1. Availability in the market
2. Initial and maintenance cost
3. User friendliness
4. Compatibility
5. User needs

• It has electrical components.
• It is programmable.

(a)Explain why programmers prefer to represent instruction in hexadecimal rather than in binary

• A larger number of values can be represented using fewer characters.
• the shorter length and more characters make the pattern easier to read and understand
• recognisable character codes can be used for debugging

(b) Give two other uses of hexadecimal

• HMTL color codes representing RGB spectrum in the web development
• representation of MAC and IP addresses allowing a larger combination of unique addresses

input

• from sensors
• from camera images [Max 2]

processing

• analyse data from sensors
• calculate average traffic flow/speed
• send signals to adjust change lights/timing

output

• change lights at the junction
• change timing plan

• Bus topology is characterised by common transmission media shared by all the connected nodes
• Star topology is characterised by a central switching node connected directly to each of the multiple nodes in the network

Advantages of Star topology over Bus topology

• Faster communication as compared to bus topology
• Independent line of connection allows freedom of removing or adding nodes

Disadvantages of Star topology over Bus topology

• Expensive as compared to the bus topology
• Long cable length

• Main memory is transitory/temporary/volatile, secondary storage is (semi-)permanent
• The processor can only use data/instructions that are in the main memory
• Main memory is directly accessible to the processor, secondary storage is not directly accessible to the processor 

Input : An algorithm can take 0 or more inputs well defined outputs

Finiteness: an algorithm must terminate in finite time and after finite number of steps. 

Definiteness : an algorithm must be clear and unambiguous. Each and every step of an algorithm must be clear and precise and it must have only one meaning

Feasibility: should be feasible with the available resources

Output : must produce at least one well defined output

Independent : should have a step-by-step directions which is independent of any programming language

Correctness: should solve the problem it is designed to solve

Efficiency: must take the shortest time possible to run and should require the least memory space. It should use a minimum number of computation steps and memory to produce the desired  output. takes little time and memory to run

Generality: should not be limited to a specific case. It should work for all the valid inputs. works for many possible inputs

Effectiveness : should statements that are relevant to the problem. Every step must be basic and essential. 

(a) One from:

• Background checks
• Access control
• Physical security
• User policies

(b) To prevent unauthorised access (1) so that data remains confidential (1) by making it unintelligible (1) because it is scrambled (1)

• College authorities are the experts in the problem
• A system Analyst is an expert with computers
• The two need to pool resources to come up with a clear definition
• Agree on the outcomes so that when the system is , there are a set of criteria to judge it by

Blackout: This is unexpected discontinuation of power supply in the laboratory.

Power sag: Sudden drop of voltage levels that lasts less than a second.

Transients/ surge: High voltage flowing.

Brownout: Partial blackout where there's low voltage flow.

Any one of:
• To allow connected machines to communicate
• To provide the rules of communication between two networked devices

Multimedia Capability - A laptop with strong multimedia capabilities is essential for a computer studies project submitted on CD-RW. This ensures that the laptop can efficiently handle multimedia content, providing a seamless experience in creating and presenting project materials.

Processor Speed - Opting for a laptop with a high processor speed is crucial. This feature enables the smooth execution of multiple applications simultaneously, enhancing overall project efficiency and reducing processing delays.

Hard Disk Capacity - Consider a laptop with ample hard disk capacity, as the Microsoft Office suite used in computer projects requires significant space for the installation and storage of project files. A spacious hard drive ensures that there is sufficient room for data and applications.

Main Memory Capacity - Given that students often work with multiple programs concurrently during a project, it's important to choose a laptop with an adequate main memory size. A smaller main memory may result in performance issues, hindering the seamless operation of various software applications during project development.