The Computer Industry Unit L

Objectives Review the History of Calculating Machines Examine the Development of Computers Introduce IT Industries Market IT Products

Objectives Introduce IT Careers Explore IT Education and Certification Explore Employment Strategies Use the Internet to Find a Job

Calculating Machine History Calculation is based on an algorithm Manual calculators –Abacus (1200) –Slide rules (1621) Mechanical calculator (1623) Analytical engine (1834 – Babbage)

Calculating Machine History Herman Hollerith Electronic punch card system Hollerith Tabulating Machine (1890) The Tabulating Machine Company became IBM in 1924

Generation of Technology Vacuum tubes store data Drawbacks: –Use much power; generates a lot of heat –Burn out quickly –ENIAC (had 18,000 tubes) No operating systems Used custom application programs 1 st

Generation of Technology Transistors used (1947) –Smaller, cheaper, less power, more reliable Compilers and high-level languages born Gave birth to software industry 2 nd

Generation of Technology Integrated circuits invented (1958) RCA and IBM used circuits in 1965 DEC introduced successful minicomputer 3 rd

Generation of Technology Microprocessor developed in 1971 PCs were born Industry leaders –Intel –Zilog –Motorola –Texas Instruments 4 th

Industry Types Companies that manufacture computers Software publishers Peripheral device manufacturers Companies that develop, produce, sell, or support computers, software or computer-related products IBM and Microsoft Computer Industry IT Industry

IT Industry Categories Equipment (IBM, Cisco) Chipmakers (Intel, AMD) Software (Microsoft) Service (AOL/TimeWarner, EDS) Retailers (CompUSA, PC Connection) Dot coms (sometimes under IT industry) Equipment (IBM, Cisco) Chipmakers (Intel, AMD) Software (Microsoft) Service (AOL/TimeWarner, EDS) Retailers (CompUSA, PC Connection) Dot coms (sometimes under IT industry)

IT Industry – Silicon Valley Cisco Intel OraclePalm Sun Microsystems HP AppleAMD Handspring

IT Industry Contributions US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – IT contributions –1985: 5% –1990: >6% –2000: 8.6% Biggest computer hardware producers –U.S., Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, China

IT Industry – Government Regulation Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates interstate and international communications –Radio, television, wire, satellite and cable U.S. Federal Trade Commission Department of Justice U.S. government restricts imports/exports

IT Industry – Self Regulation Information Technology Industry Council –Powerful lobbying group –Oppose legislation that curtails technology innovation and use IEEE Standards Association –Helps provide industry technology standards Software and Information Industry Association –Protects intellectual property of members via an anti-piracy program

Marketing – Computer Life Cyle Product development –secretly Product announcement –vaporware: products announced, not produced Product introduction –manufacturers suggested retail price may be high at first Product maintenance –price decreases to a street price Product retirement

Marketing – Software Extensive testing required before release –Alpha test (in-house testing team) –Beta test (off-site testers) New package can be –New product –New version or release (significant changes) –Revision (minor changes and fixes) Users need to upgrade

Marketing Terminology Market share: company’s percentage of the total market pie; use to gauge success Marketing channels: –Distribution centers –Computer retail stores –Manufacturer direct –Mail-order –Value-Added Resellers (VARs)

Large companies; identifiable share (>2%) Startup companies; mail order Newer companies; lower share; fewer resources IT Market Tiers First (top) tier Second tier Third tier Computers usually more expensive from top tier companies

IT Careers A computer professional is any person whose primary occupation involves the design, configuration, analysis, development, modification, testing, or security of computer hardware or software. Per U.S. Congress in 1999

IT Careers Systems analyst Security specialist Computer programmer Quality assurance specialist Database administrator Network specialist or administrator Computer operator Computer engineer Technical support specialist Technical writer Computer salesperson Web site designer Manufacturing technician

IT Career Trends Jobs substantially increase by 2008 Must be willing to train and retrain Contract workers Telecommuting Voluntary turnover rate –Decrease via employee- friendly working conditions

Ergonomics

IT Job Requirements Job experience Certification Associate’s degree (2 yr.) Bachelor’s degree Advanced degree

IT Certifications Certificates of Completion –Complete one or more courses Certification Exam –Test verifies your knowledge level Categories –General knowledge, software, database, networking, hardware –CCP, MOUS, MCDBA, MCSE, A+

4-Year Degree Programs Computer Engineering –Design of computer hardware/peripherals Computer Science –Computer architecture and software –How to program computers for effectiveness and efficiency Information Systems –Applying computers to business problems

Other College Programs Associate degrees –Graphic design, networking, telecommunications Master’s degrees –Software engineering Doctoral degrees –Software engineering, systems software development and MIS –Technical research or college professor

IT Careers – Finding Information –Database of 2-year and 4-year programs –Provides testing services of admissions and certification –Certification, competency topics, training –Certification options, exam info and training partners

IT Employment – Job Seeking Identify –Job titles relevant to your skills –Potential employers –Geographic preferences Create resume Look for jobs by contacting –Potential employers, school placement, employment agencies, recruiting firms

IT Employment – Resume Clear, accurate and easy to read Ask for suggestions/review for errors Prepare in a variety of formats for different platforms High-quality paper Post on internet

IT Employment: Job Application Company background information Formulate intelligent questions for interview Use web to find out –Company financial status –Corporate culture –New town

IT Employment – Recruitment Head hunter –Contacted by companies seeking employees –Fees paid by company –Usually managerial/executive jobs Head hunter –Contacted by companies seeking employees –Fees paid by company –Usually managerial/executive jobs Employment agency –Contacted by employee seeking job –Can be free from state or university –Fee can be required when job offer is accepted Employment agency –Contacted by employee seeking job –Can be free from state or university –Fee can be required when job offer is accepted

IT Employment – Your Career OrganizationBusiness Nonprofit organization Mission statement Organization chart

IT Employment – Internet Send resume via Post resume in a searchable database Post resume on a web site Have a web portfolio

IT Employment – Internet Online Job Bank Online search agent

TechTalk: The Future of Computing Moore’s Law –Chip power doubles every 18 months; hold true until 2012 Current technology –Silicon-based Future technology –Molecular computing (carbon nanotube) –Biological computing (DNA strands) –Quantum computing (qubit)

Issue: Who Needs Professional Ethics? Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people Thou shalt not interfere with other people’s computer work Thou shalt not snoop around in other people’s files Thou shalt not use a computer to steal

Professional Ethics Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness Thou shalt not use or copy software for which you have not paid Thou shalt not use other people’s computer resources without authorization

Professional Ethics Thou shalt not appropriate other people’s intellectual output Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you write Thou shalt use a computer in ways that show consideration and respect From the Computer Ethics Institute

The Computer Industry End