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Introduction Computer Systems

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1 views

Introduction Computer Systems

Uploaded by

ycj58bvs2x
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Assignment 1

Instructions: Answer ALL Questions Time 1 ½ Hrs

(1) Describe five major technological advancements that enabled the evolution of the Internet.
(2) Discuss the challenges one would face while running programs in a computer that does not have the
operating system.
(3) In a dual processor computer system with optimized software, what kind of system performance
increase are you likely to expect. Is it 75%, 100% or 125%? Discuss.
(4) If it is the work of the OS to decide which processes run, and when, then consider two processes X and
Y that share global variables m and n. Assume the initial values m = 1 and n = 2. At some point in its
execution, X executes the assignment m = m + n. Also, at some point in its execution, Y executes
the assignment n=m+n
Note that the two processes update different variables.
If the final values of the two variables depend on the order in which the two processes execute the two
assignments, determine the values of m and n if
(i) X executes first.
(ii) Y executes first.
(5) It is now possible to find that computers control our day-to-day lives. That is, we depend too much on
these computer systems such that without these computer systems, our lives will go into disarray.
Suppose one day you are contracted by a reputable international aero organisation to develop an air
traffic control system. You complete the system and implement it successfully in one of the airports.
Three months after implementation, an accident occurs at the airport where two planes collide resulting
in a number of fatalities. A thorough investigation conducted thereafter by a group of internationally
recognized expert air accident investigators rules out all other factors and pin points the cause of the
accident to a software malfunction. That is, the accident was caused purely by a software error.
As the person who developed this software, you are charged in court for the accident. Discuss
how you would defend yourself in the court so as to absolve yourself from blame.

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