Notes Range and Scope of Computer Appln
Notes Range and Scope of Computer Appln
Learning Objectives
When you have finished this chapter you will be able to:
• Work out the uses of different computer systems by looking at the
way that they are made up
• Describe some of the uses of computers and be aware that there are
many more
• Recognize some application areas from brief descriptions supplied
Introduction
All computer systems have the following four basic parts:
• Input – something that needs to be put into the computer and a way
of putting it in
• Processing – work that is going to be done on what has been put in
• Output – the result of the work and a way of getting the result out
• Storage – somewhere to store things so that they are not lost when
the system is switched off.
Communications
Storage
Types of applications
• There are many different uses for computers, from controlling a
washing machine to forecasting the weather.
• Whatever the size of the computer, just think about what it is
designed to do and when a question asks you to describe a system
for a given purpose, remember the parts of the system listed above
and try to describe them.
1
Question: Name 5 input devices and state where they are used.
Answer:
Steering wheel – computer games, games arcade machine.
• Touch screen – PDAs, tourist information kiosks
• Bar Code scanner – library, supermarket check-out counter
• Mouse & Keyboard – home PCs
• Microphone – video conferencing
Answer:
The input will be the instructions fro what the player wants to happen in the game –
in a high-speed race game it might be turning a corner or overtaking another vehicle.
There are a lot of input devices available for getting these instructions into the
computer, such as wheels and pedals, gamepads and joysticks.
• Processing will involve the computer keeping the game moving by responding to
the player’s input.
• Storage will be on the computer’s hard disk, though very little needs to be stored
except for the rules of the game and perhaps your scores, as we don’t normally
turn the computer off halfway through a game.
• Communications: If there is only one player, then there does not need to be any
communication. If a number of computers close together are connected so that
people can play against each other, then they will probably be linked by wires in a
LAN. It is also possible to play against other people over the internet; in this
case the computers will be connected in a WAN.
2
Expert System
What is an expert system?
Is a special type of computer system.
Stores all the knowledge of an expert in a particular subject
People can ask it questions.
3
Question 1: Identify some other expert systems and decide what
data they contain that make them expert.
Example 1
Expert system: System found in a doctor’s office
Data they contain: Facts about illnesses and can give advice to the patient.
Example 2
Expert system: System found in a handphone service centre
Data they contain: Information about different handphone problem and how to solve
them.