Case study: Code breakers
1. Describe the work undertaken at Bletchley Park.
The work at Bletchley Park involved breaking enemy codes, especially the
German Enigma code, to read secret messages during the Second World
War.
2. How was the work at Bletchley Park kept secret?
The work was kept secret by making staff sign the Official Secrets Act and
not telling the public what they were doing.
3. Suggest how the code breaking at Bletchley Park enhanced
developments in technology.
Code breaking led to the development of early computers and improved
technology, which helped the future of computing and electronics.
Activity:
Carry out research on what impact the introduction of Al will have on the
following pieces of technology.
1. Smartphones: AI will improve features like voice assistants,
cameras, and security (e.g. face recognition).
2. 3D printing: AI can help design better models and reduce errors in
printing.
3. Driverless cars: AI allows cars to detect obstacles, make decisions,
and drive safely without a human.
Assessment practice activity
1. One key difference is that open-source software can be viewed and
changed by users, while proprietary software cannot.
2. Two benefits of proprietary software are it usually comes with
professional support and regular updates. It is also often more
secure and reliable because it is controlled by one company.
