U Flashcards
What’ is a hardware?
Physical components that make up a computer system.
What is a software?
Programs that control the computer system
5 examples of hardware devices
Motherboard
Ram
Rom
Video cards
Sound cards
Internal storage devices hard disk drive and solid state drive
What is application software?
Programs that allow the user to do specific tasks.
Examples of application software
Word processor
Spread sheet
Database
Apps
Graphics manipulation system
What is system software?
Programs that allow the hardware to run properly and user to communicate with the computer
Examples of system software
Compiler
Linkers
Device driver
Utilities
Operating system
Analysis
Analysis
Stages of Analysis:
Design
Development & Testing
Implementation
Documentation
Evaluation
The Analysis stage
Observation:
involves watching users interact with the system to figure out its workings
it is used for understanding how users interact with the current system
Advantages: provides first-hand, unbiased information
Disadvantages: can be time-consuming, may not reveal all issues
Interviews
-direct one-to-one conversations with users on their experience with the current system
-used to gather comprehensive information about individual users
-Advantages: allows for in-depth exploration of issues
-Disadvantages: relatively expensive, time-consuming, no user-anonymity which may affect the response
Questionnaires:
-set of predetermined questions is given to the users to complete and give their opinion on the current system
-it is majorly used in collecting data from a larger group of people
-Advantages: allows for quantitative analysis, efficient data collection, questions can be answered quickly
-Disadvantages: limited by predetermined questions, may suffer from low response rates, users may exaggerate answers due to anonymity
The Design stage
Field length: number of characters allowed in a field
Field name: an identifier for the field in the data structure
Data type: specifies the kind of data that can be stored in a field, e.g., text, numbers, dates
Coding of data: using codes to represent data, e.g. M for male, F for female
Input Formats
Data capture forms: designed to collect data from users in a structured format, they come in two types: paper-based and electronic-based. Paper-based data-capturing forms must be carefully designed with headings
Text boxes, on-screen help, drop-down menus, radio buttons, automatic validation, and control buttons for data entry are all features of computer-based forms.
Consider a user-friendly layout, clear instructions, and appropriate data fields.
Output Formats
Screen layouts: how information is presented to users on a screen
Report layouts: how information is organized in a printed or digital report
Consider readability, visual appeal, and efficient use of space
Validation routines
method of examining data submitted to a computer to determine if it meets specific requirements.
Types of validation routines
Range check:
Character check:
Length check:
Type check:
Format check:
Presence check:
Check digit:
The development and testing stage
Guarantees the system’s functionality before it is put into use.
Identification and removal of errors, thus improving system reliability and performance.
Test plan
Test data: specific data used for testing purposes
Expected outcomes: predicted results based on test data
Actual outcomes: results obtained from testing
Test strategies
Test strategies
Test each module: verify individual components function as intended
Test each function: ensure all features work correctly
Test design
Test designs
Test data structures, file structures, input formats, output formats, and validation routines
Ensure all components function correctly and interact seamlessly
Test data types
Normal data: valid and expected data values within the range of acceptability have an expected outcome. E.g., any whole number between 1-12.
Abnormal data: invalid or unexpected data values. This can either be:
Data outside the range of acceptability or
Data that is the wrong data type
In this case, examples could be…
any value less than 1 (i.e. 0, -6, etc.)
What is live data?
Data that has been used with the current system
Hence, the results are already known
What is System Implementation
System Implementation
The system must then be fully implemented after it has been thoroughly tested
What is expert systems?
Been developed to mimic the expertise and knowledge of an expert in a particular field.
What are the examples of an expert system
Diagnosing a person’s illness
Diagnostics
Stragety games
Tax and financial calculation
