GCSE
OCR
Computing
A451
2
Computer
systems in the
modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of
computer systems
Objectives
• Learn about the role of computers in today’s society
• Consider the influence of computers on your life
• Understand how computer technology affects
everyone in modern society
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
The growth of computer technology
• In the 1980s, a few people began using a PC on
their desk
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
The 1990s
• When people began surfing the web, they were
using three or four computers at once
• one to look at the web page,
• one to retrieve the web page
• and a couple more to pass information over the Internet
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
And today…
• Today, you probably routinely use 20 or more
computers simultaneously without even being aware
of most of them!
• What computers are you using when you are
• At home
• At school
• In town
• In a car
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
Our world is built on computers!
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
Worksheet 2
• Identify three different computer systems within one
industry sector
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
The importance of computer systems
• Fifty years ago, very few organisations relied on
computers for anything other than the payroll system
• Computers did not impact on the way people
communicated, shopped, banked, travelled, learned,
etc.
• Would it be possible to put the clock back?
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
Relying on computer systems for food…
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
… for food
• As society changes over time, old skills become
obsolete as new, more convenient ways of doing
things become the norm
• We don’t have to hunt, fish and dig up wild roots to
feed ourselves any more. If the whole food
distribution system broke down, could we feed
ourselves?
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
… for travel
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
… for travel
• Just 100 years ago, people mostly used to walk or
cycle to work
• How do people get to work now?
• Are computers involved?
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
… for finding our way around
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
… for finding our way around
• Can you read a map?
• Many car drivers are totally dependent on their Sat
Nav systems
• The captains of ships no longer navigate by the sun
and the stars
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
… in hospitals
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
… in hospitals
• What would happen if all the computer systems in a
hospital ceased to function?
• Would the same be true of a hospital in a remote
corner of the third world?
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
…for monitoring the environment
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
…for monitoring the environment
• In many parts of the world computers are constantly
monitoring for signs of earthquakes, tsunamis,
hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters
• What sort of environmental monitoring takes place in
the UK?
• Why is this monitoring important?
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
…for distribution of goods and
raw materials around the world
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
…for distribution
• Almost anything can be sent to different parts of the
world
• Name some of the things that we import into the UK
• How are computers involved?
• What would happen if the computer systems were
unreliable?
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
Reliability of computer systems
• When thinking about the importance of reliability in
computer systems, think about what a breakdown
would mean:
• Is it life threatening?
• How many people are affected?
• Are they merely inconvenienced, or does it threaten their
livelihood in some way?
• Anything else?
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
Worksheet 3
• Complete Tasks 1 and 2
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
Reliability measures
• Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)
• System availability or downtime
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
Disaster recovery
• Backups
• Disk mirroring (RAID)
• Hardware sourcing/plans
Computer systems in the modern world
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems
Worksheet 3, Task 3
• Give another example where failure of a computer
system might be catastrophic, and briefly explain
why