BTEC NCF Dip in Comp - Unit 02 Fundamentals of Computer Systems
Lesson 04 – Requirements Analysis
Mr C Johnston
Starter
• What is a requirements specification?
• What are the key questions you need to find out from
users so that you can complete a requirements
specification?
5 minutes
End
Learning Outcome
• Know key considerations to be taken into account when
developing a requirements specification
• Analyse the requirements of a computer system for
given scenarios
Key Findings to Establish
• Tasks that need to be performed by the user
• Tasks that need to be performed by the computer system
• Inputs required and method of input e.g. scanners,
sensors, keypads
• Outputs required and method of output e.g. onscreen
messages, printouts, motors, lights
• User needs, e.g. accessibility requirements, size/weight
limitations for system
• Customisation required, e.g. users, profiles, file and folder
security
Key Considerations
• Cost
▫ Cheap as chips vs reliability
▫ Backup support
• User requirements
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Operating system
Application software
Networking
Support
Outputs required and in what format
Integration with other systems
Processing power
Storage capacity
Accessibility for disabled users
IT competence of the intended users
Training requirements
Often there will be some form
of compromise when
recommending the system
which suits the organisation
the best
User Requirements Example
Edit video
Edit Sounds
Edit graphics
DVD
“Humphrey is a retired art Compile
teacher
who is thinking of setting up a business filming
Send/receive email
peoples weddings, and producing
a souvenir
Maintain financial
records DVDs from the footage taken. He will
Produce
DVD covers
the video clips, add titles and
music
to make a professional product. The DVDs will
User Tasks
edit
Encode
DVD he proposes to make. Artwork, sound effects and
also needSystem
high Tasks
quality cover
which
Auto check email
music for the DVDs could come
from a variety of sources including the internet.
File handling tasks
Bookings could also be made by email and his accounts will need taking care off so he
Video – digital camera
can trackInput
income and outgoings.”
He has
you for help deciding on a
Sounds – internet
/ midiasked
/ microphone
computer.
Graphics – internet / scanner / graphics tablet, digital camera
Covers – Printer high quality colour
What Output
are his userDVD
requirements?
DVD Disc – DVD/R Drive – multiple copies
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Import video from his camera
Edit video, sound, graphics, encode DVD, Burn DVD, financial calculations
EditProcessing
wedding video footage, add titles and music,
Video, into
sound,DVD
graphics,
finished adding
DVDs, covers,
accounts,
Compile
format
titles
and emails,
effects,
Storagethe edited video
Edit sound effects and music for the DVDs which will be added, to the DVDs,
Doesn’t need to be portable
needs
PutUser
completed
DVD files
onto
DVD
and
multiple copies,
Retired
– old!!!
Not sure
on burn
his IT ability!!
Internet
connection
Manipulate graphics for
DVD
titles and covers,
Import
graphics fromBusiness
photos
and
hand
logo
as wall
paper?drawn artwork,
Customisation
Screenoutput
saver,
Produce DVD covers and
them in high quality colour print,
Folder structure to organise work?
Connect to the internet so emails can be viewed and resources downloaded,
Keep track of his business finances.
Inputs and Outputs Example
• It is important for each requirement that you fully identify
the input, storage, processing and output requirements
“Humphrey needs a computer to edit his own video and burn
them to DVD”
DATA INPUTTED
• Raw video – from camera using USB / Firewire
• Instructions of how to edit the videos – keyboard / mouse
• Text for the credits and titles - keyboard
STORAGE
• Raw video
• Video project
• Final video
PROCESSING
• Edit video
• Encode final video to DVD format
• Burn final video to DVD
DATA OUTPUTTED
• Finished edited video in file format
• Finished edited video on DVD – via DVD burner
Activity
• Analyse the paragraph below and list the user requirements
• Develop a table to summarise the main findings
• Remember to clearly think about the input, storage,
processing and output requirements
“John Waine is student who has just started his A-Levels. His parents have
decided to purchase him a computer to assist with his studies but are unsure what
exactly to buy or how to configure it. John has decided to study ICT, Art/Design
and German A-Levels at college and is a dedicated fan and player of online game
RuneScape and also talks to friends via email. At weekends John is an active
member of the local Conservative Party and spends his time campaigning about
local issues by handing out flyers in town, which he has designed. His other
hobbies include photography, making his own music, playing computer games and
making home movies – his favourite band is girls allowed. John uses the Office
2010 suite at college.”
Activity
• Down load the Wee Promote Scenario
• Analyse the scenario and list the user requirements
• Develop a table to summarise the main findings clearly
thinking about the input, storage, processing and output
requirements
Moving Forward
• This flowchart indicates the
entire process of specifying a
computer system for a client…
Hardware / Software Requirements1
As a starting point… Think about which requirement demands the most
system resources and list the requirements
“Edit wedding video footage, add titles and music”
Hardware / Software Requirements based on user requirements:
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A fast processor to handle the demands of editing video,
A large hard disk drive to store video files which are notoriously large,
A substantial amount of RAM that will support the demands of the video editing,
A separate graphics card which is capable of reproducing quality HD graphics at a
good rendering speed,
A sound card so the system can reproduce the sound (integrated will be fine),
An over standard size monitor so he can easily and clearly see to edit the video,
Speakers so that sound can be heard
An operating system which is capable of supporting all the hardware and allowing
the required tasks to be performed
Software which allows videos to be edited in a variety of different methods to
produce professional finished results including the adding of titles and special
effects,
Sound editing software so sound effects and music can be edited before being
adding to the video,
Multimedia Keyboard so text for titles within the video can be added,
Optical mouse to control the computer and run commands
Hardware / Software Requirements2
Take each further requirement in turn and compare the need to what is
on the list so far. Amend / add to the list so the requirement is satisfied
“Create his own music”
Hardware / Software Requirements based on user requirements:
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A fast processor to handle the demands of editing video
A large hard disk drive to store video files which are notoriously large,
A substantial amount of RAM that will support the demands of the video editing,
A separate graphics card which is capable of reproducing quality HD graphics at a good
rendering speed,
A sound card so the system can reproduce the sound (integrated will be fine),
A separate surround sound card which reproduces true audio with good frequency range
An over standard size monitor so he can easily and clearly see to edit the video,
Speakers so that sound can be heard
Good quality surround sound speakers
An operating system which is capable of supporting all the hardware and allowing the required
tasks to be performed
Software which allows videos to be edited in a variety of different methods to produce
professional finished results including the adding of titles and special effects,
Sound editing software so sound effects and music can be edited before being adding to the
video,
Multimedia Keyboard so text for titles within the video can be added,
Optical mouse to control the computer and run commands
Software
• Within our analysis we need to suggest a type of software
application that is required to meet the user requirement
• At this stage it is just the types of software needed - The
actual software applications will be specified later
What software categories can you think of?
• Generic categories which software can be placed into include
▫ Graphic manipulation, web browser, video editing, sound editing,
Spreadsheet, operating system, antivirus, database, word processor,
DTP, language translation
Activity
• Based upon John Waines user requirements produce a list of
his generic hardware and software requirements
“John Waine is student who has just started his A-Levels. His parents have
decided to purchase him a computer to assist with his studies but are unsure what
exactly to buy or how to configure it. John has decided to study ICT, Art/Design
and German A-Levels at college and is a dedicated fan and player of online game
RuneScape and also talks to friends via email. At weekends John is an active
member of the local Conservative Party and spends his time campaigning about
local issues by handing out flyers in town, which he has designed. His other
hobbies include photography, making his own music, playing computer games and
making home movies – his favourite band is girls allowed. John uses the Office
2010 suite at college.”