IGCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE 1. Data Representation 1.1 Binary systems ● Binary data ○ Computer ■ Electronic machine to process data ■ Data → Process → Information ○ Processor ■ Stores data using electrical switches (on/off) ■ Stores & processes data ○ Binary ■ Base 2 (on/off) ■ All data must be turned into binary for computer to process ■ Used for registers where a certain bit controls a specific thing ■ Disadvantages ● Hard to read/understand ● Easy for errors to occur ● Hard to spot/fix errors ● Writing them takes up a lot of space ● Bits & bytes ○ Bits ■ Binary digIT (1/0) ■ Signal on/off switch in the computer’s electronic memory ○ Byte ■ String of 8 bits ■ Computer organises data into a byte ○ Memory ■ Area of computer that stores data as on/off signals ■ RAM (random access memory) ■ Not enough space in RAM = data stored outside RAM (slower to access) ■ Processors contain registers ● Binary & denary ○ Denary ■ Base 10 ○ Binary to denary ■ Eg. 0101011100 to denary (348) ○ 512 256 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 ■ Max: 16 bits ■ 4+8+16+64+256 =348 Denary to binary ■ Start with largest value you can subtract from the number ■ Continue to subtract until you have 0 ■ Put 1 in the matching columns; 0 in all other columns ■ Eg. 40 to binary (00101000) ● 40-32=8, 8-8=0 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1.2 Hexadecimal ● Digits ○ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F (Base 16) ○ Usage ● ● ● ● ■ Easy conversion (hex to binary vice versa) ■ Easy to read ■ Takes up less space Hexadecimal & Denary ○ Hex to Denary ■ Place into column ■ Multiply accordingly ■ Add them up ○ Denary to Hex ■ Divide denary number by 16 ■ Result goes into the 16s column ■ Remainder goes into the units ■ Larger numbers (> 225) ● Find largest column that is smaller than X ● Divide X by the common value ● Divide the remainder by the next smallest value ● Continue until you reach the units column Hexadecimal & Binary ○ Convert: match with the chart Benefits ○ Can represent 16 bit words as 4 hex digits ○ Easy to convert digit back to binary Usage ○ Defining colors in HTML ■ 24 bit colour ● Eg. #FF0000 (red), #00FF00 (green), #0000FF (blue) ○ Machine code & assembly language ■ Machine code is turned into hex ● Used to represent binary data & addresses ● Easier, faster, less errors ● Eg. 5F 3A 09 F1 ■ Error messages displayed in hex code ● Eg. error #C04 door open ○ Media Access Code (MAC) addresses ■ Identifies a device on the internet ● Refers to network interface card (NIC): part of the device ● Unique address ● Static address (doesn’t change) ● Set by manufacturer ■ 48 bits shown as 6 groups of hex digits (eg. NN:NN:NN:DD:DD:DD) ● 1st half = identity number of manufacturer of the device ● 2nd half = device’s serial number ○ Debugging ■ Error message & debugging software are in hex ○ Main memory & registers (in the RAM) ■ Makes data/addresses easier to read 1.3 Data Storage ● Digital data ○ Digital: Something that has a precise value which can be represented as a number ○ Number values stored in binary/denary/hex ○ Text ■ Stored using basic character code ● American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) ○ Number code representing all standard keyboard characters ○ File types: .txt (storage for ASCII), .doc (text document format), .exe (instructions to be executed) ■ Meaning of numbers are different in different formats ● Numbers can be stored in number value/text characters ■ Computer must detect file format ● Digital graphics ○ Images ■ Made out of pixels ● Pixel = 1 spot of light ■ Bitmap graphics (.bmp) ● File stores position & colour of every pixel ○ Each pixel has its own number code (lots of data) ● Full dot to dot detail colours of real life can be stored ● Good way to store real-life images ■ Vector graphic (.svg) ● Made of shapes ● Computer stores math formulas on how to draw it (no pixelation) ● Less information ● For cartoons, diagrams, graphs etc. ● Not for storing pictures ■ Pixelation: individual pixels can be seen ■ Colour depth: No. of colour used in an image ● Digital sound & video ○ High quality sound + video = high bit rate ○ Sample rate * No. of channels * bit depth = No. of bytes ○ File types File format MIDI (Musical instrument digital interface) Main uses ● ● ● JPEG (Joint photographic experts group) ● ● Advantages Storage of music files Uses 8-bit serial transmission Stores analogue data ○ Pitch, notation, velocity, volume etc. ● ● ● ● Used to reduce photographic file sizes Lossy compression for images ● Smaller file size Easily modified No background noise Can create music Disadvantages ● ● ● Reduces photographic file sizes ● ● Dependent on quality of sound card for overall sound Can’t store vocals Effects are limited Reduction in quality Only supports 8-bit images ○ MP3 ● ● ● ● MP4 ● ● Lossy compression for audio Audio format for websites Removes sounds human ear can’t hear If 2 sounds are played simultaneously, the softer sound is removed ● ● ● Small file size Widely accepted format Good for online audio ● Standard video format Allows the storage of multimedia files rather than just sound ● ● Video streaming Store other data types (video, audio, text, images) Separate hint track Can be played on anything ● ● ● ● ● Changing the number of pixels per cm ● Some softwares don’t accept No quality Hard to edit Can't be streamed live Compression ○ Stores the same data but using fewer bytes ○ Lossy compression ■ Eliminates unnecessary bits of data ■ Can’t return to its original state when uncompressed ■ Data quality is reduced ■ Detail in file is lost = blurry image ○ Lossless compression ■ All data bits from the original file are reconstructed when the file is uncompressed ● No data is removed (original data can be restored) ● Patterns in the data are identified & are indexed & put into a table ■ Reduces size of data file ○ Compressed image files ■ Reducing image quality (lossy compression methods) ● Using fewer larger pixels to make the image (decrease resolution) ● Using fewer bytes to store colour code (decrease colour depth) ■ Removing repetition ● Same colour stored twice gets removed ■ File format ● JPEG (.jpg/.jpeg), TIFF, GIF, PNG ○ Compressed sound = reduction of sound quality ■ Fewer channels ■ Lower sample rate ■ Reduces bit depth ○ Compressed video ■ Reduces number of audio channels, sample rate & image quality ○ Compressed text files ■ Lossless compression using a compression algorithm ■ Repeated words/word sections can be indexed/replaced by numeric value ■ Compressed file is a zip file ■ Can be saved/converted into pdf 2. Communications & the internet 2.1 Data transmission ● Physical transfer of data over a communications channel ● Signals are sent from one place to another ○ Transmission content ■ ■ ■ ● ● ● Electrical pulses that travel down metal cables Pulses of light that travel down a fibre optic cable Wireless signals ● Radio signals, microwave, infrared waves ● Bits are sent as electromagnetic waves; move through space Asynchronous data transmission: data being transmitted in an agreed bit pattern ○ Data bits are grouped together & sent with control bits ○ Receiver of the data knows when the data starts & ends ■ Prevents data from getting mixed up Synchronous data transmission: a continuous stream of data ○ Ensures that the sender & receiver are synchronised with each other ○ Faster method Serial & parallel transmission ○ Serial: when data is sent one bit at a time over a single wire ■ Eg. connecting computer to a modem Advantages ● ● ● Disadvantages Works well over long distances Data will not be out of synchronisation (reliable) Cheaper (fewer wires) ● Slower ■ ○ Universal serial bus (USB) ● Peripheral that uses asynchronous serial data transmission ● Bytes of data are broken up & sent along the bus one bit at a time ● Advantages ○ Devices are automatically detected & configured when initially attached ○ Impossible to connect device incorrectly (connector only fits one way) ○ Supports multiple data transmission speeds ○ Supported by many OS Parallel: when data is sent several bits (1 byte) at a time over several wires (normally 8) at the same time (eg. used by internal components) ■ Eg. Sending data from a computer to a printer Advantages ● ● Works well over short distances Faster rate of transmission Disadvantages ● ● ● ■ ● Higher chance of error Bits can become ‘skewed’ & out of synchronisation More expensive (more wires) Integrated circuit (IC) ● Collection of microscopic electronic circuits sealed into a single plastic/ceramic package ● Uses parallel transmission ○ Simplex & Duplex ■ Simplex data transmission: one direction only ● Eg. computer to printer ■ Half-duplex data transmission: both directions but not at the same time ● Eg. walkie-talkie system ■ Full-duplex data transmission: both directions simultaneously ● Eg. Phone call Transmission errors ○ Data that is corrupted during transmission ○ Errors caused by flaws of the transmission medium ■ Imperfections of the wires