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ICT > Chapter 1 - Types and Components of a Computer System > Flashcards

Chapter 1 - Types and Components of a Computer System Flashcards

1
Q

What is “Hardware”

A

Physical components that make up a computer system

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2
Q

What is “Software”

A

Programs that control the computer system

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3
Q

What are the 7 internal hardware devices

A 
Motherboard
RAM (Random Access Memory)
ROM (Read-Only Memory)
Video cards
Sound cards
HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
SSD (Solid State Drive)
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4
Q

What is an “Application Software”

A

Programs that allow the user to do specific tasks

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5
Q

What are the 8 application softwares

A 
Word processor
Spreadsheet
Database
Control and measuring software
Apps (Applications)
Photo editing software
Video editing software
Graphics manipulation software
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6
Q

What is a word processor software used for

A

Manipulate text documents

  • essay
  • report
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7
Q

What are the functions of a word processor software

A 
creating/editing/saving/manipulating text
copy and paste
spell checkers/thesaurus
importing photos/images
translation
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8
Q

What is a spreadsheet used for

A

organise and manipulate numerical data

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9
Q

What are the functions of a spreadsheet

A

use of formulas to carry out calculations
ability to produce graphs
ability to do modelling and ‘what if’ calculations

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10
Q

What is a database used for

A

organise, manipulate, and analyse data

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11
Q

What are the functions of a database

A

Ability to carry out queries on database data and produce a report
Add/delete/modify data in a table

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12
Q

What is a control and measuring software used for

A

Allows computer or microprocessor to interface with sensors so it’s possible to:

  • measure physical quantities (temperature)
  • control applications (chemical process) by comparing sensor data with stored data
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13
Q

What are apps used for

A

Runs on mobile phones or tablets

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14
Q

Give examples of apps

A

Video and music streaming
GPS (global positioning system)
Camera facilities

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15
Q

What is a photo editing software used for

A

Allows user to manipulate digital photographs stored on a computer (photoshop)

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16
Q

What is a video editing software used for

A

Allows user to manipulate videos to produce an edited video

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17
Q

What is a graphics manipulation software used for

A

Allows bitmap and vector images to be changed

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18
Q

What is a “System Software”

A

Programs that allow the hardware to run properly and allows the user to communicate with the computer

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19
Q

What are the 5 different types of system software

A 
Compiler
Linkers
Device driver
OS (operating system)
Utilities
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20
Q

What is a “Compiler”

A

Computer program that translates a program written in a high-level language (HLL) into machine code so that it can be directly used by a computer to perform a required task

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21
Q

What is the original and code after compilation called in a compiler

A

Source code

Object code

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22
Q

What is a “Linker”

A

Computer program that takes one or more object files produced by a compiler and combines them into a single program that can be run on a computer

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23
Q

What is a “Device Driver”

A

Software that enables one or more hardware devices to communicate with computer’s operating system

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24
Q

What is a “Operating System”

A

Software in the background of a computer system that manages basic functions

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25
Q

What do operating systems allow

A 
Input/output operations
Users to communicate with the computer
Error handling to take place
Loading and running of programs to occur
Managing of security (user accounts/passwords)
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26
Q

What are “Utility programs”

A

Software that has been designed to carry out specific tasks on a computer
Programs that help manage, maintain, and control computer resources

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27
Q

Give examples of utility programs

A 
Antivirus
Anti-spyware
Backup of files
Disk repair
File management
Security
Screensavers
Disk defragmenter
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28
Q

What is a “Motherboard”

A

Printed circuit board found in all computers

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29
Q

What is “RAM”

A

Random Access Memory

Internal chip where data is temporarily stored when running applications (can be written and read)

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30
Q

What is “ROM”

A

Read-Only-Memory
Memory used to store information that needs to be permanent
Contains coding known as “boot file”
- tells computer what to do on start up: referred as BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)

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31
Q

What is a “Video card”

A

Allows computer to send graphical information to a video display device such as a monitor/television/projector
Usually connects to motherboard

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32
Q

What is a video card made up of

A

Processing unit
Memory unit (RAM)
Cooling mechanism
Connections to a display unit (monitor/television/projector)

33
Q

What is a “Sound card”

A

Integrated circuit board that provides a computer with

the ability to produce sounds

34
Q

What are the two basic methods for a sound card to translate digital data into analogue signals

A

FM synthesis - mimics different musical instruments according to built-in formulas
Wavetable synthesis - relies on recordings of actual instruments to produce sound

35
Q

What is HDD and SSD

A

Internal storage
Hard Disk Drive - magnetic in nature, stores data/files/most of the system and application software
Solid State Drive - same function as HDD (newer storage system)

36
Q

What is “CPU”

A

Central Processing Unit (may be referred as microprocessor) - contained on motherboard
Part of the computer that interprets and executes the commands from the computer hardware and software

37
Q

What are the 4 key components of internal hardware devices

A

CPU (Central Processing Unit)
HDD (Internal Hard Disk Drive)
RAM (Random Access Memory)
ROM (Read-Only-Memory)

38
Q

What is “CMOS”

A

Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor - non-volatile chip where the BIOS stores date/time/system cofiguration

39
Q

What are the general tasks of an operating system

A

Control of the operation of the input, output, and backing storage devices
Supervising the loading, running, and storage of applications programs
Dealing with errors that occur in application programs
Maintaining security of the whole computer system
Maintaining a computer log (details computer usage)
Allowing communication between user and computer system (user interface)

40
Q

What is “CLI”

A

Command Line Interface - requires user to type in instructions, need to type in commands

41
Q

What is “GUI”

A 
Graphical User Interface - allows user to interact with a computer using pictures or icons rather than typing in commands
Uses WIMP (Windows Icon Menu Pointing Device)
42
Q

List 3 advantages of CLI

A

User is in direct communication with computer
User is not restricted to a number of predetermined options
Possible to alter computer configuration settings

43
Q

List 4 disadvantages of CLI

A

User needs to learn number of commands to carry out basic operations
All commands need to be typed in - time and error-prone
Each command must be typed in correctly
More difficult to edit commands once entered

44
Q

List 3 advantages of GUI

A

User doesn’t need to learn any commands
User-friendly
Pointing device is used to click on icon to launch application - simpler than typing in commands

45
Q

List 3 disadvantages of GUI

A

Uses up more memory than CLI interface
User is limited to number of icons provided on screen
Requires an operating system (Windows) to operate - uses up memory

46
Q

Who uses CLI and GUI

A

CLI: programmer
GUI: end-user ( a person who uses the computer to run software or play games or store/manipulate photographs)

47
Q

What is a “PC/desktop computer”

A

Personal Computer

General-purpose computer made up of a separate monitor, keyboard, mouse, and processing unit

48
Q

List 5 advantages of a PC

A

Spare parts and connections tend to be standardised - lower cost
Desktop tends to have a better specification for a given price
Power consumption is not critical
Less likelihood of computer being damaged since it’s fixed in one spot
Internet access is more stable

49
Q

List 3 disadvantages of a PC

A

Not portable
Necessary to copy files to work elsewhere
More complicated (more components (carry keyboard and mouse)

50
Q

What is a “Laptop/notebook” computer

A

Monitor, keyboard, pointing device and processor are all together in one single unit - portable

51
Q

List 3 key features of a laptop

A

Lightweight (portability)
Low power consumption (long battery life)
Processor doesn’t generate too much heat

52
Q

List 4 advantages of laptop computers

A

Portability
No trailing wires
Takes full advantage of wifi
Links into any multimedia system (portable)

53
Q

List 3 disadvantages of laptop computers

A

Easy to lose
Limited battery life
Keyboards and pointing device can be hard to use

54
Q

What are “Tablets”

A

Internet-enabled portable computer

55
Q

List features of a tablet

A

high -definition, anti-glare displays
front- and back-facing cameras
lower weight and longer battery life than laptops
Bluetooth connection
flash (solid state) memory and cloud storage facilities to back up and synchronise
sensors:
- proximity sensors to detect if the device is close
- accelerometer, which detects movement and orientation of the device
- sophisticated speech-recognition systems (such as Siri)

56
Q

What is the name of the device that’s a hybrid between a smartphone and a tablet called

A

Phablet

57
Q

List 7 advantages of tablets

A

very fast to switch on
portable
touch-screen technology
can use several Apps as standard
don’t generate any heat
battery life of a tablet is a lot longer
when the power button is pressed it goes into standby but remains connected to the internet, so the user still hears alerts when emails or other ‘events’ are received.

58
Q

List 5 disadvantages of tablets

A

limited memory or storage
expensive to run if the internet is being accessed frequently via 3G/4G/5G
typing on a touch screen can be slow and error-prone compared to a standard keyboard
transferring of files often has to be done through an ‘Apps store’
laptops tend to support more types of file format than tablets

59
Q

What are “Smartphones”

A

normal phone calls to be made but also have an operating system (such as iOS, Android or Windows), allowing them to run a number of computer applications

60
Q

List functions of a smartphone

A 
send/ receive emails 
surf the net
gps
calendar
telephone banking
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) - telephone network
using the internet, which also allows video calling
streaming of videos/music
social media
instant messaging
61
Q

List 5 advantages of smartphones

A

portable - small and light
phone calls as well as connect to the internet while on
the move be used almost anywhere because wifi
they have hundreds of Apps
they have a reasonable battery life compared to laptops.

62
Q

List 6 disadvantages of smartphones

A

the small screens make pages difficult to read and small keyboards make typing things in more difficult and slower
web browsing and photography can drain the battery quickly
memory size in most phones isn’t very large when compared to laptops and PCs
not all website features are compatible with smartphone
operating systems
easier to lose
the data transfer rate using mobile phone networks is slower than with Wi-Fi- this makes streaming of video or music, for example, less than satisfactory at times.

63
Q

What are “Smartwatches”

A

Allows user to wear a min-computer on their wrists

64
Q

List 6 functions of smartwatches

A 
Internet connectivity
Ability to make and take phone calls
Messaging via text/video
Weather forecasts
Fitness/health monitoring capability
GPS
65
Q

List 2 advantages of smartwatches

A

More convenient than smartphones since tech delivers notification straight to user’s wrist
Easy to use for fitness and health regimes

66
Q

List 2 disadvantages of smartwatches

A

Large and bulky - may be uncomfortable to wear

Unattractive in design

67
Q

What is a “Mainframe computer”

A

Large, very powerful, computer system

68
Q

List 6 main features of mainframe computers

A 
Several CPUs
Very fast processor speeds
Supports multiple operating systems
Huge amounts of storage capacity
Huge internal memories
Operate using time sharing or batch processing
69
Q

What are the 7 emerging technologies

A 
AI (Artificial Intelligence biometrics)
Vision enhancement
Robotics
Quantum cryptography
CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation)
3-D and holographic imaging
Virtual reality
70
Q

How does AI overcome common problems with biometric technology

A

Uses dynamic profiling where system learns by using AI about a person’s fingerprints on every scan
AI not confused by soft biometric changes

71
Q

What is LVES

A

Low-vision enhancement system

72
Q

What is NVE

A

Night vision enhancement

73
Q

What is an application of robotics

A

Drones

74
Q

What is “Quantum Cryptography”

A

Making a message unintelligible to any unauthorised user (hacker)
Encryption

75
Q

What are the two tools CAT uses

A

Terminology databases - linguistic databases that grow and learn from translations
Translation memories - automatically insert known translations for words phrases and sentences

76
Q

What is “Holography”

A

Technology that allows 3-D images to be produced

77
Q

List 10 applications of holograms

A 
CAD (Engineering design)
Architecture
Simulations
Medical imaging
Cinema
Gaming
Advertising
Holographic televisions
Holographic computer memories
Optical computers
78
Q

What is VR

A

Virtual Reality
Artificial environment created by software
uses data goggles/sensor suits/data gloves/helmets to get a feeling of reality

79
Q

List 12 applications of VR

A 
Military
Education
Healthcare
Entertainment
Fashion
Heritage
Business
Real estate
Engineering
Sport
Media
Scientific visualisation

ICT (2 decks)

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