• OS controls operation of system/hardware
• Applications software allows the system to do something useful

a) What is an operating system? (1 mark)

• It is a system software that manages the computer hardware. It provides a platform for installation & execution of application software.

b) Briefly explain any four functions of an operating system. (8 marks)
Interrupt handling - When an interrupt occurs, the current state of the CPU is saved & the OS handles the request, after which the OS restores the previous state of the CPU & resumes the interrupted process.
Process scheduling - OS decides which process runs next & for how long.
Memory management - Ensures that each process has enough memory allocated to execute without interfering with other processes.
Error handling - OS provides a mechanism to detect & respond to errors such as segmentation faults, hardware failures, or invalid instructions.

• A software which can display a webpage on a user's computer screen

• Users need to ensure that their software is licensed

a)  i)  Explain what is meant by the term volatile memory                                                            (1mark)

• Memory content is lost when the power is turned off

ii) What is normally stored in the non-volatile part of a computer’s main memory                       (1mark)

• The Computer’s BIOS

b) Explain why having cache memory can improve the performance of the CPU                         (2mks)

• Frequently used data/instructions are store in the cache; Meaning they don’t have to be fetched from the main memory;
• Data/instructions stored in the cache memory can be accessed faster (than data/instructions stored in the main memory) MAX 2

Data and instructions are fetched from main memory, from addresses requested by the CPU on the address bus. (Data and instructions are sent) using the data bus. (Data and instructions are then) decoded and executed in the CPU.
Results of operations are sent back to the memory on the data bus

• Application software refers to software that is designed to help the computer user to accomplish specific tasks
• Examples of application software include; Internet browsers, word processors, spreadsheets, databases etc
• System software is software that performs tasks needed to operate the hardware and provide services to other software
• Examples Operating Systems, Networking software, utility programs(encryption, backup, disk defragmentation software, ...)

• Extra bit on each data-byte that
•  Does not transmit data
• Makes the number of ones in a byte always even or always odd
• Error in the transmission of a bit will make the even/odd wrong
• The problem of two errors in one byte not being found
• Parity block

• Software may be designed to run on 1 core and not multiple cores
• depends on the task(s)  i.e some tasks cannot be split across cores
• Clock speed also affects speed i.e dual core may have a faster clock speed and quad-core may have slower clock speed so one task may be run faster/slower
• RAM size also affects speed i.e Quad-core may have less RAM  amount of VM being used
• Cache size also affects speed i.e Quad-core may have less cache

• All processes are held in a queue 
• Processes are prioritised 
• Processes are switched On each clock cycle

• connecting wireless headphone to a phone
• Using a wireless mouse, keyboard etc
•  

• Binary can represent two states because computer circuits use transistors, which can either be on or off

• Better/improved traffic flow control
• reduces accidents
• keeps delays to a minimum
• reduces pollution
• cars use less fuel

• Artificial intelligence
• Parallel processing
• Natural language processing
• quantum computing

• An agreement / set of rules / standard for how computers should communicate or how data is sent/received/transmitted on a network
• Example of what could be agreed in the protocol (e.g. speed / error checking / etc.)

• Real-time OS reads information from input devices and must respond within a short duration of time to ensure correct performance
• Distributed OS distributes computation among several physical processors which do not share memory or clock

input

• from sensors
• from camera images [Max 2]

processing

• analyse data from sensors
• calculate average traffic flow/speed
• send signals to adjust change lights/timing

output

• change lights at the junction
• change timing plan

a repeater will amplify a signal and resend it to overcome reduction in signal strength (attenuation) because over a distance network signals diminish in size/amplitude (are attenuated) due to characteristics of the media.

• Standards specify a set of rules for hardware and/or software used in network communications. Because all manufacturers must adhere to the standards when manufacturing network hardware or software, it means that all devices should be able to communicate, regardless of manufacturer.

TV remote, wireless mouse , wireless keyboard, used by robots to gauge distance and avoid obstacles,