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2a: Recall that a general-purpose computing system is a device for executing programs.
Keyword
Definition
data
files and information stored on a computer system
hardware
physical components that make up a computer system
software
programs that run on a computer system
2b: Recall that a program is a sequence of instructions.
Keyword
Definition
algorithm
sequence of instructions to solve a problem
instruction
command which tells the computer what to do
program
sequence of instructions which runs on a computer
sequence
ordered list of more than one instruction
2c: Explain the difference between a general-purpose computing system and a purpose-built device.
Keyword
Definition
embedded computer system
type of computer which only ever runs one program
general purpose computing system
type of computer which can execute lots of different programs
purpose built device
type of machine which has just one purpose
2d: Describe the function of the hardware components used in computing systems.
Keyword
Definition
CPU
central processing unit that fetches, decodes and executes instructions
GPU
graphics processing unit that controls what is displayed on a screen
hard disk drive
type of storage device which stores data and instructions even when the power is switched off.
input
type of device which sends data into a computer from the outside world (e.g. mouse)
output
type of device which receives information from a computer and shares it with the outside world (e.g. printer)
process
a calculation which can turn input data into useful information
RAM
very fast type of storage device which only stores data and instructions while the power is switched on (everything is lost when the power is off)
solid state drive
fast type of storage device which stores data and instructions even when the power is switched off.
storage
type of device which saves data so that it can be processed or displayed later
2e: Describe how hardware components work together in order to execute programs.
Keyword
Definition
CPU
Central Processing Unit which processes data
HDD
Hard Disk Drive which usually stores more than a solid state drive
Main memory
Stores instructions and data whilst a program is running (e.g. RAM)
RAM
Random Access Memory that stores instructions and data for programs currently running
Secondary storage
Stores instructions and data permanently (e.g. SSD / HDD)
SSD
Solid State Drive with no moving parts that is faster than a hard disk drive
2f: Recall that all computing systems, regardless of form, have a similar architecture.
Keyword
Definition
Computer Architecture
the way the insides of a computer is designed and put together
Computer System
combination of hardware and software that is able to process data
CPU
central processing unit that follows instructions to process data
Data
bits and bytes that can represent files, images, sound or documents
Form factor
whether a computer is a laptop, tablet, desktop, smartphone or any other shape or size
Hardware
the physical components that make up a computer system
Instructions
program code that tells a computer what to do
Software
the programs that run on a computer system
2g: Analyse how hardware components work together in order to execute programs.
Keyword
Definition
CPU
Central Processing Unit which executes instructions to process data
decode
Second part of the cycle a processor follows where instructions are understood by the CPU
execute
Final part of the cycle a processor follows where instructions are carried out
fetch
First part of the cycle a processor follows where instructions are loaded from RAM into the CPU
HDD
Hard disk drive stores instructions and data for programs which aren't currently running
RAM
Random Access Memory which stores instructions and data for programs which are currently running
ROM
Read Only Memory which stores instructions needed when the computer is first switched on
2h: Provide a broad definition of 'operating systems'.
Keyword
Definition
Android
open source operating system for tablets and smart phones made by Google
Closed source
type of software which you usually have to pay for which you can't add your own bug fixes or features.
iOS
closed source operating system for Apple iPads and iPhones
Linux
open source operating system often used on web servers or by developers
macOS
closed source operating system for Apple Mac desktops
Open source
type of free software which anyone can download or add your own features or bug fixes
Operating System
software which runs on a computer and allows the user to load apps or manage settings
Windows
closed source operating system for laptops, tablets and desktops made by Microsoft
2i: Describe the NOT, AND, and OR logical operators.
Keyword
Definition
AND
Logic operator where the output is only True if both inputs are True
input
value that goes into a logic operator
Logic operator
Way of combining True/False values logically (AND, OR or NOT)
NOT
Logic operator where the output is the opposite of the input
OR
Logic operator where the output is True if either or both inputs are True
output
value that comes out as the result of a logic operator
2j: Use logic gates to construct simple logic circuits.
Keyword
Definition
AND
Logic gate where the output is only On if both inputs are On
input
value that goes into a logic gate
Logic gate
Way of combining On/Off values logically (AND, OR or NOT)
NOT
Logic gate where the output is the opposite of the input
OR
Logic gate where the output is On if either or both inputs are On
output
value that comes out as the result of a logic gate
2k: Describe how hardware is built out of increasingly complex logic circuits.
Keyword
Definition
Binary
0s and 1s represented by electricity being switched on or off
Logic gate
digital circuitry made up for transistors which can make logical decisions (like AND, NOT, OR)
Processor
digital circuitry made up of logic gates which can follow instructions and process data
Transistor
a digital switch which can be connected together to create logic gates
2l: Recall that data and instructions alike need to be represented using binary digits.
Keyword
Definition
binary
a way of representing data by using 0s and 1s
bit
a single binary digit (0 or 1)
byte
8 bits
data
sound, video, text, animation or any other type of file which is stored digitally on a computer
instructions
program code which tells a computer what to do
nibble
4 bits
2m: Provide a broad definition of 'artificial intelligence'
Keyword
Definition
artificial intelligence
a type of behaviour of a computer which seems to be able to think for itself
chatbot
software which a human can have a conversation with
machine learning
type of AI where a computer can learn from its mistakes
natural language processing
teaching computers how to understand human speech
turing test
if a computer or robot with AI can pass this test the humans won't be able to tell if they're talking to another human or a machine
2n: Provide a broad definition of 'machine learning'.
Keyword
Definition
algorithm
step by step instructions to solve a problem
artificial intelligence
a type of behaviour of a computer which seems to be able to think for itself
feedback
a machine learning algorithm needs to know very quickly whether or not it has guessed the answer to a problem correctly so it can learn from its mistakes
machine learning
type of AI where a computer can learn from its mistakes
training
a machine learning algorithm needs to be fed lots of test data so that it can learn from its mistakes
2o: Identify examples of artificial intelligence in the real world.
Keyword
Definition
artificial intelligence
behaviour of a computer system that appears to think for itself
computer vision
example of AI where computers can be taught to recognise objects from images or video
machine learning
example of AI where computers can learn from experience and mistakes
speech recognition
example of AI where computers can be taught to recognise words and sentences from recorded sound
2p: Describe the steps involved in training machines to perform tasks.
Keyword
Definition
Gather data
first step of training AI is to collect suitable input data that can be used to teach it how to solve a problem
Testing
final step of training AI is to check if the AI can solve a problem on reliably and accurately on its own
Training
second step of training AI is to feed input data into the AI and teach tell it what the output should be
2q: Associate the use of artificial intelligence with moral dilemmas.
Keyword
Definition
accuracy
an algorithm for recognising blocking terrorist activity on social media might accidently block a police account
bias
an algorithm that analyses CCTV footage to spot potential criminal behaviour might unfairly react to people's skin colour or weight
liability
if someone is injured by a self driving car it might not be clear who is to blame
reliability
an algorithm that predicts earthquakes might be correct 99% of the time but miss one really huge disaster
2r: Explain the implications of sharing program code.
Keyword
Definition
bug fix
a type of update to a program which doesn't add any new features but corrects mistakes in previous versions
closed source
a type of software where only one company can access, fix and improve the code which makes a program work (not usually free)
new feature
a type of update to a program which makes it do more than it could before
open source
a type of software where anyone can access, fix and improve the code which makes a program work (usually free)
source code
program code which contains instructions for how the program runs
vulnerability
a security risk within a program that hackers could use to damage or access your computer
