Chapter 6 (The Bigger Picture)

1) AJ’s is a fast-food company with five outlets. The outlets are connected via the

Internet to the head office. Data from each outlet is transmitted to the head office

computers at the end of each day.

(a) AJ’s chief executive is concerned about the environmental impact of

using computers.

Give three possible environmental impacts of using computing devices.

Suggest one possible action AJ’s could take to reduce the environmental impact.(4)

Ans: Any three of the following impacts:

hium) resource depletion

posal facilities

Any one of the following actions:

g facilities to see if e-waste is acceptable

-
waste

take donations of old devices

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 2) Non-physical goods, such as an idea, design, song, or a programming algorithm,

are susceptible to being illegally redistributed once they are stored on a computer. They may be
covered by copyright, patent, or trademark laws.

(i) State the term for these non-physical goods, which are a result of original creative
thought.

Ans: Intellectual property (IP)

(ii) Byron’s mobile phone tracks his location.

Describe potential advantages to society of this technology and possible concerns for its use.
(4)

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 3) Explain two ways in which the improper disposal of digital devices could be harmful to
human health. (4)

Ans:

into drinking water (1).

by contact during handling (1).

which could then be inhaled (1)

(1)

4) Artificial intelligence is an emerging trend in computer science.

*(a) Discuss the use of artificial intelligence by describing some of its characteristics,

the ways in which it may be used and the ethical issues associated with its use. (6)

Ans:

Characteristics – Any of the following:

• Branch of computer science based on enabling computers to behave like humans/mimic

aspects of human intelligence

• AI is implemented in software.

• Combines psychology, biology, linguistics, mathematics, neuroscience and philosophy (ethics)

• AI is not the same as the general intelligence of human beings

Uses – Any of the following:

• Game playing (chess, quiz, video games)

• Analytics (analyse buying patterns, predicting behaviours, predict text, financial markets)

• Image processing (recognising objects/patterns)

• Logistics (scheduling, order fulfilment)

• Control systems (cars, manufacturing, weapons, navigation)

• Expert systems (medical, mechanical, electrical diagnosis)

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• Neural networks (simulating neuron behaviours as in brains)

• Natural languages processing (chatterbots, chatbots, speech recognition)

• Robotics (dangerous situations, help aged or disabled)

Ethical issues – Any of the following:

• Take the work of humans, thereby affecting employment rates

• Is a computer to be trusted to make decisions (life-death)?

• If a computer discovers something that humans can’t prove, should it be

accepted as truth?
• Do AI machines have rights?
• Will people be comfortable interacting with machines that are
considered intelligent?
uality of Written Communication:
• 1-2: Some basic points from at least one of the categories; little
clarification or expansion of points; spelling, grammar, and punctuation
errors hinder meaning.
• 3-4: At least one relevant point from two categories; some clarification
or expansion of points; spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors
occur, but do not hinder meaning.
• 5-6: Relevant points from three categories; comprehensive clarification
or expansion of points; spelling, grammar, and punctuation are used
accurately and meaning is clear.

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OR

Artificial intelligence (AI), in many forms, has an increasing impact on our lives.

Discuss this statement considering characteristics, uses and ethical issue.

Characteristics – Any of the following:

• Implemented in software.

• Could involve the use of neural networks / clustering / modelling

• Algorithms are trained by exposure to data that has been validated / checked

• Algorithms learn by identifying commonalities between the validated / checked data

• Algorithms make predictions for new data based on prior learning

• Algorithms may incorporate recursive self-improvement

Uses – Any of the following:

• Game playing (opponents)

• Analytics (analyse buying patterns, predicting behaviours, predictive text, targeted advertising,
personalised news feeds, friend suggestions)

• Image / Audio processing (recognising objects/patterns, face recognition)

• Logistics (scheduling, order fulfilment)

• Control systems (cars, manufacturing, weapons, navigation

• Diagnostic systems (medical, mechanical, electrical)

• Natural languages processing (chatterbots, chatbots, speech recognition, personal assistants)

• Robotics (dangerous situations, help aged or disabled)

Ethical issues – Any of the following:

• Training sets could include data that should not be used to make decisions (race, religion,
gender, etc.) that could cause biased outcomes

• Is a computer to be trusted to make decisions (life-death)?

• If a computer discovers something that humans can’t prove, should it be accepted as truth?

• How do we know that the answer produced is correct?

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• Will people be comfortable interacting with machines that are considered intelligent?

• Some jobs may be at risk, especially those requiring human skills such as empathy or
creativity.

5) Although deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) computers may not replace silicon-based

computers, the technology has the potential to change our lives.

Discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of DNA computers.(6)

Ans:

Speed:

problems could be solved much quicker than

conventional computers

Cost:

we have now

ventional
media

Environment:

electrical power to run

Reliability:

implement

Applicability:

we cannot anticipate)

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 computing is in its infancy, we will see improvements the same as we did with silicon based
computers

6) The team needs to protect its intellectual property rights over the systems that it
develops. Give three types of legal protection the team could use. (3)

Ans:

Award one mark each for any of:

• Copyright (1)

• Patent (1)

• Licensing (1)

• Trademark (1)

7) Eemerging technologies are DNA computing and quantum computing.

(i) Explain one difference between DNA computing and traditional computing.
Ans:
Uses DNA/biomolecular components (1) rather that standard hardware/silicon chips (1)
DNA uses four-character genetic alphabet (1) rather than binary digits (1)
DNA uses chemical reactions (1) rather than electrical states/properties (1)
DNA computing uses massive parallel processing/strands (1) to solve problems that
otherwise would take impossible amounts of time (1)
(ii) Give a definition of the term superposition in quantum computing.(1)
Ans:
The ability of a system to be in multiple states at the same time (1)
• Multiple probabilities at the same time (1)
• One state combines all possibilities (1)
• The state is not known until it is measured (1)

(b) Ethically, everyone should be able to access the benefits of technology.

Give two reasons why this may not be possible. (2)

Ans:

• Some people may not want to use technology (• Some people may not be able to afford to use

technology (1)

• Some people may not have access to the technology/infrastructure (1)

• Some people may not be allowed access to technology (1)

• Some people may not be able to use it (disabilities etc.) (1)

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 (c) Widespread use of computer technology has a negative environmental impact.
Discuss the negative environmental impact of using computers and actions that could be taken
to reduce it. (6)
Ans:
Impacts
• Pollution (water, air, noise) resulting from the manufacturing process
• High energy and water volumes needed for the manufacturing process
• Mineral mining contaminates ground water
• Mineral (copper, gold, silver, lithium) resource depletion
• High energy use to keep machines cool with air conditioning or fans
• Contain toxic components which means computing devices are hazardous waste
• Batteries (laptop, lithium cells) disposal is hazardous and needs specialised disposal facilities
• Computing devices sent to landfills contaminate ground and water resources

Actions
• Check national and local legislation
• Some countries/states/regions require sellers to recycle own waste
• Research recycling facilities to see if e-waste is acceptable
• Find if local/national/regional government agencies charge for collection and disposal of e-
waste
• Find sellers offering exchange old for new + cost purchase options
• Find charities (local, regional) which take donations of old devices
• Turn off machines when not in use to save energy

8) Akiko wants to know how the software she writes can be protected.
Discuss how the software can be protected from illegal copying and/or illegal distribution.
You should consider:
• intellectual property
• licensing.
Ans:
Intellectual property
• Intellectual property is any work that is distinct, owned, and protected by patent or copyright
laws
• Akiko’s software programs fall into this category
• She will be able to protect her intellectual property
• Her software is protected by copyright without her having to apply for it

Licensing
• Purchasing software does not mean you own it
• Could add a licence key to the software.
• Could require compulsory registration using the internet
• Could allow proprietary licences, which do not allow code modification or code reuse.
• Could allow Free and open-source software (FOSS), which would allow the user to modify
and reuse the code.
• Creative Commons (CC)

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o Could use creative commons (CC) licences that would allow the free distribution of
copyrighted work
o Would use if Akiko wanted to allow people to share, use and build on the programs.
o May mention some of the CC licences and conditions

9) Viza Health Centre is located in the North East of England.

(a) The health centre uses artificial intelligence to provide a symptom-checking service for its
patients.Patients log on to the website and input their symptoms.
(i) Describe how artificial intelligence could identify what is wrong with them. (2)
Ans:
• It will interpret/analyse patient input to identify symptoms (1) and match the symptoms to
(possible) illnesses (1)

• It will match symptoms to possible illnesses (1) and give the most likely/probable illness (1)

• It will match symptoms to possible illnesses (1) and ask further questions to narrow it down
(1)
• It will match symptoms to possible illnesses (1) by searching/using a database/other data store
(1)

(ii) Give one reason why a patient may not want to use this online service.
Ans:

1. May not have access to the internet (1)

2. May not have access to a device (1)

3. May not want to use it (1)

4. May not have the technical knowledge to use it (1)

5. May have a physical disability that stops them from using the service (1)

6. May not want to disclose personal information (1)

7. hacking or security or data issue (1)

8. May not trust the AI/system (1)

9. Can’t take physical measurements eg. blood pressure (1)

10. may want a real person (1)

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 Extra Activities:

Question Answer

Quantum computers use qubits rather than

bits. How does a qubit differ from a bit?

What does the term ‘superposition’ mean in

respect to qubits?

What does the term ‘entanglement’ mean in

respect to qubits?

Why is a quantum computer able to search for

an item in a database much more efficiently
than a conventional computer?

Activity

Watch D Wave’s introductory video ‘Quantum Computing and D-Wave Overview’ and then
answer these questions.
https://www.dwavesys.com/resources/videos

Question Answer

What are the six possible applications

of quantum computing mentioned in
the video?

What ‘spooky phenomenon’ does the

quantum computer use?

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Question Answer

When searching for a best solution,

how does the approach taken by
conventional computers differ from
that used by quantum computers?

What are discrete optimisation

problems? What example is given in
the video?

What are the two ‘exotic’ operating

conditions of the D-Wave quantum
computer?

Activity

Using these articles as a starting point, make a list of possible applications of quantum
computing.

‘6 Things Quantum Computers Will Be Incredibly Useful For’

https://singularityhub.com/2017/06/25/6-things-quantum-computers-will-be-incredibly-useful-
for/

‘Quantum computers are here -- but what are they good for?’
http://www.pcworld.com/article/3180194/hardware/with-quantum-computers-here-developers-
seek-uses.html

‘Here's How Quantum Computing Will Change the World’

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregsatell/2016/10/02/heres-how-quantum-computing-will-
change-the-world/

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Activity

Read this article about building a transistor from DNA and then answer these questions.
https:/student.societyforscience.org/article/switch-living-computer

Question Answer

What is a transistor?

How does a silicon transistor work?

What have scientists called the new

type of DNA transistor?

How does a transcriptor work?

What possible application of this

emerging DNA technology does
Jerome Bonnet give in the article?

Where might DNA-based computers

be able to work (unlike conventional
computers)?

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Activity

Read this article in the New Scientist.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2123322-first-hint-of-how-dna-calculators-could-
supercharge-computing/
Scientists at Manchester University in the UK have developed a DNA-based computer known
as a non-deterministic universal Turing machine.
Describe the approach used by a conventional computer and a DNA computer (non-
deterministic universal Turing machine) to find the path to the centre of a maze.

Conventional computer DNA computer

How does this effect the amount of time needed to solve a program?

Conventional computer DNA computer

What is the big problem with the DNA computer developed by the team from Manchester?

Activity (homework)

‘Although deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) computers may not replace silicon-based computers,
the technology has the potential to change our lives.’

Discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of DNA computers.

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Activity

Visit the Guardian’s nanotechnology web page and list some of the current uses of
nanotechnology.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/nanotechnology

Activity

Albert Swiston, a biomaterials scientist at MIT, has produced an ingestible computer that
combines a microphone, a thermometer and a battery capable of collecting several
measurements at once from inside a body.
Research applications of ingestible computers. Here are two web links to start you off.
http://www.hqinc.net/2016/05/09/ingestible-computers-offer-huge-array-of-possibilities/
http://news.mit.edu/2016/ingestible-origami-robot-0512

Activity (homework)

Nanotechnologies are increasingly used in mobile phones, computers and other digital devices.
Describe the key benefits and dangers of nanotechnology. Discuss what can be done to ensure
that people benefit from, rather than are harmed by nanotechnology?
This website is a good starting point.
http://www.nanoandme.org/home/

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