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COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

Computer Technology
Michael Elston
Edward Brown
Week 3
March 3, 2015

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
Qn.1
OASIS refers to the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information
Standards. Standards are important in every professional field. Doctors, Nurses, Engineers,
Accountants and all other professions have standards. These standards propose a common way of
carrying out tasks so as to ensure commonality. OASIS is tasked with the responsibility of
developing standards that are fair and that bring out the professional touch in the field of
informatics. Oasis sets different studies that have created a difference in the field of computing
and networking (Brookshear, 2000).
Some of the notable differences in the standards set include:
Openness in the process of setting standards. Agencies are usually invited to comment on
whether a standard conforms to patterns of openness and fairness. The process of ensuring
fairness brings out standards that are stable, high quality and which ensure vendor neutrality.
OASIS believes that the best standards ensure:
Transparency. This means that there is reasonable access to the contributions and working
materials. This also helps to avoid single-source risks. OASIS not only allows public
participation in the development of standards but also other relevant institutions. For instance,
federal agencies are involved so that they may comment on developed standards. The major
reason for this is to protect the interests of the public. It would not make sense to develop

standards that do not serve the clients in the right way. Agency involvement also means direct
government participation (Covington, 1991).
Permeability and Heterogeneity. This attracts a wide range of views because they are
accessible and hence people can reach them. Documentation ad structure is also easy to
understand and find. Proper ownership and leadership. Standards that have hosts who are
reputable with appropriate IPR terms have likelihood of withdrawal or being faced out. This
gives an assurance of long term returns since they are more permanent hence their advantages
can be experienced in the long run.
They comply with the law. Currently there have been no differences with agencies such as US
antitrust and fair trade organizations. This ensures that the body is trustworthy and competent
enough (Covington, 1991).
Conformance and Operability. OASIS has been having close working relations with NIST on
promoting conformance. OASIS requires that final specifications obtain statements of usage
form the implementer. Testable conformance clause is also included. OASIS believe in creating
openness and reliable support.
Q n. 2
A thin client is designed to be small so that the much of data processing takes place on
the server. This term often refers to software. However, it is also increasingly used for computers
e.g. network computers and Net PCs. A thin network refers to a network computer which does
not have a hard drive. It acts as a simple terminal to the server. It needs constant communication
with the server.

Thin clients provide a desktop experience in work leaning towards tasks in which the end user
has regular number of tasks which the system works on. Thin clients are found in schools, call
centers, medical centers (Association for Computing Machinery, 1999)
Advantages of Thin clients:
They are easy to install and use. They do not require installation of additional software.
The system is portable in that applications are accessible by any workstation since they are on
the server, there is the opportunity to use older outdated PCs as clients, and the systems ensures
reduced threats on security.
Disadvantages:
The systems need to validate with the server after data has been captured. This means that
if the server breaks down or slows down, the process of collection of data is halted.
The server specifies the clients to run, requires more downtime, and thin clients.
In comparison:
A thick client performs the larger tasks of the processing in client/server applications. These
systems needs no continuous server communications. This is because it mainly communicates
archival storage information to the server. It therefore provides functionalities independent of the
server (Brookshear, 2000).
Advantages:
Only needs intermittent communication with server. This reduces time wastage. Results
come in fast, immediate validation of data, the client verifies the data, it can store files and
information, and Applications can also be stored. It has also reduced server demands. The client
hence can save more on maintenance and other related costs.
Disadvantages:

They are more expensive to install and use.

Data is verified by the client and not the server. Correctness may therefore be an issue here.
It provides more efficient uptime
It requires greater investment in terms of resources but less servers.
It has more security threats (Association for Computing Machinery, 1999).

References
Association for Computing Machinery. (1999). Intelligence. (Intelligence.) New York, NY:
Association of Computing Machinery.
Brookshear, J. G. (2000). Computer science: An overview. Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley.
Computer science. (2008). Berlin: Springer.
Covington, M. A. (1991). Computer science. New York: Barron's.