Lesson video

Hi, my name's Ben.

I'm welcome to this year five, computing systems and networks unit.

This unit is all about sharing information.

The first lesson is all about systems. You'll need somewhere quiet to work free of distractions, a pen, and a piece of paper will be handy.

So when you're ready, let's begin.

Let's look at the objectives for this lesson.

Overall, you'll explain that computers can be connected together to form systems. In doing that you'll explain that the systems are built using a number of parts.

You'll describe a computer system which features inputs, processes, and outputs.

And you'll explain that computer systems communicate with other devices.

The word system is probably one you're really familiar with, but have you ever really thought to consider what it means? I'd like you to start this lesson by thinking about what the word system means.

Note down any ideas you have on a piece of paper, and then towards the end of the lesson, we'll look back at what you wrote down now and see if that's changed as you've gone through the lesson.

Now you've had time to consider what you think a system is.

Let's have a look at an object, which you might be familiar with in day to day life and see if we can identify some systems on this object.

So this bicycle has lots and lots of parts.

We'll start by seeing if you can name any of the parts of the bicycle.

Don't worry if you don't know too much about bikes, you should be able to name some of the parts.

Pause the video while you look for the parts on this bicycle.

Here are some of the parts you could have labelled.

On the left hand side, going up from the bottom, you have the chain, the sprocket, the spokes, the tyre, the wheel, and the seat.

In the middle, we have the frame and the pedals.

And on the right hand side, we have the handlebars, the brake lever, brake cable, brake calliper, brake pad, and the fork.

Don't worry if you don't know what some of these parts do.

we're going to look at how some of these parts conform together to make systems which help this bike work.

Let's have a look at a system now.

So this is an example of a system on this bicycle.

So the handlebars are connected to the fork and together they make the steering system of the bicycle.

If you turn the handlebars, then the foot will turn turning the front wheel so you can change direction.

So this is a really good example of a system on a day to day object.

Can you name any other systems on this bicycle? Pause the video and look for other systems that there might be, and then we'll have a look at some examples.

So here's an example of a system on a bicycle.

We have the brake lever, the brake cable, the brake calliper, and the brake pad.

Which system do you think this might be? There might be a clue in the name of the objects which are highlighted.

And of course this is, the braking system.

So the brake leavers connect through a brake cable to the brake callipers, and then a brake pad which squeezes onto the wheel, which slows the bicycle down.

So that's the braking system.

Let's have a look at an example of another system.

So now we have the pedal, the chain, the sprocket, and the wheel highlighted.

Pause the video and think about which system this might be.

This, one's not quite as obvious as that as the last one, but in this system, the pedals move the chain, which in turn rotates the sprocket which is connected to the wheel.

So when the pedals are turned, the wheel turns and that drives the bike forward.

So this is called the drive system of the bicycle.

Having looked at the systems on a bicycle, let's look at a digital system.

Most modern washing machines have a digital system within them.

The dials and the buttons on the front of the washing machine are the inputs.

The computer inside the washing machine follows a programme based on the inputs.

This is the process.

Finally, the clothes are washed and spun.

The display indicates how long the wash is taking.

These are outputs.

And all digital systems have an input, a process, and an output.

So far, we've looked at two systems, the bicycle and the washing machine.

I'd like you to think about what you know about systems and especially digital systems to design a talking teddy.

What parts would you need to fit inside the teddy? And how would the parts work together as a system? Describe the input process, and output of the system you would need for a talking teddy.

Once you've done that, think about how the toy could be updated to do more than one thing.

Pause the video to complete your task.

Designing a talking teddy.

Here are some of the inputs, processes and outputs you might have included in your design for a talking Teddy.

So the inputs could be something like a button press, or voice command, or maybe even a shake.

The process would detect the input, so detect or sense the input and then send a signal to the output device.

And for your talking teddy to make a noise, it could be sound from a hidden speaker.

Other outputs could be that you're talking teddy moves using motors or flashes using lights.

There's loads of possibilities.

I hope you enjoyed designing your talking teddy.

This is another example of a digital system.

And again, it's one which you may or may not be familiar with.

This is an Amazon smart locker.

The way it works is that customers place their order online, they are then sent a code, which they can then scan or key into the locker where they can pick up their order.

You're going to describe what you think happens after the customer places, their order.

To help you on the next slide, we've got images, which sum up each stage of the process.

Your task on your handout is to pause the video and describe how you think a smart locker system works.

You use the image of each step to help you.

Good luck.

How does a smart locker system work? Once the order has been placed, the order is sent by computer to the warehouse.

Once it gets to the warehouse or warehouse operative, or sometimes even a robot will find the item in a location, which is linked to that object.

So the location of every object is within the computer system.

So once the object has been found, it's carefully packaged to protect it from damage, and then the workers will know where to send it to because from the original order, the customer will have entered their name and address, and that will be communicated so they know where to send it to.

So now we've got the object, we found it, it's been picked and we know where it's going.

And it's been packaged as well.

So how does the order get from the warehouse to the right smart locker? Again, the computer system will tell it which smart locker it needs to go to.

And it will then be transported using a parcel delivery service.

At this point or once it's been delivered, the customer will be sent an email or an SMS maybe telling them that their item is ready for collection, and it will also give them the location and the code they need to access their parcel or possibly the code they need to scan.

Finally, the company will know that the parcel has been collected because they will be able to tell that the code has been entered on the smart locker.

Once they know this, they know the process has been complete.

So from the order being placed, the customer has been able to pick up their parcel.

So that is end to end how our smart locker system works.

Now as you can see, there's a lot of involvement from computer systems within that big system itself.

At the beginning of this lesson, I asked you what you thought the system was and gave you a chance to come up with your own definition.

I then said, we'd revisit it at the end of the lesson.

So here we are.

So here's the definition of a system.

A number of things, parts, components, or even people that work together to complete or perform a task.

In this lesson, we've looked at systems on an everyday items, such as a bicycle.

And then we focused on digital systems looking first at a washing machine, and then looking at the whole system of a digital smart locker from an online delivery company.

So hopefully now you've got a better understanding of what a system is.

I hope you've enjoyed this competing systems and networks lesson with Oak National.

We'd love to see some of your work.

If you'd like to please ask your parents or carer to share your work on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, tagging @OakNational and #LearnwithOak.

Thank you.