Section B

Q2.

In the early days of computing, each time an information system was needed it was 'tailor
made' - built as a one-off solution for a particular problem. However, it soon became apparent
that many of the problems information systems set out to solve shared certain characteristics.
Consequently, people attempted to try to build a single system that would solve a whole range
of similar problems. However, they soon realized that in order to do this, it was first necessary
to be able to define how and where the information system would be used and why it was
needed. It was then that the search for a way to classify information systems accurately began.

How do you identify the different types of information

system in an organization?
The different types of information system that can be found are identified through a process of
classification. Classification is simply a method by which things can be categorized or
classified together so that they can be treated as if they were a single unit. There is a long
history of classification of things in the natural world such as plants or animals, however,
Information systems are not part of the 'natural' world; they are created and acquired by man
to deal with particular tasks and problems. The classification of information systems into
different types is a useful technique for designing systems and discussing their application; it
not however a fixed definition governed by some natural law. A 'type' or category of information
system is simply a concept, an abstraction, which has been created as a way to simplify a
complex problem through identifying areas of commonality between different things. One of the
oldest and most widely used systems for classifying information systems is known as the
pyramid model; this is described in more detail below.

Transaction Processing Systems

What is a Transaction Processing System?

Transaction Processing System are operational-level systems at the bottom of the pyramid.
They are usually operated directly by shop floor workers or front line staff, which provide the
key data required to support the management of operations. This data is usually obtained
through the automated or semi-automated tracking of low-level activities and basic
transactions.

Management Information Systems

What is a Management Information System?

For historical reasons, many of the different types of Information Systems found in commercial
organizations are referred to as "Management Information Systems". However, within our
pyramid model, Management Information Systems are management-level systems that are
used by middle managers to help ensure the smooth running of the organization in the short to
medium term. The highly structured information provided by these systems allows managers to
evaluate an organization's performance by comparing current with previous outputs.

Decision Support Systems

What is a Decision Support System?

A Decision Support System can be seen as a knowledge based system, used by senior
managers, which facilitates the creation of knowledge and allow its integration into the
organization. These systems are often used to analyze existing structured information and
allow managers to project the potential effects of their decisions into the future. Such systems
are usually interactive and are used to solve ill structured problems. They offer access to
databases, analytical tools, allow "what if" simulations, and may support the exchange of
information within the organization.

Executive Information Systems

What is an EIS?

Executive Information Systems are strategic-level information systems that are found at the top
of the Pyramid. They help executives and senior managers analyze the environment in which
the organization operates, to identify long-term trends, and to plan appropriate courses of
action. The information in such systems is often weakly structured and comes from both
internal and external sources. Executive Information System are designed to be operated
directly by executives without the need for intermediaries and easily tailored to the preferences
of the individual using them.
Q3.

Input and output devices, as their names suggest, enable a user to get data into or out of the computer.
While some input and output devices are found with almost every computer, others are optional and
designed to increase the comfort level of the user or serve a special purposeThere are three main types
of devices: input, output and dual purpose. Using a keyboard or numeric keypad is the quickest way for
a user to input alpha-numeric data. Mice are typically the fastest way to navigate a graphical user
interface and aim to make computer use easier, especially for the novice user. Scanners, which allow
data input from external sources such as documents and photos, are another common input device.
Output devices get data out of the computer. Monitors and printers were the earliest output devices.
Coming in different sizes and using multiple technologies, such as CRT or LCD, modern monitors
display the graphical output of user actions performed on a computer. Printers directly output data to a
hard copy, such as a paper document. There are some devices that can act as both input and output
devices. Monitors integrating touch-screen technology provide a user-friendly input and output system
by combining touch input with graphical output. Multi-function printers, which contain printers and
scanners, are also input and output devices, as are sound cards, which record and play audio.

Features
Devices constantly evolve to deliver more features and increased performance. Monitors grow in resolution and
shrink in weight, keyboards include dedicated hot keys and mice feature more buttons, scroll wheels
and improved technologies, such as optical or laser sensors and wireless connectivity.

Uses
Without input and output devices, the computer wouldn't be very useful. Digital cameras and scanners allow the
input of pictures and documents; microphones allow speech and sound input; and graphics tablets and touch
screens allow finger or stylus input for writing and drawing. Input devices such as PC remotes enhance the
multimedia viewing experience. Output devices like speakers provide audio output, and printers, projectors
and monitors provide visual output.

Future
Touch screens are becoming increasingly common, as are all-in-one devices. All-in-one PCs -- often equipped
with touch screens -- are friendly for computer novices and casual users, and a simple choice for multimedia
viewing, as are touch screen tablets. All-in-one technologies are also deployed in ATMs, laptops, PDAs and
mobile phones, so it looks like touch-screen technology may be the choice of the future for consumer input and
output systems.

Storage Devices
While devices like USB flash memory drives, solid state disk drives and hard disk drives might seem like input
or output devices, they are instead classified as storage devices. Data from a computer can be stored on CDs,
DVDs or flash drives for portability and easy acess at another computer.
Q6.
The operating system is the most important program that runs on acomputer. Every general-purpose computer must have an
operating system to run other programs and applications. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing inputfrom
the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral
devices such as disk drives and printers.
For large systems, the operating system has even greater responsibilities and powers. It is like a traffic cop -- it makes sure that
different programs and users running at the same time do not interfere with each other. The operating system is also
responsible for security, ensuring that unauthorized users do not access the system.

The term network operating system is used to refer to two rather different concepts:

A specialised operating system for a network device such as a router, switch or firewall.

An operating system oriented to computer networking, to allow shared file and printer access among
multiple computers in a network, to enable the sharing of data, users, groups, security, applications, and
other networking functions.[1] Typically over a local area network (LAN), or private network. This sense is
now largely historical, as common operating systems generally now have such features included.

Network operating systems can be embedded in a router or hardware firewall that operates the functions in
the network layer (layer 3).[2]

Examples:

JUNOS, used in routers and switches from Juniper Networks,

Cisco IOS (formerly "Cisco Internetwork Operating System").

TiMOS, used in routers from Alcatel-Lucent

VRP (Versatile Routing Platform), used in routers from Huawei

RouterOS, software which turns a PC or MikroTik hardware into a dedicated router

ZyNOS, used in network devices made by ZyXEL.

Extensible Operating System used in switches from Arista

ExtremeXOS, used in network devices made by Extreme Networks. Also called EXOS.

Embedded Linux, in distributions like Openwrt and DD-WRT which run on low-cost platforms
such as the Linksys WRT54G.

Open Source Network operating system examples:

Cumulus Linux distribution, which uses the full TCP/IP stack of Linux.

Dell Networking Operating System (DNOS)is the new name for the operating system running on
switches from Dell Networking. This will run on top of NetBSD

Open Network Operating System (ONOS)

PicOS, Linux-based OpenFlow-supporting switching operating system from produced by Pica8.

VyOS, an open source fork of the Vyatta routing package

OpenSwitch Linux Network Operating System from Hewlett-Packard.[3]

Q7.

Mobile computing is humancomputer interaction by which a computer is expected to be transported during

normal usage. Mobile computing involves mobile communication, mobile hardware, and mobile software.

Communication issues include ad hoc and infrastructure networks as well as communication

properties, protocols, data formats and concrete technologies. Hardware includes mobile devices or device
components.Mobile software deals with the characteristics and requirements of mobile applications.
Mobile Computing is a technology that allows transmission of data, voice and video via a computer or any other
wireless enabled device without having to be connected to a fixed physical link. The main concept involves:
Mobile communication
Mobile hardware

Ubiquitous computing (ubicomp) is a concept in software engineering and computer science where
computing is made to appear anytime and everywhere. In contrast to desktop computing, ubiquitous computing
can occur using any device, in any location, and in any format. A user interacts with the computer, which can
exist in many different forms, including laptop computers, tablets and terminals in everyday objects such as
a fridge or a pair of glasses. The underlying technologies to support ubiquitous computing include Internet,
advanced middleware, operating system, mobile code, sensors, microprocessors, new I/O and user interfaces,
networks, mobile protocols, location and positioning and new materials.
This paradigm is also described as pervasive computing,[1] ambient intelligence,[2] ambient media[3] or
"everyware".[4] Each term emphasizes slightly different aspects. When primarily concerning the objects involved,
it is also known as physical computing, the Internet of Things, haptic computing,[5] and "things that think". Rather
than propose a single definition for ubiquitous computing and for these related terms, a taxonomy of properties
for ubiquitous computing has been proposed, from which different kinds or flavors of ubiquitous systems and
applications can be described.[6]

The World Wide Web (WWW) is an open source information space where documents and other web
resources are identified by URLs, interlinked by hypertext links, and can be accessed via the Internet.[1] It has
become known simply as the Web. The World Wide Web was central to the development of the Information
Age and is the primary tool billions of people use to interact on the Internet. [2][3][4]
The World Wide Web was invented by English scientist Tim Berners-Lee in 1989. He wrote the first web
browser in 1990 while employed at CERN in Switzerland.[5][6]
Web pages are primarily text documents formatted and annotated with Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). In
addition to formatted text, web pages may contain images, video, and software components that are rendered
in the user's web browser as coherent pages of multimedia content. Embedded hyperlinks permit users
to navigate between web pages. Multiple web pages with a common theme, a common domain name, or both,
may be called a website. Website content can largely be provided by the publisher, or interactive where users

contribute content or the content depends upon the user or their actions. Websites may be mostly informative,
primarily for entertainment, or largely for commercial purposes.

A web hosting service is a type of Internet hosting service that allows individuals and organizations to make
their website accessible via the World Wide Web. Web hosts are companies that provide space on
a server owned or leased for use by clients, as well as providingInternet connectivity, typically in a data center.
Web hosts can also provide data center space and connectivity to the Internet for other servers located in their
data center, called colocation, also known as Housing in Latin America or France.
The scope of web hosting services varies greatly. The most basic is web page and small-scale file hosting,
where files can be uploadedvia File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or a Web interface. The files are usually delivered
to the Web "as is" or with minimal processing. ManyInternet service providers (ISPs) offer this service free to
subscribers. Individuals and organizations may also obtain Web page hosting from alternative service
providers. Personal web site hosting is typically free, advertisement-sponsored, or inexpensive. Business web
site hosting often has a higher expense depending upon the size and type of the site.