A Level Digital Technology CCEA

This subject is broken down into 41 topics in 4 modules:

  1. Approaches to System Development 10 topics
  2. Fundamentals of Digital Technology 12 topics
  3. Information Systems 14 topics
  4. Application Development (Case Study) 5 topics
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  • 4
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  • 41
    topics
  • 16,207
    words of revision content
  • 2+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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Digital Technology

Approaches to System Development

Reasons for Systems Development

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Reasons for Systems Development

Reasons for Systems Development

Improve Efficiency

  • Efficiency is a key driving force behind the development of new systems. Systems are often developed to automate repetitive tasks, speeding up processes and reducing the risk of human error.

Improve Accuracy

  • Improved accuracy is another major reason for systems development. Automating processes can help to greatly reduce the risk of errors, ensuring that tasks are completed correctly and consistently every time.

Cost Reduction

  • Cost reduction is another potential benefit of systems development. By automating processes, organisations can reduce the need for human labour, which can lead to significant cost savings.

Meeting New Business Requirements

  • New systems are often developed to meet new business requirements. This could involve developing new features or functionality, or adapting an existing system to meet the changing needs of the organisation.

Enhanced Security

  • With the growing threat of cyberattacks, enhancing security is becoming an increasingly important reason for systems development. New systems can incorporate the latest security measures to protect sensitive data and systems.

Compliance with Regulatory Requirements

  • Systems may also need to be developed or updated in order to remain compliant with regulatory requirements. Laws and regulations affecting data protection and information security are constantly evolving, and organisations need to ensure that their systems remain compliant.

Improve User Experience

  • A good user experience is crucial to the success of any system. Systems might be developed or updated to enhance usability, making them easier and more enjoyable to use. A good user interface design can increase user satisfaction and productivity.

Capitalising on Technological Advances

  • Technological advances often present opportunities for the development of new systems. For example, the advent of cloud computing has made it possible to develop systems that are accessible from anywhere, anytime. The rapid pace of technological change means that organisations constantly need to be developing new systems to stay competitive.

Integration of Systems

  • Organisations often have many different systems, and these systems often need to be integrated in order to work together effectively. Integration of systems can help to eliminate duplicate data entry, enhance data quality, and streamline processes.

Increase Competitive Advantage

  • Lastly, businesses frequently develop new systems specifically to gain an edge over their competitors. The systems may offer unprecedented functionality or greatly improved efficiency, creating a competitive advantage.

Course material for Digital Technology, module Approaches to System Development, topic Reasons for Systems Development

Digital Technology

Fundamentals of Digital Technology

Website Development

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Website Development

Basics of Website Development

  • Website development involves designing and creating websites, from plain-text pages to complex multimedia-enriched sites.
  • It includes a variety of aspects such as web design, content creation, and network security setup.
  • Websites can serve various purposes, from sharing personal content (like blogs) to commercial applications (like online stores).

Website Components

  • A website typically consists of a collection of web pages containing information and resources related to a particular topic or purpose.
  • Key components include the HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) structure, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) presentation, and sometimes JavaScript functionality.
  • Media elements like images, video, and audio files can be included to enhance the site's content.

Web Development Process

  • Planning is the initial phase where the purpose, primary audience, and goals of the website are decided.
  • Design involves creating mock-up designs, deciding on the layout, colour schemes, and navigation elements.
  • Development includes the actual coding and assembling of the website using languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript.
  • Testing and deployment ensure the site is functional, user-friendly, and available to the public.

Languages in Web Development

  • HTML is the core of web development, providing the fundamental structure for websites.
  • CSS offers the aesthetic factors for a site, addressing aspects like layout, colour schemes, and fonts.
  • JavaScript provides the ability to create dynamic and interactive elements on a website such as form-validation or smooth page scrolling.

Responsive Web Design

  • Responsive web design is a principle where websites are designed to respond and adapt to different device sizes and orientations.
  • The goal is to provide a consistent and high-quality user experience, whether viewed on a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile.
  • Path to adaptability could involve the use of flexible layouts, images, and CSS media queries.

Website Accessibility

  • Accessibility refers to designing a website so that it can be used effectively by all people, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.
  • It involves aspects such as text alternatives for images, meaningful link texts, clear navigation, and use of colour.
  • Compliance to WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is a common standard to ensure accessibility.

Evaluating a Website

  • Effective evaluation of a website would include testing its usability, navigation, content clarity, and visual appeal.
  • Tools like Google Analytics offer insights into visitor behaviour and site performance.
  • User feedback is a valuable source of information for continual site improvement.

Maintenance and SEO

  • Maintenance involves regularly updating and reviewing a site after it has been published, ensuring the content is fresh and the technology up-to-date.
  • SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a technique to improve a website's visibility on search engines, involving aspects like keyword use, site speed, and mobile-friendliness.

Course material for Digital Technology, module Fundamentals of Digital Technology, topic Website Development

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