Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Computer Systems

Question 1

What is a computer system made up of?

Answer 1

Hardware and software

Question 2

What is hardware?

Answer 2

Any physical component that makes up the computer

Question 3

What is software?

Answer 3

Any program that runs on the computer

Question 4

What are some examples of computer systems?

Answer 4

• PCs
• mobile phones
• cash machines
• supermarket tills
• engine management systems in a modern-day car

Question 5

What is the basic model of any computer system?

Answer 5

Input–> CPU(processing)–> Output

Question 6

What must all computer systems have?

Answer 6

At least one input device that gets data from the real world

Question 7

What are some examples of input devices that get data from the real world?

Answer 7

• mouse
• keyboard
• temperature sensor(thermistor)
• microphone

Question 8

What do input devices do with real-world data?

Answer 8

They convert it into a form that can be stored by the computer

Question 9

What are some examples of an output device?

Answer 9

• a computer screen
• an actuator that opens or closes things
• speakers

Question 10

What are the four components of any computer system?

Answer 10

• input device
• CPU
• output device
• storage

Question 11

What does CPU stand for?

Answer 11

Central Processing Unit

Question 12

What is the basic model showing the collection of input?

Answer 12

Real-world action–> analogue-to-digital conversion–> binary data to computer

Question 13

What is the basic model showing the production of output?

Answer 13

Binary data from computer–> digital-to-analogue conversion–> real-world effect

Question 14

Why are computers important within the modern world?

Answer 14

Because people are increasingly dependent on them at school,work and home

Question 15

What are some ways people are dependent on computer systems?

Answer 15

• they are imbedded in household appliances
• mobile phones, TVs and games consoles are computer systems
• they control the engine, GPS, windows and stereo of a car

Question 16

Why is the reliability of computer systems extremely important?

Answer 16

• if computer-controlled signage on motorways goes wrong there could be health and safety implications
• if computer systems in hospitals go wrong people could die

Question 17

In certain situations, what two features can reliability sometimes be more important than?

Answer 17

• how quickly they work

- how many features they have

Question 18

Who do you measure how reliable a computer is?

Answer 18

• system availability

- MTBF

Question 19

What does MTBF stand for?

Answer 19

Mean Time Between Failure

Question 20

What is system availability?

Answer 20

The percentage of time a system is available for

Question 21

If a system is down for 1 hour in a 100 hour period, what is its system availability ?

Answer 21

99%

Question 22

How does MTBF measure system availability?

Answer 22

It measures the length of time between system failures

Question 23

What are two features it is important for computer systems to have?

Answer 23

• reliability

- robustness

Question 24

What does robustness mean in terms of computer systems?

Answer 24

How tolerant the system is to failure

Question 25

What can a robust system be described as?

Answer 25

Fault-tolerant

Question 26

What will happen when a single failure happens in a system that isn’t robust?

Answer 26

It will take the whole system down

Question 27

What is a way of protecting systems?

Answer 27

Hardware redundancy

Question 28

What is hardware redundancy?

Answer 28

Having more than one of each critical component

Question 29

What is usually at greatest risk when hardware or software problems occur?

Answer 29

Data

Question 30

How should companies protect against system failures?

Answer 30

• hardware redundancy

- backing up data regularly

Question 31

What needs to happen when a company dependent on computer systems experiences its failure?

Answer 31

Disaster recovery plans

Question 32

What happens during disaster recovery plans?

Answer 32

A company switches over all it’s own data to a completely new system

Question 33

How much time do disaster recovery plans usually have?

Answer 33

Hours

Question 34

What are the three types of issues related to the use of computer technology in society?

Answer 34

Legal, ethical and environmental

Question 35

What is the Data Protection Act?

Answer 35

A legal requirement stating that anyone who stores personal details must keep them secure

Question 36

What must companies who store any personal data do in order to comply with the Data Protection Act?

Answer 36

Have processes and security mechanisms designed in the system to keep information secure

Question 37

Why was the Data Protection Act created?

Answer 37

To protect individuals’ data

Question 38

What are the three most widely known laws relating to computer systems?

Answer 38

• the Data Protection Act
• the Health and Safety at Work Act
• the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act

Question 39

What areas does computer technology have an impact on society?

Answer 39

• communication
• employment
• social interaction
• shopping
• manufacturing
• safety

Question 40

What is the positive effect of computer technology on safety?

Answer 40

Many dangerous jobs can now be done by remote controlled devices

Question 41

What are the positive effects of computer technology on manufacturing?

Answer 41

• produces items more cheaply

- produced quicker and more precisely than if done by hand

Question 42

What is the advantage of computer technology in the area of shopping?

Answer 42

Provides online shopping which can help people who can’t get to shops

Question 43

What are the disadvantages of computer technology in the area of shopping?

Answer 43

• CD and DVD sales have dropped

- increase in credit card fraud and identity theft