Transcript BICS263 Introduction to Computer Information Systems

ISYS 263
Introduction to Information
Systems
David Chao
Information Technology
• Support day-to-day business operations
• Create innovative ways of doing business
– Example: Travel
• Searching for flights, hotels
– Yahoo Travel, Expedia
• Making reservations
– United Airelines- http://www.united.com/
– Select your seats
– Web check-In
• Mobile check-in with web-enabled mobile phones :
– http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_INTL/manageyourtrip/m
obileservices/mobilecheckin
– Save your check-in confirmation with the barcode on your
mobile device
Supermarket Smart Cart
• Stop & Shop, a chain based in the Boston area, is
seeking to change the whole way we shop for
groceries — including the dreaded check-out lane.
– Shopping Buddy: a wireless touch-screen device that is
attached to a shopping cart and scans items placed in
the cart by shoppers.
– IBM Everywhere Display: Beamed from the
supermarket ceiling, this device transforms surface into
an interactive computer. In a supermarket, you will be
likely to confront it on the floor, where you can access
information by tapping your foot on the display.
• Video: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/5465603#5465603
•
Website: http://www.stopandshop.com
IT and Daily Life
• Entertainment
• Communication
• Social networking
Information Age
• Information Age/society:
– the majority of workers are involved in the creation,
distribution, and application of information.
– Knowledge worker
• President Obama’s website:
– http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president_obama/
– http://twitter.com/barackobama
– Businesses depend on information technology to get their
work done.
Digital Entrepreneur
• People who develop new technologies.
– Search engines, map, browser, etc.
• People who use the technologies innovatively.
– Netflix
• http://www.netflix.com/
Why study information systems?
• An end-user perspective
– Enhance personal productivity, and the
productivity of their work groups and
department.
– Increase your opportunities for success:
• be aware of the management problems and
opportunities presented by the information
technology.
Why study information systems?
• An enterprise perspective: Information
systems play a vital role in the success of
an enterprise.
– Efficient operations
– Effective management
– Competitive advantage
Business Are Becoming Internetworked
Enterprises
• The internet and Internet-like networks (intranets and
extranets) have become the primary information
technology infrastructure that supports the business
operations of many organizations.
• Electronic commerce:
– The buying and selling, and marketing and servicing of
products, services, and information over a variety of computer
networks.
• Globalization:
– Global markets, global production facilities, global partners,
global competitors, global customers.
The Role of Information Systems in Business Today
Information Technology Capital Investment
Information technology investment, defined as hardware,
software, and communications equipment, grew from 34% to 50%
between 1980 and 2004.
Source: Based on data in U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic
Analysis, National Income and Product Accounts, 2006.
Techies might finally be able to
move into top management
• More Chief Information Officers (CIOs)
are reporting directly to CEOs.
• More CIOs are being included on
management committees.
• In a recent survey of executives at capital
market firms, 89% believed that
technology managers would assume
greater responsibilities.
Course Introduction
• IT – Introduction to information technology
– Computer hardware, software, network
• IS – Introduction to information systems
– Information system components
– Types of information systems
– Social impact of information systems
• PC – personal computing
– Problem solving techniques
• expression, problem solving using functions, decision, etc.
• spreadsheet design
– Introduction to database
– Internet techniques
• Creating web pages
Computer-Based Information
Systems
• A set of hardware, software, databases,
telecommunications, people, and procedures
that are configured to collect, manipulate,
store, and process data into information.
Data, Information, and Knowledge
• Data
– Raw facts
• Information
– Collection of facts organized in such a way that they have
meaningful, and useful interpretation of data.
• Process
– Set of logically related tasks
• Knowledge
– Awareness and understanding of a set of information
– Insight of a subject matter.
Data, Information, and Knowledge
(continued)
Data, Information, and Knowledge
(continued)
Data and Information
Raw data from a supermarket checkout counter can be processed and
organized to produce meaningful information, such as the total unit
sales of dish detergent or the total sales revenue from dish detergent for
a specific store or sales territory.
The Value of Information
• Directly linked to how it helps decision
makers achieve their organization’s goals
• Valuable information
– Can help people and their organizations
perform tasks more efficiently and effectively
Hardware
• Input devices
• CPU and primary storage
– RAM – Random Access Memory
– Processor
• Control Unit - decoder
• Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU)
• Output devices
• Secondary storage devices
• Communication devices
Computer System Concept
Types of Main Memory
• Random access memory (RAM)
– Temporary and volatile
• Read-only memory (ROM)
– Nonvolatile
– Provides permanent storage for data and
instructions that do not change
• Cache memory
– High-speed memory that a processor can access
more rapidly than main memory
Multiprocessing
• Multiprocessing
– Simultaneous execution of two or more
instructions at the same time
• Coprocessor
– Examples: math coprocessor, graphics
coprocessor
• Multicore microprocessor
– Combines two or more independent processors
into a single computer
– Example: Intel Dual Core processor
Parallel Computing
• Parallel computing
– Simultaneous execution of the same task on
multiple processors to obtain results faster
• Massively parallel processing
– Systems with thousands of such processors
• Grid computing
– Use of a collection of computers to work in a
coordinated manner to solve a common
problem
Secondary Storage Devices
• Offers the advantages of nonvolatility and
greater capacity
–
–
–
–
–
Magnetic tapes
Magnetic disks
RAID
Optical disks
Digital video disk (DVD)
RAID
• RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive
Disks):
– Arrays of disk drives that provides a fault
tolerant capability by storing multiple copies of
data on several disks.
• Mirroring
Storage Tradeoffs
3-26
Storage Network
• Storage Area Network, SAN:
– A storage area network is an architecture to
attach remote computer storage devices to
servers in such a way that the devices appear as
locally attached to the operating system.
Newer Input Devices
•
•
•
•
Speech-recognition technology
Scanning devices
Optical data readers
Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR)
devices
• Magnetic stripe card
• Point-of-sale devices
• Radio frequency identification (RFID)
Radio Frequency Identification
• RFID is a system for tagging and identifying objects.
– Antenna to send and receive signals.
– RFID reader
• Applications:
– An alternative to bar code
• Supermarket
– Tracking objects
A few interesting RFID applications
– RFID tags help you to choose clothes
• http://blogs.zdnet.com/emergingtech/?p=719
– Ford embeds RFID tech into new trucks and
vans
• http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do
?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9061580
&intsrc=hm_list
– Digital watermark to prevent counterfeit:
• http://www.eetasia.com/ART_8800492623_480800
_NP_6d6f04ae.HTM
– Others:
• http://www.rfidexchange.com/
RFID
Types of Computer Systems
• Micro/Minicomputers
– Personal computing, workstation,network server.
– Departmental and workgroup systems, network server, workstation.
• Mainframes
– Speed: MIPS million instructions per second
• 26 MIPS to about 17,801 MIPS
– Enterprisewide systems
– for organizations have to deal with huge amounts of data. Giga-record
or tera-record files are not unusual.
– Data mining and warehousing
• Supercomputers
– Speed: Floating-point operations per second
• 20 peta flops
– Supercomputers are often purpose-built for one or a very few specific
institutional tasks (E.g. Simulation and Modeling).
– Scientific calculations
• Networked computer systems
– WAN, LAN, PAN
Personal Area Network
• A personal area network (PAN) is a computer
network used for communication among computer
devices (including telephones and personal digital
assistants) close to one person. The devices may or
may not belong to the person in question. The reach
of a PAN is typically a few meters.
• BlueTooth: It is an industrial specification for
wireless PANs. Bluetooth provides a way to connect
and exchange information between devices such as
mobile phones, laptops, PCs, printers, digital
cameras and video game consoles via a short-range
radio frequency.
Data Center
• Google, Microsoft Data Center
– Petabytes of storage
– Data Center Containers:
• http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/catego
ry/technology/containers/
– Global locations:
• http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2008/
03/27/google-data-center-faq/
• Tour:
– Google: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRwPSFpLX8I
– Microsoft: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPnoKb9fTkA
Where to put data center?
• The cost of electric power, labor, taxes and
land are key factors when choosing a data
center location.
– http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/30080
9/Low_Cost_Locations?taxonomyId=155&ints
rc=kc_feat&taxonomyName=servers
– http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=6ECF9E5617A4-0F78-31EAB0750688E73E#
Moore’s Law
• A doubling in the number of transistors per
integrated circuit every 18 to 24 months
– Originally observed in 1965, it holds true today
• Common corollary of Moore’s Law…
– Computing prices will be cut in half every 18 to
24 months
– This has been consistently accurate
– Applies to cost of storage as well
Software
• System software
– Set of programs that coordinates the activities
and functions of hardware and programs
– Operating system
• Application software
– Helps users solve particular problems
– University’s registration system
• Application development software
Supporting Individual, Group, and
Organizational Goals (continued)
Operating system functions
– User interface: Allows individuals to access and
command the computer system
• Command interface
• GUI
– Resource management (managing
hardware)
– Task management (managing the
accomplishment of tasks)
– File management (managing data and
program files)
– Utilities (providing a variety of supporting
services)
Current Operating Systems (continued)
Linux and Open Source
• A Linux system is sometimes referred to as
GNU/Linux.
– GNU – free software
• Linux has been more widely ported to different
computing platforms than any other operating
system.
• Linux is the most prominent example of free
software and of open source development. Its
underlying source code is available for anyone to
use, modify, and redistribute freely, and in some
instances the entire operating system consists of
free/open source software.
Free Software: http://www.gnu.org/
• “Free software” is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand
the concept, you should think of “free” as in “free speech”, not
as in “free beer”.
• Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy,
distribute, study, change and improve the software. More
precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the
software:
• The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
• The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to
your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a
precondition for this.
• The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your
neighbor (freedom 2).
• The freedom to improve the program, and release your
improvements to the public, so that the whole community
benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition
for this.
Open-Source Software
Operating Systems for Mobile Devices
• Mobile devices:
– Pocket PC/PDA
– Smartphones
– Portable media center
• Smartphone Operating systems, the most
important software in any smartphone:
http://communication.howstuffworks.com/smartphone2.htm
–
–
–
–
–
Windows Mobile, Windows CE
Palm OS
Symbian OS for Nokia
iOS for iPhone/iPad
Android for Google phone
Virtualization
• Virtualization is a technology that makes it possible to run
multiple operating systems and multiple applications on the
same computer at the same time, increasing the utilization
and flexibility of hardware.
– Average server utilization rate – 10%
• Reduce costs
• Green computing
• A virtual machine is a software container that can run its
own operating systems and applications as if it were a
physical computer. A virtual machine behaves exactly like
a physical computer and contains its own virtual (ie,
software-based) CPU, RAM hard disk and network
interface card (NIC). An operating system can’t tell the
difference between a virtual machine and a physical
machine, nor can applications or other computers on a
network.
• Vendors: VMware, Parallels, etc.
Programming Languages
• Sets of keywords, symbols, and a system of
rules for constructing statements
– By which humans can communicate instructions to
be executed by a computer
• Program code
– Set of instructions that signal the CPU to perform
circuit-switching operations
• Syntax
– Set of rules associated with a programming
language
The Evolution of Programming Languages
Application development software
High level language
– third generation:
• Java, VB.Net, C++, COBOL, etc.
– fourth generation
• Word processing, desktop publishing,
spreadsheet, database management, graphic
presentation, etc.
– MS Office
– OpenOffice.Org
» http://www.openoffice.org/
Compiler
• Translator: Translate the source program to
machine executable code.
• Interpreter: Translate one command at a
time.
– JavaScript
The Evolution of Programming Languages
(continued)
Object-oriented development tools
–
–
–
–
Graphical user interface
Component programming
Event-driven programming
Code generator/Wizard
• Object example:
– Excel’s cell, chart
• Object-oriented tool example:
• VB.Net
• Java
Three approaches to acquire
application software
• Build proprietary application software
• Buy existing programs off the shelf
• Use a combination of customized and offthe-shelf application software
Portability
Java: Write Once Run Anywhere
Java Byte Code
Java Source Code
Java Virtual Machine
(JVM)
Java Byte Code
(Intermediate Code)
Executable Code
.Net Architecture
VB.Net
C#/J#
C++
Common Language Specification
ASP.Net
Windows Forms
Data and XML
Base Class Library
Common Language Runtime
Microsoft’s .Net
• Language must compliance with Common
Language Specification, CLS.
• Compile the language into Microsoft Intermediate
Language (MSIL) code.
• The MSIL code is then executed in the
Common Language Runtime (CLR), which
conceptually is same as the JVM, where it is
translated into machine code by a compiler.
• Microsoft .Net is a server-side technology. It runs
on any servers that implement the .Net system.
Software as a Service, SaaS
• SaaS is a model of software deployment
where an application is hosted as a service
provided to customers across the Internet.
– SaaS alleviates the customer's burden of software
maintenance, ongoing operation, and support.
• no upfront investment in software development
– Conversely, customers relinquish control over
software versions or changing requirements;
– Costs to use the service become a continuous
expense, rather than a single expense at time of
purchase.
What is cloud computing?
• Cloud computing is a style of computing in
which computing resources are provided as a
service over the Internet. Users need not have
knowledge of, expertise in, or control over
the technology infrastructure in the "cloud"
that supports them.
• Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae_DKNwK_ms
&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpardalis.squarespace.com
%2F&feature=player_embedded
Companies Offer SaaS
• SalesForce.com:
– http://www.salesforce.com/
• Workday:
– http://www.workday.com/index.php
• Google Apps:
– Google Docs:
– Demo:http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/busine
ss/collaboration.html#docs
– Login: docs.google.com
• Microsoft WindowsLive
Examples of Cloud Computing
• SaaS
• Utility computing
Companies such as Amazon.com, Sun, and IBM, now offer
storage and virtual servers that others can access on
demand.
• Platform as a service, PaaS
This form of cloud computing delivers development
environments as a service. You build your own
applications that run on the provider's infrastructure and are
delivered to your users via the Internet from the provider's
servers.
– Mainframe, Linux, Windows Server, etc.
• Service commerce platforms: software personal assistant.
This cloud computing offers a service hub that users
interact with: http://www.reardencommerce.com/
Who owns the data?
• Privacy: http://venturebeat.com/2009/02/17/is-facebook-reallyusing-its-new-terms-of-service-to-own-your-data/
• Security: http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/Pinning-DownEnterprise-Data-Security-in-the-Cloud-67093.html?wlc=1252360837
• Top reasons why big businesses are reluctant to adopt
SaaS : http://www.executivebrief.com/blogs/the-pros-and-
cons-of-saas-part-2/
IT and Business Process
Reengineering
• Information technology provides the means to
rethink/recreate/reengineer conventional business
processes.
– Business Processes: Collections of activities, often
spanning several departments, that take one or more
kinds of input and create a result that is of value to a
company’s customers.
– Reengineering: The reshaping of business processes to
remove barriers that prohibit an organization from
providing better products and services and to help the
organization capitalize on its strengths.
IT and New Business Model
• New products, services, and business
models:
– Business model: describes how company
produces, delivers, and sells product or
service to create wealth
– Information systems and technology a major
enabling tool for new products, services,
business models
• E.g. Netflix’s Internet-based DVD rentals