Describe/select ways the use of the following devices can beconsidered as input devices such as: Keyboard:It is the

primary input device for alpha numerical data. Used to enter data in a computer, which is directly encoded into a language that the computer understands Mouse: It is a hand held device, which is moved over a flat surface. It has a ball or laser that translates the mouses movement into digital signals Touch screen:A display device that can be used to enter data onto a computer. Light pen: a pen shaped input device used to draw images on amonitor, emulating a paper and pen. Scanner:An input device used to convert an image or text into digital form for storage, editing or display Web cam:A video camera used to record live images synchronised over the internet on a real time system Microphone:A device that is used to record/detect sound waves which are converted into electrical signals by a sound card. Describe the use of the following items as output devices such as: Printers: A device that produces computer generated text or graphics onto paper Projectors: Monitors: A device that displays information generated by a computer Speakers: A device that outputs sound transmitted from a computer by changing electrical impulses into sound waves Describe the purpose and give the characteristics of the following types of storage devices including the methods of data storage: Magnetic: Makes use of serial or sequential access Uses a read/write head to read data E.g. floppy Disk crashes when read/write head comes into contact with rotating disc Optical: uses direct access or random access Makes use of FAT Uses laser technology to read/write from and onto the disk Stores data on a single track which is divided into several sectors CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DCD-WR Solid state: Makes use of EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) chips Makes use of direct access Uses transistors Non-volatile, stores data even when power is off Makes use of FAT to store data E.g. Memory sticks

Explain the function and the purpose of the following individualparts of the processor: Control unit (CU): It acts under the direction of the clock to sorts out all the internal paths needed inside the processor to makes sure that data gets from the right place to the right place Arithmetic logic unit (ALU): Assigned with the task of doing simple arithmetic on binary digits and sends the answer to the accumulator Registers such as: _ Current Instruction Register (IR): Stores the current instructions that have just been fetched from memory to live temporarily before being sent to the instructions decoder in the Control Unit _ Program Counter (PC): Determines the sequence in which instructions are to be executed _ Memory Address Register (MAR): Holds the address of the data currently being processed _ Memory Data Register (MDR): Holds the data that has been read from or written to the main memory, It therefor acts like a buffer Accumulator (ACU): Accumulates processed results temporarily before being put out to the computers memory Describe in simple terms the fetch/decode/execute/reset cycle and the effects of these stages of the cycle on specific registers y Data is fetched from the memory (RAM) and 1st binary code is interpreted as an instruction and is loaded in the current instructions register. The PC is then increased by 1. The MAR is set up to contain the binary code for the datas memory location, obtained from the PC y The control unit decodes the instruction and sends it to the arithmetic logic unit. y In the ALU simple arithmetic is perform to the data and the results are sent to the accumulator y The cycle is then reset once the results are sent back to the memory (RAM) Explain the need for different types of processors To have processors specific for their functions, this will lead to more efficiency and cost effectiveness. E.g. Producing Pentium IVs for Programmers and Celerons for secretaries Explain the use of different types of computers focusing on theprocessor power such as: Workstation computer and laptop or notebook computer: Used in homes and offices where not a lot of processing power is required. Personal Digital Assistant (PDA): It is a mobile device used to function as a personal information manager. Its functions are carried out by an embedded system running a microprocessor. Server: it links computers to one another in networks and a lot of processing power is required. Mainframe: Powerful computers which can accommodate several users simultaneously, used only by government and corporate organisations mainly for transaction processing. Supercomputer:Large computers kept in temperature controlled rooms used for highly calculationintensive tasks such as weather forecasting, problem solving in quantum physics, climate research and physical simulations. It comprises of a large number of very powerful processors, making it the most powerful computer.

Explain the functions of RAM and ROM RAM: Random Access Memory Temporary memory that is used to save data that passes through to the processor. Static RAM Dynamic RAM More expensive Easy to manufacture Has more transistors Made up of transistors, a less in number No need to top up/refresh (not volatile) Charges leak & if not topped up, it loses data Data is stored by monitoring state of transistors Binary digits are stored as charges Mainly used as cache memory Used to store data during processing NB!!! A processor can only read data from your RAM ROM: Read Only Memory It is permanent memory storage of the computer, encoded by the manufacturer with the instructions for starting the computer. Difference RAM Temporary storage Volatile memory Stores data or programs that is being processed Has larger storage capacity

ROM Permanent storage Memory cannot be changed Used to store initial instructions on how to start up computer Smaller storage capacity, just for instructions

Explain the use of virtual memory When a portion of a secondary storage device, usually your hard drive is used to store temporary data in an attempt to avail more main memory (RAM memory). For instance, when you are typing, portions of the word processing program is stored on the Virtual memory and when access to that data is required, swapping portions of the document between primary and secondary storage takes place. describe the use of paging and segmentation Data is transferred in packages and if the packages are of the same size they are called pages, if not they are called segments. Hence the concepts paging and segmenting.When data is swapped between primary and secondary memory, these concepts are required for the swapping/sending. Explain the purpose of the following hardware used to enable computers to communicate such as: Modem: Do change data into digital form before computer receives it and back to electrical impulses when being sent over a line to another computer. NIC (Network Interface Card): An extension board you insert into a computer to connect to a network Switch: A device that sends frames to their destined addresses because the frames consist of data and address. Router:Devices that connect/links a computer to at least two networks, and is strategically located at a gateway (place where networks connect). The router determines the best path for forwarding package. Wireless devices: Devices that enable networking wirelessly, interconnections between nodes is implemented with the use of electromagnetic waves

 Satellite: A satellite that has been stationed in space for the purpose of communication mainly for mobile phone signals, weather tracking or television broadcast. Cables: A line on which electrical impulses travel on during communication from one computer to another. Define the term a suite of software -describe the purpose of a suite of software in terms of theirFeatures, advantages and disadvantages A collection of programs for a personal computer that is used to automate common office tasks. The packages usually includes: word processing, spread sheets, presentation, email, and database. These components are sold together and typically interface with each other. Describe the purpose of custom-designed software in terms offeatures, advantages and disadvantages Disadvantages: The quality depends on the company or person you commission to build your program. Custom software may not follow standard protocols and be unable to interact with other programs effectively. The help files may be lacking and support would be more difficult to come by, considering the uniqueness of the program. Advantages: software suite cost lot less than the total cost of buying software package separately .Also in it , all programs use a similar graphical user interface (GUI) of icon ,tool and status bars, menu, and so on .this give them the same look and feel them easier to learn and use . Software suites also share common tools such as spell checker and help wizards to increase their efficiency . Another advantage is that their programs are designed to work together seamlessly and import each other 's files easily these compatibilities make them more efficient and easy to use than using a variety of individual package software Explain the role of an operating system An operating system is the master software assign to act as the interface between the computer and the user. It manages the operations of the computer explain the use of the following operating system facilities: Batch processing: When vast amounts of data are processed without any direct contact with the user. E.g. payroll system and billing system Real-time processing: When data is processed automatically as it is entered, the response is vital to the situation and is required immediately. E.g. used in ICU and at airports Transaction processing: An online processing system in which discrete transactions are processed as they occur multitasking: When your computer is seemingly doing more than one task while in actual fact it uses time slicing to allocate processing time to the tasks Multi-access: When a computer program can be accessed by more than one user simultaneously Single-user:It refers to the mode in which a multi user system boots into a single super user, which is used for mainly used for maintenance and security purposes because it takes exclusive access to shared resources. Multi-user: is a term that defines an operating system or application software that allows concurrent access by multiple users of a computer. Time-sharing systems are multi-user systems. Network operating systems (servers): The software that runs on the server computer which enables the server to manage data, users, and security and system resources. Process-control operating system: To keep track of a process when data switching. All the information is kept in a data package called a process control block Explain the management and control of peripherals using thefollowing operating system features:

 Interrupt: An attention seeking signal indicating a change in execution Polling: A technique used to Spooling: A technique Handshaking: A protocol by which parameters of communications are set before communications are started. buffering: A technique used to save data temporarily on physical storage location/media when being transmitted to a different location, because there is a difference of operating speeds between the devices that exchange the data. Explain the purpose of the following types of utility software: Disk formatting: It simply configures the storage device with a file system (FAT) so that Windows can store information on the disk. Erases the disk completely though. -Hardware driver: A computer program that makes provision for programs to interact with the particular hardware device that the driver belongs to. File compression:To reduce the number of bits required to represent computer text, data, or images so as to save storage space or reduce transmission time disk defragmenters: a utility designed to increase access speed by rearranging files stored on a disk to occupy contiguous storage locations, a technique called defragmentation. Defragmenting a disk minimizes head travel, which reduces the time it takes to read files from and write files to the disk. Event viewers: lets administrators and users view the event logs on a local or remote machine Performance viewers:software- based system used to monitor system resources and performance in a computer system. Virus checkers:searching for known patterns of data within executable code. explain the use of the following operating system tools to managefiles: create, copy, move, delete and rename y For the creation of new files y For the duplication of files y For changing a files directory y For changing the name of the file organise and display files in directories and sub-directories(folders and sub-folders) A succession of directories leads to a path explain different types of interfaces such as: The user interface is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs Forms Menus: A list which lets you select commands to be executed which are represented by graphics. Graphical User Interface (GUI) Natural languages: Command line Represent software requirement specifications as algorithms usingany of the following methods: structure diagrams pseudocode flowcharts explain and give examples of the use of the following data types: Integer

 Boolean:A data type used in the writing of computer programs which uses combinatory system of symbolic logic such as and, or or not and true or false. Real: A data type used in computer programming used to represent an approximate of real numbers. Date/time: Text Object Sound Images Describe the following data structures used to solve problems anduse diagrams or algorithms to explain how to initialise the structureadd, read and delete data in each type: Arrays (single and two-dimensional) linked lists: is a data structure used for collecting a sequence of objects, which allows efficient addition, removal and retrieval of elements from any position in the sequence. It is implemented as nodes, each of which contains a reference (i.e., a link) to the next and/or previous node in the sequence. stacks: a stack is a data structure that applies the last in, first out method. Queues: Explain the choice of data types/data structures for a given problemand give advantages and disadvantages of alternative choices

Explain how data is represented in computer memory consideringthe limitations of storage: Binary:Data is converted into electrical signals, 1s and 0s which the computer understands convert between denary, binary and hexadecimal ASCII: American Standard Code for Information Interchange. Uses 8bits to represent a character Unicode: A computing standard used for the representation and handling of text expressed in most of the worlds writing systems. Uses 16bit to represent a character such as a character in mandrin Explain the different types of file organisations: Serial Sequential Indexed sequential Random / direct access Explain file generations When file updating takes place, a new generation of the file is created, containing accurate, up-to-date information. The old generation of the file will often be stored to provide data security in the event that the new generation of the file is lost or damaged. Describe steps taken when data is added into or deleted from thedifferent types of file organisation Describe how indexed sequential and random access files may beimplemented using indexes and hashing algorithms Describe the characteristics of a local area network (LAN) and awide area network (WAN) focusing on their strategic usage LAN: a small network that covers a range of no more than a building which allows users to share data and software. WAN: A large network that often covers whole countries, continents or the globe. It facilitates instant messaging and other social interaction platforms such as video conferencing.

Describe the basic types of network such as: peer-to-peer: client-server Describe how communication links are established betweencomputers by the use of protocols such as: TCP/IP packet switching circuit switching describe wireless technology such as: wireless Internet wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) discuss the advantages and disadvantages of networking describe the use of AND, OR, NOT, NAND and NOR gates recognise the gate symbols interpret simple logic circuits using truth table recognise two ways of representing the logic gates: NOT AND OR NAND NOR produce truth tables for given logic circuits (maximum of 3 inputsand 6 gates) produce a simple logic network from a given statement e.g. if A AND B are on OR C is on then the light will be on Solve problems in a structured way, using logic and reason develop algorithms using algorithm tools such as: pseudocode flowcharts design algorithms which relate clearly to the requirements of thesystem where the problem has been observed define the scope of separate modules use the following algorithmic constructs of sequence, selection, and repetition to solve problems: decision structures: _ if ... then ... else ... end if or an equivalent _ case of ... otherwise ... end case or an equivalent loops or iteration for conditional and unconditionalstructures: _ while ... do ... end while or an equivalent _ repeat ... until or an equivalent _ for ... do or an equivalent apply operators +, -, *, /, MOD and DIV appropriately to solveproblems select appropriate test data and compare actual test results toexpected results use a trace table to dry run an algorithm containing more than oneloop/iteration and more than one decision structure