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

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Principles and Learning Objectives (continued) 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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Hardware Components Central processing unit (CPU) Primary memory 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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Multiprocessing Multicore microprocessor Parallel processing 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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Multiprocessing Grid computing Cloud 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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Secondary Storage and Input and Output Devices Also called permanent storage Nonvolatile Greater capacity and greater economy than memory Costs considerably less per megabyte of capacity than SDRAM Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Access Methods Sequential access Direct 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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Output Devices Display monitors (CRTs) Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) 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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Computer System Types Handheld computers Ultra laptop computer 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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Overview of Software Computer programs Documentation Systems software 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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Systems Software Critical function of systems software Controlling operations of computer hardware Systems software Supports the application programs’ problem-solving capabilities Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Operating Systems Combinations of OSs, computers, and users Single computer with a single user Single computer with multiple users Multiple computers Special-purpose computers Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Enterprise Operating Systems z/OS IBM’s first 64-bit enterprise OS HP-UX and Linux Robust UNIX-based OS Supports Internet database Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Utility Programs Help to perform maintenance or correct problems with a computer system Help to secure and safeguard data Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Workgroup Application Software Designed to support teamwork Groupware Helps groups of people work together effectively Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Software Issues and Trends Software bugs Copyrights and licenses Global software support Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Summary Hardware devices Computer systems Input and output 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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Summary (continued) Operating system (OS) Application software 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 Fundamentals of Information Systems, Fifth Edition

Summary (continued) Programming languages Software issues and trends 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