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COMPUTER PLATFORMS

Jargon Busting & Human Factors of Computing. COMPUTER PLATFORMS. Week 4. Jargon Busting What does it all mean? Working with computers Effects on life Health Social aspects Squeezing through the Von-Neumann Bottleneck http://www.knozall.com/squeezingthroughthevonneuman.htm.

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COMPUTER PLATFORMS

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  1. Jargon Busting & Human Factors of Computing COMPUTER PLATFORMS Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  2. Week 4 • Jargon Busting • What does it all mean? • Working with computers • Effects on life • Health • Social aspects • Squeezing through the Von-Neumann Bottleneck • http://www.knozall.com/squeezingthroughthevonneuman.htm Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  3. Jargon Busting • FLOPS • FLoating Point Operations Per Second • How many fractional calculations can processor carry out? • Processors often have a FPU (Floating Point Unit) designed to do these calculations • Improve number intensive tasks • Such as graphics rendering • Also called maths-coprocessor • Another way to measure processor speed • MFLOPS = MegaFLOPS (MillionFLOPS /s) • GFLOPS = GigaFLOPS (BillionFLOPS /s) • Thought to be inaccurate Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  4. Jargon Busting • ‘Benchmark’ • The measuring stick against which something is measured • Tests which have been devised to measure a specific type of equipment or program • Used to measure and compare performance of computer software of hardware • ‘Overclock(ing)’ • Forcing a CPU to run faster than it’s approved and tested speed • Used to force a little more power out of the processor • Risks attached • Overheating of CPU • Processing errors Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  5. Jargon Busting • CISC • Complex Instruction Set Computer • Refers to processor • Supports up to 200 instructions • Common • Original Pentium processors • RISC • Reduced Instruction Set Computer • Refers to processor • Less instructions than CISC • Less Instructions = Faster (?) • Cheaper to produce • Puts bigger burden on software (?) • Motorola processors found in Apple computers • Pentium 2, 3 & 4 Use CRISC • Combination of CISC & RISC Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  6. Jargon Busting • ‘Hyper-Threading’ • Process developed by Intel • Allows programs to run multiple threads in parallel on one processor • ‘Pipelining’ • Technique used in modern processors • CPU executes next instruction before first is done • Pipeline split into segments • Each segment executes a specific function in sync with other segments then data is moved along Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  7. Jargon Busting • UPS • Un-interruptible Power Supply • Battery backup System • Can also perform power conditioning and surge protection • POST • Power On Self Test • Checks performed by the BIOS when computer is powered up • Beep codes • Also have POST diagnostic cards Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  8. Jargon Busting • ASCII • American Standard Code for Information Interchange • Represents English language characters using numbers (0 to 127) • 7 bits for each character • E.g- 115 is a small ‘s’ • Extended ASCII (uses 8 bits = more characters) • http://www.asciitable.com/ Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  9. Jargon Busting • Unicode • Another standard for representing language characters • Uses 16 bits for each character • > 65,000 unique characters • Useful for complex languages (Greek, Japanese, etc.) special characters, symbols, etc. • May ultimately replace ASCII • www.unicode.org Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  10. Jargon Busting • AI • Artificial Intelligence • Attempting to make the computer behave like a human or think for itself • Used in games to simulate human and random behaviour • Expert systems or knowledge bases allow decisions or recommendations to be given based on input • Meta • Information about information • Thing of Meta as meaning “about” • Meta-data = data about data • Meta-language = a language about a language Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  11. Jargon Busting • HCI • Human Computer Interaction • How the user and computer communicate and interact with each other • Make interaction faster, easier and better • Many different forms of interaction: • Haptic: movement, gestures, physical interaction • Auditory: using sounds to interact • Pervasive Computing • “Ubiquitous Computing” • Integration of computing technology to everyday life • Introducing technology into everyday ‘ordinary’ objects • Allowing everything to be networked and live Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  12. Jargon Busting • ‘Compression’ • Using an algorithm to reduce the size of a computer file or program • Loss-less compression • Information is compacted without destroying or removing any data from the file • E.g- zipping a file • Lossy compression • Information is compacted but information deemed to be insignificant or redundant is thrown away • E.g- MP3 Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  13. Working with computers • Risks and effects associated with computer use • These are not only health related but also have social and economical implications • Computers and technology encroach on many aspects of everyday life • Desktop computers • Laptop computers • PDA’s • Mobile phones Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  14. Health & Safety • Predominantly because of keyboard and mouse use • RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) • Primarily affects the hand and arms (pain!!!) • Can cause permanent damage • CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) • Mainly affects the wrists of computer users • Especially in the mouse hand • Swelling of tendons, causes pressure on the nerves Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  15. Health & Safety • VDU use • VDU = Visual Display Unit • The monitor or screen to you and I • Eye strain • Poor positioning of monitor • Issues with electrostatic fields • Skin and eye irritation • Magnetic & light radiation • Issues with electromagnetic fields • Reduction of immune system effectiveness • User wellbeing Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  16. Social implications of computers • Computers are everywhere! • IT training becoming a necessity • Everyone prone to health and safety issues with technology • Stress • ‘Computer rage’ • Software manufacturers fault?! • Information easily available and easy to share • Less need for social interaction • Why can’t the computer do it? • Laziness? • Un-sociable society? Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  17. Solutions • Working environment • OHSA (US) • Occupational Health and Safety Administration www.osha.gov • UK Health and Safety Executive • www.hse.gov.uk Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  18. Solutions • Health and safety laws • Ergonomics • Correct posture • Positioning of components • Copy holders • Better work environment • Adjustable chair, desk, etc. • Wrist supports • Monitor filters • Regular breaks • Get a life!?! Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

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