Intermediate 2 Computing Exam S3

Nested 'IF' Statement

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Complier

A Complier translates a high- level language program entirely into machine code before the program is run. A Complier produces a stand- alone machine code program which can be run independently of the Complier.

L.A.Ns

A LAN is a computer network that covers a small area such as a room or a building. TRANSMISSION MEDIA- The transmission media used to transfer data between the computers is typically twisted wire pair, coaxial cable, copper cable, optical fibres and wireless connections. BANDWIDTH- This is the speed of transmission and is typically between 10 and 100MBPS.FUNCTION- A LAN is used to share files, to use email for improved communications and to share hardware devices such as printers.

Macro

A Macro is a feature of an application progream that allows the user to record a series of actions such as keystrokes and mouse clicks which can then be played back over and over again. The Macro can be played back quickly by hitting a keyboard hot key or clicking on a button or graphic. Macros can also be used to customise a package by writing code to do tasks beyond what is offered by the basic functions of a graphic.

W.A.Ns

A WAN is a computer network that covers a large area such as a city or a country. TRANSMISSION MEDIA- A WAN uses telecommunication links to connect the computers. BANDWIDTH- Dial- up modem connections have a maximum speed of 56KBPS but now high- speed broadband connections provide speeds of 10MBPS. FUNCTION- A WAN can be used to allow global communication through emails, to transfer files and for video conferencing.

CD-R

A compact disc on which you can write only once and thereafter is read-only memory.

Binary

A computer is a two state electronic device which can represent ON(1) and OFF(0). Binary is used to represent data and instructions in a computer.

Translators

A computer only understands instructions in its own programming language so that high-level languages have to be translated into machine code in order to be run. INTERPRETERS and COMPILERS are two types of translator.

Distribution List

A distribution list, also known as a mailing list, is a collection of email addresses that allows you to email multiple people at one time. A distribution list can contain a few addresses, or many.

Fixed Loop

A fixed loop repeats the instructions in the loop a predetermined number of times.

Flowchart

A graphical representation of the sequence of operations in an information system or program. Information system flowcharts show how data flows from source documents through the computer to final distribution to users. Program flowcharts show the sequence of instructions in a single program or subroutine. Different symbols are used to draw each type of flowchart.

Nested Loop

A nested loop is a loop completely placed in side another loop.

Size of Main Memory

A palmtop computer has around 16MB of RAM and Desktops aroung 3GB and Mainframes can have many times more RAM than these computers.

Conditional Statement

A simple condition depends on one statement being true or false. A complex condition depends upon two or more statements being true or false.

Editor

A text editor is a type of program used for editing plain text files.Text editors are often provided with operating systems or software development packages, and can be used to change configuration files and programming language source code.

Variable

A variable is the name for a place in the computer's memory where you store some data.Integers, Floating Point, Bytes, Text etc...

Webcam

A video camera that inputs to a computer connected to the Internet, so that its images can be seen by Internet users.

Viruses

A virus is a program that causes harm to a computer system. It can replicate itself and spead to other computers. It can attach itself to an application program, system files or data files.

Parts of the Processor

ALU, Control Unit and Registers

Standard file formats for Text

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)- only cares about the text and nothing else. TEXT- stores plain text. (same as ASCII but contains some Control Characters) RTF (Rich Text Format)- detailed version of TEXT- font, colour etc...

Exponent

Also called: index a number or variable placed as a superscript to the right of another number or quantity indicating the number of times the number or quantity is to be multiplied by itself.

Interface

An Interface is used to connect a peripheral device to the CPU and to compensate for the difference in how they operate.

Interpreter

An Interpreter translates a high-level language program one instruction at a time when the program is being run. The Interpreter is always required to translate and run the program.

DAY- Design

At this stage structure charts are used to design the structure of the program, that is, how the program is used to be broken up into manageable chunks. Also, pseudocode is used to describe the detailed logic of the program code.

I- Implementation

At this stage the design is turned into a program in a chosen language. In a large project there may be a team of programmers who will be allocated parts of the program to write.

Backing Storage

Backing Storage Devices are used to permanently store program and data files. Devices such as the Hard Disk Drive are attached to the CPU. Other devices include: Floppy Drive, Zip Drive, Magnetic Tape Drive(Magnetic Storage Devices)CD- ROM, CR- R, CD- RW, DVD- ROM (Optical Storage Devices).

How a User can access a Macro/ Advantages of using Macros

By clicking on the Macro button and then clicking record. 1. Macros can save the user time by quickly playing back a series of actions with one keystoke. 2. Once recorded, Macros will always play back accurately 3. Macros can be used to customise a package.

Clock Speed

Clock speed is the rate at which a processor can complete a processing cycle. It is typically measured in megahertz or gigahertz. However, it is important to note that a 1.8 GHz CPU is not necessarily twice as fast as a 900 MHz CPU. This is because different processors often use different architectures.

Advantage of a Standard File Format

Files can be saved in a standard file format so that they will be recognised by other computer programs. this makes it easier to transfer data from one program to another. Examples include: ASCII, Text, R.T.F...

Calculating the Storage Requirements for a Graphic

For example: A picture measures 240PIXELS by 320PIXELS The graphic = 240x320= 76, 800 pixels 1 PIXEL needs 1 Bit to store SO... The storage required = 76, 800 bits= 9, 600 Bytes= 9.4 KiloBytes

Decimal Number into Binary

For example: 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 = 133 Because...... 128 + 4 + 1 = 133

Binary numbers into decimal

For example: 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 = 8+4+2 = 14

Functions of an Operating System

In some ways you can think of the operating system as a type of caretaker: making sure that data is saved in the right place; programs are loaded into memory properly; and that the computer's filing system is all kept in order. In other ways, though, the operating system acts like a translator: enabling the computer's hardware and software to talk to 'foreign' hardware such as printers, scanners and mice. It also allows the application software to 'talk' to the computer hardware.

L.C.D

Liquid Crystal Display- A peripheral device that displays the computer screen.

Logical Operator

Logical operators are mainly used to control program flow. Usually, you will find them as part of an if, a while, or some other control statement Performs a logical AND of the two operands. Performs a logical OR of the two operands. Performs a logical NOT of the operand. The concept of logical operators is simple. They allow a program to make a decision based on multiple conditions. Each operand is considered a condition that can be evaluated to a true or false value. Then the value of the conditions is used to determine the overall value of the grouping.

Machine Code

Machine code is a set of binary code instructions that the computer understands. It is difficult to program using machine code because...The instructions and data are represented in binary codes which are difficult to learn...It is easy to make mistakes in entering binary codes which are patterns of 1s and 0s....It is difficult to locate and remove errors.

Differences between Main Memory and Backing Storage

Main memory is located inside the CPU and is used to store programs and data being currently executed by the processor. It is made up of RAM and ROM chips. backing storage devices such as a Hard Disk Drive are attached to the CPU and are used to store data files permanently.

Main Memory

Main memory is located inside the CPU and is used to store the programs and data currently being executed by the processor. It is made up of RAM and ROM chips.

Normal Test Data

Normal: One set of test data should be chosen to test that the software gives us results for commonplace data which falls within the expected range of values.

DRUGS- Documentation

Once the program has been written and fully tested documentation is produced. This includes a User Guide, to help the users by describing and explaining the features of the software, and a Technical Guide to support the technical staff in the maintenance of the software.

Control Structure

One of the instructions, statements or groups of statements in a programming language which determines the sequence of execution of other instructions or statements (the control flow).

Exceptional Test Data

One set of test data should be chosen for extreme cases in order to test that the software can cope with unexpected data without crashing.

Extreme Test Data

One set of test data should be chosen to see if the software can handle data on the boundaries of valid data.

Parts of the C.P.U

PROCESSOR- Control Unit, ALU and Registers MAIN MEMORY- ROM, RAM

Pseudocode

Pseudocode is used to describe the detailed logic of the program code before it is written in a chosen programming language. It lies somewher between programming code and natural language. The advantage of Pseudocode is that it can be used to describe the detailed logic of a program without having to worry about the rules of a programming language.

Objects in a Database

STUFF

Objects in a Graphics Program

STUFF

Objects in a Speadsheet

STUFF

Objects in a Word Processor

STUFF

Operation

STUFF

CD-RW

Short for CD-ReWritable disk, a type of CD disk that enables you to write onto it in multiple sessions. With CD-RW drives and disks, you can treat the optical disk just like a floppy or hard disk, writing data onto it multiple times.

Readability

Software is readable if it is easily understood by another programmer. A program is made readable by using meaningful variable names such as StartReading rather than X, using internal commentary to explain the lines of code, using indentation and blank lines to give the program listing some structure, etc...

Capacity

Storage capacity refers to how much disk space one or more storage devices provides. It measures how much data a computer system may contain. Storage capacity is often used synonymously with "disk space." However, it refers to overall disk space, rather than free disk space.

TAKE- Testing

Testing is performed to locate and remove errors. Test data is chosen to test the software as thoroughly as possible.

A.L.U

The A.L.U (Arithmetic and Logic Unit) performs Arithmetic (+, -, x, /) and Logical decisions such as AND and OR.

User Interface

The User Interface is evaluated to see if it is easy for the clients to understand and use. It is judged on factors such as the consistency of menus and fonts, screen layouts, warning and error messages, online help, etc...

EVEN- Evaluation

The completed software project will be judged against a list of criteria to evaluated how good or bad it is. This is an essential process to make sure that the software ahs met the requirements of the clients.

DVD-RW

The data on a DVD-RW disc can be erased and recorded over numerous times without damaging the medium.

ALL- Analysis

The development of a project starts with an examination of the existing system and meetings with the clients to establish their needs. This stage is important in order to make sure that the software meets the requirements of the client and to have a thorough and detailed description of the problem.

Functions of an Interface

The functions of an interface is to connect two different items together and make them work. The most common interfaces are Parallel, Serial, USB, Infrared and PS/2.

Control Unit

The part of a CPU that interprets the instructions in programs and directs the operation of the entire system.

Mantissa

The part of a logarithm that follows the decimal point The part of a floating-point number that represents the significant digits of that number, and that is multiplied by the base raised to the exponent to give the actual value of the number.

Fitness For Purpose

The program is fit for purpose if it does what it is supposed to do. The software is compared with the requirements that were agreed with the client at the analysis stage to see if it meets them.

R.O.M

The programs and data in ROM can be read by the processor but ROM cannot be written to. It keeps its contents when the power is switched off. The contents of ROM are put ther where the chip was manufactured, and cannot be changed. ROM is used to store programs important for the system such as the BIOS, which is an important part of the computer's operating system.

MONDAYS- Maintenance

The software development process doen not end with the completion of the project. At some point in the future the software could well require to be modified to remove errors that were previously undetected. Often maintenance activities are performed to incorporate new features into the software as requested by the user to modify the software to adapt to changes in the hardware and the software environment in which it runs.

Registers

These are individual storage locations on the processor chip that the processor uses to temporarily hold single items of data.

High Level Language

These are programming languages that use everyday words in the instructions, such as INPUT, IF and REPEAT, that make it much easier to write a program than machine code. Visual Basic and JAVA are examples of high-level languages.

Data Type

These are types of data such as STRING, NUMERIC, etc...

Floating Point Numbers

These numbers are made up of two parts: The Mantissa and The Exponent. The Mantissa is the fraction part and The Exponent is the power part.

Copyright, Design and Patents Act

This act maks it illegal to make pirate copies of items such as softwar, music and literature without permission from the people who produced these items.

Data Protection Act

This act protects the right of individuals in society to ensure that data held on them by organisations such as banks, the National Health Service and sports clubs is used appropriately.

User Guide

This can be in the form of a user manual or in electronic form. It gives instructions on how to use the features of the software and can include tutorials to give lessons.

Technical Guide

This gives technical details on how to install the software and the minimum system requirements for the processor, RAM and Hard Disk capacity.

Hard Drive

This is a backing storage device that holds data when power is not currently running through it.

Speed of Access

This is how fast the computer or peripheral device can access desired data.

Speed of Data Transfer

This is how fast the data can be transferred from ot to the device.

Resolution

This is the number of pixels that are captured by a device. A resolution of a digital camera is measuredd in Megapixels, whereas, the resolution of a printer is measured in DPI- Dots Per Inch.

Bandwidth

This is the speed of Transmission and is typically between 10 and 100MBPS (Mega Bytes Per Second)

Conditional Loop

This is when a loop is set and will carry on looping until the condition is met.

Monitor

This is where the graphics of the computer are displayed.

Computer Misuse Act

This makes hacking into confidential information and the sending of viruses illegal.

Printer Toner

Toner is a powder used in laser printers and photocopiers to form the printed text and images on the paper. In its early form it was simply carbon powder. Then, to improve the quality of the printout, the carbon was melt-mixed with a polymer. Toner particles are melted by the heat of the fuser, and bind to the paper.In earlier machines, this low-cost carbon toner was poured by the user from a bottle into a reservoir in the machine. Current machines feed directly from a sealed laser toner cartridge. Modern laser toner cartridges intended for use in color copiers and printers come in cyan, magenta, yellow and black

Rules are in an E-mail Client

YES