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COMPUTER APPLICATIONS II

THE KENYA NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY MODULE II COMPUTER APPLICATIONS II Time: 2 hours

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

The paper consists of SIX questions.
Answer FOUR of the SIX questions in the answer booklet provided.
Candidates should answer the questions in English.

This paper consists of 3 printed pages.
Candidates should check the question paper to ascertain that all the pages are printed as indicated and that no questions are missing.

1.
(a) Outline the function of each of the following commands as used in a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) program:

  1. array
  2. chamfer
  3. join

Answer:

  1. array: Creates multiple copies of objects in a pattern or grid.
  2. chamfer: Creates a beveled edge between two surfaces.
  3. join: Connects two or more separate objects into a single object.

(b) A company was tasked to develop a Geographical Information System (GIS) to map natural resources within a country. Outline three advantages that the GIS would provide.
Answer:

  1. Enhanced data analysis and decision-making through visualization.
  2. Improved resource management and planning.
  3. Better accessibility to spatial data for stakeholders.

(c) Outline four reasons that may necessitate a business to use computer systems in processing financial records.
Answer:

  1. Increased accuracy in financial calculations and record-keeping.
  2. Faster processing and retrieval of financial data.
  3. Enhanced security and data integrity.
  4. Better compliance with regulatory requirements through automated reporting.

2.
(a) Outline two characteristics of (i) an advantage that can hinder its replacement with vehicle telematics, (ii) one exception to each.
Answer:

  1. Advantage: High reliability in data transmission.
  2. Exception: In some remote areas, telematics may still face connectivity issues.

(b) State two reasons one could use to record financial transactions in accounting.
Answer:

  1. To maintain accurate financial records for audits.
  2. To track business performance and financial health over time.

(c) A duty management system that is used for customer validation in the key self-referral machine within a hospital indicates that the type of validation is likely to be the blood type. Explain how that validation could be used.
Answer: Blood type validation ensures that the correct patient information is retrieved, minimizing the risk of medical errors during treatment.

(d) Distinguish between software and application programs as used in CAD programs.
Answer:

  • Software: Refers to the overall suite of programs that manage and run a CAD system.
  • Application programs: Specific programs within the CAD system that perform tasks like drawing, modeling, and rendering.

3.
(a) Outline the four main tasks related to database management systems (DBMS) suitable for storing data in GIS.
Answer:

  1. Data entry and updating.
  2. Data retrieval and querying.
  3. Data storage and organization.
  4. Data security and backup.

(b) With the aid of an example, describe the Polar Coordinate system as used in CAD programs.
Answer:

  • The Polar Coordinate system is a method of defining points in a drawing by specifying a distance and an angle from a reference point.
    Example: To draw a line that is 5 units long at an angle of 30 degrees from the origin, you use the Polar Coordinate system.

(c) Explain three ethical concerns that may arise as a result of innovations of ethics in Computer-Aided Design (CAD).
Answer:

  1. Intellectual property issues related to CAD designs.
  2. Privacy concerns in sharing and storing CAD data.
  3. The potential for CAD software to be used in unethical ways, such as creating harmful devices.

4.
(a) Outline the major concerns that would be crucial to an auditor when assessing the use of each of the following commands in a CAD program:

  1. Hatch
  2. Spline

Answer:

  1. Hatch: Concerned with the accuracy and consistency of fill patterns in drawings.
  2. Spline: Ensuring that curves are smooth and accurate without unintended distortions.

(b) Discuss the difference between a cash book and a bank statement as used in accounting.
Answer:

  • Cash Book: A financial journal that records all cash receipts and payments.
  • Bank Statement: A summary provided by the bank that details the transactions in a bank account over a certain period.

(c) State the ledger that is used to record each of the following transactions:

  1. Withdrawal of cash from the bank for personal use.
  2. Purchase of a stationery on credit.
  3. Payment of a creditor by cheque.
    Answer:
  4. Personal Ledger
  5. Creditors Ledger
  6. Bank Ledger

5.
(a) Describe two features of a stores ledger as used in accounting.
Answer:

  1. Records inventory levels, including quantities received and issued.
  2. Tracks the cost of goods held in stock.

(b) Figure 1 shows components of an expert system used in artificial intelligence. Use it to answer the questions that follow:

  • [Image of a diagram labeled “Knowledge Acquisition System,” “Knowledge Base,” “Expert,” “User Interface,” “User”]

(i) Identify the component labeled L.
Answer:

  • Component L: User Interface.

(ii) Explain the role of each of the following components in the system:

  1. Knowledge Base
  2. Inference Engine
    Answer:
  3. Knowledge Base: Stores rules and data for decision-making.
  4. Inference Engine: Applies rules from the Knowledge Base to analyze data and make decisions.

(c) Outline three types of CAD tools that would be used in public health industry.
Answer:

  1. GIS tools for mapping and analyzing health data.
  2. Simulation tools for modeling disease spread.
  3. Visualization tools for health data interpretation.

(d) Explain what the following terms mean as used in artificial intelligence:

  1. Chatbot
  2. Neural Network
  3. Bionics
    Answer:
  4. Chatbot: A computer program designed to simulate conversation with human users.
  5. Neural Network: A series of algorithms modeled after the human brain to recognize patterns.
  6. Bionics: The application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the design of engineering systems.

6.
(a) With the aid of an illustration, explain the following terms as used in Artificial Intelligence (AI):

  1. Agent
  2. Autonomous
  3. Percept
    Answer:
  4. Agent: An entity that perceives its environment and takes actions to achieve its goals.
  5. Autonomous: The ability of a system to operate independently without human intervention.
  6. Percept: The input received by an AI agent from its environment