Technical Implementation Flashcards
What is the function Interpreting User Commands responsible for?
The commands which the user can give using the menu driven, graphical or command driven interface.
Why is both software and hardware necessary for a computer system to run properly?
Software provides the instructions and data needed to get the hardware components to do anything useful
What is the difference between distributed storage and offline storage?
Distributed storage is used online often where as offline storage is kept offline and is harder to access than distributed storage.
Distributed storage is when more than one computer is used to store data. ‘distributed amongst computers’. Off line storage is where data is removed from and stored separately from a network so that it cannot be accessed.
Advantages of a distributed storage system?
Should anything go wrong with 1 system, the data is held on many others and so data isn’t lost. It gives more storage space and processing power than just using one computer
Advantages of using offline storage
It keeps files backed up
Very Secure as it cannot then be accessed digitally as it isn’t connected to a network
What is a backup?
A backup is a copy of a piece of data/information stored in case the first is lost or damaged
Why are backups important to organisations/businesses?
It can cost them customers - and hence money
Where are backups stored?
Separately from the network in hard drives or tapes, or get stored online using the cloud
When should a backup be made?
Whenever necessary eg daily for companies - they have lots of data or just monthly/fort nightly/weekly for individual users
Name the three types of backup and describe the differences between them
Incremental - All data changes made since the last backup of any kind are restored.
Differential - Only data that has changed since the last full backup are stored.
Full - All data on a system is copied regardless of when it was last backed up.
Name an advantage of each of the three backup types
Full - No data is missed out ever
Incremental - The fastest (but takes longest to restore)
Differential - Saves space and time from a full backup
What is disk mirroring?
When a constant copy of data is made, this ensures data is never lost. However, fails to cope with user error/virus activity
State the difference between CD-R’s, CD-ROM’s and CD-RW’s
CD-R stands for readable, the disk is blank when purchased and the user can then store information once which cannot then be deleted or amended.
CD-RW stands for rewritable. This means that the user can store, edit and redevelop information as often as they wish on the blank disk.
CD-ROM stands for read only memory - means you cannot save to the disk as it already has data stored on it and you cannot change it.
What is the current range of data transfer for Bluetooth devices?
Varies between 32-33 feet
What are the main difference(s) between USB 2 and 3?
USB 3 uses smart changing, has much higher data transfer rate and higher charging power in comparison to 2
How is USB different to Bluetooth?
USB is used for wired connections and Bluetooth is used for wireless. USB has a shorter range than Bluetooth but a faster transfer rate
What is data transfer speed?
The rate at which data is transferred from one device to another. Measured in megabits or megabytes.
Name factors affecting the maximum data transfer speed
Noise, interface, errors during transfer and overheads
What is the difference between the three types of backing storage devices?
Built in storage such as a hard drive is when the backing storage device is connected to the computer and so cannot be moved around easily - not portable
External is when the backing storage is separate from the computer such as an external hard drive
A portable storage devices such as a USB flash drive are separate from the computer and can be moved around easily
Three characteristics of storage devices are
Built in?
External?
Portable?
Name two backing store devices which make use of magnetic storage
Floppy disks and magnetic tapes
Name two optical storage devices
CD-RW
DVD-RW
What is the difference between the optical and magnetic storage techniques?
Magnetic storage uses magnetic charges stored on a magnetisable metal oxide layer on a disk or tape.
Optical storage uses the reflection of a laser from a surface made of ‘lands’ and ‘pits’
What is a solid state storage device?
One which does not contain any moving parts I.e it is solid