1. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 COMPUTER PLATFORMS Jargon Busting & Human Factors of Computing

2. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Week 4 Jargon Busting –What does it all mean? Working with computers –Effects on life Health Social aspects Squeezing through the Von-Neumann Bottleneck –http://www.knozall.com/squeezingthroughthevonneuman.htm

3. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Jargon Busting FLOPS –FLoating Point Operations Per Second How many fractional calculations can processor carry out? Processors often have a FPU (Floating Point Unit) designed to do these calculations –Improve number intensive tasks Such as graphics rendering –Also called maths-coprocessor –Another way to measure processor speed MFLOPS = MegaFLOPS (MillionFLOPS /s) GFLOPS = GigaFLOPS (BillionFLOPS /s) –Thought to be inaccurate

4. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Jargon Busting ‘Benchmark’ –The measuring stick against which something is measured –Tests which have been devised to measure a specific type of equipment or program –Used to measure and compare performance of computer software of hardware ‘Overclock(ing)’ –Forcing a CPU to run faster than it’s approved and tested speed –Used to force a little more power out of the processor –Risks attached Overheating of CPU Processing errors

5. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Jargon Busting CISC –Complex Instruction Set Computer Refers to processor Supports up to 200 instructions Common Original Pentium processors RISC –Reduced Instruction Set Computer Refers to processor Less instructions than CISC Less Instructions = Faster (?) Cheaper to produce Puts bigger burden on software (?) Motorola processors found in Apple computers Pentium 2, 3 & 4 Use CRISC –Combination of CISC & RISC

6. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Jargon Busting ‘Hyper-Threading’ –Process developed by Intel –Allows programs to run multiple threads in parallel on one processor ‘Pipelining’ –Technique used in modern processors CPU executes next instruction before first is done Pipeline split into segments –Each segment executes a specific function in sync with other segments then data is moved along

7. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Jargon Busting UPS –Un-interruptible Power Supply –Battery backup System –Can also perform power conditioning and surge protection POST –Power On Self Test Checks performed by the BIOS when computer is powered up Beep codes Also have POST diagnostic cards

8. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Jargon Busting ASCII –American Standard Code for Information Interchange –Represents English language characters using numbers (0 to 127) 7 bits for each character –E.g- 115 is a small ‘s’ –Extended ASCII (uses 8 bits = more characters) –http://www.asciitable.com/

9. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Jargon Busting Unicode –Another standard for representing language characters –Uses 16 bits for each character > 65,000 unique characters –Useful for complex languages (Greek, Japanese, etc.) special characters, symbols, etc. –May ultimately replace ASCII –www.unicode.org

10. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Jargon Busting AI –Artificial Intelligence –Attempting to make the computer behave like a human or think for itself –Used in games to simulate human and random behaviour –Expert systems or knowledge bases allow decisions or recommendations to be given based on input Meta –Information about information –Thing of Meta as meaning “about” –Meta-data = data about data –Meta-language = a language about a language

11. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Jargon Busting HCI –Human Computer Interaction –How the user and computer communicate and interact with each other –Make interaction faster, easier and better –Many different forms of interaction: Haptic: movement, gestures, physical interaction Auditory: using sounds to interact Pervasive Computing –“Ubiquitous Computing” –Integration of computing technology to everyday life –Introducing technology into everyday ‘ordinary’ objects –Allowing everything to be networked and live

12. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Jargon Busting ‘Compression’ –Using an algorithm to reduce the size of a computer file or program –Loss-less compression Information is compacted without destroying or removing any data from the file E.g- zipping a file –Lossy compression Information is compacted but information deemed to be insignificant or redundant is thrown away E.g- MP3

13. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Working with computers Risks and effects associated with computer use These are not only health related but also have social and economical implications Computers and technology encroach on many aspects of everyday life –Desktop computers –Laptop computers –PDA’s –Mobile phones

14. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Health & Safety Predominantly because of keyboard and mouse use –RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) Primarily affects the hand and arms (pain!!!) Can cause permanent damage –CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) Mainly affects the wrists of computer users –Especially in the mouse hand Swelling of tendons, causes pressure on the nerves

15. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Health & Safety VDU use –VDU = Visual Display Unit The monitor or screen to you and I –Eye strain –Poor positioning of monitor –Issues with electrostatic fields Skin and eye irritation –Magnetic & light radiation –Issues with electromagnetic fields Reduction of immune system effectiveness User wellbeing

16. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Social implications of computers Computers are everywhere! –IT training becoming a necessity –Everyone prone to health and safety issues with technology –Stress –‘Computer rage’ Software manufacturers fault?! –Information easily available and easy to share –Less need for social interaction –Why can’t the computer do it? –Laziness? –Un-sociable society?

17. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Solutions Working environment OHSA (US) –Occupational Health and Safety Administration www.osha.gov UK Health and Safety Executive www.hse.gov.uk

18. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003 Solutions Health and safety laws Ergonomics –Correct posture –Positioning of components –Copy holders –Better work environment –Adjustable chair, desk, etc. Wrist supports Monitor filters Regular breaks Get a life!?!