Chapter 4

Hardware and Software

 Class Objectives
1. Evolution of computers
2. Computer Hardware Components
3. Client Vs. Server
4. Leading Edge Technologies
5. Software
 Why do you need to know about
information technology?
• Your grandparents grew up being familiar with cars, the
telephone, the television, and air travel.

• Your parents probably saw the evolution of cell phones and

the internet

• And now you are seeing the evolution of all these together.
Technologies such as smartphones, tablets, and Internet-
enabled services that include YouTube, Facebook,
Snapchat, and Google are now current
Early Computers: 1939–1952
– large, complex and expensive
– single user
– one program run at a time
– housed at universities
– Bug/debugging
 Mainframes
1952–Present
• First digital computers - large, room-
sized devices
• Mainly used by business and
government
• 1st generation
– vacuum tube technology. $200K - $400K
• 2nd generation
– Transistors, smaller, easier to maintain
and more reliable
– No software, companies to develop their
own
• 3rd generation
– operating systems
– Multiprocessing
– Costs $M in 60s
– Now they are used for fast processing and
massive storage
Microcomputers
• 1975–Present
– integrated circuits
– small microprocessors
– monitors
– keyboards
– portable floppy disks
– software
 Networking Personal Computers
1985–Present
– Local Area Networks
(LANs)
• linking many
personal
computers
together
• shared access to
data, printers, and
other peripheral
devices
– Wide Area Networks
(WANs)
• the Internet
• email
• web browsing
 Mobile and Tablet Computing
Late 1990s–Present
– The rising popularity
of World Wide Web
ushered in a new age
of technological
change
– The dramatic
lowering of costs for
cellular technology
and mobile
telephones resulted
in widespread
adoption of these
technologies
 Information Technology Principles
• Price and performance advances

• Small is powerful

• The network is the thing

• Hardware consists of electronic components and
related gadgetry that input, process, output, and
store data according to instructions encoded in
computer programs or software

• Basic hardware categories:

– Input
– Processing
– Output
– Storage
Input, Process, Output, and Storage
Hardware
Input Devices
Output Devices
Storage Hardware
Special Hardware Devices
• Input devices: mouse, keyboard, touch-screen,
microphone, scanners, etc.
• Output devices: video display, speakers, printer,
projector, etc.
• Storage hardware saves data and programs:
– Magnetic disks
– Optical disks (CD and DVD)
– Flash or solid state device (SSD) like those in USB
• Special function devices
– Video cards, audio cards, network cards, etc.
 Computer Data
• Binary Digits (bits)
– Used to represent data, either 0 or 1
• Sizing Computer Data
– Computer data are represented in bits
– Bits grouped in 8-bit chunks
 Cash and main memory are volatile
Contents lost when power is off

Magnetic and optimal disks are nonvolatile

Saved contents survive after power is turned
off

Introduction to Information Systems: Supporting and Transforming Business, 4th

Edition by Rainer/Cegielski
 Processing

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

• Performance is measured in Hertz
(Hz)
• Selects instructions, processes them,
performs calculations and logical
comparison, puts results in main
memory
• The more complex the software and
its instructions, the more CPU power
it will need
• CPU works with Main Memory
– Random Access Memory (RAM)
– Contains program instructions
– Contains operating system (OS)
instructions
Computer Components
• Transfers program or data from storage to main memory
• Moves instruction from main memory into CPU via data channel or
bus
• CPU has small amount of very fast memory called cache
– Keeps frequently used instructions
– Large cache makes computer fast, but is expensive

• Memory Swapping
– Main memory is too small to hold all data
– CPU loads programs into memory in chunks
• Places new program into unused memory
• If none available, the operating system will remove chunk being
used and replace with requested data
 Why Should a Manager Care How a
Computer Works?
• Main memory
– Too little means constant memory swapping
• Slows processing
• Needs more memory if processing many programs
• CPU
• Needs more CPU if handling complex tasks
• Cache and main memory are volatile
– Contents lost when power is off
• Magnetic and optical disks are nonvolatile
– Saved contents survive after power is turned off
 Personal Devices
• Personal computers: classic computing devices
– Gradually being supplanted by tablets, mobile
devises
• Tablets: brought to prominence with iPad in 2010
– Microsoft Surface, Google Nexus, also available.
• Phablet: functionality of a smartphone with the larger
screen of a tablet
– Samsung Galaxy, iPhone Plus
• Smartphones: Cell phones with processing capabilities
– Samsung Galaxy 8, Google Pixel 2, iPhone 8.
 Servers
• Server: computer design to support processing requests
from remote computers and users.
– PC on steroids
– Differs from a PC mostly in what it does
– Clients – PCs, tablets, smartphones that access a
server
• Server farm
– Collection of many servers-
– Often in large truck trailers, holding 5,000 or more
servers, with one power cable and one processing
cable coming out.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/133825397@N08/33371413545
• Client computers used for word processing,
spreadsheets, database access, etc.
– Connect to servers for Web, e-mail,
database
Trying to get information from somewhere else

• Servers provide service

– Faster, larger, more powerful than client computers
– May or may not have video display
Could provide data
Client and Server Computers
What Is the Difference between a Thin
Client and a Thick Client?
• The terms thin and thick refer to the amount of code
that must run on the client computer

• An application that requires nothing more than a

browser on the client is called a thin client
Thin client doesn’t have a lot of capacity and
storage

• An application such as Microsoft Outlook that requires

programs other than a browser on the user’s computer
is called a thick client
more stuff and capabilities
Thin and Thick Clients
 How Can New Hardware Affect
Competitive Strategies?
• Smart device
– Processing power, large memory, Internet access, Wi-
Fi connectivity, ability to interconnect with other
devices and applications
• Potential to disrupt existing organizations
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Self-driving vehicles
• 3D Printing
 Internet of Things (IoT)
• Everyday objects embedded with hardware
capable of sensing, processing, transmitting
data
• Connect to a network to share data with any
other applications, services, devices
• Objects becoming connected with each other
can communicate, interact with each other
 Impact of the Internet of Things
• Consumer homes is an attractive target for smart
device makers
• GE’s Industrial Internet
– Program focused on creating smart devices, analyzing
data from them, then making changes that increase
efficiencies, reduce waste, improve decision making
– Greatest potential for smart devices in hospitals,
power grids, railroads, and manufacturing plants
 Self-Driving Cars
• Google cars logged 3 million miles by 2017
• Make life easier, cheaper, safer
• Reduce human error
– Fewer accidents
– Avoid costly traffic tickets, parking tickets, DUI
citations
• Eliminate need for multiple cars
https://youtu.be/qtApzKnGU94
 Self-Driving Cars: Disrupt Businesses
• Auto sales
– Fewer cars on road may mean fewer cars sold
• Auto loans, insurance, car repair
• More jobs for engineers, programmers,
systems designers
• More computer hardware, sensors, and
cameras in vehicles
 3D Printing
Plastics, metals, ceramics,
foods, biological material
https://youtu.be/ZZZN1xnG940
Opportunities in aerospace,
defense, automotive,
entertainment, healthcare
industries

What happens when 3D-print

extra-large objects like cars,
planes, boats, houses, and
drones happens? Source: Justin Sullivan/Staff/Getty Images

https://globalnews.ca/video/rd/29120579957/?jwsource=cl
• Computer Software are of two types:
– Operating System (OS) managing CPU
• program that controls computer’s resources
– Application Programs
• perform specific user tasks
tells hardware instructions and what to do, display,
computing, etc.

• Constraints
– a particular version of an operating system is written
for a particular type of hardware
– application programs are written to use a particular
operating system
can’t download certain things (Microsoft systems
on Mac0s)
 Four Major Operating Systems
• Windows
– Developed by Microsoft
– Popular for business computer users
• Mac OS
– Developed by Apple Computer, Inc. for Macintosh computers
• Unix
– Developed by Bell Labs
– Workhorse of scientific and engineering community
• Linux
– A version of Unix developed by open-source community
– Most frequently used for servers, particularly web servers
 Mobile OS
• Android
– Samsung, Google, HTS, and Sony smartphones, tablet
• Windows 10
– Nokia and Microsoft Surface
• Symbian
– Nokia, Samsung, and other phones
• BlackBerryOS
– ResearchInMotion Blackberries
• iOS
– iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
 Virtualization
Cons: Without network, nothing can be done as everything is done in a server - less ability
to do stuff and accessing data
• Process by which one physical computer hosts
different virtual (not literal) computers within it
• Host operating system runs one or more
operating systems within it.
– Controls activity of virtual machine
• Virtual machine: the hosted operating systems
virtually looks like a machine on its own - physically is actually a part of a larger operating
system
Example - Microsoft software in Mac0s - virtually have two computers in one physical PC
 Virtualization
• Three types
1. PC virtualization Splitting the PC into something that it can’t perform /
something else - having Windows in Mac0s

2. Server virtualization
Multiple client logging into their own computer
3. Desktop virtualization Tablet look like (view) a full on desktop working on its
own server

Application Application Application

OS OS OS Have their own data and purposes
VM VM VM without other presences

Hypervisor
Hardware
 Owning Versus Licensing
• Users buy licence to use program
• Ownership remains with development
company
• Linux owned by open-source community
– No license fee
– Companies make money by offering support
 Types of Applications

• Application Software consists of programs

that perform a business function
– Some are general purpose – e.g., Excel or Word
– Some are specific – e.g., QuickBooks
• QuickBooks is an application program that provides
general ledger and other accounting functions
 Types of Application Programs
• Horizontal-market application software
– Provides capabilities common across many organizations and
industries
• Examples: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Acrobat, Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro

• Vertical-market application software

– Serves the need of a specific industry
– Often altered or customized
• Examples: appointment scheduling software, inventory tracking system for
warehouses

• One-of-a-kind application software

– Designed for a specific, unique need
• Example: Canada Revenue Agency tax software
 Ways to acquire software
• Buy off-the-shelf
• Buy off-the-shelf with alterations
• Tailor-made (custom-developed) software
– When the needs of the organization are so unique that no
horizontal or vertical applications can meet those needs
– Difficult and risky
• Staffing and managing teams of software developers is challenging
– May be developed in-house or by outside developer
• In-house development is very often the last-choice alternative and
is used only when there is no other option
Software Sources and Types

most likely
 What is Firmware?
• Computer software installed into devices
– Printers, game controllers, communication devices
– Coded like other software
– Installed into nonvolatile read-only memory
(ROM) very specific to its devices and its software - embedded into the
hardware - no changes and customization can be made

• program becomes part of device’s memory

– Can be changed and upgraded
very specific purposes and instructions (software for printing)
 Open Source
have the program, can customize and change the
functionality and programming
• Open Source software: typically free and
modifiable, source code is publicly available
• Source code: Computer code written by
humans, understandable by humans
Why Do Programmers Volunteer Their
Services to Open Source Projects?
• Exercise creativity on interesting & fulfilling
projects
• Freedom to choose projects
• Exhibit one’s skill to get a job
• Start a business selling services
• Succeeds because of collaboration
 So, Is Open Source Viable?
• Depends on requirements and constraints
• “Free” open source software might require
support and operational costs exceed cost of
licensing fee
• Future a blend of both proprietary and open
source software
Kahoot.it