(BIS) Chapter 4: Hardware and Software

Why is it important to learn about hardware and software?

To improve security, productivity, morale, reduce costs, and increase competitiveness.

What is expected of managers regarding hardware/software investments?

Define business needs, ask relevant questions, and evaluate options.

What are the main components of computer hardware?

CPU, memory, bus, input/output devices.

What are the phases for completing an instruction?

Fetch, Decode, Execute, Store.

What is a multicore processor?

A processor with two or more independent cores that can execute instructions simultaneously.

What does clock speed measure and in what unit?

Speed of processing steps; measured in Gigahertz (GHz).

What is a semiconductor fabrication plant called?

A fab or foundry

What is multiprocessing?

The simultaneous execution of two or more instructions.

What is parallel processing?

Multiple processors executing the same task simultaneously.

What is grid computing?

Coordinated computers solving a common problem via a central server.

What is main memory used for?

Stores program instructions and data for quick access by the CPU.

How many bits make a byte?

Eight bits.

What does RAM stand for, and is it volatile?

Random Access Memory; yes, it's volatile.

What is cache memory?

High-speed memory accessible faster than main memory.

What is ROM and is it volatile?

Read-Only Memory; no, it is non-volatile.

What are EEPROM and PROM?

Types of ROM; EEPROM is erasable and reprogrammable, PROM is not.

What is secondary storage?

Long-term data storage, not directly accessible by the CPU.

Give examples of secondary storage devices.

Magnetic tape, HDDs, RAID, SSDs.

What is an SSD?

Solid-state drive with no moving parts, fast access, and low power usage.

Name common input devices.

Keyboard, mouse, scanners, RFID, pen input, touch screens.

What is OCR and OMR?

Optical character recognition; optical mark recognition.

What does a graphics card do?

Translates binary data into images.

What is a GPU?

Graphics Processing Unit – renders images.

Name types of output devices.

Display screens, printers, plotters, 3D printers.

What are the three classes of general-purpose computers?

Portable, Nonportable (single-user), and Multi-user systems.

Examples of portable computers?

Smartphones, laptops, notebooks, tablets.

What are thin clients?

Low-cost, managed computers with no storage drives.

What is a workstation?

A powerful desktop computer for technical/engineering work.

What is a server?

A computer that performs specific tasks for many users.

What is a mainframe computer?

A large system shared by hundreds of concurrent users.

What is a supercomputer used for?

High-speed, specialized computations.

What are qubits used in?

Quantum computers.

What principles do quantum computers use?

Superposition and entanglement.

What is a server farm?

A room with many servers managed together.

What is a blade server?

A system that houses multiple motherboard units in one chassis.

What is a data center?

Climate-controlled facility housing IT infrastructure.

What are the 4 data center tiers and their downtime?

Tier 1: 28.8 hrs

Tier 2: 22 hrs

Tier 3: 1.6 hrs

Tier 4: 26.3 mins

Which tier offers full fault tolerance?

Tier 4 (2N + 1 redundancy).

What is green computing?

Environmentally responsible design, use, and disposal of IT products.

What is EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool)?

A tool to evaluate environmental performance of IT products.

How are EPEAT ( Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) tiers defined?

Bronze: 23 required, 0 optional

Silver: 23 required, 50% optional

Gold: 23 required, 75% optional

What does system software include?

Operating systems, utilities, middleware.

What is the kernel in an OS?

Core component that manages hardware and critical processes.

What is server virtualization?

Creating multiple virtual servers on one physical server.

What is a hypervisor?

Software that manages virtual machines and their resources.

What are embedded systems?

OS embedded in other devices for specific control functions.

What is middleware?

Software that connects applications and enables them to communicate, sitting between the OS and applications.

What is an operating system (OS)?

A set of programs that control a computer’s hardware and provide an interface for application software.

What are the main functions performed by an OS?

Control hardware

Provide a user interface

Manage I/O

Provide hardware independence

Manage memory

Manage tasks

Provide networking

Control system access

Manage files

What are the five types of OS task management?

Multiuser – Supports multiple users at once

Multiprocessing – Uses multiple CPUs/cores simultaneously

Multitasking – Runs multiple applications at the same time

Multithreading – Runs multiple parts of a program at once

Real-time – Responds instantly to input (used in embedded systems)

What is Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)?

A design model where software components (services) are loosely coupled and interact via APIs.

What are APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)?

Sets of programming instructions that let software communicate or interact with other programs or services.

What is application software used for?

Solving problems and performing tasks.

What is proprietary software?

Custom software designed for a specific company or purpose.

What is off-the-shelf software?

Pre-made software for general use.

What is SaaS?

Software as a Service—hosted online and accessed via the internet.

SaaS advantages?

Accessible anywhere, auto updates, lower cost, managed availability.

What is enterprise software?

Software for organization-wide functions with shared data.

What should be considered when selecting enterprise software?

Cost, installation ease, support, integration.

Programming language

A set of rules and symbols to write software.

What does a compiler do?

Converts source code into machine code.

What is an IDE?

Integrated Development Environment – combines coding tools.

What is a software license (EULA)

Legal agreement outlining usage rights for software.

Types of software licenses?

Single-user, individual/multiuser, network/multiuser.

What is open-source software?

Free software with accessible source code for modification.

What license protects open-source software?

GNU General Public License (GPL).

Disadvantage of Open-Source Software

Hidden costs, limited support.

Why are software upgrades important?

For new features, security, and as a revenue source for developers.

What is the challenge with software upgrades in companies?

Determining value and planning upgrade strategies.

What are some examples of personal application software?

Tax-preparation programs

Website creation tools

Music composition software

Photo and video editing software

Educational and reference tools

Entertainment software

Fitness tracking programs

CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software

What is CAD software used for?

Designing products and structures with computer-assisted design tools.

What is workgroup application software designed for?

To support teamwork and collaboration regardless of team members’ physical locations.

What type of software is ideal for group collaboration?

Web-based software.

Can personal application software be used in workgroups?

Yes, it can often be extended for use in collaborative settings.

What is enterprise application software?

Software designed for organization-wide business needs that shares data with other enterprise applications.

What are key factors when choosing enterprise software?

Total cost

Ease of installation

Required training and support

Integration with existing applications

What is a programming language?

A set of keywords, commands, symbols, and rules used to write software instructions.

What is the role of a compiler?

It translates source code written by programmers into machine-language instructions the computer can execute.

What is an integrated development environment (IDE)?

A software suite that combines all necessary tools for software development into one package