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Holy Cross of Davao College

Bachelor of Science in Library & Information Science

Review Notes for the Librarian Board Exam 2004

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Computer & Information System
(Part I)

Table of Contents
History of Computing 1

Pre-computer age

Calculating Machines

Punched Card Information Processing

Computer Age/Evolution of Computers & the Birth of Software

Computer and Information System Concepts 6

Computer Hardware 6

Computer Software 11

Data Resources Management 14

Issues Affecting Libraries and Information Centers 16

Trends in IT 16
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Computer Age / Evolution of Computers and the Birth of Software

Charles Babbage – an English mathematician, designed the Analytical Engine, the Forerunner of
modern computers. He was referred to as the “Father of modern computers.”
Lady Ada Augusta Lovelace – daughter of Lord Byron, the poet, provided complete details as
to exactly how the analytical engine was to work. Because she described some of the
key elements of computer programming, she was referred to as the “World’s first
computer programmer”.
1942 – The First Computer : The ABC (Atanasof Berry Computer)
Dr. John V. Atanasof together with Clifford E. Berry assembled a prototype of the ABC that
used electronic parts instead of operating electromechanically. ABC is considered the first
electronic computing machine. It could do only addition and subtraction. But the ABC never
became operational because both desginers became involved in military efforts associated with
the World War.
1944 – The Electromechanical MARKI Computer
The first electromechanical computer was completed by Howard Aiken in 1944 that could
solve mathematical problems 1000 times faster than existing machines could; also known as the
Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator.
1946 – The Electronic ENIAC Computer (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator)
The first electronic computer to be made fully operational and was built for the US Army to
perform quickly and accurately the complex calculations that gunners needed to aim their
artillery weapons.
1949 – EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator). EDSA is considered as the world’s
first operating electronic computer that stored its program of instruction. It gave more
flexibility in the use of the computer. Scientists at Cambridge University in England designed it.
1951 – EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) John Von Neuman of Pennsylvania
University invented the concept of stored program. But the EDVAC was only completed 2
years after the EDSAC. Both uses stored programs for instruction.
1951 – The UNIVAC I and the First Generation of Computers
UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) is the first business computer. It was developed to
improve information processing in business organizations.
The first generation of computers (1951 – 1959) is characterized by the use of VACUUM
TUBES and were very large in size (room size/ mainframe).
1954 – the IBM 650
IBM 650 is probably the reason why IBM enjoys such a healthy share of today’s computer
market. Unlike some of its competitors, IBM 650 was designed as a logical upgrade to existing
punched-card machines. IBM went out on a limb and estimated sales of 50, a figure greater than
the number of installed computers in the entire nation at that time. IBM actually installed 1,000.
The rest is history.
1971 – Integrated Circuits and the Fourth Generation of Computers
Large-scale integration of circuitry (more circuits per unit of space) was introduced. The base
technology, though, is still the integrated circuit. This is not to say that two decades have passed
without significant innovations. In truth, the computer industry has experienced a mind-boggling
succession of advances in the further miniaturization of circuitry, data communications, and the
design of computer hardware and software.
The fourth generation of computers is characterized by LARGE – SCALE INTEGRATES (LSI)
SEMI _ CONDUCTOR CIRCUITS; Desktop and Laptop.
1975 – Microsoft and Bill Gates
Bill Gates and Paul Allen revolutionized the computer industry. They developed a BASIC
programming language for the first commercial available microcomputer, the MITS Altair. After
successful completion of the project, the two formed Microsoft Corporation, now the largest and
most influential software company in the world. Microsoft was given an enormous boost when
its operating system software, MS – DOS was elected for use by the IBM PC. Gates, now the
richest man in the world, provides the company’s vision on new product ideas and technologies.
1977 – The Apple II
One prominent entrepreneurial venture during the early years was the Apple II Personal
computer. This event has forever changed how society perceives computers: that computing is
made available to individuals and very small companies.
1981 - The IBM PC
IBM tossed its hat into the personal computer ring with its announcement of IBM Personal
Computer. By the end of 1982, 835,000 had been sold. When software vendors began to orient
their products to the IBM PC, many companies began offering IBM – PC compatibles or clones.
Today, the IBM PC and its clones have become a powerful standard for the microcomputer
industry.
1982 – Electronic Spreadsheet Product
Mitchell Kapor founded Lotus Development Company, a subsidiary of IBM and introduced an
electronic spreadsheet product and gave IBM PC credibility in the business marketplace. Sales
of IBM PC and the electronic spreadsheet, Lotus 123 soared.
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1984 – The Macintosh and Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Apple Computer introduced the Macintosh desktop computer with a very “friendly” graphical
user interface proof that computers can be easy and fun to use. GUI bean to change the
complexion of the software industry. They have changed the interaction between human and
computer from a short, character – oriented exchange modeled on the teletypewriter to the now
famous WIMP interface – Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointing devices.
1985 – up to present Microsoft Windows
Microsoft introduced Windows, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for IBM – PC compatible
computers. Window did not enjoy widespread acceptance until 1990 with the release of Windows
3.0. It gave a huge boost to the software industry because larger, more complex programs could
now be run on IBM – PC compatibles. Subsequent releases made PC even easier to use, fueling
the PC explosion of the 1990’s.

Computer and Information Systems Concepts

Information System
 a set of people, procedures, and resources that collects, transforms and disseminates
information in an organization.
 A system that accepts data resources as input and processes them into information products as
output.
IS can be an organized combination of:
Hardware – physical equipment, machines, media, mechanical, electronic, electrical, magnetic,
optical devices.
Software – computer program & procedures concerned with the operational of an information
system
Data / Information
Data – streams of raw facts
Information – processed data
People – information specialists, librarians, knowledge workers, IT people, etc.
Communication networks – LAN, client/server networks, Internet, Intranet, etc.
Computer - electronic devise that has the ability to accept data; store & execute a program of
instructions perform mathematical & logical operations on data; reports the results.
Computer System – computer system consists of input & output devices, primary & secondary storage
devices, the CRU, the control unit and other peripheral devices.
Computer – Based Information System (CBIS) – rely on computer hardware & software for processing
& disseminating information
Role of Librarians / Information Specialists – provide & deliver information system services

COMPUTER HARDWARE
A contemporary computer system can be categorized into 6 major components:
Input devices
Central Processing Unit
Primary Storage
Secondary Storage
Output devices
Communication devices
In order for information to flow through computer system and be in a form suitable for processing, all
symbols, pictures or words must be reduced to a string of binary digits. A binary digit is called
bit.
Other ways to speed up processing:
Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RESC) – technology used to enhance the speed of
microprocessors by embedding only the most frequently used instructions on a chip

Parallel Processing – type of processing in which more than one instruction can be processed at
a time by breaking down a problem into smaller parts and processing them simultaneously with
multiple processors.

Massively Parallel Processing – computers that use hundred or thousands of processing chips to
attack large computing problems simultaneously.
Batch and On – Line Input and Processing
The manner in which data are input into the computer affects how the data can be processed.
Information systems collect and process information one or two ways, through:
Batch processing – a method of collecting and processing data in which transactions are
accumulated and stored until a specific time when it is convenient or necessary to process them
as a group.
On – Line Processing – a method of collecting and processing data in which transactions are
entered directly into the computer system and processed immediately.
Primary Storage – temporarily stores data and program instructions during processing. It is often called
the RAM (Random Access Memory) because it can directly access any randomly chosen
location in the same amount of time.
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RAM is used for short-term storage of data or program instructions. RAM is volatile: it contents
will be lost when the computers’ electric supply is turned off.

ROM (Read-Only-Memory) can only be read from it; it cannot be written to. ROM chips come
from manufacturer with programs already burned in or stored. ROM is used in general-purpose
computers to store important or frequently used programs. ROM is non-volatile.

It has three functions:

 Stores all part of the software program that is being executed.
 Stores the operating system programs that manage the operation of the computer
 Holds the data that the program is using
Computer storage is measured in bytes:
Byte - string of eight bits
Kilobyte - 1,000 bytes
Megabyte - 1,000,000 bytes
Gigabyte - 1, 000,000,000 bytes
Terabyte - 1, 000,000,000,000 bytes
Telecommunications System Components:
 Computers to process information
 Terminals or any input/output devices that send or receive data
 Communications channels – media such as telephone line, fiber-optic cables, coaxial cables
and wireless transmission
 Communication processors such as modems, multiplexers, controllers and front-end
processors
 Communication software, which controls input and output activities and manages other
functions to the communication network
Categories of Computers and Computer Systems
Mainframe – largest category of computer used for major business processing
Midrange computer – middle-size computer that is capable of supporting the computing needs of
smaller organizations or managing networks of other computers
Microcomputer – small computer used in systems for universities, factories, or research laboratories
Personal Computer (PC) – small desktop or portable computer, handled (laptops, notebooks,
PDAs, Wearable PCs)
Server – computer specifically optimized to provide software and other resources to other
computers over a network.
Server farm – large group of servers maintained by a commercial vendor and made available to
subscribers for electronic commerce and other activities requiring heavy use of
servers.
Workstation – desktop computer with powerful graphics and mathematical capabilities and the ability to
perform several complicated tasks at once.
Supercomputers – highly sophisticated and powerful computer that can perform very complex
computations extremely rapidly.
Thin Client – a computer that only functions when connected to a server
Major trends in computer system capabilities – computers continue to become smaller, faster more
reliable, less costly to purchase and maintain, and more interconnected within
computer networks
 Input technology trends: Toward direct input devices that are more natural and
easy to use.
 Output technology trends: Toward direct output methods that communicate
naturally, quickly and clearly.
Common feature of a computer regardless of brand, type and size:
 Input
 Processing Unit
 Storage Capabilities
 Output
Utility Software – used to support, enhance or ex[and existing programs in a computer system
Screensaver
Data recovery and back-up utilities
Virus scan
Data compression and disk defragmenter tools
Device drivers
Spooling programs
Fourth Generation Languages – A programming language that can be employed directly by end users or
less-skilled programmers to develop computer applications more rapidly than conventional
programming languages; less or non-procedural. Characteristics are:
Natural language – programming language that is very close to human language.
Query language – software tool that provides immediate on-line answers to requests for
information that is pre-defined.
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Seven Categories of 4th Generation Languages:

 PC Software tools (WordPerfect, IE, Access)
 Query language (SQL)
 Report generator (RPG III)
 Graphics language (SAS graph, Sytat)
 Application generator (FOCUS< PowerBuilder, MS Font Page)
 Application Software packages (Peoplesoft HRMS, SAP R/3)
 Very-high level programming languages (APL, Nomads2)

Application Software – Programs written for a specific application to perform functions specified by end
user. It must work through the system software in order to operate

Word Processing Software (Word, Office Writer, Star Office Writer)

 Software that uses the computer to enter, store, manipulate and print text to produce documents

Electronic Spreadsheet (Excel, Calc)

 File containing data and formulas in tabular format with the capability of easily recalculating
numerical data

Database Management (Access, Open Office, Integrated Library System Software )

 Software used for creating and manipulating lists, creating files and databases to store data and
combining information for reports.

Presentation Graphics (PowerPoint, Lotus Freelance Graphics)

 Software to create quality graphics presentations that can incorporate charts, sound, animation, photos
and video clips

File Organization Terms and Concepts

 Character – consists of a single alphabetic, numeric or other symbol
 Field – a grouping of character into a word, a group of words, or a complete number, such as
person’s name or age
 Record – a group of related fields
 File – a group of records of the same type
 Database – a group of logically related files or objects
 Entity – a person, place, thing or event about which information must be kept
 Attribute – a piece of information describing a particular entity
 Key field – a field in a record that uniquely identifies instances of that records so that it can
be retrieved, updated or sorted
 Query – is a statement you define, which tells the DBMS to find records that match criteria
you specify.
 Tuple – a row pr record in a relational database
Problems with Traditional File Management System
 Data redundancy
 Program data-dependence
 Lack of flexibility
 Poor security
 Lack of data-sharing and availability
The Database Management Approach – consolidates data records and objects into databases that can be
accessed by many different application programs.
What is Database
It is a collection of data organized to serve many applications efficiently by centralizing the data
and minimizing redundant data.
What is Database Management System (DBMS)
It id a special software or computer programs that controls the creation, maintenance, and use of
databases of an organization and its end users.
A Database Management System has three components:
 A data definition language
 A data manipulation language
 A data dictionary
What is SQL
Structured Query Language. It is found in many databases management packages and the most
prominent data manipulation language today.
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Issues Affecting Libraries and Information Centers
Issue
Licensing issue Microsoft or Linux free or with a fee)
Piracy passwords, serial numbers or codes required
for installation; locks
Computer viruses Update anti virus software regularly; avoid
opening mails from unknown sources
Data theft (more serious than software piracy) User ID, passwords, locks, selective
“grants” to staff, encryption
Spam, junk mails Use spam-blocking software; do not add
your name in mailing lists; report to your
ISP
Obsolescence of Hardware & Software Download software from Internet; recycle;
donate to charities
Use of electricity Set computer to automatically powers down
the monitor & HD when not in use
Health issue Use of erogonomically* correct furniture
like chairs, tables and even keyboard

*Ergonomics – science & technology emphasizing the safety, comfort and ease if human-operated
machines such as computers. The goal of ergonomics is to produce systems that are user-
friendly, safe, comfortable and easy to use. It is also called human factors engineering.

Trends in IT
Computer system capabilities Computers continue to become smaller,
faster , more reliable, less costly to purchase
and maintain, and more interconnected
within computer networks.
Input technology trends Toward direct input devices that are more
natural and easy to use
Output technology trends Toward direct output methods that
communicate naturally, quickly and clearly.
Primary Storage Media Toward large capacities using smaller
microelectronic circuits
Secondary Storage Media Toward massive capacities using magnetic
and optical media