| Date | May 2019 | Marks available | 6 | Reference code | 19M.2.SL.TZ0.7 |
| Level | SL | Paper | 2 | Time zone | no time zone |
| Command term | Explain | Question number | 7 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Over the last five years there has been an increase in the number of people that own a smartwatch, see Figure 8. Users can listen to music, browse social media or find out about the weather on their smartwatch. Many smartwatches are assembled by robotic manufacturing systems.
List two properties that are required in the materials used in a smartwatch.
Explain one reason why the smartwatch is an example of a converging technology.
Explain two ways how the use of robotic manufacturing systems can assist in the production of smartwatches.
Explain how sustaining innovation, disruptive innovation and process innovation apply to the development of the smartwatch.
Markscheme
hardness/scratch resistance (screen) ✓
tough/impact resistant (screen) ✓
Award [1] for listing each property of the materials in the smartwatch that enable its development up to [2 max].
Do not accept ‘strong’
Answer in brackets is not required to award the mark
converging technology is the merging of information/communication technologies ✓
the smartwatch combines the traditional wristwatch with modern digital applications/technologies ✓
in a single wearable device/reducing the need for multiple devices ✓
Award [1] for each of three distinct points in an explanation of why the smartwatch is an example of a converging technology up to [3 max].
robots used in manufacturing ensure high accuracy/speed/repeatability ✓
smartwatches have (numerous) complex/miniaturised components ✓
which ensures they are manufactured to a high quality/consistent standard/with reduced errors ✓
robots can operate 24/7 ✓
ensuring smartwatches can be produced in high volumes ✓
which increases profit for the company/ensures watches are produced with economy of scale ✓
robots can be programmed to perform more than one task ✓
to carry out various operations/be utilised in an assembly line/ be retooled ✓
increasing efficiency in manufacture ✓
Award [1] for each of three distinct points in an explanation of how the use of robotic manufacturing systems can assist in the production of smartwatches up to [3 max].
Answer in brackets is not required to award the mark
Do not award marks across clusters
Mark as [3] + [3].
Sustaining innovation:
sustaining innovation is the development of new/improved products ✓
the smartwatch sustains time-keeping innovation by adding additional functionality ✓
which offers the user a range of features previously unavailable on a traditional watch ✓
sustaining innovation is minor improvements to new generations/versions of an existing product ✓
that can be constantly updated (hardware/software) ✓
sustaining market/consumer demand ✓
Disruptive innovation:
disruptive innovation challenges existing companies through radical change ✓
incorporating technologies previously found in other devices (smartphones/tablets) ✓
which manufacturers ignore/embrace ✓
Process innovation:
an improvement in the organization and/or method of manufacture ✓
new manufacturing processes are required to create and assemble miniaturised components ✓
which results in speed/efficiency of manufacture ✓
Award [1] for each of three distinct points in an explanation of why sustaining innovation applies to the development of the smartwatch up to [3 max].
Award [1] for each of three distinct points in an explanation of why disruptive innovation applies to the development of the smartwatch up to [3 max].
Award [1] for each of three distinct points in an explanation of why process innovation applies to the development of the smartwatch up to [3 max].
Answer in brackets is not required to award the mark
Do not award marks across clusters
Mark as [3] + [3] + [3].
Examiners report
Straightforward questions. Very easy to achieve full marks. Some candidates were confused and stated the properties required for the watch strap.
This was the first converging technology question in an Paper 2 exam of the current syllabus (although there were questions in the specimen paper about this concept). There was some repetition from the answers in Q7d later in the paper, however this was not a difficult question and candidates with a reasonable comprehension of the concept could attain at least 1-2 marks.
A good question about robotic manufacturing that has been in other past papers. Fairly straightforward to answer with plenty of opportunities to achieve marks from the 3 clusters provided.
This was the most challenging of the three 9 mark questions but Q7 was still a popular choice. May candidates were unable to explain the three types of innovation in relation to the smartwatch clearly. This was a difficult question to gain 5+ marks in although 1-4 marks were attainable if a basic understanding could be applied. A better understanding of the differentiation between the different types of innovations is needed.
