PWA, load time and privacy by design for weather app

2025-hsc-se-q16 · Multipart · 9 marks

Source: NESA 2025 HSC Software Engineering HSC Q16

Question

A weather app is to be designed to display real-time updates such as:

  • rain commencing within the next 10 minutes
  • weather event warnings and warning cancellations
  • location specific weather conditions.

Part (a) 3 marks

Compare the use of a progressive web app (PWA) with an interactive website, for delivering this weather app.

Part (b) 3 marks

Outline TWO ways, other than the use of a PWA, to minimise the load time of this weather app.

Part (c) 3 marks

Describe ONE way that the privacy by design approach could be implemented in this weather app.

Reveal answer

Part (a)

A PWA and an interactive website are both platform independent and can be accessed through a browser. A PWA can cache content and support some offline use, but may not always provide the most recent real-time warnings without a connection. An interactive website can provide live updates while connected, but depends on constant network access.

Part (b)

Load time could be reduced by caching commonly requested weather data and by offering text-only or lower-resolution media options.

Part (c)

Privacy by design could be implemented by only collecting location data needed for weather warnings and regularly deleting identifiable location history from cache.

Marking rubric

Part (a)

MarksDescription
3Compares the use of a PWA with an interactive website for the weather app.
2Outlines features of a PWA and/or an interactive website.
1Identifies a feature of a PWA or an interactive website.

Part (b)

MarksDescription
3Outlines two ways, other than the use of a PWA, to minimise load time.
2Outlines one way to minimise load time, or identifies two ways.
1Provides some relevant information about load time.

Part (c)

MarksDescription
3Describes one way that privacy by design could be implemented in the weather app.
2Outlines one feature of privacy by design.
1Identifies a feature of privacy by design.

Explanation

Strong answers connect the weather app context to real-time data, caching, network access, load-time strategies and built-in privacy controls.

Metadata

Submitter
Seed data
Created
2026-05-02
Status
published
Syllabus
y12-web-progressive-web-app y12-web-load-times y12-secure-privacy-by-design
Tags
PWA interactive websites load time privacy by design weather app