Module 2

Information Technology
Concepts
Hardware
Software

Computer Systems: Integrating the

Power of Technology
Organizations must clearly understand
current and future business requirements
to make informed decision in selecting the
right hardware components of an effective
Information Systems
Computer system hardware components
include devices that perform input,
processing, data storage and output
Ref figure 3.1, Hardware Components,
page 94

Processing and Memory Devices

The components responsible for processing the
CPU and memory are housed in a system unit. All
other computer system devices, such as the
monitor, keyboard, secondary storage are linked
directly or indirectly into the system unit housing
Clock Speed = a series of electronic pulses
produced at a predetermined rate that affects
machine cycle time e.g. megahertz (MHz),
gigahertz (GHz)
Storage Capacity = byte (B) = 8 bits that together
represent a single character of data e.g. megabyte
(MB), gigabyte (GB)

Processing and Memory Devices

RAM = Random Access Memory

Volatile, contents are lost if power is interrupted

SDRAM=Static RAM for high-speed registers and caches
DRAM=Dynamic RAM for main memory in a computer
DDR SDRAM=Double Data Rate SDRAM; improved DRAM

ROM = Read-Only Memory

nonvolatile, contents are not lost if power Is interrupted
PROM=Programmable ROM to hold data and instructions that
can never be changed
EPROM=Erasable PROM can be erased and reused
EEPROM=Electrically EPROM can be erased and reprogrammed

Cache Memory = high speed memory that a processor

can access more rapidly than main memory

Secondary Storage
Devices that store large amounts of data more
permanently than allowed with main memory
Has greater capacity, is economical and nonvolatile
In addition to cost, capacity and portability, think of
security to allow only authorized people to access
sensitive data and critical programs
Data and information access can be either
sequential or direct
Sequential = data is accessed in the order in which it is
stored
Direct = data can be retrieved without the need to read
and discard other data

Secondary Storage Devices

Magnetic Secondary Storage Devices
Magnetic tape; sequential; typically storing backups
Magnetic disk; direct; fast data retrieval
RAID=Redundant Array of Independent(Inexpensive)
Disks
RAID subsystems duplicates data on drives; process is
known is Disk Mirroring
Virtual Tape; for less frequently needed data

Optical Secondary Storage Devices

Uses lasers to read and write data
CD-ROM=data cannot be modified once recorded
DVD=to store software, movies and video games

Secondary Storage Devices

Solid State Secondary Storage Devices
Stores data in memory chips
Requires less power and provide faster data access
USB=Universal Serial Bus

Enterprise Storage Options

Attached storage; connected directly to a single computer
Network-attached storage; setup with its own network add
Storage area networks (SAN); provide high-speed
connections among data-storage devices and computer
over a network across the enterprise

Storage as a Service
Data storage service provider rents space

Input and Output Devices

Provide data and instructions to the computer and receive results from it
Input devices

Personal computer input devices; keyboard and mouse

Speech recognition technology; human speech
Digital cameras
Terminals (no processing capabilities)
Scanning devices
Optical data readers
MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) devices
Magnetic stripe cards
Chip-and-PIN cards
Contactless cards
Point-of-sale (POS) devices
ATM (automated teller machine) devices
Touch-sensitive screens
Bar-code scanners
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification); microchip on retail items

Input and Output Devices

Output devices (visual, audio, digital) provide the
right information to the right person in the right
format at the right time
Output devices
Display monitors; plasma, LCD, OLED
The quality of screen image is measured by the number of
horizontal and vertical pixels used to create it.
Resolution is the total number of pixels contained in the display
The more pixels, the clearer and sharper image

Printers and plotters

Digital audio players; MP3
E-books

Computer System Types

Can be either special purpose or general purpose
Special purpose computers = for limited applications
General purpose computers = for variety of
applications; primarily business applications
Single-user system; used by one user at a time
Portable computers
Laptop, notebook, netbook, tablet, smartphone

Non-portable computers
Desktop, nettop

Multiple-users system; used by multiple concurrent users

Servers; used by many users to perform a specific task
Mainframe; used by large number of concurrent users
Supercomputers; most powerful

Green Computing
A program concerned with the efficient
and environmentally responsible design,
manufacture, operation and disposal of IS
related products
Reduce the user of hazardous material
Enable companies to lower power-related costs
and
Enable the safe disposal or recycling of app
700,000 tons of computers each year

An Overview of Software
Software is indispensable for any computer
system and the people using it
Without systems software, computers would not
be able to accept data input from a keyboard,
process data or display results
Software consists of computer programs
(sequences of instructions for the computer)
that control the workings of computer hardware
2 basic types of software
Systems software
Application software

Systems Software
Controlling the operations of computer hardware is
one of the most critical functions of systems
software
Operating systems
A set of computer programs that controls the computer
hardware and acts an interface with applications e.g. MS
Windows, Mac OS X, UNIX, Linux, Windows Server etc.
Help manage memory, system resources/security, file
management etc.

Middleware
Software that allows various systems to communicate and
exchange data; e.g. interface between the internet and
private corporate systems

Application Software
Functions performed by application software are
diverse and range from personal productivity to
business analysis
Primary function is to apply the power of the
computer to give people, workgroups and the entire
enterprise the ability to solve problems and perform
specific tasks
Proprietary software
One of a kind; designed for specific application and owned
by a company, organization or person that uses it

Off the shelf software

Mass-produced by software vendors for common purpose

Application Software
Application Service Provider (ASP)
A company that provides software, support and the
hardware on which to run the software from the users
facilities over a network
Ideal for small, fast-growing companies with limited IS resources

Software as a Service (SaaS)

SaaS provider maintain software on their own servers
and provide access to it via internet using web based UI

Cloud computing
Use of computing resources, including software and data
storage on the internet (the cloud) rather than on local
computers

Application Software
Personal Application Software
Word processing, spreadsheet, database, graphics
etc.

Mobile Application Software

Games, entertainment, music etc.

Workgroup Application Software

Supports team work whether the team members are
in the same location or dispersed around the world

Enterprise Application Software

Support and benefits entire organization
Accounts payable, automatic teller system etc.

Programming Languages
Sets of keywords, commands, symbols and a
system of rules for constructing statements by
which humans can communicate instructions to a
computer
Programming involves translating what a user
wants to accomplish into instructions that the
computer can understand and execute
Has own sets of rules (=syntax of the language)
A variable is a quantity that can take on different values
An object consists of data and the actions that can be
performed on the data
Visual and object-oriented are the common languages

Software Issues and Trends

Software bugs
Defect in a computer program that keeps it from performing as it is
designed to perform

Copyrights and licenses

When you purchase a software, you dont actually own the software but
rather are licensed to use the software
Single user, multi-user, concurrent user or site licenses

Freeware and open-source software

Freeware is software that is made available to the public for free
Adobe reader, AVG Anti-virus

Open-source software is distributed, typically for free, with the source code
also available so that it can be studied, changed or improved by its users
Linux, Open Office

Software upgrades
MS Office

Global software support