Scientific Visualization:
-uses shape, location in space, color, brightness, and motion to help us visualize data
-helps researchers see relationships that might have been obscure or even impossible to grasp without computer aided visualization tools.
Computer Modeling uses computers to create abstract models of objects, organism, organizations, and processes
Ex: games, models, flight simulators, business simulations
Computer Simulations:
-widely used
there are many reasons such as safety, economy, projection, visualization, replication
Risk of Computer Simulations:
-GIGO revisited
-the accuracy of a simulation depends on how closely its mathematical model corresponds to the system being simulated
-some models suffer from faulty assumptions
some models contain hidden assumptions that may not even be obvious to their creators
-some models go astray simply because of clerical or human errors
-still garbage in garbage out is a basic rule of simulation
Making Reality Fit the Machine
-some simulations are so complex that researchers need to simplify models and streamline calculations it get them to run on the best hardware available.
Sometimes this simplification is reality is deliberate more often its conscious
-either way information can be lost and the the loss may compromise the integrity of the simulation and call the results into question.
The illusion of infallibility
-a computer simulation whether generated by a PC spreadsheet or churned out by a super computer can be an invaluable decision making aid
-the risk is that the people who make decisions with computers will turn over too much of their decision making power to the computer
-risks can be magnified because people take computers seriously.
-Future users interfaces will be based on agents rather than on told
-agents are software programs designed to be managed rather than manipulated
-an intelligent software agent can ask questions as well as respond to commands, pay attention to its users work patters, serve as a guide and a coach, take on its owner's goals, use reasoning to fabricate goals of its own
-tomorrow's agents will be better able to compete with human assistants
0future agents may possess a degree of sensitivity
-a well trained software agent in the future might accomplish these tasks: Remind you that it is time to get the tires rotated on your car and make an appointment for the rotation and distribute notes to the other members of your study group or work group and tell you which members opened those notes
-keep you posted on new articles on subjects that interest you and know enough about those subjects to be selective without being rigid
-manage your appointments and keep track of your communications
-teach you new applications and answer reference questions
-defend your system and your home from viruses, intruders, and other security breaches
-help protect your privacy on and off the Net
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
ITGS NOTES: CHAPTER 5
Formulas can be relative-referring to different cells when they are copied
Absolute-formula references never changes when they are copied.
Functions automate complex (SUM, AAVG, SQRT)
Macros store keystrokes and commands so they can be played back automatically
Templates offer ready to use worksheets with labels and formulas already entered. Linking spreadsheets together when the values change in one spreadsheet, the data is automatically updated in all linked spreadsheets.
Database capabilities search for information, sort the data by a specific criteria, merge the data with a word processor, generate reports
Rules of Thumb: Avoiding spreadsheet pitfalls
-plan the worksheet before you start entering values and formulas
-make your assumptions as accurate as possible.
-Double-check every formula and value.
-Make formulas readable
-Check your output against other systems
-Build in cross checks
-change the input data values and study the results
-take advantage of pre-programmed functions, templates, and macros
-Use a spreadsheet as a decision making aid not a decision maker.
What if Questions
-Spreadsheets allow you to change numbers and instantly see the effects of those canges.
Equations Solbers
0Some spreadsheets generate data needed to fit a given equation and target calue
Spreadshee Graphics
-Charts allow you to turn numbers into isual data
-pie charts show proportions relative to the whole.
-Line charts show trends or relationships over time
-Use bar charts is data falls into a few categories
-Use scatter charts to discover rather than display a relationshoip between two variables.
Choose the right charts for the job
-Think abut the message you’re trying to convey
-Pie Charts, bar charts, line charts, and scatter charts are not interchangeable
Keep it simple, familiar, and understandable
-Use Charts in magazines, books, and newspapers as models
-Strive to reveal the truth, not hide it
Accounting and Financial Mangement software allows you to electronically handle routine transactions such as:
-writing checks
-balancing accounts
-creating budgets
-using online banking services
-preparing taxes-Quick Book
Mathematics processing software
-software turns abstract mathematical relationships into visual objects. (Mathematica by Wolfram)
=Generally they include an interactive, wizard-like question and answer mode, a programming language, and tools for creating interactive documents that combine text, numerical expressions, and graphics.
Statistical and data analysis software
-collects and analyzes data that tests the strength of data relationships
-Can produce graphs showing how two or more variables relate to each other
-can often uncover trends by browsing through two and three dimensional graphs of data looking for unusual patterns in the dots and lines that appear on the screen.
Scientific Visualization
-Scientificvisualization software uses shape, location in pace, color, brightness, and motin to help us visualize data.
Visualization helps researchers see relatinshops that might have been obsure or even impossible to grasp withour cimptuer aided visualization tools.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Chapter 5: Productivity Applications
Objectives:
-One of the pioneers of the computer hardware and software
-Entering Text
-Formatting Commands
-Formatting Characters
-Use the reutn or enter key only when you must
-Word wrap moves text to the next line
Use tabs and margin gruides not the spacebar to align columns
-WYSIWYG is a matter of degree
-Text that looks perfectly aligned onscreen may not line up on paper.
Don't Underline
-Use Italics and boldface for emphasis; italisize books and journal titles
Use only one space after a period
-proportionally spaced fonts look better withuot double spaces
Take Advantage of special characters
-Bullets, dashes, and smart quotes make your work look more professional
Outliners and Idea Processors are effective at:
-Arranging information into levels
-rearraging ideas and levels
-hiding and revealing levels of detail as needed.
Digital References:
-dictionaries, quotation books, encyclopedias, ,atlasses, almanacs, and other references are now available in digital form
-the biggest advantage of the electronic form is speed.
-the biggest drawback is that quick and easy copying might tempt wiriters to plagarize.
Synonym Finders.
-a computerized thesaurus cann provide instantaneious feedback for sunonyms
Spelling Checkers
-compare words in your document with words in a disk-based dictioniary
-Words might be flagged but you make the decision to ignore or change the spelling
Grammar and Style Checkers
-Analyze each word in context, checking for errors of content Check spelling
-Point out possible errors and suggest improvements
-Analyze pros complexity using measurements such as sentence length and paragraphs.
Form Letter Generators.
-Mail Merge capabilities produce personalized form letters.
-Each letter looks as if it were individually written
Collaborative Writing Tools
-Groupware; software designed to be used by a work group
-provides for collaborative writing and editing
-Tracks changes and identifies them by the originator's name
-Compares document versions and highlights differences in documents
-Processing handwritten words
-Processing words with software that can reliably recognize human speech
-Anticipating a writer's , acting as an electronic editor or co-author.
What is Desktop publishing?
-The process of producing a book, magazine, or other publication includes several steps: Writing Text, Editing Text, Producing drawing photographs, and other graphics to accompany the text
-designing a basic format for the publication
typesetting text
arranging text and graphics on pages
-typesetting and printing pages
-binding pages into a finished publication
-Modern desktop publishing teachnolgy (DTP0, the producyion processes can be accompanied with sophisticated tools that are affordable and easy to use.
-Desktop Publishing Sfotware
-A common prediction is that desktop publishing and paper publishing in general will be replaced by paperless electronic media
The Maleable Matrix
-The spreadsheet consists of Cells and Addresses
Spreadsheets can contain Values and Labels
Formulas allow you to create instructions using mathematical expressions and commands
- Describe how word processing and desktop publishing software have revolutionized writing and publishing
- Discuss the potential impact of desktop publishing and web publishing on the concept of freedom of the press
- Speculate about future developments in word processing and digital publishing
- Descirbe the basic functions and applications of spreadsheets and other types of statistical and simulation programs.
-One of the pioneers of the computer hardware and software
- In 1968, he demonstrated his Augment System: mouse, video display editing, mixed text and graphics, windowing, outlining, shared screen video conferencing, computer conferencing, groupware, hypermedia
- Entering Text
- Editing Text
- Formatting the document
- Proofreading the document
- Saving the document on disk
- Printing the document
-Entering Text
- Text is displayed on the screen and ftored in the computer's RAM
- Save your work periodically because RAM is not permanaent memory
- Navigate to different parts of a document
- Insert or Delete text at any point
- Move and copy text
- Seach and replace words or phrases.
-Formatting Commands
-Formatting Characters
- characters are measured by point size (one point is equal to 1/72 inch
- A font is a size anf style of typeface
- Serif fonts have serifs or fine lines at the ends of each character.
- You can use monospaced fonts and proportionally spaced fonts.
- Margin Settings
- Line Spacing
- Indents
- Tabs
- Justification
- Stylesheets
- Header and Footers
- Multiple Variable Columns
- Graphics
- Automatic editing heatures
- Hidden comments
- Table of contents and indexes
- Coaching and help features
- Conversion to HTML or Web Publishing
-Use the reutn or enter key only when you must
-Word wrap moves text to the next line
Use tabs and margin gruides not the spacebar to align columns
-WYSIWYG is a matter of degree
-Text that looks perfectly aligned onscreen may not line up on paper.
Don't Underline
-Use Italics and boldface for emphasis; italisize books and journal titles
Use only one space after a period
-proportionally spaced fonts look better withuot double spaces
Take Advantage of special characters
-Bullets, dashes, and smart quotes make your work look more professional
Outliners and Idea Processors are effective at:
-Arranging information into levels
-rearraging ideas and levels
-hiding and revealing levels of detail as needed.
Digital References:
-dictionaries, quotation books, encyclopedias, ,atlasses, almanacs, and other references are now available in digital form
-the biggest advantage of the electronic form is speed.
-the biggest drawback is that quick and easy copying might tempt wiriters to plagarize.
Synonym Finders.
-a computerized thesaurus cann provide instantaneious feedback for sunonyms
Spelling Checkers
-compare words in your document with words in a disk-based dictioniary
-Words might be flagged but you make the decision to ignore or change the spelling
Grammar and Style Checkers
-Analyze each word in context, checking for errors of content Check spelling
-Point out possible errors and suggest improvements
-Analyze pros complexity using measurements such as sentence length and paragraphs.
Form Letter Generators.
-Mail Merge capabilities produce personalized form letters.
- Create a database with names
- Create a form letter
- Merge the database with the form letter to create a personalized letter.
-Each letter looks as if it were individually written
Collaborative Writing Tools
-Groupware; software designed to be used by a work group
-provides for collaborative writing and editing
-Tracks changes and identifies them by the originator's name
-Compares document versions and highlights differences in documents
-Processing handwritten words
-Processing words with software that can reliably recognize human speech
-Anticipating a writer's , acting as an electronic editor or co-author.
What is Desktop publishing?
-The process of producing a book, magazine, or other publication includes several steps: Writing Text, Editing Text, Producing drawing photographs, and other graphics to accompany the text
-designing a basic format for the publication
typesetting text
arranging text and graphics on pages
-typesetting and printing pages
-binding pages into a finished publication
-Modern desktop publishing teachnolgy (DTP0, the producyion processes can be accompanied with sophisticated tools that are affordable and easy to use.
-Desktop Publishing Sfotware
- Image Editing Software
- Page Layout software combines the various source documents into a coherent visually appealing publication
- Plan before you pubolish
- Use appropriate fonts
- Don't go style crazy
- Vieww your document through your reader's eyes
- -Learn from your masters
- Know your limitations
- Remember the : "The purpose of publishing is communiation, don't try to use technolgy to disguise the lack of something to communicate."
- Save money
- Saves time
- Can reduce the number of publication errors
- Offers new hope for every indiviaul's right to ppublish
-A common prediction is that desktop publishing and paper publishing in general will be replaced by paperless electronic media
The Maleable Matrix
-The spreadsheet consists of Cells and Addresses
Spreadsheets can contain Values and Labels
Formulas allow you to create instructions using mathematical expressions and commands
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Chapter 1: Our Digital Planet
Creating Communities on the Living Web
-MySpace creates an online community experience for young people
-Flickr creates a community for people to share pictures
Living in A Non-Digital World
-Computers are no longer a luxury but a commodity
-Computers and their applications are involved in all aspects of our daily life
Computers in perspective
-Every Computer in use today follows the basic plan laid out by Charles Babbage and Lady Lovelace
-The computer is an incredibly versatile tool
-It can compute your taxes or deploy a missile.
-All computers take in information called input and give out information called output
-The Computer's versatility is built upon its hardware (the physical part) Software (the instructions that tells hardware how to transform the input data into the necessary output.
-The first real computers: In 1939, Knrad Zuse completed the first programmable, general-purpose digital computer.
-At about the same time, the British government was assembling a top-secret team of mathematicians and engineers to crack Nazi military codes.
In 19943, the team led by mathematician Alan Turing and others completed Colossus, considered by many to be the first electronic digital computers.
-In 1939, Iowa State University professor John Atanasoff developed what could have been the first electronic digital computer, the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC)
-In 1944, Thanks to one million grant from IBM, Harvard professor Howard Aiken developed the Mark I.
John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert helped the US effort in World War II by constructing a machine to calculate trajectory tables for new guns.
-ENIAC: Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer
-After the war, Mauchly and Eckert started a private company called Sperry and created UNIVAC I, the first general purpose commercial computer.
-Vacuum tubes were used in early computers.
-Transistors replaced vacuum tubes starting in 1956
-By mid-1960s transistors were replaced by integrated circuits.
-Integrated circuits brought:
-The personal computer revolution began in 1970: Apple, Commodore, Tandy
Desktop computers have not completely replaced computers, which have also evolved.
Embedded Computers
-Special purpose computer: dedicated computers that perform specific tasks such as controlling the temperature and humidity, monitoring your heart rate, monitoring your house security system
-The program is etched on silicon so it cannot be altered. This is called firmware.
Personal Computers: PCs serve a single user at a time. Common applications include: word processing, accounting, gaming, enjoying digital music and video
Workstations:
-High end desktop computers with massive computing power used for high-end interactive applications
-portable computers: machines that are not tied to the desktop such as notebooks and handheld computers.
Servers:
-computers designed to provide software and other resources to other computers over a network
Mainframes and Super Computers:
-Mainframes are used by large organizations, such as banks and airlines, for big computing jobs. They communicate with mainframe through terminals. Multiple communications at one time through process of time sharing
-Supercomputers: For power users who need access to the fastest most powerful computers made.
-The Emergence of Networks: to connect devices together and in the 1960s, Internet developed with backing of the US government.
-The Internet explosion-over a billion people with Internet access by the end of 2005
Electronic mail also known as E-Mail
World Wide Web-WWW
-led the Internets transformation from a text-only environment into a multimedia landscape incorporating pictures, animation, sounds, and video
Web Browsers
-programs that, in effect, serve as navigable Windows into the web
Hypertext Links
-Tie together millions of Web pages created by diverse authors.
Internet supports varied activities
-eBay used to make international transactions
-real-time multi player games.
To command or open something, you open brackets put the command in, and close the brackets.
To close something, you must open brackets, put a back slash, and close the brackets.
In the history of our society, we have had: an agricultural age, an industrial age, now we are in the information age
-more and more people earn their livings working with words, numbers, and ideas.
Explanations: Clarifying Technology
-Computer literacy is already improving our day to day lives and careers
Applications: computers in action
-Applications Enable you to use a computer for specific purposes.
Implications: Social and Ethical Issues
-The threat to personal privacy posed by large databases and computer networks
-The hazards of high-tech crime and the difficulty of keeping data secure
-The difficulty of defining and protecting intellectual property in an all digital age
-The threat of automation and the dehumanization of work
-The abuse of information as a tool of political and economic power
-The emergence of bio-digital technology
-The dangers of dependence on complex technology
Bio digital: using technology for science
Consequences of Bio-Digital Technology:
-we become so dependent on it that we begin to lose our own skills
- black outs
-computers taking over for humans-loss of jobs
-Computers have evolved at an incredible pace since Charles Babbage's plan for an Analytical Engine.
-Computers today come in all shapes ansizes, with specific types being wll-suited for particular jobs.
-Conneting to a network enhances the calue and power of a computer
-MySpace creates an online community experience for young people
-Flickr creates a community for people to share pictures
Living in A Non-Digital World
-Computers are no longer a luxury but a commodity
-Computers and their applications are involved in all aspects of our daily life
Computers in perspective
-Every Computer in use today follows the basic plan laid out by Charles Babbage and Lady Lovelace
-The computer is an incredibly versatile tool
-It can compute your taxes or deploy a missile.
-All computers take in information called input and give out information called output
-The Computer's versatility is built upon its hardware (the physical part) Software (the instructions that tells hardware how to transform the input data into the necessary output.
-The first real computers: In 1939, Knrad Zuse completed the first programmable, general-purpose digital computer.
-At about the same time, the British government was assembling a top-secret team of mathematicians and engineers to crack Nazi military codes.
In 19943, the team led by mathematician Alan Turing and others completed Colossus, considered by many to be the first electronic digital computers.
-In 1939, Iowa State University professor John Atanasoff developed what could have been the first electronic digital computer, the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC)
-In 1944, Thanks to one million grant from IBM, Harvard professor Howard Aiken developed the Mark I.
John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert helped the US effort in World War II by constructing a machine to calculate trajectory tables for new guns.
-ENIAC: Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer
-After the war, Mauchly and Eckert started a private company called Sperry and created UNIVAC I, the first general purpose commercial computer.
-Vacuum tubes were used in early computers.
-Transistors replaced vacuum tubes starting in 1956
-By mid-1960s transistors were replaced by integrated circuits.
-Integrated circuits brought:
- increased reliability
- Smaller size
- higher speed
- higher efficiency
- lower cost
-The personal computer revolution began in 1970: Apple, Commodore, Tandy
Desktop computers have not completely replaced computers, which have also evolved.
Embedded Computers
-Special purpose computer: dedicated computers that perform specific tasks such as controlling the temperature and humidity, monitoring your heart rate, monitoring your house security system
-The program is etched on silicon so it cannot be altered. This is called firmware.
Personal Computers: PCs serve a single user at a time. Common applications include: word processing, accounting, gaming, enjoying digital music and video
Workstations:
-High end desktop computers with massive computing power used for high-end interactive applications
-portable computers: machines that are not tied to the desktop such as notebooks and handheld computers.
Servers:
-computers designed to provide software and other resources to other computers over a network
Mainframes and Super Computers:
-Mainframes are used by large organizations, such as banks and airlines, for big computing jobs. They communicate with mainframe through terminals. Multiple communications at one time through process of time sharing
-Supercomputers: For power users who need access to the fastest most powerful computers made.
-The Emergence of Networks: to connect devices together and in the 1960s, Internet developed with backing of the US government.
-The Internet explosion-over a billion people with Internet access by the end of 2005
Electronic mail also known as E-Mail
World Wide Web-WWW
-led the Internets transformation from a text-only environment into a multimedia landscape incorporating pictures, animation, sounds, and video
Web Browsers
-programs that, in effect, serve as navigable Windows into the web
Hypertext Links
-Tie together millions of Web pages created by diverse authors.
Internet supports varied activities
-eBay used to make international transactions
-real-time multi player games.
To command or open something, you open brackets put the command in, and close the brackets.
To close something, you must open brackets, put a back slash, and close the brackets.
In the history of our society, we have had: an agricultural age, an industrial age, now we are in the information age
-more and more people earn their livings working with words, numbers, and ideas.
Explanations: Clarifying Technology
-Computer literacy is already improving our day to day lives and careers
Applications: computers in action
-Applications Enable you to use a computer for specific purposes.
Implications: Social and Ethical Issues
-The threat to personal privacy posed by large databases and computer networks
-The hazards of high-tech crime and the difficulty of keeping data secure
-The difficulty of defining and protecting intellectual property in an all digital age
-The threat of automation and the dehumanization of work
-The abuse of information as a tool of political and economic power
-The emergence of bio-digital technology
-The dangers of dependence on complex technology
Bio digital: using technology for science
Consequences of Bio-Digital Technology:
-we become so dependent on it that we begin to lose our own skills
- black outs
-computers taking over for humans-loss of jobs
-Computers have evolved at an incredible pace since Charles Babbage's plan for an Analytical Engine.
-Computers today come in all shapes ansizes, with specific types being wll-suited for particular jobs.
-Conneting to a network enhances the calue and power of a computer
- Internet
- WWW
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
ITGS NOTES: File Management
File Management: Where is my Stuff?
-Files can be scattered all over the system which often makes data management difficult
-one solution to this problem is to organize data files logically
-Both Windows and the Mac support the notion of common system folders with self-explanatory name such as My Documents, My Pictures, and My Music
File Management Utilities
-View, rename, copy, move, and delete files and folders
-hierarchies help with organization
-help with locating a file
-get size, file typer, and last modification date
Managing Files from Applications
-Operations: Open, Save As, Save, and Close
Defragmentation
Software Piracy-illegal duplication of copyrighted software
-the software industry is a $50 billion a year busniess sector
-billions of dollars are lost each year to software pirates
-one-third of all software is illegally copied.
Applications and Interfaces:
-The WIMP(windows, icons, menus, and pointing devices) interface is easier to learn and use them
-Files can be scattered all over the system which often makes data management difficult
-one solution to this problem is to organize data files logically
-Both Windows and the Mac support the notion of common system folders with self-explanatory name such as My Documents, My Pictures, and My Music
File Management Utilities
-View, rename, copy, move, and delete files and folders
-hierarchies help with organization
-help with locating a file
-get size, file typer, and last modification date
Managing Files from Applications
-Operations: Open, Save As, Save, and Close
Defragmentation
Software Piracy-illegal duplication of copyrighted software
-the software industry is a $50 billion a year busniess sector
-billions of dollars are lost each year to software pirates
-one-third of all software is illegally copied.
Applications and Interfaces:
-The WIMP(windows, icons, menus, and pointing devices) interface is easier to learn and use them
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Platforms and Compilers
Basic Need Doesn't Change, the Way we Satisfy it Changes.
Platform in terms of IT: Combination of hardware and software to run a program.
Example: Iphone Hardware, IOS Software
'This cellphone runs on this platform'
There are three layers of IT:
The bottom layer is Hardware and the Middle Layer is the Operating System. Together, these two create a platform. You use the Hardware and the Operating System to run an application, which is obviously the top layer.
Compilers/Interpreters:
-Computers are language-dependent. They only binary and the permutation of 'on' and 'off' gives us language.
-An interpreter takes information, does something to it and provides so the computer and I, the user, could understand
-There is one interpreter between the Hardware and the Operating System and there is one between the Operating System and the Application.
Java Language Platform: deployment to any platform
Cross Platform/PIM:
-2 platforms
-application that can work on multiple platforms
PIM: Platform Independent Model
Java Virtual Machine: First Compiler which can run on anything
Platform in terms of IT: Combination of hardware and software to run a program.
Example: Iphone Hardware, IOS Software
'This cellphone runs on this platform'
There are three layers of IT:
The bottom layer is Hardware and the Middle Layer is the Operating System. Together, these two create a platform. You use the Hardware and the Operating System to run an application, which is obviously the top layer.
Compilers/Interpreters:
-Computers are language-dependent. They only binary and the permutation of 'on' and 'off' gives us language.
-An interpreter takes information, does something to it and provides so the computer and I, the user, could understand
-There is one interpreter between the Hardware and the Operating System and there is one between the Operating System and the Application.
Java Language Platform: deployment to any platform
Cross Platform/PIM:
-2 platforms
-application that can work on multiple platforms
PIM: Platform Independent Model
Java Virtual Machine: First Compiler which can run on anything
Friday, October 1, 2010
ITGS Notes #9
Vertical Market and Custom Software
Operating System Functions:
-supports multi-tasking
-manages virtual memory
-maintains file system
-responsible for authentication and authorization
What is the difference between authentication and authorization?
Authentication:
Authentication is a process of identifying a user based on their credentials(means user id and password).
Authorization:
Authorization is process of determining whether an authenticated user is allowed to access a specific resource or not.
What does the operating system do?
Utility Programs
interacting with the operating system like interacting with an application can be intuitive or challenging and it depends on something called the use interface
The interface defines the look and feel of the computing experience from a human point of view
Desktop Operating Systems
-MS-DOS is a disk operating system in which the user interacts user characters such as letters, numbers, and symbols
Feature include:
-command line interface
-menu driven interface
Graphical User Interface:
-Mac OS was developed by Macintosh in 1984
-Microsoft Windows is now the most popular operating system
Multiple User Operating: UNIX and Linux
-UNIX was developed at Bell Labs before personal computers were available
-Linus was created by Linus Torvalds and continues to be a work in progress
UNIX allows a time sharing computer to communicate with several other computers or terminals at once
-Linux is free for anyone to use or improve
-UNIX remains the dominant operating system for Internet services
Some form of UNIX is available for personal computers work stations servers main frames and super computers.
Cross-platform applications such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop are programs that are availabe in similar vrsion for multiple platforms.
Mac Users can buy software emulation programs that:
-Create a simulated Windows
- Tends to cost far more than mass-market applications
- Job Specific Software
- medical billings
- library cataloging
- legal reference software
- restaurant management
- single client software needs
- a class of software that includes the operating system and utility programs handles these details and hundreds of other tasks behind the scenes
Operating System Functions:
-supports multi-tasking
-manages virtual memory
-maintains file system
-responsible for authentication and authorization
What is the difference between authentication and authorization?
Authentication:
Authentication is a process of identifying a user based on their credentials(means user id and password).
Authorization:
Authorization is process of determining whether an authenticated user is allowed to access a specific resource or not.
What does the operating system do?
Utility Programs
- -Serve as told for doing system maintenance and repairs that aren't automatically handled by the operating system
- -Make it easier for users to
- -copy files between storage devices
- -repair damaged data files
- -translate files so that different programs can read them
- Guard against viruses and other potentially harmful programs
- compress files so they can take up less disk space
- perform other important tasks
- Symantec Norton Utilities is a popular utility package that includes software tools for recovering damaged files repairing damaged disks and improving disk performance
- Small programs that enable I/O devise-keyboard, mouse, printer, and others-t communicate with the computer
- some computers store their operating system in TOM
- Others include only part of it in ROM
- The remainder of the operating system is loaded into memory in process called booting which occurs when you turn on the computer
interacting with the operating system like interacting with an application can be intuitive or challenging and it depends on something called the use interface
The interface defines the look and feel of the computing experience from a human point of view
Desktop Operating Systems
-MS-DOS is a disk operating system in which the user interacts user characters such as letters, numbers, and symbols
Feature include:
-command line interface
-menu driven interface
Graphical User Interface:
-Mac OS was developed by Macintosh in 1984
-Microsoft Windows is now the most popular operating system
Multiple User Operating: UNIX and Linux
-UNIX was developed at Bell Labs before personal computers were available
-Linus was created by Linus Torvalds and continues to be a work in progress
UNIX allows a time sharing computer to communicate with several other computers or terminals at once
-Linux is free for anyone to use or improve
-UNIX remains the dominant operating system for Internet services
Some form of UNIX is available for personal computers work stations servers main frames and super computers.
Cross-platform applications such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop are programs that are availabe in similar vrsion for multiple platforms.
Mac Users can buy software emulation programs that:
-Create a simulated Windows
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
ITGS Notes #8
RAM (random access memory)
- Used to store program instructions and data temporarily
- Unique addresses and data can be stored in any location
- Can quickly retrieve information
- Will not remain if power goes off (volatile)
ROM (read-only memory) - Information stored permanently on a chip
- Contains startup instructions and other permanent data
CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) - Special low-energy kind of RAM Flash memory
- Used for phones, pagers, portable computers, handheld computers, and PDAs
Buses, Ports, and Peripherals - Information travels between components on the motherboard through groups of wires called system buses, or just buses.
Buses - Typically have 32 or 64 wires
- Connect to storage devices in bay
- Connect to expansion slots
- Connect to external buses and ports
- Make it easy to add external devices, called peripherals.
- New laser etching technology called extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) could reduce chip size and increase performance radically.
- Superconductors that transmit electricity without heat could increase computer speed a hundredfold.
- The optical computer transmits information in light waves rather than electrical pulses.
- A computer manipulates patterns of bits—binary digits of information.
- The CPU follows software instructions, reduced to strings of bits, to perform the calculations and logical manipulations that transform input data into output.
- Not all CPUs are compatible with each other.
- RAM (random access memory) as a temporary storage area—a scratch pad—for instructions and data
- ROM (read-only memory), which contains unchangeable information that serves as reference material for the CPU as it executes program instructions
-The CPU and main memory are housed in silicon chips on the motherboard.
Consumer Applications:
-Many software companies have repleaced their printed documentation with
tutorials,
reference matierals
help files
on-line help
Upgrading:
Users can upgrade a program to the new version by paying an upgrade fee to the software manufacturer.
Newer Releases often have additional features and fewer bugs
Compatibility :
it allows software to function proberly with the hardware, operating system, and peripherals
programs written for one typer of computer system may not work no another
Disclaimers:
Software manufacturers limit their liability for software problems by selling software "as is"
Licensing: Commercial Software is copyrighted so it can't be legally duplicaed for distribution to others
Software License
Volume License
Distribution: Software is distributed via:
direct sale
retail stores
mail order catalogs
websites
not all software is copyrighted
Web Applications fall into several categories:
-some simple Web applications perform simple data-processing tasks that could also be performed by traditional programs running on stand alone PCs.
-Most Web Applications take advantage of the Web's connectivity
-Many Web applications leverage the web's as a huge respository of information
-some web applications support online business transactions
-news-oriented web applicationsprovide up to the minute reports on a myriad of subjects
-other web applications support a more traditional form of information broadcasting
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Project Theory: An Introduction to the Project Cycle
Project: temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service
- Project ID and Selection
- Project Initiation and Planning
- Analysis
- Logical Design
- Physical Design
- Implementation
- Maintenance
Project Management Criteria:
- projects are oriented towards a goal
- There is something unique about every project
- Projects have a finite duration.
- Projects require coordination of interrelated activities.
- Project Management is a set of principles and tools for defining, planning, and executing, controlling, and completing a project.
- Organize your approach
- Generate a credible schedule
- Track progress and control your project
- Identify where to focus your efforts
- Identify problems early-before there are crises
- Saves you TIME and MONEY
Project Phases
1.Assessment of needs situation)
- -->observe the problem
2. Planning
- Need Analysis
- Analysis of the organization, its values, activities, and relevancy
- Own Motivation
- Definition of aims (general) and concrete objectives
Think exactly how your client thinks
Creating registration form: what are the fields, what do they stand for, ...
Concrete Objectives
SMART:
Creating registration form: what are the fields, what do they stand for, ...
- Selection of methodology, activities
- plan of activities-schedule
- resources: human, financial, material, time
- organize the project: team, partners
- outline project
- risks assessment strategy
Concrete Objectives
SMART:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Realistic
- Timed
ITGS #7
Keyboard
ü The most familiar input device
ü Used to enter letters, numbers and special characters
Ø Standard keyboard
Ø Ergonomic keyboards
q To address possible medical problems
Ø Wireless keyboard
Ø Folding keyboards
q Used with palm-sized computers
Ø One-handed keyboards
Ø Keyboards printed on membranes
Pointing Devices
ü Mouse
ü Touchpad
ü Pointing stick
ü Trackball
ü Joystick
ü Graphics tablet
ü Touch screen
ü Stylus
Reading Tools
ü Read marks representing codes specifically designed for computer input
Ø Optical-mark readers
Ø Magnetic-ink character readers
Ø Bar-code readers
Ø Pen scanners
Ø Tablet PC
Ø Smart whiteboard
Ø Radio Frequency Identification Readers (RFID)
Digitizing the Real World
ü Scanners capture and digitize printed images.
Ø Flatbed
Ø Slide
Ø Drum
Ø Sheet-fed
ü Digital camera
Ø Snapshots captured as digital images
Ø Digital images stored as bit patterns on disks or other digital storage media
ü Video digitizer
Ø Capture input from a:
q Video camera
q Video cassette recorder or television
Ø Convert it to a digital signal
q Stored in memory and displayed on computer screens
ü Videoconferencing
Ø People in diverse locations can see and hear each other
q Used to conduct long-distance meetings
Ø Video images transmitted through networks
ü Audio digitizers
Ø Digitize sounds from
q Microphones
q Other input devices
Ø Digital signals can be
q Stored
q Further processed with specialized software
Ø A digital signal processing chip compresses the stream of bits before it is transmitted to the CPU.
ü Speech recognition software
Ø Converts voice data into words that can be edited and printed
ü Sensors
Ø Designed to monitor physical conditions
q Temperature, humidity, pressure
Ø Provide data used in:
q Robotics
q Environmental climate control
q Weather forecasting
q Medical monitoring
q Biofeedback
q Scientific research
Output: From Pulses to People
ü Screen Output
Ø A monitor or video display terminal (VDT) displays characters, graphics, photographic images, animation and video.
q Video adapter—connects the monitor to
the computer
q VRAM or video memory—a special portion of RAM to hold video images
Ø The more video memory, the more picture detail is displayed.
Color depth
- 1-bit depth
- 4-bit depth
- 8-bit depth
- 16-bit depth
Ø Monitor classes
q CRTs (cathode-ray tubes)
q LCDs (liquid crystal displays)
• Overhead projection panels
• Video projectors
• Portable computers
ü Paper Output
Ø Printers produce paper output or hard copy.
Ø Two basic groups of printers:
q Impact printers
• Line printers
• Dot-matrix printers
q Non-impact printers
• Laser printers
− Laser beam reflected off a rotating drum to create patterns of electrical charges
− Faster and more expensive than dot matrix printer
− High-resolution output
• Inkjet printers
− Sprays ink onto paper to produce printed text and graphic images
− Prints fewer pages/minute than laser printer
− High-quality color; costs less than laser printer
Ø Multifunction printer or MFP combines a scanner, printer and a fax modem.
Ø A plotter can produce large, finely scaled engineering blueprints and maps.
ü Fax Machines and Fax Modems
Ø Facsimile (fax) machine
q Sending:
• scans each page as an image
• converts the image into a series of electronic pulses
• sends those signals over phone lines to another fax
q Receiving:
• uses the signals to reconstruct the image
• prints black-and-white facsimiles or copies of the originals
Ø Fax modem
q Connect from PC to fax machine via modem and phone line
ü
ü Output You Can Hear
Ø Sound card
q Enables the PC to:
• Accept microphone input
• Play music and other sound through speakers or headphones
• Process sound in a variety of ways
Ø Synthesizers
q Used to produce music, noise
ü Controlling Other Machines
Ø Output devices take bit patterns and turn them into non-digital movements.
q Robot arms
q Telephone switchboards
q Transportation devices
q Automated factory equipment
q Spacecraft
q Force feedback joystick
Rules of Thumb:
Ergonomics and Health
Ergonomics and Health
ü Choose equipment that’s ergonomically designed.
ü Create a healthy workspace.
ü Build flexibility into your work environment.
ü Rest your eyes.
ü Stretch to loosen tight muscles.
ü Listen to your body.
ü Seek help when you need it.
Storage Devices: Input Meets Output
ü Magnetic Tape
Ø Can store large amounts of information
in a small space at a relatively low cost
Ø Limitation: sequential data access
Ø Used mainly for backup purposes
ü Magnetic Disks
Ø Random data access
Ø Floppy disks
q Provide inexpensive, portable storage
Ø Hard disks
q Non-removable, rigid disks that spin continuously
and rapidly
and rapidly
q Provide much faster access than a floppy disk
Ø Removable media (Zip & Jaz disks)
q Provides high-capacity portable storage
ü Optical Disks
Ø Use laser beams to read and write bits of information on the disk surface
q Not as fast as magnetic hard disks
q Massive storage capacity
q Very reliable
Ø CD-ROM
q Optical drives that read CD-ROMs
Ø CD-R
q WORM media (write-once, read many)
Ø CD-RW
q Can read CD-ROMs and write, erase and rewrite data onto CD-R & CD-RW disks.
Ø DVD (Digital Versatile Disks)
q Store and distribute all kinds of data
q Hold between 3.8 and 17 gigabytes of information
Ø DVD-ROM drives
q Can play DVD movies, read DVD data disks
q Read standard CD-ROMs, and play audio CDs
q Read-only: can’t record data, music, or movies
Ø DVD-RAM drives
q Can read, erase, and write data (but not DVD video) on multi-gigabyte
DVD-R (but not CD-R or CD-RW) media
ü Solid-State Storage Devices
Ø Flash memory is an erasable memory chip:
q Sizes range from 16 MB to 1 GB
q Compact alternative to disk storage
q Contains no moving parts
q Designed for specific applications such as storing pictures in digital cameras.
q Likely to replace disk and tape storage
Computer Systems: The Sum of Its Parts
Personal Computer Design Classes
ü Tower systems
Ø Tall, narrow boxes, generally have more expansion slots and bays than other designs.
ü Flat desktop systems
Ø Designed to sit under the monitor like a platform.
ü All-in-one systems (like the iMac)
Ø Combine monitor and system unit into a single housing.
ü Laptop computers
Ø Include all the essential components, including keyboard and pointing device, in one compact box.
ü Ports and Slots Revisited
Ø The system or motherboard includes several standard ports:
q Serial Port
q Parallel Port
q Keyboard/Mouse Port for attaching a keyboard and a mouse
Ø Other ports are typically included on expansion boards rather than the system board:
q A video port is used to plug a color monitor into the video board.
q Microphones, speakers, headphones, MIDI ports are used to attach sound equipment.
q An SCSI port allows several peripherals to be
strung together and attached to a single port.
strung together and attached to a single port.
q A LAN port uses faster connections to a local-area network (LAN).
Ø Expansion Made Easy
q With the PC open architecture and the introduction of new interfaces, you can hot swap devices.
Ø USB (Universal Serial Bus) transmits a hundred times faster than a PC serial port
Ø Firewire (IEEE 1394) can move data between devices at 400 or more megabits per second. The high speed makes it ideal for data-intensive work, like digital video.
q FireWire 800, which offers 800 Mbps transfer speeds, was recently introduced on high-end Macintosh systems.
ü Putting It All Together
Ø A typical computer system might have several different input, output, and storage peripherals—the key is compatibility.
Ø Networks blur the boundaries between computers.
Ø Networked computers may have access to all the peripherals on a system.
Ø The computer is, in effect, just a tiny part of a global system of interconnected networks.
Inventing the Future: Tomorrow’s Peripherals
ü Tomorrow’s Storage
Ø Smaller disks that hold more
q A single electron memory chip the size of a thumbnail that can store all of the sounds and images of a full-length feature film
ü Tomorrow’s Output
Ø Flat-panel screens replacing desktop CRTs
Ø Retinal displays that work without a screen
ü Tomorrow’s Input: Sensors
Ø More sophisticated devices will serve as eyes, ears, and other types of sense organs for computer networks.
ü Peripherals allow computer to communicate with the outside world and store information for later use information.
ü The most common input devices today are the keyboard and the mouse. A variety of other input devices can be connected to the computer.
ü Output devices perform the opposite function: They accept strings of bits from the computer and transform them into a form that is useful or meaningful outside the computer.
ü Storage devices are capable of two-way communication with the computer. Because of their high-speed random access capability, magnetic disks are the most common forms of storage on modern computers.
ü Network connections make it possible for computers to communicate with one another directly.
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