NYU Stern BTEP.UB.

3
Fundamentals of Information Technology
Lesson 4: Business Hardware

Professor Navin Manglani

[email protected]
Many slides in this deck use the exact same language, image and follow the same structure as the adopted textbook for this course Management Information Systems by Kenneth
Sousa & Effy Oz.
 Re-Cap
Last class we:
• Defined Effectiveness & Efficiency with ERP
• Differentiated how businesses leverage the following systems:
- Supply Chain Management Systems
- CRM Systems
- Support Activities Systems

• Applied our lesson to Kimball’s Restaurant to evaluate IS solutions

 Content Roadmap

IS Procurement
IS Strategy IS Security
Strategic & Development
(LSN 1-2) (LSN 20-22)
(LSN 19)

Applications ERP & IS Info Tech in AI & Business

Systems Business & Intelligence
(LSN 3) Society Roadmap (LSN 15-18)

IT /
Infrastructure Hardware & Networks /
Databases
Software Internet (LSN
(LSN 7-11)
(LSN 4-6) 12-14)
Agenda
Today, we’re going to discuss what the various types of ISs physically run
on!
I. Identify computer components, explain how computers work &
calculate computer speed
II. Classify Computers
III. Discuss Revolutionary Input & Output Devices
IV. Assess Correct Storage Options for Different Businesses
V. Analyze Considerations in Purchasing Hardware
VI. Apply Lesson to Kimball’s Restaurant
I. Computer Hardware Components &
Inside A Computer
Computer Hardware Components
• Hardware: physical components of computers and related electronic devices
• Consider software before hardware
• Computer must handle four operations:
• Accept data
• Store data and instructions
• Process data
• Output data and/or information

Q: What components does a computer have that helps us process these operations?
Computer Hardware Components Visual
In general, every computer has the following
components:
Input devices
Central processing unit (CPU)
Internal memory
Storage
Output devices
Computer Hardware Components in Defined
• Input devices: receive signals from outside of computer and transfer them into the computer

• Motherboard: circuit board containing the CPU and primary memory

• Storage: magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, optical discs, DVDs, and flash memory
• Allows permanent storage

• Output devices: delivers information from the computer to the user

• Monitors and printers are the most common output devices
• Audio devices also deliver output
Computer Hardware Processor
Motherboard: circuit board containing the CPU and primary memory

• Central processing unit (CPU) (most important part)

• Accepts instructions and data
• Decodes and executes instructions
• Stores results (output) in memory

• Internal memory (or primary memory): stores data and instructions before and after CPU processes
them
• RAM: random access memory (memory that is used when your laptop is on and is deleted after)
• ROM: read-only memory (non-volatile memory that is stays even while computer is off)
• Hard Drive: Stores information inside the computer
Inside a Mac
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• The CPU is a silicon chip with multiple circuits
(microprocessors) that are embedded with transistors (a
semiconductor that can represent binary code’s two states,
e.g. 0 or 1).
Example: iphone10 has 4 billion transistors, Intel Epyc chip 20b
• CPU has two units to store and process data, Control unit and
arithmetic logic unit (ALU)

• Control Unit: extracts instructions from memory and decodes

and executes them, calling on the ALU when necessary.

• ALU: the part of the CPU that performs arithmetic and logical
operations
• Machine cycle: four operations performed by the CPU
• Fetch, decode, execute and store
• CPU clock: special circuitry on the processor that synchronizes
all tasks
 CPU Capacity
Memory Capacity
• Bus Width: electronic lines or traces used for communication inside computer (eg 16-bit, 32-bit)

- Basically the number of lanes you have for data to go back and forth

- Chips maxed out at 64 bits and currently, you’ll actually see newer chips with lower widths (even 4) but
faster clock rates

• Multicore processors: processors that combine two or more CPUs or “cores” on a single chip
 Measuring CPU Speed & Power
• Clock rate / speed: number of pulses per second; measures raw CPU speed. A machine cycle takes
several clock pulses (for example, multiplication takes about six, division about 30 in modern processors)

Context: Computers today process billions of pulses per second, often measured in GhZ (billion pulses per
second, vs. MHz which is millions)

Clock Rate * Capacity = CPU Overall Speed (Throughput)

• Throughput: number of bits per second that the bus can accommodate (determined by bus width and
clock rate)… measured as GigaBytes per second, etc.

https://www.howtogeek.com/177790/why-you-cant-use-cpu-clock-speed-to-compare-computer-
performance/
Exercise: Calculate the on this dell computer: https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-Intel-i3-8145U-
256SSD/dp/B07QF6H27W
 Measuring Data in Computers
The data a computer processes and can store is measured in bits and bytes.
• bit: Binary digit (represented in lowercase, e.g. 1 Gb)
• 0 or 1
• Byte: a combination of eight bits (represented in uppercase, e.g. 1GB)
• Computer memory and storage capacity are measured in megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), terabyes (TB),
etc.
 Exercise: Calculate Overall Speed
Exercise: Calculate the overall speed (throughput) on this dell computer: https://www.amazon.com/Dell-
Inspiron-Intel-i3-8145U-256SSD/dp/B07QF6H27W

The Chip information can be found on the following site: https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/intel/core_i3/i3-8145u

We take the clock rate as 3.0 GHz as an average of the 2.1 and 3.9 Ghz max and min speeds.
Clock rate = 3.0Ghz
Clockrate is the number of pulses per second, so 3.0 Ghz means 3.9Giga (billion) pulses per second.

Bus width / Capacity = 64 bit * 2 (because it’s a dual processor chip) = 128 bits

Overall Speed (Throughput) = Clock Rate * Capacity = 3.0 Ghz ((clock rate) * 128 bits (capacity) = 384 Gb/s
We can convert Gb to GB by dividing 384 by 8, which gives us: 48 GB/s
This is the throughput / overall speed of the computer.
II. Classification of Computers
 Classifying Computers
• Computers vary in size and power
• Classified by power
• Power is determined mainly by processing speed and memory size
• More powerful computers are more expensive
Supercomp
uters P
O
Mainframe P
P U
Computers
O L
W A
E Servers R
R I
T
Personal Computers / Y
Workstations
 Supercomputers
• Supercomputers: most powerful computers at any given time (generally used by government, NASA, etc)
• Largest in physical size and most expensive
• Designed for complex arithmetic calculations
• Generally impractical for business purposes
• Parallel processing: multiple processors running simultaneously
• Also known as multiprocessing
• Clustering uses the CPU power of multiple computers

• World’s fastest computer built in Summer 2020 by Japan:

• https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/23/21300097/fugaku-supercomputer-worlds-fastest-top500-
riken-fujitsu-arm

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utsi6h7IFPs
 Mainframe Computers
• Mainframe computers: store large amounts of data and business transactions
• Less expensive and less powerful than supercomputers

• Often used by banks, universities, and insurance companies as a central computer

• Significant amount of world’s business data resides on mainframes

• Use multiple processors

• More I/O focused vs. supercomputers; connecting
to many computers
• While Supercomputers do tons of advanced
calculations for weather forecasting, medical
research, Mainframes focus on transaction
processing very quickly;
• 96 out of the top 100 banks use mainframes from
IBM
 Servers
• Midrange category of computers
• Smaller and less powerful than mainframes
• Serve hundreds of users that connect from desktops, laptops, and other servers
• Use multiple processors to optimize workloads
• Has inter-compatibility (works with different environments)
• Higher quality and more resistant to damage
 Personal Computers (PCs)
• PCs: collective name for several types of computers
• Notebook, computers, desktops, laptops, netbooks, and handheld computers,
• Workstation: more powerful PCs used for CAD, CAM, complex simulation, graphical rendering, and
scientific applications
• Power of PCs doubles about every two years: Moore’s Law
What is Quantum Computing?
Quantum computing goes beyond just binary digits, as qubits can also incorporate the 0 and 1 existing at
the same time (called superimposition), leading to faster processing speeds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9bsO7NLY7A
Is this going to impact industry?
Not yet…

For example, with quantum computing, instead of searching a hard drive sequentially, quantum
computers can search for everything simultaneously; similarly it can apply to codes (e.g. instead of
running codes in sequence to crack, it can run all the codes simultaneously).

More details on Quantum Computing:

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HXTt7HMDE8
 Computers on the Go: Laptops, Tablets and Smartphones
• Notebook computer (or laptop): compact, light PC powered by rechargeable battery
• Current models include wireless technology
• Personal digital assistant (PDA): handheld computer (useful for Zara case)
• Stylus: pen-like device used to enter data through a touch screen
• Smartphone: PDA that is also a mobile phone
• Tablet computer: mobile computing device that uses a touch screen to execute commands
• “Traditional” monitor mode or “slate” mode
• Wide range of applications
• Examples: Apple iPad, Microsoft Surface, and Kindle Fire
• Technology convergence: building several technologies into a single piece of hardware
• Prominent in handheld units
• Smartphone is a prime example
• Brings together cellular telephone, data and networking, media, and cloud storage

• New technology: Q: Can you think of some newer examples?

III. Inputs & Outputs
 Input Devices
• Computers must receive input to produce output
• Input devices include machines and devices used to enter instructions and data into computer
• Common input devices include:
• Keyboard (input device that contains keys that users press to enter data)
• Mouse/ Trackpad (controls on-screen pointer to facilitate point and click approach)
• Touchscreen (allows user to navigate and select by touching screens)
• Speech / Voice Recognition (process of translating human speech into computer-readable data and
instructions)
• Imaging (via a camera or scanner, converts documents / images into data)
• Source-Data Input Devices
• Motion sensors

More on speech recognition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxxRAHVtafI

Q: What are some source data input devices?

 Source-Data Input Devices
Source-Data Input Devices: Copy data directly from sources such as bar codes, credit cards, and checks
interpreting differences in color / thickness etc. and translating it into data (1s and 0s).
• OMR: Optical mark recognition devices detect positions of marks or characters (Scantrons)
• Optical character recognition (OCR) devices: try to interpret handwritten and printed text
• Radio-frequency identification (RFID): fastest growing source data technology that uses
electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects
• Bar codes used on packages received through shipping companies
- Universal Product Code (UPC): bar code on a product in a grocery store
• Magnetic-ink character recognition (MICR): automates check processing
• Magnetic strips on credit cards and debit cards
 Output Devices
• Deliver results of computer processing
• Popular output devices include:
• Monitors
• Printers
• Speakers
• In the future, digital smell output is possible

Q: What are some ways to measure the quality of a monitor? What types of monitors are out there?
 Output Devices: Monitors
• Pixel (picture element): small dots that make up the images on a monitor
• CRT (cathode-ray tube): (old TVs) inner side of screen has layer of phosphoric dots, i.e., the pixels
• Electron gun receives instructions from computer and sweeps the pixels
• Flat-panel monitor: advantages include lower power use, sharper images, and slim profile
• Liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor: uses a liquid crystal filled screen (current monitors, TVs)
• LEDs (and OLEDs) are a type of LCDs, the bulb used is different (small emitting diodes vs. cathode
fluorescent lamps)
• Monitor price depends on:
• Size, measured as the diagonal length of the screen
• Brightness → brighter is better
• Contrast ratio → higher is better
• Pixel pitch → closer pixels are better
• Refresh rate à how quickly pixels are refreshed, higher is better
• Resolution: a measure of picture sharpness
• Number of pixels in the width and height of the screen
Q: How do you measure the quality of a printer?
 Output Devices: Printers
• Speed is measured in pages per minute (ppm)

• Density / Quality measured in dots per inch (DPI)

• Impact printer: reproduces image by using mechanical impact

• Dot-matrix printer: tiny pins strike ink ribbon against paper

• Nonimpact printer: does not mechanically impact the paper

• Laser printer is most common in business
• Others include ink-jet and electrothermal printers

• 3D Printing: Material Printing, Additive Printing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a2xNaAkvLo&feature=youtu.be
• What is SLA (Steriolithography)?
IV. Storage
 Storage
• Data must be stored on nonvolatile medium
• Data is retained even when the storage device is not connected to electrical power
• Storage devices differ in the technology used to maintain data and physical structure
• Businesses evaluate storage devices by comparing:
• Cost
• Capacity
• Access speed
• Access mode
• Purpose
 Modes of Access
• Sequential storage: data is organized one record after another
• Must read through all records that are stored prior to the desired record
1 2 3 4 5

• Direct access: records are organized by physical address on the device

• A record can be accessed directly (randomly); also called random access 1 2 3 4 5

• Flash drive: small storage device that connects via universal serial bus (USB)

What are some types of storage devices?

- Magnetic Tapes & Disks
- Optical Disks
- Solid State Storage
 Magnetic Storage
• Magnetic Tapes (Sequential): similar to tapes used in tape recorders and VCRs, usually as cartridges
• Lowest cost (bytes per dollar)
• Takes a long time to copy from tape to tape
• If tape is destroyed, data is lost
• Today, Super DLT is used which can store up to 800 GB per tape

• Magnetic Disks (Direct): Most widely used storage medium (Includes hard disks and floppy disks)
• Hard disk: stack of several rigid platters installed in the same box that holds the CPU
• Internal hard disk in a desktop computer stores up to six TB of data
• External hard disk connects to computer through USB port
• Storage provisions for databases
 Optical Storage
• Optical Disks (Sequential): Recorded by treating the disc surface to reflect light in different ways
• Two basic categories: Compact discs (CDs), & Digital video discs (DVDs)
• Compact discs: available as read-only, recordable, and rewritable
• DVDs: store 4.7 GB per side, also re-writable
• Optical discs are slower than hard disks
• Very quickly being replaced, but still used to store media that should be accessed sequentially (e.g.
Blu-Ray disks for movies, etc)
• Very cheap
 Solid State Storage
• Solid-State Storage: Also known as flash memory: rewritable memory chip with electronic circuits that
holds content without power
• Consumes very little power and doesn’t need a constant power supply
• Fast access times
• Relatively immune to shock or vibration
• Available as memory card and USB drive
Storage Media Compared
 Ways to Access Storage
• Direct-attached storage (DAS): disk or array of disks or tapes directly connected to server or computer
• Easy to deploy and manage; low cost
• Examples: Optical Disks, Flash Drives, connectible hard drives, etc.

• Network-attached storage (NAS): device designed for networked storage

• Examples: External Hard Disk (e.g. ”S” or “G” drive at companies)

• Storage area network (SAN): a network fully devoted to storage and transfer of data
• Managed separately from the rest of the LAN
• May combine DAS and NAS devices
• Can transfer large data blocks at high speeds
• Expensive and complex to manage

• Cloud Storage: Availability of network-accessible storage from an off-site computer or technology device
• Systems are usually maintained by a third-party organization through a subscription charge
Q: What are some advantages and disadvantages of Cloud Storage?
 Backup Storage Solutions
RAID: redundant array of independent disks; distributes data across several disks;
• Used by DAS, NAS, and SAN
• Fault-tolerant: system’s ability to sustain a disk failure because the same data is on another disk

DATASET A DATASET B DATASET C

DATA RECORDS

DATABASES NYC LONDON TOKYO

V. Business Considerations in Purchasing
Hardware
 Business Considerations of Purchasing Hardware
• What would you consider when purchasing hardware?
 Scalability of Hardware
• Principle of scalability
• Resources—in this case, hardware—can accommodate a growing amount of work either with or
without upgrading
• Not all hardware is scalable
• Hardware replacement is needed to avoid performance gaps between hardware and software
• Leasing hardware is a valid option to avoid short useful lifetime of hardware
 Societal Issue Discussion: Laptops and Health
• https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/computer-related-injuries
IV. Kimball’s Restaurant
 Kimball’s Restaurant
• Tyler wants to brand the new location with the service-oriented environment, providing timely and
quality service for its customers. He believes that the use of technology would not only create that
environment, but also show customers a well-managed business using technology.

• What alternatives could fulfill this branding for a restaurant? What hardware could they invest in?

• Should they use handheld devices to process customer orders at the tables?

• Would this be an efficient method of entering orders? What types of devices could be used?
Class Wrap-Up
 Re-Cap
Today we:
• Understood How a Computer Works & Calculate Computer Speed
• Classified Computers
• Discussed Standard & Revolutionary Input & Output Devices
• Assessed Correct Storage Options for Different Businesses
• Analyzed Considerations in Purchasing Hardware
• Applied Lesson to Kimball’s Restaurant
 Reading for This Class / Next Class
• This Class: Chapter 4 in Textbook
• Next Class: Chapter 5 in Textbook; CASE: Zara IT