A2 -Paper 3 Model Questions

Vector images consist of shapes which can be edited into different shapes to change the appearance of the image.

Describe the techniques that can be applied to the shapes in a vector image to change its appearance.

Answer explanation

Key Answers :

• Use of Bezier handles to change angle of line/curve that starts/ends at anchor /node /smooth control point

• Moving node/anchors/control point to change the start/end points of Bezier curves (that make up rounded shape)

• Dragging node from one position to another/co-ordinates on the image canvas

• Adding node to line to divide line into two and moving new node

• Deleting nodes to join lines and remove curves/angles in the lines

• Group/ungroup shapes to allow for movement/scaling of parts of images

• Changing the colour/ transparency /size /rotation of shape/object in the image

• Manually editing/amending the code/instructions in the SVG XML file.

Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the use of data mining by businesses.

Answer explanation

Benefits: Max five from:

• Data mining analyses a vast amount of data from numerous source to discover trends/relationships/links between data that are not (immediately) obvious

• Retail businesses analyse historical data to be able to predict who may respond to advertising campaigns/targeted advertising to increase sales & find new markets

• Financial institutions analyses customer data to discover/detect fraudulent credit card transactions • to protect credit card owner/user • detect/determine what (type of) customers may/may not be a good risk for loans

• Manufacturers analyse engineering/ production data to detect faulty equipment /determine optimal control parameters

• To increase quality/reduce errors/defects in their processes

Drawbacks: Max five from:

• Personal privacy issues of extracting data from internet activities/social networks/e-commerce/forums/blogs concerns the public

• Businesses may lose control of their customer data when it is used for data mining and may be/could be responsible for resulting any data loss/breach

• Customers/clients cannot be sure/certain their data is anonymised during data mining/data cannot be traced back

• Customers data must be kept secure during the data mining process • because any data loss will result in costs to the business/legal liability for the business

• Data collected/determined/found/linked through data mining can be misused by businesses • to take advantage of vulnerable people/discriminate against a group of people.

Different methods can be used to make objects appear to move in computer animations. Explain why key frames are used in computer animations.

Answer explanation

Key points :

• To define or specify the start and end point of a movement (of the objects)

• To define/specify the movement (of the objects) − that the viewer will see (1)

• To define/specify the timing of the movement (1) − by the position of the key frame in a sequence of frames (1).

Cellular networks are used to provide mobile communications for users.

Describe the structure of a cellular network.

Answer explanation

Key points :

Three from:

• Base stations (cellular subsystem) for (wireless) connection to end user

• Core or central switched network for handling voice calls/text messages

• Packet switched network for handling (mobile) data and internet traffic

• Public switched telecommunications for connection into the global telephone networks.

Loops in JavaScript repeatedly execute blocks of code.

Describe how a for loop works in JavaScript code.

Answer explanation

Four from:

• Loops through a block of code a number of times − depending on the outcome of testing a condition

• Requires usually three expressions or statements in the syntax

− A declared variable/an expression to be evaluated before each iteration

− Expression to be evaluated at start may be omitted and it does not produce an error by JavaScript if omitted

• Incrementing the variable at end of iteration/loop is optional

• Loop continues until condition is met

• Loop will continue forever if condition not met

• If evaluate statement (which is expression 2) is omitted then a Break must be included to prevent loop going on forever

Describe the benefits to businesses of employees using instant messaging to communicate with other employees for business purposes.

Answer explanation

Key points : Six from e.g.:

• very Simple and no expertise required to set up and use by all employees/other businesses

• Accessible at any time/anywhere/at home/while mobile that has a network connection

• Accessible from almost all computing devices so no specific hardware required

• Provides real-time communications between employees/other businesses enabling fast responses to queries/issues (compared to email) - eliminates delays in communications

• (May be) cheaper than using telephone systems for long distance /international/ lengthy conversations so saves money

• Can keep/record of a conversation/messages for reference/archive/legal purposes

• Less disruptive to employee workflow than telephone calls/can have several IM conversations simultaneously/less intrusive in meetings

• Can increase productivity of employees who require immediate assistance/assist others/customers

• Can be used alongside/as adjunct to video-conferencing

• Can be used for group chats

• Use of end-to-end encryption can make communications secure.

A new head office is to be designed and built for a company.

Evaluate the use of project management software for supporting this project.

Answer explanation

Evaluate: judge or calculate the quality, importance, amount, or value of something.

Max 6 from e.g.:

• The variety of tools available in project management software can help drive a project forward.

• Can collaborate with team members using communication tools in real time

• so that each team member is kept up to date/can deal with issues/problems as they arise/happen

• Can share document with tools that allow individuals to edit/amend/update reports/allow transparency in actions/issues

• Control/manage costs to keep track of expenditure/track budgets throughout the project • to avoid overspend/re-allocation of resources

• Can help manage risks/forecasting problems/issues to enable control/mitigation of risk/problems • to enable the project to continue unhindered/uninterrupted

• Can create reports in different formats/from various data sources/automatically send • to keep team members/management/ stakeholders informed/updated

• Can be intuitive to use/has dashboard-based interfaces which need little training • to use/simple to use and easy to install allowing quick implementation and start-up of projects Against: Max 6 from e.g.:

• Can be expensive with costs outweighing the return on the investment (ROI)

• Not economic to use/train users for some projects so company loses money on the project

• Cannot carry out specialised task as well as dedicated/specialised software • so may not be used/may need to invest in/use specialised applications for some tasks

• Head Office designs/project may be simple

• so may not need PMS software/PMS software may complicate the project and delay competition/result in excessive costs

• Automated alerts may slow work/interrupt work • because more time is taken on dealing with every alert/too many alerts/setting up all the alerts so project is delayed/costs overrun.

Technicians improve software by carrying out maintenance.

Corrective maintenance modifies software to correct problems that have been identified in error reports from users. Identify and describe two other types of software maintenance carried out by technicians.

Answer explanation

Key points :

Six from: Two types of maintenance from:

• Adaptive maintenance (1)

− (Modifies and) updates software after delivery to the users

− In response to new/ up-to-date technology / hardware/operating environment

− In response to changes in industry/business requirements

− In response to changes/amendments to regulations / legislation.

• Preventative maintenance (1)

− Modifies and updates software after delivery to the users

− To avoid or prevent errors that might occur in the future & protect against possible problems

− To fix minor errors that do not affect function/cosmetic errors

• Perfective maintenance (1)

− Enhances/improves/increases the performance of software after delivery and during the lifetime of the software

− Enhances/ increases the usability/user experience of the software

− Enhances/increases the reliability & security of the software (to increase its life span)

− Enhances/improves/increases the (ease of) maintenance of the software.

__________________ images can be compressed when stored and used on computer systems.

A small company is considering installing a mail server to manage email for its five employees.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages to the company of using its own mail server.

Answer explanation

Discuss: write about issue(s) or topic(s) in depth in a structured way One mark for valid description of a mail server:

• Mail server is a dedicated device/computer /server - its used for sending/receiving/storing/forwarding (email) messages

Max 4 from: Advantages:

• Company can provide each employee with own/customised/business email address/account − which is used solely for company business

• Additional departmental/service email accounts e.g. sales@/support@ can be provided at no extra cost

• Company can control/manage email policy − so that only authorised people/employees can send/receive email on premises with company email/no unauthorised use of personal email accounts in company locations

• Company emails can be archived/stored for later reference/use meet legal requirements for data protection/consumer protection

• Company emails can be filtered/scanned for malware/spam − before being delivered to employee/can be scanned for malware before being sent

• Employees can be allocated a quota/size of inbox for sending/receiving emails

Max 4 from: Disadvantages:

• Mail servers require technical expertise/maintenance − which may be beyond/cost too much for small company

• Mail servers are difficult/complex to set up/troubleshoot/maintain/configure

• Cost of hardware/software/licencing to run the mail service may be excessive for small company

• SMTP services/servers/sending of email from own server are (often) prohibited on ISP accounts − so extra costs/technical expertise for business internet access for small company • Difficult to stay off/avoid blacklists/block lists if mail server incorrectly configured