1 CSIS-116: Survey of Information Technology Todays Agenda –Getting to know each other –Overview course Also –Chapter 1

2 CSIS-116: Survey of Information Technology Who am I? –Dr. Eric Breimer 2 years at Siena Ph.D. RPI Research Area: –Experimental Algorithms –Machine Learning –Bioinformatics

3 CSIS-116: Survey of Information Technology Who are you?

4 CSIS-116: Survey of Information Technology Course Website –I will post almost everything. Syllabus –Coming to lecture is very important –Dont cheat –Dont miss exam dates

5 CSIS-116: Survey of Information Technology Labs –10 Labs worth 25 point of your grade –Lab 1 this week is an intro lab. worth 1 point –Remaining 9 labs worth 3 points each 2 points for in-lab exercise 1 point for take-home exercise –28 points total

6 CSIS-116: Survey of Information Technology Projects –3 projects worth 25 points of your grade Project 1 – Research Report Project 2 – Website Project 3 – Group Project w/ Presentation

7 CSIS-116: Survey of Information Technology Exams –Exam 1 worth 15 points –Exam 2 worth 15 points –Final worth 20 points

8 CSIS-116: Survey of Information Technology Final Grade –10 labs 25 points –3 project 25 points –3 exams 50 points Cut-offs A 92 average 90 on final A- 89 average B+ 87 average B 82 average B- 79 average

9 CSIS-116: Survey of Information Technology Tricks of this course –In lecture, I will elaborate on topics not covered in the book Then, I will test you on them –Exams questions will ask you about concepts learned in lab –Projects are graded superficially The better it looks the better grade youll get

10 Chapter 1 Information Technology: Principles, Practices, and Opportunities

11 Chapter 1 Highlights Mostly List to Memorize –6 characteristics of the Information Age. –3 primary components of information technology. –6 information-handling functions. –4 benefits of information technology. –14 areas where information technology touches us –3 responsibilities

12 The Evolution of the Information Age Agricultural Age: The period up to the 1800s, when the majority of workers were farmers whose lives revolved around agriculture. Industrial Age: The period from the 1800s to 1957, when work processes were simplified through mechanization and automation. Information Age: The period that began in 1957, in which the majority of workers are involved in the creation, distribution, and application of information.

13 The Evolution of the Information Age

14 Six Characteristics of the Information Age 1.An information-based society has arisen. –duh? 2.Businesses depend on information technology to get their work done. –Could you imagine if E-bays computer systems went down? 3.Work processes are being transformed to increase productivity. –UPS is the classic model company

15 Six Characteristics of the Information Age 4.Information technology provides the means to rethink/recreate/reengineer conventional business processes. –Amazon.com: Publishers UPS Customers 5.Success in business is largely determined by the effectiveness with which information technology is used. –Prentiss Hall vs. Addison Wesley 6.Information technology is embedded in many products and services. –Soon itll be embedded in all products and service

16 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. 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 companys customers. Effectiveness: –The extent to which desirable results are achieved. Buzzword Definitions

17 Characteristics of the Information Age

18 Reengineering efforts to attain greater productivity: –Industrial Age Division of Labor: Separation of work process into component task, with different workers specializing in each of the tasks. –Information Age Teamwork, Interconnection, and Shared Information. Characteristics of the Information Age

20 Information Technology Definition of Information Technology –A term used to refer to a wide variety of items and abilities used in the creation, storage, and dispersal of data and information. Three main components 1.computers 2.communications networks 3.know-how.

21 Information Technology Data –Raw facts, figures, and details. Information –An organized, meaningful, and useful interpretation of data. Knowledge –An awareness and understanding of a set of information and how that information can be put to the best use.

Information Technology

23 Computers In the old days, computers come in four sizes: –Microcomputers now called PCs –Midrange computers Sometimes called servers –Mainframes Still have some limited use –Supercomputers Died in the 90s

24 Computers Microcomputers (called PCs) –Desktop Computers –Laptop Computers –Handheld Computers Tablet PCs Personal Digital Assistants Palm PCs

25 Computers Midrange computers (called Servers) Faster processor than a PC More memory More disk space Sometimes built for racks –But, very modern PCs can be faster and better than older servers. –Sometimes PCs are used as Servers –And Servers can be used as PCs

26 Computers Midrange computers (called Servers) –What really distinguishes a Server from a PC? –This is why they usually have to be faster and better than your average PC

27 Computers Mainframes: –Monopolize by IBM through out the 70s 80s and 90s –Some are still used today –Characterized by quality hardware which makes for a very reliable computer –Fault-tolerant –They rarely crash –Expensive –Not particularly fast

28 Computers Supercomputers: –The most powerful of all computers –designed to solve problems consisting of long and difficult calculations –Heavily used for computer graphics in simulations and movies from the 80s –Way too expensive –Replaced by more cost effective Server clusters or PC clusters

29 Information Systems System –A set of components that interact to accomplish a purpose. A business information system –designed to produce the information needed for successful management of a structured problem, process, department, or business.

Information Systems

31 Communications Networks Definition –A set of locations, or nodes, consisting of hardware, programs, and information linked together as a system that transmits and receives data and information. Includes –Physical Hardware Wires, Hubs, Routers, Network Cards, etc. –Connected Computers –Software that makes it run –Available information

32 Know-How The capability to do something well. Information technology know-how consists of: –Familiarity with the tools of IT; including the Internet –Possession of the skills needed to use these tools –An understanding of when to use IT to solve a problem or create an opportunity

33 Six Functions of Information Technology

34 1.Capture: –The process of compiling detailed records of activities. 2.Processing: –Data Processing, Word Processing, Image Processing, Voice Processing 3.Generation: –The process of organizing information into a useful form, whether as numbers, text, sound, or visual image. Six Functions of Information Technology

35 4.Storage: –computer process of retaining information for future use. 5.Retrieval: –Retrieval is the process by which a computer locates and copies stored data or information for further processing or for transmission to another user. 6.Transmission: –The computer process of distributing information over a communications network. Six Functions of Information Technology

36 Four Benefits of Information Technology

37 Helping People Solving Problems –Problem: A perceived difference between an existing condition and a desired condition. –Problem Solving: The process of recognizing a problem, identifying alternatives for solving it, and successfully implementing the chosen solution. Opportunities of Information Technology

38 Information Technology Is All Around Us, Messing Up our Lives Television Education Training Entertainment Shipping Paperwork Money and Investments Agriculture Taxation and Accounting Health and Medicine Manufacturing Journalism Energy Sports

39 Responsibilities of Using Information Technology To be Informed To Make Proper Use of IT To Safeguard