Types of data networks

LAN: Local Area Network CAN: Campus Area Network MAN: Metropolitan Area Network WAN: Wide Area Network PAN: Personal Area Network

A Local Area Network (LAN) has a limited geographic distance, typically a single building. A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a network that spans a large geographical area, such as a country, a continent, or even the world.

Types of LANs
StarAll communication goes through the hub. RingEach node only is connected to the bus and all communication travels along the bus and only one node can send information along the bus at a time.

URL address components

e.g. http://www.amazon.com/dvd Protocol host path Protocol: method of how PC will have to connect. Host: domain where site is located. Path: section of the host where you want to go.

What does the operating system do?

The operating system controls every task your computer carries out and manages system resources to optimize performance. When a user application needs to use one of the resources, the operating system mediates the request and handles necessary actions.

What is lossless or lossy compression?

Lossless and lossy compressions are terms that describe whether or not, in the compression of a file, all original data can be recovered when the file is uncompressed. Lossless compression keeps 100% quality while lossy compression losses quality.

What is a search engine?

PC: A search engine is a computer program that electronically searches the content of a database to locate specific information. Internet: Search engine is a Web page which has bee set up to allow you free web searching and support service. (Often use a spider or crawler)

What are web spiders or crawlers?

A web crawler (also called a robot or spider) is a program that browses and processes web pages automatically.

What is a firewall?
Software, hardware, or a combination of the two that prevents unrestricted access into or out of a

network.

What is an algorithm?
A finite set of well-defined rules for solution of a problem in a finite number of steps.

What is EDI?
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is commonly defined as the computer-to-computer electronic exchange of business documents in a standard format.

What is a B2C?
B2C means Business to Consumer: this term is used to denote aspects of e-commerce involving relationship between businesses and consumers.

What is an information system?

A system for managing and processing information, usually computer-based. Also, a functional group within a business that manages the developments and operations of the businesss information.

EXAM QUESTIONS
1. What is the difference between a recycle bin in a PC and on a network? On a PC items deleted are kept in the recycle bin while on a network they are deleted as soon as you log off. 2. What is the difference between IMAP and POP? POP (Post Office Protocol) deletes emails from your ISP as soon as you download them to your computer while IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) keeps a copy of your emails on the ISP after you download them.

3. What is a firewall?
Software and hardware which protects a network from unauthorized users.

4. What is a cookie on the Internet?

A text file that the website puts on your computer to identity you.

5. Name 3 search engines.

Google, Yahoo, Baidu.

6. How do you put a picture on a web page?

<img src=name.jpg> Picture name is name,jpg.

7. What is a template?
A document which is a protected master copy of a certain style of documents. (an office form) 8. What does word wrap do?

Unfinished words at the end of a sentence are moved to the next line in a word document.

9. Name 2 types of CPU.

SISC/CISC

10. What is a compiler?

A compiler translates programming language into machine language (binary numbers). 11. Difference between a LAN and a WAN. LANs small geographic area WANs large LANs almost always controlled by single organisationWANs usually arent; LANs have a regular structure, WANs dont

12. Numbers are stored as _____ numbers in Excel.

Numbers are stored as real numbers in Excel. 13. How do you judge the quality of a picture? By the number of pixels (dots) and the number of colors used in the picture.

14. What is a Trojan horse?

A secret program which tries to steal your password and control your computer.

15. How do you create a relationship in Access?

A relationship is between a primary key in a table and the foreign key in the next table.

16. What is an expert system?

A system that makes decisions like a human expert.

17. Name a good example of B2C e-commerce.

Internet banking.

PAST PAPER
1. What is a computer virus? How are they detected?
Code which attacks programs on your computer. You need anti-virus software.

2. What is the difference between RAM and ROM?

Random Access Memoryfast and direct access but temporary volatile. Read Only Memoryslow, permanent, safer. 3. Define spell checker, thesaurus, and grammar checker. Checks spelling, finds synonyms, checks grammar.

4. What is a clipboard in Windows? When and how is it used?

Temporary holding place for COPY/CUT before you PASTE.

5. Explain the differences between bit-mapped and scalable-outline fonts.

Bit-mapped font is made from dots, bad quality, easy to produce. Scalable-outline font is made from shapes, excellent quality, harder to produce.

6. What is an expert system?

A system that makes decisions like a human expert. 7. Explain what each part of the URL means: http://www.abc.net.au/triplem/ httphypertext transfer protocol wwwworld wide web abcname of network netnet network auAustralia triplemfolder

8. Explain how a modem works.

Translate digital signals to analog signals and back.

Telecommunications Extended Module

How would you incorporate a picture that you found on a Wed page into your HTML file? What extensions to most pictures on the web have? Save picture on computer and then in HTML write <img src= picture.gif>. Mostly gif and jpeg.

Word Processing Extended Module

What is a template? When is it used? What is its extension? A protected master copy of a certain style of documents. Used for office form letters or documents. Extension: .dot

Spreadsheet Extended Module

What are the steps involved in doing a chart? 1) Highlight the data to use in the chart. 2) Click chart wizard. 3) Select the chart style. 4) Set up the data legend/key. 5) Label the x and y axis, label the chart. 6) Select the chart as an object or file, click finish.

Presentation Extended Module

Explain the purpose of the Slide (normal) view and Slide Sorter view. Slide (normal) view is where you create slides with pictures, text and notes. The Slide Sorter view is where you see all the slides together and you can do special effects.

Database Extended Module

You have been asked to design and implement a database system for borrowing library books

for a small country town library. Describe the steps you would take in implementing the database. Include details about creating tables, fields, records, links, and forms. 1) Newtabledesign viewcreate fields, datatypes, properties, and primary key. 2) Then open table and add records. 3) Then toolsrelationship to show the relationship each table. 4) Formnew--form wizardselect the table and fieldselect the layout and stylefinish.

List advantages and disadvantages of buying an off the shelf and custom PC.
Off-the-shelf Ad.: cheaper, easier Dis.: may not be exactly what you need, mostly mid-range components. Custom-built Ad.: exactly what you want Dis.: more expensive, you have to know what you want.

What is a SWOT analysis?

Takes into account the competition of a business environment and the potential of using IS and technology to gain competitive advantages over other companies. Yield different results for each business examined.

What is Knowledge Management?

Knowledge Management can be view as the process of creating, storing, managing, accessing and sharing the tacit knowledge (in persons head) and explicit knowledge (documented in books, intranets, etc.). It relates to the corporate money of an organization and its intellectual capital.

Information overloadHow can you limit it?

1) E-mailJunk Mail Filter or Separate accounts: one for personal and one for university. 2) Hard drive organizationUse folders to create subdirectories for different topics. 3) Excel spreadsheetsUse it to manage time more effectively, highlight work time but reverse time for exercise, relaxation but remember to mention when assignments are due, etc.

What is E-commerce?
Electronic Commerce (e-commerce) is defined as the sharing of business information, maintaining business relationships, conducting business transactions through the use of telecommunications network.

Whats the difference between ASCII and Unicode?

ASCII (American Standard Code of Information and Interchange) is mostly wide used code, which represents each character as a unique 8-bit code. 1 byte can have maximum 256 characters. Unicode is full multilingual support which is 16-bit/2 bytes code with a maximum 65,536 characters. (Asian languages)

What factors do you consider when you buy a PC?

1) What software do you need? What are you using the PC for? 2) How much processing is needed? 3) Graphics, sound, monitor? 4) Easy to upgrade? (2 yrs) (Entertainment, games: 2,3 expensive. School, business: average)

What is a spreadsheet? Where do you use it?

A program for: Performing calculations on data Storing data Presenting data Spreadsheet uses for simple accounts, statistics: data analysis, tables and charts, financial planning, scientific simulations.

How early or late do you adopt new technology?

Early (Innovator): 1) take the risk. 2) expensive, competitive advantage Late (Laggard): safe but no competitive advantage. CMMThe Capability Maturity Model: international standard to tell companies the quality of how they do business. Stages: 1. Initial (small companies)/2. Repeatable (Myer) /3. Defined (MQ, Unis)/4. Managed (study & improve)/5. Optimizing (IBM, continue improving) Insert a hyperlink in Word. Inserthyperlinkchoose file Insert an object Insertobjectcreate from filechoose file---tick link to file Sampling rate=how many times per second do we measure sounds. Bit rate=how many bits are used to translate sounds to bits. Multimedia: the simultaneous use of more than one means of communication or technology in order to convey information. Database A table a group of people or things. A database has many tables. A record one person or thing of a group. A table has many records. A fieldinformation about a person or thing. All the records of a table have the same group of fields. (Data type, properties, primary key) * format: > means all capital letters. Primary keya field that always has different data for each person or thing. RelationshipEnforce referential integrity.