Microprocessors in the home IGCSE ICT Unit 6: The effects of ICT Microprocessors in the home

Objectives leisure time social interaction the need to leave the home Be able to describe the effects of microprocessor controlled devices in the home, including their effects on leisure time social interaction the need to leave the home

Starter If you could invent one labour-saving device for the home, what would it be?

South Korea’s Home of the future

Activity 1 what jobs in the home are now done by computers? In pairs, list as many devices as you can in your own homes which are controlled by microprocessors. Have they always had these devices? Do they know anybody who doesn’t have these devices (no names, please)? how many have a dishwasher? A washing machine?

Running through the sheets – this is how laundry used to be done before the advent of washing machines. length of time taken to do a family’s laundry? What do people do with that spare time now?

Other effects How many of you use the library? Research for homework assignments etc. How many of you use the library? How many prefer to use the internet? Why?

Are we a nation of domestic goddesses? this demonstrates the huge difference that labour saving devices have brought to women.

Microprocessor-Controlled Devices in the Home What is a Microprocessor? A microprocessor is a small CPU built into a single 'chip' Very powerful microprocessors can be found in PCs, but smaller, less powerful microprocessors can be found in many everyday devices in our homes. Typically, a special type of microprocessor, called a microcontroller, is used in everyday devices.

What’s in a chip? In a single ‘chip’, a microcontroller contains: A CPU Some RAM Some ROM (Used for storing the devices software)

ADCs & DACs Often microcontrollers also contain ADCs and DACs to allow easy connection to devices such as sensors and actuators.

Examples of Microprocessor-Controlled Devices Many of the electronic devices that we use contain a microprocessor... Some devices are used for entertainment: Games consoles DVD players MP3 players

labour-saving devices Some devices help to make our lives easier (labour-saving devices): Programmable microwave ovens Programmable washing machines Home security systems Mobile telephones

The Effect of These Devices on Our Lives More leisure time Microprocessor-controlled devices mean that we have more leisure time to relax and enjoy ourselves instead of doing household chores.

Communication We are able to communicate with people very easily using computers, mobile phones, etc. We can become part of online social networks, making friends with people from all over the world.

On-line services Computers and Internet connections mean that many of the tasks that involved us leaving the house, for example, shopping for music, clothes or food, can now be done on-line.

On-line shopping Online shopping gives us more choice of products and saves us time. It is also great from those who are unable to get out of the house easily, such as the elderly, or the disabled.

Activity using the search term “how have computers changed our lives?”, find out some of the ways our lives have changed. (fitness/activity/home based or outside etc) Make some notes!

Final discussion what do you do when you go home at night? Use the internet? How many use facebook? What did you do before you had facebook etc? How many use MSN? If you didn’t have these, what would you do? How many play computer games?