5.9.2 (HL)—Advanced computer technologies

Critical digital infrastructure includes data centres that house computing and storage, cloud computing that supplies scalable remote resources, and artificial neural networks that learn weighted patterns from data. Business technologies also include virtual reality (VR), the internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and big data.

VR creates simulated environments for training, design or customer experiences; IoT connects sensor-equipped objects that collect and exchange data; AI performs tasks involving prediction, recognition or decision support; big data describes datasets whose volume, variety or speed require advanced processing. These applications rely on infrastructure, connectivity, skills, quality data and governance.

Match the technology to a precise business problem, then analyse implementation cost, compatibility, skills, energy and infrastructure needs, vendor dependence, cybersecurity, privacy, bias, reliability and stakeholder impact.

A manufacturer sends IoT sensor data through cloud infrastructure to an AI model that predicts equipment failure. The system may reduce downtime, but managers need secure connections, reliable data, human verification and a fallback if the data centre or provider is unavailable.

An artificial neural network is one AI approach, not a human brain, and big data is not automatically good data. Cloud use transfers some infrastructure work but not the business's accountability for security, privacy or decisions.