Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Suppose a couple has a checking account with an initial balance
of $500 and a savings account with an initial balance of $1000.
Suppose further that the husband decides to transfer $50 from
savings to checking, while the wife decides to transfer $50 from
checking to savings.
a.
If the husband goes first, and then the wife goes second—
starting after the husband finishes—trace the above steps
to show that each account ends with the same amount it
started with; that is, the transactions of the husband and
wife effectively have canceled each other out.
b.
Suppose the husband and wife initiate their transactions at
exactly the same time. Identify a sequence of events that
would show $450 in checking and $950 in savings at the
end—effectively losing $100 of the couple's money.
(Because this outcome is not considered appropriate, this
scenario provides another example of why coordination
may be needed for independent programs.)
4.
Some people describe Microsoft as being extremely innovative,
whereas others claim Microsoft is primarily just a good mar
keting company. Conduct some research to find arguments on
both sides of this topic. Review the two points of view, and
then state and justify your own conclusion.
5.
Consider a laboratory setting in a school, in which students
work independently on their own work. Throughout the lab,
an instructor circulates from student to student, responding
to questions and providing help when asked. To what extent
might the instructor's activity in this lab be considered multi
tasking? Identify at least two elements that seem consistent
with the idea of multitasking and at least two elements that
seem different.
