Exam revision Flashcards
RAD (Rapid Application Development)
A small prototype of the finished product for a short period of time to allow users to comment on necessary changes
Virtual machine
A computer that runs a software to emulate the functions of a real world computer e.g. Windows computer running on a Mac OS
Accessibility
Allows a software to be used by everybody including people with certain disabilities. E.g. Users with poor vision have a zoom in option
Distributed storage
A term which describes the distribution of data on the file servers and computers connected to the network. It may involve cloud storage to share the load
Control unit
This is responsible for initiating the fetching, decoding and execution of instructions by sending out signals to other parts of the computer system.
Cache memory
This is a fats access memory either between the processor or memory
Data bus
Used to transfer data between the main memory and the processor. It transfers data both ways. Modern desktops usually contain a 64 bit data bus
Address bus
Used to specify the address of the memory that is to be read in or written out. They usually have a 32 but address bus
Multi core processors
Processors that can execute multiple instructions at once
RAM (Random Access Memory)
Stores data that is currently being executed but loses its content when the power is switched off
ROM (Read Only Memory)
Same as RAM but it keeps its content when the power is switched off
Regulations of investigating powers act
Ensures employees don’t waste time playing games. It also gives the employers the right to track their emails and phone calls to ensure work is getting done
Open source
It is software code that is freely on the Internet that allows people to see and edit the code used for the software
Proprietory
Software that is on the Internet in which the code is not freely open for people to see on the Internet.
Symmetric encryption
Symmetric encrypts data using a script key and encryption algorithm. Both the sender and the receiver need a copy to access the data.
Asymmetric encryption
Asymmetric uses a combination of a public and a private key to encrypt data.
Data format conversion
Data conversion is the conversion of computer data from one format to another. Throughout a computer environment, data is encoded in a variety of ways. For example, computer hardware is built on the basis of certain standards, which requires that data contains, for example, parity bit checks.
Bootstrap loader
Alternatively referred to as bootstrapping, bootloader, or boot program, a bootstrap loader is a program that resides in the computers EPROM, ROM, or other non-volatile memory that automatically executed by the processor when turning on the computer. The bootstrap loader reads the hard drives boot sector to continue the process of loading the computers operating system.
Macro virus
A type of computer virus that is encoded as a macro embedded in a document. Many applications, such as Microsoft Word and Excel, support powerful macro languages. These applications allow you to embed a macro in a document, and have the macro execute each time the document is opened.
Checksum
A checksum is a count of the number of bits in a transmission unit that is included with the unit so that the receiver can check to see whether the same number of bits arrived. If the counts match, it’s assumed that the complete transmission was received.
Iteration
Iteration is the act of repeating a process with the aim of approaching a desired goal, target or result. It is also known as Amiration. Each repetition of the process is also called an “iteration”, and the results of one iteration are used as the starting point for the next iteration.
Software development process
A software development process or life cycle is a structure imposed on the development of a software product. There are several models for such processes, each describing approaches to a variety of tasks or activities that take place during the process.
Spooling
In computing, SPOOL is an acronym for simultaneous peripheral operations on-line. It is a type of buffering. The most common spooling application is print spooling, which places a task (or ‘print job’) into a queue for extended or later processing.
Copyright, designs and patents act
The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, is the current UK copyright law. It gives the creators of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works the right to control the ways in which their material may be used. This means that people need permission to use their content.