1. A spreadsheet is used to calculate the cost of carpeting a house. It is shown here with the formula view switched on so that you can see how it is constructed (Image is not included)

(a) Identify the two functions used in this spreadsheet. 
(b) Cell D12 contains the expression (D2:D10). Describe the meaning of the information in this expression. [2 marks] 
(c) Explain how features of a spreadsheet can be used in order to investigate “what-if” questions.[4 marks]

Answers: 
a)

b) Information ranging from cell D2 to D10.

c) The "what-if" feature is used to look at various scenarios based on the data.

2. One way to make money from a web site is to place advertisements on it. One web search

engine company allows the web site owner to add some HTML code to the web site, which searches the site for content and delivers advertisements relevant to that site. When a visitor to the web site clicks on a link to an advertisement, the web site owner earns a small fee. The more visitors there are to the site the more chance the owner will make money from the advertisements displayed on the site. (Image is not included)

(a) HTTP stands for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. Define the term protocol in this context. [2 marks]
(b) Describe how the search engine determines relevant advertisements to display on this or other web sites. [4 marks]

(c) Explain two ways in which the number of visitors to this or other web sites can be increased.[4 marks]

Answers: 


a) the term protocol refers to a standard set of rules that could shows or instructs how data should be transmitted. 

b) Inorder for the search engine to display the queried information, key words are typed in the search engines which are then found in databases. This means that there is a database of advertisement and when a particular word is searched it is matched up with words that describe a particular advertisement.

c) Two ways passible to increase the amount of visitors would be through page ranking and valuable content as an appeal to the audience (a focal/selling point). For example, owners can ask search engine providers to rank their advertisement higher, as such when a particular key word is search that is related to that advertisement, it will pop up first. The idea of having
a great focal point is that it would attract the audience to visit that advertisement, working as a way to hook its audience.     

3. The Oyster card is an electronic ticket that is used in London to pay for travel on trains run by Transport for London. It contains an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system and it can be charged with money. The amount of credit on the card is stored in the RFID chip on the card. Money is deducted each time a journey is made.

When entering an underground station the card is identified by being touched on the card reader so the RFID signal is detected. On leaving the station at the end of the journey the cost of the fare is deducted from the card. People are encouraged to use Oyster cards by
making the fares much cheaper when using the card than buying a paper ticket. Also, there is a price “cap” which means that the user will never pay more than a maximum amount each day. If the card balance is too low, access to the trains is denied.

It is possible to register the card online. This allows the user to top it up with money and to view a journey history, like the one below.

Date
Time
Location
Action
Balance
23/01/07
15:03
Russell Square
Top-up
£21.00

15:03
Russell Square
Entry


15:17
Oxford Circus
Exit
£19.50

18:49
Russell Square
Entry


19:09
South Kensington
Exit
£17.00
24/01/07
08:42
Russell Square
Entry


08:52
Euston Square
Exit
£12.40



(a) The RFID readers have a short range of 0-8 centimetres. Identify two reasons why the range needs to be short. [2 marks]
(b) Identify four possible tasks the Oyster software would need to perform when an Oyster card is used at a station. [4 marks]
(c) Explain one benefit and one drawback of extending the use of the Oyster card nationally. [4 marks]


Answers: 

a) - Avoid eavesdropping of data signal.
    - Prevents accidental deduction of people simply standing next to the card reader. 

b) - Check if the card has enough money.
    - Access the transport database.
    - Open the barriers.
    - Record the final amount. 

c) One of the benefits to extending the use of the Oyster card national wide is that it makes it easier to travel around the UK. People can plan their mode of transportation easily without having to worry about the operational use. For example tourist visiting several cities in the UK have to buy an oyster card and use it when they use the transport and the only responsibility they have is to make sure that there is enough cash in the card. 


However the downside to the oyster card being used nationally is the cost of introduction. Inorder for the oyster card to be applied nationally ever city station needs to have technology and software that enables the oyster card to be used. If no such technology is available in the a particular city then the oyster card becomes meaningless. 


4. An author writes IT text books at home using his PC. He illustrates his work with many screen shots and images obtained from web sites, showing readers how to carry out various actions. He sends the images as bitmapped files. He sends his work to the publisher using his broadband internet connection.

(a) Define the term bandwidth. [2 marks]
(b) Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of sending the images as bitmapped files instead of vector graphics files. [4 marks]
(c) With reference to one benefit and one problem, explain why there may be  advantages and disadvantages for an author when working from home instead of in the publisher’s office. [4 marks] 

Answers:

a) Bandwidth is the amount of bits transmitted every second

b) A bitmapped image is made up of pixels and dots. This would mean that it would be easier to edit a bitmapped image but also implies that it is much more of a larger file compared to vector graphics files. However vector graphics files are easier to enlarge meaning is can be magnified without the loss of quality.