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Chapter 2

Essentials of Computing

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CSIS-116: Survey of Information Technology

• This week’s Agenda– Finish Chapter 1– Start Chapter 2

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Hardware: Computing, Storing and CommunicationDefinition (Continued)

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Hardware

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Hardware

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Hardware: Input Devices

• Input Devices– Keyboards– Point-of-sale terminals– Mouse– Image scanners– Bar code scanners and wands– Microphones– Prerecorded sources

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Hardware: Input Devices

• Instead of thinking about input devices as computer components,

• Think of input devices as part of a business processes.

• Used to Capture information?• What are the 5 other functions of IT?

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Hardware: Input Devices

• Input Devices

– Bar Code: A computer-readable code consisting of bars or lines of varying widths or lengths.

– Wand: An input device used to read a bar code and input this information directly into a computer.

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Hardware: Processing

• Processor (CPU): A set of electronic circuits that perform the computer’s processing actions.

• Chip: A collection of electronic components in a very small, self-contained package.

• System Board (Mother Board): The system unit in a microcomputer, located on a board mounted on the bottom of a computer base.

• Primary Storage (Main Memory or RAM): Storage within the computer itself. Primary memory holds data only temporarily, as the computer executes instructions.

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Hardware: Output Devices

• Output Devices:– Control a printer– Direct a display– Control another device– Generate sounds– Initiate transmission of information

• Which of the six IT Functions primarily uses output Devices?

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Hardware: Secondary Storage Devices

• Secondary Storage (Auxiliary Storage):– Diskettes– Zip Disks– Hard Disks– Optical Disks– Magnetic Tape

• Which of the six IT Functions primarily uses output Devices?

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Hardware: Secondary Storage Devices

• Magnetic Disks: A general term referring to two types of storage disk: the flexible/floppy disk and the hard disk.

• Zip Disks: Similar to diskettes, but housed in a hard plastic case. These disks can store 70 to 175 times more and can store and retrieve data more quickly than diskettes.

• Read Only: A type of disk that information can be read from but not written onto.

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Hardware: Secondary Storage Devices

• CD-ROM disk: Short for “compact disk – read only memory,” an optical storage medium that permits storage of large amounts of information. CD-ROM disks can only be written to and cannot be erased.

• DVD: What is the difference between CD-ROMs and DVDs

• CDRW: What does it stand for? What is the real difference?

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Hardware: Peripheral Equipment

• Peripheral Equipment: A general term used for any device that is attached to a computer system.

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Programs

• Program: – A set of instructions that directs a computer to

perform certain tasks.

• Software: – Same as a program (jargon)

• Operating System: – Program that controls a computer’s programs and

hardware/peripheral devices. • Windows• UNIX• Linus• Mac OS

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Programs: Software Packages

• Software Package: – An application that focuses on a particular subject,

such as word processing, and is sold to businesses and the general public.

• Software Suite:– A combination of software packages sold together.– The packages are often integrated

• Documentation: – An instruction manual that accompanies software.

Also, a technical, detailed written description of the specific facts of a program.

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Programs: Software Packages

• Spreadsheet: Excel, Lotus123, Visicalc– Row column tabulation. – Useful for doing calclations and generating

information for raw data– Not useful for storing tons of data

• Database: Access, Oracle, Sybase– Manages data – (usually) in relational tables– Can do calculations– Useful for storing large amounts of data

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Programs: Software Packages

• Word Processing: Word, WordPerfect, Adobe FrameMaker– Formatting text documents– Often integrated with spreadsheets

• Desktop Publishing: QuarkXpress, Adobe PageMaker– Same as Word Processing but more features for– Page layouts– Integrated graphics

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Programs: Software Packages

• Graphics Presentation Program: PowerPoint, Harvard Graphics– Emphasis on integrating graphics, images, charts,

for live presentation.

• Photo Editing Program:Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro– Editing existing photos or images

• Illustration Program:Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, FreeHand– Emphasis on drawing/illustrating original

compositions

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Programs: Software Packages

Things not mentioned in the book• Web Publishing/Website Management:

Dreamweaver, FrontPage, Adobe GoLive– Editing HTML documents– Creating web page content and navigation– Managing website structure

• Messaging, Calendaring and Scheduling:• Outlook, Lotus Notes

– Group calendaring and scheduling– Client contact database– etc.

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Programs: Software Packages

Things not mentioned in the book• Accounting Software:

PeachTree, MAS90, Quickbooks– Technical/Organization Diagrams, Flow Charts, Ect.

• Audio Editing– Acid Wave Audio, CakeWalk

• Video Editing:Adobe Premiere, Apple iLife, Roxio VideoWave– For creating web graphics

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Programs: Software Packages

Weird Software• Microsoft Visio:

– Technical/Organization Diagrams, Flow Charts, Ect.

• Microsoft Project:– organizing, tracking, and maintaining budget control

of projects.

• Macromedia Fireworks:– For creating web graphics

• Macromedia Flash:– For creating web movies

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Programs: Software Packages

• Information System or Management Information System (MIS): A business information system designed to produce the information needed for successful management of a structured problem, process, department, or business.

• Transaction Processing: A shared business information system that uses a combination of information technology and manual procedures to process data and information and to manage transactions.

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Programs: Software Packages

• Software Trends– Greater use of prewritten software packages.– Greater user of prewritten components.

• Object-oriented Programming: – Software development combining data and

procedures into a single object.

• Object: – A component that contains data about itself and how

it is to be processed.

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Information

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People

• User (End User): The people who uses IT in their jobs or personal lives.– Hands-on users– Indirect end users– User managers– Senior managers

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People

• Information Technology Professional: A person who is responsible for acquiring, developing, maintaining, or operating the hardware associated with computers and communications networks.– Programmers– Systems Analysts– System Designers– Web Designers– Project Managers– Network Specialists– Trainers– Computer Operators

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People

• Programmer/Analyst: – A person who has joint responsibility for

determining system requirements and developing and implementing the systems.

• Data Center (Computer Center): – A facility at which large and midrange

computer systems are located. These systems are shared by many users who are interconnected with the system through communications links.

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People

• Computer Engineer: – An IT professional who designs, develops,

and oversees the manufacturing of computer equipment.

• Systems Engineer: – An IT professional who installs and

maintains hardware.

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Procedures

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Procedures

• Operations Procedure: – A procedure that describes how a computer system

or application is used, how often it can be used, who is authorized to use it, and where the results of processing should go.

• Backup Procedure: – A procedure that describes how and when to make

extra copies of information or software to protect against losses.

• Recovery Procedure: – An action taken when information or software must

be restored.

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Procedures

• Security Procedure: – A procedure designed to safeguard data centers,

communications networks, computers, and other IT components from accidental intrusion or intentional damage.

• Security Software: – Software that is designed to protect systems and

data.• Development Procedure:

– A procedure that explains how IT professionals should describe user needs and develop applications to meet those needs.

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Systems

• System: – A set of components that interact to

accomplish a purpose.

• Single-User System (Personal Computer): – An IT system used by only one person. A

system that stands alone and is not interconnected with other companies or shared by other people.

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Systems

• Multi-user System: – A communication system in which more

than one user share hardware, programs, information, people, and procedures.

• To share a computer• To share hardware• To share software• To share information• To share communications

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Information Processing

• Capture– Input– Cut & Paste– Upload/Download

• Uploading: The process by which information is sent from a PC to a mainframe.

• Downloading: The transfer of information from a central system to a desktop computer.

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Information Processing

• Processing– Compute– Update

• Batch Processing: The grouping and processing of all transactions at one time.

• Real-time Processing: The processing of each transaction as it occurs.

– Classify– Sort– Summarize

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Information Processing

• Generate– Output– Print– Display– Issue

• Transmit– Email– Also

• Uploading• Downloading

• Storage and Retrieval– Inquire– Save– Store– Retrieve