IT

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

IT is the use of computers and software to manage information. This branch of technology is responsible for storing information, protecting information, processing the information, transmitting the information as necessary, and later retrieving information as necessary.
For this Lesson plan we wil focus on transmitting the information through Wi-FI internet.

HOW WI-FI WORKS

Activities:

1. The teacher will tell the following opening story:

Last weekend I moved house, and although the new place is bigger and has a big garden, it lacks one essential for modern living. There’s no broadband internet connection. In fact, there isn't even a working phone line at the moment, so I'm completely offline.
I've called my local cable company, and they promise that they will have me online by Thursday, but until then my computers can only talk to each other. I'm sure they are getting lonely, and I'm feeling deprived.
Fortunately, several of my best friends now have wireless networks at home, and my laptop has a wireless card. So I've been taking advantage of them all. Last night I went over to my friend's to watch a movie, laptop in hand. It only took a minute to connect to his wireless network, and then I could download all my e-mails while we relaxed. So now I´m thinking is much better for me to have Wi-Fi at home and so I beggan searching infromation about the subject.

• Which do you think are the advantages of Wi-Fi internet connection?
• Do you think wireless internet is better than broadband internet?
• How do you think Wi-Fi works?

2.Watch the video called “City-Wide Wi-Fi in Venice” taken from BBC news



After Video questions:

• What did you understand? What is the main idea of the video?
• Is Wi-Fi free for tourists?
• In which areas people is beneficiated for this technology?
• Why do you think Italians decided to implement Wi-Fi in Venice?
• In which way Wi-Fi can beneficiate tourism in the zone?

3.Read the following article:


How Wi-Fi Works

Wi-Fi uses antennas around which Wi-Fi "hotspots" are created. The hotspots are outlets equipped to receive the radio waves that power wireless networking. Until recently, Wi-Fi has been spread out in cafes, bars and airport lounges. But various projects are under way to set up city-wide zones, where a series of antennas are installed in the streets, on lampposts or street signs. The hotspots around them together create a much wider area of coverage. Norwich has a mesh network which links each lamppost antenna to the next creating a seamless Wi-Fi hotspot around the centre of the city.

What Is Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi is the acronym for Wireless Fidelity, essentially a set of standards for transmitting data over a wireless network. Wi-Fi allows you to connect to the net at broadband speeds without cables, as long as you have the right equipment and, in most cases, a regular internet service provider and a wi-fi account.
To understand the technology behind Wi-Fi, imagine using a walkie-talkie. Your voice is picked up by a microphone, encoded onto a radio frequency and transmitted with the antenna to another walkie-talkie, which decodes your voice. Wi-Fi works in broadly in the same way, but using a better radio that is capable of handling a lot more data per second. A wireless network uses radio waves, just like cell phones, televisions and radios do. In fact, communication across a wireless network is a lot like two-way radio communication. Here's what happens:

1. A computer's wireless adapter translates data into a radio signal and transmits it using an antenna.
2. A wireless router receives the signal and decodes it. The router sends the information to the Internet using a physical, wired Ethernet connection.

The process also works in reverse, with the router receiving information from the Internet, translating it into a radio signal and sending it to the computer's wireless adapter.
The radios used for Wi-Fi communication are very similar to the radios used for walkie-talkies, cell phones and other devices. They can transmit and receive radio waves. Several devices can use one router to connect to the Internet as long as they all have wireless adapters. This connection is convenient, virtually invisible and fairly reliable; however, if the router fails or if too many people try to use high-bandwidth applications at the same time, users can experience interference or lose their connections.

Wi-Fi Hotspots

If you want to take advantage of public Wi-Fi hotspots or start a wireless network in your home, the first thing you'll need to do is make sure your computer has wireless transmitters. Most new laptops and many new desktop computers come with built-in wireless transmitters. If your laptop doesn't, you can buy a wireless adapter that plugs into the PC card slot or USB port. Desktop computers can use USB adapters, or you can buy an adapter that plugs into the PCI slot inside the computer's case.
Once you've installed your wireless adapter and the drivers that allow it to operate, your computer should be able to automatically discover existing networks. This means that when you turn your computer on in a Wi-Fi hotspot, the computer will inform you that the network exists and ask whether you want to connect to it. If you have an older computer, you may need to use a software program to detect and connect to a wireless network.
Being able to connect to the Internet in public hotspots is extremely convenient. Wireless home networks are convenient as well. They allow you to easily connect multiple computers and to move them from place to place without disconnecting and reconnecting wires.

4.Comprehension questions:


1. How is the way in which Wi-Fi works?

2. What is Wi-Fi?

3. What is a Hotspot?


Click on the image below to continue with the activities:



5. In groups of 3 create a dialogue in which you will incorporate new vocabulary and be prepared for next class to perform it. Creativity will be assessed.

Paulina Salinas