DEVELOPING A SMARTER PLANET D/505/5400 LEVEL 3 LO3 - Understand how smarter planet technologies could be further developed.

Unit 42

DEVELOPING A SMARTER PLANET

D/505/5400 LEVEL 3

LO3 - Understand how smarter planettechnologies could be further developed

Scenario Criteria Assessment1 2 3 4 5

AIM AND PURPOSE OF THE UNIT The Smarter Planet is an initiative developed by the IBM corporation

to encourage individuals and organisations to think and develop solutions to processes or problems innovatively. The purpose is to encourage individuals and businesses to review their current practice to identify what they could change to reduce the impact on the planet/ environment. The Smarter Planet initiative can be applied cross sector and this unit encourages learners to consider the ways in which improvements to processes may include cost savings, environmental impact and system efficiencies.

The smarter ideas which learners may identify may initially be small but may then grow and the focus is on constant improvements, developments to “make the planet smarter”. They should look at technological developments across a range of sectors to consider whether these can be adapted to other sectors and they should also identify activities or processes they think can be improved in everyday life and consider innovative solutions that may be developed.

Scenario

Scenario Criteria Assessment1 2 3 4 5

Learning Outcome (LO) The learner will:

Pass The assessment criteria are the pass requirements for this unit. The learner can:

Merit For merit the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass criteria, the learner is able to:

Distinction For distinction the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass and merit criteria, the learner is able to:

1 Understand what ismeant by a smarterplanet

P1 Explain how changesin technology haveevolved over the lastcentury

explain how evolutionsin technology haveimpacted on everydaylife

M1 - Evaluate the wider uses of these technological developments withinan identified sector

D1 - Discuss why the smarter planet concept is important to society as a whole

2 Understand thechanging smarterbusiness environment

P3 Explain the benefitsand beneficiaries ofimproved technologiesto business

P4 Explain how advancesacross businesssectors have broughtadditional challenges

3 Understand howsmarter planettechnologies could befurther developed

P5 Explain how advancesto technology could beimproved or extended

M2 - Discuss howtechnologies could beadapted to differentbusiness purposes

LO3 - Assessment Criteria

Scenario Criteria Assessment1 2 3 4 5

LO3 Understand how smarter planet technologies could be further developed

Based on their research, learners should start to consider how existing developments in technology can be improved or extended. An example of this would be the telephone which has extended from an almost exclusive, luxury usage with a fixed location to mobile, widely available and multi purpose. This is the case across society for many advances. Learners should discuss and evaluate these developments. They should then be encouraged to strip down the advances in to original purpose so that they can then look at problems in society or business that could be solved with repurposing or adaptation of technology. They should discuss their ideas and their feasibility and potential challenges.

Assessment Criteria P1

Scenario Criteria Assessment1 2 3 4 5

Assessment Criteria P5, M2 For P5 learners must explain how advances to technology could be

improved or extended. Learners should identify technological developments both recent and historical and suggest ways in which the core developments could be extended to further evolve within the originating business sector. They should include a range of examples and their own thoughts on how these extensions to technology would bring additional benefit. This could be in the form of a presentation or a video presentation but the criteria must be covered.

For merit assessment criterion M2 learners must discuss how technologies could be adapted to different business purposes. Learners should use this explanation and their own thoughts to identify where technological developments in one area could be adapted and implemented into other sectors to give similar or differing benefits. They may also use their own ideas as to how these developments could potentially and practically be applied to sectors not yet identified. They may use existing examples of adaptations of technology to support the discussions. This could be presented as a visualisation diagram supported by explanatory notes.

Assessment Criterion P5 and M2

Scenario Criteria Assessment1 2 3 4 5

The Smarter Planet initiative has three principles, Instrumented, Interconnected and Intelligent. These three core values are at the heart of the changes IBM would like to make to society.

Instrumented - measure, sense and monitor conditions, this involves the use of technology to determine change, to examine variances and then communicate these to make the planet better. Global warming in the Arctic, monitor the flows and values, determine what is causing the problems, narrow down the criteria.

Smarter Analytics is IBM's approach to business analytics, and obviously as a commercial company this is what they are pushing. With IBM Smarter Analytics, companies can extract insights from your big data that is continuously flowing in from a variety of new sources. This can then be analysed through programmes to produce useful results for companies.

D1.3 – Development of smarter planet technologies

Scenario Criteria Assessment1 2 3 4 5

Interconnected - people, systems and objects can communicate in new ways – this is IBM’s way of saying use technology to communicate, transferring information, sharing information, using technology in terms of phones, computers, scanners, sensors, measuring tools to work with information to produce results.

Intelligent - infuse intelligence into systems and ways of working, models to manage massive amounts of data generated by the end-user devices, sensors. Use of analytics, to translate data into making systems, processes and infrastructures more efficient, more productive and responsive — ultimately, making them smarter.

Task 1 – D1.3 – Using the terms Instrumented, Interconnected and Intelligent, discuss how analysis tools as part of the Smarter Planet programme can benefit your chosen business sector.

D1.3 – Development of smarter planet technologies

Scenario Criteria Assessment1 2 3 4 5

The core developments of most technologies in the past have been adapted and evolved within the originating business sector. When rubber was developed as a flexible material in the past there was little intention on expanding its use to car wheels. Now we cannot imagine life without it. Similarly stainless steel was invented because bullets kept expanding gun barrels and making them less accurate. Plastic was developed as a replacement for shellac, a resin secreted by a South Asian scale bug. Click here for other accidental inventions.

What developed as a barcode in retail for checking goods out has now become a tag for ordering systems, RFID linked for shelf tracking, scanned for security, catalogued for marketing purposes.

What started as a typewriter in the 18thC is now the standard keyboard, same shape, same button location, same layout with the exception of the mechanics.

Task 2 – P5.1 – From your own industry create a report on how technologies developed in the past have been used for additional purposes, include a range of examples. In this report use examples and your own thoughts on how these

extensions to technology would bring additional benefits to your industry.

P5.1 – Technological Developments – Past Developments

Scenario Criteria Assessment1 2 3 4 5

You should consider laying out your report so that it addresses the following questions: Section 1 – Describe the technologies behind three historic

technological developments within the business sector. Section 2 – Describe the impact these have had on the sector. Section 3 – Describe how these technologies have been

integrated into common practice within the business sector. Section 4 – Describe how they have been adapted to other

purposes within the sector. Section 5 – Describe how adapting these technologies within

the sector benefitted business practices. Section 6 – Discuss the current limitations of these

technologies and how this impacts on business practices. Section 7 – Discuss if this technology is at its limit and suggest

improvements or a replacement technology.

P5.1 – Technological Developments – Past Developments

Scenario Criteria Assessment1 2 3 4 5

The core developments of most technologies in the present will be adapted and improved within the originating business sector, benefitting other departments in maintaining and streamlining business functions. It is in the businesses nature to diversify when a company is doing better so the domino effect of adding improved technology or revolutionary gadgets is used as a starting point for a company’s future success. Look at Microsoft and Apple. As soon as the technology within the company is adapted, the fortunes and business practices change with them. Apple went from being a hardware company to music production, to portable music devices to apps and iTunes and phones. The technology of each phase has benefitted and transformed the company onto the next level.

From your own industry discuss how technologies currently present are likely to be used for additional purposes, include a range of examples and your own thoughts on how these extensions to technology would bring additional benefits to other departments and functions within the company.

Task 3 – P5.2 – From your own industry create a report on how current developing technologies can be used for additional purposes, include a range of examples. In this report use examples and your own thoughts on how these

extensions to technology would bring additional benefits to your industry.

P5.2 – Technological Developments – Past Developments

Scenario Criteria Assessment1 2 3 4 5

You should consider laying out your report so that it addresses the following questions: Section 1 – Describe the technologies behind three recent or

current developments within the business sector. Section 2 – Describe the impact these have had on the sector. Section 3 – Describe how these technologies have been

integrated into common practice within the business sector. Section 4 – Describe how they can be adapted to other

purposes within the sector. Section 5 – Describe how adapting these technologies within

the sector would benefit business practices. Section 6 – Discuss the current limitations of these

technologies and how this impacts on business practices. Section 7 – Describe if they have additional adaptive qualities

beyond this business sector.

P5.2 – Technological Developments – Past Developments

Scenario Criteria Assessment1 2 3 4 5

For the last section you need to explain how future developments of three technologies and your own opinions and research to identify where technological developments in one area could be adapted and implemented into other sectors to give similar or differing benefits. You may also use their own ideas as to how these developments could potentially and practically be applied to sectors not yet identified. You may use existing examples of adaptations of technology to support the discussions.

New technologies that have recently come into play that have opened up a world of potential uses across multiple business fields. For each field there is a different potential, from new ways to do old business, replacing current manufacturing techniques or the death knell of a business function.

Task 4 - M2.1 - Discuss how 3 new technologies could be adapted to different business purposes.

M2.1 – Technological Developments – Future Developments

Scenario Criteria Assessment1 2 3 4 5

3D printing – This has been around for 10 years but recent technology has made these more publically available and more adaptive. Plastic is no longer the only material that can be printed. The technology is expanding into the medical field to print replacement veins, cartilage, sculpted bone. Within the manufacturing field they can produce objects, casts for steel. Click here and here for examples of potential uses.

Virtual Reality has been around for a while but new technologies and new techniques are pushing forward the potential business use of these. Demonstrations, virtual tours, visioning medical progress, helping disabled, military practice etc. They have all been hyped but with emerging systems the potential business use is growing. Click here and here for examples.

Google Glass – A company product with the potential for growth. There has been wearable technology around for a while but with the smaller, more user friendly and potentially business uses are close by. Think of how an Amazon warehouse staff member might find the goods ordered with a GPS controlled set of Google Glasses. Click here and here for business use examples.

M2.1 – Technological Developments – Future Developments

Scenario Criteria Assessment1 2 3 4 5

RFID - RFID Technology has developed and changed from basic identification business solutions to more advanced, complex solution systems. These systems now allow a business to track, trace, locate, monitor, control, utilise and control their business assets. The technology has been adapted extensively over the last ten years but most of us do not see it. Future uses and improvements will limit theft, improve transportation, increase marketing potential and beyond. Click here and here for potential uses.

Portable Solar Chargers – With the increase of green technologies and the reduction in the size of solar panelling, solar chargers have become smaller, more portable, more efficient and less wasteful. In the past we have replace all our calculators with solar charged ones but what about our phones, our cars, heating systems etc. When the potential for reduction becomes so portable, the eventual reduction and replacement of fuel generally will decrease. Click here, here and here for details.

Cloud computing – Need to access Microsoft Office, use the cloud, need to see files, use the cloud, need to play games, use the cloud, need anything use the cloud and get rid of the hard drive on your computer. The Cloud can store everything, protect everything, run everything. It has been here for a while now and the potential for expansion is huge. Specifically copyright, how can you breach it when the software is virtual.

M2.1 – Technological Developments – Future Developments

Scenario Criteria Assessment1 2 3 4 5

Technology gets adapted when it is seen to work. That is how growth is developed. We would not be using the WIMP interface if Apple did not steal it off Zerox and use it on all their machines. We would not have Windows if Microsoft did not steal the idea off Apple. We would not be using touch screens on our phones if it was not so successful on early model phones. We would not be using x-rays in ports for HGV’s if it was not for an accident 100 years ago.

To show how these technologies can influence other sectors you should show how the benefits to businesses can be mapped. Using your three selected fields demonstrate how growth can be achieved through the business sectors.

Task 5 – M2.2 - Using the three technologies selected from M2.1 produce a visualisation diagram supported by explanatory notes of how other businesses sectors could use these technologies.

M2.2 – Technological Developments – Future Developments

Scenario Criteria Assessment1 2 3 4 5

Task 1 – D1.3 – Using the terms Instrumented, Interconnected and Intelligent, discuss how analysis tools as part of the Smarter Planet programme can benefit your chosen business sector.Task 2 – P5.1 – From your own industry create a report on how technologies developed in the past have been used for additional purposes, include a range of examples.Task 3 – P5.2 – Using the terms Instrumented, Interconnected and Intelligent, discuss how analysis tools as part of the Smarter Planet programme can benefit your chosen business sector.Task 4 - M2.1 - Discuss how 3 new technologies could be adapted to different business purposes.Task 5 – M2.2 - Using the three technologies selected from M2.1 produce a visualisation diagram supported by explanatory notes of how other businesses sectors could use these technologies.

P1 – Assessment Criteria