CP2 Computing January 2005

[1]	A travel agency uses a word processing package to produce letters that are sent to customers. Two features of the word processing package that are regularly used are: (i) header/footer (ii) print preview
	Describe each of the features named above, and give an example of how each feature could be useful to the agency.	[4]
	a header is printed at the top of every page of a long document and the footer is printed at the bottom. the agency could put the agency name in the header and page numbers or date in the footer of letters. print preview allows the user to view what a page will look like when it is printed. this saves paper as mistakes can be spotted before the letter is printed.

[2]	One method of transferring electronically stored programs or data onto a Personal Computer is from a floppy disc. State three other methods of transferring such programs or data onto a Personal Computer.	[3]
	typing the data in using a keyboard using a scanner to input the data emailing the data file as an attachment

[3]	A hairdresser's salon receives bookings from customers over the telephone. They record the customer's name, address, date and time of appointment and the stylist required. This information is input into a database.
(i)	Explain the term database.	[1]
	a database is an organised collection of related data files.
(ii)	Describe two benefits for the salon manager of using a database to store information about each booking.	[2]
	it will be faster to find data and to process it. if data was stored on paper, then filing cabinets would be needed to store all the data.
(iii)	Give two reasons why data duplication is undesirable in a database.	[2]
	it takes up unnecessary storage space there may be inconsistency of data if the same data is stored more than once and they are not the same.

[4](a)	Draw diagrams to show the difference between a ring network and a bus network.	[2]
	Ring Network Bus Network
(b)	Explain the difference between a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN).	[1]
	LAN - all computers and peripherals are connected by cables; all are on one site WAN - all computers are connected through the telephone or satellite network; computers may be widely dispersed on a number of different sites.
(c)	What is an interface between a peripheral and a computer?	[1]
	the connection where the peripheral is joined to the computer. Interface software may be needed for the device to work.

[5]	When a student enrols at a college their personal details are entered into a database. The data is validated and verified.
(i)	Explain the difference between data verification and data validation.	[2]
	data verification is checking for transcription errors data validation is checking that the data is sensible, before it is processed.
(ii)	(I) Type check is one method of data validation. Using an example, explain the term type check.	[1]
	type check - a check that data is of the right data type (numeric, string etc) Example a postcode must be two letters followed by two digits followed by a space, a digit and then two letters
	(II) Give an example of invalid data for a type check that may be carried out on a student's personal details.	[1]
	an invalid postcode might be : CF31 3E7 (the last character must be a letter)

[6]	A common method of input to a computer system is the keyboard. Speech is an alternative method of input. Describe a suitable application of speech input, giving two benefits and two drawbacks.	[5]
	a surgeon may input data to a computer using speech, while performing a surgical operation he does not need to use his hands and can carry on performing the operation while using the computer only a microphone is needed for input and these are small - no need for keyboards or mouses the computer may not recognise words if there is a strong accent there are words that sound the same(Eg. too,to,two), and the computer may not be able to distinguish between them - mistakes may happen!

[7](a)	Name an application where real time processing is necessary. Explain how real time processing operates in this case and give one reason why real time processing is necessary.	[3]
	a computer controlling a manufacturing process such as glass making will need to use real time processing readings from temperature sensors are input to the computer, which analyses the readings and outputs control signals to take any necessary actions such as heating or cooling with fans. real time processing is necessary because immediate action needs to be taken if the temperature readings become too high or too low.
(b)	Explain what is meant by the term batch processing, and name an application where batch processing is appropriate.	[2]
	jobs to be processed are collected in batches and run together usually at off-peak times. a company's payroll system. Payslips can be produced at off-peak times. There is no urgency and no human intervention is needed.
(c)	A school network makes use of spooling. Explain in detail how spooling is used for printing.	[3]
	jobs to be printed are saved in a queue on fast backing storage such as a hard disc. when the printer is ready, data is sent to it from the hard disc. spooling is needed because of the difference in speed between the computer processor and the printer. The computer does not need to wait for printing to finish before it can carry on processing.

[8](a)	Explain how a record is added to:
(i)	a serial file	[1]
	a record is appended onto the end of the file
(ii)	a sequential file	[2]
	a record is appended onto the end of the file... ...and then the file must be sorted OR the record needs to be inserted into the correct place in the file so the file remains in sorted order.
(b)	Draw a detailed diagram which clearly shows how a master file is updated using a transaction file.	[3]


[9]	SuperSure is an insurance company with offices throughout the country. Staff have access to customers' information. They logon to the company's computer system using usernames and passwords.
(i)	For security reasons, staff must change their passwords every month. Describe two guidelines the insurance company should provide to staff when they create their new passwords.	[2]
	choose passwords that are not obvious like pet names or dates of birth select a mix of characters and numerical digits - preferably not a proper word.
(ii)	The company suspects that some staff are benefiting illegally from having access to customers' information.
	(I) The company has a code of conduct with which all employees are required to comply. Explain how this code of conduct may reduce such illegal activity.	[1]
	the code of conduct will state the rules that the company expects the staff to obey. The staff must expect to be sacked if they are discovered not abiding by these rules.
	(II) Apart from passwords and a code of conduct, describe two other measures that the company might adopt to try to prevent the computer staff taking part in such illegal activities.	[2]
	restricting access to the customers' information by setting different levels of access - some staff can only access parts of the information. the customers' information may be encrypted
(iii)	The company complies with the Data Protection Act by ensuring that customers' information is held securely. Describe three other ways in which the company must operate in order to comply with the Data Protection Act.	[3]
	the data must be collected fairly and lawfully the data must be kept up-to-date the data must only be used for insurance purposes

[10](a)	A computer can have a word length of 32 bits. What is meant by the term word in this context?	[1]
	a word is the amount of data that a computer can handle at one time.
(b)	A computer manufacturer produces several different computers. One computer has a word length of 16 bits and another has a word length of 32 bits. Explain why the computer with a 32 bit word length may process data faster.	[1]
	the 32 bit word computer can handle twice as much data at one time than the 16 bit word one, so processing will be completed faster.

[11]	In the following question, additional credit (up to 3 marks) will be given if your answer demonstrates skill in written communication.
	A company that writes computer games employs a team of programmers to write a new game. The programmers will be provided with the necessary hardware and software and will work from home. Describe how the programmers could make use of email and the Internet. Describe the benefits for the programmers and the benefits for the company of the programmers working from home.	[8+3]
	The programmers can keep in touch by sending each other emails, giving and receiving instructions. They will be working on different sections of the program and can attach files containing sections of code to each other. Sometimes subroutines can be called by many other lines in the program. The programmers can use the Internet for research, for help if they are experiencing problems or they can download previously coded subroutines written and tested by other programmers. The benefits for the programmers include being able to choose when they work. Time and money are also saved because they do not have to travel to work. A better working atmosphere may exist in the home rather than in a noisy and busy office environment. The company would not have to provide office space for the programmers or provide other facilities such as toilets, canteen, or car parking space. This should save the company money, and they would also save money on heating and lighting bills.