COMPUTER SYSTEMS

1. Define the following terms as used in computing

(i) System
A collection of independent entities that collectively work together to achieve a desired goal
(ii) Computer system
 A collection of entities that work together to process and manage information using computers
 A collection of hardware software and live- ware all working together in data inputting,
processing and production of required output from a computer
2. Differentiate between a computer and a computer system
A computer is made up of both hardware and software, while a computer system integrates
hardware, software and user
3. (a) List and explain three functional elements of a computer system ( 6 mks)
 Hardware
They are the physical & tangible devices that make up a computer systems, e.g system unit, input
devices, output devices and storage devices
 Software
These are programs & data used in a computer system that enable it perform a number of
specific functions, e.g. operating systems, application programs, utility programs, programming
languages & device drives
 Live – ware ( people – ware)
These are the people who coordinate the various activities which are necessary to make a
computer system perform useful tasks e.g. data entry clerks, computer operators, programmers,
system analysis, etc

(b) Draw a well – labeled diagram showing the functional units of computer hardware

4. (a) Give two

main
functions of a
computer
input device.
(2 marks)

- Accepts data & instructions from the user and sends them into the CPU. V
- Converts data into a form that the computer can understand (i.e., machine-
Sensible/readable form)
(b) Give an example of a: (3 marks)
(i). Device that reads data (scanning device).
 - Scanner,
- Digital cameras,
- Barcode readers.
~ Credit/smart card readers,
- Kimball tag readers.
- OMR, OCR, MICR, etc
(ii). Keying device.
- Keyboard,
- Keypad.
III). Pointing device.
- Mouse.
- Trackball.
- Light pen
- Joystick.
(iv). Voice input device.
- Microphone.
(v). Printing device.
- Printer.
- Plotter.
5. State two advantages of using a mouse instead of a keyboard. (2 marks)
- The mouse is easy & convenient to use.
- Modern software includes an option to use it.
- It selects a position on screen much more quickly than a keyboard.
6. Outline any two advantages of a light pen as an input device, (2 marks)
- It is a faster input device because it involves just pointing on the screen and selecting options.
- Can be used to draw images on the screen.
~ It is light and easily portable (saves energy).
- A light pen will result in few errors.
7. (a) What are computer scanning devices? (2 marks)
These are devices that enter (capture) data into the computer directly.
(b) Name the type of scanner used: (2 marks)
(i). To capture prices of goods at points of sale terminals in supermarkets and superstores.
Barcode reader
(ii).To grade multiple choice examination
Optical mark reader (OMR)
-12- Computer studies
8. Mr. Otieno a French teacher used speech method to store students oral answers to an exam into a
computer
(a) What is a speech input?
It is a type of input where a microphone connected to a computer system is used to enter data in
form of spoken words into the computer
(b) State two advantages and two disadvantages of using this method of data input
(4 mks)
Advantages
- Voice input is fast
- Its suitable for people with special needs especially those with impaired hands
- Can be used in emergency situations
Disadvantages
- Voice input is complex to develop
- Voice input does not take care speech related problems such as accents, tone etc
- The response rates of speech input devices are relatively slow
- Most speech input devices can recognize a limited, standard vocabulary of spoken words, and the
voice of only one speaker
 - Cannot differentiate words that have same sounds (homophones)
(c) State four areas where speech input would be used
- For people with special needs or disabilities (e.g. the handicapped especially those with impaired
hands.
- Emergency situations
- Where faster data input is required
- In language translator or programs
- Voice tags for voice dialing
- In automated materials handling e.g. in airports, a good handlers give spoken commands that
direct the luggage to the appropriate conveyor belt.
- For house/ office or car security where voice activated locks are used for access control
- In voice- activated toys and games
- In electronic funds transfer
9. Name two examples of scanning (data capture) devices used at point of scale terminals in
supermarkets
- Barcode reader
- Light pen
- Cash registers
10. (a) What are turnaround documents
These are documents produced as output and which can be re-used as input by the computer
(b) Name any two data capture techniques that make use of turnaround documents ( 2 mks)
- Optical character recognition (OCR)
- Optical Mark Recognition (OMR)
- Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
- Optical Bar Recognition (OBR)
- Magnetic Stripe Recognition
11. List five factors one would consider when selecting a data input device (4 mks)
- The needs of the user
- Type of data to be input
- Volume of data to be entered
- Input speed
- Cost, i.e. the initial cost of the input device & cost of using the device on a day – to – day basis.
- Availability & reliability of the data entry device
- Accuracy required
- Availability of space
- Appropriateness of the device in reference to where it is to be used
12. Describe three functions performed by the CPU ( 3 mks)
(i) It carries out processing of data
(ii) System control- it controls the sequence of operations within the computer
(iii) It gives commands to all parts of the computer
(iv) It controls the use of the Main Memory in storing of data & instructions
(v) Storage of data- It provides temporary storage (RAM) & permanent storage (ROM)
13. Explain the functions performed by each of the following central processing unit elements
(i) Control Unit ( 2 mks)
- Interpreting instructions
- Issuing control instructions to the operating system
(ii) Arithmetic and logic Unit
- Performs arithmetic calculations such as addition, or multiplication of figures
- Performs logical operations & comparison on data
- Performs output of logical functions (variables)
(iii) Registers
- Holds data and instructions temporarily just before and after processing
 (iv) The main memory
- Stores data just before and after processing
- Stores instructions waiting to be obeyed/ executed
- Holds program instructions & the data currently being processed
- Stores intermediate results of processing awaiting transfer to the output devices
(v) The system clock
It determines the processing speed of the CPU
14. In reference to ALU, explain the meaning of logic operations and give an example of this
processing operation
Logic operation is the ability to compare two quantities or numbers to determine which is greater
than, less than, equal to, or not equal to the other.
It also involves the testing for existing of a condition encountered during the processing of an
application & altering the sequence of instructions accordingly.
15. Give four types of registers found in the CPU
- Accumulator
- Instruction
- Address register
- Storage register
16. (a) Name the basic unit used to measure the processing speed of a computer ( 1 mk)
Hertz (Hz)
(b) A computer processor speed is measured in Hertz. What fraction of a second is the
following?
(i) 1. Nanosecond
1 1__________
1 x 109 = 1,000,000,000 seconds

(ii) 1. Microsecond
1 = 1________
6
1 x 10 1,000,000 seconds
17. (a) What is a computer bus? ( 1 mk)
 A communication path/ medium within the computer that connects the basic computer components.
It allows different elements or sections of the computer to communicate with each other.
 A parallel collection of conditions that carry data & control signals from one element to another

(b) State the functions of each of the following computer bus ( 3 mks)
 Data bus- carries data from the processor to memory during the write operations and from memory
to the processor during the read operations
 Address bus- it conveys addresses, i.e it carries the address of the memory location or device to be
acted on by the processor
 Control bus- it carries the timing & control signals necessary to coordinate the activities of the entire
system
18. (a) What is the computer Motherboard?
This is the electronic board where all electronic components such as processor, memory chips, BIOS,
bus connections etc are assembled
(b) State any four components found on the computer motherboard
- Processor (CPU)
- SIMM/DDR sockets
- Memory chips
- BIOS
- Interface chips
- Buses
19. (a) What is a Drive?
A drive is a computer device for reading data from or writing data into a storage media, e.g. a
tape or disk
(b) State any two types of computer drives, giving an example of a storage device used by each
( 3 mks)
 Hard disk drive (HDD) - Floppy Disk drive (FDD)
 CD- ROM drive - DVD – ROM drive
 Tape drive - Zip drive
 USB port – for flash disk
20. (a) Give two reasons why there are many forms of computer storage devices ( 2 mks)
- Permanency of storage
- Cost of implication
- Capacity of storage systems
(b) State three different examples of auxiliary storage devices
- Magnetic tape
- Floppy disk
- Cassette tapes
- Hard disk
- Zip disks
- Jazz disks
- Flash disks
- Video Compact Disk (VCD)
- Digital video Disks (DVD’s)
- Punched cards
- Optical discs (e.g., Compact Disks LS- 120 super disks, optical card, optical tape)
21. Using examples, distinguished between:
(i) Primary and secondary (2 mks)
Primary storage devices are accessed directly by the CPU, while secondary storage is not
(ii) Fixed and removable disks
Fixed disks are mounted inside the computer system unit, e.g. Hard disk.
Removable disks are not hosed inside the system unit & are portable, e.g. floppy disk, Jazz disk,
Zip disk, flash disk, CD- R, CD – RW, DVD
22. Explain the following storage devices
(i) Hard disk
A fixed storage device housed inside the Computer System Unit
(ii) Flash disk
A high capacity plug-in portable storage device. Usually attached at the USB port of the
computer
(iii) Zip disk
High capacity disk that resembles a floppy disk, but is slightly larger and thicker in size
23. (a) Compare a floppy disk and zip disk in relation to size ( 2 mks)
A floppy disk is physically small in size and capacity, while a zip disk is slightly large in size
and has large storage capacity.
(b) Give three disadvantages of floppy disks as storage devices
- Floppy disks are slower than hard disks
- Highly affected by viruses
- Low storage capacity
- Not reliable
- Affected by environmental factors, exposure to sunlight, magnetism and dirt
24. (a) State three advantages of using hard disks as medium of storage
- They provide permanent storage of data
- They have a large storage capacity
 - Are cheap per unit of storage
- Are rewritable (provide read & write facilities)
- Are very fast compared to other secondary storage devices in terms of data transfer
(b) Describe three precautions you would take to avoid damaging the hard disk ( 3mks)
- Do not drop the disk drive
- Do not expose it to strong heat
- Do not expose it to dust/ smoke particles
- Do not unprocedurally switch off the computer
(c) Describe the structure of a hard disk in reference to cylinders, tracks and sectors
The surface of hard disk is divided into circles called Tracks. Parallel tracks on several platters
are called cylinders
The tracks are further subdivided into sectors. Several sectors can be grouped to form clusters.
25. State two reasons why Magnetic tapes are not commonly used as computer data storage medium
today
- Are slow when retrieving data. This is because of the linear storage of data o the tape.
- Do not fully use their recording surface due to inter- record Gaps
26. Differentiate between:
(i) Microcomputer and microprocessor
A microcomputer is a computer whose Central Processing Unit (CPU) has been implemented
with a microprocessor
A microprocessor is a small computer processor, mainly a combination of the ALU & CU
manufactured on a single chip.
(ii) Volatile memory and non- volatile memory
Volatile memory is temporary, while non- volatile memory is permanent
(iii) RAM and ROM
RAM is a temporary and rewritable memory, while ROM is a permanent and read only memory.
(iv) Hard disk and floppy disk
Hard disk is a hard metallic platter used to store data and is encased in a metallic housing
(casing)
Hard disk is metallic. Shinny and non- flexible
(v) Magnetic and optical storage media
In magnetic storage media, data is recorded using magnesium, while in optical storage media
data is recorded using a beam of light (laser)
(vi) Hardcopy and softcopy output
Hardcopy is printed copy, e.g. printout on paper such as letters while softcopy is intangible
information e.g. screen display or music.
(vii) MICR and OCR scanners
MICR uses magnetic technology to read magnetic characters, while OCR uses laser/ light
technology to read characters
27. Explain four rules for handling magnetic disks
- Keep magnetic away from excessive heat. This is because heat energy weakens the ability of the
magnetic media to store data.
- Store the media in their cases when not in use in order to protect/ safeguard their recording
surfaces against environmental influences such as dust, touch, direct sunlight, radiations, etc
- Do not drop the disk on the ground
- Never bring them near moving or strong magnetic bodies. Such bodies might demagnetize the
recording surfaces making recording in terms of magnetism impossible
- When mounting the media into its reading/ writing unit, avoid brushing the recording surfaces
against the mechanical components of the drive
- Put on the power before mounting the media and off after removing the media from the drive.
This is because; the fluctuation in power might cause demagnetization
28. (a) Calculate the capacity in MB of a two sided floppy disk with 6 sectors per surface, and 512
bytes per sectors
 No. of sectors = (2 sides x 6 sectors)
= 12 sectors
If 1 sector = 512 bytes
(12 x 512) = 6,144 bytes
1,000,000 bytes 1 MB
6,144
1,000,000 = 0.006144 MB

(b) A double – sided disk contains 40 tracks on each side. The tracks are divided into 9 sectors of
512 bytes each. What is the total capacity of the disk in megabytes? ( 2mks)
Total tracks = (40 x 2) = 80
Total sectors = (80 x 9) = 720
Total bytes (720 x 512) = 368, 640 bytes
If 1 MB = 1,048, 576 bytes
? = 368, 640 bytes
368, 640
1,048, 576
= 0.352 MB
29. By giving examples, differentiate between primary and Secondary Computer storage
( 3 mks)
Primary Memory Secondary Memory
1. Used for holding data & instructions 1. Used for storing backup information
required immediately by the CPU that is not needed immediately by the
2. It is accessed directly by the CPU CPU.
3. Provides fast access to information is 2. It is not accessed directly by the CPU
accurate & reliable 3. Provides slow access of information
4. It is expensive per bit of memory 4. Secondary storage devices are cheap
dues to the technology involved 5. it has high storage capacity
5. It has low/ limited storage capacity 6. It is non- volatile i.e. stores data
6. It is volatile & therefore it is used to permanently.
store temporary programs & data E.g. punched cards, magnetic tapes,
7. The speed of the processor depends floppy disks, hard disks, etc
on the size & type of primary
storage
E.g. Read Only Memory (ROM) &
Random Access Memory (RAM)

30. (a) State four functions of Read – Only Memory (ROM)

 It stores Firmware (bootstrap instructions) - the essential files the computer uses while booting/
starting up.
 It stores the system data & instructions that are necessary for the normal functioning of the
computer hardware e.g. the Kernel / supervisor of the OS
 It stores translation programs (code converters) used for converting a user’s program into
machine language
 It stores special functions (facilities) peculiar to a given machine
 It stores character generators for printers & Video displays
 It stores instructions used in special – purpose computers & computerized fuel pumps
(b) Give three characteristics of ROM
  It can only be read, but cannot be written to (i.e., the user can only read the information in the
ROM, but cannot write on it unless it is a special type of ROM).
 Provides permanent or semi permanent storage of instructions & data from the manufacturer.
 It is non volatile memory
 Forms a small proportion of the main storage ( i.e. it contributes 30% of the internal Memory).
 Stores essential files for starting the computer (Bootstrap programs)
(c) Name two different types of ROM
- Masked ROM
- Programmable Read- Only Memory (PROM)
- Erasable Programmable Read- Only Memory (EPROM)
- Electrically Alterable Read- Only Memory (EAROM)
31. (a) Outline three characteristics of Random Access Memory (RAM)
- Stores data & programs temporarily during the times when they are needed in the Main Memory
(or during execution).
- Provides “read & write facilities” i.e. it allows instructions to be written, read out & to be
changed at will.
- The contents in RAM are user – defined, i.e. the user dictates what is to be contained in the RAM
- Its contents are temporary
- It is a volatile memory
- Forms the major proportion of main storage
(b) Name the two types of RAM clearly starting their differences (3 mks)
(i) Static RAM
A static RAM can retain its data/ content as long as power is provided to the memory chips, i.e. it
does not need to be re- written periodically
(ii) Dynamic RAM
- Dynamic RAM can only hold its content for a short while even when power is on.
Therefore, in order to maintain its content/ data, a DRAM must undergo the refreshing process
(i.e. it must be re- written continually)
- Static RAM is much faster than Dynamic RAM
- SRAM chips are physically large & much more expensive than DRAM chips
- Dynamic RAM has a much higher packing density than SRAM, i.e., a DRAM chip is able to
store more information than a SRAM chip of the same size.
32. The diagram below shows as example of a secondary

(i) Identify the name of the devices

Flash Disk

(ii) List down two advantages of this device over a floppy disk in storage ( 2 mks)
- Smaller in size than a floppy disk, hence, easily portable
- Has a high data storage capacity compared to a floppy disk
- Flash disks are more reliable than floppy disks

33. (a) List any four examples of optical storage devices

- Compact Disk Read – Only Memory (CD – ROM)
- Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R)
- Compact Disk Rewritable (CD-RW)
 - LS- 120 super disk
- Digital Versatile Disk (DVD)
- Optical card
- Optical tape
(b) Give two advantages of a digital Versatile Disk over a normal Compact disk
- DVD has a larger storage capacity than a CD ( 2 mks)
- A DVD offers better data storage quality
34. (a) State the two types/ forms of computer output
- Softcopy
- Hardcopy
(b) List any four examples of output devices in a computer
- Monitors
- Printers
- Sound output, e.g. speakers
- Audio response units
- Plotters
- Sound cards
- Digital projectors
- Computer output on microforms (COM)
- Storage devices
(c) Identify three Functions of computer devices
- Transmit the intermediate & final results to the users
- Convey messages e.g. error messages to the operators
- Provide immediate response to queries
- Convert the coded results produced by the computer to human- readable form
35. (a) State one function of the screen (monitor)
- Used to display the results of all the data that has been processed from the computer
- It converts machine- coded outputs results from the processor into a form that can be understood
by people
(b) Show two differences between a CRT monitor and a flat- panel display
- CRT monitor uses a cathode ray tube to display information, while a flat panel does
not.
- CRT has a protruding back, while a flat panel does not.
- Flat panel displays are light & easily portable, while CRT’s are heavy
- CRT can display a wide range of colours, while a flat panel displays a limited number
of colours
- CRT consumes more electrical power than flat panel displays
- The screen of a flat panel is much thinner & smaller than that of a CRT
- The screen resolution of a CRT is adjustable, while that of a flat panel is often set
(c) Give there examples of flat- panel monitors available in the market today
- Liquid crystal displays (LCD)
- Electro luminescent (EL)
- Gas plasma
- Thin Film Transistor (TFT)
36. (a) What are pixels?
Pixels (picture elements) are dots on the screen that form characters and images
(b) What role do pixels play in screen display?
They determine the clarity of images on the screen
(c) Give two advantages of the higher number of pixels per square centimeter (2 mks)
- Higher screen resolution
- Displays of sharp & clear images
- The screen is able to display a higher number of different images
37. (a) What are character printers? (1 mk)
 Are usually low- speed printers that print one character at a time?
(b) Give two examples of character printers
- Dot matrix
- Thermal
- Daisy wheel
- Inkjet
- Golf ball
38. Distinguish between impact and non impact printers and give two examples of each
Impact printers print by striking mechanism & are noisy, e.g Dot matrix, Daisy wheel, and Golf
Ball, drum and chain printer.
Non- impact printers print either by laser, ink or thermal transfer mechanism & are silent, e.g.
Laser, Inkjet, thermal printer, electrostatic and xerographic
39. (a) Distinguish between a line printer and a page printer
A page printer prints documents page by page, while a line printer prints documents line by line
(b) State three advantages and one disadvantages of:
(i) Laser Printers
Advantages - Cheap running cost
- Produces high quality of printouts
- Has a very high speed of printing ( it is fast)
- Economical in maintenance
- It is very silent
Disadvantages - Expensive to purchase & maintain
- Involves expensive multiply colour printing
(ii) Inkjet Printers
Advantages - Cheap to purchase
- Cheaper multiple colour printing
- Produces high quality prints
Disadvantage - Expensive to run (i.e. to buy cartridges)
- Produces a water based print which fades easily
40. Highlight four factors one should consider when purchasing a printer (4 mks)
- Cost involved i.e. the printer’s buying price, cost of maintenance & cost of consumable items
like printing papers, ribbons/ cartridges
- Volume of printing expected ( speed of the printer)
- Quality of printing e.g. ability to print graphics & colour
- Capability of the selected printer, i.e. multiple copy production, paper size, etc
- Compatibility with other computers
- Environment in which the printer will operate
- Ease of maintenance
- Reliability of the printer
- Application it is required for (i.e. purpose/ use of the printer)
- Type of paper used by the printer
- Documentation
- Availability
41. List three advantages of a plotter over normal printer machines
- Plotters produce information in an easily understandable form
- Their presentation is quick & reliable
- Produces large graphical designs of high quality, which are east to read & use
- Can print on large sized papers, e.g. papers e.g. Al, Which a normal printer cannot
42. Give two advantages of using sound output devices
- Very fast making it useful in emergency situations
- One can receive the output even when a few meters away from the computer
- No reading ability is required of the user
- Suitable for the blind and people with poor sight
 - Can be used for distant communication if done over telephone lines
- Errors are easily corrected, e.g. if used in a camera, one know when the film or exposure is set
wrongly.
- Makes computing interesting and entertaining
43. George connected new multimedia speakers to his computer and tried to play his favorite music
CD, but no sound came out. Suggest two problems that might have occurred ( 2 mks)
- Volume control was too low
- Loose or improper connection to the sound card
- Speakers not powered
- Multimedia not supported
- Lack of analogue cable connecting the optical drive to the motherboard or sound card
- Sound card drivers not installed
44. List down 4 factors to consider when buying an output device
- The volume of the data
- The speed at which the output is required
- Cost of the method chosen as compared with the benefits to be derived
- Suitability of the application
- Whether a printed version is required
45. Define the following terms
(a) Port
A special kind of socket found at the back of a computer used to connect an external peripheral
device such as a printer, monitor, mouse, scanner, modem, flash disk, etc to the interface cards
inside the computer
(b) Data interface cable
These are special cables that connect all the peripheral devices to the motherboard and the CPU.
They transmit data signals and information to and from the devices
(c) Power cable
Cable for power supply to devices
46. State the function of the power supply unit found in the system unit (1 mk)
- It supplies stable power to the motherboard and other internal devices of a computer
- Converts the potentially dangerous alternating current (AC) into a steady low- voltage direct
current (DC) usable by the computer.
47. (a) Name any two peripheral devices which get their power supply through ports
- Keyboard
- Mouse
(b) State the type of port that would commonly be used to connect the following devices
(i) Mouse - PS/2, Serial, or USB
(ii) Modem - Serial
(iii) External CD drive - Parallel
48. (a) Explain two differences between serial and parallel communication ports of a computer
- Serial ports have 9 pins, while parallel ports have holes for 9 or 25 pins
- Parallel cables transmit several bits of data simultaneously, while serial cables transmit
One bit at a time
- Serial cables are slower than parallel cable
- Serial cables allow for 2 ways communication (i.e. communication to and from the computer and
the device connected to it) while parallel cables usually offer 1- way communication.
(b) Give two major advantages of a USB interface cable over other cables in the computer
- It is light & convenient to carry
- It provides faster transmission of high – quality data
- Its serial nature enables it to connect devices a longer distance away
- The USB port can be used to connect a wide range of peripheral devices due to its common
universal interface
49. Outline three precautions one should take when assembling a computer
 - Disconnect all diverts from the power source before starting to work on them
- Never work alone because you may need help in ease of energy
- Discharge ant static electricity that might have built up on the hands by touching an earthed
metallic object and wearing an anti- static wrist member.
50. State six factors which you would consider when selecting computer hardware for an organization
- Cost of the system
- Processor type and speed
- Storage capacity of hard disk & RAM memory size
- Warranty (service contract)
- Upgradeability of the computer
- Compatibility of the system
- Portability (light to carry)
- User needs
- Popularity of the hardware manufacturer
- Availability of spare parts
- Multimedia capability
51. List down any four hardware components you can add or upgrade in a computer system
(4 mks)
- Processor (CPU)
- Ports e.g. USB ports/ SCSI ports
- Hard disk
- DVD drives/ tape drives
- RAM memory
- Expansion slots
52. (a) What is warranty with reference to the purchase of computers
A warranty is an agreement between the buyer and the seller that spells out terms and conditions of after
selling a product in case of failure or malfunction.
A warranty is usually the duration in which your computer is supposed to work without any problem.

(b) Why is it important to carefully study a warranty before committing yourself by signing it?
In order to negotiate on sensitive items like duration, after sales services etc.

(c) List down three issues to understand about warrants

- Duration (scope of cover)
- How comprehensive is the warranty- good warranty should cover all the parts of the
Computer.
- Liability agreement e.g. how long should the supplier take to repair a fault or replace the product,
and if he/ she delays, who bears the cost.
- Does the warranty offer online support?
- Regularity of service or maintenance
53. What are clones with reference to computers and what is their disadvantage?
- Clones are locally assembled computers
Disadvantages
- Their components are not optimized to work with each other
- They are not as reliable as their brand names like IBM, Compaq, Hewlett Packard (HP), Dell,
Gateway etc.
54. (a) What is standard software?
These are programs developed, packaged and then made available for purchase either directly
from the developer, though a vendor or a distributor
They may be used for a wide variety of purposes

(b) Small and large scale organizers are turning to the use of in- house developed software for the
processing activities rather than use of standard software
 (i) What is in- house developed software?
These are programs that are uniquely designed & written by the user or a software house under
contract, to meet the specific needs of a particular user or organization.

They are usually customized (tailored) to perform a specific job or solve only specific processing
tasks in one organization

(ii) Give two reasons that may be influencing these organizations for such a decision
( 2 mks)
- The user gets well tested program, which he/ she is able to use with confidence
- The program provides all the facilities required to solve a particular problem
- The purchaser has direct control over the package, as he/ she is involved in its
Production
- The user is able to quickly implement the results obtained from the use of the package
- They can easily be modified to meet specific user’s needs without involving expert
programmers.
55. Differentiate between single- purpose programs and integrated software
- Single – purpose software is developed for only one purpose, while integrated software is a suite
of more than one program and can be used to carry out a variety of tasks

56. Explain the following considerations when purchasing software ( 2 mks)

(i) Authenticity
It is the genuineness, validity or legitimacy of software. The copy of the software you buy should
be accompanied by the license and certificate of authenticity of the developer.
(ii) Portability
It refers to whether a program can be copied or installed in more than one computer

57. Differentiate between portability with reference to hardware and software

In hardware, the computer device should be sufficiently small & light to carry
In software, portability refers to whether a program can be copied from one computer to another
or installed in more than one computer.

58. (a) Explain why documentation is necessary for any software package
It contains details on how to install use and maintain the software. It also shows the purchaser
how the program can be used to solve particular problem as well as provide the user with
assistance on using the program.

(b) A firm intends to purchase new software. List three items of documentation that should
accompany the software
- A license
- Installation guide
- User manual (guide)
- Reference manual
- Warranty
- Upgrades
- Service pack