Systems Analysis and Design 9th edition

Toolkit DInternet Resource Tools

Toolkit Objectives

• Describe the characteristics of the Internet and the World Wide Web

• Plan an Internet search strategy, review your information requirements, use the proper search tools and techniques, evaluate the results, and consider copyright and data integrity issues

• Use search engines, subject directories, and the invisible Web to locate the information you require

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Toolkit Objectives

• Demonstrate advanced search techniques, including Boolean logic and Venn diagrams

• Describe Internet communication channels including social networking, newsgroups, newsletters, blogs, podcasts, RSS feeds, Webinars, mailing lists, Web-based discussion groups, chat rooms, instant messaging, and text messaging

• Provide examples of IT community resources of value to a systems analyst

• Explain the benefits and disadvantages of online learning opportunities

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Introduction

• The Internet offers a wealth of information about every conceivable subject

• Will describe various Internet resources, assist you in formulating an effective information gathering strategy, and explain Internet resource tools and techniques that you can use to access the information you need

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Overview

• Internet • World Wide Web or Web• Web pages• Web site• Web server• Web browser or browser

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Planning an Internet Research Strategy

• You can use a four-step plan1. Review your information requirements2. Use the proper search tools and techniques3. Evaluate the results4. Consider copyright and data integrity issues

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Planning an Internet Research Strategy

• Step 1. Review Your Information Requirements– The first step to finding information online is to

make sure you really understand what you are seeking

– Start with a more generalized search instead of going directly to vendor sites

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Planning an Internet Research Strategy

• Step 2. Use the Proper Search Tools and Techniques– Once you feel that you understand the

information required, it is time to pick an initial tool

– As with most skills, the more you use them, the more expertise you acquire

– Will develop your own list of favorite tools and resources

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Planning an Internet Research Strategy

• Step 3. Evaluate the Results– Questions to ask when accessing content include:• Source• Accuracy• Scope - Sub-search• Currency• Look and Feel

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Planning an Internet Research Strategy

• Step 4. Consider Copyright and Data Integrity Issues– You must ensure that you legally can use the

material, and that the content is safe and free of threats

– Malware– If the information is legally usable and safe, you

can save it to your hard drive or network, depending on the content and purpose

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Search Basics

• You will use various navigation tools and techniques

• Search Engines• Meta-search engines• Subject Directories – Topic directory

• The Invisible Web– Deep Web or hidden Web

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Search Engines

• Search Engine Concepts– Spider or crawler– Indexing– Keywords– Hits– Pay per performance

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Search Engines

• Search Engine Concepts– Sponsored links– You usually can determine an engine’s approach

by clicking the About tab or link on the search site– Indexed Search Engines– Meta-Search Engines

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Search Engines

• Search Techniques– Consider the following suggestions • Refine your topic• Translate your question into an effective search query• Review the search results and evaluate the quality of

the results• It is important to organize the results of your search

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Search Engines

• Advanced Search Techniques

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Search Engines

• Advanced Search Techniques– OR– AND– NOT• You should use the NOT operator carefully, because the

term you want to exclude may be intertwined with the term you seek in many documents that would be useful to you

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Search Engines

• Advanced Search Techniques– Using phrases• Phrase• Implied Boolean logic

– Using fill-in forms• Advanced search

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Search Engines

• Search Checklist– Does the topic have any unique words, phrases, or

acronyms?– Do any of the search terms have other spellings or

names?– Are certain additional words or phrases likely to

appear in any Web document?

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Search Engines

• Search Checklist– Is there any unrelated material that my search

terms might pick up?– Are any organizations, publications, or institutions

likely to have an interest in my topic?– Is the search returning results too numerous to

examine?

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Subject Directories

• A subject directory collects and organizes Web sites in a top-down format

• Portal• Many subject directories are reviewed by

human experts, rather than computer robots, to ensure relevance and quality of links

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Subject Directories

• A Subject Directory Example

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Subject Directories

• Advantages and Disadvantages of Subject Directories– The main advantage of a subject directory is that it

provides an overview– Many subject directories use human expertise – This process involves subjective decisions – A subject directory forces you to work your way

through a series of levels, rather than using specific words and phrases to directly locate the material you seek

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The Invisible Web

• Visible Web• Much more information is available on the

Internet that is not indexed• Much of the invisible Web is open to the

public, but some databases are password protected

• Many sites allow guest access, but some areas can be accessed only by members

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The Invisible Web

• Invisible Web Examples– Specialized topic databases– Hardware and software vendors– Publications– Libraries

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The Invisible Web

• Invisible Web Examples– Government databases– Auction sites– Locators– Career opportunities

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The Invisible Web

• Navigation Tools for the Invisible Web– Use a search engine to locate a portal– Using specialized portals – You might want to use special navigation software

to assist you

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Internet Communication Channels

• Suppose that you are asked to analyze your organization’s virus protection requirements

• As part of your research you would want to learn about relevant news, developments, and the latest virus threats

• You can consider using social networking sites, newsgroups, newsletters, blogs, podcasts, RSS feeds, Webinars, mailing lists, Web-based discussion groups, chat rooms, and instant messaging

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Internet Communication Channels

• Social Networking– Many people use these communication channels

along with more traditional choices, such as e-mail, blogs, chat rooms, and instant messaging

– Social networking allows you to connect to an extended family of personal and professional contacts

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Internet Communication Channels

• Newsgroups– Usenet– Threads– Newsreader– FAQs– Netiquette

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Internet Communication Channels

• Newsletters, Blogs, and Podcasts– Subscribers can listen to the recorded material

anywhere, anytime• RSS Feeds– Really Simple Syndication– RSS feed, Web Feed– RSS reader, feed reader, aggregator

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Internet Communication Channels

• RSS Feeds– Notice the important

caution regarding the use of the content

• Webinar– A prerecorded Webinar

session also can be delivered as a Webcast

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Internet Communication Channels

• Mailing Lists– Listserv– Users can post messages and view postings made

by others– A mailing list uses e-mail to communicate with

users– List server– Digest

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Internet Communication Channels

• Web-Based Discussion Groups– Web-based discussion groups can be accessed

through portals– In addition to text messages, group Web sites

often include membership lists and contact information, photo galleries, and links of interest to members

– Web-based discussion groups are popular

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Internet Communication Channels

• Chat Rooms– Channel– IRC – Internet Relay Chat– Various companies also

provide chat rooms that are available to IT professionals interested in specific topics

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Internet Communication Channels

• Instant Messaging and Text Messaging– Although instant messaging began as a popular

feature in home-oriented services such as AOL and Yahoo!, it has become an important business communication tool

– Raises serious security and privacy concerns because it is relatively uncontrolled

– Texting

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Information Technology Community Resources

• Information technology (IT) community• This vast collection includes many sites that IT

professionals can use to research specific questions or obtain background information

• Four important components of the IT community are corporate resources, government resources, professional resources, and online learning resources

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Information Technology Community Resources

• Corporate Resources– An important corporate resource to systems

analysts is their own internal company Web site or intranet

– An intranet must be easy to access and provide access to valuable information

– Intranets can contain company policies and procedures, lessons-learned files, and financial information

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Information Technology Community Resources

• Government Resources

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Information Technology Community Resources

• Professional Resources– Many associations focus on a specific topic– Information Technology Association of America

(ITAA) – Many associations offer electronic newsletters

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Information Technology Community Resources

• Online Learning Resources– Advances in bandwidth and processing power

have made online learning an increasingly attractive option for many IT professionals

– Online learning – e-learning– Can take many forms– Need to think about your personal learning

preferences

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Information Technology Community Resources

• Online Learning Resources– Benefits of online learning• Convenient• Economical• Customizable

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Information Technology Community Resources

• Online Learning Resources– Disadvantages of online learning• Interaction• Interface• Suitability

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Toolkit Summary

• The Internet is a worldwide network that integrates many thousands of other networks

• An Internet research strategy should use a four-step approach

• The primary research tools include search engines, subject directories, and a collection of searchable database resources called the invisible Web

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Toolkit Summary

• The IT community includes corporate, government, professional, and online learning resources

• Professional development through online learning is a way for IT workers to remain current in their chosen areas

• Online learning is convenient, economical, and customizable

• Toolkit D complete

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