1. Secondary storage devices can be classified into three categories:

• Magnetic Storage
• Optical Storage
• Solid-State Storage

2. Examples for each of the categories:

• Magnetic Storage: Hard Disk   Drives (HDD), Magnetic Tapes
• Optical Storage: CD-ROMs, DVDs
• Solid-State Storage: USB Flash Drives, SSDs

3. Areas where computers are used:

• Education (e.g., e-learning)
• Healthcare (e.g., medical records)
• Business (e.g., accounting)
• Entertainment (e.g., gaming)
• Scientific Research (e.g.,         simulations)

4. Advantages of secondary storage media over primary storage media:

•  Larger storage capacity
•  Non-volatile (data is retained even when powered off)
•  Lower cost per byte

5. Technology used to store data in each category:

• Magnetic Storage: Uses magnetic patterns (e.g., on disk platters)
• Optical Storage: Uses lasers to read and write data on optical discs
• Solid-State Storage: Uses NAND flash memory

6. Distinguishing between types of compact disks:

•  (i) CD-ROM: Read-only, cannot be written to or modified
•  (ii) CD-R: Recordable once, cannot be erased or rewritten
•  (iii) CD-RW: Rewritable, data can be erased and rewritten multiple times

7. Reasons Dr. Otieno prefers a laptop:

• Portability
• Ease of mobility
• Compact design
• Rechargeable battery
• Small storage space

8. Reasons to avoid dust accumulation in a computer lab:

• Dust can clog cooling systems, causing overheating.
• Dust can damage sensitive electronic components.

9. Difference between hardcopy and softcopy output devices:

• Hardcopy produces physical, tangible output (e.g., printed paper).
• Softcopy produces digital or electronic output displayed on a screen.

10. Three examples of pointing input devices:

•  Mouse
•  Touchpad
•  Graphics Tablet

11. Four components of computer hardware:

•  Central Processing Unit (CPU)
•  Memory (RAM)
•  Storage Devices (e.g., HDD, SSD)
• Input/Output (I/O) Devices (e.g., monitor, printer)

12. Difference between system software and application software:

• System software manages and controls computer hardware and resources.
• Application software performs specific tasks for end-users.

13. Examples of system software and application software:

• System Software: Operating Systems e.g. MacOS, Linux, Windows 11, etc.
• Device Drivers, Network Software e.g Novell Netware etc, Utility Software
• Application Software: Word Processors e.g. Microsoft Word, Desktop Publishing Software e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Databases e.g. MS. Access, Presentation Software e.g. MS. PowerPoint, Spreadsheets e.g. MS. Excel

14. Three categories of system software with explanations:

• Operating System: Manages hardware and provides user interfaces.
• Device Drivers: Control and communicate with hardware devices.
• Utility Software: Performs maintenance and optimization tasks.
• Network   Software facilitates the communication between devices in a network by providing protocols and services for data transmission.