Example research essay topic: Computer Lab Educational Purposes - 1,118 words

NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote

Computer Network Specification for JG 252 b When approaching the design of the new computer lab JG 252 b I decided to outline the main issues and their checkpoints, and then discuss each one of them in more details. In order to begin the process of setting up the new computer lab network and its topography we need to analyse the major requirements and purposes of such affair. The requirements for the equipment are following: the ability of the infrastructure to process various assignments, e-mail, applications, and other types of information with adequate ease. Network users must be able to share files, printers and other resources, send electronic messages and run programs on other computers. However, certain important issues need t be addressed and concentrated n.

In re t begin the press f setting up the network, the that numbers f users - faculty and students (which in our case constitutes 24 users) - must be determined. Sme ther significant factors t be approached are: the required software applications needed n the network, an efficient and appropriate directory structure and effective security structure. In designing the directory structure, the may fcu's must be n accessibility. Fr the users t be ensured that their information is nt at risk, we need t create an effective security structure. In closing the appropriate security structure there must be certain access rights assigned t the users.

An important technical detail in setting up the network is the amount of resources that will need to be allocated for the restructuring of the system. For the system to function properly, the amount of hardware/ software will need to be determined. As computer technology continues to grow, the requirements to computer systems are vastly increasing. In the case of university network we must remember that both the professors and the students will use it. The professors will be using the new system to disburse their syllabi, distribute specific assignments and send e-mail to their students. The layout, design and complexity of each class will determine how much the professor may be using the network.

Since the students will be using the computer lab for class studies, as well as home assignments, some specific software will be required. The tasks that are to be covered in this lab are computer applications in spreadsheets, word processors, and database systems. Therefore the standard Microsoft Office package should be installed. In order for this, I believe the best option for the lab is to acquire Microsoft Windows XP Professional as main operating system for the computers. Of course the possibilities of launching Linux and Unix in educational purposes should be present as well.

Since some of the students will be interested in the subjects of applications programming, also the C++, COBOL, Visual Basic, and Java applications encoders should be installed with full network access. Detailed assignments that will be able to be accomplished include flow charting, coding, documentation, and testing of the applications. Besides the installed computer software the users of the computer lab should have supervisor-controlled access to the World Wide Web resources. In my opinion, the access to the Internet should be limited to educational purposes only (emails will be handled via a separate mail client server). In order to do that, the supervisor of the computer lab, upon request of the user, grants a timely constrained and monitored access to online resources.

Of course, the aforementioned applications and software will require rather powerful computer hardware to run. My proposal for the hardware of the computers is as follows: 24 PCs build on AMD Athlon XP 2500 + platform with frequency of 2. 2 GHz (the processors of AMD are as powerful as Intel's Pentium 4 but cost two times less). The requirements for the memory (considering the fact that computers will run Windows XP) are no less than 256 Mbytes. 20 -gigabyte hard drive storages should be enough for all of the required software. Since the computers are not intended for professional multimedia and 3 D rendering, the integrated video card will be sufficient for most of the Office applications. However some of the personal computers should be equipped with ATI or GeForce video cards with memory capacity of no less than 64 Mbytes. The rest of the systems are standard: 17 inch flat electronic or TFT matrix displays, standard 52 -speed CD-ROMs (supervisors computer should be equipped with DVD-CDRW drive), keyboards, optical mice, headphones.

In order for the successful transmission of the data between the users of the network and Internet, the newly built system will implement OSI reference model of networking. The motion of the objects (physical or logical) within the network will be processed through the layers of OSI. In case of email correspondence the layers will work in the following manner. Imagine a yung by seated at ne end f a very lng dinner table. n the ther end f the table, quite a distance away, sits the yung bys grandmother.

The youngster speaks English. The grandmother prefers t speak Spanish. The table has been set with a wonderful meal that the grandmother has prepared. Suddenly the yung by shuts at the tp f his lungs, Hey, yu! Give me the rice!

and reaches across the table t grab it. In mst places, this actin is considered quite rude. What should the yung by have dne t communicate his wishes in an acceptable manner? First there is the idea the yung by wants rice; then there is the representation f the idea speed English (instead f Spanish); next is the method f delivery Hey, yu; and finally, the medium showing (send) and grabbing (physical actin) across the table fr the rice. Frm this grup f fur layers, yu can see that three f them prevent the yung by frm communicating his idea in an appropriate / acceptable manner. The first layer (the idea) is acceptable.

The send layer (representation), using speed English instead f Spanish, and the third layer (delivery), demanding instead f a politely requesting, mst definitely d nt full acceptable social price. The fourth layer (medium), showing and grabbing frm the table rather than politely requesting assistance frm anther person seated nearby. Analytical press course when the user f the network access remote server in Internet. Having considered these recommendations we should be able to build a successfully planned network for JG 252 b computer lab.

Reference: Griffioen, Jim (2000) The OSI Network Layers, 11 Jan. , [Online], Available: web Humphrey, Watts S. (1997) Introduction to the Personal Software Process. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley. Keating, Anne B, and Joseph Hargitai. (1999) The Wired Professor: a Guide to Incorporating the World Wide Web in College Instruction. New York: New York University Press.

Research essay sample on Computer Lab Educational Purposes