This document summarizes key concepts from a lecture on computer applications: 1. John Von Neumann's concepts of computing established that memory would contain both data and instructions, and that only one instruction would be executed at a time. Current computer systems are based on these concepts and are multi-programming or multi-tasking. 2. Computer applications can be categorized as interactive systems, fault-tolerant systems, parallel systems, clustered computers, and supercomputers. Distributed and centralized systems each have their own advantages and disadvantages. 3. Computer programming languages have evolved from machine language to various generations of high-level languages like FORTRAN, Pascal, and languages that more closely resemble natural languages.

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CS414:
Computer Center
Management
Lecture #2: Computer Applications
Dr. Ghada Abdelhady
‫الوعلىهات‬ ‫نظن‬ ‫و‬ ‫الحاسب‬ ‫لعلىم‬ ‫العالى‬ ‫الوعهد‬
High Institute for Computer and information system

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Objectives
 John Von Neuman's Concepts
 Current Computer Applications
 Types of Computer Applications
 Computer Programming Languages

3. John Von Neuman's Concepts of Computing
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 Memory is to contain data & instructions together
 Only one instruction is to be executed at a time

4. Current Computer Applications
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 Current Computer Applications are based on Von
Neuman's concepts of computing,
 Computer systems now are called Multi-programming
or Multi-tasking systems.

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Interactive System
the system that interact with users as soon as
requests are made.
Fault-tolerant System
the system that needs redundancy to ensure no
interruption to the system processing,
Parallel Systems (Vector Computer or Mathematic
Computer)
Systems that are used processing with standardized
format at the same time, which are mostly used for
Scientific Tasks/Applications.

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 Clustered Computers
 Supercomputer
(Cray Research Lab &Silicon Graphic Institution
(SGI).

7. Systems in Banking Operations
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8. Types of Computer Applications
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 Distributed vs. Centralized Systems
Centralized Systems Distributed Systems
 Allow better usage as all data and
applications are standardized
throughout.
 Organization Better controlled and
Managed Better Security as all data
and processing tasks are performed
and kept at the central location.
 No data or application redundancy as
the whole system is managed by the
main computer at central location.
 Dependence: If the main system fails,
everything stops
 Suit specific needs of all units within
the organizations.
 Independence: no harm to other unit if
one fails.
 Difficulties in communication and data
exchange between units due to
nonstandardized systems and data
design.
 Redundancy of data and applications
are likely.
 As all data are distributed, data security
is the major issues.

9. Computer Programing Languages
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Generation Discussion
First Generation Machine Language - directly executable by the computer
Second Generation Assembly Language - low-level language similar to
machine language but more understandable by humans, is
transformed to machine language by an assembler program
Third Generation High-level language, which is procedural in format, is
transformed into machine language by a compiler,
examples include COBOL, FORTRAN, Pascal
Forth Generation High-level language, which is non-procedural, meaning
that the programmer specifies what to do, not how to do it;
most fourth generation languages are interpreted where
source code is changed to machine code on a line-by-line
interactive basis
Fifth Generation The evolving languages that are based on natural
languages such as English; the user can "talk" to the
computer as one would to another person

10. Decision Support Systems (DSS)
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 Systems designed to aid managers in making quality
decisions.
 Particularly helpful for unstructured problems

11. Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS)
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12. Thank you for listening.
Dr. Ghada Abdelhady