Chapter 1 - Fundamentals Of Computer Systems

Question 1

What cycle does a system carry out?

Answer 1

Input, process, output. (+ sometimes stores data for later use or transmitted to another computer system)

Question 2

What is a system boundary?

Answer 2

A system is separated from the outside world by a system boundary, also called interfaces.

Question 3

What are benefits of computer systems?

Answer 3

• improved quality in manufacturing, robotic machinery is more accurate than humans
• faster access to information
• new ways of communicating eg email SMS etc.
• cheaper manufacturing, automation reduces wage cost and allows 24/7 working

Question 4

What is a general purpose system?

Answer 4

A personal computer designed to perform various tasks.

Various applications can be loaded so that they can be used for a wide variety of purposes.

Question 5

What is a dedicated system?

Answer 5

Specially produced to perform a single function or set of functions.

Question 6

What is an embedded system?

Answer 6

Computer systems which are part of a larger system , they usually also control systems.
They can be highly complex or very simple.

Question 7

What is an expert system?

Answer 7

Computer systems designed to behave like a human expert. They have three main component parts.

Question 8

What are the three main component parts of an expert system?

Answer 8

They have three parts:

• a knowledge base (a database of facts)
• an interface engine (software that makes deductions using the knowledge base)
• an interface (to allow a human user access to the system)

Question 9

Examples of an embedded system?

Answer 9

Digital watches 
Cameras
MP3 players 
Controllers of machinery in factories
Traffic lights

Question 10

Examples of uses of an expert system?

Answer 10

Finding faults in machinery
Choosing complex products such as mortgages and insurance policies
Suggesting products to customers

Question 11

Examples of a general purpose system?

Answer 11

Desktop
Laptop
Notebooks
Tablet computers 
Smartphones

Question 12

Example of a dedicated system?

Answer 12

Ticket vending machine

Question 13

Why is reliability important?

Answer 13

Because computers are central to most of our work and leisure activities and play a central part in many life or death situations (aircraft navigation, railway signalling and medical situations).

Question 14

What can mistakes in design and production of systems lead to? (Making computer less reliable)

Answer 14

Down time
Expensive errors
Data loss
Compromised privacy

Question 15

What is data integrity?

Answer 15

When data is accurate and consistent throughout its life. Also mean arhat the stored data reflects real world reality.
Database systems normally have rules that prevent inconsistent changes being made to the underlying data.

Question 16

How can data integrity be compromised?

Answer 16

Human error when data is entered
Errors that occur when data is transmitted from one computer to another
Software bugs
Viruses and other malware

Question 17

How can you reduce the risks to data?

Answer 17

Backing up data regularly
Controlling access to data via security mechanisms
Using validation rules to prevent the input of invalid data
Using error detection and correction software when transmitting data

Question 18

How can you improve reliability?

Answer 18

Through thorough testing - testing is designed to uncover errors.

Question 19

Why can testing never be complete?

Answer 19

Software is too complex
Testing is expensive
Testing is time consuming

Question 20

What are standards?

Answer 20

Conventions and rules.

Question 21

Why are standards important?

Answer 21

1. They enable equipment from different manufacturers to work together
2. Make learning new systems easier because they have similar characteristics
3. minimise waste
4. Help to ensure fair play and access to markets
5. Bring costs down by opening markets to competition

Question 22

What are the 5 type of standards?

Answer 22

De facto 
De jute
Propriety
Industry
Open

Question 23

What are de facto standards?

Answer 23

Standards which have developed over time because of common usage. They are important because they ensure that files and systems can be see by anyone.

Question 24

Examples of a de facto standards?

Answer 24

The QWERTY keyboard

Microsoft word

Question 25

What are de jure standards?

Answer 25

Standards that have become so universally accepted that they have to be adhered to or communication is impossible.

Question 26

Examples of de jure standards?

Answer 26

ASCII
PDF
Unicode

Question 27

What are propriety standards?

Answer 27

propriety standards are owned by organisations. They ensure compatibility between the company’s product.

Question 28

What are industry standards?

Answer 28

Set by recognised non commercial organisations

Question 29

Examples of industry standards?

Answer 29

ANSI which sets standards for some programming languages
ITU sets standards for communication protocols
IEEE sets standards for electrical interfaces

Question 30

Characteristics of open standards?

Answer 30

Publicly available
Produced collaboratively
Not dominated by one interest group
Not for profit

Question 31

What do open standards ensure?

Answer 31

That access to resources is not dependent upon a single application or particular hardware

Question 32

Examples of open standards?

Answer 32

HTTP
HTML
SQL
WAP

Question 33

Examples of ethical and legal issues involving computer use?

Answer 33

Privacy
Data security
Espionage
Copyright
Terrorism
Cyber crime

Question 34

What is a computer system?

Answer 34

A collection o hardware and software that works together to achieve some data processing tasks.

Question 35

How does the government protect the privacy of individuals?

Answer 35

They put in place laws such as the UK Data Protection Act

Question 35

Why are legislations needed to protect individuals privacy?

Answer 35

Because it is easy to copy, transmit, match data and make judgement on people from data

Question 35

What are environmental advantages associated to computer use?

Answer 35

Less paper used

Manufactured goods are maxed to a greyer degree of precision, am king them more efficient

Question 35

Environmental disadvantages associated to computer use?

Answer 35

observer computers have to be disposed of, however they contain toxic materials (lead, cadmium, beryllium, flame retardants)
Plastic of computer is burned to extract valuable metals however this releases dangerous chemicals
Uses lots of energy - fossil fuels

Question 35

Where is computer waste shipped to?

Answer 35

E-waste is shipped to developing countries where there are few safeguards and standards are poorer
Most e waste goes to landfill, chemicals leach into soil

Question 35

How is the amount of energy used by computers reduced?

Answer 35

Solid state storage uses less energy than roaring disk drives
Automatic stand by turns of computer when they are not in use
Laying out equipment so that it can be cooled efficiently
Modern screens are less energy intensive
Virtual servers reduce the number of physical servers in a data center

Question 35

Why do computers use so much energy?

Answer 35

Energy used to run sir conditioning to cool computers