the physical basis of the infrastructure key slide

The physical basis of the infrastructure

Key Slide

MIS 300, Chapter 2 2

Major Concepts

• Hardware and Software • Software for software (operating systems) • Software for business (applications) • Software to create software (programming

languages) • Nagging issues about software


Principles and Learning Objectives-1

• Users must work closely with IS professionals to define business needs, evaluate options, and select the hardware and software that provide a cost-effective solution to those needs.– Identify and discuss the role of the essential

hardware components of a computer system.– List and describe popular classes of computer

systems and discuss the role of each.


• When selecting an operating system, you must consider the current and future requirements for application software to meet the needs of the organization. In addition, your choice of a particular operating system must be consistent with your choice of hardware.– 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.

Principles and Learning Objectives -2



• Do 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.



• Choose a programming language whose functional characteristics are appropriate for the task at hand, taking into consideration the skills and experience of the programming staff. – Outline the overall evolution of programming

languages and clearly differentiate among the five generations of programming languages.



• 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 issues and trends that have an

impact on organizations and individuals.


Hardware Components

• Central processing unit (CPU) (The thinker)– Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)– Control unit

• Input devices (what purpose?)

• Output devices (what purpose?)

CPUWhy are there two different kinds of input?

Why are there two different kinds of output?

Control & Data Source

Results & Feedback


Hardware Components (continued)

• Communications devices

• Primary storage devices

• Secondary storage devices


Hardware Components (continued)

Figure 2.1: Computer System Components


Processing and Memory Devices: Power, Speed, and Capacity

• System unit– Houses CPU and memory

• All other devices are linked to the system unit

• What is the advantage of this?

• How do we measure the “strength” of a computer?

See next slide.


Processing Characteristics and Functions

• Machine cycle time: time to execute the instruction phase and the execution phase

• Clock speed: electronic pulses produced at a predetermined rate

• Wordlength: number of bits that can be processed at one time


Processing Characteristics and Functions (continued)

• Physical characteristics of the CPU– Digital circuits on chips– Electrical current flows through silicon


Memory Characteristics and Functions: Storage Capacity – A lesson in Greek

Table 2.1: Number of Bytes


Types of Memory

• Random access memory (RAM)– Temporary– Volatile

• ROM (read-only memory)– Usually nonvolatile

• SEDOM (Student Exam Dump Only Memory)


Multiprocessing – Doing more than one Thing at a Time

• Multiprocessing: simultaneous execution of two or more instructions

• Parallel processing: linking hundreds or thousands of processors operating in parallel

• Grid computing: collection of computers working to solve a common problem


Secondary Storage and Input and Output Devices

• Secondary storage– Also called permanent storage– Nonvolatile– Greater capacity and greater economy than memory


Secondary Storage Access Methods

• Sequential access: records must be retrieved in order– Sequential access storage devices (SASD)

• Direct access: records can be retrieved in any order– Direct access storage devices (DASDs)

Can this matter at all? What problems are being solved here? What problems are being created?


Secondary Storage Devices

• Magnetic tapes

• Magnetic disks

• Redundant array of independent/inexpensive disks (RAID)

• Compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)


SAN

• Storage area network

• Provides high-speed connections between data-storage devices and computers


SAN (continued)

Figure 2.4: Storage Area Network


Secondary Storage Devices (continued)

• CD-recordable (CD-R) discs

• CD-rewritable (CD-RW) discs

• Digital versatile disc (DVD)

• Memory cards

• Expandable storage


Input Devices

• Personal computer input devices– Keyboard– Mouse

• Voice-recognition devices

• Terminals

• And what else? What can you imagine?

What are people like as input devices?


Input Devices (continued)

• Touch-sensitive screens

• Bar-code scanners

• Optical data readers

• Point-of-sale (POS) devices

• Automatic teller machine (ATM) devices

• What problem(s) is (are) these sorts of devices trying to solve?


Input Devices (continued)

• Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) devices

• Radio-frequency identification (RFID) – Go ask Walmart


Output Devices

• Display monitors

• Liquid crystal displays (LCDs)

• Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs)

• Printers and plotters


Output Devices (continued)

CRT monitors are large and bulky in comparison to LCD monitors (flat displays). Who knows what the future will bring?


Computer System Types

• Handheld computers (ideal for ….?)

• Portable computers (solves what problem?)

• Thin client (saves what?)

• Desktop computers (how much longer?)


Computer System Types (continued)

• Workstations

• Servers

• Mainframe computers

• Supercomputers

• Superdupercomputers?


Overview of Software

• Computer programs: sequences of instructions

• Documentation: describes program functions

• Systems software: coordinates the activities of hardware and programs: “To serve and protect”

• Application software: helps users solve particular problems: “To get the job done”

What is software really doing? Why is it important?


Supporting Individual, Group, and Organizational Goals

• Sphere of influence: the scope of problems and opportunities addressed by a particular organization– Personal– Workgroup– Enterprise

Table 2.5: Classifying Software by Type and Sphere of Influence


Systems Software: Operating Systems

• Operating system (OS): set of programs that control and manage the hardware and act as an interface with applications

• Common hardware functions– Get input (e.g., keyboard)– Retrieve data from disks and store data on disks– Display information on a monitor or printer


Operating Systems (continued)

Figure 2.8: The role of the operating system and other systems software is as an interface or buffer between application software and hardware. It also controls and manages everything.



• User interface– Allows individuals to access and command the

computer system– Command-based user interface: uses text

commands– Graphical user interface (GUI): uses icons and

menus to send commands to the computer system– Smart interface: anticipates users’ needs



• Hardware independence– Application program interface (API): allows

applications to make use of the operating system

• Memory management– Control how memory is accessed and maximize

available memory and storage


• Processing tasks– Multitasking: more than one program running at the

same time– Time-sharing: more than one person using a

computer system at the same time– Scalability: ability to handle an increasing number of

concurrent users smoothly

• Networking capability: features that aid users in connecting to a computer network




• Access to system resources– Protection against unauthorized access– Logons and passwords

• File management– Ensures that files in secondary storage are

• Available when needed

• Protected from access by unauthorized users


Current Operating Systems

Table 2.6: Popular Operating Systems Across All Three Spheres of Influence


Workgroup Operating Systems

• Windows Server

• UNIX

• NetWare

• Red Hat Linux

• Mac OS X Server


Enterprise Operating Systems

• z/OS

• MPE/iX and HP-UX

• Linux


Operating Systems for Small Computers and Special-Purpose

Devices

• Palm OS

• Windows Embedded

• Windows Mobile


Application Software

• Gives users the ability to solve problems and perform specific tasks

• Interacts with systems software; systems software then directs the hardware to perform the tasks

UserInterface

Applica-tion

Software

SystemSoftware

Hardware

Other I/ODevices


Types and Functions of Application Software

• Proprietary software: unique program for a specific application, usually developed and owned by a single company

• Off-the-shelf software: purchased software

• Customized package

Proprietary: “We build it”

Off-the-Shelf:“We buy it”


Personal Application Software

Table 2.8: Examples of Personal Productivity Software


Personal Application Software (continued)

Table 2.8: Examples of Personal Productivity Software (continued)


Workgroup Application Software

• Workgroup application software: supports teamwork, whether people are in the same location or dispersed around the world

• Groupware: software that helps groups of people work together more efficiently and effectively


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

• ERP integrates across functions, destroying silos and making communication easier.


Programming Languages

• Sets of keywords, symbols, and a system of rules for constructing statements

• Allow humans to communicate instructions to be executed by a computer

• Syntax: a set of rules associated with a programming language

• Different languages have characteristics that make them appropriate for particular types of applications


Programming Languages -2

• A programming language is a vehicle through which an organization’s need for processing is translated into commands that will later be executed and turned into work.

• Programming is a kind of planning for action.

• Programming is always “buggy” in the sense that people make mistakes and organizational needs are imperfectly understood.


Programming Languages -3

I need informa-tion to solve a

problem!

I, the pro-

grammer, hear you!

Compiler orlanguage processor

Programming language

statements

Conversation about need Information

System

SavedCom-

mands

InformationSystem

Some Time Later

Hooray! Now I

KNOW!


Software Issues and Trends That Will Effect YOU!

• Software bugs– Program defects that keep it from performing correctly

• Copyrights and licenses

• Global software support

• Obsolescence

• Outsourcing

• Legal issues

• Commoditization

• Security


Summary

• Hardware: central processing unit (CPU), input and output devices, communications devices, primary storage devices, and secondary storage devices

• Random access memory (RAM): temporary and volatile

• ROM (read-only memory): usually nonvolatile

• Multiprocessing: simultaneous execution of two or more instructions


Summary (continued)

• Sequential access: records retrieved in order

• Direct access: records retrieved in any order

• Computer programs: sequences of instructions

• Systems software: coordinates the activities of hardware and programs

• Application software: helps users solve problems


Summary (continued)

• Operating system (OS): programs that control the hardware and act as an interface with applications

• Graphical user interface (GUI): uses icons and menus to send commands to the computer system

• Programming languages: allow humans to communicate instructions to be executed by a computer

the physical basis of the infrastructure key slide

Documents

software software

software slide

infrastructure key slide

software industry

software programming

business applications

basic kinds of software

learning objectives