November Exam

1-      Explain why each of the following happens, giving in each case technical details in terms of the data transfer, software and hardware used, protocols when appropriate

a.       A user in Argentina tries to access a video on a site in the US and she gets a message saying that the content is not authorized for her country.

b.      Peer-to-peer downloading software is installed and the firewall refuses to allow the program to operate.

c.       The computer starts up, cannot read the hard drive and asks for a boot disk.

2-      Design a network for the following scenario, explaining clearly the rationale for your design decisions:

-          A hotel has two locations in Buenos Aires. In the city site, they have 4 computers that they sue for booking and reservations with clients when they check in and out of the hotel, using a printer for invoices. They are connected to a back office where there are 3 computers that administrative employees use for accounting and general administrative functions, which uses a colour printer. When the front desk needs to print a brochure in colour, they also use this printer.

-          The other branch, the smaller suburban location, utilizes one computer and a printer for the front desk, three computers in the office, and one computer for the restaurant.

-          The two branches need to be interconnected since when one hotel has no room passengers are sent to the other branch.

3-      You are hired to create an expert system to predict how many customers will come to the owner’s restaurant every day of the year. Explain in detail:

a.       Each of the stages involved in building the expert system.

b.      What makes it an expert system.

c.       How can it become more efficient with time?

4-      Explain how technology has impacted one of the following areas, giving specific examples that you have researched:

-          Arts and entertainment OR

-          Health and medicine    OR

-          Politics   OR

-          Science and the environment.

5-      Comment on the impact of education on technology and the potential for changing education in the future.

6-      Can robots become more intelligent than humans? How can they improve?

7-      How can hackers make money? Explain in detail how they achieve this. What barriers do they need to overcome?