← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

Networked devices at home

Phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs and games consoles at home joined through one router so they can share the internet and talk to each other.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Networks and Sharing Data — Module 18

Understanding Networked devices at home in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: The console sends and receives game data through the router, which links it to the internet. The speaker is not useful by itself. It uses the router to reach the internet and bring back what you asked for. A home network joins phones, tablets, laptops and other devices through one router.

Common mistakes: In a home network the router is the one joining point for every device. It should be hub = router. A games console gets online by connecting to the home router. It should be console connects to router.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 27–43) and word search (Modules 5–43).

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Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning
Duo
Which device usually joins everything in a home network together?
The toasterThe router
Matches
Home network = only the router
↓
A home network is not just the router. It is the router plus the phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs and consoles joined to it.
Applying
Meanings
Term
home network
Meaning
Phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs and games consoles at home joined through one router so they can share the internet and talk to each other.
Practice
home network: one router
Testing
Gaps
console --Wi-Fi--> --> internet
Check Answer
Spots
1home network:
2 hub = smart TV

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Quick Questions

1. Which device usually joins everything in a home network together?
A. The toaster
B. The router ✓
A home network joins phones, tablets, laptops and other devices through one router.
2. A games console plays online with friends. What must it be connected to?
A. The home network, which links to the internet ✓
B. Nothing, it plays online on its own
To play online, a games console joins the home network through the router, which connects to the internet.
3. A smart TV streams a movie. Where does the movie data come from?
A. Through the router from the internet ✓
B. From the TV's power cable
The smart TV joins the home network and the router brings the streaming data in from the internet.
4. A smart speaker can answer your questions and play songs. Is it a networked device?
A. Yes, it connects to the home network to get information ✓
B. No, it keeps every song and answer inside itself
A smart speaker uses the home network and the internet to find songs and answers.
5. Which home device is probably NOT on the home network?
A. A laptop that is online
B. A basic desk lamp with a plain switch ✓
A plain lamp has no way to connect to a network. Laptops, phones and tablets usually do.

Match the Pairs

home network → Phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs and games consoles at home joined through one router so they can share the internet and talk to each other.
smart TV --> router --> internet → A smart TV streaming a show: its data travels through the home router to reach the internet.
A games console joins the home network through the router so you can play online with friends. → games console <--> router <--> internet
A smart speaker is on the home network, so it can fetch music and answers from the internet when you ask. → smart speaker --> router --> internet
Home network = only the router → A home network is not just the router. It is the router plus the phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs and consoles joined to it.
Every device at home is on the home network → Not every device is networked. A torch, a toaster or an old calculator is not connected to the router, so it is not on the network.

Key Term

home network
Phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs and games consoles at home joined through one router so they can share the internet and talk to each other.

Fill in the Blanks

1. console --Wi-Fi--> router --> internet
Hint: Type the device in the middle that joins the games console to the internet.
2. smartTV --Wi-Fi--> router --> internet
Hint: Type where the smart TV gets its streaming shows from.
3. smart speaker --Wi-Fi--> router
Hint: Type the wireless way a smart speaker joins the home network.
4. smartTV.networked = true toaster.networked = false
Hint: Type the value showing a toaster is not on the home network.
5. devices = [phone, tablet, TV]; routers = 1
Hint: Type how many routers a home network uses to join all its devices.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A home network:
B hub = smart TV
C devices = phone, tablet, TV
Line B — In a home network the router is the one joining point for every device. It should be hub = router.
Question 2
A console skips the router
B router connects to internet
C console plays online game
Line A — A games console gets online by connecting to the home router. It should be console connects to router.
Question 3
A tv = smart TV
B tv.leave(router)
C tv.stream(video)
Line B — A smart TV must join the home network through the router to stream. It should be tv.join(router).
Question 4
A speaker = smart speaker
B speaker.join(router)
C if router.offline:
D speaker.answer()
Line C — A smart speaker can only answer when the router is online. The check should be if router.online:.
Question 5
A device = old alarm clock
B networked = false
C can_stream = true
Line C — An old alarm clock is not on the network, so it cannot stream. It should be can_stream = false.

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