Transcript Principles of Information Systems, Ninth Edition

Fundamentals of Information Systems,
Seventh Edition
Chapter 2
Hardware and Software
Fundamentals of Information Systems,
Seventh Edition
1
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
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Principles and Learning Objectives
(continued)
• The computer hardware industry and users are
implementing green computing designs and
products
– Define the term green computing and identify the
primary goals of this program
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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
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Principles and Learning Objectives
(continued)
• Organizations use off-the-shelf application software
for common business needs and proprietary
application software to meet unique business
needs and 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
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Principles and Learning Objectives
(continued)
• 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
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Principles and Learning Objectives
(continued)
• 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
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Why Learn About Hardware and
Software?
• Organizations invest in computer hardware and
software to:
– Improve worker productivity
– Increase revenue, reduce costs
– Provide better customer service
• Managers:
– Are expected to know enough about their business
needs to be able to ask tough questions of those
recommending hardware and software
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Computer Systems: Integrating the
Power of Technology
• To assemble an effective and efficient system:
– You should select and organize components while
understanding the trade-offs between overall system
performance and cost, control, and complexity
• People involved in selecting their organization’s
computer hardware must clearly understand
current and future business needs so they can
make informed acquisition decisions
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Hardware Components
• Central processing unit (CPU):
– Arithmetic/logic unit, the control unit, and the register
areas
• Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU):
– Performs mathematical calculations and makes
logical comparisons
• Control unit:
– Sequentially accesses program instructions,
decodes them, and coordinates the flow of data in
and out of the ALU, registers, primary storage, and
even secondary storage and various output devices
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Hardware Components (continued)
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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
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Processing Characteristics and
Functions
• Clock speed:
– Series of electronic pulses produced at a
predetermined rate that affects machine cycle time
– Often measured in:
• Megahertz (MHz): millions of cycles per second
• Gigahertz (GHz): billions of cycles per second
• Physical characteristics of the CPU:
– Most CPUs are collections of digital circuits
imprinted on silicon wafers, or chips, each no bigger
than the tip of a pencil eraser
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Memory Characteristics and Functions
• Memory:
– Provides the CPU with a working storage area for
programs and data
– Rapidly provides data and instructions to the CPU
• Storage capacity:
– Eight bits together form a byte (B)
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Memory Characteristics and Functions
(continued)
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Memory Characteristics and Functions
(continued)
• Types of memory:
– Random access memory (RAM):
• Temporary and volatile
– Read-only memory (ROM):
• Nonvolatile
• Provides permanent storage for data and instructions
that do not change
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Multiprocessing
• Multiprocessing:
– Simultaneous execution of two or more instructions
at the same time
• Multicore microprocessor:
– Combines two or more independent processors into
a single computer
– Quad-core, six-core, and eight-core processors are
common
– Heat build-up is a problem with fast processors
• ARM manufactures energy efficient chip used in
smart phones and tablet computers
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Multiprocessing (continued)
• Parallel computing:
– Simultaneous execution of the same task on multiple
processors to obtain results faster
• Grid computing:
– Use of a collection of computers, often owned by
many different people and/or organizations, to work
in a coordinated manner to solve a common problem
– Central server acts as the grid leader and traffic
monitor
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Secondary Storage and Input and
Output Devices
• Secondary storage:
– Also called permanent storage
– Compared with memory, offers the advantages of
nonvolatility, greater capacity, and greater economy
– Considerably slower than memory
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Access Methods
• Sequential access:
– Data must be retrieved in the order in which it is
stored
– Devices used called sequential access storage
devices (SASDs)
• Direct access:
– Records can be retrieved in any order
– Devices used are called direct access storage
devices (DASDs)
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Secondary Storage Devices
• Magnetic tapes:
– Primarily for storing backups of critical data
• Magnetic disks:
– Direct-access storage device
• Redundant array of independent/inexpensive disks
(RAID):
– Method of storing data that generates extra bits of
data from existing data so that if a hard drive fails,
the lost data on that drive can be rebuilt
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Secondary Storage Devices
(continued)
• Virtual tape:
– Storage technology for less frequently needed data
• Storage area network:
– Uses computer servers, distributed storage devices,
and networks to tie everything together
• Optical discs:
– Common form of optical disc on which data cannot
be modified once it has been recorded
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Secondary Storage Devices
(continued)
• Digital video disc (DVD):
– Storage medium used to store software, video
games, and movies
• Solid state secondary storage devices:
– Store data in memory chips rather than magnetic or
optical media
– Have few moving parts, so they are less fragile than
hard disk drives
– High cost per GB of data storage
– Lower capacity compared to current hard drives
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Secondary Storage Devices
(continued)
• Storage as a Service:
– Data storage service provider rents space to people
and organizations
– Users access their rented storage space via the
Internet
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Input Devices
• Devices used to input general types of data:
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Personal computer input devices
Speech recognition technology
Digital cameras
Scanning Devices
Optical data readers
Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) devices
Magnetic stripe card and contactless cards
Pen input devices
Radio Frequency Identification
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Input Devices (continued)
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Output Devices
• Display monitors:
– Used to display the output from the computer
– Plasma display:
• Uses thousands of smart cells (pixels) consisting of
electrodes and neon and xenon gases that are
electrically turned into plasma to emit light
– LCD displays:
• Flat displays that use liquid crystals
– Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs):
• Use a layer of organic material sandwiched between
two conductors
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Output Devices (continued)
• Printers and plotters:
– Two main types of printers are laser printers and
inkjet printers
– Plotters are a type of hard-copy output device used
for general design work
• Digital audio player:
– Can store, organize, and play digital music files
• E-books:
– Digital media equivalent of a conventional printed
book
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Computer System Types
• Computer systems:
– Can range from desktop (or smaller) portable
computers to massive supercomputers that require
housing in large rooms
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Computer System Types (continued)
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Portable Computers
• Handheld computers:
– Single-user computers that provide ease of
portability because of their small size
• Laptop computer:
– Personal computer designed for use by mobile users
• Notebook computers:
– Lightweight computer that weighs less than 5
pounds
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Portable Computers (continued)
• Netbook computer:
– The smallest, lightest, least expensive member of
the laptop computer family
• Tablet computers:
– Portable, lightweight computers with no keyboard
• Smartphone:
– Combines the functionality of a mobile phone,
camera, Web browser, e-mail tool, MP3 player, and
other devices
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Nonportable Single-User Computers
• Thin client:
– Low-cost, centrally managed computer with no extra
drives
• Desktop computers:
– Single-user computer systems that are highly
versatile
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Nonportable Single-User Computers
(continued)
• Nettop computer:
– Inexpensive desktop computer designed to be
smaller, lighter, and consume much less power than
a traditional desktop computer
• Workstations:
– More powerful than personal computers but still
small enough to fit on a desktop
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Multiple-User Computer Systems
• Server:
– Used by many users to perform a specific task, such
as running network or Internet applications
• Blade server:
– Houses many computer motherboards
– The approach requires much less physical space
than traditional server farms
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Multiple-User Computer Systems
(continued)
• Mainframe computer:
– Large, powerful computer shared by hundreds of
concurrent users connected to the machine over a
network
• Supercomputers:
– The most powerful computers with the fastest
processing speed and highest performance
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Green Computing
• Concerned with:
– Efficient and environmentally responsible design,
manufacture, operation, and disposal of IS-related
products
• Goals:
– Reduce the use of hazardous material
– Enable companies to lower their power-related costs
– Enable the safe disposal or recycling of IS-related
products
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Overview of Software
• Computer programs:
– Sequences of instructions for the computer
• Documentation:
– Describes program functions to help the user
operate the computer system
• Types of software:
– Systems software
– Application software
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Supporting Individual, Group, and
Organizational Goals
• Sphere of influence:
– Scope of problems and opportunities addressed by a
particular organization
• Personal sphere of influence:
– Serve the needs of an individual user
• Personal productivity software:
– Helps users improve their personal effectiveness
• Workgroup:
– When two or more people work together to achieve
a common goal
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Supporting Individual, Group, and
Organizational Goals (continued)
• Workgroup sphere of influence:
– Serves the needs of a workgroup
• Enterprise sphere of influence:
– Supports the firm in its interaction with its
environment
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Installing and Removing New Software
• Before you can use any type of software, it must be
installed on a computer
• Software for personal computers typically comes
on CDs or is downloaded from the Web
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Systems Software
• Includes:
– Operating systems
– Utility programs
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Operating Systems
• Set of programs that controls computer hardware
and acts as an interface with application programs
• Can control one computer or multiple computers, or
• Can allow multiple users to interact with one
computer
• Combinations of OSs, computers, and users:
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Single computer with a single user
Single computer with multiple users
Multiple computers with multiple users
Special-purpose computers
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Operating Systems (continued)
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Operating Systems (continued)
• Activities performed by the operating system:
– Perform common computer hardware functions
– Provide a user interface and input/output
management
– Provide a degree of hardware independence
– Manage system memory
– Manage processing tasks
– Provide networking capability
– Control access to system resources
– Manage files
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Operating Systems (continued)
• Common hardware functions:
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Get input from keyboard or another input device
Retrieve data from disks
Store data on disks
Display information on a monitor or printer
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Operating Systems (continued)
• User interface and input/output management:
– Command-based user interface:
• Requires that text commands be given to the
computer to perform basic activities
– Graphical user interface (GUI):
• Uses icons and menus displayed on screen to send
commands to the computer system
– Natural user interface
• Touch user interface
– Speech interface available on some computers
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Operating Systems (continued)
• Hardware independence:
– Application program interface (API):
• Allows applications to make use of the operating
system
• Memory management:
– Allows computer to execute program instructions
effectively and to speed processing
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Operating Systems (continued)
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Operating Systems (continued)
• Processing tasks:
– Multitasking:
• More than one program can run at the same time
– Time-sharing:
• Allows more than one person to use a computer
system at the same time
– Scalability:
• Ability of the computer to handle an increasing
number of concurrent users
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Operating Systems (continued)
• Networking capability:
– Allows computers in a network to send and receive
data and share computing resources
• Access to system resources and security:
– Protection against unauthorized access
– OS establishes a logon procedure
• File management:
– Ensures that files in secondary storage are available
when needed and that they are protected from
access by unauthorized users
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Current Operating Systems
• Microsoft PC operating systems:
– Windows XP, Vista, 7, and 8
• Apple computer operating systems:
– Can dual boot – run both Windows and Mac
– Mountain Lion
• Linux:
– Red Hat Linux
– Caldera OpenLinux
• Google
– Chrome
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Workgroup Operating Systems
• Windows Server:
– Can be used to prevent unauthorized disclosure of
information
• UNIX:
– Can be used on many computer system types and
platforms
• Red Hat Linux:
– Can manage a cluster of up to eight servers
• Mac OS X Server:
– Includes support for 64-bit processing
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Enterprise Operating Systems
• z/OS:
– IBM’s first 64-bit enterprise OS
• HP-UX:
• Robust UNIX-based OS from Hewlett-Packard
• Supports online transaction processing and Web
applications
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Operating Systems for Small
Computers, Embedded Computers,
and Special-Purpose Devices
• Cell phone embedded systems and operating
systems:
– Embedded systems provide communication and
limited personal information management services
• Embedded operating systems:
– Included with or embedded into small computer
devices
– Designed to perform specialized tasks such as
controlling fuel injection, digital camera, GPS device
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Operating Systems for Small
Computers, Embedded Computers,
and Special-Purpose Devices
(continued)
• Cell Phone Embedded Systems and Operating
Systems
– Symbian is a popular cell phone operating system
– Cell phone operating systems have transformed into
full-fledged personal computer operating systems
• iPhone OS, Google Android, Microsoft Windows
Mobile, webOS, Symbian all have APIs and software
development kits
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Utility Programs
• Help to perform maintenance or correct problems
with a computer system
• Some can help computer systems run better and
longer without problems
• Can help to secure and safeguard data
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Utility Programs (continued)
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Middleware
• Software that allows various systems to
communicate and exchange data
• Often developed to address situations where a
company acquires different information systems
through mergers, acquisitions or expansion
• Use of middleware has evolved into the service
oriented architecture (SOA) approach to develop
systems to allow users to interact with systems and
systems to interact with each other
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Application Software
• Application programs:
– Interact with systems software and the systems
software directs computer hardware to perform
necessary tasks
– Help you perform common tasks, such as:
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Creating and formatting text documents
Performing calculations
Managing information
Some applications are more specialized
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Types and Functions of Application
Software
• Proprietary software:
– One-of-a-kind program for a specific application,
usually developed and owned by a single company
• Off-the-shelf software:
– Existing software program that is purchased
• Application service provider (ASP):
– Company that can provide software, support, and
computer hardware on which to run the software
from the user’s facilities over a network
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Overview of Application Software
(continued)
• Software as a service (SaaS):
– Allows businesses to subscribe to Web-delivered
business application software by paying a monthly
service charge or a per-use fee
– Can reduce expenses by sharing its running
applications among many businesses
• Cloud computing:
– Use of computing resources, including software and
data storage, on the Internet (the cloud) rather than
on local computers
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Personal Application Software
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Word processing
Spreadsheet analysis
Database applications
Graphics program
Personal information managers
Software suites and integrated software packages
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Mobile Application Software
• Number of apps for smartphones and other mobile
devices has exploded
• Tens of thousands of applications have been:
– Developed by third parties and available from the
Apple App Store for the iPhone and from the Android
Market for Android handsets
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Workgroup Application Software
• Support teamwork, whether people are in the same
location or dispersed around the world
• Also known as collaborative software
• Groupware:
– Software that helps groups of people work together
more effectively
– Examples include group scheduling software,
electronic mail, document sharing software
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Enterprise Application Software
• Software that benefits an entire organization
• Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software:
– Set of integrated programs that manage a
company’s vital business operations for an entire
multisite, global organization
– Must be able to support many legal entities,
languages, and currencies
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Application Software for Information,
Decision Support, and Specialized
Purposes
• Available in every industry:
– Specialized application software for information,
decision support, and other purposes
– Examples include:
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Blackboard and other learning management software
Software to visualize and analyze the human genome
Decision support software to pick the next hit song
Companies seeking a competitive advantage
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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
• Programming:
– Involves translating what a user wants to accomplish
into instructions that the computer can understand
and execute
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Software Issues and Trends
• Software bug:
– Defect in a program that keeps it from performing as
it should
• Some tips for reducing impact of software bugs:
– Register all software
– Check read-me files for workarounds
– Access support area of the manufacturer’s Web site
for patches
– Install latest software updates
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Copyrights and Licenses
• Most software products are protected by law using
copyright or licensing provisions:
– In some cases, you are given unlimited use of
software on one or two computers
– In other cases, you pay for your usage:
• If you use the software more, you pay more
• Some software now requires that you register or
activate it before it can be fully used
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Software Upgrades
• When software companies stop supporting older
software versions or releases:
– Some customers feel forced to upgrade to the newer
software
• Deciding whether to purchase the newest software:
– Can be a problem for corporations and people with a
large investment in software
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Global Software Support
• Supporting local operations:
– One of the biggest challenges IS teams face when
putting together standardized, company-wide
systems
• Trend:
– Outsourcing global support to one or more thirdparty distributors
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Summary
• Hardware:
– The physical components of a computer that perform
the input, processing, storage, and output activities
of the computer
• Green computing:
– Concerned with the efficient and environmentally
responsible design, manufacture, operation, and
disposal of IS-related products
• Software:
– Consists of programs that control the workings of the
computer hardware
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Summary (continued)
• Operating system (OS):
– Set of computer programs that controls the computer
hardware to support users’ computing needs
– Manages tasks to allocate computer resources
through multitasking and time-sharing
• Application software:
– Applies the power of the computer to solve problems
and perform specific tasks
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