Chapter 3

2. Chapter3 Computer Hardware

3. Learning Objectives • Identify the major types and uses of microcomputer, midrange, and mainframe computer systems. • Outline the major technologies and uses of computer peripherals for input, output, and storage.

4. Learning Objectives • Identify and give examples of the components and functions of a computer system. • Identify the computer systems and peripherals you would acquire or recommend for a business of your choice, and explain the reasons for your selections.

5. What is a Computer? Definition: • All computers are systems of input, processing, output, storage, and control components.

6. Case #1: Mobile and Wireless Devices • When it comes to wireless technologies used to empower a mobile workforce, the ROI seems to be a minor issue. • Cost isn’t the issue – connectivity is. • Companies can better manage their costs by using wireless technology to its fullest.

7. Case #1: Mobile and Wireless Devices IT Department’s Challenge • Ensure that business users have access to solid, secure connections, no matter where they’re working. • Must think through how to deliver applications so they can be used on small LCD screens.

8. Case #1: Mobile and Wireless Devices • What are some of the benefits that organizations could realize by connecting all of their employees with mobile devices? • Are the CIOs in the case saying that ROI is not important when deploying mobile computing devices? Explain your position.

9. Case #1: Mobile and Wireless Devices • The case suggests that an increasingly popular mobile device is the Blackberry. What is it about the Blackberry that makes it so popular? Check out the Research in Motion website at www.rim.net to help with your answer. • Should mobile wireless technologies be bundled together in a generic fashion or should manufacturers allow for customization of mobile devices to be more industry or task specific? Explain.

10. Types of Computer Systems

11. Microcomputer Systems • Personal Computer (PC) – microcomputer for use by an individual • Professional Workstation – a powerful, networked PC for business professionals • Laptop – small, portable PC

12. Microcomputer Systems • Network Server – more powerful microcomputers that coordinate telecommunications and resource sharing in small local area networks and Internet and intranet websites • Computer Terminals – depend on servers for software, storage and processing power

13. Microcomputer Systems • Network Computers – low-cost, sealed microcomputers with no or minimal disk storage that are linked to the network • Information Appliances – hand-held microcomputer devices

14. PC Features

15. Midrange Systems Definition: • Primarily high-end network servers and other types of servers that can handle the large-scale processing of many business applications.

16. Mainframe Systems Definition: • Large, fast, and powerful computer systems

17. Supercomputer Systems Definition: • Extremely powerful computer systems specifically designed for scientific, engineering, and business applications requiring extremely high speeds for massive numeric computations

18. Hardware Organized by System Functions • Input Devices convert data into electronic form for direct entry or through a telecommunications network into a computer system • Processing Components primarily the Central Processing Unit (CPU) • Arithmetic-Logic Unit (ALU) - perform arithmetic and logic functions required to execute software instructions

19. Hardware Organized by System Functions • Output Devices convert electronic information produced by the computer system into human-intelligible form for presentation to end users • Storage Devices store data and software instructions needed for processing • Control Components primarily the CPU’s Control Unit which interprets software instructions and transmits directions that control the activities of the other components of the computer system

20. Computer Processing Speeds • Millisecond – thousandth of a second • Microsecond – millionth of a second • Nanosecond – billionth of a second • Picosecond – trillionth of a second

21. Computer Clock Speeds • MIPS – million instructions per second • Megahertz (MHz) – millions of cycles per second • Gigahertz (GHz) – billions of cycles per second

22. Throughput Definition: • Ability of a microprocessor to perform useful computation or data processing assignments during a given period of time Depends on: • Buses – size of circuitry paths that interconnect microprocessor components • Registers – that process instructions • Cache – high-speed memory • Specialized Processors

23. Case #2: Customer Self-Service Kiosks Goal: • For airline travelers, the best trips are fast and hassle-free, with limited time spent at the airport. • The goal is speeding travelers to their destinations.

24. Case #2: Customer Self-Service Kiosks Self-Service Kiosks Uses: • Check in for flights • Get boarding passes for originating or connecting flights • Select or change seats • Request to stand by for an upgrade • Check baggage • Change flights • Initiate multiparty check-ins • International check-in • Collect fees

25. Case #2: Customer Self-Service Kiosks Benefits: • Help customers shave 5 to 15 minutes off the time they have to stand in line • Cornerstone of a broader airport strategy to offer customers more control

26. Case #2: Customer Self-Service Kiosks Technology: • Input • video touch screens as the primary user interface • magnetic stripe card reader • Processing - networked special-purpose microcomputer terminals • Output - built-in, high-speed thermal printer

27. Case #2: Customer Self-Service Kiosks • What computer system technologies and functions are included in self-service kiosks? What other technologies should be provided? Why? Visit the Kinetics USA website for more details. • What is the customer value of self-service kiosks for airline check-ins? What other services should be provided? Take the demo tour of the Delta check-in kiosk at www.delta.com/travel/trav_serv/kiosk to help you answer.

28. Case #2: Customer Self-Service Kiosks • What is the business value of self-service kiosk in the airline industry? Do self-service kiosks give airlines a competitive advantage? Why or why not? • What are several other present or potential business applications for self-service networked kiosks? What are their business benefits and limitations? Give several examples.

29. Computer Peripherals Definition: • Generic name given to all input, output, and secondary storage devices that are part of a computer system, but are not part of the CPU.

30. Peripherals Advice

31. Online vs. Offline • Online – devices are separate from but can be electronically connected to and controlled by a CPU • Offline – devices are separate from and not under the control of the CPU

32. Input Technologies • Keyboard • Pointing Devices • Pen-Based Computing • Speech Recognition Systems • Optical Scanning

33. Graphical User Interface (GUI) Definition: • Icons, menus, windows, buttons, bars, etc used for user selection

34. Pointing Devices • Electronic Mouse – Moving mouse on pad moves cursor on screen. Pressing buttons on mouse activates activities represented by selected icons. • Trackball – Stationary device with a roller ball on top used to move cursor on screen. • Pointing Stick – Small button-like device which moves cursor in direction of pressure placed on stick.

35. Pointing Devices • Touchpad – Small rectangular touch-sensitive surface which moves the cursor in the direction of finger moves on the pad. • Touch Screen – Video display screen that emits a grid of infrared beams, sound waves, or a slight electric current that is broken when the screen is touched.

36. Pen-based Computing Definition: • Pressure-sensitive layer under slate-like liquid crystal display screen and software that digitizes handwriting, hand printing, and hand drawing

37. Speech Recognition Systems • Discrete – user must pause between each spoken word • Continuous – software can recognize conversationally-paced speech

38. Optical Scanning Definition: • Devices that read text or graphics and convert them into digital input for your computer

39. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Definition: • The machine identification of printed characters through the use of light-sensitive devices

40. Other Input Technologies • Magnetic Stripe – devices that read data stored in the magnetic stripe on the back of cards • Smart Cards – devices that read a microprocessor chip embedded in a card

41. Other Input Technologies • Digital cameras – devices that allow you to capture, store, and download still photos and full motion pictures • Magnetic Ink Recognition (MICR) – devices that can read characters printed on source documents with an iron oxide-based ink

42. Output Technologies • Video Output • Printed Output • Voice Response

43. Video Output • Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) – similar to vacuum tubes in television • Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) – electronic visual displays that form characters by applying an electrical charge to selected silicon crystals

44. Printed Output • Inkjet Printers – spray ink onto the page • Laser Printers – use an electrostatic process similar to a photocopying machine

45. Storage Trade-Offs

46. Binary Representation Definition: • Data are processed and stored in a computer system through the presence or absence of electronic or magnetic signals in the computer’s circuitry or in the media it uses

47. Bit vs. Byte • Bit – binary digit, which can have a value of either zero or one • Byte – basic grouping of bits that the computer operates as a single unit, typically eight bits

48. Storage Capacities • Kilobyte (KB) – one thousand bytes • Megabytes (MB) – one million bytes • Gigabytes (GB) – one billion bytes • Terabytes (TB) – one trillion bytes • Petabytes (PB) – one quadrillion bytes

49. ASCII Codes

50. Binary Number System Definition: • Number system used by computers to perform computations since it has only two digits