Answer all questions

1. What are expert systems? (3 marks)

Developed to mimic the expertise and knowledge of experts in a particular field. e.g. medical diagnostics, tax and
financial calculations and engine diagnostics

2. What does the expert system consist of? (4 marks)

A. knowledge base
B. rules base
C. inference engine
D. explanation system and interactive user interface

3. What are the benefits of using Expert system? (2 marks)

Speed up time it takes to solve a problem

Less specialists needed for many cases

4. Explain the process of an Automatic Number Plate Recognition System: (4 marks)

A. Number plate is captured by a digital camera

B. Brightness and contrast of the number plate is adjusted so characters can be read properly
C. Each character is segmented using OCR software
D. Text is stored on a database

5. Define the term GPS: (2 marks)

Global positioning satellite systems, used to determine the exact location of a vehicle or other form of transport
e.g. aeroplane

6. How do GPS devices work? (3 marks)

Satellites orbiting the Earth transmits signals

Micro-processors in GPS (sat nav in cars) pick up these signals and allow the GPS device to determine the exact
position of the vehicle
sat nav, have built in maps to show driver where they are on the road

7. What are the Advantages and disadvantages of using GPS systems? (4 marks)

Advantages:
Safer because driver doesn't have to look at maps
Allow for route re-planning if road is closed
Can give useful information like nearest cafe or petrol station

Disadvantages:
If map is out of date or satellite signal is lost GPS can give incorrect instructions to the driver
8. Describe the process when a person pays for an item at a shop using a debit card containing an embedded
chip (6 marks)

A. Card is inserted into chip and PIN machine and presses OK

B. Asked to enter PIN, entered PIN is checked against PIN stored on embedded chip
C. Validity of card is also checked at the stage
D. If the PINs matched correctly, bank's computer is contacted to check if customer has sufficient funds (or not
terminated)
E. If everything is correct the transaction is authorized and given a unique transaction code
F. Money is the deducted from customer's bank and sent to restaurant's bank

9. Define EFT: (5 marks)

Electronic Funds Transfer

Allows money transfers instructions to be done using a computer. No actual money is transferred. When an EFT
instruction is received the computer system will increase one account by agreed some of money and decrease the
recipients account.

10. Explain the stages of a medical diagnosis using an expert system: (6 marks)

A. User of the system asks a series of questions

B. The inference engine compares the entered data with data in the knowledge base (looking for possible
matches)
C. Rules base helps in the matching process
D. Once match is found system suggests possible solutions and advice
E. The explanation system will explain how the expert system came up with solutions
F. The user will see output on the screen (interactive user interface) in form of text or graphic images of human
anatomy
G. The user can also request further information

11. What are some uses of 3-D printers in medicine? (4 marks)

 The creation of blood vessels and major arteries

 Used in surgical procedures to find out exactly what needs to be done before the actual surgery is carried out
 Can be used in patient consultations where exact models can be created to demonstrate the results of the
surgical procedure
 Development of prosthetics (artificial limbs)
 Design and creation of new medical tools

12. Name four pieces of data, sensors would collect in the monitoring of patients in a hospital: (4 marks)

 blood pressure
 heart rate
 oxygen levels in the blood
 body temperature
13. Explain how automatic stock control (using barcodes) works in super markets: (5 marks)

A. Barcodes allow for automatic stock control

B. Barcode on product is scanned
C. Product is looked up in stock file
D. Product price and description is sent to back to check out
E. Allows the calculation of bill and produces an itemized bill

14. Explain how automatic stock control is updated (3 marks):

A. Each time an item is sold, the record (the key field of which is the barcode number) is updated to indicate the
new stock level.
B. The value is checked against a re-order level and automatically reorders the item.

Define the term EFTPOS: (2 marks)

Electronic Funds Transfer Point of Sale- transfer of funds from customer's bank account of seller electronically

15. Discuss the process of withdrawing cash from an ATM: (5 marks)

A. Bank details are read from the chip

B. Card validity is checked
C. Customer selects a language
D. Customer asked to key in their PIN
E. The keyed in PIN is compared to the one stored on the chip
F. If PIN is matched the customer is allowed to proceed and the next screen appears
G. Customer chooses to deposit or receive cash
H. Machine will count the cash and will be ejected
I. ATM contacts the customer's bank for sufficient funds and if everything is satisfactory customer takes out
card and receives cash

16. Name 5 Applications used for data handling?

A. School Reports
B. Surveys
C. Address Lists
D. Clubs Records
E. Libraries
17. Where is Computer Measurement Used?

Anywhere that data needs to be gathered regularly, a computerized data-logging system can be used. Some

examples are shown below…

Scientific experiments
Many experiments can be set-up and left to run with a data-logging system measuring things like
the temperature of a liquid, etc.
Weather stations
Often these are placed in very remote areas to collect data about rainfall, temperature, wind-speed, wind-
direction, etc. Data needs to be gathered all day, every day. This data can then be used by weather forecasters to
help predict the weather over the coming days.
Environmental monitoring
Scientists are very concerned about the effect that humans are having on the environment. Computer-based
data-logging is often used to help gather evidence of these effects: the level of water in a dam, the speed of
water flowing down a river, the amount of pollution in the air, etc.

18. Why Use Computers to Measure Things?

 Computers do not need to take breaks – they can log data all day, every day, without stopping
 Computers take much more accurate readings than humans can
 Computers can take data readings more frequently (1000s of times a second if necessary)
 Since the logged data is already in a computer, the data can be analysed more quickly and easily (graphs
drawn instantly, etc.)
 Data logging systems can operate in difficult environments (e.g. in the Arctic, or on top of a mountain)
 People are free to do other more useful tasks (rather than watching a thermometer)

19. A geography teacher wants to use a computer to monitor the weather conditions using the school weather
station.  
a) Name three sensors in the weather station.
 Air pressure Sensor
 Heat Sensor
 Humidity Sensor

b) Explain why computers are unable to read the data directly from the sensors.

The Sensors collect data in analogue readings whether. A computer can only understand digital data (1's and 0's)  

c) What device is needed to enable the computer to read the data?

An ADC (analogue to digital converter)

20. A school uses a computer controlled greenhouse to grow plants. Name three sensors that would be used in
the greenhouse

 Water Sensor
 Temperature Sensor
 CO2 Sensor
21. Explain why analogue to digital conversion is needed when computers are used to control a green house.

Because the sensors in the green house collect information in analogue whilst computers use digital to
understand information

22. There are many microprocessors controlled devices in the modern house. Describe the effects on people’s life
style.

Microprocessors speed up many processes that people need to do like cook and wash clothes. A Clothes Dryer
turns a day long chore into a short and simple process. A Dish washer does a similar thing, speeds up a long and
laborious chore.

23. A greenhouse is controlled by a microprocessor, write three physical variables that would be monitored.

 The heat of the room.

 The Levels of different gases in the room
 The intensity of the light in the room

24. Give four advantages of using a computer rather than allowing students to control growing conditions.

 They might not measure the temperature properly

 There readings won’t be as accurate
 It’s difficult to measure gases with limited equipment
 There’s room for Human Error, whilst computers don’t have that aspect to them

25. What is a Computer Model?

A computer model is a computer program that attempts to simulate a real-life system. In other words, it is a
‘virtual’ version of something in the real-world.

26. Why Are Computer Models Used?

 To test a system without having to create the system for real (Building real-life systems can be expensive, and
take a long time)

 To predict what might happen to a system in the future (An accurate model allows us to go forward in virtual
time to see what the system will be doing in the future)

 To train people to use a system without putting them at risk (Learning to fly an airplane is very difficult and
mistake will be made. In a real plane mistakes could be fatal!)

 To investigate a system in great detail (A model of a system can be zoomed in/out or rotated. Time can be
stopped, rewound, etc.)
27. Why Use Computer-Controlled Robots?

 Robots can work 24 hours a day, every day, with no breaks

 Robots don’t need to be paid a wage (so money is saved)

 Robots are extremely accurate compared to humans, so product quality is high

 Robots can perform tasks more quickly than humans, so more products can be made

 Factories with robots don’t need to be heated or even have the lights on, and they don’t need food (so lower
day-to-day costs)

 Robots can work in very dangerous / unhealthy conditions (e.g. with dangerous chemicals)

 Robots don’t get bored / hate their job!

28. Describe theatre booking system

 the customer clicks on the performance they wish to see

 the date and time is typed in
 the required number of seats are also entered
 the seating display in the theatre is displayed on the screen
 the user selects their seat(s) by highlighting the actual seats on the screen display and then clicks CONFIRM to
go to the next part of the process
 the database is then searched to check the availability of the selected seats
 if the seats are available, the total price is shown + the seat numbers, this shows on another screen on the
web page
 if the customer is happy with this, he/she selects CONFIRM on the screen
 the seats are now temporarily set as NO LONGER AVAILABLE
 the customer then enters their personal details or indicates that they are a returning customer (in which case,
the website will already have their details)
 the payment method is then selected and payment made
 the theatre seats are then booked in the customer’s name
 the final details are again shown on the screen
 an email is sent to the customer which they print out as their proof of purchase (this also acts as their printed
ticket when they go to the theatre – an e-ticket)
 The database is finally updated with the transaction and the seats are no longer available to others.

29. What does ATM stand for?

Automatic Teller Machine

30. What are ATMS cash machines used for?

withdrawing cash, depositing money, checking the balance of accounts, transferring money between accounts