WEB SCIENCE | REVISION CARDS

Topics from the International Baccalaureate (IB) 2014 Computer Science Guide. 
REVISION CARDS
Distinguish between the internet and World Wide Web (web).
The Internet is a global network of computers and other devices capable of communicating with each other, while the World Wide Web (web) is a collection of information and resources, accessed via the Internet using web browsers.
Describe how the web is constantly evolving.
The web evolves through increasing user interaction (Web 2.0), incorporation of semantics (Semantic Web), and continuous development of new technologies and standards.
Identify the characteristics of HTTP, HTTPS, HTML, URL, XML, XSLT, JavaScript, CSS.
HTTP: Protocol for transferring web pages; HTTPS: Secure version of HTTP; HTML: Markup language for creating web pages; URL: Address of a web resource; XML: Markup language for data; XSLT: Language for transforming XML documents; JavaScript: Scripting language for interactive effects; CSS: Style sheet language for designing web pages.
Identify the characteristics of URI, URL.
Uniform Resource Identifier, a string of characters to identify a name or resource; URL: A specific type of URI that identifies a resource's location on the internet.
Describe the purpose of a URL
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) specifies the location of a resource on the internet, enabling browsers to retrieve and display it.
 Describe how a domain name server functions.
A Domain Name Server (DNS) translates domain names (like 'example.com') into IP addresses that computers use to identify and access each other over the internet.
​Identify the characteristics of IP, TCP, FTP.
Protocol for routing data across the internet; TCP: Provides reliable, ordered delivery of data; FTP: Protocol for transferring files between computers.
Outline the different components of a web page.
Components include text, images, CSS for styling, JavaScript for interactivity, meta-tags for SEO, and multimedia elements.
Explain the importance of protocols and standards on the web.
Protocols and standards ensure compatibility and effective communication between different technologies and platforms globally.
Describe the different types of web page.
Types include personal pages, blogs, search engine pages, forums, all serving different purposes and designed for various interactions.
Explain the differences between a static web page and a dynamic web page.
Static web pages display the same content every time, while dynamic web pages can display different content and allow for user interaction.
Explain the functions of a browser.
A browser retrieves information from the Internet, interprets and displays web pages, and allows users to interact with these pages.
Evaluate the use of client-side scripting and server-side scripting in web pages.
Client-side scripting (e.g., JavaScript) runs on the user's computer for immediate interaction; server-side scripting (e.g., PHP) runs on the server, generating dynamic content.
Describe how web pages can be connected to underlying data sources
Web pages can connect to databases or other data sources via server-side scripts or APIs, enabling dynamic content generation and data manipulation.
Describe the function of the common gateway interface (CGI).
CGI is a standard protocol for interfacing external applications with information servers, such as HTTP servers, enabling web pages to interact dynamically with users.
HIGHLIGHT THE PURPOSE OF THE OSI MODEL
​The OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model is a conceptual framework used to understand and standardize the functions of a telecommunication or computing system without regard to its underlying internal structure and technology. Its purpose is to help product developers and network managers ensure that their products and protocols can interoperate, and to facilitate clearer comparisons among communications tools.
Define the term search engine.
A search engine is a software system designed to carry out web searches, which means to search the World Wide Web in a systematic way for particular information specified in a textual web search query.
Distinguish between the surface web and the deep web
The surface web consists of all the pages that can be indexed by a standard search engine like Google, whereas the deep web consists of pages that are not indexed and generally require special access, such as databases or password-protected areas.
Outline the principles of searching algorithms used by search engines.
Principles include indexing web pages, analyzing keywords, and using algorithms like PageRank to determine the relevance and ranking of pages in search results.
Describe how a web crawler functions.
A web crawler, or spider, is an internet bot that systematically browses the World Wide Web, typically for the purpose of web indexing. Web search engines use crawlers to update their content or indices of others sites' web content.
Discuss the relationship between data in a meta-tag and how it is accessed by a web crawler.
Meta-tags provide metadata about the HTML document. Web crawlers access this data to gather information about the page content, which aids in indexing the page for search engines.
Discuss the use of parallel web crawling.
Parallel web crawling is a process of deploying multiple web crawlers simultaneously to speed up the indexing process and improve the freshness of the data collected by search engines.
Outline the purpose of web-indexing in search engines.
Web-indexing is the process by which search engines organize information before a search to enable super-fast responses to queries.
Suggest how web developers can create pages that appear more prominently in search engine results.
Developers can optimise content with relevant keywords, use meta-tags effectively, ensure mobile-friendliness, improve page load times, and obtain quality backlinks to enhance search engine visibility.
Describe the different metrics used by search engines.
Metrics used include click-through rates, time spent on a page, bounce rates, and the number of backlinks, all of which influence a page's search ranking.
Explain why the effectiveness of a search engine is determined by the assumptions made when developing it.
The effectiveness depends on assumptions about user intent, relevance of information, and the accuracy of the ranking algorithm, which influence the quality and usefulness of search results.
​Discuss the use of white hat and black hat search engine optimiSation.
White hat SEO uses ethical techniques for improving rankings, while black hat SEO uses deceptive methods that can penalize a site.
Outline future challenges to search engines as the web continues to grow.
Challenges include handling the vast amount of data, maintaining privacy and security, providing accurate and timely results, and managing the bias and fairness of algorithms.
Define the terms: mobile computing, ubiquitous computing, peer-2-peer network, grid computing.
Mobile computing involves computing devices that are not permanently fixed to one location; ubiquitous computing refers to technologies that integrate into everyday objects and activities; peer-2-peer networks connect computers directly; grid computing involves distributed computing across multiple locations.
Compare the major features of mobile computing, ubiquitous computing, peer-2-peer network, grid computing.
Mobile computing is portable, ubiquitous computing is integrated, peer-2-peer is decentralized, and grid computing is highly scalable and powerful.
Distinguish between interoperability and open standards.
Interoperability refers to the ability of different systems to work together, while open standards are agreed-upon specifications open to the public to ensure compatibility and interoperability among different systems.
Describe the range of hardware used by distributed networks.
Hardware can include servers, routers, switches, data storage systems, and various end-user devices like smartphones and laptops, facilitating connectivity and functionality in distributed networks.
Explain why distributed systems may act as a catalyst to a greater decentralization of the web.
Distributed systems distribute processes and data across multiple computers, which can enhance resilience, reduce dependency on single points of failure, and promote a more open and accessible web.
​Distinguish between lossless and lossy compression.
Lossless compression reduces file size without losing any data (e.g., PNG), essential for applications where every bit of data is important, like text or spreadsheet files. Lossy compression reduces file size by permanently eliminating less important information, typically used for images, video, and sound (e.g., JPEG, MP3).
 Evaluate the use of decompression software in the transfer of information.
Decompression software is crucial for restoring compressed data to its original form, ensuring data integrity and usability after transmission, especially in environments where bandwidth is limited.
Discuss how the web has supported new methods of online interaction such as social networking.
The web has enabled the emergence of social networking sites that facilitate interactions and connections at a global scale, influencing how communities form, share, and consume information.
Describe how cloud computing is different from a client-server architecture.
Cloud computing involves delivering various services (software, storage, computation) over the Internet, allowing for scalability and resource pooling, unlike traditional client-server architectures that involve a more direct connection between client devices and servers.
Discuss the effects of the use of cloud computing for specified organizations.
Cloud computing offers scalability, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility but also raises concerns about data security, privacy, and dependence on service providers.
 Discuss the management of issues such as copyright and intellectual property on the web.
Issues involve ensuring creators' rights are respected while balancing the accessibility and free flow of information, utilising technologies like digital rights management and platforms like Creative Commons.
Describe the interrelationship between privacy, identification, and authentication.
These concepts are interrelated in ensuring that only authorized users access information while maintaining their privacy and security online.
Describe the role of network architecture, protocols, and standards in the future development of the web.
These components are fundamental to the continued growth and functionality of the web, ensuring that new and existing technologies can integrate seamlessly and securely.
Explain why the web may be creating unregulated monopolies.
The web has allowed certain companies to dominate sectors without substantial regulation, potentially stifling competition and controlling large segments of online traffic and commerce.
Discuss the effects of a decentraliSed and democratic web.
A decentralised web could lead to increased privacy, reduced control by single entities, and a more open environment for innovation and free expression.
 Describe how the web can be represented as a directed graph
The web graph represents web pages as vertices and hyperlinks as directed edges, showing the structure and navigability of the web.
​Outline the difference between the web graph and sub-graphs.
The web graph represents the entire structure of the web, while sub-graphs represent a subset of web pages focused on specific topics or relationships.
Describe the main features of the web graph such as bowtie structure, strongly connected core (SCC), diameter.
The web graph has a bowtie structure with a strongly connected core, in-links, out-links, and tendrils, reflecting the complex interconnectedness and reachability of web pages.
Explain the role of graph theory in determining the connectivity of the web.
Graph theory helps in understanding the web's structure, optimizing search algorithms, and analyzing the paths and relationships between different nodes (web pages).
Explain that search engines and web crawling use the web graph to access information.
Search engines utilise the web graph to navigate and index the web efficiently, using algorithms to rank pages based on their connectivity and relevance.
Discuss whether power laws are appropriate to predict the development of the web.
Power laws may describe certain aspects of web development, such as the growth of networks and popularity of websites, but they may not account for all dynamics and changes.
Define the term semantic web.
The semantic web is an extension of the current web in which information is given well-defined meaning, enabling computers and people to work in cooperation.
Distinguish between the text-web and the multimedia-web.
The text-web primarily consists of text-based content and is suitable for traditional web searches. The multimedia-web involves audio, video, and other non-textual content, necessitating different search and indexing techniques to effectively access and navigate this content.
Describe the aims of the semantic web.
The aims of the semantic web include enhancing web technologies with data that can be processed directly and indirectly by machines, enabling richer discovery, data integration, navigation, and automation of tasks.
 Distinguish between an ontology and a folksonomy.
An ontology is a formal representation of knowledge as a set of concepts within a domain, and the relationships between those concepts. Folksonomy is a user-generated system of classifying and organizing online content into categories using tags.
Describe how folksonomies and emergent social structures are changing the web.
Folksonomies and social structures facilitate user interaction and content organization on the web, making it more democratic but also more chaotic and challenging to navigate with precision.
Explain why there needs to be a balance between expressivity and usability on the semantic web.
High expressivity can make systems complex and hard to use, while high usability may simplify systems but at the cost of detailed functionality. A balance ensures that the semantic web remains accessible yet powerful enough to handle complex tasks.
Evaluate methods of searching for information on the web.
Methods vary from simple keyword searches to complex algorithm-based searches that consider user context, history, and content relevance, each with its strengths and limitations in terms of accuracy and efficiency.
Distinguish between ambient intelligence and collective intelligence.
Ambient intelligence refers to environments that are sensitive, adaptive, and responsive to the presence of people. Collective intelligence refers to the combined knowledge and computational power of a community or group of individuals, especially when it coordinates towards a common goal.
Discuss how ambient intelligence can be used to support people.
Ambient intelligence can enhance daily life by seamlessly integrating technology into everyday objects and environments, making them more responsive to human needs through automation and adaptive behaviors.
Explain how collective intelligence can be applied to complex issues.
Collective intelligence can be harnessed to address complex societal challenges, such as climate change and urban planning, by pooling diverse knowledge and perspectives to generate innovative solutions and more comprehensive understanding.
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