Computer Systems

Computer Systems

1. Importance of Computers

   • Safety - e.g Monitoring and contolling nuclear reactions
   • Travel - e.g satellite navigation
   • Business - e.g moving funds
   • Education - e.g Maintaining information such as grades
   • Retail - e.g barcode scanners
   • Entertainment - e.g desktop to watch tv, listen to music etc...
   • Communication - e.g emailing

2. Software

   • e.g Open source
   • Cloud - online
   • off-the-shelf (propriety and bough)
   • Custom written - mode for you
   • Kernel- low level of an operationg system

3. Embedded

   • A computer integrated into another device, such as mobile phone, washing machine

4. Hardware

   • Input- for example keyboard or mouse
   • Output - for example a monitor or a projector
   • Storage - Usb sticks

5. Professional Standards

   • Open standards is software freely available online and you don't have to play
   • Proprietary is software that you have to pay to use
   • Industry standards for example USB, is standards agreed by a number of organisations
   • De facto standards is work that evolves from what happens to work well, for example the QWERTY keyboard layout

6. Considerations

   • Ethical - mean right or wrong. For example would it be ethical for a government to store an electronic profile of DNA
   • Legal -there are four laws
     • Computer Misuse Act - this makes hacking illegal
     • Data protection Act - if you store a personal data of anyone you are required to keep it secure
     • Copyrights, designs and patents Act - It is illegal to make a copy of any pubblication
     • Health and safety at work act - makes employees responsible for the safety of the staff
   • Environmental
     • negative effects
       • The production of computers, requires raw materials
       • Computers require energy to run
       • They are not easy to dispose
     • Positive
       • Communication sent electronically does not waste ink or paper
       • People who work from home do not burn fossil fuels
       • Industrial processes that are computer-controlled are more efficient