Title: Importance of Computers
Course: Quiz Statistics Report Test Course

Q: Sometimes computer systems are so important to a company that they cannot function without them.

Match the descriptions below with the term that suits the most.
- A way of measuring a system’s reliability is to measure the length of time between system failures. This factor is quoted by equipment manufacturers as an indication of reliability. | Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)
- If a computer system’s reliability is very important then a company may need to have spare hardware in place just in case of system failures. One way to protect systems is to have more than one of a critical component. | Hardware Redundancy
- If software or hardware problems occur, the data is most at risk. This will be stored on a disk on a server somewhere. | Backup System
- A computer system failure could mean that a company goes out of business in just a few days. Arrangements are sometimes put in place so a company can switch over to a complete, new system with all their own data on it, often with hours. | Disaster Recovery Plans
Also offered: Spare Part Syndrome (SPS); Managed Time System Reliability (MTSR); Protecting Against System Failures (PASF); Search and Destroy; Managed Recovery System; Anti Virus Management System; A Firewall

Q: Choose the words that match the sentences.

Computers are becoming more dominant in our lives for example, transport management systems, hospitals and banking.

As we become more and more dependant on computer systems in our everyday lives:
- It is really important that computer systems become even | more reliable
- As hardware and software improves, more people are able to make use of them because computer systems are becoming | easier to use
Also offered: more like humans; more expensive; more independent

- It is important that computer systems that we depend on the most, work without any problems at all. This is known as system | reliability
- Some computer systems have problems that mean they do not always work in the way that they are intended to. The way we measure how often a computer system can be used is known as system | availability
Also offered: probability; effectiveness; maintainability; servicability; dependability

Q: On the 26^th October 1992 there were a number of issues affecting the performance of the London Ambulance Service (LAS). There were long delays while patients waited for ambulances to show.

There were as many as 46 deaths that would have been avoided had the requested ambulance arrived on time. One heart attack patient waited six hours for an ambulance before her son took her to the hospital. Four hours after that, the LAS called to see if the ambulance was still needed. Another woman called the LAS every 30 minutes for almost three hours before an ambulance arrived. It was too late, as her husband had already died.

What do you think was the most likely cause of these problems?
- A new computer system had been installed, but it had not been tested properly
- Vandals had slashed the tyres of many ambulances meaning that there were a reduced number of ambulances available
- Ambulance crews were on strike over plans to use computers to control the dispatch of ambulances
- The satellite navigation systems on the ambulances had downloaded maps of Victorian London overnight
- There was a great fire in London and the ambulance service wasn't able to cope with the demand
A: A new computer system had been installed, but it had not been tested properly

Q: In 2012 customers of the Royal Bank of Scotland had their wages, payments and other transactions disrupted. Some customers were unable to withdraw cash using ATMs or to see bank account details. Others faced fines for late payment of bills.

Completions of new home purchases were delayed and some people were stranded abroad. Another account holder was threatened with the discontinuation of their life support machine in a Mexican hospital, and one man was held in prison.

What do you think was the most likely cause of these problems?
- A new software update had not been installed properly
- Thieves had broken into branches of the bank around the UK in co-ordinated attacks and stolen all the money in the safe
- Employees at the bank had downloaded a version of Call of Duty: Black Ops II which had a virus
- Hackers diverted all of the payments into a Russian bank account
- A cleaner at the bank had accidentally unplugged the bank's main server
A: A new software update had not been installed properly

Q: As our society becomes more dependant on computers, it is increasingly important for these systems to be highly reliable.

Select up to three examples from the list below that are most likely to demand the highest amount of reliability to avoid disasters.
- Patient monitoring systems in hospitals
- Air Traffic Control systems (ATC)
- The UK Banking & Payments system
- A school computer network
- Satellite navigation system in a car
- On demand video services such as iPlayer, YouTube, Netflix etc.
- Online gaming networks, eg. Xbox Live
- Online grocery shopping, eg. Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys
- Social media sites, eg. Facebook, Twitter
A: Patient monitoring systems in hospitals; Air Traffic Control systems (ATC); The UK Banking & Payments system