ICT Applications (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE ICT): Flashcards

A subscriber identity module (SIM) card links the device to a network carrier, allowing it to make phone calls and send messages.

False.

VoIP provides audio and visual communication via the internet and requires extra apps installed on the device. It is ordinary phone calls that require cellular reception.

SMS messages are stored on the device and use virtual keyboards and predictive text.

The camera is used for video calls and can act as a barcode scanner for QR codes.

Computer modelling is using a computer to simulate a real-life system in order to study its behaviour in different scenarios.

The simulation uses a model to help predict how the system will work in unusual circumstances.

Computer modelling is applied to personal finance, bridge and building design, flood water management, traffic management and weather forecasting.

It is cheaper than building the real thing, makes it easier to try a range of scenarios, is safer because hazardous environments can be simulated, is faster because variables can be sped up, and allows testing before real-life construction begins.

False.

A computer model will never be 100% accurate. Results are only as good as the model designed and the data entered.

A model will never be 100% accurate, results are only as good as the model and the data entered, and human error in the design could skew results.

A spreadsheet is used to test 'what if' scenarios, changing values to see the impact, for example the financial effect on a family if household income went down.

A bridge model can test how much traffic the bridge can take, the effects of natural vibrations, the effects of different weather conditions, and the impact of an accident on structural integrity.

A building model can test the effects of different weather conditions, simulate fire evacuation protocols, and assess the impact of a fire on structural integrity.

It allows real-time monitoring, data collection, and a faster response to changing conditions, such as advance warning to people.

In traffic management, the data collected can be used to optimise the traffic light times at different junctions.

Sensors collect air pressure, wind speed, air temperature and humidity. The actual weather is compared to the modelled data to check accuracy and identify areas of the model to modify.

A computer controlled system uses computers and software to control, monitor and manage processes, machines or devices.

Its effectiveness depends on the quality of the software, the hardware and the input data.

They give increased efficiency and productivity by working 24/7, greater precision and accuracy, the ability to operate in hazardous environments, reduced human error and fatigue, and can work with large or delicate items.

They have high initial investment and maintenance costs, cause job displacement for human workers, create dependency on reliable software and hardware, lack flexibility for unexpected situations, and require costly backup systems.

Robotics is the principle of a robot carrying out a task by following a precise set of programmed instructions.

Robots are categorised as dumb robots and smart robots.

False.

A dumb robot repeats the same programmed instructions over and over, with no AI. A smart robot uses AI to carry out more complex tasks and can adapt and learn.

A dumb robot example is a car assembly line. A smart robot example is assisting surgeons in delicate procedures.

The four issues are accountability, safety, algorithmic bias and legal liability.

In industry a robot acts as a quality inspector, using advanced vision to inspect products for defects. However it may not work on defects that require human judgement.

In agriculture a robot acts as a planting and seeding machine, giving precise planting at optimum depths and distances. However there are high upfront costs and it may struggle with uneven terrain and changing weather.

In medicine a robot acts as a rehabilitation therapist, giving personalised physical therapy exercises to aid recovery. Its key limitation is that it does not provide emotional support.

Warehouse robots bring efficiency, but create high infrastructure costs and safety concerns for human workers sharing the space.

Educational robots have a high cost and cannot replace the guidance of human teachers.

A school management system is a software solution designed to centralise and streamline a school's administrative tasks, with data stored centrally to improve efficiency.

It can include registration and attendance, recording learner performance, and computer aided learning (CAL).

It gives streamlined administration and record-keeping, improved communication between teachers, students and parents, centralised access to information, data-driven decision-making, more up to date information, and information that can be obtained quickly in an emergency.

The cost, a time consuming and complex transition, the training required, dependence on technology, and data security concerns.

IT systems make other methods possible, such as magnetic stripe cards and biometrics.

Patterns of absence can be found quickly, which helps to tackle truancy and lateness, and letters or texts can be automatically sent to parents.

The data can be used to identify class and individual strengths and areas for development, to inform teaching strategies, to provide individual progress reports, and to critically analyse class and teacher performance.

Computer aided learning allows students to work on individual development areas.

False.

CAL is designed to enhance and not replace traditional classroom teaching.

CAL can provide interactive revision resources to aid exam performance.

If a student arrives after a certain time, their attendance record is flagged as late or absent.

Information about a student can be obtained quickly in an emergency, because the system holds accurate and up to date records.

An online booking system is a computer system that allows customers to purchase tickets for events online.

Travel, for flights, hotels and package holidays; music, for live event tickets; film, for cinema tickets with seat selection; and sport, for event tickets with a chosen view.

Convenience and accessibility with 24/7 booking, instant confirmation and ticketing, the ability to compare prices and options, promotions and personalised offers, being faster to change or cancel, and automated reminders by email or text.

Repeated bookings can easily be made, and staff are freed up to do other things.

The potential for technical issues and downtime, possible security and privacy concerns, transaction and booking fees, impersonal customer service, the need for an internet connected device, and staff may lose their job.

False.

Once a seat is selected it is temporarily made unavailable for booking by any other user while the customer completes payment.

The database is searched and the times and availability are displayed on the screen.

The screen seating chart is displayed, showing which seats are available and taken.

A confirmation message is displayed, and a payment receipt and QR code e-ticket are emailed.

The database is updated to make the seats unavailable.

If no seats are available, the system outputs an error message.

The system reduces the number of seats or tickets available by the number booked, and flags the seat as booked.

An Automatic Teller Machine is used in the banking industry to provide customers with convenient access to financial transactions 24/7.

A customer can withdraw cash, deposit cash or cheques, check their account balance, obtain a mini statement, pay bills, and make money transfers.

ATMs give convenient access to banking services, are available 24/7, offer reduced waiting time, and provide global access to funds.

ATMs have cash withdrawal limits, carry a risk of theft or fraud, offer limited services compared to a bank branch, suffer technical issues and downtime, and some banks charge for using them.

Electronic Funds Transfer is a way of moving money from one account to another.

EFT is used primarily for salary deposits, bill payments and online purchases.

Electronic Funds Transfer at the Point of Sale is used by retailers to allow customers to make purchases using debit or credit cards.

Data is read from the chip, using RFID or NFC if the payment is contactless; the business bank's computer contacts the customer's bank's computer; and the card is checked to see if it is valid.

The transaction continues, an authorisation code is sent to the business, the price is deducted from the customer's account, and that money is added to the business's account.

True.

Being able to dispute a transaction for up to 60 days is an advantage of EFT.

EFT carries a risk of online fraud, suffers technical issues, requires an internet connection, and requires immediate funds to be available.

Internet banking is a secure online platform for accessing and controlling a person's bank account, used through a secure website or the bank's official app.

Internet banking offers convenience and 24/7 access, easy account management, a reduced need for branch visits, potentially better interest rates, and makes it easier to shop around for the best account.

A key disadvantage of internet banking is that physical cash cannot be deposited or withdrawn.

An information system is a purpose built system designed to collect, store, process, distribute and use information.

A hospital information system is used to access patient medical records, handle appointment scheduling, manage medication dispensing, facilitate communication between healthcare providers, and support public health reporting.

They use them for making informed decisions about patient care.

A 3D printer is a machine capable of outputting three-dimensional objects from a digital file.

3D printing starts with the creation of a 3D model using computer aided design (CAD).

3D models can be fully customised on the computer before printing, and 3D printing supports prototyping.

They produce custom-made prosthetic limbs or body parts tailored to a patient's specific needs, faster and more affordably than traditional methods.

Tissue engineering is the 3D printing of living cells to create functional tissues, which can be used to repair or replace damaged organs.

False.

3D printed blood vessels are made of biodegradable materials, and are used in surgery to replace damaged vessels.

3D printed pills can be produced with precise doses and drug combinations tailored to a patient.

Tissue engineering has the potential to reduce the need for organ donations.

They have the potential to improve medication adherence and effectiveness, because doses and combinations are tailored to the patient's needs.

An expert system mimics human knowledge and experience and uses a combination of the two to solve problems or answer questions.

The five characteristics are the knowledge base, the rule base, the inference engine, the interface and the explanation system.

The knowledge base is a database of facts used to generate rules that solve problems and make decisions.

The rule base is a set of rules or logic used to apply the knowledge in the knowledge base to specific problems.

The inference engine is a program that applies the rules in the rule base to the facts in the knowledge base in order to solve problems.

The interface provides a way for users to interact with the system and provide input.

The explanation system provides the user with the explanation and reasoning behind decisions or recommendations, and gives a percentage probability of the accuracy of its conclusions.

False.

The knowledge base stores the facts. The inference engine applies the rules in the rule base to those facts to solve problems.

Examples include equipment troubleshooting and repair, technical support and medical diagnosis systems.

Expert systems give consistent results, provide faster responses, can store large amounts of data, and are unbiased.

An expert system is only as good as the data entered, its responses can be cold and lack human emotion, and it requires training to use correctly.

A medical expert system displays the probabilities of possible diagnoses and treatments.

Point of Sale is a computer terminal used to read product barcodes.

Each product record contains its price, stock level and a description.

The information is transferred to the POS terminal, the price is displayed on the screen, and the stock level is reduced by one.

Restocking is triggered automatically when the current stock level falls below the minimum reorder stock level.

Electronic Funds Transfer at the Point of Sale is how a payment is made to purchase goods or services using a card or an electronic device such as a smartphone.

The three examples are chip and PIN, contactless, and near field communication (NFC) devices.

False.

Contactless allows faster transactions by tapping the card on the terminal. It is chip and PIN that requires the customer to enter a personal identification number.

Internet shopping is the act of purchasing goods or services online through a website or mobile application.

Online stores are accessible through web browsers, a wide variety of products and services is available, and stores are convenient and often open 24/7.

It is time-saving and convenient, offers greater product variety with access to the global market, allows customisation options, and brings potential cost savings from competitive pricing and online promotions.

There are security concerns including fraud and identity theft, limited physical interaction so products cannot be touched or tried, delivery delays and fees, and impersonal customer service.

A business can target prices and products at specific groups using buying data, update stock and prices more quickly than a physical store, publicise offers more cheaply than mail shots, reach an international customer base, and gain increased profits from lower overheads.

Businesses face increased competition, digital fraud and security concerns, technical issues and downtime, costs of delivery and returns, problems with customer trust, and dependency on internet infrastructure.

The automated stock system sends a signal to the warehouse computer to order new items.

A recognition system is a way of using computer technology to automatically identify something.

Common examples are facial recognition, speech recognition and optical character recognition.

Optical Mark Recognition detects marked areas on paper by using a special machine to read the marks.

OMR is used for multiple-choice examinations, barcodes and QR codes, automating data collection and entry.

OMR gives fast and efficient data collection and reduces manual entry errors, but it is limited to predetermined responses and is sensitive to poor marking or smudging.

Optical Character Recognition converts printed or handwritten text into digital format.

Automated Number Plate Recognition is an example of OCR, used for reading number plates and controlling entry and exit at airport parking.

There are privacy concerns because number plates are recorded, number plates can be cloned, dirty or broken plates cannot be read, and a lack of staff could lead to vandalism.

Radio Frequency Identification Devices use radio waves to identify and track objects.

RFID tags are made of a microchip and antenna. They can be passive, using energy from the reader, or active, having their own power source.

False.

A passive tag uses energy from the reader. It is an active tag that has its own power source.

Active tags would be used because of the distance involved, tracking each animal's location and medical data.

Near field communication is a subset of RFID which allows communication between two devices in very close proximity.

Passports contain passive chips, which are read by a reader to decrypt the data stored on them.

The Global Positioning System is a satellite system used to track the exact location of an object.

GPS uses orbiting satellites to receive, amplify and transmit signals, with radio frequencies used to communicate between satellites and ground stations. It requires a direct line of sight.

The car's position is calculated using GPS software, data is transmitted every few seconds, an algorithm calculates the speed and location, and the map is updated every few seconds.

They offer a wide coverage area, real-time data transmission, improved communication in remote locations, and accurate location tracking.

They have expensive setup and maintenance, suffer signal interference from weather or obstacles, have limited bandwidth and capacity, and raise privacy concerns and the potential for surveillance.

A geographic information system is a computer system that acts as a database for geographic data, storing any data that contains a location component.

A GIS stores physical features such as rivers, mountains and roads; man-made data such as buildings and utilities; and social and economic data such as demographics, crime rates and property value.

A GIS can analyse geographic data to find patterns, trends and relationships, and visualise geographic data using maps to make it easier to understand.

A GIS can assign the closest emergency services to an emergency, help businesses analyse customer demographics, competitors and gaps in the market, and support tracking deforestation, monitoring pollution and mapping wildlife habitats.

A GIS has a high cost, is only as good as the data it uses, needs specialised training to interpret the visual elements properly, and raises data privacy concerns.

Media communication is a system of creating, transmitting, storing and delivering media content using a global network of satellites.

Media transmission includes TV signals, radio signals and internet data.

False.

Bad weather can affect the quality of the signal received. Time delays can also cause audio and video sync issues, and satellites need regular monitoring and maintenance.

Media communication systems can act as relays, bouncing signals over a large distance.