Figure 1: Sports watch showing the heart rate of a student

Apart from heart rate, identify two vital signs that could be recorded by the sports watch.

At the start of each lesson, the student is asked to set their maximum heart rate on the watch to 220 bpm - their age; so in the case of a 15-year-old, it would be 220 bpm − 15 = 205 bpm.

Identify the steps used by the software in the sports watch to encourage students not to exceed their maximum heart rate.

Explain one advantage for the student of using these monitoring devices.

Explain one advantage for the teacher if their students use these monitoring devices.

Explain why the reliability of the sports watches may be a concern for the teachers.

The principal at Collège Earlet has been discussing arrangements for sharing data from the students’ watches with a third party, Fitness World.

Discuss whether the principal at Collège Earlet should agree to share data that has been collected by the students’ watches with Fitness World.

Answers may include:

• Blood sugar / glucose levels
• Blood pressure
• Oxygen levels
• Body temperature
• Hydration levels
• ECG / pulse rate / heart rate
• Stress levels
• Sleep patterns
• Calories burned
• Body fat
• Respiratory rate/breathing rate

N.B.: In the context of a digital society course, it is not expected that candidates know the medical definition of a “vital sign”.

Award [1] for identifying each vital sign that could be monitored by the teachers up to a maximum of [2].

Answers may include:

• Device takes the measurement of the student’s heart rate.
• Data is converted from analog signals to digital data / analysed by the device.
• Heart rate value is compared with the “normal” value stored in device for student.
• If the value is outside the accepted range, a signal / alert is sent.
• If the value is inside the accepted range, no signal / alert is sent.
• The device waits for the next time interval to take a new measurement.

Award [1] for identifying each of the steps used by the sports watch to ensure that students stay within their recommended heart rate zone up to a maximum of [4].

Answers may include:

• It can act as a personal coach for the student – motivate students to be more active, help keep students within healthy range.
• The recording of activity levels and frequency – can motivate students to reach healthy goals, be more active.
• The device can easily store information, which is emailed to the students – students can keep a copy on file to follow their progress – no need to write it down.
• Students can evaluate their personal fitness, such as cardiovascular system – this may lead to early notification of health issues.

Award [1] for identifying an advantage for the student of using these monitoring devices and [1] for a development of the policy identified up to a maximum of [2].

Answers may include:

• Personalized learning – teachers can modify lessons according to students’ fitness level and needs.
• Determining grades – results are recorded and teachers can use this data to create grades.
• Motivating students – students may work harder in class if they are motivated to work harder and improve their fitness.
• Avoids risks associated with extreme exercise – monitoring students’ vital signs can help prevent excessive exercise or indicate health problems in advance.
• Teachers can monitor the students’ heart rates without stopping the activity the students are doing.
• Data from the watch may be more accurate than manually checking heart rates – gives the teacher more reliable data.

Award [1] for identifying an advantage for the teacher if their students are using these monitoring devices and [1] for a development of the policy identified up to a maximum of [2].

Answers may include:

• Recorded results may be inconsistent – this would make it difficult to determine if a student is improving or not – would also make it difficult to determine if there is a health issue.
• It may push students’ limits too far if data is incorrect – students may overexert themselves if the device does not indicate they are over their heart rate limit.
• Student progress may not be accurate – teachers may think the students are improving and grade them accordingly.
• Data may not be received by teacher – due to network issues.
• A student’s watch may malfunction – if it is not working this may delay the lesson – hardware is not reliable.
• Students might find a way to fool the watch into recording activities when none are taking place (e.g., swinging an arm rapidly to simulate running) – teachers would get unreliable data.
• Teachers are concerned that a summary of unreliable results may be sent to students’ parents and cause them to worry.

Award [1] for identifying a reason why the reliability of the sports watches may be a concern for the teachers and [1] for a development of the reason identified up to a maximum of [2].

Answers may include:

Reasons for sharing the data with Fitness World:

• Data sharing may lead to further analysis of student performance, leading to improved performance or other health related benefits / can benchmark student with other students from other schools.
• Students may see the value of being part of the programme (values).
• The company may provide other resources to the school if they share data.
• Students may be able to upload their data to the Fitness World site and communicate with students from other schools who use the same watches (systems, values).

Reasons for not sharing the data with Fitness World:

• Students may be under 18, and data sharing may be inappropriate, unethical or illegal (values).
• The privacy of student data may be compromised.
• The security of data could be stolen or shared without permission.
• It could put pressure on students if data is being shared or compared with others (power, values).
• School policies may not allow student information to be shared with third party (values).

In part (c) of this question it is expected there will be a balance between the terminology related to digital systems and the terminology related to social and ethical impacts.

Keywords: automation, change, power, systems, values, ethics, data, accountability, anonymity, privacy, surveillance

Refer to SL/HL paper 1, part c markbands when awarding marks. These can be found under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials > Digital society markbands and guidance document.