• Explain the use of global communications between single or multiple sources and recipients, including public networks e.g. Internet.
   
• Describe the hardware, software and services required to access the Internet.
   
• Describe the facilities offered and the relative merits of: telephone, fax, e-mail, teleconferencing, viewdata, teletext, remote databases and other relevant communication systems.
   
• Explain the use of the Internet for a range of activities including communication, information searching and information publication.
   
• Candidates should be aware of the recent developments in the area of communication systems.

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Question

Describe the facilities of an e-mail software package that you would use to carry out the following tasks efficiently.

(a) Pass on an e-mail message that you have received, in error, from a customer to the sales manager. (2 marks)

(b) Inform a group of staff about the time and date of a meeting. (2 marks)

(c) Send designs of a new product to the manufacturing department. (2 marks)

(d) Send an important and urgent message to a supplier. (2 marks)
(8 marks)

(i) a browser (2 marks)

(ii) a search engine. (2 marks)

(b) In order to use the Internet, the owner of a PC at home normally needs to register with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). State two services, in addition to e-mail, that an ISP could provide. (2 marks)

(c) Changes in technology now mean that it is no longer necessary to have a PC to be able to use some Internet services. Give two devices that can be used instead. (2 marks)

(d) Explain why it is possible to send e-mail successfully to someone who has not got his or her PC switched on. (2 marks)
(10 marks)

(a) Explain what is meant by the term videoconferencing. (4 marks)

(b) Give two advantages and two disadvantages to a company of using this approach as compared with non-ICT methods. (4 marks)
(8 marks)

2. Most people use a computer to send and receive e-mail state two other devices that could be used

3. What is meant by e-commerce

4. Some large firms have private world wide networks that can only be accessed by their employees , state three uses for these networks.

5. All types of e-mail software can send and receive e-mail messages, state three other common features of this type of software.

6. While e-mail has increased rapidly in popularity many people still use telephone and fax to communicate. Describe two advantages that each of these systems have over e-mail.

7. Mobile phone companies have spend many millions securing the contracts for 3rd generation licences. Describe two facilities that 3rd generation mobile phones will offer .

8. SMS messaging has become very popular, how are retailers and other  firms starting to make use of this technology.

9. What advantages does digital TV offer over normal (analogue) TV.

10.  State four ways in which a new business could use the Internet.

(a) Forward (2 marks)

(b) Reply (2 marks)

(c) Send/receive (2 marks)

(d) Attach (2 marks)

(e ) Prioritise (2 marks)
(10 marks)

a) Describe two features of an electronic mail system which may encourage its use for internal communication between colleagues (2)

b) Contrast the use of an electronic mail system with each of fax and the telephone (6)

c) Describe two functions the communication system might have, other than the creation and reception of messages. (4)
(12 marks)

(a)    State the minimum facilities needed to gain access to these services  (3 marks)

(b)    Identify and briefly describe three types of information service you would expect to find when linked to the ISH.  (6 marks)
(9 marks)