Introduction Chapter.

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Computer Systems
Computer System - A collection of elements that includes the computer and components that contribute to making it a useful tool. Keep track of bank transactions and credit card purchases Are cornerstone of airlines massive reservations systems Control direct production in factories Provide business executives with up to date information Create illusion of a real situation Are embedded in watches, television sets, phones, fax machines, kitchen appliances etc.
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Computers in the Workplace

Multipurpose workstation Design The Internet Home Based Business Music Wireless Communications

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Whats a Computer & What Does it Do?

The operation of a Computer System is defined in four words Input - What is supplied to a computer process Processing - The conversion of input to output) Output - The results of a computer process) Storage - An area that holds materials going to or coming
from the computer

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Whats a Computer & What Does it Do?

Input Device - Equipment that supplies materials to the computer Output Device - Equipment that accepts materials from the computer Peripheral Equipment - The devices that work with a computer Storage Media - Objects that store computer processed materials
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Data and Information

Data are essentially raw, unorganized facts. Four types of data
text graphics audio video

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Data and Information

Information, in the language of computers, refers to data that have processed into a meaningful form Information is a relative term Conversion of data into information is called information processing Data + meaning = Information
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Data Versus Information

Data are
Stored facts Inactive (they exist) Technology based Gathered from various sources
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Information is
Presented facts Active (it enables doing) Business based Transformed from data
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Desirable Qualities of Information

Quality Availability Description Is accessible to those who need it Comprehensibility Is understandable to those who need it Relevance Has bearing on matters pertaining to the performance of the organization Usefulness Is in a form that makes it capable of being used
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Desirable Qualities of Information

Quality Timeliness Reliability Accuracy Consistency Description Is available at the right time Can be counted on to be trustworthy Is correct Is not self - contracdictory

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Programs
Program - A set of instructions that causes the computer system to perform specific actions. Programming Language - A set of rules used to write computer programs. The ability to program makes computer general purpose device.

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Computer Storage
There are two types of storage Primary (Internal)
Also known as memory This section of the computer system temporarily holds data and program instructions awaiting processing, intermediate results, and processed output

Secondary (external)
Storage on media such as disk and tape that supplements memory

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Hardware
Physical equipment in a computing environment, such as the computer and its peripheral devices. For e.g. monitor, printer, speakers, mouse, hard - disk drive, diskettes, diskette drive, CD-ROM drive, CD-ROM disks

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Software
Software are computer programs, including application programs, operating systems, compilers, interpreters, and assemblers and utilities. Two types of software Applications software Systems software

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Application Software
A combination of programs which enables a business application (e.g. a purchase ledger) to be processed by a computer. Application software written for one particular purpose is termed bespoke software.

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Application Software
computing bank account interest preparing bills creating letters and book manuscripts preparing and analyzing budgets managing files and databases playing games scheduling airline flights diagnosing patients illnesses

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Application Software
Productivity software is the class of applications software designed to make workers more productive at their jobs. For e.g., word processors, spreadsheets, presentation graphics, database management, desktop publishing, web browser

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System Software
Background programs, such as the operating system, that enable application programs to run on a computer systems hardware.

For e.g. operating system, compilers, interpreters and assemblers.

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Software Package
Software package consist of one or more program disks, a printed users guide, and a printed users license inside a shrink wrapped box or plastic case. Each revision is referred to as a version or release.

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Organizing Data and Programs

Document - Any single piece of work thats created with software and, then, given a name by which it may be accessed. Folder - A container for documents. A folder can contain a mixture of subfolders and documents.

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Organizing Data and Programs

Field - A collection of related characters. Record - A collection of related fields. File - A collection of related records. Database - A collection of related files.

Be aware, a word processed file and a word processed document generally refer to the same thing.
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Users and the Experts

User (end users) - A person(s) who needs the results that a computer produces. Programmer - A person who writes computer programs.

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Computer Networks
Networks allow workers in an organization to communicate with each other, share expensive devices like printers, and send and receive materials to and from the outside world. To access a computer network, you need two kinds of resources hardware (network adapter) e.g. modem communication software

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Computer Networks
Online - A state that allows a device to send data to or receive data from other devices. Offline - A state that does not allow a device to send data to or receive data from other devices.

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Types of Computer System

Small or Micro computers Medium sized or Midrange computers

Large or Mainframe computers

Superlarge or Super computers

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Microcomputers
A computer system driven by a microprocessor chip. Also known as microcomputer, or micro. A microcomputer system designed to be used by one person at a time. Also known as a personal computer system (PC).

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Sizes of Microcomputer Systems

Desktop Units
Desktop model Tower model

Portable Units
Laptop (8 - 15 pounds) Notebook (6 - 8 pounds) Subnotebook (2 - 6 pounds) Palmtop / Handheld / Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
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Desktop Units
Desktop model
the system unit case is designed to rest on a desk

Tower model
the system unit case stands upright on either a desktop or floor more room to fix secondary storage units leave more work space on the desktop the system unit case often sit at a distance may not provide as convenient way to mount and dismount disks from drives.
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Platform
Platform is a foundation technology be which a computer system operates. Two major platforms are PC compatibles (IBM design, Intel
microprocessor & Microsoft Windows applications)

Macintosh compatibles (Apple design,

Motorola, Umax, Power Computing microprocessor & Macintosh applications)
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Network Computers
Network computers (NCs) are diskless microcomputers with features that optimize them for use on the Internet and intracompany networks. Network computers offer
lower purchase and support costs better control over employee computing activities central control prevent users from storing material on their own system which prevents corruption of the system.

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Midrange Computers
Also called minicomputers or minis An intermediate sized and medium priced computer More expensive than microcomputers. Can interact with hundreds of users. Useful a small company or department of a company
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Mainframes
A large computer that performs extensive business transaction processing. Operates 24 hours a day Serves thousands of users Used for tracking customer purchases and payments, sending out bills and reminder notices & paying employees e.g. IBS ES/9000
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Supercomputers
The fastest and most expensive type of computer. Sending astronauts into space, testing safety & aerodynamics features on cars and aircraft and weather forecasting. Massively Parallel Processors (MPPs)

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Supercomputers
At the high end of supercomputing are computers like IBM's "Blue Pacific," announced on October 29, 1998. Built in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California., Blue Pacific is reported to operated at 3.9 teraflop (trillion operations per second), 15,000 times faster than the average personal computer. It consists of 5,800 processors containing a total of 2.6 trilllion bytes of memory and interconnected with five miles of cable.

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