2.7 Different types of software systems Flashcards
(34 cards)
What is ‘Off the shelf’ software?
Piece of software which is available to purchase by anyone.
Commercially available and sold with full support of the manufacturer.
What is ‘Bespoke’ software?
Custom made software for a given purpose.
Organization specifies to the programmers what they wish the system to do for a high price.
What is ‘Open Source software?
Freely distributed without charge and the full source code is available.
Can be changed/customized to meet new requirements.
What are 3 advantages of Open Source software?
Reliable as software is continually analysed and improved by a large community.
Removes any problems of incompatible formats.
Independence from the original authors.
What are 3 examples of safety related systems?
Air Traffic Control, Auto-Pilots and Nuclear Power Stations
What are 4 advantages of driverless trains?
No possibility of human error.
Obstruction can be detected ahead.
Maximum speed limit correctly followed.
No driver salaries therefore no sickness or lateness.
What are 5 advantages of using robots for building cars?
Expensive to install but cheaper than humans over a long period of time.
More accurate and consistent.
Doesn’t get tired, can work 24/7 without breaks.
Can do processes which could be hazardous to human health.
Machine learning.
What are 5 issues that could arise from using robots?
Human workers may be better at spotting impending problems/providing context.
May be redundancies of skilled workforce.
Jobs that remain will be deskilled.
Highly skilled jobs will be created for designers.
Machinery needs to learn from existing skilled workers.
How are weather models created for forecasting?
Data such as rainfall, temperature and wind speed are fed into a computer.
Data is collected from thousands of sensors.
Data is then put into a mathematical model where calculations take place.
Predictions are then made based on the current conditions.
What are 3 advantages of using powerful computers for weather forecasting?
The more up-to-date the model is, the more accurate the forecast is.
Parallel processing is used for the complex calculations.
Distributed processing enables computers to share the load and collaborate with other countries.
What are 3 disadvantages of using powerful computers for weather forecasting?
Predictions are not always 100% accurate.
Equipment is extremely expensive.
Weather predictions cannot account for freak patterns.
What is an expert system?
A software system with a large database and a built-in set of facts and rules which enables it to solve complex problems in an expert area with a human.
What are 4 benefits for doctors from implementing an expert system?
Helps them diagnose/treat unusual conditions.
Saves the doctor’s time.
Reduce time spent training doctors.
Information is up-to-date.
What is the main disadvantage for doctors using an expert system?
They may become over reliant on the system and become complacent.
What are expert systems made up of?
Knowledge Base - database containing expert knowledge.
Rule Base - links knowledge together through facts.
Interference Engine - works out queries by using the rule base.
User Interface.
What are search engines?
Used on the internet to locate specific information.
Types in keywords to display a list of results.
What is Crawling?
Discovery process where search engines send out a team of robots (Crawlers) to find new and updated content.
The content is found by following links on webpages to find new URLs and then adding them to the index of discovered URLs.
What is Indexing?
Search engines store the information they find in an index.
The index is a large database of all content that was discovered and deemed suitable to serve searchers.
What is Ranking?
During a search, search engines look through their index for highly relevant content to solve the user’s query.
The higher a website is ranked, the more relevant the search engine believes it is to query.
What is a Web Log?
A web log (blog) is a set of entries on the world wide web which is accessible to any web user.
Could be used by a student to add photos and videos to keep their friends up-to-date.
What is Instant Messaging?
Real-time conversation with someone using internet technology.
When a message is sent, it appears on the recipients computer instantly.
What is E-commerce?
The use of computer technology for commercial operations like sales or business.
What are the big concerns regarding E-commerce?
Impersonal nature of E-commerce.
Effect on high streets - shops closing.
Effect on employment - shops closing.
What is On-Line shopping?
A specific type of E-commerce where customers can access a website 24/7 to purchase items for delivery.
