THIS IS A NEW SPECIFICATION

ADVANCED SUBSIDIARY GCE

F451

COMPUTING
Computer Fundamentals

Tuesday 18 May 2010

Afternoon

* O C E / 1 8 4 8 4 *

Candidates answer on the Question Paper

OCR Supplied Materials:
None

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Other Materials Required:

None

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

Write your name clearly in capital letters, your Centre Number and Candidate Number in the boxes above.
Use black ink. Pencil may be used for graphs and diagrams only.
Read each question carefully and make sure that you know what you have to do before starting your answer.
Answer all the questions.
Do not write in the bar codes.
Write your answer to each question in the space provided. Additional paper may be used if necessary but
you must clearly show your Candidate Number, Centre Number and question number(s).

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
The total number of marks for this paper is 100.
This document consists of 16 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

Text

OCR 2010 [J/500/7955]

DC (NF) 18484/4

OCR is an exempt Charity

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1

A small store currently has two exits for customers. Each exit has a computerised checkout.
(a) Describe the purpose of the following devices that would be used at the checkouts and in
each case give an example.
(i)

Input device

Allows data to be inputted onto a computer. Barcode reader.

...........................................................................................................................................

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(ii)

Output device

Allows data to be outputted in a human readable format. Printer allows data to be

...........................................................................................................................................
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outputted for later use.

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...................................................................................................................................... [2]
(iii)

Storage device

Allows data to be stored after it is turned off. HDD

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...........................................................................................................................................

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(b) The checkouts will each use systems software and applications packages.
State the function of each of:
(i)

Systems software

Carries out housekeeping. Acts as a platform for software.

...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
(ii)

Applications packages

Allows the user to carry out their desirable task which would otherwise have to be
...........................................................................................................................................

done without a computer.

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[2]

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(c) It is decided to put in a central storage facility and to link this with the two checkouts using a
LAN.
(i)

Describe what is meant by a LAN.

...........................................................................................................................................

Local
area network. Small geographucal area. Not connected to the internet.
...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii)

State, giving a reason, an extra piece of hardware necessary to connect the LAN to the
internet.

Router

Hardware ...........................................................................................................................

Contains the IP address.

Reason ..............................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................... [2]
(d) When data is sent from central storage to one of the checkout computers, it can suffer from
corruption.
(i)

One error detection method is called a check sum. This involves adding bytes together.
Add the following bytes, showing your working.

01011101
+ 01001110

10101011

00000000
(ii)

[3]

Another error checking method is to use parity.

One of the following bytes has been corrupted in transmission.
00010010

01011101

10101001

11000011

State which the corrupt byte is and explain why it is corrupt.

01011101 all other bits contain even amount of 1s. This

...........................................................................................................................................
contains an odd amount

...........................................................................................................................................

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2

Describe four purposes of operating systems.

Acts as platform for software.

1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
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Controls the translation od code

2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
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Acts as communocator between hardware and sfotware

3 .......................................................................................................................................................
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..........................................................................................................................................................
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Provdides a user interface

4 .......................................................................................................................................................
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3

(a) State two differences between ROM and RAM.

Rom can not be written only read

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RAM can be written and read

...................................................................................................................................................

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(b) A disk recorder for digital TV signals is controlled by an embedded processor.
(i)

Explain why the control software is stored on ROM.

...........................................................................................................................................

So it cannot be written again

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...........................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii)

Explain why it will be necessary to have some RAM.

...........................................................................................................................................

To allow for re writtening when needed

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...................................................................................................................................... [2]

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4

(a) Explain why a systems analyst needs to identify the information requirements of a system,
and describe the different methods of fact finding that may be used.
(The quality of written communication will be assessed in your answer to this question.)
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................

Text

...................................................................................................................................................

Identify the user needs, identify the staff needs, identify the weakness of the software

...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................

Questionnaire
process of sending questionnaires for indiviual to comelete
...................................................................................................................................................
Interveiws,
indepth conversation adn opportunity to ask folow up questions
...................................................................................................................................................
Observation
chance to see current system working
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
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(b) State three items of content in each of:
(i)

the requirements specification of a system

...........................................................................................................................................

Inputs

...........................................................................................................................................

outputs

...........................................................................................................................................

processes

...........................................................................................................................................

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(ii)

the design specification of a system.

...........................................................................................................................................

DFD data flow diagrams

...........................................................................................................................................

system flow diagaram

...........................................................................................................................................

Entity relationship diagrams

...........................................................................................................................................

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...................................................................................................................................... [3]

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5

(a) Change the denary number 93 into

(i)

a binary number in an 8 bit byte

01011101

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii)

an octal number

135

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
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...................................................................................................................................... [2]
(iii)

Explain the relationship between the binary and octal representations of a value.
...........................................................................................................................................

21 421 421
...........................................................................................................................................
01

011 101

...........................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................... [2]
(b) (i)

Using an 8 bit byte change 60 into a twos complement binary number

...........................................................................................................................................

11000100

...........................................................................................................................................

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...................................................................................................................................... [2]

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(ii)

Using 8 bit bytes describe how twos complement can be used by a computer to calculate
the answer to 93 51.
...........................................................................................................................................
00100011

01001101

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convert to two comelpetement

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euqlas 11110000

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...........................................................................................................................................

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6

Data can be passed from one device to another using a protocol.

A protocol consists of both logical and physical parts.
(a) (i)

Describe what is meant by a protocol.

...........................................................................................................................................

A set of rules that govern the transmision of data

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii)

Explain how communication links are established between devices and state why this is
necessary.
...........................................................................................................................................

handshake is establihed to ensure both devices are ready to send data

...........................................................................................................................................

Needed to ensure both devices are using the same bit raud

...........................................................................................................................................

needed to ensure both are using the same error checking

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...................................................................................................................................... [3]
(b) (i)

Describe the logical parts of a protocol.

bit rate

...........................................................................................................................................

method of data transmission e.g. serial paraelll

Text

...........................................................................................................................................

eorror checking method

...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................

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...................................................................................................................................... [3]
(ii)

Describe the physical parts of a protocol.

...........................................................................................................................................

wires
...........................................................................................................................................

wireless
...........................................................................................................................................
fibre optic
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
network operating syste
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[3]
ntowrk i terface card

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(c) A major use of data transmission is in communicating with other sources over the internet. Use
of the internet can affect the privacy and confidentiality of data held in a computer system.
Describe three steps which can be taken to protect data held in a computer system.
1 ................................................................................................................................................

Data encrotion- if access if granted unreadable. decompressed using a se

...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................

Proxy server - alrtt if access if gained

2 ................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................

Passwords protect illegal access

3 ................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................

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.............................................................................................................................................. [6]

Turn over for next question.

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7

For each of the following user interfaces, give an example of an application of its use, the hardware
which would be used with the interface in your application and describe why it is suitable for the
application.
(i)

Menu based interface.

tourist centre

Application ................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................

touch screen

Hardware ..................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................

menus leading to more menus so initutive

Suitability ..................................................................................................................................

easy to naivgate with home/bacl buttons so for all users

...................................................................................................................................................

touch screen prevent vandalism

...................................................................................................................................................

resrict user

.............................................................................................................................................. [4]
(ii)

Natural language interface.

used to enable people with no limbs to control devices

Application ................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

microphone

Hardware ..................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................

good for people who cant use their body howver kaguage is full of ambigiuitee

Suitability ..................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [4]

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8

Questions on an examination paper each have four possible answers, labelled A, B, C, D.

Explain why optical mark reading (OMR) is a sensible way of marking candidates papers and
describe how the marking is done.
..........................................................................................................................................................

easy,

..........................................................................................................................................................

accuracy

..........................................................................................................................................................

quick

..........................................................................................................................................................

laser scans docusment to see if marks are in predetermind pos

..........................................................................................................................................................

if so 1 is added to mark if not no score added

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................... [5]

Turn over for next question.

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9

A computer programmer works from home four days a week, for a large software house.
On Fridays she goes into the offices of the company in order to deliver any sensitive material
personally and to meet with the rest of her team of programmers.
(a) Describe two different types of secondary storage she would use, making it clear how she
would use them.
1 ................................................................................................................................................

remoavle hard drives i.e. usb enable data to be transdported as lightweight. sotres

Text
...................................................................................................................................................
a large voluume f data can be kept with her and keept away from main software d
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................

Text
solid
stte
drives
used
to
store
data files as large amount such as operating systems.
2 ................................................................................................................................................
used to sabe large data files
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................. [6]
(b) The programmer used to go to the office every day and work there.
State an advantage and a disadvantage of working from home for each of:
(i)

The programmer.

save moeny/time on commotuing

Advantage .........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

isolated
Disadvantage ....................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
(ii)

The software house.

save moeny on infrastrcture no need to apy for car aprk

Advantage .........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................

less ocntol over staff harder to moinitor them

Disadvantage ....................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
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(iii)

Society.

opportunity for diabled people to work

Advantage .........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................

less sociable

Disadvantage ....................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [6]

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