Question answers for storage devices

·        Backing storage:
Name two items which are storage media.
Flash memory card      Graph plotter       Magnetic disc       OCR          OMR            Touch pad

·        Explain why the following are used with PCs.

Pen drives- To transfer smaller files

Blu-ray- For storage of up to 50gb and can hold HD movies

Fixed hard disc drives- Used in computers to store the permanent files

·        Ring two items which are output devices.

Blu-ray disc

Optical mark reader

Graph plotter

Projector

Web cam

Graphics tablet

·        Complete the following sentences using the most suitable storage device or medium listed below.

(a)memory stick

(b)fixed hard disk drive

(c)DVD R

A student taking his coursework home to develop would use a  memory stick

A company selling copies of games would use a DVD R

An office worker who never took her work home would store her work on a fixed hard disk drive

Storage devices and media

Use of Backing Storage at Kings College

• Fixed hard discs- Used in every computer in the school
• Portable hard discs- Used to store large files
• Magnetic tape- Uses serial access for reading and writing.  Used for backups of file servers for computer networks. Optical backing storage media such as CDs and DVD and is quite cheap for backing up files at King's.
• Optical backing storage media such as CDs and DVD-CDs tend to be used for large files (but smaller than 1Gb) which are too big for a floppy disc to hold such as music and general animation.  DVDs are used to hold very large files (several Gb) such as films at school.
• CD ROM/DVD ROM-Applications which require the prevention of deletion of data, accidental or otherwise for students.
• CD R/DVD- Applications which require a single burning of data, e.g. CDs Z recording of music downloads from the internet, recording of music from MP3 format, recording of data for archiving or backup purposes at King's.
• CD RW/DVD RW-Applications which require the updating of information and ability to record over old data at King's.
• DVD RAM- Same properties as DVD RW but quicker access and data can be overwritten more easily. 
• Blu-ray-Capacities of 25Gb, 50Gb and 100 Gb.  Used for storing films (movies). 25Gb equates to 2 hrs HDTV, 13hrs standard definition TV
• Solid state backing storage-Smallest form of memory, used as removable storage at school.  More robust than other forms of storage. 
• Memory sticks/Pen drive-Used at Kings to transport small files conveniently.
• Flash memory cards-Used in digital cameras, palmtops, mobile phones, MP3 players at Kings

Networks

 Section 4 of the Theory (Paper 1)- Networks

• Router: A router is a device that forwards data packets across computer networks. Routers perform the data "traffic directing" functions on the Internet. A router is a microprocessor-controlled device that is connected to two or more data lines from different networks. For more info:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Router

• WIFI:A Wi-Fi enabled device such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player can connect to the Internet when within range of a wireless network connected to the Internet. The coverage of one or more (interconnected) access points — called hotspots when offering public access — generally comprises an area the size of a few rooms but may be expanded to cover many square miles, depending on the number of access points with overlapping coverage. For more info:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WIFI

• Browser: A web browser or Internet browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. For more info:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_browser

• WAN: A wide area network (WAN) is a computer network that covers a broad area (i.e., any network whose communications links cross metropolitan, regional, or national boundaries). This is in contrast with personal area networks (PANs), local area networks (LANs), campus area networks (CANs), or metropolitan area networks (MANs) which are usually limited to a room, building, campus or specific metropolitan area (e.g., a city) respectively. For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wide_area_network

• LAN:A local area network (LAN) is a computer network that connects computers and devices in a limited geographical area such as home, school, computer laboratory or office building. The defining characteristics of LANs, in contrast to wide area networks (WANs), include their usually higher data-transfer rates, smaller geographic area, and lack of a need for leased telecommunication lines. For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_area_network

• Intranet: An intranet is a private computer network that uses Internet Protocol technology to securely share any part of an organization's information or network operating system within that organization. The term is used in contrast to internet, a network between organizations, and instead refers to a network within an organization. For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intranet

IGCSE Theory Section 3-Storage devices and media

Section 3: Storage devices and media
Candidates should be able to:
(a)  describe common backing storage media (including magnetic tapes, hard discs, all forms of CD and
DVD, memory sticks, flash memory) and their associated devices
(b)  identify typical uses of the storage media, including types of access (e.g. serial/sequential, direct/
random) and access speeds

• Fixed hard discs Used to store operating systems, software and working data.  Any application which requires very fast access to data for both reading and writing to.  Not for applications which need portability.  Used for online and real time processes requiring direct access.  Used in file servers for computer networks
• Portable hard discs Used to store very large files which need transporting from one computer to another and price is not an issue.  More expensive than other forms of removable media
• Magnetic tapes Any application which requires extremely large storage capacity and speed of access is not an issue.  Uses serial access for reading and writing.  Used for backups of file servers for computer networks.  Used in a variety of batch processing applications such as reading of bank cheques, payroll processing and general stock control
• Optical backing storage media such as CDs and DVDs CDs tend to be used for large files (but smaller than 1Gb) which are too big for a floppy disc to hold such as music and general animation.  DVDs are used to hold very large files (several Gb) such as films.  Both CDs and DVDs are portable i.e. they can be transported from one computer to another.  Both can be used to store computer data
• CD ROM/DVD ROM Applications which require the prevention of deletion of data, accidental or otherwise.  CDs used by software companies for distributing software programs and data; by music companies for distributing music albums and by book publishers for distributing encyclopaedias, reference books etc.  DVDs used by film distributors
• CD R/DVD R Applications which require a single eburningf of data, e.g. CDs Z recording of music downloads from the internet, recording of music from MP3 format, recording of data for archiving or backup purposes.  
• DVDs Z recording of films and television programs
• CD RW/DVD RW Applications which require the updating of information and ability to record over old data.  Not suitable for music recording but is very useful for keeping generations of files.  DVDs have between five and ten times the capacity of CDs
• DVD RAM Same properties as DVD RW but quicker access and data can be overwritten more easily.  Similar to floppies in nature but has 3000Z6000 times more storage and uses optical technology
• Blu-ray Capacities of 25Gb, 50Gb and 100 Gb.  Used for storing films (movies). 25Gb equates to 2 hrs HDTV, 13hrs standard definition TV.  It is possible to playback video on a disc while simultaneously recording HD video.  (Will be) used for storage of PC data
• Solid state backing storage Smallest form of memory, used as removable storage.  More robust than other forms of storage.  More expensive than other forms, but can be easily written to and updated
• Memory sticks/Pen drives Can store up to many Gb.  Used to transport files and backup data from computer to computer
• Flash memory cards Used in digital cameras, palmtops, mobile phones, MP3 players

IGCSE Theory Section 1-Types and components of computer systems

Section 1: Types and components of computer systems
Candidates should be able to:
(a) define hardware, giving examples
(b) define software, giving examples
(c) describe the difference between hardware and software
(d)  identify the main components of a general-purpose computer: central processing unit, main/internal
memory (including ROM and RAM), input devices, output devices and secondary/backing storage
(e)  identify operating systems, including those which contain a graphical user interface, a command line
interface
(f)  identify different types of computer including Personal Computer or desktop, mainframe, laptop, palmtop
and Personal Digital Assistant
(g) describe recent developments in ICT

IGCSE Theory Section 2-Input and Output Devices

Section 2: Input and output devices-

Candidates should be able to:
(a)  identify the following input devices:
   keyboards, numeric keypads, pointing devices (including mouse, touch pad and tracker ball), remote
controls, joysticks, touch screens, magnetic stripe readers, chip readers, PIN pads, scanners, digital
cameras, microphones, sensors, graphics tablet, MICR, OMR, OCR, barcode readers, video cameras,
web cams, light pens
(b) identify suitable uses of the input devices stating the advantages and disadvantages of each:

• Numeric keypad Applications where only numeric data is to be entered.  Inserting personal identification number (PIN) for Chip and PIN credit/debit cards, or when using an ATM machine to withdraw money or check a bank balance
• Pointing devices Z all All applications which require selection from a graphical user interface.  For example: the selection of data from a set list or menu
• Trackerball For use by people with limited motor skills e.g. young children or people with disabilities
• Magnetic stripe readers At POS terminals, ATMs and in security applications
• Chip readers and PIN pads Payment cards, ID cards, door control systems, public transport tickets
• Optical Mark Reader Inputting pencil marks on a form such as a school register, candidate exam answers, any application involving input of a choice of options 
• Optical Character Reader Inputting text to a computer ready for processing by another software package such as word processors, spreadsheets, databases etc.
• Light pen Where desktop space is limited, it is used instead of a mouse or for drawing applications where a graphics tablet might be too big, for more information : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_pen
• CRT monitor Applications where space is not a problem.  Applications where more than one user may need to view screen simultaneously such as in design use, e.g. when several designers may need to offer suggestions on a prototype
• TFT monitor Applications where space is limited such as small offices.  Applications where only one person needs to view the screen such as individual workstations
• Laser printer Applications which require low noise and low chemical emissions, e.g. most networked systems.  Applications which require rapid, high quality and high volumes of output, e.g. most offices and schools
• Inkjet printer Applications which require portability and low volume output, where changing cartridges is not an issue e.g. small offices and stand alone systems.  Applications which require very high quality output and where speed is not an issue, e.g. digital camera applications
• Dot matrix printer Applications where noise is not an issue and copies have to be made, e.g. industrial environments (multipart forms, continuous stationery, labels etc.), car sales and repair companies, manufacturing sites
• Graph plotter CAD applications, particularly where large printouts are required such as A0 

Excel formula

• Save as excel file, not csv.
• All formulas start with equals and have brackets
• Press enter after you have named a cell

Vocabulary

Desktop- PC

Server- Mainframe, accessed bulk processing and storage

Palm top 

PDA- personal digital assistance (not a phone)