Learning aim B: Understand how data flows between internal components of a computer and is processed to provide information

Understand the main characteristics, functions and role of the internal components of a computer, including:

• memory (RAM, ROM, including Flash memory)
• how internal components of a computer affect performance and user experience
• comparison of different specifications of internal components
• comparing how mobile systems are different from traditional platforms
• how the features of memory and storage devices affect performance/ user experience
  • memory (cache and RAM) 
  • storage devices (solid state, optical and magnetic media)

Learning aim C: Understand different types of software

Software

Understand the concepts, differences and implications of software, including:

• software as a series of programs used to direct the operation of technology systems
• the differences between custom-made and off-the-shelf programs
• the advantages and disadvantages of using custom-made and off-the-shelf programs

Understand the concepts, implications and structures of programming, including:

• the hierarchical structure of a computer as:
  • o application software package (user interface)
  • o high-level programming language
  • o low-level programming language
  • o machine code (binary number notation)
  • o hardware
• the main characteristics of high-level programming languages, including imperative, procedural, event-driven and object-orientated programming languages
• the main characteristics of low-level programming languages, including assembly language and machine code
• the main distinctions between programs in high-level and low-level forms in terms of structure, closeness to spoken language and intuition of use.