Question_4_Paper1_Dec_2010

Return to Paper 1 Questions ** Area of Impact: Science and the Environment **

**1. **All modern Operating Systems offer a combination of options in order to save energy. Thus converting the computers into more efficient ones. Also some producers like apple are producing greener hardware by using recyclable materials and less toxic dangerous chemicals like heavy metals thus avoiding the production of e-waste.

//(a) //Define the term //hardware//.

//(b) //Define the term //Operating System//.

//(c) //Explain **one** reason why a user may install more than one O.S. in his/her computer

//(d) //Explain why with time you need to replace computers even though they still work.

//(e) //Evaluate **one** solution to the e-waste problem

(a) This is the physical part of the computer, example mother board, hard disk drive, RAM, monitor, etc.

(b) Its a program made up by commands that administrate, organize files and runs the hardware of a computer, in order to work with the user.

(c) A person can choose two put two different O.S. in one computer due to capability issues, perhaps this guy or girl can use a mac software and a Windows 7, reasons he or she can decide this, can be for work reasons there are many enterprises that build up programs for businesses and it only runs with it, and in the other hand we got that mac does not posses virus and its safer and easy to use and organize music, videos and photos. And at last it can be for personal reasons like in a family, perhaps the parents are familiarize with Windows and the Children like macintosh O.S.

(d) The computers as they grow old they may work but the new ones will start replacing them. This is due because the capability uses like RAM and internet change, for example: As technology advance new more complex programs are develop and old computers have trouble to run them. Also a point we can mention its about MOORE'S law which states that the speed of the processors like, Intel RAM and Hard Disk Drives, will duplicate in between eighteen months.

(e) For reducing e-waste, we are going to make compulsory that the electronic industry use materials that are more eco-friendly and that could last longer the life expectative of electronic products. With this the industry will have to do computers that are easily recycled because if they don’t do that, they are going to have to pay high bills. And they are going to be also organizations checking the production on these companies. We consider that is a good idea because the industry will not be able to sell their products without a certification of an independent company that will be checking if the electronic devices are done with the new laws. With this the high amounts of electronic waste send by developed countries to undeveloped countries will be reduce, and therefore reduce the number of e-waste in the world. We consider that if the idea is done as it has been planned the percentage of e-waste in the world will be reduced.