03 Hardware and Software.pdf

ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations F2024, Section A Ch 2: Hardware and Software © 2024 Pavlovych © 2018 CENGAGE, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Objectives Primary components of a computer Single-user and multiuser computer systems Implementing a data center: challenges and trade-offs...

ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations F2024, Section A Ch 2: Hardware and Software © 2024 Pavlovych © 2018 CENGAGE, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Objectives Primary components of a computer Single-user and multiuser computer systems Implementing a data center: challenges and trade-offs “Green computing” and its primary goals Functions of two basic kinds of software “Sphere of influence” and software classification Operating system, utility programs, and middleware Application software: personal, workgroup, and enterprise business objectives Programming languages Software issues and trends with an impact on organizations and individuals 2 Example Computer Ads, Wiki descriptions 3 Anatomy of a Computer Hardware components include devices that perform: o Input o Processing o Data storage o Output Basic anatomy of a computer Computer hardware components include the processor (CPU), memory, address and data bus, and input/output devices. 4 Processor Central processing unit (CPU) components o Arithmetic/logic unit, the control unit, and the register areas o Part of the computer that sequences and executes instructions Memory o Provides the processor with a working storage area to hold program instructions and data Input/output devices o Provide data and instructions to the computer and receives results from it 5 Processor Performance Computation occurs in “cycles”, some CPU instructions require more than one cycle (simpler design: more cycles per instruction) Clock speed o A series of electronic pulses produced at a predetermined rate that affects machine cycle time o Often measured in gigahertz (GHz): billions of cycles per second o Many of today’s computers operate in the 1 to 5 GHz range 6 Multiprocessing Multiprocessing o Involves the simultaneous execution of two or more instructions at the same time o One form uses coprocessors Coprocessor o Speeds processing by executing specific types of instructions while the CPU works on another processing activity (graphics/video/sound processing, AI…) Multicore processor o Has two or more independent processing units, called cores 7 CPU: Multiple Processing Cores Up until about 2005, most CPUs had only one set of “core” components (i.e., CU, registers, ALU) Now, CPUs contain multiple cores, each with their own set of CU, registers, and ALU (some components may be shared) Each core can run a separate thread of program execution Manufacturers now focus on designing CPUs with multiple modestly fast cores, rather than a single really fast core, or some (1–2) fast cores + some (6–7) power- efficient cores (improves overall power efficiency) o Smartphones (2 – 8 cores) o Laptops (4 – 16 cores) o Desktops (∼same as laptops) o Servers (4 – 64+ cores) 8 Parallel Computing Parallel computing o The simultaneous execution of the same task on multiple processors Massively parallel processing systems o Systems with thousands of such processors o Links hundreds or even thousands of processors to operate at the same time Grid computing o The use of a collection of computers that work in a coordinated manner to solve a common problem 9 CPU: Other Features Cache temporary storage for recently accessed data; faster to access than main memory Turbo Boost increasing the processing speed of one or more cores; usually for a limited time; may require disabling other cores to ensure continued stable operation Hyper-Threading processing two unrelated instructions simultaneously in the same core; yields better performance than one ordinary core, but not as much as two real cores (due to the requirement of instructions’ being unrelated) 10 Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) A processor specializing in rendering 3D graphics I.e., performing repeated math operations on matrices and vectors These operations do not require sophisticated computing cores, so 100s – 1000s of cores can exist in a single GPU Sometimes on a separate board Not just for video games, also used for… 3D effects in operating systems Image and video editing and encoding Computer aided design (CAD) for architecture and engineering Visualizing large data sets Machine learning, AI Medical imaging Modelling weather, protein folding, molecular dynamics, fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, etc. 11 Memory Central processing unit (CPU) components o Arithmetic/logic unit, the control unit, and the register areas o Part of the computer that sequences and executes instructions Memory o Provides the processor with a working storage area to hold program instructions and data Input/output devices o Provide data and instructions to the computer and receives results from it 12 Bits and Bytes The basis for representing digital data is the binary digit (bit), with the unit symbol b A bit holds one of two values: 0 or 1 Often combined in groups of eight to represent data A group of 8 bits is called a byte, with the unit symbol B Can be combined with metric prefixes for larger magnitudes E.g., “Mb” for megabit and “TB” for terabyte prefix symbol multiplier (decimal) multiplier (binary) kilo k, K 103 = 1000 210 = 1024 (also, kibi, Ki) mega M 106 = 1 000 000 220 = 1 048 576 (also, mebi, Mi) giga G 109 230 (also, gibi, Gi) tera T 1012 240 (also, tebi, Ti) peta P 1015 250 exa E 1018 260 zetta Z 1021 270 yotta Y 1024 280 13 Binary vs. Decimal Multipliers Decimal o Communication (Gigabit Ethernet: 1 billion bits per second) o Data transfer (PC3-12800 RAM transfers 12,800,000,000 bytes per second) o Clock rates (A 2-GHz CPU receives 2,000,000,000 ticks per second) o Storage, by manufacturers (10 TB: 10 trillion bytes) o Storage, by some operating systems (macOS, Linux) o DVDs Binary o Memory Capacity (8 GB: 8,589,934,592 bytes) o Storage, by some operating systems (Windows, occasionally Linux; 3.63 TB: 4,000,000,000,000 bytes) o CDs 14 Main Memory Main memory o Provides the CPU with a working storage area for programs and data o Rapidly provides data and instructions to the CPU o Usually in a form of dynamic random access memory (DRAM or just RAM) Storage capacity o Byte (B), typically quoted in GB eight bits together can represent a single English character 15 Types of Memory Random access memory (RAM) is temporary and volatile Types of RAM o Static random access memory (SRAM) used for high-speed registers and caches o Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) used for main memory o Double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM) Other forms of RAM o DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM, and DDR4 SDRAM o DDR4 reduces the energy required to run portable devices and servers Read-only memory (ROM) is nonvolatile o It provides permanent storage for data and instructions that do not change o Some can be re-written (EEPROM) 16 Secondary Data Storage Devices (1 of 2) Secondary storage o Devices that store large amounts of data, instructions, and information more permanently than allowed with main memory Advantages over RAM memory o Nonvolatility o Greater capacity (usually 2+ orders of magnitude) o Greater economy 17 Secondary Data Storage Devices (2 of 2) Secondary storage is not directly accessible by the CPU o Computers usually use input/output channels to access secondary storage and then transfer the desired data to intermediate areas in primary storage (RAM) Most common forms o Magnetic o Optical o Solid state 18  Austinmurphy at English Wikipedia Magnetic Secondary Storage Devices Magnetic tape o A type of sequential secondary storage medium o Primarily for storing backups of critical organizational data Hard disk drive (HDD) o A direct access storage device; consists of rapidly rotating disks coated with magnetic material Virtual tape o A storage device for less frequently needed data o Uses a library of the combination of the above 19 Optical Secondary Storage Devices A form of data storage that uses lasers to read and write data Common types of optical storage devices o Compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) o Digital video disc (DVD) o Blu-ray high-definition video disk o DNA data storage: experimental at this time 20 Solid State Secondary Storage Devices Solid state storage device (SSD) o Stores data in memory chips rather than magnetic or optical media Advantages o Require less power and provide faster access than magnetic data storage devices o Have no moving parts, so they are less fragile than hard disk drives A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive is a common SSD 21 Solid State Secondary Storage Devices (2) Uses solid state (i.e., no moving parts) memory chips Non-volatile, so they retain state without a power source Data is stored in “cells”, with 1–345 bits per cell Cells can only endure a limited number of writes Different types of flash memory technology: o Single level cell (SLC): most expensive, 50K–100K write cycles o Multi level cell (MLC): much less expensive, 5K–10K write cycles o Three level cell (TLC): most common?, 3K (newer: 10K) write cycles o Quad level cell (QLC): about 1K write cycles…, slow Techniques for extending lifespan of cells: o Provisioning: include extra capacity to use when cells start to fail o Wear levelling: distribute writes so that all cells wear evenly 22 Enterprise Storage Options Enterprise storage o Large secondary storage Forms of enterprise storage o Storage area networks (SANs) o Cloud computing storage 23 Storage Area Networks Storage Area Network (SAN) o A high-speed, special-purpose network that integrates different types of data storage devices into a single storage system and connects that to computing resources across an entire organization Other capabilities o Disk mirroring, data backup and restore, data archiving, data migration from one storage device to another, and sharing data among other devices 24 Storage as a Service Storage as a Service o A data storage model where a data storage service provider rents space to individuals and organizations o Rented data storage is accessed via the Internet Cloud-based storage services o Amazon’s Elastic Compute Cloud, Apple iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft SkyDrive, and Mozy o Amazon’s Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) allows subscribers to upload, store, and download data 25 Processor Central processing unit (C P U) components o Arithmetic/logic unit, the control unit, and the register areas o Part of the computer that sequences and executes instructions Memory o Provides the processor with a working storage area to hold program instructions and data Input/output devices o Provide data and instructions to the computer and receives results from it 26 Input and Output Devices Input and output devices: o Allow the user to provide data and instructions to the computer and to receive results from it o Are part of a computer’s user interface Organizations should keep their business goals in mind when selecting input and output devices Desired characteristics o Input devices: allow accurate and rapid entry o Output devices: produce timely results Specialized functions may be required 27 Input Devices (1 of 2) Common Personal Computer Input Devices o Keyboard and mouse Speech-Recognition Technology Motion-Sensing Input Devices Scanning Devices Optical Data Readers Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) Devices 28 Input Devices (2 of 2) Magnetic Stripe Cards Chip Cards Smart Cards Contactless Payment Cards Point-of-Sale (POS) Devices Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Devices Bar-Code Scanners Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Devices Pen Input Devices Touch Screens 29 Output Devices (1 of 3): Display Monitor Size o Measured diagonally, reported in (approximate) inches Resolution o Dimensions of the display, reported as “(number of pixels wide) × (number of pixels tall)” o Typical resolutions: 4096 × 2160 (“4K”) 1920 × 1080 (“Full HD”) 1280 × 720 (“HD”) Density o Sometimes size and resolutions are combined in a single “pixels per inch” (ppi) measure, more common for smartphones or tablets Display Technology LCD & “LED” Most modern displays use a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) to produce the image on screen o LCD panel forms an image o LEDs provide backlight LCD panel technology characteristics o Twisted Nematic (TN) Accurate reproduction of fast moving images (e.g., gaming) Colours appear distorted when viewed from off-centre angles Used in cheaper laptops and for some “gaming” displays; becoming obsolete o In Plane Switching (IPS) Better reproduction of colours, especially when viewed from angles Used in most contemporary displays Display Technology (cont.) o OLED organic light-emitting diode Each pixel is an individually-controlled light emitter Accurate reproduction of fast moving images (e.g., gaming) Great reproduction of colours, at any viewing angle Used in most “premium” devices (phones, TVs) Susceptible for burn-in, brightness degradation (esp. blue colour) Some users complain of visible flicker Output Devices (2 of 3) Printers and Plotters o Two main types of printers Laser Inkjet o Plotters are used for general design work Blueprints, schematics, and drawings of buildings o Other technologies Thermal (e.g., store receipt printing) Impact-based (dot-matrix, etc.; e.g., bank cheques) 33 Output Devices (3 of 3) 3D Printers o 3D technology takes a three-dimensional model of an object stored on a computer and sends it to a 3D printer to create the object using strands of a plastic filament or synthetic powder o Commonly used by aerospace firms, auto manufacturers, and other design-intensive companies o Bioprinting Uses 3D printers to build human parts and organs from actual human cells 34 Computer System Types Two major groups of general-purpose computers o Single-user computers o Multiple-user computers 35 Mobile Computers Mobile computers are small enough to carry easily Smartphones o Allow users to place calls, download and run apps, send and receive text messages and email, view documents and files, take and send photos and videos, get driving directions via GPS, browse Web sites… Laptops, Notebooks, and Tablets o Laptops are designed for use by mobile users o Notebooks and ultrabooks typically smaller than “laptops” o Tablets: portable, lightweight computers with or without a keyboard 36 Thin Clients, Desktops, and Workstations Thin client: low-cost, centrally managed computer with no internal or external attached drives for storage (uses network to boot) Desktop computer: single-user computer system that is highly versatile Nettop computer: an inexpensive desktop computer o Smaller, lighter, and consumes much less power than a traditional desktop computer “Workstations” are more powerful than other personal computers but still small enough to fit on a desktop 37 Servers, Mainframes, and Supercomputers Server o A computer employed by many users to perform a specific task, such as running network or Internet applications o Usually has special features that make it more suitable for operating in a multiuser environment Scalability: the ability to increase the processing and/or storage capabilities o Enable the system to handle more users, more data, or more transactions Mainframe computer: a large, powerful computer shared by hundreds of concurrent users connected to the machine over a network Supercomputers: the most powerful computer systems with the fastest processing speed 38 Server Farms (1 of 2) Server farm: a room used to house a large number of servers o Access to the machines can be controlled and authorized support personnel can more easily manage and maintain the servers Virtual server: a method of logically dividing the resources of a single physical server to create multiple logical servers o Each logical server acts as its own dedicated machine o Virtualization: creating [multiple] virtual computers on a physical computer 40 Server Farms (2 of 2) Virtual server Virtualization is an approach to improving hardware utilization by logically dividing the resources of a single physical server to create multiple logical servers. 41 Data Center A climate- and access-controlled building, or a set of buildings, that houses the computer hardware that provides data and information services Factors driving growth in data centers: o Demand for additional computing and/or storage capacity o Some organizations are consolidating data centers from many locations down to just a few locations Construction Considerations o Energy efficiency: reduced energy for processing and cooling Modular design Location: areas with milder climates and lower energy rates and land costs o Ability to absorb the impact of a disaster (e.g., hurricane, earthquake, terrorism attack, or war) and quickly restore services 42 Green Computing (1 of 2) A program concerned with the efficient and environmentally responsible design, manufacture, operation, and disposal of IS-related products Goals o Reduce the use of hazardous materials (e.g., lead in circuit boards, hard to mine metals) o Allow companies to lower their power-related costs o Enable safe disposal or recycling of equipment 43 Green Computing (2 of 2) Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) o A system that enables purchasers to evaluate, compare, and select electronic products based on a total of 51 environmental criteria TABLE 2.4 EPEAT product tiers for computers Tier Number of Required Criteria Number of Optional Criteria That Must Be Met That Must Be Met Bronze All 23 None Silver All 23 At least 50% Gold All 23 At least 75% 44 An Overview of Software Software o Consists of computer programs that control the workings of computer hardware Software can be divided into two types: o System software – includes operating system (OS), utilities, and middleware that coordinate the activities and functions of the hardware and other programs o Application software – programs that help users solve particular computing problems 45 Software Sphere of Influence (1 of 2) Sphere of influence: the scope of problems and opportunities addressed by a particular organization Personal sphere of influence o Serves the needs of an individual user o Personal productivity software: enables to improve users’ personal effectiveness Workgroup: two or more people working together to achieve a common goal Workgroup sphere of influence o Helps workgroup members attain their common goals Enterprise sphere of influence o Serves the needs of the firm in its interaction with its environment 46 Software Sphere of Influence (2 of 2) Software Type Personal Workgroup Enterprise Systems software Smartphone, tablet, Network operating Server and personal computer, systems mainframe operating and workstation systems operating systems Application software Word-processing, Email, group- General-ledger, order spreadsheet, scheduling, shared- entry, payroll, and database, and work, and human-resources graphics programs collaboration applications applications 47 System Software Controls the operations of computer hardware Supports the application programs’ problem-solving capabilities Types of systems software o Operating systems o Utility programs o Middleware 48 Operating Systems (1 of 10) A set of programs that controls computer hardware and acts as an interface with application programs Combinations of OSs, computers, and users: o Single computer with a single user o Single computer with multiple simultaneous users o Multiple computers with multiple users o Special-purpose computers 49 Operating Systems (2 of 10) Role of operating systems The role of the operating system is to act as an interface between application software and hardware. 50 Operating Systems (3 of 10) Kernel o The heart of the operating system o Controls the most critical processes of the OS o Ties all of the OS components together and regulates other programs 51 Operating Systems (4 of 10) Functions performed by the OS o Control common computer hardware functions o Provide a user interface and input/output management o Provide a degree of hardware independence o Manage system memory o Manage processing tasks o Provide networking capability o Control access to system resources o Manage files 52 Operating Systems (5 of 10) Common Hardware Functions o Get input from keyboard or another input device o Retrieve data from disks o Store data on disks o Display information on a monitor or printer User Interface and Input/Output Management o A user interface allows individuals to access and interact with the computer system o A command-based user interface requires text commands o A graphical user interface (GUI) The user interacts with icons and menus to send commands to the computer system 53 Operating Systems (6 of 10) Command-based and graphical user interfaces A Windows file system viewed with a GUI (a) and from the command prompt (b). 54 Operating Systems (7 of 10) Hardware Independence o Application program interface (API): a set of programming instructions and standards for one software program to access and use the services of another software program o Hardware independence allows software development without concern for the specific underlying hardware Memory Management o Allows the computer to execute program instructions effectively and to speed processing o Virtual memory: hard disk space is allocated to supplement the immediate, functional memory capacity of RAM Paging 55 Operating Systems (8 of 10) Processing Tasks: Five basic task management techniques o Multiuser: allows two or more users to run programs at the same time on one computer o Multiprocessing: supports running a program on more than one CPU o Multitasking: allows more than one program to run concurrently o Multithreading: allows different threads of a single program to run concurrently o Real time: responds to input instantly (RTOS: a different thing) 56 Operating Systems (9 of 10) Networking Capability o Allows computers in a network to send and receive data and share computing resources Access to System Resources and Security o Provides protection against unauthorized access to the users’ data and programs o Establishes a logon procedure May control access to specific system resources o Tracks who is using the system, length of use, and attempted security breaches 57 Operating Systems (10 of 10) File Management o Ensures that files in secondary storage are available when needed o Protects files from access by unauthorized users 58 Current Operating Systems TABLE 2.6 Operating systems by sphere of influence Personal Workgroup Enterprise Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows Server Microsoft Windows Server macOS, iOS macOS Server (discontinued) Linux Linux Linux Google Android, Chrome OS UNIX UNIX HP webOS HP-UX HP-UX IBM i and z/OS IBM i and z/OS 59 Personal Computing Operating Systems (1 of 5) Microsoft PC OS o As of Windows 10, Microsoft is moving away from releasing major new versions, but will provide ongoing, incremental upgrades and improvements o Windows 11: many changes are cosmetic 60 Personal Computing Operating Systems (2 of 5) Apple Computer OS o macOS (previously, Mac OS X) has been upgraded multiple times o First eight versions were named after big cats o Latest versions are named after places in California o macOS 15 Sequoia is the latest version (as of Sep 16, 2024) o Mac users can set up their computers to run both Windows and macOS 61 Personal Computing Operating Systems (3 of 5) Linux o Open-source operating system o Three of the most widely used distributions come from software companies: Red Hat SUSE Canonical o Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux descend from Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) o openSUSE is the distribution sponsored by SUSE o Canonical’s Ubuntu is based on Debian (as is Linux Mint) 62  Personal Computing Operating Systems (4 of 5) Rocky Linux, openSUSE operating systems some of distributions of Linux available as a free download 63 Personal Computing Operating Systems (5 of 5) Google Chrome o Chrome OS Linux-based operating system designed for netbooks and nettops Designed to run on inexpensive low-power computers o Chromium OS: an open-source version of Chrome OS 64 Workgroup Operating Systems Windows Server o A powerful Web server management system o Virtualization tools that allow various operating systems to run on a single server o Advanced security features, robust administrative support UNIX o Can be used on many computer system types and platforms Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server can manage a cluster of several servers Mac OS X Server (discontinued) o Based on the UNIX OS o Makes it easy to collaborate, develop software, host Web sites and wikis, configure Mac and iOS devices, and remotely access a network 65 Enterprise, Smartphone Operating Systems Examples of mainframe OSs o z/OS: IBM’s first 64-bit enterprise OS o HP-UX from Hewlett-Packard o Linux Smartphones employ full-fledged computer OSs (based on Linux of Unix) o Google Android o Apple iOS 66 Embedded Operating Systems Embedded system: a computer system (including a processor) implanted in and dedicated to the control of another device Popular OSs for embedded systems o Windows embedded o Proprietary Linux-based systems: Sony PS, Nintendo Wii; and OSs in e-book readers, ATMs, smartphones, networking devices, and media players o QNX (Unix-like RTOS; based in Kanata, ON) 67  Utility Programs Utility program: a program that helps to perform maintenance or correct problems with a system Sysinternals Suite Sysinternals Suite is a collection of utilities for troubleshooting and maintaining a Windows system. 68 Middleware Middleware o Software that allows different systems to communicate and exchange data Can also be used as an interface between the Internet and private corporate systems Enterprise application integration (EAI): tying together of disparate applications Service-oriented architecture (SOA): a software design approach using modules to provide specific functions as services to other applications 69 Application Software Application programs’ primary function o Apply the power of the computer to enable people, workgroups, and the entire enterprise to solve problems and perform specific tasks Many software options are available o Software can be selected that best meets the needs of the individual, workgroup, or enterprise 70 Overview of Application Software (1 of 3) Proprietary software: a one-of-a-kind program for a specific application o Owned by the company, organization, or person that uses it Off-the-shelf software: software mass-produced by software vendors o Addresses needs that are common across businesses, organizations, or individuals 71 Overview of Application Software (2 of 3) Comparison of proprietary and off-the-shelf software Proprietary Software Proprietary Software Off-the-Shelf Software Advantages Off-the-Shelf Software Advantages Disadvantages Disadvantages You can get exactly what you It can take a long time and a The initial cost is lower because the An organization might have to pay for need in terms of features, significant amount of software firm can spread the features that it does not require and reports, and so on. resources to develop required development costs across many never uses. features. customers. Being involved in the In-house system development The software is likely to meet the basic The software might lack important development offers more control staff may be hardpressed to business needs. Users have the features, thus requiring future over the results. provide the required level of opportunity to more fully analyze modification or customization, which ongoing support and existing features and the performance can be very expensive, and because maintenance because of of the package before purchasing. users will eventually be required to pressure to move on to other adopt future releases of the software, new projects. the customization work might need to be repeated. You can more easily modify the The features and The package is likely to be of high The software might not match current software and add features that performance of the delivered quality because many customer firms work processes and data standards. you might need to counteract an software may fail to meet have tested the software and helped initiative by competitors or to evolving business and end identify its bugs. meet new supplier or customer user needs. demands. 72 Overview of Application Software (3 of 3) Software as a service (SaaS) o Businesses subscribe to Web-delivered business application software o Vendors include Oracle, SAP, NetSuite, Salesforce, and Google 73 Personal Application Software (1 of 6) Word Processing o Create, edit, and print text documents Spreadsheet Analysis o Perform statistical, financial, logical, database, graphics, and date and time calculations using a wide range of built-in functions Database Applications o Store, manipulate, and retrieve data 74 Personal Application Software (2 of 6) Presentation Graphics Program o Develop graphs, illustrations, drawings, and presentations Software Suites and Integrated Software Packages o A collection of single programs packaged together in a bundle o Suites can include: word processor, spreadsheet, database management, graphics, communications tools, and organizers o Programs are designed to work similarly o Bundled suite is often more cost effective 75 Personal Application Software (3 of 6) Major components of leading software suites Personal Apache Microsoft Office Corel WordPerfect Productivity OpenOffice, Apple iWork Google Apps and Office 365 Office Function LibreOffice Word Word WordPerfect Writer Pages Docs processing Spreadsheet Excel Quattro Pro Calc Numbers Spreadsheet Presentation PowerPoint Presentations Impress and Keynote Presentation graphics Draw Database Access Base 76 Personal Application Software (4 of 6) Other Personal Application Software o TurboTax: tax-preparation program o Software for creating Web pages and sites, composing music, and editing photos and videos o Educational and reference o Entertainment, games, and leisure o Computer-assisted design (CAD) o Statistical software: SPSS and SAS 77 Personal Application Software (5 of 6) Mobile Application Software o Number of apps has exploded o Hundreds of thousands of applications have been developed by third parties o Apple App Store o Google Play (+ some others) 78 Personal Application Software (6 of 6) Categories of mobile applications Category Description Books and reference Access e-books, subscribe to journals, or look up information on the Merriam-Webster or Wikipedia Web sites Business and finance Track expenses, trade stocks, and access corporate information systems Entertainment Access all forms of entertainment, including movies, television programs, music videos, and information about local night life Games Play a variety of games, from 2D games such as Pacman and Tetris to 3D games such as Need for Speed, Call of Duty, and Minecraft Health and fitness Track workout and fitness progress, calculate calories, and even monitor your speed and progress from your wirelessly connected Nike shoes Lifestyle Find good restaurants, make a dinner reservation, select wine for a meal, and more Music Find, listen to, and create music News and weather Access major news and weather providers, including Reuters, AP, the New York Times, and the Weather Channel Photography Organize, edit, view, and share photos taken on your phone’s camera Productivity and utilities Create grocery lists, practice PowerPoint presentations, work on spreadsheets, synchronize with PC files, and more Social networking Connect with others via major social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Sports Keep up with your favorite team or track your own golf scores Travel and navigation Use the GPS in your smartphone to get turn-by-turn directions, find interesting places to visit, access travel itineraries, and more 79 Workgroup Application Software Workgroup application software o Designed to support teamwork with people in the same location or dispersed around the world 80 Enterprise Application Software Enterprise application software o Software that benefits an entire organization o Helps managers and workers stay connected o Cost, installation and ability to integrate with other software are major considerations in selecting this software o Usability on smartphones and mobile devices is also an important factor 81 Programming Languages (1 of 3) Programming languages o Sets of keywords, commands, symbols, and a system of rules for constructing statements o Allows humans to communicate instructions to a computer Syntax: a set of rules associated with a programming language 82 Programming Languages (2 of 3) Commonly used programming languages for new software development Language Description COBOL An English language-like programming language designed for business use, COBOL has been in use since 1959. Billions of lines of COBOL code are still in use in systems around the world, including credit card systems, ATMs, retail/POS systems, banking and payroll systems, healthcare systems, government systems, reservation systems, and traffic signal systems. Due to its declining popularity and the retirement of experienced COBOL programmers, COBOL programs are gradually being migrated to new platforms, rewritten in modern languages, or replaced with software packages. C Developed in the early 1970s, C is the base for other popular languages, such as C#, Java, JavaScript, and Python. C is mostly used for implementing operating systems and embedded applications. Because it provides the foundation for many other languages, it is advisable to learn C (and C++) before moving onto other languages. C++ Originally designed to enhance the C language, C++ is used to develop systems software, application software, high-performance server and client applications, and video games. Java Java is a programming language developed by Sun Microsystems in the 1990s, and it is still widely used in the development of enterprise software, Web-based content, and games. Java is also used for mobile apps that run on the Android operating system 83 Programming Languages (3 of 3) Commonly used programming languages for new software development Language Description JavaScript A scripting language developed by Netscape, JavaScript derives much of its syntax from C. JavaScript can be used across multiple Web browsers and is considered essential for developing interactive or animated Web functions. It is also used in game development and for writing desktop applications. PHP (Hypertex A popular programming language for Web developers, PHP is used to create dynamic Web sites and to develop Preprocessor) apps. PHP is used in more than 200 million Web sites, including WordPress, Digg, and Facebook. Python Python is another scripting language used to develop Web sites and mobile apps. Python is considered a fairly easy language for beginners to learn due to its readability and compact syntax, and it is used in Web apps for Google, Instagram, NASA, Pinterest, and Yahoo! Ruby Ruby is a scripting language designed to be simple and easy to use for developing Web sites and mobile apps. It powers the Ruby on Rails (or Rails) framework, which is used on Scribd, GitHub, Groupon, and Shopify. SQL A language for accessing data in relational database management systems, SQL is most commonly used for its “Query” function, which searches relational databases. SQL was standardized in the 1980s by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). 84 Software Issues and Trends Software issues: o Software bugs o Copyrights and licensing o Open-source software o Software upgrades o Global software support 85 Software Bugs Software bug: a defect in a program that keeps it from performing as it should Tips for reducing the impact of software bugs o Register all software o Check read-me files for solutions to known problems o Access the support area of the manufacturer’s Web site for patches o Install the latest software updates o Before reporting a bug, make sure that you can recreate the circumstances under which it occurs o After you can recreate the bug, call the manufacturer’s tech support line o Consider waiting before buying the latest release of software to give the vendor a chance to discover and remove bugs. Many schools and businesses don’t purchase software until the first major revision with patches is released 86 Copyrights and Licenses Most software products are protected by law using copyright or licensing provisions: o In some cases, you are given unlimited use of software on one or two computers o In other cases, you pay for your usage; if you use the software more, you pay more Some software now requires that you register or activate it before it can be fully used Single-user license o Permits you to install the software on one or more computers, used by one person 87 Open-Source Software Open-source software: distributed, typically for free, with the source code 88 Software Upgrades Software companies revise their programs and sell new versions periodically Software upgrades vary widely in the benefits that they provide Developing an upgrading strategy is important for many businesses o Helps to ensure that updated software is more stable with fewer errors and problems 89 Global Software Support Supporting local operations is one of the biggest challenges IS teams face when putting together standardized, company-wide systems Outsourcing global support to one or more third-party distributors is gaining acceptance 90 Summary The computer hardware industry is rapidly changing and highly competitive o Computer hardware must be carefully selected to meet the evolving needs of the organization and its supporting information systems (IS) Green computing designs and products Software is valuable in helping individuals, workgroups, and enterprises OS controls data input into your computer, processing, and display of results Organizations typically use off-the-shelf software to meet common business needs and proprietary software to meet unique business needs and provide a competitive advantage The software industry continues to undergo constant change; computer users need to be aware of recent trends and issues in the software industry to be effective in their business and personal life 91