IT – Software development

Activity 1

1) Select one CASE tool and investigate its use in detail.

Data modeling tools – It creates a data model by applying formal data

model descriptions. It is a method of showing business requirements for a
database and analyzes data requirements needed to support the business
processes.

a) How much does it cost and where is it produced?

The product I’ve chosen is Sybase Power Designer.

Cost - $2,000
Produced by – Sybase Inc.

b) Who uses it?

It is used by IT engineers and professionals and big organisations.

Activity 2

TITLE ROLE

Manager of information • Responsible for whole system and plan.

systems • Design computer related activities.

Technician • Repairs computer.

• Purchase and distribute hardware.
• Install and update softwares.

System administrator • Install operating systems.

Network administrator
Network or system
installer
• Manage disaster recovery plan.
• Operate compute and or network.
• Manage software and hardware of
network.
•
• They perform networking, programming
and operating system installing.
• Configure and monitor network
equipment.
System analyst • They research, plan, co-ordinate and
recommend software and make system
choices.
IT sales and vending • They sell computerised products.

1) Look at one of the online employment sites.

The website which I have chosen is http://www.seek.com.au/.

a) How many jobs are available for IT professionals?

There are 3646 IT related jobs available in Melbourne.

b) What proportion of total jobs advertised does this represent?

There are 27189 jobs available in Melbourne. Therefore, around 1/6 of

Jobs are information technology related.

c) If possible, list the positions that have the highest and lowest rates
of pay.

None.

d) Select four job titles and describe the role of each.

Programmer- creating softwares.

System tester – Designing, and development of test case, test programs.

Documenting and maintaining testing status reports.

Technician – Repair, upgrade system. Install and maintain software.

IT Teacher – Teach IT to students.

Activity 4

1) Follow the link and provide a summary of what a CPU cache does.

It is a memory bank between the main memory and the CPU, which lets
the computer read data and other instructions faster. Cache is used for
fast accessing of frequently used data. When a CPU wants to process an
 action it needs to get data from the hard drive right but it will be slow
because the data will travel to the system bus and it will take a long time.
If the processor finds memory location in the cache, a cache hit would
occur. If the CPU doesn’t find memory location in the cache it’s called a
cache miss.

2) Follow the link and provide a summary of how and operating system
communicate with the CPU.

An operating system is responsible for the management and coordination

of activities and the sharing of resources in the computer. They handle
the details of the operation of the hardware. It makes it easier for
application programs to manage details to write applications Common
operating systems include Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and Linux. They
are Software’s designed to control the hardware data-processing systems
to allow users and application programs to make use of it.

Activity 5

1) Are RISC computers always faster at processing information than

CISC computers?

RISC computers give high performance by using quick and reduced

instructions. They use reduced instruction set which are simple and
easier to build. RISC computers are faster when using multi-media
feature or when playing high intensity games. RISC computers are better
at simple tasks and CISC computers are better at complex tasks.

2) Are there any cases where CISC computers are faster at

processing information?

CISC computers provide faster performance at difficult task. Their

effectiveness is equal to RISC computers when compared for bigger task
but RISC computers are more effective at simple tasks.

Activity 6

1) Find two examples of modern AGP video cards and one of an older
PCI video card, either on the internet or in your local computer store.
Discuss the relative merits, capabilities and specification of the three
video cards. Discuss which one would you meet your gaming or computer
needs and why.

Two of modern AGP cards are:

• Galaxy GeForce FX5500 AGP 8X 256MB DDR 128-bit, Core clock:

270MHz, Memory clock: 332MHz, TV, DVI, NVIDIA CineFX engine
2.0, 68 Million Verticles/sec, 4 pixels per clock (peak), Fill rate: 1.1
Billion texels/sec, DirectX 9.0. Vista compatible.
• POWERCOLOR AGP HD3850 512 D3 2DH , GraphicsEngine RADEON
HD3850, VideoMemory 512MB GDDR3, EngineClock 668MHz,
MemoryClock 700MHz x 2, MemoryInterface 256bit, DirectX
Support 10.1, BusStandard AGP x8.

One PCI video card is:

• Hewlett Packard RADEON® X1300 Pro, (256 MB) PCI Express Video
Card, 600 MHz, 256 MB (DDR2 SDRAM), 128-bit, S-Video, 2048 x
1536, TV Out, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP.

The graphics card that I will recommend is POWERCOLOR AGP HD3850

because it is future proof and it has advanced High definition technology.
Its also runs 256 bit of graphics code. So it is best for computer gaming.

Activity 7

1) Locate information on the internet for a motherboard with onboard

sound. Compare the sound specifications for the onboard audio chip with
the PCI sound card in figure 3.19 or another of your choosing.
a) What would a listener notice about both sound systems when
compared?

• A listener would not notice much difference when

comparing both sound systems unless he or she is a
professional.

b) What types of end-users would be likely to purchase a PCI

sound card?
• Users who are professional in the field of producing
sound effects.
 c) Would you advise an office manager to purchase separate PCI
sound card?

• No because he might need sound for basic use and if he

purchases a separate PCI sound card, it will be waste of
money.

d) Should online game players consider PCI sound cards?

• Yes because they need it for playing games having more

sound effects and realistic sound which external PCI
sound card can produce.

Activity 8

1) Follow the link and provide a summary of five of the recent

biometric devices.
• Product: Panasonic Authenticam Iris
Recognition Camera, List price: $239,
Requires: 64MB RAM; 50MB hard drive
space; Microsoft Windows 98, ME, or
2000.

• The Silex SecurePrint ($499 direct)

solution is a great package for those
who share an office-wide, semipublic, or
departmental printer but still want to
keep sensitive documents concealed
from prying eyes.

• Requirements: Windows 98, SE, Me,

NT 4.0 (SP4 and greater), 2000, or
 NT Server, one available USB port. List Price: Ethenticator USB
2500. Estimated street price, $100.

• Requires: For server: 500-MHz processor or better; 96MB RAM;

100MB hard drive space; Microsoft Windows 95, 98, 2000, or NT
with SP3 or better. For client: 266-MHz processor or better;
64MB RAM; 100MB hard drive space; Microsoft Windows 2000 or
NT with SP5 or better. Direct price: $50 to $200 per user,
depending on the size of the enterprise.

• Ethentica Ethenticator MS 3000 PC

Card, Street price: $150, Requires:
Type I or II PCMCIA card slot,
Microsoft Windows 95B, 98, 98 SE,
Me, or NT 4.0 (Service Pack 4 and
later).