IBDP Computer Science B1.1 Approaches to computational thinking HL Paper 1 - New Syllabus

(a)(i)
Answer (any one):
Surveys/questionnaires; / Observation.

(a)(ii)
Answer:
If surveys/questionnaires are selected: Surveys are a practical and fast way to gather information from a large group of end-users. They can provide results quickly and may allow respondents to express their opinions more freely through anonymity, while interviewing many end-users would be time-consuming and costly.

If observation is selected: Observation allows the analyst to see the actual processes being carried out by the end-users. It can provide a more realistic view than interviews and may reveal aspects of the system that users do not mention during an interview, while reducing the time and cost of collecting information from many users.

(b)
Answer:
Prototypes are simple representations of a proposed system that demonstrate its functionality and/or user interface to clients or end-users. They can be used to evaluate the proposed design and obtain feedback, helping the systems analyst identify improvements and ensure that essential functions are included and the system meets user requirements.

(c)
Answer:
Software needs to be tested using typical, extreme and invalid data so that errors can be identified and corrected before the client uses the system. Testing at earlier stages can save money because bugs are generally less expensive to fix before the system is fully implemented. Testing also improves software quality and security, increases client satisfaction, and helps ensure compatibility with the different devices and operating systems used by the company.

Testing throughout implementation is important because errors discovered after the system has been deployed can be more expensive and disruptive to correct. Continuous testing allows problems to be detected and corrected before they affect the client.

(d)
Answer (any one fully explained):
Copyright infringement: Copyrighted images may be used without permission from the copyright holder or without giving credit to the creator, which may constitute plagiarism and may be unlawful.

False advertising: Images may be manipulated or falsified to deceive people into supporting or purchasing a product or brand.

Fraud: An image of an accident or event could be edited to mislead the police, an insurance company or the public.

(e)(i)
Answer:
The image can be compressed using file-compression software. If the compressed file is still larger than the attachment limit, it can be split into smaller parts, with each part sent as a separate email. The recipient can then download all the parts and use an extraction program to reconstruct the original file.

Alternatively, a file-sharing service such as Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox can be used. The large image is uploaded to cloud storage and a sharing link is placed in the email so that the recipient can access the original file without attaching it directly.

(e)(ii)
Answer (any one):
Expensive hardware may be needed for high-performance image processing; / special skills may be required to use graphic design software; / the system may be unable to decode a particular image file format; / image files may become corrupted; / high-resolution screens or colour printers can be expensive; / images require large amounts of storage; / graphic design software may be complex, costly or have limitations.