–1

 List major components of a computer

and explain their functions
 Explain how computers communicate
 Classify computers into major categories,
and identify their strengths and
weaknesses
 Describe how computers have affected
the development of business

–2
 Define the most commonly used hardware
terminology
 Identify and evaluate key criteria when
deciding what computers or related devices
to purchase
 Explain the controversy regarding the
health hazards of computers
 Evaluate hardware so that you can harness
it to improve managerial processes

–3
 Computers are at the core of every
modern information system
◦ Hardware: the physical components of
the computer
◦ Software: the set of instructions that
direct the hardware to perform particular
tasks

–4
 Input devices: receive signals from
outside the computer and transfer them
into the computer

◦ Computer keyboard and mouse

◦ Some input devices accept voice, image, or

other signals

–5
 Most important part of any computer

 Accepts instructions and data

 Decodes and executes instructions

 Stores results (output) in memory for later

display

–6
 Stores data and instructions just before and
immediately after the CPU processes them
 Includes programs currently running on a
machine
 Intermediate results of arithmetic operations
 Intermediate versions of documents being
word processed
 Data that represent pictures displayed on a
computer screen
 Sounds played by the speakers

–7
 Two types of memory

◦ RAM (random access memory)

◦ ROM (read-only memory)

 The amount of memory and the speed at

which it can be retrieved are two properties
that determine the power of a computer

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 Different types of media

◦ Magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, and optical

discs

 Stores same types of data and information

as internal memory does

 Allows for permanent storage and

portability

–9
 Computer monitors and printers

 Deliver information from the computer to a

person

 Audio output devices

 Specialized output devices: Braille writers

–10
 Four Basic Functions of Computers

 Accept data

 Process data

 Store data and instructions

 Output data

–11
 A timeline of computing

Figure 4.3 (continued) A timeline of computing

–12
 Devices for both output and input
◦ Printers that read memory cards to print
digital images
 Most I/O devices are peripheral devices
 Most processing and storage devices are
internal
 CPU and primary memory reside on the
motherboard

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–14
 Computer recognizes two states:

◦ On or off
 Each on or off signal represents a bit (binary digit)

–15
 Representation of symbols by unique strings
of bits
 ASCII (American Standard Code for
Information Interchange) originally with
seven bits in a byte
 ASCII-8
◦ Newer version
◦ Consists of eight bits per byte

–16
–17
 EBCDIC, Developed by IBM with eight bits per byte

 EBCDIC-EXTENDED BINARY CODED DECIMAL

INTERCHANGE CODE.

 Limitations in ASCII and EBCDIC to 256 different

characters

 Unicode, 16 bits per byte, allows for many more

characters

–18
 Counting Bases
◦ Decimal system is “base 10”
◦ Binary system is “base 2”
◦ Similar methods for calculations as humans
◦ Store all quantities and perform calculations
in binary form
◦ Display numbers after translating to decimal
presentation

–19
 Supercomputers
◦ The largest, most powerful, and most
expensive
◦ Used by universities, research
institutions, and large corporations
 Mainframe Computers
◦ Less powerful and less expensive than
supercomputers
◦ Used by businesses with large amounts
of data that need to be stored in a
central computer

–20
–21
 Midrange Computers

◦ Often used as the host computer in a

network of smaller computers

◦ Priced in the several thousands to a few

hundred thousand dollars

◦ Manufacturers: DEC (VAX), IBM (AS/400),

and Hewlett-Packard

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 Microcomputers

◦ Networks of microcomputers are replacing

mainframes

◦ Sometimes called workstations

◦ Used for CAD, CAE, complex simulations

and scientific applications

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 Microcomputers (cont.)
◦ The microprocessor chip
 Traditionally manufactured by Intel
 AMC and Cyrix are other manufacturers
 Macintosh are built around Motorola’s PowerPC chips
 Sun develops its own microprocessors and
computers

–24
 Computers on the
Go: Notebook,
Handheld, and
Tablet computers
◦ Computers used
outside the office
◦ 3x the desktop pc
price
◦ Tablet pc is the
newest option
available

–25
 Internet Appliances
◦ Handheld computers and other electronic
devices manufactured with the capability
to link to the Internet
◦ Can be wireless
◦ Considerations must be made for invasion
of privacy concerns
◦ More devices being outfitted for Internet
access all the time
–26
 Mainframe to PC: Networking Businesses
◦ With increased power of the PC, managers
devise their own IS

◦ Businesses shifting from mainframe model

to the client/server model

◦ One PC functions as the server

◦ Connects to other PCs, the clients

–27
 Increasing power, decreasing cost

 Electronic computing began with early

counting machines

 Electrical signals an important leap in

technology

 1942: first electronic computer at Iowa State

–28
 Used by the US Government

 IBM machines used in ’50s and ’60s for

business calculations, record keeping
and more

 Today, nearly every new electronic device

has a computer

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–30
–31
– Management Information Systems, 4th
Edition –32
–33
 The Central Processing Unit (CPU)
◦ The brain of the computer
◦ Has two components that store and process data:

 Control unit
 Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
◦ Silicon chip with multiple circuits

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–35
 The Central Processing Unit (CPU) (cont.)

◦ Microprocessor
 Carries signals that execute all processing

 More transistors on the chip, the greater the power

of the processor

 Silicon chip embedded with transistors, or

semiconductors

–36
 CPU’s execution of four functions is one cycle:
◦ Fetch, Decode, Execute, Store
 Rate of repetitive cycles is Clock Rate
 One cycle per second is one hertz
◦ Computer frequencies are measured in
megahertz (MHz─millions of hertz) or
gigahertz (GHz─billions of hertz)
 System clock synchronizes all these tasks

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–38
 The Word: maximum number of bits fetched
in one cycle

 The Arithmetic Logic Units Operations:

where all arithmetic and logical operations
take place

 Reduced Instruction Set Computing: fewer

instructions resulting in faster computing

–39
 Memory
◦ Registers
◦ Primary Memory
 Random access memory (RAM)
 Cache Memory

 Read-only memory (ROM)

◦ Volatile v. Nonvolatile

–40
 Clock rate :the speed at which a microprocessor executes
instructions.

 Bus: amount of information the CPU can process per

second

 Throughput: speed determined only by combination of

both factors.

 the average rate of successful message delivery over a

communication channel.

 BPS

–41
 Keyboard
 Mouse, Trackball, and Track Pad
 Touch Screen
 Source Data Input Devices
 Imaging
 Speech Recognition

–42
–43
 Soft-Copy Output Devices
◦ Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT) Monitor
◦ Flat-Panel Monitor
◦ Speech Output
 Hardcopy Output Devices
◦ Nonimpact Printers (most common)
◦ Impact Printers

–44
–45
 Important Properties to Consider

◦ Capacity, Access Speed, Access Mode, Cost

 Mode of Access

◦ Sequential v. Direct Access

 Magnetic tapes

–46
 Magnetic Disks

 Optical Disks

 Optical Tapes

 Flash Memory and Thumb Drives

–47
 Trade-offs

 Modes of Access

◦ Sequential Access: Tapes

◦ Direct Access: Disks

–48
–49
–50
 What should you consider when
buying hardware?
◦ Power -- speed, size of memory,
storage capacity
◦ Expansion and upgrade capability
◦ Ports for external devices like printers,
hard disks, communication devices
◦ Ergonomics: Keyboard, Monitor

–51
 What should you consider when
buying hardware (cont.)?
◦ Footprint
◦ Vendor reliability, warranty policy,
vendor support
◦ Compatibility
◦ Cost

–52
Factor What to Look For
•Power Greater frequency and word size, larger
•Expandability Greater number of board slots for additional RAM
•Ports Greater number of ports for printer, external hard
disk, communication devices and other peripherals
•Ergonomics Greater comfort and safety
•Compatibility Comparability with many other computers and
peripheral devices, as swell as software packages
•Footprint Smaller area
•Support Availability of telephone and on-line support for
troubleshooting
•Warranty Longer warranty period
•Cost Lower cost

–53
Factor What to Look For
•Power Greater frequency and word size, larger
•Expandability Greater number of board slots for additional RAM
•Ports Greater number of ports for printer, external hard
disk, communication devices and other peripherals
•Ergonomics Greater comfort and safety
•Compatibility Comparability with many other computers and
peripheral devices, as swell as software packages
•Footprint Smaller area
•Support Availability of telephone and on-line support for
troubleshooting
•Warranty Longer warranty period
•Cost Lower cost

–54
 Physical and Emotional Stress

◦ General physical and emotional stress

◦ Muscular-skeletal problems
 Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI)

◦ Vision problems

–55
 Computer components and their functions
 Computer communication
 Categories of computers have different
strengths and weaknesses
 Understand commonly used hardware
terminology
 Identify and evaluate key criteria for
purchasing decisions

–56
1. What improvements do you believe will
occur in computing technology within ten
years that will fundamentally alter business
process.

2. Discuss the benefits of a computer software

that is designed to be user friendly.

–57