04 - Software

Question 1

Computer Program

Answer 1

Sequences of instructions for the computer.

Question 2

Rich Internet Applications (RIA)

Answer 2

Web-delivered application combining hardware resources of the Web server and the PC to deliver valuable software services through a web browser interface.

Question 3

Sphere of Influence

Answer 3

The scope of problems and opportunities that an organization addresses.

Personal
Workgroup - 2 or more people
Enterprise - includes customers, suppliers, shareholders, competitors, special-interest groups, the financial community and govt. agencies. ie. Business partners. ERP system.

Question 4

System Software

Answer 4

Controls operations of the computer and supports the problem solving tasks of applications.

Operating Systems
Utility Programs
Middleware

Most firms spend more on SW than HW

Question 5

Systems Software 2

Answer 5

Set of programs that coordinates the activities and functions of HW and other programs.

Computer System Platform is the combination of system software and hardware.

Most computers require a specific operating system software.

Question 6

Operating System

Answer 6

A set of computer programs that controls the computer hardware and acts as an interface with applications.

Most users focus on applications
Most IT/IS focus on operating systems

Question 7

Kernel

Answer 7

The heart of the Operating System and controls the most critical functions. Ties all components of system together.

Question 8

User Interface

Answer 8

Allows user to access and command the computer

Command-based

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Natural User Interface (NUI) - touch screen or spoken command data entry.

Question 9

Application Program Interface (API)

Answer 9

Allows applications to make use of the operating system.

The tools software developers use to bold application software without needing to understand the inner workings of the OS and hardware.

Mac Toolbox for example

Question 10

Hardware Independence

Answer 10

Being able to develop software without concern for the specific underlying hardware. The operating system must adjust to changes - not the Applications.

Question 11

OS Activities or Tasks

Answer 11

Support hardware functions
Provide user interface and I/O mgmt
Provide a degree of hardware independence
Manage system memory
Manage processor tasks
Sometime provide network capability
Control access to system resources
   Logon Procedure
Manage files

Question 12

Paging

Answer 12

I/O to virtual memory.

Question 13

Processing

Answer 13

Multitasking - one computer running multiple processes concurrently.

Time sharing - one computer supporting multiple users concurrently.

Scalability- the degree a single computer can serve greater numbers of users.

Question 14

Dual Boot

Answer 14

Having a choice at startup among two or more installed OS platforms.

Question 15

Application Software

Answer 15

Applies the power of the computer to give people, workgroups and the entire enterprise the ability to solve problems and perform specific tasks.

Question 16

Application Service Provider

Answer 16

A company that provides the SW, support and HW on which to run the software from the users’s facilities over a network.

Question 17

Software as a Service

Answer 17

A service that allows businesses to subscribe to a web- delivered application software.

Security of data is a concern.

Question 18

Web Suite

Answer 18

Software suite hosted on the Internet.

Question 19

Middleware

Answer 19

Software that allows various systems to communicate and exchange data.

Question 20

Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)

Answer 20

A modular method of developing software and systems that allows users to interact with systems and systems to interact with each other.

A more flexible solution than middleware applications.

Question 21

Compiler vs Interpreter

Answer 21

After author assembles objects in preferred order, the source code must be converted to machine code so the COU can execute.

A compiler reads the objects and creates a stand alone but stable machine language program.

An interpreter reads the objects and streams the computer code output directly into the CPU. Once run, the machine code is disposed.

Question 22

Programming

Answer 22

Language is a set of keywords, commands, symbols and rules for constructing statements by which humans can communicate instructions to a computer.

The Syntax is a set of rules associated with a language.

The program code is the set of instructions that signal the CPU to perform switching functions.