Give two different scenarios when a fast broadband connection is essential.
– when transferring large files/attachments with emails
– when streaming music/video files/bit streaming
– when using VoIP/video conferencing
– software updates
– online transactions
– Using VLE (Virtual Learning Environment)
Define patch as used in the operating system
Refers to a small piece of software designed to update, fix, or improve a specific part of the operating system or an application.
NB: Patches are typically released by the software's developer or the operating system vendor to address security vulnerabilities, software bugs, or to add new features or enhancements
Describe what is meant by ‘RAID 10’.
State the function of a switch in a computer network
Factors to consider when choosing DTP software. (4 marks)
Explain, with examples where appropriate, the following five computer terms.
(a) Buffer
(b)batch processing
(c) e-commerce
(d) simulation
(a) Buffer
(b)batch processing
(c) e-commerce
(d) simulation
(e) Email
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
Explain why a firewall improves network security.
Briefly describe the following
Multitasking - the capability of an operating system to enable users to run two or more programs at once on a single computer
Real time processing - data processing system in which the time interval required to process and respond to inputs is so small that the response itself is useful for controlling the physical activity of a process
Time-sharing processing - a processing mode in which the central processor serves two or more users with different processing requirements (tasks)
On-line processing - is that type of processing where the result of data processing transaction is available immediately
Peter has installed internet on his home computer in order to use it for browsing. State three ways in which he would prevent viruses from infecting his computer. (3 marks)
Give four features of a Data Protection Act
Clearly define a computer
Describe how the denial of service strategy works to compromise the security of networks.
State the functions of the following utility programs
(a) Defragmentation software
(b) Disk contents analysis/repair software
(c) Disk formatter
(a) Defragmentation software - Reorganises files on a disk to improve efficiency
(b) Disk contents analysis/repair software - Scans a hard disk to identify bad sectors
(c) Disk formatter - Prepares a hard disk for first use
State the functions of the following registers
Program counter // PC
• Stores the address of the next instruction to be fetched
Memory address register // MAR
• Stores the address where data/instruction is to be read from or saved to
Memory data register // MDR
• Stores data that is about to be written to memory // Stores data that has just been read from memory
Current instruction register // CIR
• Stores the instruction that is currently being decoded/executed
Describe what is meant by shareware.
the trial version of software for a limited time/number of uses with limited features free of charge
If a full version is required need to pay a fee/sign up
When the trial is over user is asked to pay/sign up
Protected by copyright
Type of software licence
List four input devices used to capture data by way of scanning
Optical Mark Recognition; Optical Character Recognition; Magnetic Ink Character Recognition ; Optical Bar Recognition
Giving answers as readers is also acceptable, that is, Optical Character Readers, Magnetic Ink Character Readers; Optical Mark Readers
Outline one advantage and one disadvantage of interviews and questionnaires as data gathering techniques.
Interviews
Advantages
Disadvantages
Questionnaire
Advantages
Disadvantages
Tallying population size Establishing demographic trends Drawing pie charts to show population share by gender Doing census budgets
Describe and give an example of one syntax and one logical programming error.
Syntax
• An error that occurs when a command does not follow the expected syntax of the language, e.g. when a keyword is incorrectly spelt
• Incorrect: IF A ADN B Then
• Correct: IF A AND B Then
Logical
• An error that causes a program to output an incorrect answer (that does not necessarily crash the program)
• An algorithm that calculates a person’s age from their date of birth, but ends up giving negative numbers