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Week Three: Chapter Four: Hardware and Software (4.3 What do business…
Week Three:
Chapter Four: Hardware and Software
4.1 What do business professionals need to know about computer hardware?
Computer Hardware:
consists of electronic components and related gadgetry that input, process and output and store data according to instructions encoded in computer programs or software
HARDWARE COMPONENTS
Every computer has a
Central Processing Unit (CPU) / the brain:
portion of a computer that selects instructions, processes them, performs arithmetic and logical comparisons and stores results of operations in memory
CPU vary in speed
(hertz)
, function and cost
slow < 3.0 GHz
Fast >3.5 GHz
Computers with 2 CPU's =
dual processor
Computers with 4 CPU's =
quad processor
Work in conjunction with the
Main Memory (RAM):
reads data and instructions from memory and stores the results of the computations in the main memory
12GB+ RAM for large applications
All Computers have a
Storage Hardware:
used to save data and programs
Common Storage Devices
NON-VOLATILE
(contents survive when the power is off)
Magnetic disks (hard drives)
solid state storage (SSD)
thumb drives
optical disks (CD/DVD)
VOLATILE
(contents are lost when the power is off)
cache and memory
TYPES OF HARDWARE
Personal Computers (PC):
Classic computing devices that are used by individuals
Tablet
Phablet:
combination of smartphone with a larger screen of tablet
Smartphone
Server:
computer that is designed to support processing requests from many remote computer users
Server Farm:
collection of thousands of servers
computer disk capacities are specified according to the amount of data they can contain
COMPUTER DATA
Computers represent data using
Binary Digits (bits)
either 0 or 1
Computer Data Sizes
BYTE
(8-bit chunks)
Kilobyte (KB)
1024 bytes
Megabyte (MB)
1024 KB
Gigabyte (GB)
1024 MB
Terabyte (TB)
1024GB
Petabyte (PB):
1024 TB
Exabyte (EB):
1024 PB
Zettabyte (ZB):
1024 EB
4.2 How can new hardware affect competitive strategies?
Smart Device:
processing power, large memory, internet access, Wi-fi connectivity, ability to interconnect with other devices and applications
THREE HARDWARE DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DISRUPT EXISTING ORGANISATIONS
Internet of Things (IoT):
idea that objects are becoming connected to the Internet so that they can interact with other devices, applications or services
increasingly embedded with hardware capable of sensing, processing and transmitting data
Impact of IoT
by analysing data collected from smart devices, can increase efficiencies, reduces wastes and improve decision making
identifies problems
Self-driving cars:
uses a variety of sensors to navigate like a traditional car but without human intervention
Impact of self-driving cars
makes life cheaper, easier and safer
reduces human error (fewer automobile accidents, avoids costly traffic tickets)
eliminates the need for multiple cars
disrupts businesses (auto sales / loans/ insurance / car repair decline, more jobs for engineers, programmers, system designers
3D Printing
plastics, metals, ceramics, foods, biological material
opportunities in aerospace, defence, automotive, entertainment, healthcare industries
4.3 What do business professionals need to know about software?
BASIC CATEGORIES OF SOFTWARE
Client:
PCs, tablets and smartphones that access servers via the cloud
Operating Systems:
Programs that control the client computer's resources
Application Programs:
Applications that are processes on client computers
Application Programs:
programs that perform a business function
Native Applications:
(THICK-client applications) programs that are written to use a particular operating system
e.g. microsoft access will only run on windows operating system
Web Applications:
(THIN-client applications) designed to run within a computer browser
e.g. chrome can run on any type of computer
TYPES OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Horizontal Applications:
software provides capabilities common across all organisations and industries
e.g. Microsoft programs, Adobe Programs
purchased
off the shelf
and little customisation of features is necessary
Off the shelf:
software that is used without making any changes
Vertical Applications:
software serves the needs of a specific industry
e.g. programs used by dental offices to schedule appointments
purchased off the shelf or off the shelf and then customised for specific use
One of a Kind Applications:
software developed for a specific, unique need
e.g.US department of defence software
Selecting an application type:
Risk & expense of custom software - should be the last choice - used when there is no better option
Server:
computer that provides some type of service, such as hosting a database, running a blog, publishing a website or selling goods
Operating Systems:
Programs that control the server computer's resources
Application Programs:
Applications that are processed on server computers
Every computer has an
Operating System (OS):
program that controls that computer's resources
Functions:
read and write data, allocate main memory, perform memory swapping, start and stop programs, respond to conditions, and facilitate backup and recovery
creates and manages the user interface
MAJOR OPERATING SYSTEMS
Non-mobile Clients:
operating systems used on personal computers
Windows, Mac OS, Unix, Linux
Mobile Clients:
Information systems that support users in motion
Symbian, Blackberry OS, iOS, Android, Windows 10
Servers
Windows server, Unix, Linux
Owning Versus Licensing
License:
right to use specified number of copers, limits vendor's liability
Site License:
flat fee to install software on all company computers or all computers at a specific site
Open Source:
no license fee
Firmware:
computer software that is installed into devices such as printers, print servers and various types of communication devices
program becomes apart of the device's memory
4.4 Is open source software a viable alternative?
Open Source:
Software that is usually free and modifiable, source code that is available for a community to access
Why do programmers volunteer their services?
exercise creativity on interesting & fulfilling projects
freedom to choose projects
exhibits one's skill to get a job
Start a business selling services
succeeds because of collaboration
Is open source viable?
depends on requirements and constraints
"free" open source might require support and operational costs exceed cost of licensing fee
future is a blend of proprietary and open-source software
How does open source work?
Source code is complied into
machine code (generally not understandable by humans and not modifiable)
that is processed by a computer to create the software
Source code --> Machine code --> Software
Closed-source or proprietary software:
only avaliable to trusted employees and carefully vetted contractors (e.g. Microsoft office's source code is highly protected)
Open-source software:
available to the public