State two places where robots are used.
State two benefits of using robots
A supermarket uses point of sale (POS) terminals at the checkout for scanning barcodes on the products.
(a) State two items of data that are stored on the barcode.
(b) Describe how the computer system checks that the barcode has been read correctly.
(c) State the type of file access that is used to get the price from the central computer.
(d) Explain how the system updates the file when an item has been sold.
(a) State two items of data that are stored on the barcode.
(b) Describe how the computer system checks that the barcode has been read correctly.
(c) State the type of file access that is used to get the price from the central computer.
(d) Explain how the system updates the file when an item has been sold.
Give two benefits for the supermarket manager of using point of sale (POS) terminals.
State two benefits of using computerised traffic control systems.
State two benefits of using computerised traffic control systems
Describe the input, processing and output from a computerised traffic-control system.
input
processing
output
Describe what the traffic control program should do when an emergency occurs.
give uninterrupted path through the system of linked traffic lights/
green link - wave
turn all lights to red
activate emergency generator
alarm
Name two other input/output devices used at the POS terminal apart from keyboard and barcode reader and give a use for each device.
device: beeper/loud speaker
use: to indicate barcode correctly read/error in reading barcode
device: (LCD) screen/monitor
use: to show prices and other information about goods
device: touch screen
use: to show prices and other information about goods/to select items that need to be
weighed/identified
device: weighing machine
use: to find weight of loose items (e.g. fruit) to enable pricing
device: (magnetic) card reader/CHIP and PIN reader
use: to read customer’s debit/credit card/enable customer to pay for goods using a
credit or debit card
device: printer
use: to print receipts
Describe two features you would expect to see in the expert system’s interactive user interface.
– multiple choice/yes-no answers
– easy to understand interface e.g. use of icons/drop down menus etc.
– output shown as % probabilities of fault
Apart from the user interface, name three other components that make up a typical expert system.
– knowledge base
– rule(s) base
– inference engine
– explanation system
– (expert system) shell
State what is meant by Computer Aided Design (CAD).
Give three different applications that make use of CAD.
Name three specialist input/output devices used in CAD.
– software that can be used to design new products/amend existing products
– makes use of features such as 2D, 3D, wire frames, library of parts, links to CAM
Give three different applications that make use of CAD.
– aerospace
– architecture
– designing cars
– designing consumer goods
– chemical/nuclear plant design
– designing electronic circuit boards
– ergonomic design
– landscape/garden design
Name three specialist input/output devices used in CAD.
– large monitor/screen with hi-res
– touch screen
– plotter
– space mouse/space ball/4D device
– 3D glasses (in some applications)
– light pen
– graphics tablet
– 3D printer
– 3D scanner
(a) Name two pieces of hardware needed to enable video-conferencing to take place using a standard computer system.
(b) State one piece of specialist software needed to carry out video-conferencing.
(a)
– webcam
– speakers
– microphone
– broadband modem
(b)
– use of CODEC (converts/compresses analogue data into digital data)
– echo cancellation s/ware (allows talking in real time/keeps everything in sync)
– compression s/ware for video/audio
– s/ware to access broadband/networking
State advantages and disadvantages of video conferencing
Advantages
– immediate response to questions/queries
– can see each other watch body language etc.
– easier to have several participants (would be difficult using instant messaging if
several people involved)
Disadvantages
– need for expensive equipment/high set up costs
– sometimes synchronisation problems make it difficult for delegates
– need to train people to use the new technology
– greater use of bandwidth
Give one reason why use of video-conferencing has increased over the last ten years.
– faster communications now widely available
– safety reasons, e.g. increase in terrorist attacks on international flights
– reduced transportation/accommodation/hardware costs
– environmental issues, e.g. reduced carbon footprint
– increase in multinational working
Aeroplanes now use Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to determine their location.
Describe how the computer on board the aeroplane uses GPS to find its exact location
Give two benefits of using GPS in this application
Describe how the computer on board the aeroplane uses GPS to find its exact location
– satellites transmit signals to onboard computers
– computers receive/interpret these signals
– system depends on very accurate timing/use of atomic clocks
– each satellite transmits data indicating location and time
– computer in aeroplane calculates location based on at least three satellites
– at least 24 satellites in operation at any one time
– position accurate to within one metre
– can also calculate altitude of aeroplane
– ref to “triangulation”:
Give two benefits of using GPS in this application
– safer as the known location is exact/more accurate
– reduces the possibility of pilot error
– allows accurate estimation of arrival time
– display and guide the pilot to the nearest airport in case of emergency
Sarah uses a range of computing devices to complete her studies, including a desktop computer at home, a laptop at school and her mobile phone. Outline two advantages of cloud computing for Sarah.
Cloud computing refers to the delivery of on-demand computing resources over the internet. Instead of relying on a local server or personal computer, cloud computing allows users to access and utilize a wide range of computing services and resources hosted on remote servers.
Describe how ICT is used in marketing
Outline three ways through which ICT can used in marketing
ICT is used to create e-commerce platforms that have made business transactions easier and convenient by allowing customers make purchases and payments from anywhere at any time
ICT is used by marketing agents to create exciting multimedia presentations concerning products or services and present them to the target customers using presentation software such MS PowerPoint
Using multimedia, presentation and animation software, it is possible to design attractive advert materials and video clips to display on billboards, broadcast over a television or uploaded on the internet
State Advantages of online booking