Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Principle
The computer hardware industry is rapidly changing
and highly competitive, creating an environment ripe
for technological breakthroughs.
provide more power-efficient, cost-effective, and higher-
performance processing. This technology has numerous
applications.
Manufacturers are competing to develop a nonvolatile
memory chip that requires minimal power, offers extremely
fast write speed, and can store data accurately even after
it has been stored and written over many times. Such a
chip could eliminate the need for RAM forms of memory. PCM,
FeRAM, and MRAM are three potential solutions.
Cloud computing involves the use of a giant cluster of
computers that serves as a host to run applications that
require high-performance computing. Some organizations
are exploring the use of cloud computing to replace major
components of their infrastructure.
CPU processing speed is limited by physical constraints
such as the distance between circuitry points and circuitry
materials. Moore's Law is a hypothesis stating that the
number of transistors on a single chip will double every two
years. This hypothesis has been accurate since it was intro-
duced in 1970 and has led to smaller, faster, less expensive
computer hardware.
Advances in tri-gate transistors, carbon nanotubes, and
extreme miniaturization will result in faster CPUs.
Cell Broadband Engine Architecture is a micropro-
cessor architecture developed by IBM, Sony, and Toshiba to
CHAPTER 3: SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST
Computer hardware must be carefully selected to meet the
evolving needs of the organization and its supporting infor-
mation systems.
6.
Executing an instruction by the CPU involves two phases:
the instruction phase and the ___________ phase.
7.
___________ involves capturing and editing data when it
is originally created and in a form that can be directly input
to a computer, thus ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
1.
Organizations typically make a one-time investment in the
computer hardware necessary to meet their needs with little
need for future changes and upgrades. True or False?
2.
The computer hardware that most nonprofit organizations
choose is virtually identical. True or False?
The computer hardware industry is rapidly changing and
highly competitive, creating an environment ripe for techno-
logical breakthroughs.
8.
3.
The overriding consideration for a business making hard-
ware decisions should be how the hardware meets specific
________ and ________ requirements.
Some organizations are exploring the use of ___________
to replace major components of their infrastructure.
9.
There are few examples of companies in the computer
industry collaborating to create a new product or service.
True or False?
4.
Which represents a larger amount of data—a terabyte or a
gigabyte?
5.
Which of the following components performs mathemat-
ical calculations and makes logical comparisons?
a.
CHAPTER 3: SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST ANSWERS
control unit
(1) False (2) False (3) user and business requirements
(4) terabyte (5) c (6) execution (7) Source data automation
(8) cloud computing (9) False
b.
register
c.
ALU
d.
main memory
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1.
When determining the appropriate hardware components
of a new information system, what role must the end user
of the system play?
3.
Identify three basic characteristics of RAM and ROM.
4.
What is RFID technology? Identify three practical uses for
this technology.
2.
What is a blade server? What advantages does it offer over
an ordinary server?
5.
What issues can arise when the CPU runs at a very fast rate?
