Information Systems/Introduction

This lesson introduces computers, applications, computer networking, information systems, and computer impacts on society.

Objectives and Skills

Objectives and skills for the CLEP Information Systems exam are covered in other lessons. This lesson helps you:

Understand basic computer and application concepts
Describe the sphere of influence of computers in our personal and work environment

Readings

Read Wikibooks: Introduction to Computer Information Systems/Computers in Your Life.
Read Wikibooks: Introduction to Computer Information Systems/What is a Computer?.
Read Wikibooks: Introduction to Computer Information Systems/Computers to Fit Every Need.
Read Wikibooks: Introduction to Computer Information Systems/Computer Networks and the Internet.
Read Wikibooks: Introduction to Computer Information Systems/Computers and Society.

Multimedia

Watch YouTube: What is a computer?.
Watch YouTube: Moore's Law.
Watch YouTube: Internet of Things Explained Simply.

Activities

Review Wikipedia: Moore's law. In 2005, Gordon Moore stated that this projection cannot be sustained indefinitely. Research current projections for the technical limits of Moore's law and any potential alternatives to sustain this growth in processing performance.
Search the Internet for the top business computer vendors by market share. For one of the top three vendors, compare prices and capabilities for their tablets, laptops, desktops, workstations, servers, and thin clients. Consider how each of these devices might be a cost-effective solution in your school or business.
Review Wikipedia: Internet of Things. Consider your own home, school, or work environment. Which devices in this environment would be more useful if they were connected to the network? Are there any associated security risks in connecting these devices? Would there be any privacy concerns if others were able to monitor your use of these devices?
Review related online study materials using a textbook website such as Digital Planet: Exploring Our Digital Planet.
Review the lesson summary, key terms, review questions, and assessments below.

Lesson Summary

Today's world runs on computers. Computers are efficient. Having one at home allows you to access the most informative tool known to mankind.^[1]
Computers are used at home, in education, and in work environments.^[2]
Computer types include embedded computers, mobile devices, personal computers, midrange servers, mainframe computers, and supercomputers.^[3]
An embedded computer is a mini computer with a specific function within a product that completes detailed tasks or jobs for that product.^[4]
Portable computers are compact and fully functioning versions of a regular desktop computer that are designed to be mobile. They allow 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.^[5]
Mainframe computers are much larger computers that consolidate the needs of large organizations like universities, hospitals, banks, government offices, etc.^[6]
Data are essentially the raw (unorganized) facts that are usually typed into a computer.^[7]
Information is the output. The computer processes the data and spits out the information.^[8]
The term hardware refers to the components used to build a computer. Breaking down the components into categories, you will find five main groups: input, output, memory, CPU, and communications hardware.^[9]
Communications hardware is important when it comes to letting computer users access information from the Internet, put information onto the Internet, or interact with other computer users on a network. ^[10]
Most personal computers are made up of a central processing unit, control circuitry on an integrated circuit, and various input/output devices.^[11]
A URL uniquely identifies a specific Web page. The URL is composed of a communication protocol, (typically HTTP or HTTPS,) a domain name, and a page.^[12]
Domain names are like fingerprints; two of the same cannot exist. ^[13]
Certain webpages have specific programs and algorithms that sort through the vast expanse of information available on the web. These websites work by processing keywords that are typed into the search bar and display a large list of webpages matching the keywords.^[14]
When communicating online, it is important to remember you are interacting with a human being, and to follow netiquette guidelines.^[15]
The integrity factor is important when searching the Internet. Always verify the credibility of the information given.^[16]
Advantages of computer use include improved efficiency, quality, communication, and collective knowledge.^[17]
Disadvantages of computer use include excessive use, security and privacy concerns.^[18]

Key Terms

agricultural age: A period characterized by an economy based on producing and maintaining crops and farmland.^[19]
mobile app: Software designed to run on smartphones and other mobile devices.^[20]
application software: A set of computer programs designed to permit the user to perform a group of coordinated functions, tasks, or activities.^[21]
desktop computer: A personal computer in a form intended for regular use at a single location due to its size and power requirements.^[22]
digital divide: A gap in terms of access to and usage of information and communication technology, including the skills to make use of those technology within a geographic area, society or community.^[23]
electronic mail (email or e-mail): A method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients.^[24]
embedded system: A computer system with a dedicated function within a larger mechanical or electrical system, often with real-time computing constraints. ^[25]
firmware: A type of software that provides control, monitoring and data manipulation of engineered products and systems.^[26]
hypertext: Text displayed on a computer display or other electronic devices with references or links to other text which the reader can immediately access, or where text can be revealed progressively at multiple levels of detail.^[27]
industrial age: A period characterized by an economy organized for the purpose of manufacturing.^[28]
Industrial Revolution: The transition to new manufacturing processes that included going from hand production methods to factories and machines.^[29]
information age: A period characterized by an economy based on computerization.^[30]
integrated circuit: A set of electronic circuits on a small plate or "chip" of semiconductor material, normally silicon.^[31]
Internet: A global system of interconnected computer networks that use the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to link several billion devices worldwide.^[32]
laptop computer: A laptop or a notebook is a portable personal computer with a clamshell form factor, suitable for mobile use.^[33]
mainframe computer: Computers used primarily by large organizations for critical applications, bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics, enterprise resource planning and transaction processing.^[34]
microprocessor: A computer processor that incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) on a single integrated circuit (IC), or at most a few integrated circuits.^[35]
Moore's Law: The observation that the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit has doubled approximately every two years.^[36]
netbook: A generic name given to a category of small, lightweight, legacy-free, and inexpensive computers.^[37]
network: A telecommunications network which allows computers to exchange data.^[38]
notebook computer: See laptop.^[39]
paradigm shift: A profound change in a fundamental model or perception of events.^[40]
peripheral: An auxiliary device that connects to and works with the computer in some way.^[41]
personal computer: A general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities and original sale price make it useful for individuals, and is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator.^[42]
server: A computer that provides other network-connected computers with access to data and programs.^[43]
silicon chip: See integrated circuit.^[44]
Silicon Valley: A nickname for the southern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area, which is home to many of the world's largest high-tech corporations, as well as thousands of tech startup companies.^[45]
smart phone: A mobile phone with an advanced operating system which combines features of a personal computer operating system with other features useful for mobile or handheld use.^[46]
supercomputer: A computer with a high-level computational capacity used for a wide range of computationally intensive tasks in various fields, including quantum mechanics, weather forecasting, climate research, oil and gas exploration, molecular modeling and physical simulations.^[47]
tablet computer: A type of portable PC that de-emphasizes the use of traditional input devices (such as a mouse or keyboard) by using a touchscreen display, which can be controlled using either a stylus pen or finger.^[48]
terminal: An electronic or electromechanical hardware device that is used for entering data into, and displaying data from, a computer or a computing system.^[49]
thin client: A computer or computer program that depends heavily on another computer to fulfill its computational roles.^[50]
timesharing: The sharing of a computing resource among many users by means of multiprogramming and multi-tasking.^[51]
transistor: A semiconductor device used to amplify and switch electronic signals and electrical power. It is the fundamental building block of modern electronic devices. ^[52]
web browser: A software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web.^[53]
workstation: A special computer designed for technical or scientific applications and Intended primarily to be used by one person at a time.^[54]
World Wide Web: An information space where documents and other web resources are identified by URIs, interlinked by hypertext links, and can be accessed via the Internet.^[55]

Review Questions

Today's world runs on computers. Computers are _____. Having one at home allows you to _____.

Today's world runs on computers. Computers are efficient. Having one at home allows you to access the most informative tool known to mankind.
Computers are used _____.

Computers are used at home, in education, and in work environments.
Computer types include _____.

Computer types include embedded computers, mobile devices, personal computers, midrange servers, mainframe computers, and supercomputers.
An embedded computer is _____.

An embedded computer is a mini computer with a specific function within a product that completes detailed tasks or jobs for that product.
Portable computers are _____.

Portable computers are compact and fully functioning versions of a regular desktop computer that are designed to be mobile. They allow 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.
Mainframe computers are _____.

Mainframe computers are much larger computers that consolidate the needs of large organizations like universities, hospitals, banks, government offices, etc.
Data are essentially _____.

Data are essentially the raw facts that are usually typed into a computer.
Information is _____.

Information is the output. The computer calculates the data and spits out the information.
The term hardware refers to _____.

The term hardware refers to the components used to build a computer. Breaking down the components into categories, you will find five main groups: input, output, memory, CPU, and communications hardware.
Communications hardware is important when _____.

Communications hardware is important when it comes to letting computer users access information from the Internet, put information onto the Internet, or interact with other computer users on a network.
Most personal computers are made up of _____.

Most personal computers are made up of a central processing unit, control circuitry on an integrated circuit, and various input/output devices.
A URL uniquely identifies _____. The URL is composed of _____.

A URL uniquely identifies a specific Web page. The URL is composed of a communication protocol, (typically HTTP or HTTPS,) a domain name, and a page.
Domain names are like _____.

Domain names are like fingerprints; two of the same cannot exist.
Certain webpages have specific programs and algorithms that sort through the vast expanse of information available on the web. These websites work by _____.

Certain webpages have specific programs and algorithms that sort through the vast expanse of information available on the web. These websites work by processing keywords that are typed into the search bar and display a large list of webpages matching the keywords.
When communicating online, it is important to remember _____, and to follow _____.

When communicating online, it is important to remember you are interacting with a human being, and to follow netiquette guidelines.
The integrity factor is important when _____.

The integrity factor is important when searching the Internet. Always verify the credibility of the information given.
Advantages of computer use include _____.

Advantages of computer use include improved efficiency, quality, communication, and collective knowledge.
Disadvantages of computer use include _____.

Disadvantages of computer use include excessive use, security and privacy concerns.

Assessments

Flashcards: Quizlet: Information Systems - Introduction
Quiz: Quizlet: Information Systems - Introduction

References

This article is issued from Wikiversity - version of the Sunday, January 03, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.