ICT: Unit 1 - Digital Devices, Software, Memory & Processors – Review Flashcards

A comprehensive set of question-and-answer flashcards covering key concepts from Unit 1: digital device types and features, peripherals, storage, software (system, utility, applications, communication), licensing, memory, and processors.

What is a digital device?

A piece of hardware containing a computer or microcontroller that processes data electronically.

What distinguishes a mainframe computer from a microprocessor?

Mainframes handle large-scale, complex processing for many users; microprocessors are small CPUs embedded in everyday products like washing machines.

Give two examples of personal computers.

• Desktop computers
• Laptop computers

Why are some laptops described as “desktop replacements”?

They are larger, higher-performance laptops intended to stay on a desk but remain portable when needed.

What does SBC stand for and name one example.

Single-Board Computer; e.g. the Raspberry Pi Zero.

What is the role of a SIM card in a mobile phone?

It identifies the subscriber and connects the phone to the mobile network.

State two specialist phone features that aid accessibility.

• Emergency call button
• Large tactile keypad with spoken feedback

List three common features of smartphones besides calling.

• Touch screen
• Wi-Fi/mobile internet
• Camera/media player/game functions

Why do smartphones typically have shorter battery life than basic phones?

They combine many power-hungry functions (large screens, fast CPUs, radios, sensors).

How does a tablet differ from a smartphone?

It is larger; voice-call capability may be absent, but apps and touch interface are similar.

What is meant by ‘multifunctional device’?

A single device able to perform a range of functions beyond its primary purpose (e.g. smartphone acting as camera, GPS, games console).

Define ‘convergence’ in digital devices.

The tendency for different devices to adopt each other’s features, becoming more alike (e.g. phablets).

Name four key device features used to compare digital devices.

• Portability
• Performance
• Connectivity
• Storage capacity
• UI
• Media support
• Energy use
• Expansion
• Security

Give two examples of output peripherals.

• Monitors
• Printers

Which printer type is noisiest and why?

Dot-matrix, because it impacts the paper through an inked ribbon.

What are the colour cartridges in a typical inkjet printer?

• Cyan
• Magenta
• Yellow
• Black

State one advantage of laser printers over inkjets.

Faster high-volume printing with lower cost per page.

What does a 3D printer do?

Creates physical objects by adding material layer by layer from a digital model.

What professional device draws large CAD images using pens?

A plotter.

List two key specifications of data projectors.

• Lamp brightness (lumens)
• Native resolution

Explain the difference between stereo and surround sound.

Stereo uses two channels (left/right); surround uses four or more channels placed around the listener.

What is an actuator?

A control device that converts electrical signals into physical action (e.g. motor, valve).

Differentiate between storage device and storage media.

Device houses the mechanism (drive); media is the actual material storing data (disk, tape, flash chips).

Name two characteristics of hard disk drives (HDD).

Spinning magnetic platters; mechanical read/write heads.

What typical capacities can a CD, single-layer DVD, and single-layer Blu-ray hold?

CD ≈ 700\,\text{MB}, DVD ≈ 4.7\,\text{GB}, Blu-ray ≈ 25\,\text{GB}} .

Define SSD.

Solid State Drive – a storage device using flash memory rather than spinning disks.

Why are SSDs preferred in portable devices?

They have no moving parts, are faster, lighter, more shock-resistant, and lower power.

What unit equals 1\,000\,000\,000 bytes?

1\,\text{GB} (gigabyte).

Give the four main types of utility software.

• Backup utilities
• Defragmentation utilities
• Compression utilities
• Formatting utilities

What is the purpose of disk defragmentation?

Re-orders fragmented files on HDDs so related data sits contiguously, speeding access.

When would you use compression software?

To reduce file size for storage savings or quicker transmission.

Explain formatting a disk.

Prepares storage media with a file system; erases existing data for normal use.

List four key functions of an operating system.

• User interface
• Memory management
• Resource management
• Security
• Print spooling

What is print spooling?

Queueing print jobs so the computer can continue working while pages print sequentially.

How does a network OS differ from a single-user OS?

It provides user log-in authentication, separates user accounts, and manages shared network resources.

Give one example each of system and application software.

• System software: Windows 10 OS
• Application software: spreadsheet program

Name three common office productivity applications.

• Word processor
• Spreadsheet software
• Presentation software

What is ‘What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get’ (WYSIWYG) web authoring?

Designing pages visually so the editing view closely matches the final browser output.

State two typical features of photo-editing software.

• Cropping
• Adjusting brightness/contrast
• Filters
• Red-eye removal

Which software type helps plan tasks, milestones and critical paths?

Project management software.

Define control software.

Programs that read sensor inputs and issue commands to actuators to influence physical systems.

What is communication software’s main purpose?

Provide remote system access and exchange messages/files via text, image, audio, or video.

Differentiate SMS from instant messaging.

SMS uses mobile network, max 160 characters and no internet required; instant messaging uses internet, richer media, presence info.

What does FTP stand for?

File Transfer Protocol – a way to transfer files over a network.

Contrast free/open-source with proprietary software.

Open-source provides source code and freedom to modify; proprietary keeps code closed and usage governed by the vendor.

Why are software updates important?

To fix security bugs, improve compatibility/performance, add features and enhance usability.

What does RAM stand for and is it volatile?

Random Access Memory; yes, it loses data when power is off.

Why might a computer use virtual memory?

When RAM is full, the OS uses slower secondary storage to extend memory, allowing more programs to run.

Name two ways to improve multitasking performance on a PC.

• Install more RAM
• Use a faster multi-core processor

How is ROM typically used in a PC?

Stores firmware/bootloader that starts the computer and loads the OS.

Give two erasable variants of ROM.

• EPROM (UV-erasable)
• EEPROM (electrically erasable, basis of flash memory)

What are the advantages of flash memory over hard disks?

Non-volatile, fast access, low power, shock-resistant, no moving parts.

Define ‘core’ in a processor.

An individual CPU unit within a processor chip capable of executing instructions independently.

If a CPU runs at 3\,\text{GHz}, how many clock cycles occur each second?

3\,000\,000\,000 cycles per second.

Explain one benefit of multi-core processors besides speed.

Can run at lower clock speeds to save energy and reduce heat while maintaining throughput.

What is meant by clock speed?

Number of cycles per second at which a CPU executes instructions, measured in hertz.

Name three input peripherals other than a keyboard.

• Mouse
• Scanner
• Microphone
• Joystick
• Graphics tablet
• Barcode reader

What is OCR?

Optical Character Recognition – software that converts scanned text images into editable text.

How does an OMR sheet work?

Scanner detects marks in predefined positions to capture multiple-choice responses.

Linear barcode vs QR code: state one difference.

QR (matrix) codes store more data and can be scanned from any angle; linear codes hold limited numeric data.

What is a touchscreen’s two main technologies?

Resistive (pressure-based) and capacitive (conductive touch).

Why won’t a capacitive screen respond to woollen gloves?

Gloves are non-conductive, so they don’t alter the screen’s electric field needed for detection.

List four biometric authentication methods.

• Fingerprint recognition
• Facial recognition
• Voice recognition
• Iris recognition

Give one advantage and one disadvantage of biometric scanners.

• Advantage: Difficult to forget/lose credentials
• Disadvantage: Privacy concerns and cost

What does RFID stand for and give one everyday use.

Radio-Frequency Identification; e.g. contactless travel cards or inventory tracking.

Identify three environmental factors sensors might measure.

• Light
• Temperature
• Motion
• Humidity
• Proximity
• Pressure

State three benefits of using sensors over humans.

• Operate in dangerous places
• Provide continuous monitoring
• Eliminate human error

What unit expresses printer resolution?

Dots per inch (dpi) – though not explicitly in text, monitors/printing resolution conceptually uses pixels/dpi.

Why are dot-matrix printers still used in some businesses?

They can print multi-part carbon copies in noisy industrial settings.

Explain optical vs digital zoom in cameras.

Optical zoom uses lens movement for true magnification; digital zoom enlarges pixels, degrading quality.

What is HD resolution typically expressed as?

1280 \times 720 (720\text{p}) or 1920 \times 1080 (1080\text{p}).

Define ‘smart TV’.

A television with internet connectivity and apps allowing streaming and other online services.

What storage medium is preferred for whole-system backups in large firms?

Magnetic tape – high capacity and low cost per gigabyte.

Why is energy consumption a key device feature?

Lower energy use cuts costs, lengthens battery life, and reduces environmental impact.

What is a Kensington lock?

A physical security slot/lock that secures laptops or monitors to furniture to deter theft.

How many possible combinations exist for a 4-digit PIN?

10\,000 (0000–9999).

What utility schedules automatic file copies?

Backup software.

Give two common keyboard layouts besides QWERTY.

• AZERTY (French)
• DVORAK
• Specialist video-editing mapped layouts

What is a track pad?

A flat touch-sensitive surface used to control a pointer, common on laptops.

Name two wireless connectivity standards mentioned.

• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth

Explain ‘media support’ in device features.

Types of removable media a device can read/write, e.g. SD card, DVD, USB.

What is fragmentation in storage?

When a file’s data is stored in non-contiguous sectors, slowing access.

Why does an OS manage memory?

To allocate RAM to programs and reclaim it, preventing conflicts and maximizing performance.

What tool shows live CPU, memory and network usage in Windows?

Task Manager.

State two reasons a PC might slow down when RAM is full.

Use of slow virtual memory on disk; excessive swapping degrades SSD/HDD performance.

What is meant by ‘backward compatibility’ in optical drives?

Ability of a newer drive (e.g. Blu-ray) to read older media formats like DVD/CD.

Why are passwords still used despite biometrics?

They are inexpensive, easy to implement, and provide alternative access if biometric sensors fail.

List three types of application that can run on modern games consoles besides games.

• Streaming video applications
• Music players
• Web browsers

What is the Global Positioning System (GPS)?

A satellite-based navigation system providing position data globally, accurate to about 5\,\text{m} .

How does a navigation aid update routes when you deviate?

Uses GPS data plus orientation sensors and recalculates path using stored or downloaded maps.

State one benefit of smart home automation.

Remote monitoring and control of heating, lighting, etc., improving convenience and energy efficiency.

What is Run Length Encoding (RLE)?

A compression method storing repeated data as value+count pairs (e.g. a8b6c2).

Why should you back up before a software update?

Updates may introduce errors or remove components, risking data loss or system failure.

What is a software firewall?

OS component that filters incoming/outgoing network traffic based on security rules.

Explain ‘print driver’ briefly.

Software translating OS print commands into a printer’s specific control language (implied under OS resource management).

Give two examples of sound-editing processing effects.

• Noise reduction
• Normalisation
• Reverb
• Tempo change
• Fade

Which communication software type shows when someone is typing to you?

Instant messaging applications.

What is freeware?

Proprietary software supplied free of charge but without access to its source code.

Why does a quad-core 2\,\text{GHz} CPU often outperform a single-core 3\,\text{GHz} CPU?

Four cores can handle more simultaneous instructions despite lower individual clock speed.

What is the main security risk of magnetic-strip cards?

Data can be skimmed and cloned easily.