Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition Chapter 2 Hardware and Software.

Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Chapter 2 Hardware and Software

Principles and Learning Objectives

• Computer hardware must be carefully selected to meet the evolving needs of the organization and its supporting information systems– Identify and discuss the role of the essential

hardware components of a computer system– Identify the characteristics of and discuss the usage

of various classes of single-user and multiuser computer systems

Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition 2

Principles and Learning Objectives (continued)

• Systems and application software are critical in helping individuals and organizations achieve their goals– Identify and briefly describe the functions of the two

basic kinds of software– Outline the role of the operating system and identify

the features of several popular operating systems



• Organizations should not develop proprietary application software unless doing so will meet a compelling business need that can provide a competitive advantage– Discuss how application software can support

personal, workgroup, and enterprise business objectives

– Identify three basic approaches to developing application software and discuss the pros and cons of each



• Organizations should choose a programming language whose functional characteristics are appropriate for the task at hand, considering the skills and experience of the programming staff– Outline the overall evolution and importance of

programming languages and clearly differentiate among the generations of programming languages




• The software industry continues to undergo constant change; users need to be aware of recent trends and issues to be effective in their business and personal life– Identify several key software issues and trends that

have an impact on organizations and individuals


Computer Systems: Integrating the Power of Technology

• To assemble an effective and efficient system – Select and organize components while

understanding the trade-offs between overall system performance and cost, control, and complexity


Hardware Components

• Central processing unit (CPU)– Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)

• Performs calculations and makes logical comparisons

– Control unit• Sequentially accesses, decodes and coordinates data

in CPU and other devices

• Primary memory– Holds program instructions



Processing and Memory Devices: Power, Speed, and Capacity

• System unit– Houses the components responsible for processing

(the CPU and memory)

• All other computer system devices are linked either directly or indirectly into the system unit housing


Processing Characteristics and Functions

• Clock speed– Produces a series of electronic pulses produced at a

predetermined rate that affects machine cycle time

• Physical characteristics of the CPU– CPU speed is also limited by physical constraints– To turn a digital circuit on or off, electrical current

flows through silicon


Memory Characteristics and Functions

• Storage capacity– Data is stored in memory as a combination of on or

off circuit states– Eight bits together form a byte (B)

• Types of memory– Random access memory (RAM)

• Temporary and volatile

– Read-only memory (ROM)• Usually nonvolatile

Multiprocessing

• Multicore microprocessor– Shares workload among two or more independent

processors in a single computer

• Parallel processing– Speeds processing by linking several processors to

operate at the same time, or in parallel


Multiprocessing

• Grid computing– Collection of computers working to solve a common

problem

• Cloud computing– Giant cluster of computers serving as a host to run

applications that require high-performance computing


Secondary Storage and Input and Output Devices

• Secondary storage– Also called permanent storage– Nonvolatile– Greater capacity and greater economy than memory– Costs considerably less per megabyte of capacity

than SDRAM



Access Methods

• Sequential access– Data must be accessed in the order in which it is

stored

• Direct access– Data can be retrieved directly, without having to pass

by other data in sequence


Secondary Storage Devices

• Magnetic tapes– Secondary storage used primarily for backups

• Magnetic disks– Direct access secondary storage, e.g., hard disk

• RAID– Method of storing data so that if a hard drive fails,

the lost data on that drive can be rebuilt

• SAN– Provides high-speed connections between data

storage devices and computers over a network


Secondary Storage Devices (continued)

• Optical disks– Compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) with a

storage capacity of 740 MB of data

• Digital video disk (DVD)– Used to store digital video or computer data

• Flash memory– Nonvolatile silicon computer chip– Keeps its memory when the power is shut off

Input Devices

• Personal computer input devices– Keyboard, mouse

• Speech-recognition technology– Input devices that recognize human speech

• Digital cameras– Record and store images or video in digital form

• Touch-sensitive Screens– Allow display screens to function as input as well as

output devices



Input Devices (continued)

• Optical data readers– Used to scan documents

• Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) devices– System that reads data quickly

• Pen input devices– Touching the screen with a pen input device allows

you to activate a command

• Radio Frequency Identification– Transmits data by a mobile device, called a tag


Output Devices

• Display monitors (CRTs)– TV-screen-like device on which output from the

computer is displayed

• Liquid crystal displays (LCDs)– Easier on eyes; use less electricity; take up less

space than CRTs

• Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs)– Directly emits light rather than using backlight– Sharper colors and thinner displays


Output Devices (continued)

• Printers and plotters– Laser printers are generally faster than inkjet printers

and can handle more volume

• Digital audio player– Stores, organizes, and plays digital music files


Computer System Types

• Handheld computers– Single-user computers that provide ease of

portability• Ultra laptop computer

– Weighs less than three pounds (1.4 kg) – Usually targeted for use by business travelers

• Portable computers – Computer small enough to be carried easily

• Thin client– Low-cost, centrally managed computer with no extra

drives


Computer System Types (continued)

• Desktop computers– Small, inexpensive single-user computer systems

that are highly versatile

• Workstations– More powerful than personal computers but small

enough to fit on a desktop

• Servers– Computers designed for a specific task


Computer System Types (continued)

• Mainframe computer – Large, powerful computer shared by hundreds of

concurrent users

• Supercomputers– Most powerful computer systems – Has fastest processing speeds and highest

performance

Overview of Software

• Computer programs– Sequences of instructions for the computer

• Documentation– Describes program functions

• Systems software– Coordinates the activities of hardware and programs

• Application software– Helps users solve particular problems



Supporting Individual, Group, and Organizational Goals

• Sphere of influence– The scope of problems and opportunities addressed by

a particular organization

• Workgroup – Two or more people who work together to achieve a

common goal


Installing and Removing New Software

• Installing new software usually involves only a few setup steps

• When possible– Remove software using an add/remove software

utility



Systems Software

• Critical function of systems software– Controlling operations of computer hardware

• Systems software – Supports the application programs’ problem-solving

capabilities

Operating Systems

• Combinations of OSs, computers, and users– Single computer with a single user– Single computer with multiple users– Multiple computers– Special-purpose computers





Current Operating Systems

• Microsoft PC operating systems– Windows Vista released in 2007 with the goal of

providing a more secure and stable operating system

• Apple Computer Operating Systems– OSs have evolved and often provide features not

available from Microsoft

• Linux– An open-source operating system


Enterprise Operating Systems

• z/OS– IBM’s first 64-bit enterprise OS

• HP-UX and Linux– Robust UNIX-based OS– Supports Internet database



Operating Systems for Small Computers, Embedded

Computers, and Special-Purpose Devices

• Palm OS– Operating system used in over 30 million handheld

computers and smartphones• Windows Embedded

– Family of Microsoft OSs embedded into small computer devices

• Windows Mobile– Operating system designed for smartphones and

PDAs


Utility Programs

• Help to perform maintenance or correct problems with a computer system

• Help to secure and safeguard data


Application Software

• Give users the ability to solve problems and perform specific tasks

• Interact with systems software; systems software then directs the hardware to perform tasks


Types and Functions of Application Software

• Proprietary software– One-of-a-kind program for a specific application

• Off-the-shelf software– Existing software program that can be purchased

• Application service provider (ASP)– Provides the software, support, and computer

hardware on which to run the software

• Software as a service (SaaS) – Businesses subscribe to Web-delivered business

application software by paying a monthly service charge or a per-use fee






Workgroup Application Software

• Workgroup application software– Designed to support teamwork

• Groupware– Helps groups of people work together effectively




Enterprise Application Software

• Software that benefits an entire organization

• Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software– Programs that manage a company’s vital business

operations for an entire multisite, global organization


Application Software for Information, Decision Support, and Specialized

Purposes

• Available in every industry– Example: genetic researchers are using software to

visualize and analyze the human genome


Programming Languages

• Sets of symbols and rules used to write program code

• Programming– Translating what a user wants into instructions that

the computer can understand and execute



Software Issues and Trends

• Software issues – Software bugs– Copyrights and licenses– Global software support


Summary

• Hardware devices – Work together to perform input, processing, data

storage, and output

• Computer systems – Can store large amounts of data and instructions in

secondary storage

• Input and output devices – Allow users to provide data and instructions to the

computer for processing, storage, and output


Summary (continued)

• Operating system (OS)– Set of computer programs that controls the computer

hardware to support users’ computing needs

• Application software – Applies the power of the computer to solve problems

and perform specific tasks

• Approaches to developing application software – Build proprietary application software– Buy existing programs off the shelf– Combination of customized and off-the-shelf


Summary (continued)

• Programming languages– Provide instructions to a computer to perform some

processing activity

• Software issues and trends– Software bugs, software licensing and copyrighting,

software upgrades, and global software support

• Global software support – Important consideration for large, global companies

putting together standardized, company-wide systems


Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition Chapter 2 Hardware and Software.

Documents

key software issues

programming staffoutline

essential hardware components

computer systemidentify

compelling business

overall system performance

overall evolution

personal lifeidentify