← QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1

New and re-imagined digital solutions

A solution that meets an existing need in a new way by changing how the task is done or improving a current product, unlike a brand new solution built for a new need.

Part of: QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Understanding Digital Problems — Module 14

Understanding New and re-imagined digital solutions in QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1

What it does: The need is unchanged and only the method changes from cash to a phone tap, which is a re-imagined solution. The existing timetable app stays and gains a new alerts feature, so the existing product is improved. Re-imagined solutions keep the same need but change how it is met, for example by improving a current product or changing how the task is done. Students always needed to know their timetable. The app changes how that task is done, so it re-imagines the solution. Shoppers already needed to find products. Voice search improves how the existing app meets that need. A brand new solution answers a new need or opportunity, so there is no earlier product to improve.

Common mistakes: The if statement is missing its colon. It should be if need_exists and new_way: because an existing need met in a new way is a re-imagined solution. Python Boolean values are capitalised. It should be need_is_new = True, because lowercase true is not defined and causes an error.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 1–58) and word search (Modules 1–81).

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Learning

Duo

A team builds an app for a need nobody has met before. What kind of solution is this?

A brand new solutionA re-imagined solution

Matches

A school adds a dark mode to its existing app, so it is a brand new solution for a new need.

↓

Adding dark mode improves an existing product that meets the same need, so it is a re-imagined solution, not a brand new one.

Applying

Meanings

Term

re-imagined solution

Meaning

A solution that meets an existing need in a new way by changing how the task is done or improving a current product, unlike a brand new solution built for a new need.

Practice

NEED: Students forget homework deadlines

Testing

Gaps

type ← "re-imagined"

Check Answer

Spots

2new_way = True

3if need_exists and new_way

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Quick Questions

1. A team builds an app for a need nobody has met before. What kind of solution is this?

A. A brand new solution ✓

B. A re-imagined solution

A brand new solution meets a new need that no existing product has addressed. A re-imagined solution changes how an existing need is met.

2. Which describes a re-imagined solution?

A. It meets an existing need in a new way ✓

B. It always meets a need nobody has had before

Re-imagined solutions keep the same need but change how it is met, for example by improving a current product or changing how the task is done.

3. Paper timetables are replaced by a school app that shows each student's classes and room changes live. What is this?

A. Brand new: the need for a timetable did not exist before

B. Re-imagined: the same need, met in a new way ✓

Students always needed to know their timetable. The app changes how that task is done, so it re-imagines the solution.

4. Which is an example of a new need leading to a new solution?

A. Adding a dark mode to an existing music app

B. Building a system to track a new kind of problem that had no tool before ✓

Dark mode only improves an existing product. A new need with no existing tool calls for a brand new solution.

5. A company adds voice search to its existing shopping app. Which sub-theme does this show?

A. Improving an existing product ✓

B. Meeting a brand new need

Shoppers already needed to find products. Voice search improves how the existing app meets that need.

Match the Pairs

re-imagined solution → A solution that meets an existing need in a new way by improving a current product or changing how a task is done

new solution → A solution built from scratch to meet a need that no existing product has met before

Changing how a task is done: the need stays the same (paying for lunch) but the method changes → need = 'pay for lunch' method = 'cash' -> 'phone tap'

Improving an existing product: keep the current app and add features that make it better → app = 'timetable' app.add('alerts')

A school adds a dark mode to its existing app, so it is a brand new solution for a new need. → Adding dark mode improves an existing product that meets the same need, so it is a re-imagined solution, not a brand new one.

A team invents a tool for a need nobody has met yet, and calls it a re-imagined solution. → A tool for a brand new need has no existing product to change, so it is a new solution, not a re-imagined one.

Key Term

re-imagined solution

A solution that meets an existing need in a new way by changing how the task is done or improving a current product, unlike a brand new solution built for a new need.

Fill in the Blanks

1. IF needIsNew THEN type ← "brand new" ELSE type ← "re-imagined"

Hint: Type the keyword that runs when the first condition is false, meaning the need already exists.

2. IF NOT needIsNew THEN type ← "re-imagined" ENDIF

Hint: Type the logical operator that reverses a condition, so the need is not new.

3. IF oldNeed = newNeed THEN type ← "re-imagined" ENDIF

Hint: Type the comparison operator that checks whether the two needs are equal.

4. methodChanged ← newHow ≠ oldHow IF methodChanged THEN type ← "re-imagined"

Hint: Type the variable name that stores whether the way the task is done has changed.

5. IF sameNeed AND methodChanged THEN type ← "re-imagined" ENDIF

Hint: Type the logical operator that needs both conditions to be true: same need and a changed method.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A need_exists = True

B new_way = True

C if need_exists and new_way

D print("re-imagined")

Line C — The if statement is missing its colon. It should be if need_exists and new_way: because an existing need met in a new way is a re-imagined solution.

Question 2

A need_is_new = true

B if need_is_new:

C kind = "brand new"

D else:

E kind = "re-imagined"

Line A — Python Boolean values are capitalised. It should be need_is_new = True, because lowercase true is not defined and causes an error.

Question 3

A app = "TaxiBook"

B old_task = "phone a taxi"

C new_task = "book in an app"

D print(app, "uses", old_task)

Line D — A re-imagined solution changes how the task is done, so the app uses the new way. It should print new_task, not old_task.

Question 4

A product = "paper map"

B need = "find the way"

C improved = "GPS map app"

D print(need "met by", improved)

Line D — There is a missing comma between need and "met by". It should be print(need, "met by", improved).

Question 5

A need = "share photos"

B new_need == False

C if not new_need:

D print("re-imagined")

Line B — This line uses == (comparison) when it should assign a value with =. It should be new_need = False so the variable exists before the if statement.

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