloud storage, cloud
computing and online communities enable the way we work and share information in the
digital world.
IT systems, the combination of hardware and software, are pervasive in all aspects of life.
Understanding how hardware and software work together will enable you to design technology
systems that meet the demands of today’s society.
Data is the most valuable asset of both individuals and organisations. It is paramount that data
be maintained and manipulated to provide relevant and accurate information. In this unit, you
will understand how to organise, store and extract data to meet the information needs of
individuals and organisations.
Our society is often challenged by the quick pace of technological advancement. The value
of these new technologies is influenced by the moral and ethical concerns of society. The
implementation of any technology must be carried out under the auspices of current legal
frameworks. In this unit, you will understand how to critically assess the value and impact
of new technologies.

1.2 Assessment information

• First assessment: June 2019.
• The assessment is 2 hours.
• The assessment is out of 80 marks.
• Where appropriate, questions will be set in a context.
• Candidates must answer all questions.
• The paper may include multiple-choice, short-open, open-response
and extended-response questions.

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1.3 Unit content

Topic 1: Hardware and software

Digital devices consist of both hardware and software components. From the hardware
perspective, it is important to understand the technologies that enable these devices.
From the software perspective, it is important to understand licensing and maintenance.
Understanding both the hardware and software will enable students to assess and select
components to meet the requirements of an individual, organisation or scenario.

What students need to learn

1.1 Hardware
1.1.1 Understand the features and functions of contemporary digital devices.
Features and functions:
a. portability
b. performance
c. storage
d. user interface
e. connectivity (cable types (USB, HDMI))
f. media support
g. energy consumption
h. expansion capability
i. security features.
Contemporary digital devices:
a. computers (desktop PCs, tablets, smart TVs, games consoles,
microprocessors/single board computers, wearable computers,
supercomputers)
b. peripheral devices (keyboards, mouses, joysticks, microphones, scanners,
monitors, speakers, printers, video cameras, webcams, touch screens,
graphics tablets, biometric scanners, barcode readers, chip and pin devices,
sensors)
c. mobile phones (smartphones)
d. storage devices (magnetic storage, solid state and optical hard drives,
magnetic tape drives, removable solid state (SSID) cards, network-attached
storage (NAS), RAID storage).

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1.1.2 Understand the technologies used by digital devices and how they impact on the
design and uses of devices:
a. Global Positioning System (GPS)
b. biometrics
c. touchscreen
d. sensor
e. memory
f. storage
g. battery power
h. miniaturisation
i. processor
j. radio-frequency identification (RFID)
k. near-field communication (NFC)
l. quick response (QR) code
m. connectivity.
1.1.3 Understand the term ‘technological convergence’ in the context of digital devices.
1.1.4 Understand the concept of and the need for features and functions of embedded
systems.
1.1.5 Understand the concept of and the need for firmware, including where it is stored.
1.1.6 Understand factors that can be used to assess the performance of digital devices:
a. speed
b. capacity
c. portability
d. bandwidth
e. power efficiency.
1.1.7 Be able to calculate data file size and time needed to transmit a file.
1.1.8 Be able to use and convert between binary and denary, as defined by the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). (These are different from SI units.)

bit kibibyte (KiB) 210

nibble mebibyte (MiB) 220
byte gibibyte (GiB) 230
tebibyte (TiB) 240

1.1.9 Be able to select digital devices to meet the needs and requirements of individuals
and organisations.

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1.2 Software
1.2.1 Understand the purpose of:
a. systems software
b. applications software.
1.2.2 Understand the role of the operating system in managing:
a. devices
b. processes
c. users
d. security.
1.2.3 Understand the different sources of software and copyright types:
a. free
b. open-source
c. proprietary
d. creative commons.
1.2.4 Understand licensing options:
a. single user
b. multiple user
c. institutional
d. fixed term
e. indefinite
f. network.
1.2.5 Understand the purpose of, and how to manage, software updates:
a. patch
b. automatic
c. upgrade
d. compatibility issues.
1.2.6 Be able to select software to meet the needs and requirements of individuals and
organisations.

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Topic 2: Networks
Computer networks are essential to most organisations, enabling them to access their
information irrespective of its geographical location; make efficient use of hardware
and software resources, and communicate effectively. Network design, based on an
understanding of protocols, is fundamental to the way networks work. Such reliance on
networks in our society is founded on the assumption that there are mechanisms for
securing access to them.

What students need to learn

2.1 Network models and protocols
2.1.1 Understand the features and functions of computer network models:
a. client-server
b. peer-to-peer
c. ad hoc networks
d. tethering.
2.1.2 Understand the features and purposes of network communication protocols:
a. Wi-Fi
b. ZigBee®
c. Bluetooth®
d. cellular – Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications (3G/4G)
e. infrared
f. ethernet.
2.1.3 Understand the features, functions, and use of network standards and protocols:
a. Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
b. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP)
c. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
d. 7-layer Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Model.

2.2 Network design and implementation

2.2.1 Understand the characteristics of different network transmission media:
a. wireless:
(i) microwave
(ii) radio
(iii) light
(iv) satellite
b. wired:
(i) copper – twisted pair and cable
(ii) fibre
(iii) powerline.

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2.2.2 Understand a variety of network metrics:
a. speed
b. bandwidth
c. throughput
d. scalability
e. latency
f. error rate
g. packet loss
h. availability
i. jitter.
2.2.3 Understand the role of components in networks:
a. switch
b. bridge
c. gateway
d. router
e. multi-function device – combined router/switch
f. modem
g. repeater
h. server
i. Network Interface Card (NIC)
j. wireless access point
k. hubs.
2.2.4 Be able to produce outline designs for networks to meet specified requirements that
take account of location of devices.
2.2.5 Understand the characteristics and function of:
a. IP addressing:
(i) Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4)
(ii) Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6)
(iii) static
(iv) dynamic
(v) Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
b. Media Access Control (MAC) addressing.

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2.3 Network security
2.3.1 Understand the impact of network security issues on individuals and organisations
(threats and solutions, open networks).
2.3.2 Understand how to secure a network using both hardware and software:
a. firewall
b. security settings
c. anti-malware
d. user controls/access/rights/profile
e. authentication types (including passwords, two-factor, biometrics)
f. encryption techniques
g. physical controls.

Topic 3: The online environment

The internet and the world wide web are fundamental parts of our digital activity. The rise of
cloud storage and cloud computing require more online activity. As more and more people
work online and participate in online communities, the issues of potential and risk need to be
considered.

What students need to learn

3.1 The internet and the world wide web
3.1.1 Understand what is meant by the internet and how it is structured (Internet Protocol
(IP) addressing and Domain Name System (DNS)).
3.1.2 Understand the features, functions, impact, and potential of the world wide web.
3.1.3 Understand the difference between static and dynamic web page content, and the
need to use the different types.
3.1.4 Understand the role of client-side scripting.
3.1.5 Understand the role of server-side scripting.

3.2 Operating online

3.2.1 Understand the impact and potential of working in online environments for individuals
and organisations.
3.2.2 Understand the security risks to personal data stored online and methods of
protection.
3.2.3 Understand what a digital footprint (active, passive) is and the positive and negative
aspects of these.

3.3 Online communities

3.3.1 Understand the concept of an online community and that online communities exist for
social and professional purposes.
3.3.2 Understand the impact of online communities on individuals and organisations.

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3.3.3 Understand the monetisation opportunities provided by online communities:
a. use of customer data with targeted advertising
b. pay-per-click advertising
c. selling of customer data
d. paid subscriptions (paywalls)
e. sponsored content.

3.4 The cloud

3.4.1 Understand the concept, use and impact of cloud storage.
3.4.2 Understand the concept, use and impact of cloud computing.

Topic 4: IT systems
IT systems are pervasive in organisations. They are used for stock control, booking, asset
management, and logistics. These systems operate effectively because they are designed
and planned. An understanding of conventional notation will enable students to design
systems consisting of both hardware and software components.

What students need to learn

4.1 Systems design
4.1.1 Understand the concept of an IT system:
a. hardware
b. software
c. processes
d. people.
4.1.2 Understand how to decompose a system into smaller sub-systems and components.
4.1.3 Be able to design IT systems, from individual components and sub-systems, to meet
specified requirements. (Symbols are given in Appendix 7.)
4.1.4 Understand the concept of ‘fitness for purpose’ when evaluating systems.

4.2 Dataflow
4.2.1 Understand the concept of and the need for dataflow diagrams.
4.2.2 Be able to interpret and create dataflow diagrams for a given scenario. (Symbols are
given in Appendix 7.)

4.3 Flowcharts
4.3.1 Understand the concept of and the need for flowcharts.
4.3.2 Be able to interpret and create flowcharts for a given scenario.
(Symbols are given in Appendix 7.)

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4.4 Systems
4.4.1 Understand the advantages and disadvantages of IT systems for individuals and
organisations.
4.4.2 Understand how a range of contemporary digital devices, peripheral devices, storage
devices and memory are used in IT systems to meet the needs of individuals and
organisations.

Topic 5: Data and databases

Our digital world runs on data. Whether it is personal data or institutional data, it must be
organised in such a way that it can be retrieved, manipulated, and understood to have
value. Databases are one way in which data is organised, retrieved and manipulated.

What students need to learn

5.1 Data and information
5.1.1 Understand the difference between data and information.
5.1.2 Understand sources of and the difference between structured and unstructured data.
5.1.3 Understand the value to organisations of extracting meaningful information
from data.

5.2 Structured data

5.2.1 Understand why databases are used to structure data.
5.2.2 Understand the structure of a relational database:
a. tables
b. primary keys
c. foreign keys
d. composite keys
e. records
f. fields.
5.2.3 Understand the concept of entities and the relationships between them:
a. one-to-one
b. one-to-many
c. many-to-many.
5.2.4 Be able to interpret and create entity relationship diagrams for a given scenario.
(Symbols are given in Appendix 7.)

5.3 Structured query language (SQL)

5.3.1 Understand how and why SQL is used to manipulate data and data structures.
5.3.2 Know how to select and use appropriate SQL commands, features and functions to
manipulate data:
a. perform queries and subqueries
b. create tables using appropriate data types

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 c. populate tables/insert, amend, delete
d. link tables (UNION, JOIN)
e. use wildcards (% and _)
f. group, order, count.

Topic 6: Wider issues

The pervasive use of technology has an impact, not just for individuals, but also for the
environment and society as a whole. The ability to make judgements about technology is
underpinned by an understanding of the moral and ethical issues and the legal frameworks
that are part of our lives.

What students need to learn

6.1 Environmental
6.1.1 Understand the environmental impact of construction, use and disposal of information
technology equipment.
6.1.2 Understand the positive impact that information technology makes to environmental
monitoring (including smart houses and smart cities) and efficient use of resources.

6.2 Legal, moral and ethical

6.2.1 Understand the legal issues associated with the use of information technology
systems:
a. data protection
b. copyright
c. computer misuse
d. intellectual property.
6.2.2 Understand the moral and ethical issues associated with the use of information
technology systems:
a. privacy
b. inclusion
c. civil liberties
d. access
e. accessibility
f. expression
g. association.

6.3 Society
6.3.1 Understand the impact of ubiquitous wireless access:
a. smart cities
b. location awareness.

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