a) What is a mainframe computer? What makes it different from a server?
b) Find out what the hardware of a “dumb terminal” is?
c) What does a desktop computer have that a dumb terminal doesn’t? Explain why a dumb terminal doesn’t need what the desktop has.
24 Supercomputers
Supercomputers are used for intensive mathematical calculations such as weather and climate forecasting, car design, aerospace engineering and the production of high resolution graphics such as digital animation in motion pictures. Supercomputers have many processors working together and lots of memory (RAM). Sometimes organisations connect lots of microcomputers (ordinary desktops and laptops) together, by linking lots of microcomputers together (1000’s) they can create their own super computer.
Task 24 Find out:
a) List another two uses of supercomputers other than the ones listed above b) Go to the website www.top500.org, write down some of the details of the top
supercomputer
Site, Manufacturer, Core, Theoretical Peak, Power, Memory c) What do think it means by “cores”?
d) The typical memory of a desktop computer is 4 GB, how many times bigger is the memory of the top supercomputer?
e) Write a short note on Big Red II Indiana University’s latest supercomputer; include the date of first use and how many instructions it can process per second.
25 Distributed/Grid computing
Distributed computing, is a type of grid computing, it brings together of lots (1000s) of desktop computers to solve a problem as a network. In distributed computing the processing power and memory of each individual computer is harnessed to tackle a small part of the task. Working
together means thousands of processors and terabytes of RAM can be used to solve the problem. In a distributed system computers of different types work on the one task you only need to download a small program, which will allow your computer to talk to the organising computer. Distributed computing is often used in academic research and public-interest projects.
Distributed computing uses the processing and memory of many 1000’s of desktop computers unlike a supercomputer which has its own processors and memory. But it can replicate the power of a supercomputer without the costs involved.
Task 25 Find out:
a) Terabyte is a term of measurement used in computing, how many bytes are there in a terabyte?
b) Listed below are some projects that are being undertaken using distributed computing, pick any three and write a short paragraph on each, stating what the purpose of the project is, how many computers are involved and any other details such as estimated RAM used and the amount of Teraflops (instructions per seconds that can be processed).
Climateprediction.net DistrRTgen Einstein@home FreeHAL Milkyway@home Renderfarm.fi
26 Quantum computers
The future may produce an even faster type of computer by doing things differently. It is claimed that the quantum computer will be 3600 times faster than today’s technology.
The BBC recently reported that:
“A $15m computer that uses "quantum physics" effects to boost its speed is to be installed at a Nasa facility. It will be shared by Google, Nasa, and other scientists, providing access to a machine said to be up to 3,600 times faster than conventional computers.”
“ … according to a paper presented this week (the result of benchmarking tests required by Nasa and Google), it is very fast indeed at finding the optimal solution to a problem that potentially has many different combinations of answers. In one case it took less than half a second to do something that took conventional software 30 minutes.”
Find the full article at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22554494
27 Screen resolution
This determines the quality of images that can be distinguished, for example, a 1680 *1050 high resolution screen or a 1280 * 1024 medium resolution.
1024 × 768 means the width is 1024 pixels and the height is 768 pixels.
The term "pixel" is actually short for "Picture Element." These small little dots are what make up the images on the screen.
Pixels
Task 26 Find out:
Get the names, prices and screen resolution of two 17 inch TFT screens. Pick the one you think is best and give the reasons (not just price) for your decision.
28 Simulation
Simulations can be used to train people and to help them develop skills, such as driving a car or flying a plane, by using a computer based model.
Simulators can be very realistic and accurate ways of training people to handle complex machinery in an environment where a
learner’s mistakes are not dangerous or costly.
Simulations can also be used for leisure purposes
Task 27 Find out:
In flight simulation a trainee pilot can experience many different types of emergency without any risk to themselves, passengers or expensive equipment. Produce a short presentation on the use of a simulation to train people. Your presentation should contain key points, relevant graphics and hyperlinks to useful websites.
(Do not use aircraft or car simulators as a topic for your presentation)
29 Virtual reality
A virtual reality (VR) system is an advanced form of simulation that can create the illusion that the user is part of the computer’s world and can move about and manipulate that world. VR is the digital representation of the real world.
VR systems can be used for:
Training people who work in dangerous places, for example, a nuclear power station
Training people such as surgeons, as real training on patients would not be acceptable
Creating a 3-d plan of a new construction which can be looked at from all angles, even from inside. A plan of a single building can be modelled or even a whole town
For leisure activities
A range of specialised sensors that detect movement are fitted to goloves, suits and headsets worn by the user. The user can point to, lift and touch objects in the virtual world. The headset can have a pair of small screens that create a 3-D visual effect. The feeling of reality is improved by sound from headphones to immerse the user in the world of virtual reality.
Task 28 Find out:
a) What do you think is meant by the word “immerse”?
b) Have a look at this website http://www.amusitronix.com/ and give three examples of how virtual reality is used for entertainment.
30 Software
Software is the name given to all the programs that run
technology and run on
technology, these programs can be applications like browser software or the operating system which mangaes the hardware of computers, smartphones and tablets and gives a platform for the “apps”
to run.
Task 29 Find out:
a) What are the NO1 apps from Google and Apple today?
b) What are the words top 3 business software applications?
c) What is the bestselling software at Amazon.com?
d) What is most popular game for the PC, the Xbox and the PlayStation?
31 Operating Systems
The operating system is the most important program that runs on a computer. Operating systems
perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input,
sending output to the display screen, keeping
track of files on backing storage, on desktops and
laptops the OS will control peripheral devices
such as hard disk drives and printers. The OS
provide a software platform on top of which
other programs, called application programs, can
run. The application programs must be written to run on top of a particular operating system. Apps designed for smartphones running on the Andriod OS cannot (without alteration) work on Apple products, and vice versa.
Task 30 Find out:
a) What is the latest version of the Android operating system that is used on smartphones and tablets? State the version number and its name and when it was released.
b) What operating system is on the latest smartphones from i) Windows, ii) Blackberry, iii) Apple and iv) Nokia?
c) What is the latest version of OS issued by Microsoft for laptops?
d) What is the latest version of the OS used by Apple desktop computers?
32 Browser software
A browser is a program that helps you navigate the World Wide Web, move between and look at web pages by entering the address of the page you want or by clicking on a hyperlink or using the back and forward arrrows.
Examples of browser software are:, Chrome, Opera, Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer.
Task 31 Find out:
a) Identify the browser software from the icons shown below.
b) List the top five browsers by popular use in the world today.
33 Search engines
You access a search engine using your browser software. Search engines are used to look for web pages that are related to you search term. The most popular search engine in recent years has been Google. So popular has this search engine beome that the word “google” has become a verb, when people need to find out about something on the WWW they use the phrase “I’ll google it”. Other search engines are provided by Yahoo and Alta Vista and many others.
Don’t get mixed up between a browser and a search engine.
Task 32 Find out:
a) What is the purpose behind the Blackle search engine?
b) What company is behind the Bing search engine?
c) Rank these search engines in order of popularity, with the most popular first: Bing, Yandex, Baidu, Google and Yahoo.
d) Which countries are the Baidu and Yandex search engines popular in?
e) Which company rose to prominence using the innovation “PageRank”? Describe what pagerank is.
f) Explain the difference between a search engine and a browser.
34 Systems analyst
A systems analyst designs new systems or improves existing ones. System analysis involves finding out which task the system has to carry out and then deciding on the hardware and software needed.
The systems analyst will look at all the jobs the company does currently and decide which jobs can be improved by introducing new technology and new software. This process is called systems analysis.
Task 33 Find out:
a) Systems Analyst is a job that comes about because of the introduction of technology, listed below are other jobs that linked to computer technology, write a brief paragraph about each: Programmer, Computer Engineer and Network Manager.
35 Projects
Project 1 The Cloud
In two recent surveys both IT specialists and consumers both cast doubt over their use of Cloud computing. The biggest concern for IT specialists was concern about the security of data stored in the cloud with 92% expressing concerns1. Just over 75% of all consumsers surveyed stated that they would rather purchase software than rent it as they did not want to commit to an on-going
payment2. Find out:
a) Examine the surveys produced by PEER 1 Hosting and Corel Corporation and state what the main concerns are for both IT specialists and consumers about using the Cloud.
b) Put forward an arguments that would allay the concerns of the IT specialists.
c) Present reasons to the consumers why using the Cloud could be to their benefit.
1 PEER 1 Hosting
2 Corel Corporation