Transcript 05-Networks File

BTEC First Diploma in Information and
Creative Technology
Learning aims

A. Understand how the components of technology
systems work together.
B. Understand how data flows between internal
components of a computer and is processed to
provide information.
C. Understand different types of software.
Computer networking
and transferring data

 Computers in technology systems communicate with
each other by sending messages and transmitting
data over a network.
 Networks are everywhere, there are different types
for different purposes.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Types of network

Local area network – LAN
 Connects computers and other devices such as printers
together at a single location, such as a business premises or a
home.
Wide area network – WAN
 Used by organisations to connect their LANs together into a
single network covering anywhere in the world.
Personal area network – PAN
 Used to connect your devices together, e.g. to synchronise your
computer, including your mail, with your mobile phone.
Mobile broadband –
 Uses 3G mobile phone technology to connect your laptop
(using a dongle), netbook or phone to the internet.
Computer networks

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWTJKcg7Pj8
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osWctsnbMa4
Key terms

 3G mobile phone technology
 3G stands for third generation and refers to
technology which supports fast data-transmission
speeds and increased network capacity and networks
through a smartphone.
 3G supersedes 1G and 2G mobile phone technology
and precedes 4G technology.
 Dongle
 A small hardware device that plugs into the USB to
provide functionality such as connecting to Wi-Fi.
Activity

 For each of the four types of network, LAN, WAN,
PAN and mobile broadband:
1. Find an image for each type of network
2. Write down 3 examples of users that the network
would be suitable for.
Uses of network systems

 Sharing
 Networks are used to share data and resources so that
anyone who is logged onto the network and has
authorisation to access them can do so.
 Networked resources include printers, the internet and your
document space on a network server. E.g. shared data is
held on the network of an organisation so that staff can see
and change information about clients and for other
collaborative work such as working on documents.
 Communication
 Networks are great for communication – email, instant
messaging and video conferencing are available for users to
share ideas and reduce the need for travel.
Uses of network systems

 Entertainment
 Networked systems provide the infrastructure to connect with
people or online services anywhere in the world. You can
stream files or listen to radio stations live hundreds or
thousands of miles away, or you can join in online gaming
communities and play with other players from different parts
of the country or the world.
 You can also get up-to-the-second news updates and updates
from friends via social networking or microblogging sites such
as Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.
 Online gaming is a form of entertainment that uses networked
systems to connect to the other players through the internet,
e.g. Unreal Tournament.
 Many people enjoy LAN parties, where people bring their
computers together to play games such as Need for Speed
using a LAN.
Benefits of networking
computers

 Networking computers can save money by allowing
people to share resources.
 Networks can enhance how people work by
improving communications and giving them the
ability to share documents.
 Employees can access networks from home and
many other places, so people have less need to
attend the workplace. This save the organisation
time and also reduces pollution caused by
commuting to and from the workplace.
 What disadvantages can you think of?
Synchronising data

 If you have information on different devices, you will
need to synchronise this data using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,
infrared or cable to connect the devices.
 The devices can be connected to form a PAN to update
older information to the most recent.
 Synchronising data can bring calendars on two different
devices up to date by making appointments and
reminders the same on both.
 Other data that might need synchronising could be texts,
email messages, music, videos, podcasts or anything else
held on these devices.
Key terms

 Synchronise
 In this context it means making the same data available using
different devices.
 If you are using different devices, then each time you use a
new device the data will need to ‘sync’ (or update) so that you
are using the most up-to-date version of the data.
 Podcast
 a download from the BBC, Apple and many other providers
in the form of video or audio. Once you have downloaded a
podcast, you can play it at any time on a mobile device or
computer.
Physical methods of
transferring data

 Physical methods of transferring data between
devices use cabled topology to connect the devices
together.
 Cabling must always meet the requirements for
specified users and purposes.
 Cabled methods include:
 Optical fibre
 UTP – unshielded twisted pair
 Coax – coaxial cables
Optical fibre

This is used for very fast
Optical fibre cables are great
connections between switches
in a network and to bring
broadband to buildings and
business premises.
for fast connections, but not
very good for places where
the cable might be moved,
such as a connection to a
workstation.
Unshielded twisted pair

Used widely to connect
computers and printers to
switches in LANs with
CAT6 or CAT5 cabling.
UTP is a great all-rounder
for cabled LANS, but is
poor at very high speeds.
Coaxial Cables

Coax is used to connect
homes to optical broadband
systems.
Coax is good for short
distances, but poor for
longer stretches.
Older networks used
copper coaxial cabling,
which was a lot slower,
this has mostly been
replaced by UTP.
Wireless methods of
transferring data

 Wi-Fi
 Wi-Fi is a very common technology built into every
laptop for connection to LANs.
 Many printers and desktop computers have built in
Wi-Fi for connection to a wireless network and so they
are easily positioned without a network cable.
 Other computers that need a wireless connection can
have a Wi-Fi network card installed or Wi-Fi devices
can connect via the USB port (universal serial bus)
 Wi-Fi needs a wireless access point (WAP) which is
often part of a router and acts like a switch to connect
the wireless devices together.
Wireless methods of
transferring data

 Wi-Fi
 802.11 protocol defines how Wi-Fi devices can transmit and
receive data. 802.11 has several variations – 802.11g at 54 Mbps
and 802.11n at up to 300Mbps are the current standards.
 When looking for a wireless router, you first want to check
whether it’s b, g or n. The letters refer to the wireless
communication standard on which the router is based: 802.11b,
802.11g, and 802.11n.
 The first generation of wireless routers was b, followed by g,
and now n – the newest generation.
 The primary difference among the router standards is and
range.
 You won’t find many b routers available anymore (except on
eBay, perhaps) because it’s old technology.
Wireless methods of
transferring data

 Bluetooth
 Bluetooth is a short-range, fairly slow wireless
technology that is built into most mobile devices. It is
used to connect mobile phones to headsets and for
data transfers such as MP3 music between phones and
computers.
Activity

 Create a table with three columns
 In the first column list the different physical and
wireless methods of transferring data.
 In the second column give the benefits of each method.
 In the third column give the drawbacks
Check!

1. Name the four main types of network and state
where they are commonly used.
2. What does the term synchronise mean?
3. Explain the difference between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.