| Date | May 2018 | Marks available | 2 | Reference code | 18M.1.SL.TZ0.4 |
| Level | SL | Paper | 1 | Time zone | no time zone |
| Command term | Identify | Question number | 4 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Exoskeletons1 for workers
Many jobs in modern manufacturing still require human workers, and many of these jobs involve lifting and carrying heavy loads. Some jobs require workers to maintain unnatural positions for a long period of time or hold tools for many hours. Workers doing these jobs are exposed to possible injuries, resulting in sick days or even a shortened work life. The Robo-Assist project is an attempt to address these problems (see Figure 2).
Robo-Assist is a lightweight powered exoskeleton that uses motors and sensors to enable workers to bear only a small part of the weight of any load they are carrying.
Robo-Assist has three supporting modules: one for the arms to help with lifting, one for the torso2 to support the back and spine, and one for the legs to support the inner thigh so lifting is easier.
Figure 2: The Robo-Assist exoskeleton
A group of designers and engineers worked for three years to develop the prototype of the Robo-Assist arm module shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Prototype of Robo-Assist arm module
In addition to preventing injuries, exoskeletons can use global positioning systems (GPS) to collect data about a worker’s location, vital signs, and neural signals, as well as other information relating to the user. Overall, Robo-Assist should make workers’ jobs easier and faster. The ultimate goal is to make Robo-Assist available for sale to industries for them to purchase for their workers.
1 exoskeletons: external wearable frameworks that strengthen a human’s natural physical ability
2 torso: the part of the human body that does not include the head, arms or legs
Identify two components of a global positioning system (GPS).
Identify two key stakeholders involved in this project.
The research team developing the Robo-Assist project used quantitative and qualitative data to gather information relating to the user.
Explain why the research team collected quantitative and qualitative data.
Other than for the prevention of injuries, discuss the impacts on workers and employers of the use of exoskeletons in the workplace.
Markscheme
Answers may include:
- Satellites
- Receivers
- Ground stations
Award [1] mark for each component of a global positioning system (GPS) identified up to a maximum of [2] marks.
Answers may include:
- Manufacturer of the exoskeleton
- Workers
- Programmers
- Designers
- Employers (in the workplaces where Robo-Assist is used, i.e., the company purchasing the Robo-Assist)
Award [1] mark for each stakeholder identified up to a maximum of [2] marks.
Answers may include:
Quantitative data:
- can be easily used for the statistical analysis/may be statistically significant
- is largely objective
- can be gathered relatively easier through surveys or questionnaires to show main trends/categorization/classify potential users
- does not require a skilled interviewer.
Qualitative data:
- provides more nuanced information than quantitative data / the questionnaire may be too crude
- may provoke new areas for research (rather than being set by a survey)
- allows the research team to identify patterns in the data (inductive reasoning)
- may be able to elicit more sensitive/personal information.
Reasons for the collection of both types of data:
- Collecting only quantitative data may not drill down deeply enough into the potential users of the Robo-Assist.
- Collecting only qualitative data may lead to a small sample size, as the amount of time to carry out interviews/observations/focus group discussions may be limited by the available time/budget for the research to be carried out.
- The two forms of data collected may complement each other and provide more usable information than either method on isolation.
- This collection method may fit with the requirements and/or skill sets of the research team.
Keywords: quantitative, qualitative, classification, categorization, statistically significant, nuance, trends, patterns
Possible impacts include:
- Employers might increase their expectations of workers, which could lead to more injuries, i.e., dehumanize workers (values, change).
- Workers might push themselves because the exoskeleton seems to make work easier, possibly resulting in injuries (values).
- Exoskeletons could collect data on the user, including private information.
- If a person is injured by someone wearing an exoskeleton, who is responsible/accountable? The manufacturer of the exoskeleton, the user, the company that purchased it?
- Older workers can stay in jobs longer.
- Productivity may improve.
- Will workers accept the technology? Is it legal? Does it meet regulations?
- Injured workers may be equipped with the exoskeleton and return to work earlier (values).
- It saves companies money/reduces sick time (values).
- Cost to employer of purchasing/maintaining exoskeleton.
- Cost to employer of training workers to use the exoskeleton.
- Reliance on the technology: What happens if it breaks down? Can workers still do their work?
N.B.: Some students may develop the impact of injuries on the workers or the companies. If they go beyond what is already stated in the question, this is an acceptable approach.
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: exoskeletons, health, business organization, regulations, responsibility, accountability, judgement, reliability, sensors, sensory inputs, data, change, systems, values
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.
Examiners report
Syllabus sections
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22M.1.SL.TZ0.2c:
To what extent can the use of models and simulations like the MADAS system help prevent future accidents?
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18M.1.SL.TZ0.2c:
Bitcoin transactions are made between individuals without the knowledge of banks, governments, or credit card companies. Some governments are investigating whether they should regulate digital transactions, such as those made using bitcoins.
To what extent is it appropriate for governments to regulate digital transactions, such as those made using bitcoins?
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18M.1.SL.TZ0.3b.i:
Google will collect large quantities of data that will be held in data centres.
Explain two concerns linked to the increasing number of data centres.
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18M.1.SL.TZ0.1c:
The Okavango Medical Centre has received additional funding from the local authority. The centre is investigating the possibility of using these funds to purchase IT equipment that would allow surgeons in Gaborone to carry out surgery remotely.
Evaluate the impact of the purchase of this IT equipment on the medical centre and its patients.
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18M.1.SL.TZ0.4a.iii:
Identify two key stakeholders involved in this project.
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18N.1.HL.TZ0.5:
App or intuition?
Apps have been developed that allow a customer to submit a trip request to a taxi company on their smartphone. These apps allow the customer to select the starting point and final destination of the journey as well as add other information, such as the time of journey and number of passengers.
The developers of the taxi journey app claim it can capture the real-time details of a journey, including the starting point, route, distance travelled, the speed of the car and the final destination. The app integrates this information with real-time traffic information, such as closed roads or accidents. Fares can be estimated before the journey, and the customer can pay digitally with their credit card or by PayPal.
Some traditional taxi drivers in cities such as Paris and Rio de Janeiro have campaigned against the introduction of these apps in taxi companies. Based on previous journeys recorded by the app, the taxi company recommends that their taxi drivers rely on the taxi journey app rather than their own knowledge of the city when determining the best route.
Discuss whether the taxi driver should rely on the taxi journey app, rather than their own knowledge of the city, when determining the best route.
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18N.1.HL.TZ0.6:
Selecting candidates for political parties
Political parties often have large numbers of applicants who wish to act as representatives in their various governing bodies. A senior party official must make the final decision about which applicants should be offered which roles. Many roles receive as many as 15 applications, and it is not possible to interview each applicant.
In an attempt to streamline the application process, a prospective representative will need to complete two tasks:
- Completing an online questionnaire.
- Submitting a video where they explain the reasons behind their application.
Neither task will involve the team in the political party.
The applicants will be directed to a link provided by the software developer where they can complete both tasks. The responses to the questionnaires and the videos will be analysed using artificial intelligence (AI).
The software will score the questionnaire and video for each applicant and send it to the senior party official’s team. The applicants with the highest scores will then be invited by the political party for an interview.
The software developers claim this will reduce the number of applications the senior party official needs to process and lead to the most appropriate applicants being selected for an interview.
Discuss whether the political party should introduce the digital system to assist the senior party official when deciding which applicants should be offered roles as representatives.
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18M.1.HL.TZ0.5:
Can digital technologies be used sustainably?
Many organizations claim that the most efficient use of information technology (IT) equipment, such as laptops and printers, is to replace them on a regular basis. For example, an organization’s strategy may be to do this every three years.
Other organizations purchase IT equipment that can easily be upgraded by increasing the storage and memory or upgrading the processing capabilities only when required. They claim they do not need to replace their IT equipment on such a regular basis and believe this is a more sustainable practice.
Evaluate the sustainability of these two strategies.
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20N.1.HL.TZ0.5:
Clouds under the sea
Microsoft has located one of its data centres on the seabed. Project Natick is now operating 100 feet below the surface of the North Sea (see Figure 4).
Figure 4: An artist’s representation of a data centre on the sea bed
[Adapted under sea photo by NOAA on Unsplash]
Microsoft has chosen to develop data centres on the seabed because they claim there are concerns about the environmental impact of data centres built on land. These seabed data centres can be constructed and placed on the sea bed in 90 days. This is compared to the two years that are required for land-based data centres.
Google patented their design for an underwater data centre in 2009. Even though functioning prototypes have been trialled, none have been used commercially.
The demand for data storage is doubling every two years, so it is likely that an increasing number of data centres will need to be constructed. These data centres can be constructed either under the sea or on land.
Discuss whether companies like Microsoft should build data centres on the seabed.
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21N.1.SL.TZ0.4c:
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using machine learning to predict natural disasters like earthquakes.
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17N.1.HL.TZ0.5:
Using a Segway with machine learning capabilities?
The Segway Patroller is a two-wheeled, battery-powered electric vehicle. Recently, Segway Patrollers have been used for security purposes in cities as well as in public spaces such as concerts, railway stations and shopping malls.
The Segway Patroller can travel up to a speed of 20 kilometres per hour (about 12 miles per hour) and travel about 40 kilometres (25 miles) in distance before the battery needs to be recharged.
Figure 3: A Segway Patroller
[Copyright: Urban Mobility GmbH – from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Segway_Polizei_4.jpg]
Each Segway Patroller can be customized by adding the following features.- A global positioning system (GPS)-based navigation system
- Machine learning capabilities that include speech, image and pattern recognition
The managers at Oliverstadt Station claim the introduction of upgraded Segways that have a GPS navigation system and machine learning capabilities would lead to improvements in the customer service provided.
Discuss whether the Segway Patrollers at Oliverstadt Station should be upgraded to include machine learning capabilities.
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18N.1.SL.TZ0.2c:
The government of Cameroon is watching the results of the Agritexte initiative. It is considering two options:
- extending the functionality of Agritexte into a web-based information system
- investing in education and training on the use of the existing Agritexte SMS system.
Evaluate these two options.
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21M.1.SL.TZ0.1c:
The farmers of Chacra Province are concerned about the provincial government using a computer model to determine the amount of water they will be allowed to use to water their fruit trees.
To what extent should the farmers of Chacra Province rely on their knowledge and experience, rather than the computer-based solution provided by the provincial government, to manage the watering of the fruit trees?
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19N.1.SL.TZ0.2c:
Evaluate Kinakora National Park’s decision to use computer modelling to develop strategies for dealing with wildfires.
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21N.1.HL.TZ0.5:
Smart farming
A government in East Africa is using the expertise of scientists at a university in the region to promote the culture of smart farming and increase the productivity of farmers (see Figure 5). To do this, they have developed an app that the farmers can use to assist them in their decision-making.
Figure 5: An example of farming in East Africa
[Palmer, N., 2010. A farmer at work in Kenya’s Mount Kenya region [image] [online] Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2DU_Kenya_86_(5367322642).jpg (CC BY-SA 2.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en [Accessed 18 May 2020].]
Unfortunately, the scientists who developed the app have received many complaints from farmers who have been unable to use it. They are considering two options:
- making the existing system more user-friendly
- educating the farmers to use the existing system.
The scientists claim by making changes to the app it will make the app more user-friendly for the farmers. However, the farmers claim it would be better to provide them with education, such as training, so they can use the existing app.
Evaluate these two claims.
