Computer Science ethics and coding language

Abstraction

A way of reducing a problem to it’s essential details by ignoring all irrelevant details

Algorithm

A precise sequence of instructions to solve a problem.

Decomposition

Breaking a complex task down into a set of smaller simpler tasks

Pattern Recognition

Identifying patterns and recognising when two patterns are similar

Iteration

The process of repeating steps in the software development process until the desired outcome is reached.

General positives of the internet on society

1. Work:The creation of thousands of jobs such as computer programmers, IT managers, and web designers

2. Entertainment: Increase in forms of entertainment and improved access to others

3. Transport: GPS, booking flights, cheap computer aided modelling in the creation of vehicles instead of wasting resources on making them physically.

4. Communication: Social media and the internet allow us to communicate with others way easier.

Negatives of computers in society

1. Influence in elections through widespread fake news and even the hacking of electronic voting systems.

2. The carbon emissions in the manufacturing of computer systems.

3. There is greater inequality caused by the gap between those have easy and affordable access to computers and the internet and those who do not.

Positives of AI in society

1. Automation of tasks leading to increased efficiency in areas such as manufacturing.

2. Enhanced decision making which automatically takes into account most that could go wrong or right in a decision.

3. Medical advancements through AI

negatives/risks of AI in our society

1. Job displacement: AI could take over certain jobs previously done by humans possibly leading to economic instability

2. Privacy concerns: AI technology such as facial recognition can infringe on individual privacy.

3. Dependence: Dependence on Ai may reduce human decision making skills and critical thinking over time.

4. Ethical Concerns: Issues like autonomous weapons or surveillance raise ethical questions about AI’s role in society.

Hexadecimal Numbers

Displays numbers in sub rows of ascending powers of 16 starting with 16^0/1

Characteristics of Embedded systems that distinguish them from general computers:

1. Specific Functionality: Designed to perform a specific task rather than general-purpose computing.

2. Real-time Operation: Often have real-time computing constraints and must respond to inputs within strict time limits.

3. Resource Constraints: Typically have limited processing power, memory, and storage compared to general computers.

4. Integration: Often integrated into larger systems, such as appliances and vehicles, rather than existing as standalone devices.

5. Reliability and Stability: Needs to be highly reliable and stable as they are often used in critical applications.

Difference between Analogue and digital signals.

Analogue signals are continuous signals which represent physical measurements.

Digital signals are discrete time signals generated by digital modulation.

Unicode

A system that uses numbers to represent all characters from many languages (like Chinese, Arabic, emojis, etc.). It supports over a million characters.

ASCII

A basic system that uses numbers to represent English characters (like A, B, 1, 2, etc.). It uses 7 bits and supports 128 characters.

Advantages of Unicode

1. Supports many languages and symbols – You can write in almost any language.

2. Great for global use – People around the world can share text without problems.

Advantages of ASCII

1. Very simple and fast – It’s small and easy for computers to use quickly.

2. Uses very little memory – It only needs 7 bits, so it saves space.

3. Works well for English-only text – It includes all basic English letters and symbols.

ASCII vs UNICODE

Feature	ASCII	Unicode
Simplicity	Very simple and fast	More complex but powerful
Memory Usage	Uses very little memory (7 bits)	Uses more memory (up to 32 bits)
Language Support	Only English	Many languages around the world
Global Compatibility	Not good for global use	Great for global use
Special Characters	Very limited (no emojis)	Supports emojis and symbols

Phishing

when someone pretends to be a trustworthy person or company to trick you into giving away personal information like passwords, credit card numbers, or bank details.

DNS Attack

when hackers target the Domain Name System (DNS)—the system that translates website names (like google.com) into IP addresses—to disrupt, redirect, or spy on internet traffic.

Difference between phishing and DNS attack

• Phishing tricks you into giving info.

• DNS attacks trick your computer or network into going to the wrong place.

Distinguish between high-level programming language and low-level

High-Level Language:

• Easier for humans to read and write

• Examples: Python, Java, C++

• Less control over hardware

• More portable (works on different systems)

Low-Level Language:

• Closer to machine code (harder for humans to read)

• Examples: Assembly, Machine Code

• More control over hardware

• Less portable (specific to hardware or system)

What is a low-level programming language

A low-level programming language is a type of programming language that provides little abstraction from the computer’s hardware. It is designed to give the programmer direct control over the system’s resources, such as memory and processor instructions.

Key Characteristics:

• Closer to machine code (binary language).

• Provides control over hardware and memory management.

• Less readable and harder to use for humans.

High level programming language.

A high-level programming language is a programming language that provides a greater level of abstraction from the computer’s hardware. It is designed to be easy for humans to read, write, and understand, often using syntax similar to natural language.

Key Characteristics:

• Easier to read and write.

• More abstract, not concerned with hardware details.

• Automatically handles memory management and other low-level tasks.

Examples include Python, Java, and C++.

HTML

Static Website

A website made of fixed webpages written in HTML and CSS.

Dynamic Website

A website that generates content in real time based on user input, preferences, or interactions.

Modular programming

A software design technique that involves dividing a program into separate, self contained modules or functions.