ICT Hardware and Software

Advantage and Disadvantage of Post [1 each]

Ad: Can be sent from anywhere Dis: Received more slowly by recipient

Advantages and Disadvantages a Fax [1 each]

Ad: Document with signature is legally acceptable via fax Dis:Personal data more likely to be intercepted by office worker (Than Email is)

Advantages and Disadvantages of Email [1 each]

Ad: Secure and good quality attachments Dis: Cannot send solid objects by Email

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Video Conference over an Actual Conference [5 advantages and 3 disadvantages]

Advantages Workers can use own office so documents do not get lost in transit Bulky documents/ equipment do not have to be carried around Sensitive documents less likely to be lost/stolen Company can call meeting at short notice Might be dangerous to fly/travel Disadvantages May not be as productive as a discussion around a table. Confidential documents may need to be viewed and signed in person. There will always be times when you need to be able to meet face to face.

Difference between Graphic User Interface and Command Line Interface

GUI has icons to help the user identify applications GUI has a system of Menzies to help the user choose GUI has Windows to enable multitasking GUI has a pointing device to help navigate around the screen CLI only allows you to type in commands CLI syntaxes (commands) have to be precise Commands are difficult to edit once entered Have to learn a lot of commands exactly.

Differences between RAM and ROM [6 possible points]

ROM cannot be changed/RAM can be changed RAM can be read from and written to ROM is read only memory and RAM is random access memory ROM is non-volatile/RAM is volatile RAM holds the work that is being currently done by the user ROM holds instructions that need to be unchanged such as BIOS/program cycles in a washing machine/program instructions in games.

Why does a computer need backing storage as well as RAM and ROM (Immediate Access Memory) [6 possible points]

If computer is switched off work in RAM goes but backing storage stores data for future use Backing storage is cheaper than IAM per unit of memory so more cost effective to have both IAM is bulkier than backing storage per unit of memory so more sensible to have both IAM provides faster access than backing storage so as there has to be backing storage computer needs IAS to speed up operations Software package may be so large that it is physically impossible for RAM to store it Data may need to be transferred from one computer to another and can't do that with RAM

Differences between Internal Memory (RAM and ROM) and backing storage [7 possible points]

If computer is switched off work in RAM goes but backing storage stores data for future use More likely that data is accidentally deleted in RAM RAM is more expensive than backing storage per unit of memory RAM is bulkier than backing storage per unit of memory RAM provides faster access than backing storage Software package may be so large that it is physically impossible for RAM to store it. Data may need to be transferred from one computer to another and can't do that with RAM

What is a backup [3]

It is a copy of data Leaving the original intact Stored away from the original

Extra Items Needed for a Video Conference [5 with explanation]

Web cam/video camera to input/capture video (images of participants/documents) router/modem to transmit data to participants' (computers) Microphone to input voices of participants/to speak to other participants Headphones/speakers to output voices to participants/hear other participants Large screen/projector to see other participants