New and emerging technologies
Learn the core concepts and decision-making in Cambridge 9626 Topic 13, then practise recall, application and transfer with fictional scenarios.
Section 13 · New and emerging technologies
Exam scope and assessment notes
This is original StudyForA teaching and fictional practice based on Cambridge syllabus outcomes, not copied syllabus text, an official question, a required software brand or a Cambridge mark scheme. Practical software tasks here are planning and reasoning exercises; StudyForA does not inspect files created in spreadsheet, database, graphics, audio/video or animation software, simulate the practical exam environment, award official marks or predict a grade. Follow the software and file-format requirements issued by your centre for your exam year.
Before you begin
- Check whether your route is AS Level (Topics 1–11) or full A Level (Topics 1–21).
Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.
Quick readiness check
Before Topic 13: new and emerging technologies
What you will learn
- Explain artificial intelligence, AR/VR, robotics, computer-assisted translation, holographic imaging/storage, 3D printing, vision enhancement and wearables
- Explain blockchain, IoT, molecular data storage and autonomous transport
- Evaluate effects on people, organisations, medicine, research and the environment
- Compare benefits, limitations, safety, privacy, access, energy use and e-waste
Technology is a capability with a use case
Emerging technologies include AI, augmented and virtual reality, robotics, machine translation, holographic imaging and storage, 3D printing, vision enhancement, wearables, blockchain, IoT, molecular data storage and autonomous transport. Explain what the technology does before evaluating it. For example, IoT links sensors and devices to exchange data; autonomy depends on sensing, decisions, control and safe fallback.
Impact follows deployment choices
A technology can improve monitoring, personalisation, research or manufacturing while also creating privacy, safety, bias, access, employment, energy and disposal concerns. In healthcare, distinguish a promising tool from proven clinical benefit. For environmental analysis, consider manufacture, operation, repair, recycling and end-of-life. Compare impacts for people and organisations, and state uncertainty where adoption or evidence is still developing.
Sources for this lesson
Pause and explain
Which approach best demonstrates secure, reliable IT practice in new and emerging technologies?
Worked example
A hospital pilots wearable monitors that send data to an AI system. Evaluate a potential benefit and two safeguards.
Show the worked solution
- Connect continuous measurements to earlier detection or more informed care.
- Check sensor validity and unequal performance across users.
- Protect data and retain clinician review and outage procedures.
Answer Continuous readings could help clinicians notice changes between appointments. But inaccurate sensors or a model that works less well for some users could prompt missed or false alerts. The hospital should validate performance for its patient groups, protect data and explain use, retain clinician responsibility, and define what happens when the network or model is unavailable.
Try a topic test
Choose Easy, Normal or Difficult. Save your answers and open worked review after finishing.
Test this topic →From guided practice to a new situation
Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.
A farm considers IoT soil sensors and automated irrigation. Explain the control chain and one environmental trade-off.
Give me a hint
Trace measurement to actuator and include calibration or water use.
Compare my reasoning
- Measure soil moisture at calibrated locations.
- Compare readings with thresholds and crop requirements.
- Command irrigation and monitor water use and outcomes.
IoT moisture sensors send readings to a controller, which compares calibrated measurements with crop-specific thresholds and activates irrigation valves. Follow-up readings can check whether the target was reached. The system may reduce water waste, but sensors, networks and pumps consume resources and electronic components create e-waste; placement and maintenance also affect reliability.
Look for these in your work
- Traces the system
- Uses feedback
- Balances environmental effects
A city tests autonomous buses. Identify two safety dependencies and one accountability question.
Give me a hint
Consider sensing, communications, human fallback and incident decisions.
Compare my reasoning
- Identify reliable sensing and control in expected conditions.
- Consider communications, maintenance and emergency fallback.
- Ask who investigates and is responsible after a failure.
Safety depends on accurate sensing and software across road, weather and pedestrian conditions, plus reliable braking/control and maintenance. The service also needs a safe fallback if communications or automation fails. The city must define responsibility among operator, manufacturer and software provider, and keep incident evidence and review processes.
Look for these in your work
- Names technical dependencies
- Includes failure handling
- Raises accountability
A 3D printer reduces spare-parts delivery time but consumes energy and plastic. What evidence would support a balanced decision?
Give me a hint
Compare the whole lifecycle and actual use rather than one appealing outcome.
Compare my reasoning
- Measure print, material and transport impacts.
- Compare quality, waste, repairability and alternatives.
- Check whether expected savings occur at realistic demand.
Measure energy and material per usable part, failed prints, repair life and disposal, and compare these with shipping and storing conventional parts. Include whether local production improves uptime and whether the chosen material can be reused or recycled. Test across actual demand; a shorter delivery route alone does not establish a lower total impact.
Look for these in your work
- Uses measurable evidence
- Considers lifecycle
- Compares alternatives fairly
Common mistakes
- Assuming a new technology is automatically beneficial
- Ignoring lifecycle impacts
- Treating an AI output as a clinical decision
What can you explain now?
A farm considers IoT soil sensors and automated irrigation. Explain the control chain and one environmental trade-off.
Compare with the explanation
IoT moisture sensors send readings to a controller, which compares calibrated measurements with crop-specific thresholds and activates irrigation valves. Follow-up readings can check whether the target was reached. The system may reduce water waste, but sensors, networks and pumps consume resources and electronic components create e-waste; placement and maintenance also affect reliability.
Trace measurement to actuator and include calibration or water use.
After trying it yourself, choose your next review. This is your self-assessment.
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Make it stick
Why should an emerging technology be evaluated across its lifecycle and affected groups?
If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.