This Computing video supports teachers in guiding the children in exploring how data can be transmitted using infrared technology.

The video demonstrates how infrared sends data invisibly over short distances, highlighting its advantages and limitations. It revisits earlier concepts such as QR codes and contrasts them with infrared, showing how data can be sent wirelessly using electromagnetic waves. The video explains the science behind infrared, including its discovery, the use of gallium arsenide and how infrared diodes send signals to a receiver. The lesson builds technical vocabulary and scientific understanding, supporting the children in learning how invisible technology works and preparing them for the next stage, which is investigating other forms of data transmission.

This video is part of the Year 6 Data handling 1: Big Data 1 unit, supporting the children to develop their understanding of wireless data transmission.

See more of our Year 6 Computing scheme of work.

• Computing, key stage 2, Year 6, Data handling 1: Big Data 1, Lesson 2: Transmitting data.
• Computing, key stage 2, Year 6, Data handling 1: Big Data 1.