Understanding Information Systems

Information Systems

• An information system includes people, procedures, software, hardware, data, and the Internet.
• People can be overlooked but are essential to information systems; personal computers are designed to enhance productivity.
• Procedures are rules or guidelines for using software, hardware, and data, found in printed or electronic manuals.
• Software, also known as a program, provides step-by-step instructions for computers to process data into information.
• Hardware processes data using equipment like smartphones, tablets, keyboards, and displays, controlled by software.
• Data includes raw, unprocessed facts such as text, numbers, images, and sounds; processed data yields information.
• The Internet is used by almost all information systems to provide connectivity.

Software

• Software term is interchangeable with programs.
• There are two main types of software: system software and application software.
• Application software is what users interact with, while system software helps the computer manage its resources.

System Software

• System software allows application software to interface with computer hardware.
• It's a collection of programs that manages a computer's internal resources.
• Operating systems coordinate resources, provide a user interface, and run applications; examples include embedded OS on mobile devices and stand-alone OS like Windows or macOS.
• Utilities perform specific tasks for managing computer resources, with antivirus programs being essential for protection against viruses.

Application Software

• Application software is end-user software.
• Three types include general-purpose, specialized applications, and mobile apps.
• General-purpose applications, like word processors, spreadsheets, database management systems, and presentation software, are useful in most career areas.
• Specialized applications focus on specific disciplines like graphics or web authoring.
• Mobile apps are small programs for mobile devices.

Computer Types

• Computers are electronic devices that follow instructions to accept input, process it, and produce information.
• Four types of computers: supercomputers, mainframe computers, midrange computers, and personal computers.
• Supercomputers: High-capacity computers typically used to process data, like the IBM Blue Gene.
• Mainframe computers: Support processing speeds and data storage, used by insurance companies.
• Midrange computers: Also known as servers, supports end users for specific needs.
• Personal computers (PCs): The least powerful but most common type, including desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and wearables.

Personal Computer Hardware

• Personal computer hardware consists of system unit, input/output, secondary storage, and communication devices.
• The system unit houses electronic components like microprocessors and memory.
• Microprocessors control data processing.
• Memory temporarily holds data and instructions; RAM is a type of memory subject to data loss if power is disrupted.
• Input devices translate human-understandable data into computer-processable form.
• Common input devices include keyboards and mice.
• Output devices translate processed information into a human-understandable form, such as a display or monitor.
• Secondary storage provides storage for data and programs, retains data even without power.
• Common types include hard disks, solid-state storage, and optical discs.
• Communication devices : Computers communicate with other systems over the internet.
• Modems modify data for transmission over the Internet.

Data

• Data: Raw, unprocessed facts including texts, numbers, images and sounds, which when processed becomes information.
• Four common types of files:
• Document files: created to save letters, term papers, and memos
• Worksheet files: Created via electronic spreadsheets to predict sales and analyze budgets
• Database files: Created by database management programs to contain highly organized and structured data
• Presentation files: Created by presentation software to save speaker notes, meeting handouts, and electronic slides

Connectivity

• Connectivity enables computers to share information.
• A network is a communications system that links multiple computers.
• The Internet is the largest network globally.
• The web offers a multimedia interface to online resources.
• Cloud computing, wireless communication, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are the technologies impacting computing.
• Cloud computing shifts computer activities to the Internet.
• Wireless communication has rapidly evolved through devices like tablets, cell phones, and wearables.
• IoT connects everyday objects with electronic devices.

System Software

• System software works with end users, application software, and computer hardware.
• Categories includes operating systems (OS), utilities, device drivers, and language translators.

Operating Systems (OS)

• Operating Systems handles many technical details of computing.
• OS supports multitasking, the ability to switch between different apps stored in memory.
• Three basic functions of OS:
• Managing resources including devices, storage, and memory.
• Providing a user interface - A graphical user interface (GUI) uses windows and icons.
• Running applications - Most operating systems support multitasking

OS Features

• Booting - process of starting or restarting the OS
• Warm boot: occurs when the computer is already turned on, and you want to restart without turning the power off.
• Cold boot : starting the computer when its turned off
• Desktop - place which provides access to computer resources
• Icons - graphic representations for a program or function
• Pointer: Controlled by a mouse, and can change shape depending on its current function.
• Menus: Provides lists of commands or options.
• Tabs- Divides menus into major activities.
• Dialog boxes- provide information or request assistance.
• Help- Provide online assistance for OS functions and its functions.
• Gesture control: Ability to control operations using finger movements.
• Files- Used to store data and programs .
• Folders: Related files are stored within a folder, and can contain other folders, or sobfolders for organization.

Categories of OS

• Embedded OS: Used for small or handheld devices such as smartwatches, smartphones, cable , TV tuner boxes and other small electronics.
• Stand-Alone/Desktop OS: Used to control a single notebook or desktop computer
• Network OS: Used to manage and coordinate all of the connected computer’s hard disks.
• Most OSs in smartphones are the mobile phone OS.

Desktop OSs

• Versions include Windows 11 and MAC OS.
• Mac OS innovative features include boot camp, spotlight, and dashboard widgets.

Utilities

• Specialized programs designed to make computing easier and safer.
• There are three types of utilities
  • Essential Programs: Help protect, manage and maintain the computer systems.
  • Windows utilities: Help users improve and maintain their computer’s functions..
  • Utility suites: Combine many programs together, as a package, which is less expensive than buying the programs separately.
• Troubleshooting or diagnostic programs - can ideally recognize problems before they escalate and become serious.
• Antivirus Programs: Guard a computer against viruses and other damaging programs
• Uninstall Programs: Assist in safely and completely removing the related files and unneeded programs from your hard disk.

Windows Utilities

• Backup and Restore:
• Utility to make copies of files from the disk for users. The backed up files help protect the users’ files from the possibility of a disk failure.
• Disk Cleanup:
• Utility to identify and eliminate unessential files freeing up valuable disk space and improving the system’s performance.
• Disk Defragmenter:
• This finds the unnecessary fragments and eliminates them. The rearrangement of files and unused disk space can optimize the system’s functions, thus speeding up the computer system

Device Drivers & Language Translator

• Device Driver: a program linked to every computer hardware for the computer to connect and communicate with the OS.
• For every new device that is added, The device driver must first be installed for users to use the device.
• Language Translator: it's a software that converts computer code that is written by humans into a the computer's language, which is machine code.

Application Software

• The application that allows users to interact with and control the function of a computer program is called its User Interface (GUI).
• Uses small icons in order for the computer to easily navigate, using a mouse or other implements.
• The most of the software uses the following system: Toolbars, Menus, and Dialog boxes
• Microsoft’s interfaces and applications often makes utilization of:
• RibbonGUI: organizing the users' commonly used commands into tabs and buttons.
• Galleries are for making selections from many different alternatives
• Contextual tabs: Appear when needed to help and anticipate the users’ next operations

General Purpose Application

Most popular type of software. (ex, word processor, spreadsheet, and data base) (Some apps support speech recognition: ability to accept voice input to select the menu or select text.)

• Word Processors- for creating text based documents
• SpreadSheets- for organizing data, calculating, creating "what if" analysis. Data in a table format.
• Presentation Graphics- for presenting information and ideas in a visual form like Microsoft Powerpoint

Specialized Applications

• Applications that focus on specific fields or tasks.
• Ex Web Authoring, Video Editors, graphics editing.
• Software suites - bundled versions of several apps. Each applications acts the same way as if it were installed individually.