Chapter1fromComputerInformationSystemsTextbook.pdf

Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1 Introduction to Computer In-
formation Systems

An open educational resource to supplement course
materials for an undergraduate college credit course in

Computer Information Systems

Computers in Your Life

Introductory computer information systems topics in-
clude computer hardware, software, networking, the In-
ternet, information systems, programming, databases,
and social issues. This complete book may be down-
loaded as a collection from Wikibooks:Collections/
Introduction to Computer Information Systems.

1.1.1 Introduction to Computers

1. Computers in Your Life

2. What is a Computer?

3. Computers to Fit Every Need

4. Computer Networks and the Internet

5. Computers and Society

6. Review

Mobile Devices

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

IPO Diagram

1.1.2 Hardware

1. The System Unit

2. Storage

3. Input and Output

1.1.3 Software

1. Systems Software

2. Applications Software

1.1.4 Networks and the Internet

1. What is a Network?

2. The Internet and the World Wide Web

3. Internet Security

1

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Wikibooks:Collections/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Wikibooks:Collections/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Computers_in_Your_Life

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/What_is_a_Computer%253F

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Computers_to_Fit_Every_Need

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Computer_Networks_and_the_Internet

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Computers_and_Society

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Review

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/The_System_Unit

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Storage

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Input_and_Output

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/System_Software

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Application_Software

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Computer_Networks

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Internet

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Security

2 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

Technology Is the Future!

1.1.5 Business on the Web

1. Using Multimedia on the Web

2. Advantages of E-Commerce

Systems Development Life Cycle

1.1.6 Systems

1. Systems Development

2. Programming Languages

3. Database Management Systems

1.1.7 Computers and Society

1. Security and Privacy

2. Intellectual Property and Ethics

1.1.8 See Also

• The Computer Revolution

1.1.9 External Links

• History Timelines: Computer History Timeline

1.2 Computers in Your Life

1.3 Why Learn About Computers?

Today’s world runs on computers. Nearly every aspect of
modern life involves computers in some form or fashion.
People who do not have experience with computers and
software are at a severe disadvantage in both the work-
place and daily life. As technology is advancing, the scale
of computer use is increasing. Computer users include
both corporate companies and individuals. Computers
are efficient. They ease people’s onerous jobs by offering
them handfuls of software and applications, designed to
offer more convenience. To illustrate, rather than writ-
ing manually by hands, an author can benefit from the
use of word processing software such as Microsoft Word.
With the facilities Microsoft Word provides such as word
counter and vocabulary and grammar checker, the author
can save his time thus able to finish within his deadline.
Moreover, computers are able to perform difficult tasks
with better calculations.

Technology Is the Future

Computers offer a quicker way to gain information which
is by providing an internet access. Up to this moment,
many internet browsers and applications have been in-
vented, for instance, Mozilla Firefox, Google search en-
gine and Microsoft Outlook to organize emails. These
applications surely contribute a lot to a much easier way
to gain information.

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Multimedia

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/E-Commerce

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Information_Systems

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Program_Development

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Database

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Computer_Security

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems/Ethics

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/The_Computer_Revolution

http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/07-computer-history-timeline.htm

1.4. COMPUTERS AT HOME 3

Computer skills are required to be hired in companies
these days. Imagine if two candidates are interviewed,
one of which knows nothing about computers while the
other does. The employer will definitely hire the lat-
ter. Furthermore, with computer skills, one can build his
own company and expand his business. He could perhaps
work online and export his goods or service.

Learning computer skills is now essential

Not only have computers become more integrated in our
lives. They are increasingly becoming more essential in
any aspect of life. As computers become more essen-
tial, the skill to operate them also become more essen-
tial. They are no longer just an advantage but rather a
requirement in today’s computer-oriented society. Those
who have not had the opportunity to learn computer skills
back in the day when computers were not as widespread
have started or are forced to learn to use them as they
have become necessary in to be a productive and
contributing person in not only the workplace but also in
society.
Proof of the ever increasing integration in our lives comes
from the fact that almost anything can be done with the
use of computers. You can now food, even gro-
ceries, through the computer, you can now watch almost
anything on your computer, you can now work from home
or you can play games to procrastinate at work through
the help of computers, you can even conduct interviews
through your computer, there are so many things that a
computer is capable of that learning the skills to fully
reach the potential of computers is a priority.[1]

1.4 Computers at Home

A computer is a good product to have at home. There are
so many benefits to owning your own computer. It allows
you to be able to write letters, articles, stories, reports
and other things easier and faster. If you own a printer,
you can easily write a letter to a friend or family member,
print it out and send it to them. You can save your written
documents on your home computer and have easy access

Home Computer Benefits

to them when you need them again.
Having a computer at home allows you to have access to
work from home jobs such as research, data entry, writ-
ing and other work-from-home jobs. With a computer at
home, you can easily communicate with friends and fam-
ily through email, social networks and instant messaging.
Using a computer to communicate is cheaper than calling
friends and family long distance. You can also communi-
cate with co-workers, your boss and anyone else you meet
on the Internet through your own computer.
People usually go to the library for their research. If you
have your own computer at home, you don’t have to travel
to the library when you need to research something. Log
on to the Internet and research whatever you need with
your computer at home. When you need to know some-
thing fast you can look it up on Google or your favorite
search engine. Having a computer at home gives you ac-
cess to learning all kinds of things through research. This
will save you on gas charges instead of having to drive to
the library.
Having a computer at home means your own personal
entertainment source. There are literally thousands of
games on the Internet which you can play anytime you
want to. You can also watch movies and your favorite TV
shows on DVDs. You can also join social networks and
interact with your friends on a daily basis.
With a computer at home and the Internet, students can
now get a college degree from home. There are a lot of
different schools that allow students to take college classes
online. Using a computer and the Internet can get you a
degree at your own pace and faster than going to a college
campus.
While almost every household has at least one personal
computer within it, desktop and laptop computers are
no longer the only computers found in the home. Many
homes have numerous computers embedded through-
out. Thermostats, appliances, entertainment systems and
home security systems are just a few examples of things
in a home that can be controlled by an internal computer.

4 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

These smart homes are capable of so much. All of the
devices work on a network and often communicate wire-
lessly. Home security systems can be monitored from an
offsite location. Lights can be turned on an off remotely.
Simple tasks, like watering the lawn or running the dish-
washer, can be programmed to occur at the homeowners’
convenience, or specifically timed to conserve energy.
Some thermostats can even learn and adapt to homeowner
preferences.
Smart homes are becoming more and more common.
Technology is advancing at a rapid rate and smart homes
are expected to become the norm in the very near future.
The smart devices and appliances can be controlled from
personal computers, or other network devices like smart
phones. Some people believe that these homes will even-
tually be smart enough to recognize the inhabitants and
adapt to the needs,[2] giving the phrase computers in the
home a whole new meaning.

Smart Home Control Panel

1.5 Computers in Education

FPL’s Computer lab

At most colleges and universities, their students are fa-
miliar with blackboard,[3] a course management system

Children working on computers in a classroom

that is used quite frequently in to stay in touch with
teachers, figure out homework assignments, and keep
track of grades. While not all classes utilize this technol-
ogy, it can be very helpful especially for online courses.
With technology growing and advancing so far forward
we now have the ability to learn and take classes from the
comfort of our own home.
While many students still go on campus, there is no short-
age of computers. Most colleges have at least one mega
lab with nearly a hundred computers. But if you wish
to bring your own laptop there are plenty of wireless hot
spots where you could get a connection to the internet
from anywhere on campus. Understandably lugging text-
books around campus may seem exhausting and tiring,
you now have the option to get an electronic e-Book of
most textbooks needed for class.
Most people are knowledgeable on the fact that comput-
ers are widely-used in colleges and at universities, but let’s
take a step back and take a look at the ways in which com-
puters are used in elementary schools. The biggest benefit
of a computer being used in a classroom is that it can pro-
vide many different study tools depending on the class.
They can provide electronic flashcards, math games, and
even things as simple as crossword puzzles. Although a
computer cannot replace a teacher, it can help expand a
students independent thinking skills by allowing activities
to be taken as many times as needed. Most of the activi-
ties found in classrooms are very interactive which helps
keep the student interested. Also, we must not forget that
because modern day children are drawn towards electron-
ics, they are more compelled to engage in study activities
on a computer rather than a sheet of paper.
Working on a computer at an early age helps build funda-
mental skills needed later on in life. At a young age a child
can learn how to fully operate the basic external hardware
of a computer like the screen, keyboard, or mouse. With
enough exposure to computers and their components, a
student can become more efficient for the following years
of school and even their future career.[4]

1.7. PORTABLE COMPUTERS 5

1.6 Computers on the Job

If you have seen any older movie (or SpongeBob) you
have probably seen people getting to work grabbing their
time card and getting it stamped to show what time they
have arrived at work. This is called an authentication sys-
tem or timesheet.[5] While now the authentication system
is more digital than before, the concept still applies. This
isn’t the only use of computers on the job or at work in
general. For instance say there is a presentation you must
give to the board of directors, you might want to make
a PowerPoint[6] to give visuals to help drive home your
point. Or perhaps you work retail and the pair of pants a
customer wants is out of stock, you could easily it
online for them, and minimize the headache of shopping
for those who hardly shop. Whatever the case, computers
can help.

1.6.1 Spectrum of Computers

Every industry has computers. These machines have
been incorporated into the fabric of every work-
force.Computers have even created many fields which
did not exist prior to their existence.[7] Computers mani-
fest themselves in different ways to preform unique tasks.
One size does not fit all in the realm of computers, rather
each has a purpose or assigned task. The computers that
fulfill similar tasks can be classed together. The cate-
gories range from small scale to industrial. An embedded
computer is something that allows somewhere like an of-
fice to have appliances that range from routers to printers.
Then there are mobile devices such as smart phones, ph-
ablets, and smart watches that are, for example, able to
keep a New York stock broker up-to-date on the latest
stocks, or instantly keep in touch with investors. These
devices have compressed, basic operating systems −al-
though they are getting more advanced by the day. Per-
sonal computers are one of magnitude up from mo-
bile devices. Personal computers have the full and uni-
versal capabilities in to have the capacity to access
work from outside the workplace, as well as handle the
software that might be used on the job. Midrange com-
puters or midrange servers are yet another of mag-
nitude up on the spectrum. These machines are between
20 and 50 times larger than a traditional desktop com-
puter, though their previous name was a “minicomputer”
and has business and scientific applications. These com-
puters are often referred to as servers due to the majority
of them being used as such.[8] Next are Mainframe com-
puters, which are primarily used by large corporations
and governments to store and process massive amounts of
information. This leads to the final class which is Super-
computers. As the name would suggest, this type of com-
puter is quite powerful. It calculates enormous amounts
of information with countless variables to get informa-
tion. These are responsible for tasks such as weather
prediction, security, simulating the moment the universe

came into existence, as well as helping to create the next
tier of computer – which is not yet fully operational – the
quantum computer

• Embedded Computer

• Personal Computers

• Midrange Servers

• Mainframe Computers

• Supercomputers

1.6.2 Electronic Flight Bags

An Electronic Flight Bag app being used in a general aviation
aircraft

Computers have been ubiquitous in most work places
since the mid 1990’s. A notable exception, until recently,
is the commercial airliner flight deck. In the last 5 years,
electronic flight bags (EFB’s) have become more and
more commonplace. Before the FAA approved EFB’s,
pilots would have to carry paper charts, approach plates,
and aircraft manuals and checklists for each flight. This
paper system was cumbersome, heavy, and took up the
space of an extra suitcase. Now, tablets are taking the
place of this system. In 2012, United Airlines provided
their pilots with mounting hardware, and iPads for use in
the cockpit.[9] Southwest and American Airlines followed
suit.[10] Now, most major airline use EFB’s for their op-
erations. This allows for more complex flight planning,
greater precision and efficiency, and better organization.
Airlines also save weight, as pilots no longer have to bring
45 pounds of paper with them on their flights. The use of
a tablet brings the weight down to 1.5 pounds. Not only
does this make the pilots life easier, but it also helps the
airline save on jet fuel.[11] Future aircraft designs have
tablet mounting and charging stations built into the flight
deck, to make the integration of the system even more
seamless.

6 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

Phablet (Samsung Galaxy Note II – 2012)

1.7 Portable Computers

Phablets, a portmanteau of “Phone” and “Tablet”, were
first pioneered in 2007 by HTC. The concept was an
original hybridization, borrowing the large, touchscreen
display from a tablet computer and the functionality and
size from a mobile cellular phone. The idea was eventu-
ally adopted by other large manufacturers including LG
(GW990) and Nokia (N810), and underwent several dif-
ferent phases. The early generations had, in addition to
a touchscreen, physical keyboards whereas the later ones
do not. The Verizon Streak, produced and carried by the
network, was released in 2009. Unlike most others at the
time, it was restricted to phone and internet use within
the household only. The current style of phablets was not
popularized until 2011, after the launch of the Samsung
Galaxy Note, (Android) which featured a 5.3” inch dis-
play and a removable stylus.[12]

Laptop

Portable computers are compact and fully functioning
versions of a regular desktop computer that are designed
to be mobile. While they rely on rechargeable batter-
ies or an electrical outlet for power, they allow a person
the freedom to move around while still being productive.
Their mobility alongside their ability to operate similar

to a desktop make them powerful tools for businessmen,
students, and common individuals alike. Whether giv-
ing or preparing a project or presentation, taking notes
or studying online, or simply connecting to the internet
from a cafe, portable computers have become essential
for individuals who wish to work, study, or play on the go.
Portable computers come in three basic versions which
include the laptop, tablet, and netbook.

Tablet

Laptops are thin computers that contain a keyboard and
monitor folded on top of each other so that the top half is
the visual display and the bottom half is the input. Lap-
tops are commonly called “notebooks” do to this fold-
ing feature and their thin appearance. Recently, touch
screens have been introduced into some laptops allow-
ing some operating systems like Windows 8 to open ap-
plications with the touch of a finger. While laptops are
comparable to desktops in their use, their smaller size re-
sults in some small amounts of the computing power and
functionality being lost. However, their compact size al-
lows them to be stored when not in use and the familiar
“nest” of wires associated with linking up a desktop is
reduced to a single power cord. Laptops are also bet-
ter at “creating” fully functional content when compared
to a Tablet or Mobile Device (such as a cell phone). If
you require the ability to write reports or long e-mails, to
use a spreadsheet in to crunch numbers, to create
a “PowerPoint” presentation, to rearrange music libraries
or photo albums, or to edit pictures then you will need a
desktop, laptop or a netbook. Tablets and Mobile Devices
are more designed to consume content than to create.[13]

Tablets are smaller than laptop PCs, very lightweight,
and extremely easy to carry, but they lack the processing
power of a laptop as well as a keyboard input. They rely,
instead, on a stylus and touch screen. For those who are
hardcore gamers, giving business presentations, or con-
ducting heavy research a tablet doesn’t offer the speed and

1.9. WHAT IS A COMPUTER? 7

efficiency that is needed to complete these tasks. How-
ever, if a person is more of a casual internet surfer or
“lightweight” game player then a tablet can handle what
computing is needed to do this. They can browse the web
relatively easy and stream movies or Youtube videos too.
It should also be noted that tablets have become handy
for other lightweight tasks involved with simple music/DJ
production like FX and mixing as well as live sequencing.
Some artists and designers are now using their tablets for
preliminary sketches that they transfer into design soft-
ware and programs on a full powered laptop later on as
well.[14]

Netbooks are similar to laptops but differ in size as well as
processing. While netbooks are smaller versions of lap-
tops, they have been designed, to the best of their ability,
to have the same functionality as laptops and PCs. A net-
book’s computer display will rarely reach above 10” or
12”, and are more commonly smaller than this, whereas
some laptops can contain up to 15.5” of display screen.
Netbooks have been around since 2008, roughly, and
have revolved around their ability to connect to mobile
networks such as the wifi at your local cafe or restaurant.
Because of this feature, it has changed the laptop industry
and has been heralded as a revolutionary and pivotal focal
point in the production of laptops and netbooks. Since
then this capability has now become a standard among
both. Even though they don’t maintain some of the func-
tionality and computing power as their desktop and lap-
top counterparts, they are still capable of word process-
ing, mathematical computation, and other productivity
programs that businessmen and students use. On top of
that, they are also extremely durable and affordable which
make them perfect for educational tools. Students will
find them easy to manage, organize, and carry around as
well as a “distraction free” resource because of their mini-
malistic capabilities. Couple these advantages with inter-
net access to mobile hotspots such as school libraries and
it can be easily seen why this device had dominated the
market for so long. It has only been a recent trend for
individuals to pick up the tablet despite it’s rudimentary
processing power and it has been speculated that this is
due to the tablet’s sleek design and effective marketing
strategy toward the younger generation.[15]

• Netbook

• Laptop vs. Netbook

1.8 References

[1] http://www.pixuffle.net/
the-importance-of-computers-in-our-daily-lives/

[2] http://www.wired.com/insights/2014/10/
smart-homes-of-the-future/

[3] http://www.blackboard.com

[4] http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/
should-computers-used-early-elementary-schools-3986.
html

[5] Wikipedia: Timesheet

[6] http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint/

[7] http://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/index.html?nbId=
7345&nbNodeId=1013914#!&parentId=1013918

[8] http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/47026/
midrange-computer

[9] []

[10] []

[11] []

[12] http://www.verizonwireless.com/mobile-living/
tech-smarts/what-is-a-phablet-verizon-samsung/

[13] http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2364302,00.asp

[14] http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/faqs/laptop-vs-tablet/

[15] http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/faqs/what-is-a-netbook/
#eventbody1

1.9 What is a Computer?

1.9.1 Data vs. Information

Information Relationship Model

Data are calculated and processed on a daily basis through
computers in business, at home, and in education. Data
are essentially the raw facts that are usually typed into a
computer. We call these “raw” facts due to them being
unorganized. They can come in any form from audio and
visual, to text and numerical. When the data is entered
into the computer, that is considered input. The computer

http://www.pixuffle.net/the-importance-of-computers-in-our-daily-lives/

http://www.pixuffle.net/the-importance-of-computers-in-our-daily-lives/

Smart Homes of the Future Will Know Us by Our Heartbeats

Smart Homes of the Future Will Know Us by Our Heartbeats

http://www.blackboard.com/

http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/should-computers-used-early-elementary-schools-3986.html

http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/should-computers-used-early-elementary-schools-3986.html

http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/should-computers-used-early-elementary-schools-3986.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%2520Timesheet

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint/

http://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/index.html?nbId=7345&nbNodeId=1013914#!&parentId=1013918

http://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/index.html?nbId=7345&nbNodeId=1013914#!&parentId=1013918

http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/47026/midrange-computer

http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/47026/midrange-computer

http://www.verizonwireless.com/mobile-living/tech-smarts/what-is-a-phablet-verizon-samsung/

http://www.verizonwireless.com/mobile-living/tech-smarts/what-is-a-phablet-verizon-samsung/

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2364302,00.asp

http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/faqs/laptop-vs-tablet/

http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/faqs/what-is-a-netbook/#eventbody1

http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/faqs/what-is-a-netbook/#eventbody1

8 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

Represented Data

calculates the data and spits out the information. Since
this information is the output, it becomes the organized
version of what used to be raw facts. This system is con-
sidered information processing. Data can also come in
other forms including figures, experiments, and surveys.
Most everything that is entered into a computer becomes
data, which is why this term is so vital to understanding
computers and how they operate. [1] Information is pro-
duced by the data; it is form of knowledge, and computers
calculate detailed information. [2]

When most people think of information, the first source
that comes to mind is Google. Google allows you to ac-
cess a lot of information in a short amount of time. What
most do not know is that is exactly what a computer does
behind the scenes every time you are entering data into
a computer, most of the time without even considering it
to be “data.” Information is a way to get answers to ques-
tions, because they are the output of the data you have
put in to process. Many online sources provide endless
amounts of information. Without information, people
will not have reliable sources for school and their career.
Work can be made much easier with information, includ-
ing jobs which need to calculate employee’s total hours
worked, or any “total data” that needs to be found or cal-
culated. Data and information are very valuable, and is
most certainly the backbone of a computer. These two
components may help your computer to be user-friendly
by working behind what you are typing to make data use-
ful and organized. [3]

1.9.2 Computers Then and Now

It is difficult for a college student to imagine life without
a computer. However, computers have only been around
since the mid 1900’s. The computer industry went from
making computers that took up an entire classroom to
currently being able to fit into a student’s backpack. Also,
computers used to be much more expensive and required
a greater amount of energy than today’s computers. Fi-
nally, in the 1980s, people began placing these foreign
objects into their home. During this time, people had to
really study and be patient with this handy device. [4] Peo-

Computer from the 1980s

ple have seen the drastic changes that have been made to
computers in a span of only forty years. Computers to-
day are much smaller, lighter, require less energy, and
cheaper. However, in today’s generation, computers are
second nature to most people, and one could not imagine
life without them.

An open computer case displaying the hardware.

Computers in our generation seem to be integrated in
our every day life to assist in multiple tasks related to
our many needs. So much so, it is difficult to picture
our world without them. However, with great success
comes great patience. In the first computer model (1946-
1957) for example, the machine required certain inputs,
referred to as punch cards, and physical work to repro-
gram the computer. The computer itself was nowhere
near as helpful, simple, nor convenient as it is today.
The first generation computers were built with thousands
of vacuum tubes, required physical effort to re-wire the
computer, and could only solve one problem at a time.
The second generation of computers (1958-1963) in-
troduced transistors, which replaced the vacuum tubes.
Transistors simply acted as a light switch, allowing the
electronic circuits to either open or close. Both first
generation computers, and second generation comput-
ers continued to use punch cards for their input. Sec-

1.9. WHAT IS A COMPUTER? 9

ond generation computers also introduced hard drives
(hardware), and programming languages (FORTAN &
COBOL). Soon after, (1964-1970), the third generation
used a system of integrated …