MOD002580 Computer Systems Lab Activity - 1

Lab Activity - 1: Introduction to System Concepts

You may complete this worksheet by hand (you do not need to type up your answers) as
long as your answers are legible. You may find it helpful to bring along the lecture slides of
Chapter 1 & 2 for this lab.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this lab session you should have a clear
understanding of what a system is.
Required Reading: Chapters 1 and 2 in The Architecture of Computer Hardware and
System Software: An Information Technology Approach, Fifth Edition, Irv Englander.

This worksheet should take around 2 hours to complete. The completed worksheet
needs to be signed off by your tutor. Failure to do so will result in a very low mark.

Question 1: Thinking in terms of systems allows us to analyse situations that are too
complicated for us to understand as a whole. What specific characteristics and features
of system thinking make this possible?

Answer:

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Question 2: The below Figure illustrates the basic architecture for a three-tier database
system. This system can be viewed as an IPO (input-processing-output) system. What is
the input for this system? What environmental element generates the input? (Hint: The
Web browser computer is within the system boundary.) What is the expected output
from this system? What environmental element receives the output? Briefly describe the
processing that takes place in this system.

Answer:

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Question 3: Based on the illustration of an iPhone shown in Figure below, draw a system
model for an iPhone.

Answer:

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Question 4: Suppose that you have been hired to develop a website-based sales
system for a large international retail sales firm. Discuss some environmental issues that
are specific to the Web design of your system that you must consider if your system is to
be successful at attracting and keeping purchasing customers.

Answers:

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Question 5: Consider a home theatre system consisting of a television set, a receiver, a

DVD player, speakers, and any other components you wish to include. Draw a system
diagram for this system. Include both components and links. What are the inputs to this
system? What are the outputs? (Remember that the DVD player and receiver are both
components within the system.) Now draw a system diagram for the receiver subsystem.
Include both its primary components and the links between them. What are the inputs and
outputs for the receiver subsystem? Do these inputs and outputs conform to the links
connected to the receiver in your original system diagram?

Answers:

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Value-added work.

There are additional marks available for showing working. See marks distribution at the
end of this worksheet.
Self-reflection and feedback. After completing the lab, please answer the following
questions in your logbook. [An automatic 4 marks is awarded for full completion of this
section. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.]

1. Roughly how long did it take you to complete this lab and write up the logbook?

2. On a scale of 1 (very easy) to 5 (very hard), how difficult did you find this lab?

3. Which parts did you find the least challenging?

4. Which parts did you find the most challenging?

5. On a scale of 1 (not very confident at all) to 5 (very confident), how confident are
you now understanding what system is?

6. Please list any external resources (textbooks, websites, other people, etc.) used
when completing this lab or the logbook.

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7. Please list any other comments on this lab or on the lectures you may have.

Marks Distribution
Question No. 1 2 3 4 5
Marks 10 10 10 10 10 50
Value added 9 9 9 9 9 45
Marks
Self-Reflection and Feedback Marks 5
Total Marks 100