State the contents of a feasibility study report
State four data types used in MS Excel
State the difference between radio waves and microwave transmission
List two types of disaster recovery tools.
5 Artificial intelligence is an emerging trend in computer science.
(a) Discuss the use of artificial intelligence by describing some of its characteristics, the ways in which it may be used and the ethical issues associated with its use.
Branch of computer science based on enabling computers to
behave like humans/mimic aspects of human intelligence
• AI is implemented in software.
• Combines psychology, biology, linguistics, mathematics, neuroscience,
and philosophy (ethics)
• AI is not the same as the general intelligence of human beings
Uses – Any of the following:
• Game playing (chess, quiz, video games)
• Analytics (analyse buying patterns, predicting behaviours, predictive
text, financial markets)
• Image processing (recognising objects/patterns)
• Logistics (scheduling, order fulfilment)
• Control systems (cars, manufacturing, weapons, navigation)
• Expert systems (medical, mechanical, electrical diagnosis)
• Neural networks (simulating neuron behaviours as in brains)
• Natural languages processing (chatterbots, chatbots, speech
recognition)
• Robotics (dangerous situations, help aged or disabled)
Ethical issues – Any of the following:
• Take the work of humans, thereby affecting employment rates
• Is a computer to be trusted to make decisions (life-death)?
• If a computer discovers something that humans can’t prove, should it be
accepted as truth?
• Do AI machines have rights?
• Will people be comfortable interacting with machines that are
considered intelligent?
Describe the purpose of two registers that are used by Von Neumann architecture.
MAR( memory address register)
MDR or memory data register
Program counter
Accumulator
What is a web browser?
Describe two desirable features to look for in a laptop rather than a desktop computer.
– lightweight
– long battery life
– cool running processor
– touch pad
– internal webcam
Describe how the database can be recovered from a system failure
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 the primary function of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) protocol.
Identify four events that take place during the fetch-execute cycle
A car park uses a number plate recognition system. Identify the reason why unsigned integers should be used to record the number of cars entering and leaving the car park, rather than signed integers
Distinguish between microwave and a radiowave transmission and a microwave transmission (KCSE 2017 PP1)
Microwaves can cover shorter distances. On the contrary, radio waves can travel a long distance. Radio wave is usually propagated through sky mode while microwave uses the line of sight propagation.
Explain one reason why a computer needs to be connected to a stable power source
System Stability: Computers require a consistent and stable power supply to function properly. Fluctuations or interruptions in the power source can cause various issues that can disrupt the computer's operation or lead to hardware damage.
a. Data Loss: Sudden power outages or voltage fluctuations can cause the computer to shut down abruptly, resulting in data loss if unsaved work is not properly stored. This can be particularly problematic when working on critical tasks or handling important files.
b. Hardware Damage: Power surges or inconsistent power supply can damage the computer's internal components, including the motherboard, CPU, memory, and storage devices. These damages can result in system instability, reduced performance, or even complete hardware failure.
c. Operating System Corruption: Abrupt power loss or inconsistent power supply can corrupt the operating system files, leading to system crashes, error messages, and instability. This may require system repairs or reinstallation of the operating system.
d. Component Lifespan: Inconsistent power supply can put unnecessary stress on computer components, shortening their lifespan. Frequent power fluctuations or surges can cause wear and tear on various parts, reducing their efficiency and overall longevity.
What situations are likely to call for the use of Direct Changed Over?
In reference to word processing, define the following terms
Word wrap
Justification
Drop cap
Word wrap - Is a word processing feature in which a word that does not fit in the current line is automatically moved at the start of the next line
Justification - refers to aligning text on both left and right margins
Drop cap - Make the first character of a paragraph occupy more than one line below it
Give two reasons why some microprocessor controlled devices do not require an operating system
Describe why fibre optic cable would be used for the backbone of the network. (2 marks)
Describe how the firewalls can ensure the security of the EmergWA network.
Describe a transmission media that would work better in remote areas
The volunteers assisting in an emergency all wear personal protection equipment (PPE) that has an RFID tag sewn into the collar so that they can be tracked if they become lost in a remote location. Identify what RFID is and outline how it works. (3 marks)
Differentiate between a function parameter and a function argument
A parameter represents additional information that a function requires to perform its task. Each parameter required by a function is specified in the function header
An argument the value supplied in the function call. When the function is called, the argument value is passed into the function parameter so that the function can perform its task