Comp Sci Unit 6 Vocab (Simplified)

Word Processer

Software applications are used to produce any document. It includes tools for the composition, editing, formatting, and possibly printing of documents. Word processing is the action of creating a document using a word processor.

Spreadsheet

Software application that is used for the organization and analysis of data. The data in a spreadsheet application is represented as cells, organized in rows and columns

These cells may contain numbers, text, or results of formulas that calculate and display values automatically on the basis of the contents in other cells. It can compute fundamental operations of arithmetic and mathematical functions, provides common financial and statistical operations, and can be used to display the data visually in a variety of graphs and charts

Database Management System

A database management system (DBMS) is a software application that manages (creates, queries, updates stores, modifies, and extracts information) databases and is designed to provide an interface between users and a database

Database

Organized collection of data and organized into records

Web Browser

A software application used to access, retrieve, and present content on the World Wide Web. This content may be web pages, images, videos, or other files and may be identified by a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier)

Email/Electronic Mail

a software application that allows for the exchange of digital messages from a single author to one or more recipients. The author and the recipient don't need to be online at the same time.

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

a software that assists engineers to create, modify, analyze, and optimize a design

This software helps produce higher quality designs as digital files that can be shared with those who need access

CAD allows the engineers to inspect the design in a 3D space and look at all the angles

CAD also allows for materials, dimensions, and tolerances are presented and when one piece of information is changes, the dependent values are also changed accordingly

Graphic Processing Software

software allows a user to manipulate visual images on a computer

A user can edit an image with the use of tools in various ways, such as selecting and moving, cropping, scaling, erasing, etc.

Graphic User Interface (GUI elements)

things like graphical icons and visual indicators, as well as toolbars, menus, and dialog boxes which allow the user to interact more smoothly through direct manipulation of the graphical elements

Merger

Combining 2 or more entities into 1, like databases and companies. Often done to reduce cost.

Software as a System

Software as a system, or system software, is a collection of programs designed to control and coordinate the functioning of a computer system. It manages essential hardware resources like the CPU, memory, storage, and peripherals, providing a platform for application software to run.

Software as a Service

When the software is stored in a different location and can be accessed through the internet. It is cheaper in the short term and more accessable, but vulnerable to data loss

Feasibility Test

tech: is the tech able to handle this?

econ: is the proposed system cost effective?

Legal: does the proposal have any conflict with regulations/laws?

operational: is the existing organizational practices and procedures sufficient enough to support the maintenance and operation of the new system?

schedule: how long will it take?

Parallel Changeover

Both systems work at the same time for a period, limits risk.

Big Bang/Direct Changeover

Unplugs the old system and plugs the new system at the same time, very risky. Workers need to be trained on how to use beforehand.

Pilot

The new system is introduced at one site to begin with and extends to other sites as time goes on if successful at the first site, using another changeover method, often direct. The first sites act as a model for the rest of the company.

Phased

When a company converts one module at a time. Meaning different parts of the system are converted at different times. Takes a long time.

Data migration

the transfer of data between different formats, storage types, and computer systems

Data migration occurs when an organization changes, upgrades, or merges its information systems

problems of data migration

Incompatibility with the new system

Non-recognizable data structures

Data loss

Incomplete data transfer

Transfer errors

Misinterpreted data due to incompatibilities

Alpha testing

done before the software product is made available to the general public. It is done by the company not the end-user

Beta testing

includes comments and suggestions of the users. Beta testing can be made available to the general public, but may be limited access. It also allows for the support team to anticipate expected issues.

Dry run testing

conducted using pen and paper by the programmer as they mentally run the algorithm and decide on what output of a run should become.

Unit testing

individual parts of a system are tested separately

Integration testing

the entire system is tested together to verify that all components work together

User Acceptance testing

used to determine if the system satisfies the customer needs and in most cases is conducted in user premise before accepting transfer of ownership

debugging

a systematic process of finding and correcting the number of bugs (errors) in a computer program

Validation

the process of evaluating whether data input follows appropriate specifications

Confirmation that a computer product meets its design functions or is appropriate for the intended use

Are we developing this correct system?

Does the product meet the customer needs?

Verification

the process of ensuring that the data input is the same as the original source data

Confirmation that a computer product meets identified specifications

Are we developing the system correctly?

Does the product comply with a specific regulation or condition?

Internal Documentation

includes features and details that are a part of the source code itself (though unlikely to be read by the user)

External Documentation

typically written as a separate document from the program itself. It is provided through various types of user supporting documents (Users' guide, Software requirements specification document, Detailed description of the design, Implementation features of the program, Test document)

user documentation

information created to help users understand and use a product

Manuals

Can be provided online or offline. One of the advantages of online manuals is the potential use of multimedia features. Manuals can be provided online as pdf files which one can download and print. The advantage of a printed manual is that it can be read without the use of a PC or an internet connection.

Email Support

Online support is an asynchronous type of support and can be provided via an email address. Users contact the support team of the company to resolve any problems with the help of specialized technicians.

embedded assistance

Embedded user assistance is context-specific, task-specific, and does not require novice users to ask the right question to find the suitable answer.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Listed questions and answers, all supposed to give users answers to a common set of problems and pertaining to a particular topic. The format is commonly used on online forums. The list contains questions that tend to recur.

Live chat sessions

Online support is a type of real time support that is extremely useful for emergency situations. A live chat technician will ask for the description of the occurring problem and try to present a list of possible solutions. A telephone call, a live chat session, or a video session provides a feeling of being supported by a real person, which is preferred to many users.

Online portals or web portals

These portals can provide access to updated manuals, support pages, and FAQs

Remote desktop

allow the specialized technician to take control of the user's PC as though they are sitting directly in front of it.

USer training

training the users of a system how to operate the system

Self-instruction or self-study

Requires the user to read manuals or other resources such as video tutorials but is self-paced and can be done as-needed in some cases.

Formal Classes

Offers an interactive setting and promotes open and free discussion between students and the instructor.

Remote learning

Self-paced, but typically have a cost associated with them and an instructor assigned to help students navigate the information when needed.

Stakeholders

individuals, teams, groups, or organizations that have an interest in the realization of a project or might be affected by the outcome of a project

End Users

people who are going to use the product

Interview

a direct face-to-face procedure that focuses on obtaining reliable and valid data in the form of verbal responses from a person or group

Structured interviews

strictly standardized and prescribed. A set of prepared questions is presented in the same manner and order to each stakeholder

Unstructured interviews

flexible. Stakeholders are encouraged to express their thoughts and personal beliefs freely

Questionnaires

effective when the questions are carefully constructed so as to elicit unambiguous responses.

Closed qustionnaires

Yes or no, short answer, and box checking. Data can be analyzed quickly

Open questionnaires

free response, allows for greater depth of answer

Direct observation

spending time in different departments. It is considered as a time-and-motion study that can show where possible bottlenecks may be present.

Methods of obtaining requirements

gather information about what a system or product needs to do

Modularity

partitioning a computer program into separate parts

iteration

the repetition of a set of instructions for a specific number of times or until the operations yield a desired result

Client

the person or organization paying for the project (or defining the specifications)

Prototypes

working or non-working preliminary version of te final product or a simple version of the final system that is used as a part of the design phase to demonstrate how the final product will work