2. Why Learn About Hardware and
Software?
• Organizations invest in computer hardware to:
– Improve worker productivity
– Increase revenue, reduce costs
– Provide better customer service
• Managers:
– Are expected to know enough about their business needs to
be able to ask tough questions
4. Hardware Components
• Central processing unit (CPU):
– Arithmetic/logic unit, the control unit, and the
register areas
• Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU):
– Performs mathematical calculations and
makes logical comparisons
• Control unit:
– Sequentially accesses program instructions,
decodes them, and coordinates the flow of
data in and out of the ALU, registers, primary
storage, and even secondary storage and
various output devices
7. Processing Characteristics and
Functions
• Clock speed:
– Series of electronic pulses produced at a predetermined rate
that affects machine cycle time
– Often measured in:
• Megahertz (MHz): millions of cycles per second
• Gigahertz (GHz): billions of cycles per second
• Physical characteristics of the CPU
– Most CPUs are collections of digital circuits imprinted on
silicon wafers, or chips, each no bigger than the tip of a
pencil eraser
8. Memory Characteristics and
Functions
• Memory:
– Provides the CPU with a working storage area for programs
and data
– Rapidly provides data and instructions to the CPU
• Storage capacity:
– Eight bits together form a byte (B)
10. Memory Characteristics and Functions
(continued)
• Types of memory:
– Random access memory (RAM):
• Temporary and volatile
– Read-only memory (ROM):
• Nonvolatile
• Provides permanent storage for data and instructions that
do not change
11. Multiprocessing
• Multiprocessing:
– Simultaneous execution of two or more instructions at the
same time
• Multicore microprocessor:
– Combines two or more independent processors into a single
computer
12. Multiprocessing (continued)
• Parallel computing:
– Simultaneous execution of the
same task on multiple
processors to obtain results
faster
• Grid computing:
– Use of a collection of computers
to work in a coordinated manner
to solve a common problem
• Cloud computing
– pools computing resources so
they can be managed primarily
by software rather than people.
Applications typically on
13. Secondary Storage
• Secondary storage:
– Advantages:
• Nonvolatility
• greater capacity
• greater economy
– Disadvantages
• slower than memory
• Portability makes vulnerable to loss, theft, damage
14. Secondary Storage Devices
• Magnetic tapes:
– Primarily for storing backups of
critical organizational data
– Require sequential access
• Magnetic disks (hard drive):
– Direct-access storage device
16. Secondary Storage Devices (cont’d)
• Redundant array of independent/inexpensive disks
(RAID):
– Method of storing data that generates extra bits of data from
existing data
• Virtual tape:
– Storage technology for less frequently needed data
• Storage area network:
– Uses computer servers,
distributed storage devices, and
networks to tie everything
together
17. Secondary Storage Devices (continued)
• Optical discs:
– Common form of optical
disc on which data is not
normally modified once it
has been recorded
(exception CD-RW)
• Digital video disc (DVD):
– Storage medium used to
store software, video
games, and movies
18. Secondary Storage Devices (continued)
• Solid state secondary storage devices:
– Store data in memory chips rather than magnetic or optical
media
– Have few moving parts, so they are less fragile than hard
disk drives
– Disadvantages of SSD:
• High cost per GB of data storage
• Lower capacity compared to current hard drives
19. Input Devices
• Devices used to input general types of data:
– Personal computer input devices
– Speech recognition technology
– Digital cameras
– Touch-sensitive screens
– Optical data readers
– Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) devices
– Pen input devices
– Magnetic stripe card
– Radio Frequency Identification
21. Output Devices
• Display monitors:
– LCD displays:
• Flat displays that use liquid crystals
– Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs):
• Use a layer of organic material sandwiched between two
conductors
• Less power use
• Flexible displays
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE50vaI1ZeI
23. Computer System Types
Single User
Portable
• Handheld
• Laptop
• Notebook
• netbook
• Tablet
NonPortable
• Thin client
• Desktop
• Nettop
• Workstation
24. Computer System Types
Multi-User computers
• Server
Used by many users to perform a specific task, such as running
network or Internet applications
• Mainframe
• Supercomputer
29. Operating Systems
• Tasks of the operating system:
– Common computer hardware functions
• input/output to devices
• Retrieve/store data to disks
– User Interface
• Command based (c:) or graphical (GUI)
– Hardware independence
– Manage memory and processing tasks
– Networking
– Control access to system resources
– Manage files
30. Tasks of the Operating System
• User Interface
– Command-based user interface:
• Requires that text commands be given to the computer to
perform basic activities
31. Tasks of Operating Systems
• User Interface cont’d
– Graphical user interface (GUI):
• Uses icons and menus displayed on screen to send commands
to the computer system
32. Tasks of Operating Systems
• Hardware independence:
– Application program interface (API):
• Allows applications to make use of the operating system
• Memory management:
– Allows computer to execute program instructions effectively
and to speed processing
33. Tasks of Operating Systems
• Processing tasks:
– Multitasking:
• More than one program can run at the same time
– Time-sharing:
• Allows more than one person to use a computer system at the
same time
– Scalability:
• Ability of the computer to handle an increasing number of
concurrent users smoothly
34. Tasks of Operating Systems
• Networking:
– Allows computers in a network to send/receive data and
share computing resources
• Access to system resources and security:
– Login/logout
• File management:
– Ensures that files are available when needed
– Protected from access by unauthorized users
35. Utility Programs
• Help to perform maintenance or correct problems with a
computer system
• Some can help computer systems run better and longer
without problems
• Can help to secure and safeguard data
36. Application Software
• Application programs:
– Interact with systems software
– Help you perform common tasks, such as:
• Creating and formatting text documents
• Performing calculations
• Managing information
37. Personal Application Software
• Word processing
• Spreadsheet analysis
• Database applications
• Graphics program
• Personal information managers
• Software suites and integrated software packages
39. Types and Functions of Application
Software
• Proprietary:
– One-of-a-kind program for a specific application, usually
developed and owned by a single company
• Off-the-shelf:
– Existing software program that is purchased
• Application service provider (ASP):
– Company that can provide software, support, and computer
hardware on which to run the software from the user’s
facilities over a network
40. Types and Functions of Application
Software
• Software as a service (SaaS):
– Allows businesses to subscribe to Web-delivered business
application software by paying a monthly service charge or a
per-use fee
– Can reduce expenses by sharing its running applications
among many businesses
• Cloud computing:
– Use of computing resources on the Internet (the cloud)
rather than on local computers
41. Mobile Application Software (Apps)
• Operating systems designed for smartphones include:
– iOS, Android
• Palm WebOS:
– Dead
http://www.theverge.com/2012/6
/5/3062611/palm-webos-hp-
inside-story-pre-postmortem
42. Workgroup Application Software
• Support teamwork, whether people are in the same
location or dispersed around the world
• Groupware:
– Software that helps groups of people work together more
effectively
43. Programming Languages
• Sets of keywords, symbols, and a system of rules for
constructing statements:
– Humans communicate instructions to be executed by a
computer
• Programming:
– Translating what user wants into instructions the computer
understands and executes
44. Software Issues and Trends
• Software bug:
– Defect in a program that keeps it from performing as it
should
• Copyrights or licensing provisions:
– In some cases, you are given unlimited use of software on
one or two computers
– In other cases, you pay for your usage:
• If you use the software more, you pay more
• Support
– One of the biggest challenges IS teams face
– Trend: Outsource global support to one or more third-party
distributors
45. END OF CHAPTER 2 Part 2
• Go to eCampus to take your Chapter 2 quiz
