Exam Hardware Study Guide
Chapters: 3, 6 & 10, Excel A-H and Lectures 9/29 10/27 except 10/25 Spreadsheets 1. Spreadsheet Design Goals a. Define each goal including: Clear, concise, logical presentation of data- it has to make sense. Keeping like things together. Overall pleasing appeal. Keep one idea per row or column. Draw attention to important things. Efficiency having the comp do all possible math. Easy data entry. (Macros, etc.) Flexibility- being able to adapt to change later on. Auditability- the formulas are easy to check and accurate. Make it hard for user to enter bad data. Accurate Formulas- yeah b. Provide examples of how you can use Excel to achieve each of these goals. 2. What is a workbook, worksheet and cell? There are 3 worksheets in a WB. 3. What is the purpose of each of Excel's features including: Formula Bar- where you insert the formulas Sort including primary keys and secondary keys Can be descending or ascending by numbers, letters, date, etc. If something is the same, it goes to secondary keys (ex. Jones, Tim then Jones, Xena.) Freeze Panes- Allows certain rows/columns to stay on the screen no matter where you scroll. Print Titles- Titles on the top of the page. Headers and Footers- ok Comments To clarify contents of certain cells. Range Names- Giving a name to a block of cells. Data Validation- limits the range of values someone can put into a cell Worksheet Protection- prevents people viewing your SS from changing it. 4. Formulas a. Relative vs Absolute Compare relative and absolute cell referencing. Relative lets Excel change the cell reference but making it absolute, Excel doesn't change the row or column, which ever you specify (with a $). Describe how to determine whether relative, absolute or mixed cell references are required in any given situation. If you don't want the column to change, put $ before the letter ($A8). But for the row not to change, put before number (A$8). Be able to determine the result if a given formula is copied to a new cell. b. Logical Functions What is the purpose of an IF function? To give a solution if an instance is true. What is the purpose of a VLOOKUP function? Looks in a specified table for data. Used for more 2 or more choices.
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What are the rules for setting up a Lookup table? First column must contain value that is being looked up. Must be in ascending order. Give entire table a range name. Columns are referred to as consecutive numbers starting with 1. Be able to use IF and VLOOKUP functions properly. c. Order of Operations What is the order of operations? Parenthesis, exponents, percents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction Be able to solve formulas based on these rules. d. What does isolate assumptions mean? Do not enter numbers into formula or function that will change. If it can change, put it into a cell. 4. Charts a. What are the benefits of charts? Visually displays data in an appealing way. Easier to read then straight numbers. b. Identify the best use for each type of chart discussed in class including: Line- To show a trend over time. Bar- Shows a comparison at one point in time. Column- shows comparison over time. Pie- shows a proportion of a whole. c. Give specifics suggestions for designing Pie Charts. Use less than 7 slices. Have a descriptive legend or label slices. Tilt the pie upward to avoid distortion. Have slices go largest to smallest.
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Hardware Types of Computer Systems a. Define the major types of computer systems including: Mainframe a larger size computer system, typically with a separate CPU Benfits: process a lot really fast Drawback: big, overheat Midrange Computers a computer category between mainframe and micro Benefits: less costly to buy and maintain than mainframe Drawback: not as powerful as mainframe Microcomputers very small computer, ranging in size from a computer on a chip to handheld, laptop and desktop units and servers Benefits: lower cost, powerful enough for personal or workstation use b. What are the benefits and drawbacks of each? Peripherals a. What is a peripheral? name given to all input, output and secondary storage devices that are part of a computer system b. What is the purpose of input hardware? - provide more natural user interface What is the purpose of output hardware? provide information in human readable for (ie video or printed documents) What is the purpose of storage hardware? Storage a. Primary Storage Define primary storage. - Microelectronic semiconducted memory chips, stored on computer Provide examples of primary storage. - RAM, ROM, cache What are the benefits of primary storage? small, fast, shock and temperature resistant What are the limitations of primary storage? volatility (needs uninterrupted electricity flow), computer failure, viruses b. Secondary Storage Define secondary storage. stores data on external storage Provide examples of secondary storage. magnetic disks (floppy or hard), RAID, magnetic tape, optical disks (CD-ROMs, CD-R, DVD) What are the benefits of secondary storage? - Back up device What are the limitations of secondary storage? limited storage space, lost, broken, or stolen c. Magnetic vs Optical vs. Semiconductor Memory Describe how each of the above storage technologies work. Magnetic: provide fast access and high storage capacities at a reasonable cost. Contain metal disks that are coated on both sides with oxide recording material. Several disks are mounted together on a vertical shaft that rotate the disks. Optical: reads 0 when the laser hits the CD and return to optical pick-up and reads a 1 when the laser hits the CD and doesn't bounce back Semiconductor Memory: provides you with the working storage your computer needs to process your applications Provide examples of each. Magnetic: zip disks, floppy disks, hard disk drives and magnetic tape. Optical: CD-ROM, CD-R, and DVD. Page: 3 of 7
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Describe how data is organized on each with regards to platters, tracks and sectors if applicable. Motherboard a. What is a motherboard? - the foundation all hardware is built off of found on the bottom or tower of the computer, the infrastructure (highway system), and the spot where ALL things get plugged in or added to the computer. Contains the mechanisms that move data from one area to another. b. What are the components of a motherboard including: other things are working RAM temporary together. memory Chipset used to move ROM permanent and one thing to another, temporary memory, not finds data from the changed, contains startup certain drive and doesn't instructions know what to do with it Cache smaller and Device Controllers quicker than RAM, used permanent memory, hard for files references more drive, zip drive, cd drive often or all the time Registers see Cache CPU (2 Types) ALU does all the math comparisons, the "smart part". U Control conductor, makes sure c. What role does each component play?
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Telecommunications 1. What is telecommunications? Electronic movement of information 2. What is a network? Computers connected together to share resources. What benefits do networks provide? Share resources, less cost, quicker movement of data. What is the difference between the Internet, an intranet and an extranet? The internet connects hundreds of billions of computers for public and private use. The intranet is an internetlike network inside an organization. The extranet is a network that links selected resources of a company with its customers, suppliers, and other business partners using the internet or other private networks to link organizations' intranets. 3. Describe each type of telecommunications network identified in your textbook. WAN cover large geographic Client/Server ends users area connected by LAN share application processing with LAN connect computers and network servers other information processing devices within a limited area Peer-to-Peer a server tells you which users are online who have VPN a secure network that uses what you need the internet as its backbone 4. Describe the benefits and limitations of various telecommunications media. Twisted-Pair most widely used medium for telecommunications Communications Satellites high speed for large volumes of Coaxial Cable high speeds, data, long distance creates time insulation provides less delay interference, can be underground Cellular and PCS PCS cost less Fiber Optics need less and use less power repeaters, lower data error rate, super fast and higher carrying Wireless LANs connect to capacity Internet without being plugged Terrestrial Microwave only up Wireless Web for smaller to 30 miles apart devices, web page not the same What is the purpose of telecommunications processors? To provide a variety of different support functions between computers and other devices in telecommunications network. To support data transmission and reception between terminals and computers. To include modems, switchers and routers. What is a network topology? Structures connection of computers on a network. What are the most popular topologies used in WAN and LAN networks? "star"-connect to central computer, "ring"-computers together in a ring on equal basis, "bus" - local What is a protocol? Standard set of rules and procedures for the control of communications in a network. Which protocol is used on the Internet? Transmission control protocol/ internet protocol. What is network architecture? Promote an open flexible and efficient telecommunications environment, using standard protocols, standard communications, hardware, software and interfaces. What is the difference between a physical and logical address? Provide examples physical and logical addresses. Physical is the permanent address ie MAC Address. Logical is its address on the internet ie. IP Address.
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Describe the cabling and communication protocol of legacy Ethernet. Multiple devices connected to the same Ethernet medium, can send messages to any device, can easily add devices carrier sense multiple access with collision detection. What were the limitations of legacy Ethernet and how were they overcome? - Distance limitation attenuation: further away from the source strength or signal is lost, can't tell zeros from ones...repeaters help refresh signal - Noise: interference from something, can't tell if it's a zero or one...repeaters or bridges help overcome. How does modern Ethernet differ from legacy Ethernet? - Modern Ethernet used an Ethernet switch and hardware Describe the purpose of various telecommunications hardware devices include: Repeater refreshes signal Switch decides which part of makes it clearer and able to reach the network needs to hear the longer distances message, connects segments of network to devices Bridge connects to segments of Ethernet, looks at who message Router most complicated, is sent to and decides if it needs connect LAN to WAN to be repeated, reduces traffic on network Hub communicates message to all, speeds up, doesn't reduce traffic, like a dumb switch What are the primary measures of telecommunications technology including: Capacity bps (bits per second), diameter of hose Throughput - hz (hertz), power the water is moved through the hose
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Decision Support Systems 1. Compare and contrast DSS and MIS. DSS are computer-based information systems that provide interactive information support to managers and business professionals during the decision-making process. MIS produces information products that support many of the day-to-day decision-making needs of managers and business professionals. 2. Describe the components of a DSS system. 3. Describe the following four DSS interfaces What-if Analysis end user makes changes to variables, or relationships among variables, and observes the resulting changes in the values of other variables Sensitivity Analysis special case of what-if analysis; only one variable is changed repeatedly, and the resulting changes on other variables are observed Optimization instead of setting a specific target value for a variable, the goal is to find the optimum value for one or more target variables, given certain constraints Goal Seeking sets a target value for a variable and then repeatedly changes other variables until the target value is achieved 4. Describe and give examples of each of the following DSS systems: Artificial Intelligence goal is to develop computers that can simulate the ability to think, see, hear, walk, talk, and feel Expert Systems asks questions of the user, searches its knowledge base for facts and rules or other knowledge, explains its reasoning process when asked, and gives expert advice to the user in the subject area being explored ex. Diagnosing illnesses Neural Networks computer systems modeled after the brain's meshlike network of interconnected processing elements, called neurons ex. Neural network can be trained to learn which credit characteristics result in good or bad loans Fuzzy Logic method of reasoning that resembles human reasoning since it allows for approximate values and interferences and incomplete or ambiguous data instead of relying on crisp data ex. Rare in US but numerous in Japan (Subway trains in Japan) Genetic Algorithms uses Darwinian, randomizing, and other mathematical functions to simulate an evolutionary process that can yield increasingly better solutions to a problem ex. GE's design of a more efficient jet engine for Boeing 777 Intelligent Agents special-purpose knowledge-based information systems that accomplish specific tasks for users ex. Wizards in MS Office
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