Unit 1 1.4 Connectivity Methods

1.4 Connectivity methods, i.e.: What you need to learn: 1.4 Connectivity methods, i.e.: copper fibre wireless technologies (Bluetooth, WiFi, microwave, infrared, laser, Satellite, GSM, 3G/4G and future technologies) characteristics purpose • input devices • output devices • communications devices • benefits (e.g. integrated devices make portable devices simpler to use) • limitations (e.g. voice recognition performs poorly in noisy environments) • uses (e.g. membrane keyboard could be used in harsh physical environments)

Copper Best conductor Flexibility High melting point Does not loosen Avoid incompatibility problems Easy to work with

Fibre Optic

Fibre VS Copper Greater Bandwidth Speed and distance Security Immunity and reliability Design Migration Field termination Cost http://blog.blackbox.com/technology/2015/04/8-advantages-to-choosing-fiber-over-copper-cable/ Make notes under each one to what the positive is.

Bluetooth a standard for the short-range wireless interconnection of mobile phones, computers, and other electronic devices. Research questions: What is the purpose of this technology? Give 2 examples of when this would be a successful technology to use?

Wifi a facility allowing computers, smartphones, or other devices to connect to the Internet or communicate with one another wirelessly within a particular area. Research questions: What is the purpose of wifi? What do you need to be able to connect to the wifi? How has this benefitted society today?

Microwave Microwave is defined as the part of the electromagnetic spectrum with large infrared waves and short radio waves, an oven that cooks food very quickly or made to cook in one of these ovens. An example of microwave is a type of cooking that uses energy waves to cook food; microwave cooking. Research questions: What is the purpose of microwaves? Give several examples of where microwaves would be used?

Infrared (of electromagnetic radiation) having a wavelength just greater than that of the red end of the visible light spectrum but less than that of microwaves. Infrared radiation has a wavelength from about 800 nm to 1 mm, and is emitted particularly by heated objects. Research questions: When would this be used? Give some examples of technologies this would be used in and why?

Laser A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". Research questions: Carry out some research on laser light. What is the purpose of it? Give some examples of technologies. How would you know if this is being used?

Satellite In general, a satellite is anything that orbits something else, as, for example, the moon orbits the earth. In a communications context, a satellite is a specialized wireless receiver/transmitter that is launched by a rocket and placed in orbit around the earth. There are hundreds of satellites currently in operation. Research questions: What types of technologies use satellite today? Why? What do you need to gain a satellite signal?

GSM GSM -Global System for Mobile communication) is a digital mobile telephony system that is widely used in Europe and other parts of the world. GSM uses a variation of time division multiple access (TDMA) and is the most widely used of the three digital wireless telephony technologies Research questions: Where is this used? What is the main purpose of it? How is it successful in todays modern world?

3G/4G future technologies a mobile communications standard that allows mobile phones, computers, and other portable electronic devices to access the Internet wirelessly. "with 3G allowing us to send much bigger files to handsets, video content is the big area that's poised for take-off" 4G is the fourth generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology, succeeding 3G. Give some examples of what devices use this technology? How has this become successful in society today?