Fundamentals Of A Computer System

Question 1

Ethical Issue: hard to keep information private on the internet

Answer 1

• Social Media encourages the sharing of personal information
• Companies may sell personal details causing targeted adverts or spam emails

Question 2

Ethical Issue: Censorship and Surveillance

Answer 2

• These are controversial topics as they can be used to protect children and stop terrorism however others are against them as the breach their privacy

Question 3

What is internet Censorship?

Answer 3

• Censorship can be used to block access to certain websites such as Facebook or inappropriate websites

Question 4

What is internet Surveillance?

Answer 4

• Surveillance is used by intelligence agencies to look out for illegal activities.

Question 5

Ethical issue: social well-being

Answer 5

• new technology influences and pressures people to purchasing items.
• smart phones mean the work can intrude into other areas of a persons life meaning life can be stressful.
• face-to-face interaction may be neglected as more of our social lives move online.

Question 6

Ethical issue: Cyber-bullying and Trolling

Answer 6

• these can cause distress and frustration.

- People are sometimes driven to suicide because of these attacks.

Question 7

What is Cyber-bullying?

Answer 7

• When someone uses social media to deliberately harm someone else.

Question 8

What is Trolling?

Answer 8

• when someone tries to cause public arguments with other online.

Question 9

Ethical Issue: Health problems

Answer 9

• Eyestrain can be caused by looking a a screen for too long. The screen must be a good distance away and the user must take regular breaks.
• Repetitive strain injury and Back problems are a problem when posture is bad or the desk/chair is not the correct height.

Question 10

Ethical issue: unequal access to technology

Answer 10

• a digital divide puts people at disadvantages and has increased inequalities between poor and rich countries.

Question 11

Environmental issue: Natural resources

Answer 11

• electronics contain lots of raw materials.
• for example) plastics which use crude oil, precious metals
• the resources are not renewable and will eventually run out

Question 12

Environmental issue: Energy consumtion

Answer 12

• electricity is needed for powering devices and in offices the require air-conditioned rooms to keep them cool requiring even more energy
• often energy is wasted as devices use power when on standby

Question 13

Environmental issue: E-waste

Answer 13

• devices are replaced often because they break or because of policies allowing them to cheaply upgrade.
• most e-waste goes to landfill in Africa or Asia. However the waste often contains toxic chemicals which can harm wildlife.

Question 14

What is a Computer System?

Answer 14

A device that can input, process, store and output data. It is made up of Hardware, Software, Data and various peripheral devices.

Question 15

What is Hardware?

Answer 15

the physical parts of the computer e.g. Keyboard

Question 16

What is Software?

Answer 16

the programs and operating systems used by a computer

Question 17

What is an Input device?

Answer 17

A Hardware device used to give data and control signals to a computer, the data is converted from analogue to digital. e.g. mouse, keyboard, cameras

Question 18

What is an output device?

Answer 18

A Hardware device used to communicate the results of processed data, the data is converted from digital to analogue. e.g. monitor, speaker

Question 19

What is a processor?

Answer 19

A small chip that manipulates data to provide a suitable output.

Question 20

What is storage?

Answer 20

A piece of equipment which data and instructions can be recorded and stored in binary form e.g. RAM

Question 21

What is feedback?

Answer 21

When the user gets an extra output for example underlining spelling mistake

Question 22

Why are computers important in the modern world?

Answer 22

We rely on computer systems to keep us safe, to enable us to do our jobs, to entertain us, to run our homes and to enable us to communicate with other people.

Question 23

Why do computer systems need to be reliable?

Answer 23

Could result in death or serious injury (if the computer system is safety critical or life critical)

Question 24

What is system reliability?

Answer 24

The ability of a computer to perform its intended operations without experiencing failure

Question 25

What is system availability?

Answer 25

The amount of time system resources are available

Question 26

What is the data protection act?

Answer 26

ensures that any personal data stored by a company is safe and secure

Question 27

What is in the data protection act?

Answer 27

• data must be obtained lawfully
• data may only be held for the purpose the user declared
• data must be relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose
• data must be accurate and up to date
• data must not be kept longer than necessary
• an individual is entitled to see what data is stored about him/her
• companies must prevent unauthorised access
• data should not be transferred without protection

Question 28

What is the Copy Right and Patents act?

Answer 28

Makes it illegal to use software without purchasing it

Question 29

What is the Health and safety at work act?

Answer 29

Says workers should be provided with suitable working conditions

Question 30

What is the computer misuse act?

Answer 30

makes it illegal to:

• hack
• unauthorised data transfer
• distribute copyrighted software, music and film
• email and chat room abuse
• identity and financial abuse
• viruses

Question 31

Why do computers need professional standards?

Answer 31

• complex computers often require teams working on them which needs organisation
• standards are needed for effective implementation

Question 32

development standard: waterfall model

Answer 32

identify problem
analyse requirement
design
code and test
evaluation
maintenance

defines specific steps that are completed when developing a computer.

Question 33

development standard: RAD

Answer 33

Rapid application development is when a prototype is developed with customer feedback

Question 34

Standards in Coding: De Facto standards

Answer 34

De Facto standards are proprietary standards that are so common people have to use it.
for example, QWERTY Keyboard, commenting in the code, Suitable variable names and formatting the code.

Question 35

What are the standards in documentation?

Answer 35

Flowcharts and Logic diagrams

Question 36

What are proprietary standards?

Answer 36

Created by a company and paid for by businesses e.g. Microsoft word or exel

Question 37

What are open standards?

Answer 37

standards that are available to anyone and agreed by a body of professionals e.g. HTML 5

Question 38

What are Industry standards?

Answer 38

Industry standards are standards set to make sure items meet a particular standard

Question 39

What are Industry/professional/De Facto standards?

Answer 39

Industry standards are standards that are accepted by industry

Question 40

How have hardware advances advances enabled new methods of communication among teenagers?

Answer 40

• computers are capable of high speed internet access

- large server farms and cheaper storage allow infrastructure for new communication

Question 41

How have software advances advances enabled new methods of communication among teenagers?

Answer 41

• open standards allow social networking sites to operate across all platforms
• software it cheaper and easier to use

Question 42

Why are computers better than humans?

Answer 42

• easier to analyse records and measure the performance of a business
• computers will give more consistent results
• computer software can be used in different parts/ departments of a business