Information Technology Concepts

Chapter 5 - Lecture Notes (Chapter 3, 4, 6 of text book)

Contents
Hardware Software Telecommunications and Networks

Hardware
? refers to any machinery that assists in the input, processing, storage & output activities of an IS. E.g Keyboard, CPU, harddisk, disk drive, printer, scanner, plotter, CD-writer, etc..

Components of a Computer System

Communication devices

ALU, CU, Register I/P devices RAM CPU ROM O/P devices

Secondary storage

Input Devices
? ? ? ? ? ? ? Keyboard, mouse Scanner Bar code scanner Pen Input devices Touch-Sensitive screens Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) Voice Recognition device, etc..

Output devices
? ? ? ? ? Display monitors Printers Plotters Music devices (for downloading of music) Fax machines

Secondary storage
? a.k.a permanent storage ? Usually used to store large amount of data ? E.g
Harddisk, floppy disk, CD-Rewriter Data Tape (for backup of data) Memory card (i.e. for playstation) Refer to Fig 3.8 Page 86 for diagrams

CPU
? Stands for Central Processing Unit. It consists of 3 associated elements:
ALU Arithmetic Logic Unit CU Control Unit Registers high speed temporarily storage that hold small units of program instructions/data immediately before, during and after execution by the CPU

Memory
Volatile & temporary Random Access Memory Memory Types Non-volatile & permanent Read Only ROM Memory

RAM

SDRAM

DRAM

EDO

PROM

EPROM

Refer to page 83 for details of types of memory

Cache Memory
? a type of high-speed memory that a processor can access more rapidly than main memory. ? Data that is used frequently will be stored in cache memory for easily accessible. ? 2 types : Level 1 (L1) in the processor Level 2 (L2) on the motherboard

Storage Capacity
Name Byte Kilobyte Abbreviation No. of Bytes B KB 1 1,024 1,024 X 1,024 (abt 1 million) 1,024 x 1,024 x 1,024 (abt 1 billion) 1,024 x 1,024 x 1,024 x 1,024 (abt 1 trillion)

Megabyte MB Gigabyte Terabyte GB TB

Types of Computer
? Personal computer (pc)
desktop, laptop, notebook, palmtop

? Network computer
used mainly for accessing networks and the Internet

? Workstation
fits between high-end pc and low-end midrange computers in terms of cost and processing power. mainly used to support engineering and technical users

? Midrange computer, mainframe, supercomputer ? Multimedia computer incl. audio, video, animation. E.g Machintosh

Software
? refers to computer programs that control the workings of the computer hardware. ? Programs are sequences of instructions. ? 2 types of software:
Systems software Application software

Systems software
? A set of programs designed to coordinate the activities & functions of the hardware. E.g ? Operating system (OS)
a set of programs that control the computer hardware. acts as an interface with application programs. activities i.e
? performing common computer hardware functions
Retrieve, store, display data

? providing a user interface

Command-based user interface Graphical user interface (GUI)

.......... Cont
? managing system memory
control how memory is accessed maximize available memory and storage Objective: to execute program instructions effective & speed processing

? managing processing tasks

allows one user to run several programs at the same time. multitasking Allows several users to use the same computer at the same time time-sharing

? managing files
keeps track of where each files is stored, who may access it.

Example of OS
? Ms-Dos ? Windows ? Network OS Windows NT, 2000, Netware ? Unix ? Linux ? Mac OS ? Solaris

Application Software
? programs that help users to solve a particular problem ? 2 types: Proprietary software Off-the-shelf software

Proprietary software
? a one-of-a-kind program for a specific application/business ? is usually developed by IT professionals

Off-the-shelf software
? can be purchased from any software shop ? developed for a general market ? Can be customized to suit a specific business. ? 2 types: Customized package e.g Accpac (accounting package) Standard package (personal application software) e.g Visio

Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)

? Allows different programs to work together. E.g copy text or graphics from one document to another program/document. ? Most of the OS support OLE

Software Issues and Trends

? Software bug
is a defect in a program that keeps it from performing in the intended manner.

? Open source software

freely available to anyone in a form that can be easily modified.

? Opensourcing
Extend software development by finding others who share the same problem and involving them in a common development effort.

? Software Licensing
Software is protected by copyright law.

? Software Upgrades
New versions are available in the market periodically.

Computer system platform is a combination of hardware configuration and system software package.

Telecommunications and Networks

Communications
the transmission of a signal by way of a medium from a sender to a receiver. 2 types synchronous & asynchronous
Transmission medium e.g cable

SENDER

SIGNAL

RECEIVER

contains a message composed of data/information

Telecommunications ? refers to the electronic transmission of signals for communications i.e. telephone, radio, a television. ? allows business people to communicate with each other from remote locations.

Data communication
? refers to the electronic collection, processing, and distribution of data between computer systems uses telecommunications technology. ? is a subset of telecommunications.
COMPUTER A COMPUTER B

Telecommunication medium
? anything that carries an electronic signal & interface between a sending device and a receiving device. ? E.g cable

Types of media ? Cable

Twisted pair wire Coaxial cable Fiber-optic cable Fig 6.4 6.6 page 215 & 216

? Microwave transmissions are sent through the atmosphere and space.

a high-frequency radio signal that is sent through the air. Fig 6.7 page 216

? Satellite is microwave station placed in out space. Fig 6.8 page 217
Small mobile satellite systems that allow people & businesses to communicate.
? are portable ? require a dish e.g Astro TV

? Cellular transmission e.g mobile phone ? Infrared transmission involves sending signal to the air via light waves.
e.g wireless telephone, remote control for aircondition

Telecommunication device ? is a hardware unit that allow electronic communication to occur i.e. to transmit or receive signals. E.g ? Modem
stands for Modulation demodulation a device that translate data from digital to analog & analog back to digital.

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Modem
COMPUTER A

MODEM

analog signals digital signals

COMPUTER B

MODEM

? Facsimile a.k.a fax machine ? Multiplexer allows several signals to be sent over a single medium at the same time.
COMPUTER A COMPUTER B COMPUTER C M U L T I P L E X E R Front End Processor HOST COMPUTER

manage communications To and from a computer system. i.e receptionist

Telecommunication Carriers
? Are companies that provide telephone lines, modems, satellites & other communication technology used to transmit data from one location to another. ? E.g Telekom, AT&T ? Are known as Common Carriers - provide the use of standard telephone lines called switched lines

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? Switched lines refers to the standard telephone lines i.e need dialing ? Dedicated lines a.k.a leased lines
Refers to a constant connection between two points i.e. no dialing is required.

? Other lines i.e. ISDN, T1 (1.544Mbps speed), T2, etc..

Networks
? A computer network
consists of communications media, devices, and software needed to connect two or more computer systems so that computers can share data, information and processing of jobs.

? Basic processing strategies

When a company needs to use two or more computer system, one of the 3 basic processing strategies may be used:-

Basic processing strategies

when a company needs to use two or more computer system, one of the 3 basic processing strategies may be used:-

? Centralized processing
refers to all processing of data occur in one location
PC MAIN COMPUTER PC PC

PC

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? Decentralized processing
processing of data occurs at own location each computer systems do not communicate with each other. work independently

? Distributed processing
computer systems are connected with each other. allows sharing of data/information.

Distributed processing
PC PC SERVER A HOST COMPUTER PC PC SERVER B PC PC PC

PC

PC

SERVER C

SERVER D

? What is a network?
is about connecting two or more computer systems via a communication cable for sharing of data, information and resources. 2 basic types:? LAN Local Area Network
a network that connects computer systems within the same geographic area. E.g New Era College network system.

? WAN Wide Area Network

Involves larger geographic region using satellite, modem, microwave transmission.

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LAN (local area network)

? Arrangement of the computer systems on a network is called Network topology ? 5 types of network topologies:PC PC PC

RING PC

PC

PC BUS

PC

PC

PC

PC

PC

PC

PC

STAR

PC

PC

PC

PC

PC

PC

PC

PC

PC

PC

PC

PC

PC

HIERARCHICAL

HYBRID

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Networks and the Internet

Local Area Network (LAN) Wide Area Network (WAN)

Networks and the Internet

? The worlds largest network is the Internet ? Most users connect to the Internet in one of two ways:
Internet service provider Online service provider

The World Wide Web

? One of the more popular segments of the Internet is the World Wide Web, also called the Web ? A Web page is a document that contains text, graphics, sound, and/or video and has built-in connections, or hyperlinks to other Web documents ? A Web site is a related collection of Web pages ? You access and view Web pages using a software program called a Web browser ? A Web page has a unique address, called a Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

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Communications Software and Protocol

? Communication software
Software that provides a number of important functions in a network, i.e. data security, error checking E.g Network Operating System (NOS)
? Netware, Windows NT

? Communication protocol
rules that ensure communications among computers of different types. E.g Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model a standard model for network architectures.

Protocol Examples
? ? ? ? ? TCP/IP, UDP HTTP, FTP, SMTP TELNET WAP SET, MEPS

The World Wide Web

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Network applications for business

? Voice mail allows users to leave, receive, and store verbal messages. ? Video Conferencing a telecommunication system that combines video and phone call capabilities. allows users to conduct long-distance meetings face-to-face. ? Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) i.e. Customer orders and inquiries are transmitted from customers computer to the manufacturers computer. ? Distance Learning i.e. e-classroom or cyber classroom ? E-mail

Programming Languages

Programming Languages
? Commands and statements combined according to a particular syntax ? Different languages have different characteristics

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Characteristic of Programming Languages

? Different programming languages were designed to address different problems; therefore different programming languages have different characteristics. ? Programming languages have evolved over time. ? In general, programming languages have become easier to use over the years.

First Generation
? Machine languages that consists of binary digits, that is zeroes and ones. ? Binary is the only language a CPU can understand. ? Machine language programs directly instructed the computer hardware, so they were not portable. ? That is, a program written for computer model A could not be run on computer model B without being rewritten.

Second Generation
? Assembly languages - used symbols and codes instead of binary digits to represent program instructions. ? The resulting programs still directly instructed the computer hardware. ? Not easily portable. ? Were designed to run in a small amount of RAM ? They are low level languages; that is the instructions directly manipulate the hardware. ? Execute efficiently and quickly.

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Third Generation
? ? ? ? Greater use of symbolic code Statements are more English-like Easier to learn Resulting program slower & dont use RAM as efficiently ? Portability is possible because are high-level languages; that is instructions do not directly manipulate the computer hardware. ? Sometimes referred to as procedural languages since program instructions, while not directly manipulating specific hardware components, must still give the computer detailed instructions of how to reach the desired result. ? Examples: BASIC, COBOL, C, C++, FORTRAN

Fourth Generation
? 4GLs
Non-procedural, since programs tell the computer what it needs to accomplish, but do not provide detailed instructions as to how it should accomplish it. Examples: SQL, Visual Basic, SAS

? 5th Generation Language

Relates to AI and natural language processing

Object-Oriented Programming Languages

? Objects include data & actions. Objects interact by passing messages ? Encapsulation: group items into an object ? Polymorphism: One procedure can work with multiple objects. ? Inheritance: an object in a particular class gets attributes of that class.

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Object-Oriented Programming Languages

? An advantage of object oriented programming is that an object can be reused in a different program. ? This would enable programmers to combine existing objects with new ones, thus increasing their productivity. ? Object oriented languages have the potential benefits of lowering program costs and speeding program development time. ? Additionally, since existing objects have already been tested, testing time for new programs is decreased.

Selecting a Programming Language

? Trade offs of language characteristics, cost, control & complexity ? Assembly language programs are fast & efficient & offer the programmer control over the hardware ? Third- and fourth- generation languages are easier to learn & use

Language Translators

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Language Translators
? Although machine language is the only language the CPU understands, it is rarely used anymore since it is so difficult to use. ? Every program that is not written in machine language must be translated into machine language before it can be executed. ? This is done by a category of system software called language translation software. ? These are programs that convert the code originally written by the programmer, called source code, into its equivalent machine language program, called object code. ? There are two main types of language translators: interpreters and compilers.

Interpreters
? While a program is running, interpreters read, translate, and execute one statement of the program at a time. ? The interpreter displays any errors immediately on the monitor. ? Interpreters are very useful for people learning how to program or debugging a program. ? However, the line by line translation adds significant overhead to the program execution time.

Compiler
? A compiler uses a language translation program that converts the entire source program into object code, known as an object module, at one time. ? The object module is stored and it is the object module that executes when the program runs. ? The program does not have to be compiled again until changes are made in the source code.

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- End of Chapter 5-

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