7967151
Description
Flashcards by Alice Lang , updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Alice Lang
about 7 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| What is a computer? | An electronic, programmable data processing machine |
| What is a system? | A collection of parts that work together for some defined purpose |
| What is a computer system | A collection of hardware and software that works together to achieve some data processing task |
| What is the outline of a system? | |
| What is an interface? | A system boundary that seperates the system from the outside world. |
| What the importance of computer systems and what have they led to? | Improved quality of manufacturing - more accurate robots Cheaper manufacturing Faster access to information Better decision making - lots of facts available New ways of doing business - e.g. buying online New ways of communicating |
| What is an example of a computer system? | Washing machine Input: temperature, water levels Processing: check values, determine parameters Output: Signals to washer, heater, and timer |
| What are general - purpose systems? | Personal computers, such as PCs, laptops, mobile phones etc Designed to perform multiple tasks Various applications can be loaded to broaden purposes of computer |
| What are dedicated computers? | Computer systems specially produced to perform a single function or set of functions, e.g. a train ticket vending machine |
| What are control systems? | Control systems control machinery, rather than producing output for humans to read or respond to. Particularly important in manufacturing processes and domestic personal gadgets |
| What are embedded systems? | Computer systems that are part of a larger system - usually control systems. Can be both simple and high - complex Found in portable devices, machinery control, traffic lights, cars and aircrafts etc |
| What are expert systems? | Computer systems used to behave like a human expert. 3 component parts: knowledge base, inference engine, interface. Used for diagnosing diseases, finding faults in machinery, suggesting purchases to customers etc |
| What are management information systems? | Bring together the information from different parts of an organisation so managers can make sensible decision. They cover technology, data etc Produce regular reports on data. E.g. Office automation systems - automate workflow and maximize the efficiency of data movement. |
| Why do computers need to be reliable? | They can play a part in life-or-death situations. E.g. aircraft navigation controls, railway signaling, medical record keeping, medical CAT scans Reliability is expected when new computer systems are commissioned. |
| What is data integrity? | Stored data reflects real world reality, and data is accurate and consistent throughout its life. Databases have rules that prevent inconsistent changes. |
| What do computer reliability faults lead to? | down time expensive errors data loss compromised privacy |
| What can data integrity be compromised by? | human error when data is entered errors when data is transmitted from one computer to the other software bugs viruses/malware hardware malfunctions natural disaster reduce risks by: regular back ups, controlling data access, using validation rules |
| How is system reliability improved? | Through tests that are designed to uncover errors There are usually errors as there are huge numbers of pathways through modern computers. |
| What are standards? | These are conventions and rules that are normally defined by a responsible organisation. Standards exist for programming languages, operating systems, data formats, communication protocols, electrical interfaces |
| Why are standards important? | Enable equiptment from different manufacturers to work together make learning new systems easier due to similar characteristics minimize waste help ensure fair play and access to markets bring costs down |
| What are de facto standards? | Standards used by the majority of computer systems and organisations due to common use over time, e.g. PostScript, QWERTY keyboard, Microsoft Word |
| What are de jure standards? | De facto standards that have have become so universally accepted that they have to be used otherwise communication with other systems in impossible e.g. TCP/IP, ASCII, PDF |
| What are proprietary standards? | Standards owned by an organisation that ensure compatibility between a company's products Also used to reduce competition between rivals Are often widely used but not approved by an independent standards body. e.g. any developers who want to sell products to windows users have to be compatible to microsoft proprietary standards/ |
| What are industry standards? | Set by recognized non-commercial organisations E.g. ANSI-for some programming languages , IEEE-for electrical interfaces, ITU-communication protocols |
| What are open standards? | Publicly available produced collaboratively not dominated by any one interest group not for profit and available for free or for small cost ensure that access to resources do not depend on a single application or a particular hardware platform e.g. HTML, HTTP, TCP/IP |
| What is an ethical act? | One that is morally 'right' |
| What is a lega act? | One that does not break laws |
| What ethical challenges has wide spread computer use created? | Privacy Data security Acces to sensitive data Copyright Terrorism |
| Why legislation is produced to protect data on computer systems? | As it is very easy to copy data, transmit data, and match data. Governements have produced laws to protect individual privacy when data is stored on computer systems, e.g. UK Data Protection Act |
| What do typical data protection laws include? | Allowing people to view data held about them correct information when requested Not use data in damaging/distressing ways only collect data for law purposes |
| What is cyber crime? | Crimes committed with the aid of computers. Hard for the police to catch criminals as the internet crosses international boundaries where laws can differ. |
| How are computer systems good for the environment? | Reduce the need for travel and transport of goods Manufactured goods can be produced by robots, increasing accuracy and producing more efficient products that last longer and use energy more efficiently |
| How are computers bad for the environment? | Produce large amoutns of e-waste from disposed of hardware. e-waste is shipped to developing countries that have fewer safeguards Produces landfill and toxic chemicals Produce dangerous chemicals from dioxins |
| What are ways to reduce energy usage from computers? | Virtual servers reduce the number of physical servers in data centre solid state storage used less energy then rotating disk drives automatic standby switching turn off computers when not in use laying out hardware efficiently to increase cooling set air conditioning to optimum level |
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