| Date | November 2021 | Marks available | 2 | Reference code | 21N.1.SL.TZ0.1 |
| Level | SL | Paper | 1 | Time zone | no time zone |
| Command term | Identify | Question number | 1 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Accessing online media
Rajesh frequently travels for his job and has found that he is unable to watch his favourite films and television (TV) channels when abroad (see Figure 1). He has been informed that he can subscribe to an internet protocol television (IPTV) service or use a virtual private network (VPN) to stream or download this content.
Figure 1: An example of blocked content
Identify two hardware devices that Rajesh could use to view his internet protocol television (IPTV) channels.
Identify two features of a virtual private network (VPN).
Identify two features of a protocol.
Explain why Rajesh downloaded films rather than streaming them when he was travelling.
Rajesh has been told that subscribing to an internet protocol television (IPTV) service may compromise his anonymity.
Distinguish between anonymity and privacy.
To what extent is it acceptable for Rajesh to use services like a virtual private network (VPN) to access content that may be blocked in the country he is visiting?
Markscheme
Answers may include:
- Smart TV
- Mobile phone/cellphone
- Tablets
- PC/laptop
- IPTV box (such as an Amazon Fire stick, Apple TV, etc.)
Award [1] for each hardware device identified that Rajesh could use to view his IPTV channels up to [2].
Do not accept monitor or television.
Answers may include:
- A private [IP] address on a public network
- Masks the user’s IP address
- Provides an encrypted connection
Award [1] for each feature of a VPN identified up to [2].
Answers may include:
- A set of rules that govern the communication of information.
- The rules govern what information is communicated / the format of the information.
- The rules govern how/when the information is communicated / transmitted (between devices on the same network).
Award [1] for each feature of a protocol identified up to [2].
Answers may include:
- Films can be played offline / no internet connection is needed to play downloaded films / device connects to the source file and downloads to the hard drive.
- The downloaded files can be transferred to other devices.
- The film quality is intact.
- The downloaded files can be viewed in countries with restricted internet access.
- Streaming depends on the internet bandwidth, which may fluctuate.
- There may be film pauses due to buffering, especially with slow internet connections when streaming.
Answers may include:
- Anonymity is knowing what activities are being carried out but not knowing who is carrying them out.
- Privacy is knowing who the person carrying out the activities may be but not knowing what these activities are.
Award [1] for each appropriate statement that distinguishes anonymity from privacy up to [2].
Answers may include:
Reasons why Rajesh should use services like a VPN:
- The service is legitimate and cannot be accessed by any other means.
- Rajesh may believe that the blocking of the service is unlawful / inappropriate / the degree of censorship/surveillance is draconian.
- There may be technical advantages of using a service like a VPN (systems).
- Through a VPN, Rajesh can browse the web in complete anonymity (systems).
- Rajesh may find media access through a VPN more economical compared with subscribing to the same services in a different country (regulations, ISP).
Reasons why Rajesh should not use services like a VPN:
- Rajesh should abide by the laws of the country and by circumventing the laws may place himself at risk.
- The content may be deemed to be inappropriate in the host country and has been blocked for religious / security / political reasons (values).
- The use of a VPN may reduce the speed of downloading or streaming (systems).
- Rajesh may not be able to download or stream films despite having a subscription to a VPN because a few broadcasting apps use anti-VPN technology to restrict content outside a specific region.
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: employment, VPN, censorship, surveillance, anonymity, privacy, laws, regulations, change, power, systems, values, ethics
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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21M.1.SL.TZ0.4a.i:
In addition to a voice sensor, identify two sensors that would be found in Pepper.
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19M.1.SL.TZ0.3a.i:
In addition to adaptable font size, identify two features of the e-voting graphical user interface (GUI) that could be customized to make it accessible for all voters.
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19M.2.SL.TZ0.4:
To what extent do you agree that the advantages of implanting microchips in humans outweigh the concerns? Use all the sources and your own knowledge.
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22M.1.SL.TZ0.2a.i:
Identify three sensors that may be used to detect data about the weather conditions.
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21N.1.HL.TZ0.6:
Smart warehouse
Greenwood Industries’ warehouse uses a smart storage solution for the picking of products from the shelves of the warehouse. Robots are used in this automated picking process.
Currently, these robots are programmed to access a knowledge base* that enables these robots to use the most efficient route for the picking of products.
Greenwood Industries claims the picking process would be improved if the expert system was replaced by an artificial neural network (ANN).
Discuss whether Greenwood Industries should replace the existing system with one that uses an artificial neural network (ANN).
* knowledge base: a set of rules that are manually input into an expert system.
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20N.1.SL.TZ0.3c:
The development of mobile health apps has changed the way citizens manage their own health and well-being.
Discuss whether citizens like Jaime should rely only on the advice of a health app to manage their own health and well-being.
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18M.3.HL.TZ0.3:
The students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) want to be included in school activities and have appropriate access to the curriculum.
The two interventions influence a student’s identity in the classroom.
Evaluate the impact of educational digital technologies, such as social robots and assistive technologies, on the identity of students with SEND in Tayton School.
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17N.1.SL.TZ0.4a.i:
Identify two sensors that Robbi could use.
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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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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.SL.TZ0.4a.ii:
Identify two sensors that the passenger’s bracelet may use.
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19N.1.SL.TZ0.3b:
There are two possible methods for ensuring students use the TailorEd online learning system responsibly. They are:
- restricting access to sites that may be considered inappropriate
- educating the students about acceptable use.
Analyse these two methods.
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19M.3.HL.TZ0.2a:
Explain how Miketon Town Council could encourage its citizens to use the ride-sharing app.
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18M.3.HL.TZ0.4:
With reference to the stimulus material and your own inquiries, recommend whether Tayton School should use social robots and/or assistive technologies to ensure students with SEND can be further integrated into the school.
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19M.3.HL.TZ0.1b:
Identify two characteristics of ride-sharing apps that have made them popular
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19M.1.SL.TZ0.1a.i:
Identify two characteristics of a haptic interface.
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19M.1.HL.TZ0.5:
How to appropriately interact in an online environment
Increasing numbers of parents are claiming digital technologies that monitor online activities are the best way to protect their children from offensive content. A number of companies, such as mSpy and Qustodio, have developed online monitoring apps.
Other parents claim it is not necessary to monitor their children’s online behaviour, preferring to encourage their children to develop the knowledge and skills to make appropriate choices.
Parents can consider two different interventions to ensure their children use the online environment appropriately:
- Monitor their children’s online behaviour using apps
- Encourage their children to develop the knowledge and skills to use the online environment and make appropriate choices.
With reference to real-life scenarios, evaluate these two interventions.
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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.
