Week 7: Hardware, Software and Mobile Systems Flashcards
What does hardware include?
All the physical components of a computer that input, process, output and store data according to instructions encoded in the software
What does CPU stand for?
The central processing unit - The computer’s brain
What is main memory otherwise known as?
RAM
What does CPU do?
It reads data and instructions from memory, and stores results of computations in memory
What is an operating system?
A set of programs that controls the hardware and provide an interface with applications
What is application software used for?
To solve specific problems (e.g. Word, Excel)
What is firmware?
Special software installed on read only memory (ROM) e.g. Printers, communication devices
What does a application license give a user
The right to use a specific number of copies
What are the advantages of off the shelf software?
Low cost, high qualtiy, good vendor support, low cost upgrades, immediate availablity
What are the disadvantages of off the shelf software?
Only some business needs are addressed, impossible to alter to meet specific needs, vendor may go out of business.
What are the advantages of custom developed applications
Meet the organisations needs exactly, can be alter to meet new demands
What are the disadvantages of customer developed applications?
High cost, development may experience long delays.
When is custom development recommended for a business
When there are no other alternatives
What criteria should be used when evaluating software?
Fitness for purpose, ease of use, ease of learning to use, compatibility with other software, vendor support, cost
What is proprietary software/closed source software?
Software with a protected source code, only available to trusted employees and carefully vetted contractors
