Fundamentals
of
Computer Processing
Computer SizesComputer Sizes Mainframes -- the first Supercomputers -- the largest Minicomputers -- the first effort to achieve reduced
size Microcomputers -- made possible by microprocessor
PC -- used by one person, or by a few people in the same area
Workstations, lap tops, notebooks, and palmtops
The Computer SchematicThe Computer Schematic
Processor = Control unit + ALU
The computer is a closed-loop system
Control Unit
Arithmetic and Logic Unit
Primary Storage Unit
Central Processing Unit(CPU)
TheComputerSchematic
Input DataOutputInformation
SecondaryStorage
Unit
Computer HistoryComputer History Prior to 1950s
Keydriven machines– (some were called bookkeeping
machines)
Punched card machines
Computer History Computer History (continued)(continued)
1951 -- first commercial computer (a UNIVAC I) installed at the Census Burea
1954 -- first computer installed in a business (another UNIVAC I at GE)
Early 1970s -- minicomputers Late 1970s -- microcomputers (TRS-80,
Commodore PET) 1982 -- IBM PC
Primary StoragePrimary Storage
Evolution in storage media:
Magnetic drums
Magnetic cores
Integrated circuits (1964)
Bits and Bytes (KB, MB)Bits and Bytes (KB, MB)
RAM and ROM
Cache memory
One kilobyte (1KB) is 210 bytes (1,024)
One megabyte (1MB) is 220 bytes (1,048,576)
Input DevicesInput Devices
Keyboard
Ergonomic considerations (human engineering, human factor considerations)
QWERTY keyboard vs. Dvorak keyboard
Pointing DevicesPointing Devices
Mouse Trackball Touch screen Light pen Remote control device
Source Data Automation Source Data Automation (SDA)(SDA)
Input bottleneck Optical character recognition (OCR) is big
in retailing– Supermarket scanners– Point of sale (POS) terminals
Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) was big for banks starting in the late 1950s
Technologies used for Technologies used for POS TerminalsPOS Terminals
Mark readers Barcode readers Character readers Handprint readers
Speech RecognitionSpeech Recognition
Speaker dependent
Speaker independent
Output DevicesOutput Devices Displayed
– CRT, VDT– Flat-panel
Printed– Speed– Quality
Speech (audio response unit)– digitized or playback
Microfilm
Computer
ABC123
Plotters
Speech OutputDevices
Printers
Displayed OutputDevices
Means ofProducin
g Compute
rOutput
PrintersPrinters
Impact Nonimpact
Line Character
Dotmatrix
Daisywheel
Page LaserInkjet
Output Devices Output Devices (continued)(continued)
Plotters– Flatbed– Drum
Microform– Microfilm (roll)– Microfiche (sheet)
Tabular versus graphical versus narrative
SoftwareSoftware Input and output devices communicate
directly with the manager and are considered to have a direct role
Source data automation devices play an indirect role
Two main types of software -- system and application
System SoftwareSystem Software
Three main types:
– operating system– translators– utilities
Operating SystemOperating System Basic functions
– Schedule jobs– Manage hardware and software
resources– Maintain system security– Provide for multiprogramming– Handle interrupts– Maintain usage records
Language TranslatorsLanguage TranslatorsSoftware GenerationsSoftware Generations
– First -- machine language– Second -- assemblers– Third -- compilers and interpreters
»Procedure-oriented language»Problem-oriented language
– Fourth -- natural language (4GL)– Nonprocedural – Types of 4GLs (example: FOCUS)
Source
Program
Translate
ObjectProgram
OutputInputData
The Program is Translated Before the Data is Processed
1
2
MuchMuch
DSSDSSpowepowe
rr
LittleFriendlyFriendly UnfriendlyUnfriendly
User User friendlinessfriendliness
Database Database Query Query
LanguageLanguage
Modeling languagesModeling languages Very Very
high-level high-level languageslanguages
ReportReportwriterswriters
ApplicationApplication generatorsgenerators
Fourth-generation Languages Offer Unique Combinations of Fourth-generation Languages Offer Unique Combinations of Power and User FriendlinessPower and User Friendliness
GraphGraphgeneratorsgenerators
FOCUS Instructions to Prepare a Report
DEFINE FILE SALESREGION/A12=DECODE REGION(NE ‘NORTH EAST’
SE ‘SOUTH EAST’ MW ‘MID WEST’MA ‘MID-ATLANTIC’);
ENDTABLE FILE SALESHEADING CENTER“PRODUCT UNIT SALES ANALYSIS </1”SUM UNITS AND ROW-TOTAL AND COLUMN-TOTAL ACROSS REGION BY PRODNUM AS ‘PRODUCT NUMBER’END
Application SoftwareApplication Software Custom programming versus prewritten
packages Four categories of prewritten packages
1. General business2. Industry-specific3. Organizational productivity
GDSS, E-mail, project management, forecasting, stat packages
Application Software Application Software (continued)(continued)
4. Personal productivity (or application development software)»Word processing»Spreadsheets»Graphics»desktop publishing, etc.
Direct versus indirect roles of software
Application SoftwareApplication Software
C B I SSoftwareType
General BusinessIndustry-specificOrganizationalproductivity
DP MIS OA ESDSS
Personalproductivity
User FriendlinessUser Friendliness Guided dialog
– Menus– Form-filling
Context sensitive help– Help screen or help messages
Graphic user interface (GUI)– Icons, buttons, toolbars, and others
Error ControlError Control Error prevention
– Protected format Error detection
– Edit routines Error correction
– Edit commands
MultimediaMultimedia Combines different forms of computer
output, allows richer communication Began in late 1980s Multimedia in business
– accounting information systems (documedia)– MIS and DSS via graphs, three-dimensional
graphics and animation– office automation; workgroup computing,
desktop video– knowledge-based systems
The Multimedia System Development ProcessThe Multimedia System Development Process
Communications Communications ProfessionalsProfessionals
Information SpecialistsInformation Specialists UserUser
Define the problem
Design the concept
Design the content
Write the script
Design the graphics
Produce the system
Conduct user tests
Use the system
Maintain the system
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8Step 9
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