Unit assessment
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems
Name:............................................................................. Class:................... Mark:.....................
1. Jessica started her own company developing websites and apps for her clients. The
company has proved popular and she now employs ten designers and developers and five
admin staff working on one floor of a large office block.
(a) To ensure security, all employees must identify themselves before entering the offices.
Instead of using swipe cards or access codes, Jessica decided to use biometric
methods.
Give two input devices that the system could use for biometric identification. [2]
Finger print scanner
And facial recognition scanner
(b) All of the employees use digital devices for their work and Jessica has provided a
mixture of desktop and laptop computers in the office.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each of these types of devices for
her employees.
The advantages of laptops is that its portable and doesn’t always have to be charging
as it has a battery however its easier to steal than a desk top that’s always in one spot and
also is heavy and laptops tend to have have lower specs than a desktop there for
desktops are better for high demanding tasks as it normally has a very fast processor
however the disadvantages of a desktop is it has to be plugged in at all times and uses
more energy in conclusion the employs/ admin staff working on one floor of a large office
block they should use desk tops as they’ll be in one block at all times however and also the
developers need desk tops as the tasks they get tendto be very demanding
however designers should use laptops as they might need to go for meetings and go out
for inspiration
(c) Jessica has decided that all computers in the company will have their magnetic hard
disks replaced with solid state hard drives.
Explain two benefits that this upgrade will provide.
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Unit assessment
Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems
It makes it a safer place to store data as SSD because they work by sending
Electrical signals there for they are more durable than a magnetic hard disks as the
Spinning disk could easily brake
Thay are also newer and more modern there for they are much faster than
magnetic hard disks that’s been around for ages
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Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems
(d) All of the computers used in Jessica’s company require an operating system.
(i) Describe the purpose of an operating system.
An operating system manages all the processing, memory and all the software helping
Hard were now what to do
(ii) Explain two functions of an operating system.
Function 1: manages memories by sending it to the SSD or hard drive and
putting it into certain files
Function 2: also helps the CPU to process and decode information
(e) The employees communicate with their computer through a user interface.
(i) Describe the most suitable interface for the admin staff.
A graphic user interface as its very easy and simple to use and has very detailed
Graphics
(ii) The developers often use a terminal window with a command line interface.
Explain one advantage this gives the developers.
Its faster to process for developers as they know how it works there for accessing the
information very fast
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Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems
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Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems
2. Green Frog Media is a video production company based in London. When they edit their
video files the proprietary video editing software they use has a specialist video format that
most their customers cannot read. Before sending the final edit to customers they will
render the video to an alternative video format.
(a) Explain a suitable video file format for sending to customers.
A open software would be much better as its free to use
(b) Explain what is meant by proprietary software.
Closed software that can only be access by people who are invited or pay for the it to
become a member
(c) The company is considering moving to open source software.
Explain two benefits of open source software over proprietary software.
Benefit 1: its free for uses
Benefit 2:can be easier to access by all and to find and also to advertise
3. StoresWOW! has a chain of shops throughout the country.
(a) Currently the shops use automatic data processing.
Describe two ways this may be carried out.
It can be caried out through spreadsheets that add data when a QR codes are scanned or
when something is bought
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Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems
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Learning Aim A Digital devices in IT systems
(b) To improve efficiency, they are considering the introduction of new technology.
Discuss the factors that they will need to consider before introducing a
new technology.
If its easier than the current technology and who is the target market which will help the
Advantages and disadvantages
[Total 40 marks]
