McGraw-Hill/Irwin
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Chapter
3-4
Computer
Hardware & Software
McGraw-Hill/Irwin Copyright © 2008, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Learning Objectives
• Understand the history and evolution of
computer hardware
• 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
3-3
Categories of Computer Systems
3-4
Computer System Concept
• A system of hardware devices organized by
function
• Input
• Keyboards, touch screens, pens, electronic mice,
optical scanners
• Converts data into electronic form for entry into
computer system
• Processing
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• CPU subunits: arithmetic-logic and control unit
3-5
Computer System Concept
• Output
• Video display units, printers, audio response units,
and so on
• Converts electronic information into human-
intelligible form
• Storage
• Primary storage (memory)
• Secondary storage (disk drives)
• Control
• CPU controls other components of the system
3-6
Computer System Concept
3-7
Storage Tradeoffs
3-8
Computer Storage Fundamentals
• Uses a two-state or binary representation of data
• On or Off
• On represents the number 1
• Off represents the number 0
• Data are processed and stored in computer
systems through the presence or absence of
On/Off signals
3-9
Bit and Byte
• Bit
• Short for binary digit
• Smallest element of data
• Either zero or one
• Byte
• Group of eight bits, which operate as a single unit
• Represents one character or number
3-10
Representing Characters in Bytes
3-11
Learning Objectives
• Describe several important trends occurring in
computer software
• Give examples of several major types of
application and system software
• Explain the purpose of several popular software
packages for end user productivity and
collaborative computing
4-12
Learning Objectives
• Define and describe the functions of an operating
system
• Describe the main uses of computer
programming software, tools, and languages
4-13
Types of Application & System Software
4-14
Application Software
• General Purpose
• Programs that perform common information
processing jobs for end users
• E.g., word processing, spreadsheet
• Also call productivity packages
• Custom Software
• Software applications developed within an
organization for use by that organization
4-15
Application Software
• Open-source Software
• Developers collaborate on the development of an
application using programming standards which
allow anyone to contribute to the software
• As each developer completes a project, the
application code becomes available and free to
anyone who wants it
4-16
Business Application Software
• Function-Specific Application Software
• Thousands of these packages support specific
applications of end users
• Examples: customer relationship management,
enterprise resource planning, supply chain
management, Web-enabled electronic commerce
4-17
Software Suites, Integrated Packages
• Most widely used productivity packages are
bundled together as software suites
• Advantages
• Cost less than buying individual packages
• All have similar GUI
• Work well together
• Disadvantages
• All features not used
• Takes a lot of disk space (bloatware)
4-18
Integrated Packages
• Integrated packages combine the functions of
several programs into one package
• E.g., Microsoft Works, AppleWorks
• Advantages
• Many functions for lower price
• Uses less disk space
• Frequently pre-installed on microcomputers
• Disadvantages
• Limited functionality
4-19
Web Browsers
• Software applications that support navigation
through the point-and-click hyper-linked
resources of the Web
• Becoming the universal platform from which
end users launch…
• Information searches
• E-mail
• Multimedia file transfer
• Discussion groups
• Other Internet-based applications
4-20
Search Engines
• Browsers are used to gain access to Internet
search engines
• Google, Ask Jeeves, Look Smart, Lycos,
Overture, Yahoo!
• Using search engines to find information has
become an indispensable part of Internet,
intranet, and extranet applications
4-21
E-mail, Instant Messaging, and Weblogs
• E-mail
• Software to communicate by sending and
receiving messages and attachments via the
Internet, intranet, or extranet
• Instant messaging (IM)
• Receive electronic messages instantly
• Weblog or blog
• A personal website in dated log format
• Updated with new information about a subject or
range of subjects
4-22
Word Processing/Desktop Publishing
• Word Processing
• Create, edit, revise, and print documents
• E.g., Microsoft Word, Lotus WordPro, Corel
WordPerfect
• Desktop Publishing
• Produce printed materials that look professionally
published
• E.g., Adobe PageMaker, Microsoft Publisher,
QuarkXPress
4-23
Electronic Spreadsheets
• Used by virtually every business for…
• Analysis, planning, modeling
• Electronic Spreadsheet
• Worksheet of rows and columns
• Can be stored on local computer or on network
• Requires designing format and developing the
relationships (formulas)
• Most help you develop charts and graphic
displays of spreadsheet results
• Supports what-if questions
4-24
Presentation Graphics
• Common presentation graphics packages…
• Converts numeric data into graphics displays
• Used to create multimedia presentations of
graphics, photos, animation, and video clips
• E.g., Microsoft PowerPoint, Lotus Freelance,
Corel Presentations
• Top packages can tailor files for transfer in
HTML format to websites
4-25
Personal Information Managers
• Software for end user productivity and
collaboration
• Stores information about clients
• Manages schedules, appointments, tasks
• Most include ability to access the Web and
provide e-mail capabilities
• Some support team collaboration by sharing
information with other PIM users
• E.g., Lotus Organizer, Microsoft Outlook
4-26
Groupware
• Software that helps workgroups collaborate on
group assignments
• E-mail, discussion groups, databases, video
conferencing
• E.g., Lotus Notes, Novell GroupWise, Microsoft
Exchange
• Windows SharePoint Services and WebSphere
both allow teams to create websites for
information sharing and document collaboration
4-27
Software Alternatives
• Outsourcing development and maintenance of
software
• Application service providers (ASPs)
• Companies that own, operate, and maintain
application software and computer system
resources
• Use the application for a fee over the Internet
• Pay-as-you-go
• Use expected to accelerate in the coming years
4-28
Categories of Group Software
• System Management Programs
• Manages the hardware, software, network,
and data resources of computer systems
• Examples: operating systems, network manage-
ment programs, database management systems,
system utilities
• System Development Programs
• Helps users develop IS programs and procedures
and then prepare them for processing
• Includes language translators and editors, CASE
and programming tools
4-29
Interface Between End Users and Computer
4-30
Operating Systems
• Integrated system of programs that…
• Manages the operations of the CPU
• Controls the input/output, storage resources,
and activities of the computer system
• Provides support services as the computer
executes application programs
• The operating system must be loaded and
activated before other tasks can be accomplished
4-31
Operating System Basic Functions
4-32
Other System Software
• Utilities
• Miscellaneous housekeeping functions
• Example: Norton utilities includes data backup,
virus protection, data compression, etc.
• Performance Monitors
• Programs that monitor and adjust computer
system to keep them running efficiently
• Security Monitors
• Monitor and control use of computer systems
to prevent unauthorized use of resources
4-33
Application Servers
• Provide an interface between an operating
system and the application programs of users
• Middleware
• Software that helps diverse software applications
exchange data and work together more efficiently
4-34
Programming Languages
• Examples of programming in each language
4-35
How Web Services Work
4-36
Language Translator Programs
• Translate instructions written in programming
languages into machine language
• Assembler
• Translates assembler language statement
• Compiler
• Translates high-level language statements
• Interpreter
• A compiler that translates and executes each
statement in a program, one at a time
4-37
