• Describe the need for interfacing with peripherals, storage devices, input and output devices and display devices; describe the need for printer and other peripheral drivers. 

Nature and types of software

• Describe the distinction between systems software and applications software; the purposes of operating systems.
• Describe the nature of package software, generic and specific, and of bespoke software.
• Describe the general characteristics of generic packages and the integration of objects and facilities for processing data protocols and standards.
• Describe the functionality offered by software which provides access to the internet. 

Capabilities of Software

• Describe the desirable features of packages that would be appropriate to particular users and activities such as: links to other packages; search facilities; macro capabilities; application generators; editing capabilities; ability to change or extend data and record structures; short access times; data portability and upgrade paths.

Upgradability

• Explain the technical and human implications of package change/upgrade.

Reliability

• Explain the difficulties of thoroughly testing complex software.

Type

Size

Type

Size

Type

Size

(a). Describe the functions of a printer driver. (2)

(b). State one reason why the sound files are not provided on a floppy disk. (1)

(c). Give one possible use of the sound files. (1)
(4 marks)

(a). Give three tasks that are performed by an operating system. (3)

(b). State three characteristics of generic package software. Illustrate your answer with three different examples of the type of packages that could be chosen by the company. (The use of brand names will not gain credit.) (6)

(c). State two characteristics of an application generator (2)
(11 marks)

All spreadsheet packages allow users to format cells in various ways.
State three different ways of formatting cells. (3 marks)

(a). Explain why it is important that this piece of software is thoroughly tested. (2)

(b). The organiser stores telephone numbers that can be used for automatic dialling. Describe, using examples, three types of test data that should be used for checking that only valid telephone numbers can be stored. (6)
(8 marks)

(a). Describe what is meant by the term macro. (2)

(b). Give two examples of situations where the use of macros would be appropriate. (2)
(4 marks)

Describe, using examples, the characteristics of these three types of software.

(The use of brand names will not gain credit) (9 marks)

(a). Describe four items of software that the company will need to buy, explain why each item is required. (The use of brand names will not gain credit) (8)

(b). The staff have used old system successfully for the past 10 years.
Give two reasons why it will be necessary for the company to provide training for all its members of staff on the new system. (2)
(10 marks)