Computing V Honor - specialist

Vocational Activities

Requirements

1. Have the Computing IV Honor.

   Answer: You must have completed the Computing IV Honor before starting Computing V. Honors in sequence (I, II, III, IV, V) follow a mandatory progression — each level builds on the previous one. — Honors numbered in sequence require linear progression: you can only start the next level after the previous level is approved by the instructor. This ensures an adequate technical foundation.

2. Present a report on the evolution of computing in the areas of artificial intelligence, the virtual world, the internet and intranets, of at least 350 words.

   Answer: You must write a report of at least 350 words covering the 4 topics: the evolution of Artificial Intelligence (from Turing to modern LLM models), the virtual world (virtual reality, the metaverse), the internet (from ARPANET to the current web) and intranets (internal corporate networks). — The report should cover the 4 topics of contemporary computing in depth. 350 words is the minimum — complete reports usually exceed 500 when all the points are addressed with verified facts.

3. Define the following terms:
   • User;
   • Programmer;
   • Systems analyst;
   • Help Desk;
   • Hacker;
   • Hyperlink;
   • World wide web (www).

   Answer: 1) User: the person who uses the computer or system to carry out their tasks, without necessarily knowing how it works internally. 2) Programmer: a professional who writes the source code (in some programming language) that makes programs and systems work. 3) Systems analyst: a professional who studies the client's needs, designs the architecture and logic of the system, and defines how it should be built, guiding the programmers. 4) Help Desk: a technical support service that attends to and helps users solve questions and problems with computers, systems, or networks. 5) Hacker: a person with deep knowledge of computing and security, capable of exploring and breaking into systems; when acting ethically (with authorization) they are called an ethical hacker, and when acting with bad intentions they are called a cracker. 6) Hyperlink: a clickable link in a text, image, or button that takes the user to another page, file, or part of a document on the internet. 7) World Wide Web (www): a system of pages (websites) interconnected by hyperlinks, accessed over the internet through the HTTP/HTTPS protocol and viewed in a browser. — These terms are fundamental in computing: they describe human roles (user, programmer, analyst, help desk, hacker) and technical concepts (hyperlink, WWW). Understanding each one is the foundation for any work with computers.

4. Know the difference and application of the following printers:
   • Dot matrix;
   • Laser;
   • Plotter;
   • Inkjet.

   Answer: 1) Dot matrix (impact): needles strike against an inked ribbon onto the paper. It is cheap, slow and noisy, used for continuous forms and invoices with multiple copies (carbon copies). 2) Laser: a laser beam charges a cylinder that attracts the powdered toner, then fused onto the paper by heat. It has high speed, low cost per page and excellent sharpness in text, ideal for offices and large volumes. 3) Plotter: a large-format printer that draws on wide sheets, used for architectural plans, maps, engineering projects and banners. It prints strokes and lines with high precision on paper much larger than usual. 4) Inkjet: tiny drops of liquid ink are sprayed onto the paper. It has good color quality with inexpensive equipment, ideal for home use and printing photos, but the cartridges are expensive and the printing is slower. — Each printer has distinct technology and ideal use. Dot matrix is the only one that makes copies by physical impact. Laser is the fastest for text. The plotter is the only one for huge papers (A0+). Inkjet is the best for photographic colors.

5. Be able to explain how information flows between peripherals and the CPU, using binary code 1 and 0. Make a diagram.

   Answer: The peripherals (keyboard, mouse, monitor) exchange data with the CPU through the bus using electrical signals represented as 1 (with voltage) and 0 (without voltage). — The binary system (only 1 and 0) is the basis of all digital computing — HIGH voltage = 1, LOW = 0. Each letter A is, for example, 01000001 in ASCII. The CPU coordinates everything via the bus that connects all components.

6. Research on specialized websites and present a report on what the Y2K bug was.

   Answer: The millennium bug (also called Y2K, for 'Year 2000') was the worldwide concern that computer systems would fail at the turn from 12/31/1999 to 01/01/2000. The cause: to save memory (expensive in the 1960s-80s), programs stored the year with only 2 digits (e.g.: 1999 = '99'). At the turn, '00' could be interpreted as 1900 instead of 2000, generating errors in calculations of dates, interest, expiration dates, schedules, and controls that depended on chronological order. There were fears of failures in banks, power plants, aviation systems, hospitals, and governments. In the preceding years, companies and governments invested billions of dollars reviewing and fixing code (expanding the year to 4 digits). Thanks to this preventive effort, the turn of 2000 occurred with very few serious incidents, and Y2K remained as an example of how a large-scale technical failure can be avoided with planning. — Y2K was solved with US$300+ billion invested globally in fixes. Despite the alarmism, few serious incidents occurred on 01/01/2000 — proof that the preventive work paid off. Today it is studied as a classic example of risk management in IT.

7. What do upgrade and update mean?

   Answer: An upgrade is a MAJOR update — a change of the main version of software (e.g.: Windows 10 → Windows 11) or the replacement of hardware with a superior model (e.g.: swapping 8GB of RAM for 16GB), adding new features or more capacity. An update is a MINOR update — fixes, security adjustments, and small improvements within the SAME version of the software (e.g.: installing a Windows patch or rollup of fixes), without changing the main version or swapping hardware. — An upgrade changes the MAJOR VERSION (usually paid in commercial software); an update is INCREMENTAL and usually automatic/free. Knowing how to tell them apart matters for planning the costs and risks of changes to the system.

8. Name three operating systems and their similarities and differences.

   Answer: Three operating systems: Windows (Microsoft), macOS (Apple), and Linux (open-source). SIMILARITIES: they all manage the hardware, run programs/applications, offer a graphical user interface (GUI), control files and folders, and support multitasking. DIFFERENCES: Windows is the most widely used, paid, runs on most PCs, and has great compatibility with games and software; macOS is exclusive to Apple computers, paid, stable, and integrated into the Apple ecosystem; Linux is free and open-source, highly customizable, widely used on servers and by advanced users, with various distributions (Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian). — The 3 systems dominate the market: Windows (~70% of PCs), macOS (~15% of PCs, Apple), and Linux (~95% of web servers). They all perform the same basic role (managing hardware/software) but differ in license, supported hardware, and philosophy.

9. What is catfishing and how to protect yourself from it?

   Answer: Catfishing is when someone creates a fake profile on the internet (with stolen or invented photo, name, age, biography) to deceive other people, usually in virtual relationships, financial scams, or to obtain personal data. How to protect yourself: (1) be wary of anyone who never wants to make a video call or meet in person; (2) do a reverse search of the profile photo (Google Images) to see if it was stolen from another person; (3) never send money or personal/banking data to someone you only know online; (4) check for inconsistencies in the story told and for very recent profiles or ones with few friends/photos; (5) do not share intimate photos; (6) talk to a trusted adult and report/block suspicious profiles. — Catfishing has become a serious crime with damages of billions of dollars globally. Reverse image search (Google Lens, TinEye) discovers stolen photos in seconds. A video call required before any real meeting is the simplest defense.

10. Teach the Computing I or Computing II Honor to a group of Pathfinders.

    Answer: You must teach all the requirements of Computing I or II to a group of less experienced Pathfinders, planning practical and theoretical lessons. The Computing V instructor observes you to assess your teaching ability. — Teaching is the highest level of mastery — those who teach truly master the subject. This requirement links Computing V to the training of new Pathfinders, keeping the tradition of passing on knowledge within the club.