3.1 Explain the function of a network switch - NSC Information Technology - Question 3 - 2019 - Paper 2

Wi-Fi is used to connect devices wirelessly to a local area network (LAN) or to the internet. It allows users to access the network without cables, providing mobility and convenience.

Bluetooth technology is utilized for short-range communications, allowing devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets to wirelessly exchange data over short distances.

3G technology enables mobile devices to access the internet and use multimedia services. It provides faster data transfer rates compared to previous generations, facilitating smooth internet browsing and streaming.

1. Twisted Pair Cable (often UTP or STP)
2. Coaxial Cable (also known as coax)

A star topology diagram should depict four computers connected to a central device (switch/router). Each computer should have its own cable linking it directly to the switch. This layout ensures that if one connection fails, the others remain unaffected.

1. Peer-to-peer networks usually have lower security because each device can access the shared resources directly, making it more vulnerable to unauthorized access.
2. They can be more challenging to manage and maintain compared to client-server networks, especially as the number of devices increases.

Encryption refers to the process of converting data into a format that is unreadable to unauthorized users. This is usually done using algorithms and keys, ensuring that only those with the correct key can access or understand the information.

Skype utilizes encryption to ensure the privacy of its users by securing their communication from potential eavesdroppers, thus protecting personal information and conversations.

This category of encryption software is known as Digital Rights Management (DRM).

The inference engine is the component of an expert system that processes the data given to it, often derived from user inputs. It accesses the knowledge base to retrieve relevant information and deduces new facts or makes decisions to generate an output.

Fuzzy logic is a form of logic that allows for reasoning with imprecise or uncertain information. It operates on degrees of truth rather than the standard true or false binary, enabling better decision-making in complex scenarios.

Distributed computing refers to a model where a system’s resources are spread across multiple computers, enabling them to collaborate and share workloads simultaneously to solve a single problem efficiently.