OCR_Computing_GCSE_Software Flashcards
Karen wants to use handheld computers to take customers’ orders in her restaurant. She is thinking of using custom written, open source software.
State what is meant by custom written software.
Software created especially for a user/the restaurant
Karen wants to use handheld computers to take customers’ orders in her restaurant. She is thinking of using custom written, open source software.
State reasons why Karen may decide to use custom written software.
Appropriate software may not exist
Existing software may not do exactly what restaurant wants
Existing software may not be compatible with restaurant’s hardware
Existing software may contain additional features (more complex and expensive)
Karen wants to use handheld computers to take customers’ orders in her restaurant. She is thinking of using custom written, open source software.
Discuss the implications of creating open source software for the restaurant.
A* Question 6 Marks !
Points to be made include:
Open source – licence-free, the restaurant will make the software and its source code available for others to use/improve.
Financial implications include: no need to pay for license, can reuse/adapt free open source software which is similar BUT loss of development costs/software will be available to competitors
Quality implications include: large community of open source developers can see and comment on code or can be consulted/ software has to conform to certain standards to be released under public licence BUT open source code is used as is, with no guarantees,
Ethical implications include: Open source encourages “open culture” values - free sharing, collaboration BUT restaurant is a business trying to make a profit
One of the functions of an operating system is multi-tasking.
Explain one reason why multi-tasking is needed in an operating system.
Allows more than one program to run at the same time by sharing processor time / resources between the programs.
One of the functions of an operating system is multi-tasking.
State two other functions of an operating system.
Providing a user interface.
File/disk management.
Peripheral management
Providing a platform for hardware.
Providing a platform for applications.
Memory management
A school uses a computer system to monitor the attendance, punctuality and homework of its pupils. The school has decided to use off-the-shelf software.
State advantages of off-the-shelf software.
Available now the school will not have to wait.
Recommendations available / can see it working in other schools.
Tried and tested / less likely to contain bugs (given how critical the application is).
Costs less than custom-written / as the school does not pay for the full cost of development.
More support / documentation.
A school uses a computer system to monitor the attendance, punctuality and homework of its pupils. The school has decided to use off-the-shelf software.
State disadvantages of off-the-shelf software.
May contain features which the school does not need.
May not contain features which the school needs.
May not be compatible with school’s hardware.
May not be compatible with school’s processes
Developer not available to make adjustments necessary.
Describe the following type of common utility program.
Antivirus
Scans the computer periodically to check if any software has been installed which contains code that may harm the computer.
Removes/quarantines these programs / notifies the user.
Prevents these programs from being installed.
Protects the computer by preventing important files (eg the boot sector or operating system) from being changed
**Describe **the following **type **of common utility program.
Disk defragmenter
Moves (parts of) files around so that all parts of a file are stored together (allowing files to be accessed more quickly).
Free space is collected together (allowing large files to be saved easily).
An advertisement for a personal computer is shown below.
What is software?
Programs that can be run on the computer.
Apps/Applications is NOT accepted in markscheme !
An advertisement for a personal computer is shown below.
Give one example of software from the advertisement.
PS Anti-vius.
Ali’s new computer uses a single-user, multi-tasking operating system.
What is a single-user operating system?
Only one user can use the computer at any given time.
Ali’s new computer uses a single-user, multi-tasking operating system.
What is a multi-tasking operating system?
The computer can appear to run several programs at the same time eg word processing while playing music by sharing processor time and resources.
Ali’s new computer uses a single-user, multi-tasking operating system.
Ali wants to know which utility programs he will need to keep his computer secure and running smoothly. Discuss the utility programs Ali will need, justifying why he needs them.
The quality of written communication will be assessed in your answer to this question.
EXAM Tip: A plumber or electrician don a utiliy belt. Why? the belt has useful stuff to fix things and keep thing running!
Security:Antivirus/Anti-spyware – regularly checks computer for programs designed to harm the system / gather information and deletes / disables them – such software is easily acquired from the Internet and could result in significant damage / financial loss / identity theft etc… if not removed.
Firewall – controls access to the computer through the network to prevent hackersDefinitions need to be updated regularly– because new viruses and spyware programs are produced all the time.
Keep computer running smoothly:
Disk maintenance defragmenting - reorganise files so that they are stored in blocks next to each other – because file access quicker and may free up space
Disk cleanup - search for and delete files which are no longer needed – because this frees up space which can be used for other programs
System maintenance:
system cleanup - search the computer for settings which are no longer needed – programs which are slowing down the computer – because this improves performance
system update - search on the Internet for updated versions of the software on the computer and downloading/installing the updates – because this ensures that the computer always has the latest version including any fixes for known problems / security issues.
A shopkeeper needs software to manage the accounts of her shop. She decides to use off-the-shelf software instead of custom written software. Describe advantages to the shopkeeper of off-the-shelf software, compared to custom written software.
Immediately available so the shopkeeper can start using it straightaway.
Tried and tested and so less likely to have errors.
No development costs as this has already been done by the developer.
More support available – many other users who can provide help.
