Fundamentals of Computer systems

Fundamentals of Computer systems

1. A computer system is a collection of hardware and software that work together to achieve a task

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   • Systems receive inputs from the outside, process them and the output them as the result of the processing
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     • INPUTS
       • PROCESSING
         • OUTPUTS
     • Computer systems are very helpful because robotic machinery is cheaper and more precise than humans, with computer systems you have a faster access to information, faster way of communication, faster ways of doing business, faster decision making. FASTER EVERYTHING
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     • Types of Computer Systems
       • General purpose system
         • You have got general purpose systems at home, in school and even in your pocket. They are designed to perform multiple tasks for a wide variety of purposes (Desktops, laptops, smart-phones)
       • Dedicated systems
         • They are produced to perform a SINGLE function or set of functions.(e.g: ticket vending machine)
       • Control systems
         • These are computer systems that control other machinery (e.g: industrial robots)
       • Embedded systems
         • They are part of a larger system
         • They are usually also control systems
         • They include portable devices(e.g: digital watches, cameras, satnavs)
         • Most cars nowadays have up to 50 computer systems looking after fuel, cruise control, AC etc.
       • Expert systems
         • They are designed to behave like human beings
           • They have 3 main components
             • 1. A knowledge base(database)
             • 2. An inference engine(software that makes decisions using the database and the user's instructions
             • 3. An interface for the user
       • Management information systems
         • They bring together the information from all parts of an organisation so that managers can make sensible decisions
           • They cover: technology, data and people
           • They produce regular reports based on the organisation's data

2. Reliability

   • Computers control almost everything in our world today, so they need to be reliable since they are also used in life-or-death situations(e.g: aircraft control; medical technology)
     • Reliability is expected when computer systems are needed to be used. Unfortunately, mistakes can happen and lead to:
       • Down time
       • expensive errors
       • data loss
       • compromised privacy
       • In today's society, all of the above are linked to money, therefore, money loss.
     • Data integrity
       • Data needs to be accurate and reflect reality
         • Data integrity can be compromised by:
           • human errors when data is entered
           • errors when data is being transferred
           • software bugs
           • viruses and malware
           • Hardware malfunctions
           • Natural disasters

3. Ethical and legal issues

   • Computer systems can be used for good or bad. Making the decision to use them for bad or good is a matter of ethics and character

4. Environmental Issues

   • Toxic waste
     • Lead
     • Cadmium
     • Beryllium
     • flame retardants
   • Energy
     • Servers
     • SSD storage (use less energy than HDD)
     • Colling equipment
     • Screens