• Describe the use of networked systems for various applications.
   

• Describe the network infrastructure required to support the World Wide Web e.g. the role of routers and servers.

Applications of communication and information systems

• Select and justify an appropriate networked system for a particular application.

Distributed systems

• Understand that distribution can apply to both data and control.
   

• Describe the uses of distributed databases and understand the advantages and limitations of such distribution.

Client/server systems

• Describe the concept of a client/server database.
   

• Recall the relevant advantages of a client/server database over a nonclient/server database.

See the books page for more details about the titles listed below

McWeeney - A205 Pages 28 - 32

Mott & Leeming - Chapter

Doyle - Chapter

Heathcote - Chapter 58

AQA past papers
Past papers. Not as useful as the Psionica database AQA shamefully closed but...

Practice questions
Past paper practice questions for 14.4 (.rtf file - opens in Word/Writer) suitable for revision/homework etc. etc.

Past paper answers
Answers to the questions above. This is a password protected .doc file. Sorry but the password is only available to teachers.

Older Exam Papers
Past papers (pre 2000) not included on the official AQA site from Colchester VI Form College. These still contain some relevant questions for this topic. Look for IT05/ICT5 papers.

Links to general online resources for 14.4. I'd recommend right clicking links/icons and "Save Target As..." for anything other than web pages (see key below)

	Communication and Information Systems
Pretty good PowerPoint presentation based on Ch. 58 of the Heathcote book.
	Networking Basics
This is probably more useful for 14.5 but is also a pretty good introduction to the "Describe the use of networked blah de blah de blah" bit of this topic
	Warriors of the Net
Couldn't decide what topic to put this under so have whacked it on quite a few pages. Anyways it's excellent although at 70+MB it's a bit of a BIG FAT download. Ask the bill payers permission first ;)
	Communication and Information Systems
Handout containing a set of questions from Gerald Horsley at B & P College. Useful either as a topic introduction or as an end of unit exercise for revision.
	Connecting to the Internet
Cool PowerPoint presentation from the very very very lovely Debbie Jones @ teach-ict. Covers the benefits and drawbacks of dial-up, ISDN and ADSL.
	Journey Throught the Internet
More interesting stuff Kesgrave. Like everything else from this site this PowerPoint presentation is a *bit* different. That Robert Cawley is a clever bloke. Wonder what happened to him???
	Client-server vs. Peer-to-peer
Relative merits of peer-to-peer and client server are discussed in this doc. Bit dated (WTF is Windows 95?) but the main points are still relevant.
	Telecommunications and Networks
Another PowerPoint presentation from the excellent "Management Information Systems" book by J & K Laudon. Get the book or the rest of the stuff here
	Network/Communication Stuff
Networking sub-index from teach-ict's a level section neatly breaks down networking into various sub-headings. FatMax recommended.
	Local vs Client Server Databases
Don't try opening this online - it goes belly up! Anyway if you download it you'll be treated to 61 (yes 61!!!) slides that cover just about everything you need to know about the local vs. client-server choices.
	14.4 Communication and Information Systems
Summary notes and questions for this topic from North Chadderton High School. Contains a couple of past paper questions with detailed answers.
	Distributed Databases
Even MORE revision notes and questions from North Chadderton. Usual very useful stuff for revision.

Key to resources:

PowerPoint presentation Word file Web page Macromedia Flash

Word, PowerPoint and Excel resources will also open in OOo Writer, Calc and Impress - check the downloads page.

Disclaimer thingywhatnot: Help FatMax keep these pages relevant by submitting new links and/or reporting dead links here. FatMax has absolutely no association with AQA - I can't think of anyone I'd *less* like to be stuck in a lift with. Unfortunately the only vaguely <snigger> *reliable* </snigger> source of AQA info is www.aqa.org.uk Pics of FatMax are by Adam Kirkton - buy something or other from him. This page last updated 17/02/06 by a dog who just can't say nooooooooooooooooo...