Cambridge IGCSE™

CHANNELLE

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY 0417/12

*7585794312*

Paper 1 Theory February/March 2024

1 hour 30 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
• Answer all questions.
• Use a black or dark blue pen.
• Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
• Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
• Do not write on any bar codes.
• You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams, graphs or rough working.

INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [] .
• No marks will be awarded for using brand names of software packages or hardware.

This document has 12 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

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1 Circle two items which are solid-state storage media.

Actuator Blu-ray disc Cloud DVD

Flash memory Hard disk Printer SD card

[2]

2 A computer system consists of both hardware and software.

(a) Explain what the following types of software provide in the computer system.

Allows you to complete specific tasks such as word processing or

Applications ......................................................................................................................
presentation
...........................................................................................................................................
Has the services the computer needs to function such as the
System ..............................................................................................................................
operating system
...........................................................................................................................................

[2]

(b) Give two examples of each type of software.

(i) Applications
Presentation
1 .............................................................................................................................
word processing
2 .............................................................................................................................

[2]

(ii) System
Utility software
1 .............................................................................................................................
Operating System
2 .............................................................................................................................

[2]

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3 There are two forms of data: analogue and digital.

Contrast analogue and digital data.

..................................................................................................................................................
Analogue signals can be changed and are variable(it is continuous)
..................................................................................................................................................
but digital signals cannot be changed(it is discrete). Analogue
symbols measure things such as current and voltage but digital data
..................................................................................................................................................
is in the form of 0s and 1s. The computer is able to understand
digital data but not analogue data.
..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................[4]

4 Computers contain a Central Processing Unit (CPU).

Describe the role of the CPU in processing instructions to produce an output.

The raw data is entered into the computer using an input

..................................................................................................................................................
device and this form is not understandable by the CPU.
..................................................................................................................................................
The CPU has microprocessors that change the data from
analogue to binary or digital data that the CPU can
..................................................................................................................................................
understand and process this data into an output and
..................................................................................................................................................
store how it processed this data in its storage. This
output is then displayed.
..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................[4]

5 A doctor uses a gesture-based user interface.

State two other types of user interface.

Command Line Interface
1 ................................................................................................................................................
Dialogue based interface
2 ................................................................................................................................................

[2]

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6 Augmented Reality can be used with a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.

(a) State two other uses of Augmented Reality.

Can be used to experiment different wall colour in a room
1 ........................................................................................................................................
Can be used to experiment furniture positions in a room
2 ..... ...................................................................................................................................

[2]

(b) Describe the differences between Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.

...........................................................................................................................................
Augmented reality is a computer-generated environment super
...........................................................................................................................................
imposed on the real world. Virtual reality is a completely
computer-generated environment.
...........................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[2]

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7 An expert system is used to help to locate an underground water source.

(a) Describe the following components of an expert system.

(i) User interface

................................................................................................................................
Allows the user to enter questions and for the computer
to ask questions back based on the user’s questions. It
................................................................................................................................
allows the computer to display the results.

................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................[2]

(ii) Knowledge base

................................................................................................................................
Where facts and rules are. Where knowledge from
................................................................................................................................
human experts is.

................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................[2]

(b) Explain how an expert system is used to discover locations to drill for water.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
The user uses the interface to asks questions about drilling
locations. The interface then asks questions back and the user
answers them. Using the rules base, the engine interference
...........................................................................................................................................
matches the questions to the knowledge base with information
from human experts. The explanation system then displays how
...........................................................................................................................................
a conclusion was reached with the rules base, engine inference
and knowledge base with the user interface.
...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[4]

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8 A student has been the victim of a vishing scam.

(a) Explain what is meant by the term vishing.

...........................................................................................................................................
Vishing is the form of scamming people using video
calls where the victims are called and their personal
data is either coerced from them or stolen from them.
...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[2]

(b) Describe two methods that help to prevent vishing.

1. ........................................................................................................................................
Not picking up phone calls from numbers or suspicious numbers you have not
saved.
...........................................................................................................................................
Not giving out any personal information on phone calls with people you do not
2. ........................................................................................................................................
recognize.
...........................................................................................................................................

[2]

9 Compare a test strategy with a test plan. Your answer should include similarities and differences.

..................................................................................................................................................

................. .................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................[6]

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10 A form tutor at Tawara School is producing a database about the students in his class.

When the database is completed, it needs to be verified.

(a) Explain the importance of visual verification.

...........................................................................................................................................
To make sure they are no errors in the filtering and search criteria of the data.
...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[2]

(b) An example of the date of birth stored on the database is: 15/05/2009

Describe three validation checks that could be carried out on the date of

birth.

...........................................................................................................................................
The format of the positioning of the day month and
...........................................................................................................................................
year. The ascending and descending order of the
date. Whether or not a certain range of dates later or
...........................................................................................................................................

earlier than it should be displayed.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[6]

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11 More people use desktop computers rather than tablet computers when working at home.

(a) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using desktop computers rather
than tablet computers for doing work at home.

...........................................................................................................................................
Desktop computers are able to process accept and output data in
larger amounts than a tablet. Desktop computers are easier to
...........................................................................................................................................
type on than a tablet computer because of a larger keyboard.
...........................................................................................................................................
This also means if typing on a tablet computer, mistakes a re
more likely to happen. However, desktops consume far more
...........................................................................................................................................
power than computer tablets. Desktop computers must remain
plugged and they are heavy in meaning they are not portable
...........................................................................................................................................
unlike tablet computers. Tablet computers can be used to make
...........................................................................................................................................
phone calls and messages and connect to a cellular network
unlike desktop computers. However, desktop computers have a
...........................................................................................................................................
much larger storage space. it also takes longer for a desktop
...........................................................................................................................................
computer to start up than a tablet computer.
...........................................................................................................................................

................................. ..........................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[6]

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(b) Desktop computers use input and output devices.

(i) State two input devices that can be used in a desktop computer for working at home.
keyboard
1 .............................................................................................................................
mouse
2 .............................................................................................................................

[2]

(ii) State two output devices that can be used in a desktop computer for working at home.
Printer
1 .............................................................................................................................
Speaker
2 .............................................................................................................................

[2]

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12 Describe how data is stored and managed when using cloud computing.

..................................................................................................................................................
As changes are made to the data on application
software, they are saved on remote computers
..................................................................................................................................................
known as servers with the use of the internet. This
..................................................................................................................................................
is cloud computing. It is the delivery of computer
services over the internet such as storage etc.
..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................[4]

13 Smart devices and microprocessors can monitor and control devices in the home.

Describe, giving examples, the negative effects of using these smart devices.

..................................................................................................................................................
Smart devices are very expensive in their purchase and maintenance. Because of the
..................................................................................................................................................
advanced microprocessors and ability to connect with other smart devices they are
expansive and they also consume large amounts of electricity and internet. For
..................................................................................................................................................
example, a house with a smart fridge, smart security cameras, smart phones and
smart tv all communicating consume a lot of internets to communicate with each other
..................................................................................................................................................
and perform their functions.
Smart devices also cause laziness. For example, instead of making a to do list for
ingredients a smart fridge is able to take pictures of the ingredients in the fridge and
..................................................................................................................................................
make a list of ingredients missing from the recipe. Smart devices also cause less
social interaction. If everyone has their own smart devices then they would be able to
..................................................................................................................................................
entertain themselves instead of coming together as one and interacting. Smart devices
expose one too much to technology and screens causing eyestrains.
..................................................................................................................................................

. ....................................................................................................................................................[4]

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1

14 A stylesheet for a website can contain both styles and classes.

(a) Explain the differences between a style and a class.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[3]

(b) State the web development layer where the stylesheet is used.

...............................................................................................................................................[1]

15 The audience needs to be considered when creating an ICT solution.

(a) Describe what factors need to be considered for the age of the audience.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

......................................................... ..................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[2]

(b) Describe what factors need to be considered for the interests of the audience.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[2]

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16 (a) State four characteristics of spam emails.

They are in the spam section of your email application as in they do
1 .......... ..............................................................................................................................
not show up in your main inbox.
...........................................................................................................................................

2 .....................................................................
They are from suspicious accounts you do ...................................................................
not recognize

...........................................................................................................................................

They..............................................................................................................................
3 .......... are often disguised as adverts. They coerce you to click on
them.
...........................................................................................................................................

They often have links that redirect you to other sites

4 ... .....................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

[4]

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(b) Give two ways of reducing spam emails.

1 ........................................................................................................................................
Not clicking on emails from accounts you do not recognize or seem
suspicious.
...........................................................................................................................................

2 ....Setting a filter that separates emails from accounts you’ve never

....................................................................................................................................
received emails from.
...........................................................................................................................................

[2]

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