1. Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition
Chapter 3
Hardware and Software 1

2. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

3. 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, Sixth Edition

4. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

5. Memory Characteristics and Functions
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)
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

6. Memory Characteristics and Functions (continued)
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

7. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

8. Multiprocessing Multiprocessing: Multicore microprocessor:
Simultaneous execution of two or more instructions at the same time
Multicore microprocessor:
Combines two or more independent processors into a single computer
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

9. 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 to work in a coordinated manner to solve a common problem
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

10. Secondary Storage and Input and Output Devices
Compared with memory, offers the advantages of nonvolatility, greater capacity, and greater economy
Considerably slower than memory
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

11. Access Methods Sequential access: Direct 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)
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

12. Secondary Storage Devices
Magnetic tapes:
Primarily for storing backups of critical organizational 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
Virtual tape:
Storage technology for less frequently needed data
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

13. Secondary Storage Devices (continued)
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
Digital video disc (DVD):
Storage medium used to store software, video games, and movies
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

14. Secondary Storage Devices (continued)
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
Disadvantages of SSD:
High cost per GB of data storage
Lower capacity compared to current hard drives
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

15. Input Devices Devices used to input general types of data:
Personal computer input devices
Speech recognition technology
Digital cameras
Touch-sensitive screens
Optical data readers
Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) devices
Pen input devices
Magnetic stripe card
Radio Frequency Identification
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

16. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

17. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

18. Computer System Types Computer systems:
Can range from desktop (or smaller) portable computers to massive supercomputers that require housing in large rooms
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

19. Computer System Types (continued)
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

20. Computer System Types (continued)
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

21. Portable Computers Handheld computers: Laptop computer:
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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

22. 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, tool, MP3 player, and other devices
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

23. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

24. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

25. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

26. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

27. Overview of Software Computer programs: Documentation:
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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

28. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

29. Systems Software Includes: Operating systems Utility programs
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

30. 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:
Single computer with a single user
Single computer with multiple users
Multiple computers with multiple users
Special-purpose computers
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

31. Operating Systems (continued)
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

32. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

33. Operating Systems (continued)
Common hardware functions:
Get input from keyboard or another input device
Retrieve data from disks
Store data on disks
Display information on a monitor or printer
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

34. Operating Systems (continued)
User interface and input/output management:
User interface:
Allows individuals to access and command the computer system
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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

35. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

36. Operating Systems (continued)
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

37. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

38. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

39. Current Operating Systems
Microsoft PC operating systems:
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Apple computer operating systems:
Wintel
Snow Leopard (OS X v10.6)
Linux:
Red Hat Linux
Caldera OpenLinux
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

40. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

41. Application Software Application programs:
Interact with systems software
Help you perform common tasks, such as:
Creating and formatting text documents
Performing calculations
Managing information
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

42. Personal Application Software
Word processing
Spreadsheet analysis
Database applications
Graphics program
Personal information managers
Software suites and integrated software packages
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

43. Mobile Application Software
Operating systems designed for smartphones include:
OS X iPhone, Android, and WebOS
Tens of thousands of applications have been:
Developed by third parties for the iPhone
Palm WebOS:
Has only recently released its software development kit
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

44. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

45. Application Software for Information, Decision Support, and Specialized Purposes
Available in every industry:
Specialized application software for information, decision support, and other purposes
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

46. 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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

47. Summary Hardware: Green computing: Software:
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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

48. Summary (continued) Operating system (OS): Application software:
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
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition