← Digital Technology syllabus

Northern IrelandDigital Technology

A2 1 Information Systems

9 dot points across 9 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What is artificial intelligence, and how do expert systems, natural language and robotics use it?

Artificial intelligence and its applications: expert systems and their components, natural language and voice recognition, and robotics, with their uses, benefits and limitations.
A CCEA A-Level Digital Technology answer on artificial intelligence and its applications: expert systems and their components (knowledge base, inference engine, user interface), natural language and voice recognition, and robotics, with benefits and limitations.
11 min answer →

What are cloud computing and mobile technologies, and what are their benefits and risks?

Cloud computing and its service and deployment models, mobile technologies and their uses, and the benefits and drawbacks of each for individuals and organisations.
A CCEA A-Level Digital Technology answer on cloud computing (its service and deployment models) and mobile technologies, with the benefits and drawbacks of each for individuals and organisations.
10 min answer →

What are the main types of network, and how are they arranged and connected?

Network types (LAN, WAN, PAN), network topologies (bus, star, ring and mesh) and the hardware that connects a network.
A CCEA A-Level Digital Technology answer on computer networks: the types of network (LAN, WAN and PAN), the network topologies (bus, star, ring and mesh) with their advantages and disadvantages, and the hardware that connects a network.
11 min answer →

What are data mining and big data, and how are they used and controlled?

Data mining and the discovery of patterns in large data sets, the characteristics of big data, and the uses, benefits and ethical concerns of analysing large data sets.
A CCEA A-Level Digital Technology answer on data mining (discovering patterns in large data sets), the characteristics of big data, and the uses, benefits and ethical concerns of analysing large data sets.
10 min answer →

What laws and ethical issues govern the use of digital technology and data?

The impact of legislation on individuals and organisations (data protection, computer misuse, copyright) and the moral, ethical and social issues raised by digital technology.
A CCEA A-Level Digital Technology answer on the impact of legislation (data protection, computer misuse and copyright) on individuals and organisations, and the moral, ethical and social issues raised by digital technology.
11 min answer →

What rules govern network communication, how is data carried, and how are errors detected?

Network protocols and the role of TCP/IP, transmission media (wired and wireless), and error detection and correction techniques such as parity, checksum and the check digit.
A CCEA A-Level Digital Technology answer on network protocols and TCP/IP, wired and wireless transmission media, and error detection and correction techniques including parity, checksums and check digits.
11 min answer →

How is a database made fast, accurate and secure for many users at once?

Optimising databases with indexing, maintaining data integrity, and securing databases with access rights, encryption and backup, including concurrency in multi-user systems.
A CCEA A-Level Digital Technology answer on optimising databases with indexing, maintaining data integrity, and securing databases with access rights, encryption, backup and concurrency control in multi-user systems.
11 min answer →

What makes a database relational, and how is it modelled and normalised?

The features of a relational database (tables, primary and foreign keys, relationships), entity relationship modelling, and normalisation to third normal form.
A CCEA A-Level Digital Technology answer on relational databases: tables, primary and foreign keys and relationships, entity relationship modelling, and normalisation to third normal form to remove redundancy.
12 min answer →

How are data queried, inserted and updated using SQL and query by example?

Using a database through Structured Query Language (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE) and query by example, including selecting, sorting and joining data.
A CCEA A-Level Digital Technology answer on using a database with Structured Query Language: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE, filtering, sorting and joining tables, and the query by example alternative.
11 min answer →