The need for different types of software systems and their attributes Flashcards
Explain the concept of open source software.
- Free licence
- Holds no copyright restrictions
- Built using community co-operation, programmers can edit or re-write the code
- Free from commercial pressures
- Frequent integration with other software packages
Explain how bespoke software is used and provide an example.
Specifically designed for a single organisation or group of users for example business or scientific projects.
+ Customised to users’ needs
- Expensive
- Must wait for development
Powerful computer systems are used in weather forecasting.
Explain why such systems are needed and any drawbacks of these systems. Your answer should also discuss how data is captured and processed.
- Weather forecasts are made by collecting quantitative numerical data about the current state of the atmosphere
- Data is captured using thousands of sensors and collected centrally.
- To produce weather models data such as temperature, wind speed, and rainfall are fed into a computer system
- This data is then put into a mathematical model and predictions are based on current conditions
- This process is carried out by powerful computers doing 1000s of calculations per second
- The computer uses equations that come from geological science.
- Equations such as fluid and thermodynamics
- PARALLEL Processing is usually used for the mathematical model.
- Equipment is extremely expensive
How can computers be used to generate graphics and animations?
- Each image is a single frame that is stitched together in the processing. This is performed at rendering farms.
- Complex 3-D images must be rendered to display correctly.
State a device that may be used in CAD.
Graphics tablet.
Describe an Output device that may be used in CAD.
Graphics Plotter, Plots blue prints and graphs etc.
What features may be included in CAD software?
- Change any part of the drawing without restarting
- Replicate any section
- Zooming in for finer detail
- Mathematical operation eg. Calculating volume/density
What is a robot?
A piece of artificial intelligence that was created to replicate humans, and do their job more efficiently.
What are the advantages of robots in industry?
- Expensive to install but cheaper than humans in the long term
- More efficient and quick at the job
- Can work 24/7
- Don’t require luxury
What are the disadvantages of robots in industry?
- Humans are better at spotting problems
- May be job redundancies
- Most jobs that robots do will be deskilled
What is an expert system?
- Application of AI to a particular activity
- Based on facts and rules
What are the advantages of a doctor using an expert system?
- Speed up human work
- Cost savings as a result quality improvements
- Decision making improved
What are the disadvantages of a doctor using an expert system?
- In medical diagnosis, it may cause doctors to lose their jobs
- Causes legal problems
