Learn about key computing laws including the Data Protection Act (2018) (GDPR), Computer Misuse Act (1990), Copyright Designs and Patents Act (1988), Creative Commons and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. Based on the 2020 Eduqas (WJEC) GCSE specification. 11.2: Legislation Exam Board: Eduqas Specification: 2020 Data Protection Act (2018) In 2018 the European Union introduced GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation ) to protect the privacy of data for people in the EU. The UK matched this by updating the Data Protection Act introduced in 1998 to become the Data Protection Act (2018) . This act protects the data of individuals that is stored on computers and processed by organisations. How the Data Protection Act works: Each person who has their data stored is known as a data subject . An employee within an organisation must be appointed as a data controller and it is they who are responsible for registering with the Information Commissioner . The Information Commissioner is the person in the UK who is responsible for managing several laws , most significantly the Data Protection Act. When registering with the Information Commissioner, the organisation's data controller must be clear on exactly: What information they are collecting, Why it is being collected, What the data will be used for . The six principles of the Data Protection Act state that data must be: 1. Collected lawfully and processed fairly. 2. Only used for the reasons specified. 3. Data must be relevant and not excessive. 4. Data must be accurate and up-to-date. 5. Data must not be stored for longer than necessary, 6. Data must be stored and processed securely. Computer Misuse Act (1990) This act was introduced as computers became cheaper and more common at home and work . The act attempts to stop and punish those who use computers inappropriately . Breaking any of the three principles could result in fines and a jail sentence but only if it can be proved it was done on purpose and not by accident. The Computer Misuse Act (1990 ) includes three main principles : 1. No unauthorised access to data. Example: Hacking a computer system. 2. No unauthorised access to data that could be used for further illegal activities. Example: Accessing personal data to use as blackmail or identity theft. 3. No unauthorised modification of data. Example: Spreading a virus to change data. Freedom of Information Act (2000) This act allows people to request public authorities to release information . Public authorities include local councils , government departments , universities and hospitals . A freedom of information request must be formally submitted in a letter or email and a reply from the organisation is required within twenty days of receiving the request. A simple freedom of information request might be the average response times of the local ambulance service in the past year. Certain requests will not be accepted , such as if processing the request would be too expensive or if it involves sensitive information protected by the Data Protection Act (2018 ). Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (2000) This act (often shortened to RIPA ) was introduced in response to the increase in both criminal and terrorist activities on the internet, it is used to monitor and access online communication of suspected criminals . If criminal activity is suspected by an individual then this act grants the following powers : Internet Service Providers (ISPs) must provide access to the suspect's online communication , such as emails or social media. Locked or encrypted data may be accessed such as online messages. ISPs could install surveillance equipment or software to track the suspect's online activity . Surveillance may take place to physically track the suspect , e.g. in private vans or by undercover officers in public spaces. Access must be granted to personal information . This act became controversial as its use widened and local councils were using it for minor offences - a Scottish council used the act to monitor dog barking and a council in Cumbria gathered video evidence about who was feeding pigeons . The act has since been changed to only allow the surveillance of crime suspects . Copyright, Designs & Patents Act (1988) This act makes it a criminal offence to copy work that is not your own without the permission of the creator or the copyright holder. This can refer to text, images, music, videos or software. Owning the copyright of an image might not prevent others from copying and using it but this act means that the owner can bring legal proceedings in court to those who have stolen their work . However, it is difficult to trace who has stolen work once it has been uploaded to the internet and copies can easily spread, especially television shows and movies. This act specifically prohibits the following actions: Making copies of copyrighted material to sell to others . Importing and downloading illegally copied material (except for personal use). Distributing enough copyrighted material to have a noticeable effect on the copyright holder . Possessing equipment used to copy copyrighted material , as part of a business. Creative Commons (CC) Licensing A CC licence allows people to share their copyrighted work while still retaining rights to the material . There are different types of licence that specify exactly what can and can't be done to the copyrighted material. For example: An attribution licence allows copyrighted material to be edited and distributed but the original owner must be credited . A non-commercial licence allows copyrighted material to be shared and edited but no profit must be gained through its distribution. CC licences are not automatically given , they must be granted by the copyright owner . To ensure you are not illegally using copyrighted work change the Tools and Licence setting when using Google Images to filter work with CC licenses applied . Telecommunications Regulation Act (2000) This act allows organisations to lawfully monitor communications made online and on the phone by employees while at work . All users of the network should be aware that their communication is being monitored when they are using emails , the internet or telephone calls . The act was introduced to ensure that employees are using the computer systems for the correct purpose , to prevent illegal activity and to monitor staff performance . Codes of Conduct One way that organisations try to ensure that staff are held to professional standards and display appropriate behaviour is to create a code of conduct . This is a set of rules or requirements that employees must follow or they may be punished, such as a temporary ban from the network or being fired. There are two types of codes of conduct: Formal codes of conduct are a set of written rules that clearly state expected behaviour , such as what employees can access online at work . Schools may have this too, and you might have to sign a document at the start of the year before you can use the computers. Informal codes of conduct are used by small organisations where there might not be a written set of rules , but newer employees follow the habits and expectations of senior members of staff. This is harder to monitor but provides a more relaxed working environment. Q uesto's Q uestions 11.2 - Legislation: 1a. State the 6 principles of the Data Protection Act (2018) . [ 6 ] 1b. Explain how the Data Protection Act works . In your answer, you should include definitions of a data subject , the data controller and the Data Commissioner . [ 6 ] 2. Describe the 4 principles of the Computer Misuse Act (1990) . [3 ] 3. Describe the purpose of the Freedom of Information Act (1990) and state an example of a freedom request . [ 3 ] 4a. What is the purpose of RIPA (2000) ? [ 2 ] 4b. Describe 3 actions that RIPA (2000) allows the government / police to do . [ 3 ] 5a. What is the purpose of the Copyright, Designs & Patents Act (1988) ? [ 2 ] 5b. Describe 3 actions that CDPA (1988) prohibits . [ 3 ] 6a. What is a Creative Commons ( CC ) licence ? [ 2 ] 6b. Describe 2 types of CC licence . [ 4 ] 7a. What is the purpose of the Telecommunications Regulation Act (2003) ? [ 2 ] 7b. Describe 3 reasons why this act was introduced . [ 3 ] 8a. What is the purpose of a code of conduct ? [ 2 ] 8b. Describe the difference between formal and informal codes of conduct . [ 2 ] 11.1 - Impacts of Technology Theory Topics

Learn about data formats such as ASCII, Unicode, CSV, fixed-width, JSON and XML and data types, including Boolean, character, date, integer, real and string. Resources based on Unit F161 (Developing Application Software) for the OCR Cambridge Advanced Nationals in Computing (H029 / H129) AAQ (Alternative Academic Qualification). Qualification: Cambridge Advanced Nationals in Computing (AAQ) Certificate: Computing: Application Development (H029 / H129) Unit: F161: Developing Application Software 2.1 - Data Formats & Types Watch on YouTube: Data Formats Data Types You need to know the characteristics , uses , advantages and disadvantages of six data formats (ASCII , Unicode , CSV , fixed-length , JSON and XML ). You also need to know the characteristics , uses , advantages and disadvantages of six data types (Boolean , character , date , integer , real and string ). What You Need to Know Data Formats ASCII ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange ) is a character-encoding system that represents 256 characters using 8-bit ( 1 byte ) binary codes , including English letters , numbers , punctuation and control characters . It is used for storing and transferring basic English text , such as simple text files and character-based data . It is simple , requires little storage and is widely supported by different computer systems . However, it supports a limited range of characters , so it cannot represent most non-English alphabets , symbols or emojis . Link, Ocarina of Time, 1998 Lamball, Palworld, 2024 This information can simply be stored as plain ASCII characters. Unicode Unicode is a character-encoding standard that can represent a very large range of characters and symbols from different languages . A common encoding is UTF-16 , which uses 16 bits (two bytes ) for 65,536 possible characters . It is typically used for websites , applications and documents that need to store multiple languages , symbols and emojis . Unicode supports characters from many different languages and provides a consistent standard across different systems . However, some Unicode encodings can require more storage per character than ASCII, and incorrect encoding can cause characters to display incorrectly . Link 🗡️ | Ocarina of Time ⏳ | 1998 🗓️ Lamball 🐑 | Palworld 👹 | 2024 🗓️ Similar to ASCII, but Unicode allows a much wider range of characters and symbols. CSV CSV (comma-separated values ) is a plain-text , tabular format where each row represents a record and values are separated into columns , usually by commas . The first row often contains column names . It is used in storing and transferring tabular data , such as spreadsheets , datasets and data exported from databases . CSV is simple , human-readable , lightweight and widely compatible , resulting in small files that are fast to process and can be opened by many applications . But, it has limited support for data types and complex/nested data , with no enforced structure or validation , meaning inconsistent formatting , missing values and encoding problems can occur. Character,Game,Year Link,Ocarina of Time,1998 Lamball,Palworld,2024 Each value is separated by a comma, with column headings on the first row. Fixed Width Fixed width is a text-based format where each field is allocated a fixed number of characters , so data always starts and ends at predetermined positions . It is used in legacy systems , financial systems and transferring structured records where fields need to remain in predictable positions . Fixed width has a consistent and predictable structure , making fields easy for software to locate without needing separators . But it can waste storage space because fields must use their allocated width and changing the structure or allowing longer values can be difficult . Character Game Year Link Ocarina of Time 1998 Lamball Palworld 2024 Each field is given a set amount of space so that the values line up. JSON JSON (JavaScript Object Notation ) is a lightweight , text-based and human-readable format that uses key-value pairs and can contain nested data . It is used when transferring structured data between applications , particularly web applications , servers and APIs . JSON is lightweight , easy for humans to read and software to process , supports complex/nested data and works with many programming languages . It is simple to read/write , scalable and language-independent . But it can become difficult to read with large or deeply nested datasets , and syntax errors can prevent the data from being parsed correctly . { "character": "Link" , "game": "Ocarina of Time" , "year": 1998 } Data is stored using key-value pairs. XML XML (eXtensible Markup Language ) is a text-based , human-readable format that uses custom tags and attributes to describe and structure data and supports hierarchical/nested data . It is used to store and transfer structured data between different applications and systems , including configuration files and data exchange . XML is flexible , platform-independent and human-readable , with support for metadata and nested structures that allow complex data to be represented . However, XML can be verbose (uses lots of extra text/tags ), increasing file size and processing requirements . Complex XML can be difficult to process and syntax errors such as unclosed tags can prevent data from being parsed . Link Ocarina of Time 1998 Data is stored between descriptive opening and closing tags Data Types Character A character stores a single letter (e.g. L ), digit (e.g. 7 ) or symbol (e.g. @ ). It is used to store individual values such as initials , grades or single-letter codes . It is suitable and storage-efficient when only one character needs to be stored , but can only store one character , so multiple characters require a string . String A string stores a sequence of characters , such as "Pokopia" , "Nintendo Switch 2" or "2026" . Strings store text-based information , such as names , addresses , usernames and descriptions . They can store multiple characters and a wide variety of text , making it flexible for textual data . However, they usually require more storage than a single character , and numbers stored as strings cannot normally be used directly in mathematical calculations . Integer An integer stores whole numbers with no decimal places , including positive numbers , negative numbers and zero , e.g. -5 , 0 , 120 . It is used to store values that are counted in whole numbers , such as quantity , lives remaining or number of users . Integers require less storage and can be faster and more precise to process than real numbers when decimals aren't required . However, they cannot represent fractional or decimal values , making it unsuitable for values such as 3.5 . Real A real (also known as a float ) stores numbers that can contain a fractional/decimal part , such as 3.14 , -2.5 or 10.0 . it is used in storing measurements and calculations requiring decimal values , such as temperature , distance or speed . Reals can represent a much wider range of numerical values than integers , including fractional values . However, they require more storage than an integer and some real numbers cannot be represented exactly , potentially causing small rounding errors . Boolean A Boolean stores one of two possible values , usually True or False . It is used in representing yes/no or on/off condition s, such as whether a user is logged in . It requires little storage and is simple and efficient for making decisions in programs . But it can only represent two states , so it is unsuitable when more possible values are needed . Date The date data type stores a calendar date , typically containing a day , month and year , such as 21/11/1998 . It is used to store dates of birth , appointment dates , deadlines and release dates . it allows software to validate , compare , sort and perform calculations with dates . However, different date formats can cause confusion or compatibility problems . For example, 11/10/2026 could mean 11th October or 10th November . Q Half-Life 2 493 93.4 True 18/08/2026 Q uesto's Q uestions 2.1 - Data Formats & Types: 1. For each data format (ASCII , Unicode , CSV , fixed width , JSON and XML ), describe its characteristics and give one typical use . [ 3 each ] 2. Give two advantages and two disadvantages of each of the following data formats : CSV , fixed width , JSON and XML . [ 4 each ] 3. Explain the difference between ASCII and Unicode , including an advantage and disadvantage of each. [ 5 ] 4. For each data type (Boolean , Character , Date , Integer , Real and String ), describe its characteristics and give an example of data it could store. [ 2 each ] 5. For a hospital database , explain why different data types and data formats would be suitable for storing different pieces of data . Be specific . [5 ] Some older computers stored years using only two digits to save space . This contributed to the Y2K problem , where 00 could be interpreted as 1900 rather than 2000 , leading organisations around the world to check and update their systems before the new millennium . D id Y ou K now? 1.3 - Storage Topic List 2.2 - Data Flow

Test your ability to create a more complex program in Python based on a given scenario. Perfect for students learning GCSE Computer Science in UK schools. Extended Task 7 'Guess the Number' Multiplayer Game A primary school teacher wants to create a fun activity for their students to play when it is raining and they have to stay inside during break and lunch. Five pupils can play the game at once. Each player chooses a number between 1 and 100 . Then a random number is generated. Whoever was furthest from the random number is out of the game . The four remaining players then pick a new number . This continues with one player being removed each round until only one player is left and they are the winner. Add your own flair and additional features to your program as an extension, including preventing the same number being chosen by multiple players . For this task, you will need to create a document and include the following sections (with screenshots where appropriate): An introduction to explain the Purpose of your program . A List of Requirements for a successful program. Screenshots of your code (with comments in your code to show understanding). Testing – Create a plan to show how you will test your program and then explanations of any errors that you found and how they were fixed . An Evaluation of what worked, what didn’t, and how you met each of your requirements from your original list. Also, discuss further improvements that you could have made to improve your program. Reminders for this task: You will need to use loops to allow the users to enter their numbers. You may wish to use subroutines to decompose the problem into separate rounds. You will need to import the random library to generate a random number in each round. You will need to compare each number to the randomly selected answer using comparison operators such as > and <. There are multiple ways to approach this program, and your solution might look different from the example. Break the problem down and focus on one part at a time. Example solution: Introduction & Round One Round Two ⬅ Extended Task 6 (Word Game)

App Inventor Task 1 & 2 - Basic Apps Basic Program #1 - Colour Changer This quick tutorial will teach you how to create an app that changes the background colour when you press different buttons . See the video: In Designer layout, firstly drag four buttons from the Palette tab on the left side and drop them one at a time on top of each other in the Viewer . In the Components tab, click on each button and press Rename to change the name (this makes it easier to code them later). You don't need to choose these four colours, but it is a good idea to start with these (you can change them later). You should notice that you are only changing the name of the button - not the button on the text; these are two different variables . Now to change the text on each button. Click on a button in the centre then in the Properties tab on the right scroll down to Text and change the text to a colour. When you've changed all four button texts, then you can start to code. Click on the Blocks button in the top right to start adding the code. In the Blocks tab on the left click on each button block (e.g. Red, Blue, Green and Yellow) and drag over a 'when click ' block for each colour. Blocks we put inside of the 'when click' blocks will execute whenever that button is pressed. Grab a set Screen 1 BackgroundColor from the Screen1 section in the Blocks tab and place one underneath each when click block. Then line up the correct colour from the Colors section in the Blocks tab to the relevant button. Program 1 Complete! The easiest way to run an app that you have created at home using App Inventor 2 is to download the free MIT AI2 Companion App on your smartphone from the Google Play Store . At the top of the App inventor program on your computer , click on Connect and AI Companion . This will generate a six-digit code you can type into your phone. If your school has the emulator installed, you can also use this to test your app. Ideas to Improve Your App: Use the when Screen1 BackPressed block from the Screen1 section in Blocks to turn the background colour white when the back button is pressed. The block is shown to the right; you can work out how to use it. Add more buttons for different colours. Try purple, black and orange for example. Change the BackgroundColour (in Properties ) of each button to represent the colour it says. You might need to change the TextColour too for red and blue (see the image to the right). Password Checker Basic Program #2 - Password Checker This quick tutorial will teach you how to create an app that requires a user to enter a correct password . See the video - maximise to see it clearly: Firstly you need to grab a TextBox from the Palette tab on the left and place it in the Viewer. Then drag a Button and a Label . Put them in this order: You need to change the Text for the button in the Properties tab to 'Enter Password'. Click on your text box and delete the Hint Text from the Properties tab. Click on the label and delete the Text from the Properties tab. Don't worry, the label is still there! Now time to code. Open up the Blocks layout by clicking Blocks in the top right. Drag a when Button1 click block into the centre from the Button1 section in Blocks . Drag an if then block from Control within the when Button 1 click block. Click on the blue cog button and, in the new window underneath, drag an else block within the if block. The top part will update by itself. When the button is clicked we want to see if the text in the text box matches what we want it to be. Grab an = block from Logic and connect it to the if block. Then place a TextBox1 Text block from TextBox1 in the first half and a blank " " block from Text in the second half. In the " " block write what you want the password to be. I've chosen pikachu because pikachu is cool. Grab a Set Label1 Text block from Label1 and put one next to then and another next to else. Place a " " block from Text and snap it next to both of those blocks. If the user has entered the password correctly then you want 'Correct Password' to appear. Otherwise, if they have entered anything else , you want 'Incorrect Password' to appear. Program 2 Complete! The easiest way to run an app that you have created at home using App Inventor 2 is to download the free MIT AI2 Companion App on your smartphone from the Google Play Store . At the top of the App inventor program on your computer , click on Connect and AI Companion . This will generate a six-digit code you can type into your phone. If your school has the emulator installed, you can also use this to test your app. Ideas to Improve Your App: Change the password to something different. If the correct password is entered change the background to gree n . If an incorrect password is entered change the background to red . You may want to scroll up to the first program as a reminder. KS3 Home Task 3

Learn about how to perform binary addition and binary shifts. Based on the J277 OCR GCSE Computer Science specification (first taught from 2020 onwards). 2.4b: Binary Addition & Shifts Exam Board: OCR Specification: J277 Watch on YouTube : Binary Addition Overflow Errors Binary Shifts Issues with Shifts Binary Addition Binary addition is a method of adding binary values without having to convert them into denary. How to add binary numbers: What is an overflow error? An overflow error occurs when a binary value is too large to be stored in the bits available . With a byte (8 bits ) the largest number that can be held is 255 . Therefore any sum of two binary numbers that is greater than 255 will result in an overflow error as it is too large to be held in 8 bits . What is binary shift? Binary shift is used to multiply and divide binary numbers . The effect of shifting left is to multiply a binary number. The effect is doubled by each place that is shifted . x The effect of shifting right is to divide a binary number. ÷ Shifting by 1 has an effect of 2 . Shifting by 2 has an effect of 4 . Shifting by 3 has an effect of 8 . For example, shifting left by 2 places has an effect of multiplying by 4 . Another example: Shifting right by 3 places has an effect of diving by 8 . How to shift a binary number: Binary Shifts Watch on YouTube Watch on YouTube Q uesto's Q uestions Binary Addition: 1. Explain what an overflow error is. [ 2 ] 2. Add together the following binary values. If an overflow error occurs you must state one has occurred. a. 010110012 and 010001012 [2 ] b. 110110112 and 010111012 [2 ] c. 001101102 and 011010112 [2 ] d. 110110112 and 010101112 [2 ] e. 011011012 and 110101102 [2 ] Binary Shifts: 1a. Draw a diagram to show the effect of multiplying and dividing a binary number . [2 ] 1b. Draw a diagram or table to show the effect a shift has for each place from 1 to 4 . For example, a shift of 1 place has an effect of 2. [4 ] 2. State the effect of the following shifts: a. Shift right by 2 places. b. Shift left by 1 place. c. Shift left 3 places. d. Shift right by 4 places. [ 1 each ] 3. Shift the following binary numbers and state the effect of the shift: a. 10101011 : Shift left by 2 places. b. 11101100 : Shift right by 3 places. c. 00001011 : Shift right by 2 places. d. 01101110 : Shift left by 1 place. [ 2 each ] 2.4a - Number Systems Theory Topics 2.4c - Character Storage

Learn how to link to other websites by using the anchor tag. 4. Hyperlinks HTML Guide Watch on YouTube: A hyperlink is a link to another web page . In this section, you will link your page to a real website, like Wikipedia. Hyperlinks require the anchor tags and Copy a URL Firstly you need to copy the full web address of the web page that you would like to link your page to. Choose an appropriate web page that relates to your chosen topic. Create the Anchor Tag 4. Close the start of the tag . 1. Open the start of the tag . 2. Type href (stands for hypertext reference ). 3. Paste the URL inside speech marks . 5. Type the text you want the user to click on . 6. Time to close the tag . When you save your webpage and run it in a browser you will be able to click highlighted text to open the website you have chosen. Add at least three different hyperlinks to your webpage. Try to add the 2nd & 3rd links without looking at this page - practise makes perfect. Add a Hyperlink within a Sentence You can also create an anchor tag within a sentence. Hyperlinks are important to link webpages together. Next is time for adding pictures! Either change one of your previous hyperlinks to be in the middle of a sentence or create a new one. 3. Text Tags HTML Guide 5. Images

Learn about 7 key threats to avoid on the internet, including virus, worm, trojan interception, social engineering and eavesdropping. Based on the 2016 OCR Cambridge Technicals Level 3 IT specification. 5.3 - Threats Exam Board: OCR Specification: 2016 - Unit 1 What are the 7 threats to computer systems? Phishing Misleading individuals or organisations into giving up sensitive information (such as passwords or bank details), often through the use of emails . Hacking Exploiting weaknesses in a system or network to create, view, modify or delete files without permission. Similar to data theft - illegally removing copies of personal or company data from computer systems. :( Trojan Appears to be a useful or well-known program but when downloaded and installed it secretly gives the attacker a ' backdoor ' to your system. Through this backdoor the attacker can access data without the user knowing. Football 2020 FREE Interception Data packets on a network are intercepted by a third party (e.g. hacker) and copied, edited or transferred to a different location than the intended destination. Eavesdropping Intercepting , in real-time , private communication traffic such as instant messages or video calls . Social Engineering Tricking individuals into giving sensitive information , e.g. by claiming to be from the IT department and asking for their password and username to check for viruses. Virus A virus can replicate itself and spread from system to system by attaching itself to infected files that are then downloaded and opened. Once activated, a virus can modify data or corrupt a system so that it stops working. Q uesto's Q uestions 5.3 - Threats: 1. An IT company is making an information booklet about the different types of online threats . Describe each type of threat: a. Phishing b. Hacking / Data Theft c. Trojan d. Interception e. Eavesdropping f. Social Engineering g. Virus [2 each ] 5.2 - Operational Issues Topic List 5.4 - Physical Security

Learn about the different methods of communication using physical and digital ways of transferring data. Based on the 2016 OCR Cambridge Technicals Level 3 IT specification. 2.5 & 4.2: Communication Methods Exam Board: OCR Specification: 2016 - Unit 1 Sections 2.5 and 4.2 are very similar so both are mixed within this page. There are many ways that employees of a business can communicate between staff members or with their customers . Text-based Communication Letter ✓ It is a traditional method of communication that can be used for formal occasions such as job offers or resignations . ✓ It can be kept and stored for physical evidence - e.g. keeping an applicant's CV in case an opportunity arises in the future. X Requires postage costs to be sent in the mail (a first-class stamp is now £1.65 ). Overseas delivery is even more expensive . X Takes several days time to be received in the post and may be lost . X A letter can't include certain formats like video. Text Message (SMS) ✓ Can reach a large audience at once with one batch message . ✓ Good for short messages - e.g. appointment reminders or confirmation codes for two-factor authentication . ✓ Doesn't require an internet connection to receive messages. X Limited to short messages (160 characters ) with no multimedia . X Text messages can cost to send each message. SMS stands for Short Message Service . Email ✓ Easily send information to many people at once, instantly . ✓ Can include documents , multimedia attachments and links . ✓ Can send targeted emails to customers on a mailing list with new products or sales promotions . X Important messages may be lost in the spam folder. X Phishing scams can spread malware via email attachments. Instant Messaging ✓ Works in real-time - messages are sent and received instantly . ✓ Attachments and hyperlinks can be sent. ✓ Can be used by support staff to help customers in real-time. X Quick speed means it's less suitable for formal conversations like interviews. X Internet access issues will disrupt any conversations . Voice-based Communication Cellular ✓ Can hear how something is said , unlike text responses. ✓ Fastest method of communication - also allows reactive conversations that can quickly change based on previous responses. X Impacted by cellular reception - won't work in remote areas / underground. X Can't see the other person's body language, presentation or facial expressions. Teleconferences ✓ Allows for groups of people to communicate at once . ✓ Businesses can use teleconferencing to communicate between offices / individuals across the world . X The quality of the call may be affected by a group's poor reception . X Because a group is communicating, people may speak over each other , especially if there is a time delay . VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) ✓ Allows a user to make calls over the internet (e.g. using WhatsApp). ✓ Cheaper (can also be free) to make calls rather than using a cellular network . X Relies on a good-quality internet connection . X Can potentially be less secure than cellular connections. hi there Personal Assistants ✓ Speeds up processes by making appointments, checking information or connecting to smart devices. ✓ Voice-activated - can be used whilst otherwise busy , such as typing, cooking or driving. ✓ The language can be changed to suit people's preferences. X Huge privacy concerns as companies store audio data for voice recognition and track all commands made to the device. X There may be recognition issues as sometimes the assistant doesn't understand a command . Online Communication Video Conferences ✓ Users can connect to the call (e.g. using Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet) remotely , saving time and money instead of all travelling to one location. ✓ Can be used for interviews as it allows the applicant and the interviewers to see each other and look for body language . ✓ Users can share information visually , such as designs. X A high-bandwidth connection is required to send and receive video data reliably . X A poor internet connection (e.g. a weak WiFi signal ) will result in low-quality video that may stutter or drop out , making it hard to communicate clearly . Social Media ✓ Businesses can quickly share information with a large online audience , including new potential customers . ✓ Posts can be in d i fferent formats such as text, images, videos or links to other websites. ✓ Direct messages sent on social media may be seen and responded to faster than alternatives like using email if push notifications are enabled on a phone. ✓ Some social media sites like Facebook allow for private , invite-only groups to communicate with like-minded users in a secure way. X Businesses must be cautious about what they post so as not to accidentally offend others and damage their reputation . X Social media posts and customer comments must be carefully managed , so a social media manager should be hired. Blog / Vlog ✓ Share information with followers in text , images and video formats . ✓ Blogs and vlogs can unite people with similar interests , such as a cookery blog or travel vlog. ✓ Companies can use a blog to promote new products and provide details of upcoming events to try and attract new customers . X Takes a lot of effort and time to create posts, especially editing videos for vlogs. X Bad behaviour or language in vlogs can bring punishment. Several YouTubers have lost their reputations following videos they have posted. Q uesto's Q uestions 2.5 & 4.2 - Communication Methods: 1. Describe three advantages and three disadvantages for each type of communication method . You will need to think of or research some more than the examples listed on this page. a. Letter b. SMS (Text Message) c. Email d. Instant Message e. Cellular Call f. Teleconference g. VoIP Call h. Personal Assistant i. Video Conference j. Social Media k. Blog / Vlog [6 each ] 2. Explain what VoIP stands for and what it allows a user to do. [ 2 ] 3. Describe which communication method would be most appropriate for the following scenarios and why : a. Informing your boss you are going to resign. b. Communicating with management about raising your pay. c. Chatting to team members about when the Christmas party is. d. Sending promotions to thousands of customers. e. Interviewing a potential new employee who is in a different country. f. Talking with a group of investors about the company's latest data. [2 each ] 2.6 - Software Troubleshooting 2.4 Operating Systems 4.1 Communication Skills 4.3 - Personal Attributes Topic List

Learn about software errors and troubleshooting methods of solving them. Based on the 2016 OCR Cambridge Technicals Level 3 IT specification. 2.6 - Software Troubleshooting Exam Board: OCR Specification: 2016 - Unit 1 A software error occurs when a program or process stops working as expected. Software errors usually occur when programs are badly written or if a user inputs unexpected data . Common Faults System Freeze The computer freezes and pressing keys or moving the mouse gives no response . Commonly caused by having too many applications running simultaneously or a virus using too much memory . Unexpected Reboot To try and fix errors, a computer might get stuck in an endless loop of booting and rebooting . Other systems may frequently restart without warning . Stop Error This occurs after a fatal system error when the operating system stops , usually because of a driver software issue . Commonly known as the 'blue screen of death ' on Windows-based systems. Update Error While designed to fix errors, updates can sometimes bring more problems if they interfere with the current software . Troubleshooting Tools for Software Errors Event Viewer (Logs) If a software error does occur, then the same characteristics as a hardware error should be logged , such as the time and date of the error , the user logged in , and the device's problem history . Memory Dump Copies and displays the contents of RAM at the time of a crash to help a technician discover what happened . Baselines Before After A comparison of what the system is like after a crash compared to a fixed point in time beforehand. The baseline can be used to see differences which may have caused the computer to fail . Anti-Virus Checks if malware is running on a device, using up resources and slowing the system down. It could then be quarantined and deleted by the anti-virus. Installable tools can also be downloaded to investigate the system and find the cause of the problem . They may help detect corrupted files , uncover deleted files , and resolve other general hardware or software issues . Q uesto's Q uestions 2.6 - Software Troubleshooting: 1. Describe each of the four common types of software error : a. System Freeze b. Stop Error c. Unexpected Reboot d. Update Error [2 each ] 2. Describe each type of troubleshooting tool and explain how it can be used to discover and fix software errors. a. Event Viewer b. Memory Dump c. Baselines d. Antivirus Software e. Installable Tools [ 2 each ] 2.5 Communication Methods Topic List 2.7 - Protocols

Learn about the two types of language levels - high level languages and low level languages , as well as the use of interpreters and compilers. Based on the J277 OCR GCSE Computer Science specification (first taught from 2020 onwards). 5.1: Languages & Translators Exam Board: OCR Specification: J277 Watch on YouTube : High-Level & Low-Level Languages Translators (Compiler & Interpreter) There are two types of programming languages used within computer systems: High-Level Languages Why do programmers use high-level languages? H igh-level programming languages use code written in a way that is similar to a natural human language , such as English, making it easier to understand and use the language. Using high-level languages leads to fewer errors and allows for more powerful and complex commands compared to low-level languages. However, a high-level language must be translated into machine code (binary) before it can be run, as high-level languages cannot be executed directly by the CPU . Popular high-level languages: PYT HON C++ Ja v a Visual Basic Low-Level Languages Low-level languages do not closely resemble a natural human language , making it harder for humans to understand and write in. Low-level languages are used when a program must be executed quickly or when programmers need to write code that interacts directly with the hardware , such as device drivers. There are two types of low-level language : Machine Code This is the pure binary code that computers can directly process and execute . It is extremely tedious and difficult for humans to understand and write machine code. However, machine code can be used when a programmer needs to perform a very specific command that can't be done in a high-level language. Machine code will be executed faster than high-level programs because it is already in a format the CPU can execute and does not need to be translated . 0010 1011 0101 0101 0110 0111 0101 0001 0101 0101 0101 0100 1010 1010 1010 1010 1111 1110 0010 1001 0100 1001 0010 0111 0111 0101 0011 1010 1000 0101 0110 0111 0000 1010 1010 0011 1101 1001 0010 1101 0010 0100 1001 0011 1010 1001 0101 0101 0010 0101 0111 0101 0101 1000 1011 0111 Assembly Language Assembly language uses specialised command mnemonics to perform actions . See the Assembly Language section in the programming tab for a list of mnemonics such as INP , OUT and HLT . Assembly language is preferred by many programmers over machine code because it is easier to understand and spot errors . It is faster to execute than high-level languages and, like machine code, can be used to directly control the CPU . INP STA Number1 OUT HLT Number1 DAT Translators A translator changes (translates) a program written in one language into another language (usually machine code ). There are two main types of translator : Interpreter An interpreter converts high-level language one line at a time into machine code and executes it. Compiler A compiler converts high-level language into machine code for execution at a later time. The entire program is converted at once . PYT HON PYT HON 0010 1011 0101 0101 0110 0111 0101 0001 0101 0101 0010 1011 0101 0101 0110 0111 0101 0001 0101 0101 Interpreters vs Compilers Interpreter Compiler Execution Method: An interpreter translates source code (high level code) into machine code one line at a time . Execution Speed: An interpreter is slower than a compiler because the code must be reinterpreted each time the program is run. Complexity: Interpreters are smaller, simpler programs . Error Reporting: In error reporting, the interpreter would encounter the errors and report it to the user immediately and stops the program from running. Repetition: Interpreted programs can be edited and run without translating the whole program . Interpreters must reinterpret the program every time it is run. Execution Method: A compiler translates all the source code (high level code) into machine code in one go . A compiler produces an executable file that will run on other machines without the compiler needing to be installed. Execution Speed: Compilers can produce much more efficient code than interpreters making the compiled programs run faster . Complexity: Compilers tend to be large complex programs . Error Reporting: The compiler would analyse the entire program , taking note of where errors have occurred and record them in an error file . Repetition: Compilation requires analysis and the generation of the code only once , whereas interpreters must re-interpret each time. However, compiled programs have to be re-compiled after any changes have been made. x1 ∞ x1 Q uesto's Q uestions 5.1 - Languages & Translators: 1a. Describe three reasons why programmers use high-level languages . [ 3 ] 1b. Explain one limitation of using high-level languages . [2 ] 2a. Describe a key difference between low-level languages and high-level languages . [ 2 ] 2b. Describe when a low-level language would be used instead of a high-level language . [2 ] 2c. Describe an advantage and a disadvantage of writing directly in machine code . [2 ] 2d. Describe what assembly language is. Give one benefit to using assembly language instead of machine code and one benefit to using it instead of a high-level language . [3 ] 3. Compare high-level and low-level languages by stating which is: a. Easier to understand [ 1 ] b. Requiring translation [ 1 ] c. Quicker to execute [ 1 ] 4. Compare interpreters and compilers for each of the following features : a. Execution Method b. Execution Speed c. Complexity d. Error Reporting e. Repetition [ 10 total ] 4.1 - Boolean Logic Theory Topics 5.2 - IDE

Learn about how information can be classified into groups including private, public, sensitive and confidential. Based on the 2016 OCR Cambridge Technicals Level 3 IT specification for Unit 2 (Global Information). 2.2 - Information Classification Exam Board: OCR Specification: 2016 - Unit 2 Information can be classified into different groups . Some data may fall into more than one classification. Sensitive Information Description: Information that should be protected from being publicly released as it could harm the safety or privacy of an organisation or an individual . Examples: Medical data that could be embarrassing to an individual if released. Financial data that will negatively impact the company if made public to competitors. Non-Sensitive Information Description: Information that can be released publicly with no fear of negative consequence . Examples: Store information including shop addresses , opening hours and the names of senior managers. Product information including prices , online reviews and general availability . Private Information Description: Private information relates to an individual and it should not be shared with anyone else without the data subject's permission . Private information is protected by the Data Protection Act and would need to be stored securely so it cannot be accessed without authorisation. Examples: Home addresses, contact information, birth dates and banking details . Employee data such as linked bank accounts and addresses. Public Information Description: Released to the public and can therefore be seen by anyone . Public information is non-sensitive . Examples: Social media usernames, posts and shared images. Public business information including addresses, promotional material and opening times. A government report like the national census every ten years. Personal Information Description: Identifiable data about a specific individual . Examples: Full name , date of birth , gender , marital status, medical history, sexual orientation and voting history. Business Information Description: Any kind of data about a specific business. This information could be public or private. Examples: Address of its headquarters Financial data or employee details. Annual sales figures . Confidential Information Description: Private data that is more restricted than sensitive information , with access limited to only those who need to know. Examples: Doctor / therapist notes Business Profits and losses Trade secrets Classified Information Description: Highly sensitive information stored by a government institution , requiring the highest levels of restricted access . Access is usually restricted by law and only viewable by authorised individuals or groups. In the UK there are three levels of classified information: OFFICIAL , SECRET and TOP SECRET . Examples: Military data Terrorism precautions Crime scene reports Anonymised Information Description: Anonymisation removes personally identifiable data from information so that an individual cannot be identified . This allows the information to be used in much wider context without running the risk of legal action. Examples: Partially anonymised information - where some of the personal information has been removed and replaced by a symbol . Completely anonymised information - where all identifiable data has been removed . Bank details are often partially or completely anonymised. A partially anonymised credit card number might be listed as: **** - **** - **** - 7427 Problems with anonymising data include: If sensitive data is not anonymised enough and the person can be identified . Useful information could be lost if too much data is anonymised . The public could lose trust in an organisation if data is insufficiently anonymised . Q uesto's Q uestions 2.2 - Information Classification: 1. Describe each type of information classification and give at least two examples : a. Sensitive information [3 ] b. Non-Sensitive information [3 ] c. Private information [3 ] d. Public information [3 ] e. Business information [3 ] f. Confidential information [3 ] g. Classified information [3 ] h. Anonymised information (partial and complete) [6 ] 2. State which classification(s) the following pieces of information would be categorised as. It might fit into more than one category. a. Shop opening times [1 ] b. Medical history [1 ] c. Twitter username [1 ] d. Crime scene report [1 ] 3. Describe three problems that organisations should consider when anonymising data . [6 ] 2.1 - Information Styles Topic List 2.3 - Quality of Information

Learn about computational methods including problem recognition, decomposition, divide and conquer, abstraction, backtracking, data mining, heuristics, performance modelling, pipelining and visualisation. Based on the OCR H446 Computer Science A-Level specification. Exam Board: OCR A-Level Specification: Computer Science H446 2.2 - Computational Methods Watch on YouTube : Problem recognition Decomposition Divide and conquer Abstraction Backtracking Data mining Heuristics Performance modelling Pipelining Visualisation Computational methods are techniques to analyse problems and design efficient , effective solutions . Problem Recognition Problem recognition is the process of identifying that a problem exists and understanding its nature before attempting to solve it. It involves determining the aims of the task , identifying constraints and requirements , and clarifying what inputs , outputs and processes are expected from the solution . Effective problem recognition ensures the developer understands the real-world context and avoids solving the wrong problem or missing key details . It is the essential first step that guides all later stages of computational thinking and system design . YouTube video uploading soon Decomposition Decomposition involves breaking a complex system or task into smaller , more manageable components that are easier to design , implement and test . Each sub-problem should ideally be independent and solve a specific part of the overall task , which helps reduce complexity and supports modular program design . This approach enables different developers to work on different components simultaneously and simplifies debugging , maintenance and future updates . By working through smaller logical parts , the full problem becomes far more approachable and structured . YouTube video uploading soon Divide and Conquer Divide and conquer is a technique that splits a problem into smaller sub-problems of the same type , solves them (often using recursion ), and then combines the solutions to produce the final answer . This approach can significantly improve efficiency by reducing large input sizes into more manageable chunks , as seen in algorithms like quicksort . Divide and conquer algorithms include a binary search and a merge sort . The time complexity of divide and conquer algorithms is logarithmic - O(log n) - allowing complex problems to be solved much quicker than other algorithms . YouTube video uploading soon Abstraction Abstraction means removing unnecessary details to focus only on the most important features of a problem or system . It allows programmers to create simplified models that capture essential behaviour without becoming overwhelmed by irrelevant complexities . Abstraction enables generalisation , reusable designs and clearer reasoning about how components interact . In computational contexts, abstraction also highlights the difference between real-world systems and their simplified computational models . YouTube video uploading soon Backtracking Backtracking is used to explore possible solutions to a problem by building a partial solution and abandoning it as soon as it becomes clear it cannot succeed . It works by trying an option , checking whether it leads towards a valid solution , and backtracking to try a different path if a dead end is reached . This approach is used in constraint-based problems such as maze solving . While powerful , backtracking can be computationally expensive , so it often benefits from heuristics or pruning strategies . YouTube video uploading soon Data Mining Data mining is the process of extracting useful patterns , trends and relationships from large datasets . It enables organisations to identify hidden insights , predict behaviours and support data-driven decision-making , particularly in fields such as marketing , healthcare , finance and security . Data mining can lead to enhanced decision-making that can result in innovation , a competitive advantage against similar organisations and increased revenue . It can be used to identify anomalies or unused features . However, data mining doesn't explain the patterns it can identify and it requires powerful computers with a lot of processing power to handle huge amounts of data . YouTube video uploading soon Heuristics Heuristics are approximate problem-solving strategies that aim to produce good solutions quickly when exact , optimal methods are too slow or computationally impractical . They rely on rules of thumb to guide searches through very large solution spaces efficiently . Heuristics are widely used in artificial intelligence , optimisation tasks and complex search algorithms such as A* , where perfect accuracy is less important than fast , practical solutions . The trade-off is that heuristic methods are not guaranteed to produce the optimal answer , but they dramatically reduce processing time . YouTube video uploading soon Performance Modelling Performance modelling is the process of predicting how a system or algorithm will behave under different workloads , input sizes or hardware environments . It uses tools such as mathematical analysis , simulation and Big O notation to estimate required resources such as processing time or memory use . Performance modelling offers a cheaper , quicker and often safer way to test applications . For example, when a company beta tests an online game , it can trial the system with a smaller group of players and then apply performance modelling to predict how much server capacity will be needed when the game is fully released . YouTube video uploading soon Pipelining Pipelining is a technique in which different stages of a process are overlapped so that multiple instructions or operations are being processed simultaneously at different stages . In CPU architecture , for example, one instruction might be fetched while another is decoded and a third is executed , increasing overall throughput without increasing clock speed . Pipelining can also be used in algorithms or data-processing systems to prevent idle time in stages that operate independently . However, pipelining introduces complexity because dependencies or branch mispredictions may require a pipeline to be flushed - interrupting flow and reducing efficiency . YouTube video uploading soon Visualisation Visualisation supports the understanding of a problem by presenting information in a clearer and more accessible form than text alone . It is useful for explaining complex ideas or identifying patterns . Data can be shown visually through diagrams , graphs , trees , flowcharts or tables . The advantages of visualisation include helping to model , represent , analyse or summarise complex concepts . It allows information to be communicated more clearly and in a way that is easier to interpret . It can also provide different perspectives on how a problem might be solved . YouTube video uploading soon This page is under active development. Check here for the latest progress update. Q uesto's K ey T erms Computational Methods: problem recognition, decomposition, divide and conquer, abstraction, backtracking, data mining, heuristics, performance modelling, pipelining, visualisation D id Y ou K now? Real-time location services like Google Maps use heuristics to guess travel times using heuristics such as estimated speeds , traffic history and shortcuts to make fast but approximate route suggestions . 2.1 - Programming Techniques A-Level Topics 3.1a-d - Algorithm Complexity