BUSINESS INFORMATION

SYSTEMS: BUIS5111
LU:2
Ms Mbali. Khomo
WHOA!
Let’s recap Learning Unit
1!!!!
 Learning Unit Purpose
In this learning unit, we describe the components of a computer system and investigate

the history of computer hardware and software. An explanation of the power of

computers leads into an overview of computer operations, input, output and memory

devices and classes of computers. We also take a look at types of software and explore

generations of computer languages.

 Learning Unit Purpose
● As we know when it comes to business and technology, computers are at the core of it all.
● Therefore its important to understand:

○ How computers work.

○ How they have evolved.

○ How different components contribute to computing power.

This knowledge is crucial for anyone working in business information systems because
computers play a key role in modern business operations.
 Example
Imagine you start a new job at a retail company that sells clothes online.
On your first day, the company’s ordering system crashes—no one can
process customer purchases.
The IT team says the company’s computers are too slow and outdated, and their
software isn't compatible with newer payment systems.

Questions:

Why is the system failing?

How can this problem impact the business?

If you were the manager, how would you fix it?

 Example
● A business can lose money, frustrate customers, or even fail entirely if
it does not have the right technology in place.

● Key Takeaways:

● Businesses rely on computers and software to function efficiently.

● Understanding how computers work helps in choosing the right
systems for different business needs.
● Knowing about computer performance, security, and software
compatibility helps businesses avoid costly mistakes.
 Computer System
● What is a Computer System:
● A computer can be considered any machine that accepts data as input,
processes the data that was accepted using pre-written instructions and
provides information as output.
● The processing that takes place within a computer takes place without any
assistance that comes from humans.

● The instructions are therefore contained in programmes (source code) that are
installed on our computers.

● Each programme that is installed on your computer was created using a particular
programming language and the programming language used depends on the
problem you are trying to solve and the type of computer you are using.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

0 LO1: 0 LO2:
Define a computer system. Describe the components of a

1 2 computer system

0 LO3:
LO4:
3
Discuss the history of
computer hardware and 04 Explain the factors
distinguishing the computer
software.
power of computers
Computer Systems
Java is a general-purpose programming language
used for applications that run on phones and
tablets, corporate websites etc. e.g. Spotify
android and Netflix android

C++ is used for 3D games, creating operating

systems, desktop programs e.g.: Microsoft word,
Microsoft excel etc.

Python is best suited for creating websites and

dealing with data. E.g.: Spotify uses Python for
data analysis, backend services, and machine
learning models to make music recommendations
and analyze user preferences.
 Describe the components of a
computer system
• Every computer system consists of hardware and software components.

• The hardware component of a computer system is represented by the physical devices

associated with a computer whereas the software component consists of the programmes
installed on the computer.

● Input devices represents any hardware device used to send data to the computer.

● The data send to the computer as well as the instructions that will operate on the data will be
temporarily stored in the main (primary) memory

● Once the instructions and the data has been stored, it can be processed by the Central Processing
Unit (CPU) which is at the heart of the computer.
● The CPU has two main components namely
the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and the
control unit.
● ALU is the "math and logic center" of the
CPU, handling all the calculations and
decision-making processes required by a
program.
● The Control Unit (CU) is responsible for
managing and coordinating all the activities
within the computer. It acts as the "director"
or "manager" of the system.
 Example
Calculator App:
When you click a button to calculate 5 + 7 in a calculator app:
The Control Unit fetches the instruction to add these numbers.
It then tells the ALU to perform the addition.
The ALU computes the result and sends it back to the Control Unit.
The Control Unit then tells the output device (like the monitor) to display the result, 12.

● The control unit fetches the instructions from the software or application.

● When a program is executed, its instructions are loaded from storage (like your hard drive or SSD)
into the RAM (Random Access Memory), which is much faster than storage.
● The Control Unit fetches these instructions sequentially from memory, one by one, as the program
runs.
● The instructions are stored in memory addresses in the RAM.
● This is because the application needs to
perform certain actions in order to properly
install and function on your computer, and
these actions often involve accessing the
hard drive.

● These files might include executable files (to

run the program), configuration files,
libraries, and other resources.
 Computer Systems
● The main components of a computer system:

○ Input devices

○ Main memory (primary memory);

○ Secondary storage;

○ Central Processing Unit (CPU)

○ Output devices
 Computer System
Number and Size of Processors: Performance
● Some computers contain more than one processor, which improves the processing power of a
computer and therefore the speed at which instructions are processed. This is referred to as
Multi-Processing.
● Not only the amount of a processers is a contributing factor but also the size of the processor
affects the efficiency of the computer system.
● A 64-bit processor can deal more efficiently with larger and smaller numbers than a 32-bit
processor.
● A 64-bit processor can handle more data at once than a 32-bit processor which greatly impacts
efficiency, especially when working with applications, such as computer games that require
high performance.
 Power of Computers
● What makes a computer so powerful is the fact that it outperforms a
human being on three key capabilities:

○ speed

○ accuracy

○ storage and retrieval

 Power of Computers
● The speed at which a computer processes data is typically measured in terms of the
number of instructions that can be performed during the following fractions of a second:

○ Millisecond: 1/1 000 of a second;

○ Microsecond: 1/1 000 000 of a second;

○ Nanosecond: 1/1 000 000 000 of a second;

○ Picosecond: 1/1 000 000 000 000 of a second

• The speed of a computer can be determined by looking at the clock speed of the
CPU.
 Power of Computers

● Clock speed is measured in GHz and MHz.

● How much data it can process per second

Accuracy
● Computers do not make mistakes. Computers execute instructions exactly as they are
programmed, meaning they don’t misinterpret data.
Example:
● Even a small degree of inaccuracy in the calculation of re-entry times and locations for space
shuttles on space missions can result in a space shuttle to land in Canada instead of another,
planned location.
 Power of Computers
Storage and Retrieval
● Computers are capable of storing a large amount of data and accessing it quickly. Computers store data
as bits in which one bit can either be a 1 or a 0.
● In order for us to interact with a computer, every number, letter or symbol on the keyboard needs to be
converted into a 1 or a 0.
● For this reason, the ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) encoding scheme is
used.
● When you press a key on the keyboard, a chip in the keyboard converts the key’s electronic signal into a
scan code that is sent to the system unit.
● Then the system unit converts the scan code into a binary (1s and 0s) form that the computer can
process and store in memory.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
0 LO5: 0 LO6:
Discuss the types of
Summarise computer
5 Operations
6 input,output and memory
devices.

0 LO7:
Explain how computers are LO8:
7 classified 0 Describe the two major
software's

LO9:
8
0 List the generation of
computer languages.

9
History of Computer hardware and
Software
Each major hardware development was categorized into “generations” which marked
technological breakthroughs.
● First-generation computers
● The first breakthrough came in the 1940s when vacuum tube technology was used.
Computers making use of this technology was bulky, generated excessive heat and
were difficult to program.
● These computers were used mostly by the U.S Military for ballistics calculations,
missile trajectory predictions, and nuclear research.
● British Government: Used Colossus, the first programmable electronic computer,
to decrypt German military codes
(helping win WWII).
Second Generation Computers
● Second-generation computers were used in the period between 1957 and 1963 and made use of
transistors instead of vacuum tube technologies. These computers were faster, more reliable,
easier to maintain and program.

● Since second generation laptops had transistors instead of vacuums allowed more industries
and businesses to adopt computers for their operations.

● Second-generation computers made computing more accessible to businesses, universities,

and governments, paving the way for modern digital systems. They were the first computers
used for commercial purposes
 Third Generation Computers
● Third-generation computers were in circulation during the period 1964-1970 These computers
were characterised by its set of integrated circuits, remote data entry and telecommunications
capabilities.
● These computers were much smaller, faster and reliable than the computers in the first two
generations.
 Fourth Generation Computers
● The fourth-generation computers that were introduced during 1971-1992 build and continued
to develop the previous generation’s technologies to the extent that ease of use, an increase in
speed, miniaturization and large-scale integration became possible.
● It was also during this time that the use of personal computers and optical disks became a
widespread phenomenon.

● Thousands of circuits could now be placed into one chip called the microprocessor, which kick
started the fourth generation of computers. As these, computers became popular, the
microprocessors were being used in most everyday products.
● Thus inspiring the start of the internet.
 Fifth Generation Computers
● We are currently making use of fifth-generation computing.

● Today’s computers support parallel processing, computer chips that run at greater speeds,
optical technologies and consume less power.

● This generation of computers gave birth to:

○ IPod

○ Tablets

○ Laptops

○ And many more handheld devices.

 Computer Operations
● Computers can perform three basic operations.
Arithmetic operations: These are calculations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division and raising numbers to a power (exponents).
E.g.: A calculator app on a smartphone uses the computer’s processor to perform arithmetic
operations when you enter numbers and press "+", "-", "*", or "/".
Logical operations: Logical operations involve performing comparisons, for example, determining
whether a particular condition is true or false or determining the largest of two numbers.
E.g.: A password system checks if the entered password matches the stored password; if yes, access
is granted, otherwise, it is denied.
Storage and retrieval: This operation involves storing large amounts of data in small spaces and
retrieving them quickly when needed.
E.g.: When you save a Word document, it is stored on your hard drive, and when you open it later,
the computer retrieves the file.
 Types of Devices
● These three operations would not be possible without having some or other input, output or
memory device.
INPUT DEVICES:
● Input devices is what is used to send data to the computer for processing:

○ Keyboard Input Devices

○ Pointing Devices

○ Scanning & Imaging Devices

○ Audio & Voice Input Devices

○ Video & Visual Input Devices

○ Sensor-Based Input Devices

○ Specialized Input Devices

 Types of Devices
● Output is the result of the processing that has taken place. Output devices enable us to see the
result of the processing.
Output Devices:

○ Display Devices (Visual Output)

○ Printer (Printed Output)

○ Haptic Output Devices (Touch/Physical Feedback) (Provide feedback through vibrations

based on interactions with software)- the vibrating feeling when you are using a
joystick.

○ Visual Output Devices (Non-Screen)

 Types of Devices
● There are two common types of memory in any computer, namely: Main memory (primary
memory) and secondary memory.
● RAM (Random Access Memory) is a type of computer memory that temporarily stores data and
instructions that the processor needs to access quickly.
● It’s volatile, meaning it loses all its data when the computer is turned off.
● RAM temporarily holds data and instructions that the processor is currently using or processing.
For example, when you open a document, the file is loaded into RAM so the CPU can quickly
access and modify it while you're working on it.
● The moment you close the document or turn off the computer, the data is wiped from RAM.
● TYPES OF RAM:
Static Random-Access Memory (SRAM)
Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM)
Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory
(DDR SDRAM)
 Types of Devices
● ROM (Read-Only Memory) is a type of computer memory that is used to store
permanent data and instructions that are crucial for the computer's basic operation.
● Unlike RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM is non-volatile, meaning it retains its
data even when the computer is turned off.
● The data stored in ROM is typically pre-programmed during the manufacturing
process and cannot be changed (or can only be changed in very specific ways).
Example:
The instructions that tell your computer how to start up and load the operating system are
stored in ROM.

ROM is used for storing permanent instructions required for the basic operation of the
computer (like booting up the system), but it doesn't store user data or active
documents.
That is why you have a hard drive((HDD/SSD) )
 Types of Devices
● The three primary functions of the RAM are:
● Holding data for processing.
● Holding the instructions for processing the data.
● Holding the data after it has been processed.
 Class Activity
● What is Secondary Memory, and Why is It Important?
● Compare and Contrast: HDD vs. SSD

○ What’s the difference between a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and a Solid-State Drive (SSD)? Which one
would you choose for gaming, and why?
● How Does a Flash Drive Work?

○ Describe how a USB flash drive stores data. If you were designing the next generation of flash
drives, what improvements would you make?
● The Cloud Storage Revolution:

○ What is cloud storage, and how does it compare to traditional external hard drives? Can you
think of an instance where using the cloud might be more beneficial than using a physical
storage device?
● Magnetic vs. Optical Storage:

○ Explain the difference between magnetic storage (like HDDs) and optical storage (like DVDs).
Why do you think DVDs are not as popular for storage today?
 Secondary Memory
● Define Secondary Memory: Secondary Memory devices usually store huge quantities of data
over extended periods of time because the are non-volatile(stable).
● Compared to RAM secondary storage has a higher capacity and is more cost effective.
● The Information Systems main purpose influences the type of Secondary storage chosen, based
on its access methods, storage capacity and flexibility.
Example:
● The main goal of a credit company’s Information System might be to rapidly retrieve stored
customer data to approve customer purchases. In this case, a fast access method is critical.
● In other cases, such as equipping the Coca-Cola field sales-force with pocket-sized personal
computers, portability and storage capacity might be major considerations in selecting and
using secondary storage media and devices
 Common Secondary Storage
● Magnetic Tape:
Magnetic tapes are manufactured from Mylar (a plastic material) coated with a thin layer of iron-
oxide material on which data is recorded.
Major applications for magnetic tapes include long term storage and backup storage for PC’s.
A disadvantage of Magnetic Tape is:
If the computer needs to read data from the middle of a reel of tape, it must first pass all the tape
before the desired piece of data.

When information is needed, it can take time to retrieve the proper tape and mount it on the tape
reader to get the relevant data into the computer.

Despite the falling prices of hard drives, some companies still choose to use
Magnetic Tapes due to affordability.
 Common Secondary Storage
● Magnetic Disk:
Magnetic disks are coated with iron oxide; they can be thin metallic platters (hard disks) or Mylar film
(diskettes).
As with magnetic tape, magnetic disks represent bits using small magnetised areas.
When reading from or writing to a disk, the disk’s read/write head can go directly to the desired piece of
data. Thus, the disk is a direct-access storage medium.

Because direct access allows fast data retrieval,

this type of storage is ideal for companies
that need to respond quickly to customer requests,
such as airlines and credit card firms.

For example, if a manager needs information on the credit history of a customer or the seat availability
on a particular flight, the information can be obtained in seconds if the data is stored on a direct access
storage device.
 Common Secondary Storage
● Optical Storage:
Optical technology involves the use of laser beams of light. Laser beams are used to read data
stored on optical disks.

An optical disk is simply a rigid disk of plastic onto which data is recorded by special lasers that
physically burn pits in the disk.
Data is directly accessed from the disk by an optical disk device, which operates much like a stereo’s
compact disk player.
This optical disk device uses a low-power laser that measures the difference in reflected light
caused by a pit (or lack thereof) on the disk.

Re-writeable Optical Disk Systems

Digital Video/Versatile Disk (DVD).
Blu-ray high-definition video-disk
 Common Secondary Storage
● Storage are further categorised between: removable devices and non-removable devices.
Removable Devices: a storage device containing data can be removed from one computer and then
be loaded into another computer.
E.g.: CDs and USB flash disks
However non-removeable devices: the disk remains connected to a particular computer system
(e.g. HDD).
 Secondary Storage
● Storage Networking:
a network infrastructure that is specifically designed to handle data storage and communication
within large data center networks.

The use of Storage-Area Network (SAN), technologies enable many different storage resources
(e.g. disk drives, tapes, RAID) to utilise a separate high-speed network facility dedicated to storage
purposes.

This approach enables data and information to be exchanged between the different sections,
departments and branches of the enterprise.
 Cloud Storage
● Cloud storage enables users to remotely manage, backup and maintain information over a
network.
● The market leaders in providing this kind of storage as a service model include Amazon
Glacier, Google Cloud Storage and Microsoft Azure.
Five Characteristics of Cloud Storage:
● On-demand self-service: A user must be able to accomplish the tasks and gain access to the
resources he/she wishes to without first having to request assistance from an intermediary.
● Broad network access: A user must have easy access to the resources he/she needs access to.
● Resource pooling: When a user is not using a particular service offered by the cloud computing
service, it must be available to other users of the service.
● Rapid elasticity: It must be possible to expand the cloud environment in response to user
demand.
● Measured service: It must be possible to measure and obtain statistics on the usage of the
service
 Class Activity
● Imagine you’re setting up a computer system for a local café or small business. What type of
secondary memory would you choose for storing customer data, and why?
 Computer Classifications
● Computers, in general can be classified in terms of cost, amount of memory, speed and
sophistication.
Supercomputers
● Supercomputers are the most powerful computers with the fastest processing speed and highest
performance.
● They are special-purpose machines designed for applications that require extensive and rapid
computational capabilities.
● Example of Applications:

○ applications for global weather forecasting,

○ military defense systems.

● They are powerful machines and consist of multiple processors

Computer Classifications
Mainframe computers
● These are large computers frequently used in large organisations.
● They are able to process millions of instructions per second and are designed to handle
information processing for corporate institutions and government departments with many
employees and customers
● They can also be used as business computing platforms, for data mining and warehousing and
electronic commerce applications.
Not to be confused with a supercomputer.
Supercomputers are designed to perform extremely high-speed
computations for complex tasks such as scientific simulations, weather
forecasting, climate research, cryptography, and molecular modeling.
They are typically operated by highly specialized teams.
 Computer Classifications
● Mainframes are designed to handle massive data processing and support a large number of
users simultaneously.
● They are typically used in environments that require high availability, like banking systems,
insurance companies, and government agencies that process a lot of transactions and
large databases.

● They serve many concurrent users and can process large amounts of data in real-time.
 Computer Classifications
Minicomputer
● A minicomputer is a class of computers which is less powerful than a mainframe, but more
powerful than a personal computer (microcomputer).
● Minicomputers are mainly used as servers.
● Servers are computers that manages the resources on a network as well as the services offered
to a network.

● Example:
● Application servers store computer software which can be accessed from users’ workstations;
● Database servers manages an organisations data.
the data that these servers manage can be accessed from users’ workstations
 Computer Classifications
Personal Computers
● Personal computers are used at home, in small organisations and for business applications.
● The performance of these computer systems depends on a number of interrelated factors such
as the speed of the processor and the memory.
Notebook
● A notebook, otherwise known as a laptop, is a variation of a personal computer.
● It is powered by both a battery and ordinary electric power supply which means that if the
battery is charged, one does not need to have the computer plugged into an electric power
supply
● What distinguishes them from ordinary personal computer is their portability.
● Notebook computers are much smaller than ordinary desktop personal computers
but have the same capabilities as desktop personal computers
 Computer Classifications
Subnotebooks
● A subnotebook is a laptop that has a smaller screen and keyboard and no optical drive (built-in
CD/DVD or Blu-ray drive, which is often found in standard laptops.)

● This is less of an issue nowadays, as many users rely on cloud storage, USB drives, and
external drives for file transfer and media consumption instead of physical media like CDs or
DVDs.

Thinner and lighter laptops and tablets;

Faster and larger memory;
Widespread applications of wireless devices;
Increased applications of interactive computing
using gesture, touch, and voice.
 Types of Software
● Operating System Software and Application Software.
Operating System Software
● The Operating System is the core software that manages and controls the overall operation of a
computer.
● It acts as an intermediary between the hardware (like CPU, memory, storage devices) and the
user or application software.
Key Functions:
● Manages Hardware: Controls input/output devices, memory, and storage.
● User Interface: Provides a user interface, such as a graphical user interface (GUI) (e.g., Windows,
macOS) or command-line interface (CLI) (e.g., Linux).
Example:
Android (for mobile devices)
iOS (for Apple mobile devices like iPhones and iPads)
Windows (e.g., Windows 10, Windows 11)
 Types of Software
Applications Software
● Refers to programs that are designed to perform specific tasks or solve particular problems for
users.
● These programs depend on the operating system to function, but they are not essential for the
computer to run.
● They are used to carry out user-oriented tasks like creating documents, editing photos, or
managing data.
Key Functions:
Task-Specific: Performs a specific task or group of tasks, such as word processing, data analysis, or
gaming.
User-Oriented: Designed to provide a user-friendly interface for completing particular activities.
Requires OS: Runs on top of the operating system to take advantage of system resources (memory,
CPU).
 Recommended Reading
● Kappelman, L, Nguyen, Q, McLean, E, Maurer, C, Johnson, V, Snyder, M, & Torres, R. 2017. The
2016 SIM IT Issues and Trends Study, MIS Quarterly Executive, 16(1), pp.47 – 80, Business Source
Ultimate. [Online]. Available at: http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=556
804b3-16ce-43e2-a938-81be126e34c9%40pdc-vsessmgr06&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ
%3d%3d#AN =121491407&db=bsu
 AWESOME
THANK YOU!