Hardware, software & file management
Graphic Communication · Higher · mrkellydt.co.uk
What you're learning in this topic
Learning intention WALT
We are learning about hardware, software & file management, specifically to:
know
- input and output devices and their uses
understand
- the advantages and limitations of CAD
- the benefits of 3D printing without using "cheap" or "quick"
- raster and vector graphics and their file types
- cloud computing and storage, file management and digital rights management
Success criteria WILF
- I can name input and output devices and their uses
- I can explain the advantages and limitations of CAD
- I can explain the benefits of 3D printing without using "cheap" or "quick"
- I can compare raster and vector graphics and their file types
- I can explain cloud computing and storage, file management and digital rights management
Input and output devices
| Input | Output |
|---|---|
| Keyboard and mouse; 3D mouse; graphics tablet and stylus; touchscreen; scanner (2D) and 3D scanner; digital camera | Monitor; projector; inkjet and laser printers; plotter (large drawings); 3D printer; laser cutter and other CAM machines |
Advantages and limitations of CAD
- Advantages: accurate; easy to edit and reuse; libraries save time; drawings and renders come from one model; files shared electronically and worldwide; models can be tested and simulated; links directly to CAM and 3D printing.
- Limitations: cost of hardware, software licences and training; files can be lost, corrupted or incompatible; viruses and hacking; screen work can cause eye strain and repetitive strain injury; can slow down early, free idea generation.
3D printing
Benefits when prototyping or making products: no moulds or tooling; complex shapes and moving parts printed in one go; prints straight from the CAD file; easy to change and reprint; little waste because it is additive; accurate; can be customised for one-off products; the prototype can be tested. The 2024 N5 report: "it is cheap" or "it is quick" are wrong on their own.
Raster and vector graphics HIGHER
| Raster (bitmap) | Vector | |
|---|---|---|
| Made of | Pixels, each a colour | Mathematical paths and shapes |
| Strengths | Photo-realistic, rich detail and subtle colour changes; common formats open almost anywhere | Scale to any size without pixelation; small file size; edit without photo software |
| Weaknesses | Pixelates when enlarged; large files | Not suited to photographs |
| Formats | TIFF, JPG, PNG, BMP | SVG, DXF |
Cloud computing, file management and rights HIGHER
- Cloud storage and computing: files held on remote servers. You can access them from anywhere and on any device, which allows remote working; colleagues can share and collaborate; version history and backups prevent lost work; files can be encrypted; no physical storage is needed. It depends on an internet connection and subscription.
- File management: sensible names, folders and versions, so work is found quickly and the right version is used.
- Digital rights management (DRM): technology that controls how digital content is used and copied, protecting the creator's intellectual property. Watermarks on images stop others using or selling them without payment and advertise the owner.
Digital publishing
Online versions of a publication can include hyperlinks, video, animation and sound, links to social media, zoom and text resizing, translation and text-to-speech. They reach a wider audience and are easy to update. In exam answers, give context: "a link takes the customer straight to the shop to buy" scores; listing two different links with the same purpose doesn't score twice.
Key terms
| Graphics tablet | Input device: draw with a stylus on a pad. |
|---|---|
| Plotter | Output device for large-format technical drawings. |
| Benefit of 3D printing | No tooling needed; complex shapes in one print; easy to change and reprint. |
| Limitation of CAD | Cost of software, hardware and training. |
| Raster image | Made of pixels; photo-real but pixelates when enlarged. |
| Vector image | Made of paths; scales without losing quality, small files. |
| Cloud storage benefit | Access from anywhere, easy sharing and collaboration, backups. |
| Watermark | Protects the owner's images from unpaid use and advertises them. |
| DRM | Digital rights management: controls copying and use of digital content. |
Quick check
1. Which is an INPUT device?
- Plotter
- 3D printer
- Scanner
- Projector
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2. Which answer would score for a benefit of 3D printing?
- It is always cheaper than other methods
- It is much quicker than injection moulding
- It is easy for anyone to use
- No moulds or tooling are needed
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3. A logo needs to go on a business card and a billboard. The best format is…
- Vector (SVG)
- Photograph (JPG)
- Bitmap (BMP)
- Web image (PNG)
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4. Which is a raster format?
- SVG
- TIFF
- DXF
- STEP
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5. Version history in cloud storage helps by…
- Making files bigger and better quality
- Printing documents more quickly
- Restoring earlier versions if work is lost
- Adding a watermark to every file
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Printable worksheet
An I do, we do, you do worksheet for this topic, with a separate answer sheet.