2. INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
Information Technology is the application of
Computers towards organizing and efficient
retrieval/reporting of information.
Information Technology refers to the creation,
gathering, processing, storing, protecting,
presenting and dissemination of information
using , hardware, software and
telecommunication technology.
3. WHAT IS INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY (IT) ANYWAYS ?
As defined by “INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (ITAA)”
“IT includes various types of Computers, Software,
Communications, Facsimile transmissions, &
Electronic conferencing.” By Henry C. Lucas, Jr
“IT is the study, design, development, implementation,
support or management of computer based information
system particularly software's applications & computer
hardware.”
4. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Information Technology‟s prime concern is Information.
MIS is concerned with capture, processing and
communication of information.
Computers thus form valuable tool in MIS.
6. UNDERSTANDING OF
COMPUTERS
The word computer comes from the Latin word
“computa” which means “to calculate”.
A computer is normally considered as calculating machine
that can perform arithmetic operation at a very high speed.
Nowadays computer is used for multiple purposes.
Definition :
An electronic device which is capable of performing series
of arithmetic and logical operations at a very high speed is
called computer.
Memory is an area of computer which holds data that is
waiting to be processed, Storing or output.
8. HISTORY OF COMPUTERS
The history of computer is very old, long and
fascinating.
History of computer in the area of technological
development is being considered because it is usually the
technological advancement in computers that brings about
economic and social advancement.
9. HISTORY OF COMPUTERS
(CONTD)
o A faster computer brings about faster operation and that in
turn causes an economic development.
o This will discuss classes of computers, computer evolution
and highlight some roles played by individuals in these
developments.
o This emphasizes the need to study history of the computer
because a proper study and understanding of the evolution of
computers will undoubtedly help to greatly improve on
computer technologies.
10. COMPUTER GENERATION
In 1930, Analog computer were introduced.
In 1944, H. Aiken at Hayward University USA, developed
Mark-1.
It was the first digital computer from IBM.
Which spanned 51 feet in length and 8 feet in height. 500
meters of wiring were required to connect each component.
If we consider the Generation 0 of computers till 1944, then
computer were mainly special purposes. They were usually
designed to do calculation work.
After 1944, people concentrated on the development of
general purpose computers which could be used for
multiple tasks which are discussed as follow.
11. COMPUTER GENERATION
SYSTEM
First Generation (1946-59)
Second Generation(1957-64)
Third Generation(1965-70)
Fourth Generation(1970-90)
Fifth Generation(1990 till date)
12. FIRST GENERATION
The first general purpose computer of this generation was
constructed in 1946, at the Moore School of Engineering of
the University of Pennsylvania, USA by Prof: Presper Eckert
and John Mauchly.
The name of that computer was ENIAC.
Work on ENAIC started in 1943 and the project was
completed in 1946.
In this computer system Vacuum tubes were used. These tubes
were very large in size, due to which the size of computer of
that generation was large.
A device to amplify, switch, or modify a signal (by controlling
the movements of electrons)
13. SECOND GENERATION
In second generation a new device was discovered, which is
called transistor.
a) Transistor is a small electronic device used in computers, radios, televisions, etc
for controlling an electronic current as it passes along a circuit.
b) Transistor were prepared by a British Scientist William Shockley. These transistor
were able to move an electronic charge.
Eg : Lower power consumption, smaller, more reliable, cheaper, much lower heat
dissipation
During this generation two programming languages were
prepared. i.e.
a) FORTRAN which prepared in 1956 by an American Scientist John Backus.
b) COBOL which was prepared by an American women Grace Hopper in 1959.
Computer of second generation are smaller in size then 1st
generation computer.
14. SECOND GENERATION (CONTD)
IBM
IBM7094: For scientific application (1962)
IBM1401: For business applications (1959)
In 2nd generation,
Increase the performance and capacity was found
Lowered cost
Speed increase as well
All this improvement was the result of use of transistor in place of vacuum
tubes.
15. THIRD GENERATION
In this generation microelectronics were introduced which
was the invention of Integrated Circuits (IC‟s).
The 3rd generation was based on IC technology.
IC is a small Microchip that contains a large number of electrical
connections and performs the same function as a larger circuit made
from separate parts.
IC was an advance electronic technology, when a large
number of circuit elements are integrated into a very small
surface of silicon known as “Chip” then it is called an IC.
IBM System/360 were the first computers to be built entirely
with ICs.
16. THIRD GENERATION (CONTD)
Computer of 3rd generation is smaller in size as compared to
previous generation computer.
Maintenance cost was low because the chance of hardware
failure was minimum in those computers.
The disadvantage of 3rd generation computer was, a very
costly technology required for the manufacturing of IC chip.
Cray-1: $8.8 million, 160 million instructions per seconds and
8 Mbytes of memory
17. FORTH GENERATION
Improvements to IC technology made it possible to integrate
more and more transistors in a single chip
In 1970‟s SSI, MSI, LSI and VLSI circuits were used at the
place of IC‟s. They are also a single silicon chips.
SSI (Small Scale Integration): 10-100
MSI (Medium Scale Integration): 100-1,000
LSI (Large Scale Integration): 1,000-10,000
VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration): >10,000
The important point is that with VLSI it became possible to
have a full CPU on a single chip, also called a
microprocessor.
The first microprocessor was created by Intel in 1971.
18. FORTH GENERATION (CONTD)
So 4th generation computers are those which uses LSI
technology, due to this technology the size of computers
becomes very small but highly costly technology is required
for the manufacturing of LSI chips.
With the advent of microprocessors it became possible to
build “personal computers”
1977: Apple II
1981: IBM PC
19. FIFTH GENERATION
The computers that used today belongs to the fifth generation
computers which performs parallel processing, multi-tasking
simultaneously.
Voice Recognition
Artificial Intelligence
Natural Languages
Simulation
A computer simulation is an attempt to model a real-life
situation on a computer so that it can be studied to see how
the system works.
Computers of fifth generation are nearly capable to behave
like human beings.
These machine are usually equipped with a large main
memory.
Software and hardware components have become cheaper
The size of computer in 5th generation has become
surprisingly small.
20. CLASSIFICATION OF
COMPUTERS
Computing machines can be classified in many ways and these
classifications depend on their functions and definitions.
They can be classified by the technology from which they
were constructed, the uses to which they are put, their capacity
or size, the era in which they were used, their basic operating
principle and by the kinds of data they process.
Following are the main types of Computers :-
21. 1. SUPER COMPUTERS
Super computers are used in applications like defence, space
exploration, industrial R&D, manufacturing etc,
The supercomputers are the biggest and fastest machines today and
they are used when billion or even trillions of calculations are
required.
Super computers have capabilities far beyond even the traditional
large-scale systems, their speed ranges from 100 million-instruction-
per-second to well over three billion.
For this reason, supercomputers may need the assistance of a
medium-size general purpose machines (usually called front-end
processor) to handle minor programs or perform slower speed or
smaller volume operation.
22. 2. MAINFRAME COMPUTERS
Mainframe computers are used for larger business application.
They are relatively slower and smaller than super computers, thus
suiting the budget of larger organization.
They are used in business application were originally designed to
handle the data processing requirements such as payroll, inventory
control & management etc
They are used in complex modeling, or simulation, business
operations, product testing, design and engineering work and in the
development of space technology.
Large computers can serve as server systems where many smaller
computers can be connected to it to form a communication network.
23. 3. MINI COMPUTERS
In the 1960s, the growing demand for a smaller stand-alone machine
brought about the manufacture of the minicomputer, to handle tasks that
large computers could not perform economically.
Minicomputer systems provide faster operating speeds and larger
storage capacities than microcomputer systems.
Operating systems developed for minicomputer systems generally
support both multiprogramming and virtual storage.
This means that many programs can be run concurrently.
This type of computer system is very flexible and can be expanded to
meet the needs of users.
24. 4. MIRCO COMPUTERS
Large-scale production of silicon chips began in 1971 and this has
been of great use in the production of microcomputers.
The Microcomputer has the lowest level capacity, the machine has
memories that are generally made of semiconductors fabricated on
silicon chips.
The microcomputer is a digital computer system that is controlled by a
stored program that uses a microprocessor, a programmable read-only
memory (ROM) and a random-access memory (RAM).
Microcomputers have from 4k to 64k storage location and are capable
of handling small, single-business application such as sales analysis,
inventory, billing and payroll.
25. HARDWARE & SOFTWARE
The term hardware and software refers to the tangible & Intangible
aspects of computers.
The physical parts of the computers are termed as “Hardware”.
The instructions necessary to make the physical parts perform are
called “Software”.
26. HARDWARE
Computer hardware refers to the actual, tangible physical parts of
the computers, it can be studied according to its functions it
performs such as :
Input Device
Output Device
Storage Device &
The Central Processing Unit
27. INPUT DEVICE
This device is responsible for entering data and commands into the
computer.
As computers developed, other forms of data storage to necessitating
the input devices such as magnetic tape readers.
As technology improved better & easier to use input devices such as
the keyboard, mouse and scanner bar code readers etc
Today, sophisticated input devices like digital cameras and webcams
have become available even to home computer users.
28. OUTPUT DEVICE
This device are capable of outputting the processed information.
The need to produce output in more readable form saw the
development of printers, which could be in words diagrams &
pictures.
The need for immediate output which need not be preserved, as well
as need to be able to monitor the processing led to the development of
the VDU (Visual Display Unit)
Monitors of toady are capable of showing high resolution photographs
& paintings.
29. STORAGE DEVICE & CENTRAL
PROCESSING UNIT
When the data has to be stored for later inputs into another process, it
can be output to media like magnetic disk tape CD ROMS etc such
are called “Storage Device.”
Hard disk that can store larger amounts of data in random order,
enabling faster access to a particular bit of data that might needed
without having to read all data on the disk first.
Central processing unit (CPU) is the process the data into
information according to the instructions (programs) given either by
direct input (keyboard, mouse) or from external media such as
magnetic disk.
CPU is further divided into (CU) control unit and (ALU)
arithmetical and logical unit.
30. SOFTWARE
Software is the intangible part of computer, it consists of a set of
instructions that tell the what to do.
A set of instruction is called a Program and A set of program is called
Package, and the sum total of the programs and packages used on
computer is called “Software.”
Some of the examples of application software are :
Payroll Processing Software
Inventory Control Software
Accounting Software
31. PACKAGES
A package, in computer terminology, is a set of program that can simply
be installed on a computer and used right away.
Software houses realised that most business needed the same basic set of
program with the slight modifications to suit their specific needs.
Some common packages are :
Word Processing packages
Spreadsheet Packages
32. WORD PROCESSING PACKAGES AND SPREAD
SHEET PACKAGES
WPP refers to the input, formatting storage and printing to text, it also
includes used to write letters, memos article report etc
Most WPP provide features such as Page layout, automatic pagination,
columnar formatting and storage of documents as files in computer
system.
Spreadsheet packages offer quick & convenient ways to perform
calculations using larger number of variables.
Spreadsheet packages also offers features like automatic generation of
graph & pie charts printing of individual parts of spreadsheet or entire
spreadsheet etc who need to work with numbers.
33. DATABASE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM
Database management systems help the user to
enter, store, retrieve, format and print- cords related to individuals that
form a part of a specific data base.
Eg : Package may be used to store employee code records.
Data package have evolved into sophisticated relational database
management packages, where data from different tables can be
accessed and combined to create cross- ferenced reports.
The data entered can be combined into reports for management use.
34. DESKTOP PUBLISHING
Desktop publishing, referred to as DTP, is another powerful package
developed on PC‟s.
Desktop publishing tools offer tools to make professional looking
documents and presentations integrating text and images.
The concept of WYSIWIG (What You See Is What You Get) makes it
easy for the user to lay his documents out exactly the way he wants it
printed.
This is a very useful tool in preparing reports, presentations, training
manuals, etc and such packages are widely used by professionals in
these fields.
35. COMPUTER SYSTEM
CONFIGURATION
Configuration refers to the rating, capacity and functionally of critical
parts of computers.
Some of the important components in computers configuration are as
follow:
A. The Processor
B. The RAM or Random Access Memory
C. The Hard Disk
D. The Monitor or VDU (visual display unit)
36. A. THE PROCESSOR
B. THE RAM RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY
1. The is the brain of computer and most common processor are Intel
Processors, the current rage being the Intel Pentium 4
processor, which of course will soon give way to another.
2. The faster computer will function, and the smoother will the graphics
be, clock speed (measured in Megahertz or MHz) is another
important factor in selection a processor.
1) RAM is another important factor in configuration of the computer &
also refers to the working memory of the computer.
2) The maximum amount that can be stored in the temporary memory of
the computer while performing calculations, and Moderns programs
& packages especially use GUI (Graphic User Interface) are
memory-hungry programs/packages need larger amount RAM
function properly.
37. C. THE HARD DISK
D. THE MONITOR OR VDU (VISUAL DISPLAY UNIT)
1. Just like RAM, the larger the hard disk capacity, the better off one is
in the long run.
2. Hard disk capacity is now measured in Gigabytes or GB, where
1GB equals to 1000 megabytes.
1) While the size or type of monitors may not have direct bearing on
the processing speed of the computer, it does play an important role
in the presentation of data.
2) Computers are used to display graphics or images such as Drawings
& photograph and has to be compatible with rest of system to provide
smooth operation.
38. DATA PROCESSING
Data processing refers to the collection, capture, storage & combination
of data into useable results.
In computer system, data is input & information is the output, the
conversation of data into useful information is called Processing.
Data: Data refers to individual elements which by themselves are
incapable of providing a basis for decision making.
Information: Information is the basis on which decision can be made
and information is produced by combining data & formatting the result
into a usable form.
39. TYPES OF DATA PROCESSING
Data processing is essentially of 3 types:
I. Batch Processing
II. On-line Processing
III. On-line Real Time Processing
40. A. BATCH PRODUCTION
Batch production refers to the collection of data different times within
a period & processing that data in the batch at specified intervals or at
the end of the time period.
B. ON-LINE PRODUCTION
The data is processed immediately upon the occurrence of the
transaction is called on-line processing.
Most companies use a combination of Online and Batch processing,
depending on their requirements.
C. Online Real Time Processing
Information required to be processed immediately, that result too have
to be produced at the end of the transaction is called online real time
processing.
41. TRANSACTION PROCESSING
I. Transaction Processing refers to the different kinds like cash
payments, reimbursement to employees, financial transaction etc
II. Transaction Processing is one of the most common forms of
processing in the business organization
DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING
I. This form of processing refers the setting up of smaller processing
units throughout the organization, which are linked through
networking to each other through central computer called Server.
II. Distributed processing also has its unique set of
problems, which, may allow different departments to apply their own
parameters o report formats, programs used validation exercises etc.
42. VALIDATION AND CONTROLS
No matter how sophisticated a computer, it can be as accurate as the
data that fed in Garbage In Garbage Out or (GIGO) is basic concept
that needs to be absorbed by every user, manager and system
professionals.
Some of the Input Errors:
1. Transposition Error: In this type of error, two digits in a number may
be „transposed‟
2. Transcription Error: It refers to where a number or letter is misread
by the operator.
3. Random Error: In this type of error, the number entered is completed
erroneous.
43. CONTOLLING INPUT ERRORS
Input errors can be controlled by several means, depending the nature
of data, this is called Validation.
Validation checks can be built into the input program, so that common
errors are minimized or eliminated completed.
The second type of error that may in occur in system is a Processor error
A processor error occurs when the output of one process is passed on
to another process as input.
Processor controls are used to ensure that all of the relevant output is
indeed passed on to the next process.
If the system accepts such erroneous data, validation checks have to be
put in to prevent input of such erroneous data.