A company has decided to use a computer for stock control. Describe the process of systems development from the time the decision was made to proceed with computerisation until final testing.
specify output requirements
design documents/screen displays
data for input/storage
form design
storage devices
file structures/access/design
data security/back up files
systems flowchart etc.
implementation i.e. pilot/intermediate/parallel running
testing strategy
training
hardware/software
programming/algorithms
validation
user manual
technical documentation
entering data into system
Explain the difference between main memory and secondary storage.
Outline a factor that can influence the performance of a network.
What is a primary key?
State what is meant by each of the following modes of data processing
(i) Batch processing.
(ii) Real-time processing.
(iii) Online processing.
(iv) Off-line processing.
(i) Jobs collected together for processing at a later time
(ii) Output produced quickly enough to affect the next input
(iii) User has direct contact with the processor
(iv) User cannot communicate directly with the processor
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
The Acme company stores data for a private scientific research group. It has recently upgraded its storage capacity and needs to dispose of its existing hard drives securely. Outline two methods for the secure disposal of the data on the hard drives.
Acme company needs to ensure that if they are reselling the drives they wipe the drive (this should be done regardless of the destruction of the drive) to the DoD standard.
This would ensure that any software cannot be used to locate files.
Describe what is meant by a MAC address.
One characteristic of a robot is its mechanical structure.
State two other characteristics of a robot
1 (a) Computer networks are valuable to many businesses and individuals.
(i) State the purpose of network protocols
Any one of:
• To allow connected machines to communicate
• To provide the rules of communication between two networked devices
State two effects of a computer virus
State the seven layers of the OSI model
Suggest one disadvantage to the programmer of using a high-level language instead of a low-level language.
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
Define what is meant by a ‘network protocol
Distinguish between a PAN and a LAN
A PAN exist around a single person whereas a LAN covers a larger area
Describe four features of the operating system when providing a graphical user interface on a personal computer. Give a suitable example of each feature.
Windows for example a word processing application and a spreadsheet
Menus, for example, allow the user to perform operations or run applications such as right-click to create a new folder
Icons for example a picture of linked computers for networking
Pointers(mouse or touchscreen) for example to select items/trigger events
Shortcuts for example to frequently used applications for example having a shortcut to your mail client on your desktop
File navigation for example when searching the hard disc for a file/folder using a browser
copying / deleting / moving/sorting/naming/searching of files or folders for example copying of a file from the hard drive to a USB pen drive (File handling)
Desktop customisation for example changing the colours and background image
Copy and paste for example between applications e.g. copying a graph from a spreadsheet to a word processor
Error messages for example provide users with error/warning/help messages for example ‘printer out of paper’
Describe each of the following storage devices
DVD - optical media which use one spiral track; red lasers are used to read and write data on the media surface; makes use of dual-layering technology to increase the storage capacity
ROM - non-volatile memory chip; contents of the chip cannot be altered; it is often used to store the start-up routines in a computer (e.g. the BIOS)
SSD/ Solid State Drive/memory (SSD)
non-volatile memory device that uses NAND flash memories (which consist of millions of transistors wired in series on single circuit boards)
Blue Ray - optical media that uses blue laser technology to read and write data on the media surface; it uses a single 1.1 mm polycarbonate disc
Define the following modes of electronic data processing:
Multi-tasking - It is a data processing modes where a single CPU processing more than one task or program apparently at the same time
Time-sharing - a processing mode where a single CPU processes tasks from more than one user apparently at the same time
Time-sharing - this is a processing mode in which the CPU serves two or more users with different processing requirements ( tasks)
On-line processing - is a mode of processing where the result of data processing transaction is available immediately
Real-time processing - is a mode of data processing 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
Distinguish between one to one and one to many relationships as used in relational databases
One to one - Each record in the parent table has exactly one related record in the child table, and vice versa.
One to Many - Each record in the parent table can have multiple related records in the child table, but each record in the child table is related to only one record in the parent table