Chapter 4: Applications and Uses of Computers PDF

# **Chapter 4: Applications and Uses of Computers** ## **Overview** - Computer technology is vital for every functional area of an organization. - IT systems are integral to every functional area. - In finance and accounting, managers use systems to: - Forecast revenues and business activity....

# **Chapter 4: Applications and Uses of Computers** ## **Overview** - Computer technology is vital for every functional area of an organization. - IT systems are integral to every functional area. - In finance and accounting, managers use systems to: - Forecast revenues and business activity. - Determine the best sources and uses of funds. - Manage cash and other financial resources. - Analyze investments. - Perform audits to ensure that the organization is fundamentally sound and that all financial reports and documents are accurate. - At home, computers can help us to: - Shop. - Determine our bank balance and pay bills. - At work place, computer skills are needed for success in almost every occupational area. - For businesses, with today's increased competition and global markets, it is almost impossible for an organization to stay competitive without the widespread use of computer technology. - Another advantage of computer technology on working practices is the move towards the paperless office in which all data is held in computer files and there is no hard copy at all. - The typical traditional office with filing cabinets full of files, trays of documents and correspondence awaiting or having received attention, desktops strewn with sea of paper would be a thing of the past. - An empty desk with telephone and computer terminal would be all that was required. - Significant changes have also taken place through the impact of interactive technology web-cams, video conferencing, and so on. - If it was necessary to talk with a group of clients, the only way was to either arrange a meeting that all of them could attend or to hold series of telephone conversations with each one individually and keep on getting back to them until the matter was settled to everybody's satisfaction. - Now, through the Internet and web cams a video conference can be set up in which everybody can take part without leaving their own office. ## **4.1 Uses of Computers in different Fields** - Our daily encounters with and dependence upon technology is almost invisible. - It takes the shape of: - Electronic climate control systems. - Wireless communication systems such as phones and pagers. - Automatic tellers to dispense money. - Magnetically striped cards to facilitate consumer transactions. - Cable and satellite television. - Automobiles and mass transit. - Free trade agreements have led to globalization of commerce and increased competitiveness in labor markets. - We listen to political and scientific debate about global warming and the effect of our modern use of fossil fuels, nuclear weapons, chemical warfare, and contamination of food and water supplies. - In the past several decades we have gone from space exploration to space colonization, intelligent machines, and virtual reality that will lead us into the next millennium. - The jobs of the future may not even exist today. ### **4.1.1 Business** - Businesses must understand and adapt in the new source of competitive advantage by connecting to: - The core competencies and customer interaction on global scale. - The global market place. - In the global business world, global interaction is very important. - In every organization, there are major business processes that provide the critical tasks such that: - Customer bills - Analyzing sales of various products in different locations. - Computers are used as given below: **Marketing** - Marketing applications provide information about the: - Organization's products. - Distribution system. - Advertising and personal selling activities. - Pricing strategies. - Marketing applications help managers to develop strategies that combine the four major elements of marketing: - Product - Promotion - Place - Price **Stock Exchanges** - Stock markets around the world are in transition. - On some trading floors, paper is disappearing. - In fact, the trading floor itself is disappearing in some places because many stock markets launched the computerized system that makes it possible for stockbrokers to do all their trading electronically. - Brokers interconnected through a data communications network submit and receive bids using their computer workstations or interconnected computer display screens, where brokers match buyers with sellers, so that neither trading floor nor slips of paper are necessary. **Banks** - Computerized banking have provided several benefits such as: - Save the time and convenience for customers. - International banking and the abilities to handle trading in multiple currencies are critical for international trade. - The cheques are read by MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Reader) - a device used to allow the data on cheques to be read by machines. - Banks use mainframe computer to maintain their customer accounts by dealing with the transaction generated as a result of withdrawals and deposits. - Some banks operate a network of ATMs (Automated Teller Machine). - Although some international retail purchasing can be done by giving a credit card number. **Departmental Store** - People level, cashiers enter sales data into sale terminals by waving a bar code scanner across a package's bar-coded prices and stock numbers. - Bar codes are read by bar-code readers, photoelectric scanners that translate the bar code symbols into digital forms. - The price of a particular item is set within the store's computer and appears on the sales-clerk's point of sale terminal and on our receipt. - Store and department manager who received report of store and department sales and inventory levels are indirect end users. - Record of sales are input to the store's computer and used for accounting, restocking store inventory, and weeding out products that sell well. - A Security VCR (video cassette recorder) is widely used in department stores and other locations where aesthetics are a priority. - It is virtually impossible to tell where the camera is pointed, which makes it difficult for would-be camera avoiders to stay out of the camera's view range. - VCRs are equipped with a camera, and lens can be augmented with dummy cameras. - VCRs use the tapes, hook up the same way, and have all of the standard features of today's consumer VCRs. - Importantly, they are just as easy to use. - Security cameras are everywhere, making it simple to monitor home or business operations and ensure safety. - Now computer hard disk has took place of VCR. **Office Automation** - Office Automation (OA) refers to the movement toward automating office tasks. - An office where workers performs different tasks. - The management and administrative tasks performed in an office five general categories of activities like: - Decision-making - Data manipulation - Document handling - Communication - Storage. - Many offices have used advance computer technologies to perform various tasks in an office system, such as: - Document management system - Message-handling system - Office support systems. **1. Document Management Systems (DMS)** - DMS include: - Word processing - Desktop publishing - Reprographic - Image processing - Archival storage applications. - Word processing enable documents to be created and edited electronically as well as help to produce high quality memos, letters, proposals, reports, newsletters and brochures etc., which are used to send business community. - Desktop publishing enables to make documents in attractive form by the use of photos, artwork, graphical illustrations etc. - Spreadsheet is a software package used to create a table of columns and rows used by people responsible for tracking revenues, expenses, profits, loses, statistical, mathematical and logical processing etc. - Reprographics is the process of reproducing multiple copies of a document. - Image processing allow document to be scanned and stored in image oriented databases. **2. Message-handling systems** - Enable to send messages or documents from one location to other location through: - Facsimile (fax) - Electronic mail (e-mail) - Voice Mail etc. **3. Office Support Systems enable:** - To coordinate and manage the activities of work group. - Groupware and desktop organizers are some examples of office support systems. ## **4.1.2 E-commerce** - E-commerce (electronic commerce) describes the buying, selling, and exchanging of products, services, and information via computer network. - The term e-commerce as describe transactions, conducted between business partners. - There are many application of e-commerce, such as: - Home banking - Shopping in electronic malls - Buying stocks - Finding a job - Conducting an auction - Collaborating electronically with business partners around the globe - Marketing & advertising - Providing customer service. - There are several types of e-commerce like: - Collaborative commerce - Business to commerce - Consumer to consumer - Mobile commerce - Mobile satellite communications also promise to extend the global reach of voice, data and other services. - The following services of e-commerce are used most frequently in e-business: **Electronic Mail (E-mail):** - The e-mail is a service that transports text messages from a sender to one or more receivers via computer. - Voice mail systems capture, store, and transmit spoken messages. **Video conferencing:** - Video conferencing is a type of conferencing in which video cameras and microphones capture sight and sound transmission over networks. - It is a advance form of teleconferencing. - Videoconferencing should provide a complete simulation of a normal meeting environment, enabling both parties to see, hear and present material, just as if they were in the same room. - It can speed up business process and procedures in the same way that the fax and the e-mail have revolutionized the way we share information. - Tangible benefits are most easily related to actual cost savings. - The most obvious quantifiable saving is the cost of travel and the cost of the time wasted during travel. **Electronic-shopping (E-shopping):** - Many business now have website that allow Internet users to buy their goods or services. - Shopping can take place using a computer at home, from work or at a mobile phone and e-shop can be anywhere in the world working 24 hours a day. **Electronic Banking:** - An electronic banking is also known as cyber-banking or online includes various banking activities conducted from home, a business, or on the road instead of a physical bank location. ## **4.1.3 Industry** - Computers are used to control manufacturing system and continuous running of the machinery. - These are also help in monitoring temperature, pressure, and also check the quality and accuracy, measurement needed in the manufacturing process. **Robots:** - A robot is an automatic programmable machine that moves and performs mechanical tasks. - Robots are used in hundreds of applications from assembling and spray-painting cars, carrying out maintenance on overhead power cables, to testing blood samples, outer space experimental programs, in artificial satellites, and radioactive environments etc. - Robots can work in environment that are hazardous to humans, it can perform repetitive and boring task continuously without a break at high level of accuracy than human. ## **4.1.4 Computer Aided Design (CAD) & Computer-Aided Manufacture (CAM)** - CAD are used for display designs and build production prototypes in software, test them as a computer object according to following given parameters: - Compile parts and quantities lists. - Outline production and assembly procedures - Transmit the final design directly to machines. - CAD has many different applications some of them like designing new car or aircraft, bridge and building. - Making changes to a design requires a large number of complex calculations. - A CAD system needs a high-resolution monitors, input devices (such as mouse, keyboard, graphic tables, and scanners etc.), and output devices (such as printers and plotters). - CAD use often has the capability of displaying a three-dimensional object and speedily rotating it in any direction using controls on the keyboard. - Computer-Aided manufacture (CAM) is used to control all the part of a manufacturing process. - CAM software uses digital design output, such as that from a CAD system, to directly control production machinery. - CAM systems are manufactured following goods: - Product can be made very accurately and consistently. - Around the clock production is much cheaper. - A product's design can be modified without the need of bringing production to a computer standstill ## **4.1.5 Simulations** - A computer simulation is a special type of computer model, which recreates a system that might exist outside the computer. - Simulations are often used to train peoples how to deal with situations that are too difficult, expensive or dangerous to recreate and practice for real. - For example, a flight simulation, which is used to train pilots how to deal with situation that would be expensive and dangerous to practice using a real aircraft. - A flight simulator consists of a working replica of the flight deck of an airplane. ## **4.1.6 Medical** - The computers are commonly used in some area of medical fields such as laboratories, researches, scanning, monitoring, pharmacy etc., which are helping the doctor to diagnose an illness. **Patient Monitoring** - Computers are used in hospitals to monitoring critically ill patients in intensive care units. - The patients have sensors attached to them, which detect changes in: - Heart rate - Pulse rate - Blood pressure - Breathing - Brain activity. - If any reading dislocates or reaches misbalancing level, the computer activates an alarming device to create sound and alerts the medical staff. - The data is also logged and used to analyze the changes in a patient's condition over a period of time. **Patient Records** - Computerized databases are used to store information about: - Patients - Doctors - Medicines - Other chemicals and equipments. - Storing information in proper order to provide the convenient way of arrangements for hospital staff. - It makes easy to organize records than paper-based records that are not constantly following patients around the hospital. - For example: if a patient is admitted in one ward but being seen by a consultant and receiving treatment in other parts of the hospital; their details can be viewed and updated at any terminal in the hospital's LAN network. - The computerized databases are used to help match patients who are waiting for organ transplants such as a new kidney, liver or heart with suitable organs from donors. **Diagnosis** - It will come as no surprise that hospitals and clinics use computers to keep records and generate invoices. - One common use of computer is to scan the body of the patient. - A scanner sends electromagnetic rays through a patient's body and sensors detect that how much patient's body have affected to any type of cancer. - Actually the body scanner helps the doctor to treat any type of tumors or cancers. - For example, the CAT scanner passes rays over the patient; it displays an image that enables physicians to look beneath the patient's skin. - As the scanner passes over the patient, it displays an image of bone and tissue structure on a computer screen. ## **4.1.7 Airline System** - In airline system, computers are used to control passenger aircrafts and vehicles. - Early aircraft were controlled by moving parts attached to the controls using cables. - In modern, fly- by-wire system, electronic singles from the cockpit are sent to that adjusts the flight surfaces. - Computer is embedded in the pilot's or driver's controls. - It is linked up among different cities and gives full information about its flight and seat reservation. ## **4.1.8 Education** - Computers are used in many colleges to provide the methods of teaching in different ways. - The computer education is very familiar and rapidly increasing the graph of computer students. - There are number of methods in which educational institutions can use computer to educate the students. - Many computer-based educational programs software are available, which students can learn to read, to count, or to speak a foreign language. - Software that combines the thrills of games with real information content is becoming more popular. - Some organizations are using information technology in their employee training programs. **Computer Aided Learning (CAL)** - Computer Aided Learning (CAL) could be described as the use of information technology to assist in the teaching and enhance learning process. - Information Technology may be able to aid us in reducing the time spent on creation and maintenance of teaching materials (one 'document' for lecture materials/reference notes/study aids). - It is also reducing the administrative load associated with teaching and research. **Computer-Based Training (CBT)** - CBT or Computer Based Training is a difficult term to adequately define because it encompasses various modes of instruction and has evolved from the simplest definition, An interactive learning experience between the learner and computer in which the computer provides the majority of the stimulus, the learner must respond, and the computer analyzes the response and provides feedback to the learner. - Computer-Based Training is about using computers to help train people. - It is not necessarily about training people to use computers. - Computer based training works, compared with traditional techniques, it can bring many additional benefits to any organization, their training department and their students. - For example: - Students can readily acquire new skills at their own pace and at times that do not conflict with their work schedules. - Training times can usually be reduced. - Retention of course material is usually greater. - Interactive, visually stimulating easily absorbed and easily available material encourages students to undertake training. - Planning and timetabling problems can be reduced or eliminated. - Essential skills can be taught and refreshed whenever and wherever needed. - The quality and consistency of the training material is maintained throughout. - It is a highly cost-effective way to train large number of students, locally or at remote places. - Timely and high-quality training on demand leads to increased efficiency. - Compared to traditional classroom training methods, students using Computer-based training absorb similar material faster and retain more of the information they are taught. ## **4.1.9 Weather Forecasting** - Computer based weather forecasting depends on accurate collection of data from weather stations, airports, satellites, different sensitive devices (which are situated on huge towers and buildings etc.) all around the world. - Computer depends on building a model of: - Hot - Cold air - Dry and humid air - interaction, and how these interactions are affected by land and sea temperature, season and so on. - Once this is done, the data is collected on atmospheric phenomena over a region. - The computer model then generates a forecast of how the air will change. - The necessary parameters can never be measured with total accuracy and it is impossible to make a perfect representation of all the factors that affect weather. - Some businesses, however, are so dependent on the weather that they need constantly updated information. - SPARCO Weather forecasting department offer analysis of live weather data, and provide help to make business decisions based on weather forecasting. ## **4.1.10 Home** - Nowadays many people have computers at home and it has become a necessity electrical home appliance used in home. - Children play games, keep track of the stamp collections, draw pictures, play music, view movies and do some sort of reading and writing according to their needs. - A typical domestic system consists of a PC with a relatively small hard disk; printer, modem and CD-ROM drive etc. - People can utilize computers for: - Keeping records - Making home budgets - Using electronic mail and Internet services to learn and increase their knowledge. - The uses of microprocessor technology in manufacturing of electronic home appliances like: - Microwave - Air-conditioning - Washing machine - Sewing machine etc., have completely changed our way of life. ## **4.2 Computer Assistance simplifying our work practices** - Mostly people think that computer have a brain and can think and decide what to do, this is not true: they are primarily machines, whereas the real thinking is done by human beings who feed the computers with information and program them to perform different operations. - There are many reasons for using computers and some of these are listed below: - Computers can work much faster than human's work. - Computers never get tired or need a rest. - Computers can do jobs that it would be dangerous for a human to do. - Computers can store large amount of information. - Computers can retrieve information very quickly. - Computers never lose or misplace information. - Computers linked through communications systems offer major personal and business benefit to users like speed, consistency, precision, and reliability etc. **Speed** - Computer can perform calculations or process at a very high speed in a fraction of a second like nano second or even pico second. - Computer can perform complex calculations, recall stored information, transmit information from one location to another and move objects around a computer screen almost instantaneously. **Consistency** - People often have difficulty repeating their actions exactly. - Indeed, doing something once is not nearly as difficult as doing it the same way, and with the same result repeatedly. - Computer excels at repeating actions consistently. Whether using a spell checker built into a word processor or playing multimedia animation for training purposes, a computer will carry out the activity the same way every time. **Precision** - In addition to being fast and consistent, computers are extremely precise. - They can detect minute differences that people cannot see. - In manufacturing an automobile, for example, the precise placement of a part as directed by a computer, may make the difference between long use and early wear. - Computers excel in managing the smallest differences in being precise. **Reliability** - With speed consistency, and precision come reliability. - When we know that the same procedure will be followed rapidly, consistently, and precisely, we can expect reliability of result i.e, we can depend on getting the same result again and again with any error. ## **Exercise 4C** 1. Fill in the blanks: - (i) CAD stands for **Computer Aided Design**. - (ii) Electronic banking allows individuals to obtain cash instantly from **an ATM**. - (iii) CAT stands for **Computer Aided Topography**. - (iv) VCR stands for **Video Cassette Recorder**. - (v) A robot is an automatic programmable machine that moves and performs **tasks**. - (vi) An electronic banking is also known as **Cyber Banking**. - (vii) The cheques are read by a **MICR** machine in computerized bank. - (viii) The **Video Conferencing** is a type of conferencing in which video cameras and microphones capture sight and sound transmission over networks. - (ix) Office Support Systems enable to coordinate and manage the activities of **a Workgroup**. - (x) FAX stands for **Facsimile**. 2. Choose the correct option. - (i) CBT stands for: **(b) Computer Based Training**. - (ii) The benefit of CAD may be summed up as: **(d) All of the above.** - (iii) Computer at home can be used: **(d) All of the above.** - (iv) A word processor can be used to: **(d) All of the above.** - (v) CAL stands for: **(a) Computer Aided Learning**. - (vi) Typically, an ATM can be used to: **(a) Keeping records**. - (vii) Modern computer can perform calculations or process at **(a) per second** speed. - (viii) CAT stands for: **(b) Computer Axial Topography**. - (ix) Computer based weather forecasting depends on accurate collection of data from: **(b) Weather stations**. - (x) MICR stands for: **(b) Magnetic Ink Character Recorder.** 3. Write T for true and F for false statement - (i) **T** CBT is more expensive than non-CBT training. - (ii) **T** Videoconferencing is an advanced form of teleconferencing. - (iii) **F** The e-shop has opened for limited time period on the web sits. - (iv) **T** CAL could be described as the use of information technology to assist in the teaching and learning processes. - (v) **F** Bar Code Reader can be read all types of ink characters. - (vi) **F** Fax machine can be inserted inside computers. - (vii) **T** A robot is an automatic programmable machine. - (viii) **F** A computer simulation is a special type of computer hardware. - (ix) **T** An electronic banking is also known as cyber-banking. - (x) **F** Modern computer can perform calculations at a second. 4. Explain the term Computer Aided Manufacturing process. - Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) is the process of using computer software to control production machinery. - This can be done by: - Compiling parts and quantities lists. - Outlining production and assembly procedures. - Transmitting the final design directly to machines. 5. What is meant by computer simulation? - A computer simulation is a virtual representation of a real-world system. - They are often used to test and evaluate different scenarios, such as: - How a new product might perform. - How a new marketing campaign might be received. - It is used to train people in how to deal with situations that are too difficult, expensive, or dangerous to recreate and practice for real, such as flight simulations. 6. What is an ATM? - ATM stands for Automated Teller Machine. - An ATM is a machine that allows bank customers to withdraw cash, deposit money, check account balances, and pay bills. - They are typically located in banks, grocery stores, and other public places. 7. Explain how computer can be useful in business. - Computers can be used in business to: - Manage finances - Produce and market products - Track inventory - Communicate with customers. - Some specific examples include: - Accounting software to manage accounts and track finances. - Customer relationship management (CRM) software to manage customer interactions. - Inventory management software to track inventory levels. - Email marketing software to communicate with customers. 8. Explain how computer can be useful in medical field. - Computers can be used in the medical field to: - Diagnose and treat patients - Store patient records - Manage medical facilities. - Some specific examples include: - Medical imaging software to create images of the inside of the body. - Electronic medical records software to store patient records. - Hospital management software to manage medical facilities. 9. Explain how computer can be useful in weather forecasting. - Computers can be used in weather forecasting to: - Collect data from weather stations, satellites, and other sources. - Process and analyze the data. - Create weather models. - Generate forecasts. - The use of computers has greatly improved the accuracy and timeliness of weather forecasts. 10. Define the role of E-Commerce in our daily life. - E-Commerce has revolutionized the way we shop, bank, and communicate. It allows us to buy and sell goods and services online, transfer money electronically, and stay in touch with friends and family around the world. - Some examples include: - Online shopping sites like Amazon, eBay, etc. - Online banking websites like Chase, Bank of America, etc. - Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, etc. 11. How computer can be useful in weather forecasting? - Computers can be used in weather forecasting to: - Collect data from weather stations, satellites, and other sources. - Process and analyze the data. - Create weather models. - Generate forecasts. - The use of computers has greatly improved the accuracy and timeliness of weather forecasts. 12. Describe the CBT training. - Computer-Based Training (CBT) is a type of training that uses a computer to deliver instruction. - These type of training programs can be: - Interactive - Personalized - Self-paced. - CBT is often used in: - Corporations - Educational institutions - Government agencies. - CBT has a number of advantages over traditional instructor-led training, including: - It is more cost-effective - It is more convenient - It is more effective in terms of learning outcomes. 13. Define the online shopping and banking. - Online shopping is the process of buying goods and services online, rather than in a physical store. - It is often done through websites or mobile apps. - Online banking is the process of managing your finances online, rather than at a physical bank branch. - It is done through a bank's website or mobile app and allows you to: - View your account balances. - Transfer money. - Pay bills. - Deposit checks. 14. Define the Videoconferencing. - Videoconferencing is a technology that allows two or more people to have a meeting or conversation over a video link. - It is often used in business to conduct meetings, presentations, and training. - Videoconferencing can also be used for personal communication such as: - Staying in touch with family and friends. - Attending virtual events.