Technology Briefing - Foundations of

Information Systems Infrastructure I

Each of the major sections within this

briefing provides optional material that
is stand-alone from the other sections
as well as the entire book

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Technology Briefing Learning Objectives

Foundational Topics in IS Hardware

• Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.

Foundational Topics in IS Software

• Describe foundational topics related to system software as well as those of various
types of programming languages and application development environments.

Foundational Topics in Networking

• Describe foundational networking and Internet concepts.

Foundational Topics in Database Management

• Explain foundational database management concepts.

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Input Technologies

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Input Technologies: Common

• Well known input technologies

– Pointing Devices
• Mice
• Track pads
• Touchscreens
– Keyboards
– Barcode and RFID scanners
– Fingerprint readers
– Eye-tracking devices for the disabled
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Input Technologies: Specialized Scanners

Scanner Description
Optical mark Used to scan questionnaires and test answer forms (“bubble
recognition sheets”) where answer choices are marked by filling in circles
using pencil or pen
Optical character Used to read and digitize typewritten, computer-printed, and
recognition even handwritten characters such as patient information in
hospitals, or the address on a piece of postal mail
Bar code reader Used mostly in grocery stores and other retail businesses to
read bar code data at the checkout counter; also used by
libraries, banks, hospitals, utility companies, and so on
Magnetic ink character Used by the banking industry to read data, account numbers,
recognition bank codes, and check numbers on preprinted checks
Biometric scanner Used to scan human body characteristics of users to enable
everything from access control to payment procurement

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Input Technologies: Audio and Video

• Audio Input
– Microphones for voice input
– Other forms
• Electronic keyboards
• Digital audio recorders
• Video Input
– Webcams
– Digital cameras
– Digital camcorders

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Processing: Transforming Inputs into
Outputs

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How a Computer Works: The Motherboard

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How a Computer Works: Storage

• Primary storage
– The internal storage a computer uses to hold software
and data while operating and processing
• Secondary storage
– Permanent storage, such as a hard drive, used to store
software and data both when the computer is in use
and between uses
• Removable storage media
– Storage that can be removed from the computer,
either for safekeeping to hold and transport data to
other computers

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How a Computer Works: Ports

• Computers can connect to networks and other external

devices through ports; over the years, many different
port types have emerged to meet changing user needs
• Common ports include
– Analog, digital, and HDMI video ports
– Ethernet network ports
– Parallel printer ports (now often replaced by USB ports)
– Older data ports such as serial, mouse, keyboard, MIDI,
and modem ports (now often replaced by USB ports)
– Newer high speed data ports such as USB, Firewire, and
Thunderbolt

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Output Technologies

• Monitors
– Originally used cathode ray tubes (CRT)
• Bulky and heavy glass tubes, Power intensive
– Newer technologies are thinner, lighter, and use
much less power to operate
• Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) lit by fluorescent tubes or
light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs)
• Electronic paper (e-paper)
• Printers
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System Software

• System software tasks

– Booting (or starting) your computer
– Reading programs into memory and managing
memory allocation
– Managing where programs and files are located in
secondary storage
– Maintaining the structure of directories and
subdirectories
– Formatting disks
– Controlling the computer monitor
– Sending documents to the printer

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System Software: Common Operating Systems

Operating System Description

z/OS A proprietary operating system for large IBM mainframe systems
Unix A multiuser, multitasking operating system; commonly used
because of its superior security
Windows By far the most popular in the world
Mac OS The first commercial graphical-based operating system, making its
debut in 1984; the operating system of Apple computers
Linux An open source operating system designed in 1991 by a Finnish
student; Linux powers about one-third of all Web servers
Android Google’s Linux-based operating system for mobile devices
iOS Apple’s mobile operating system, previously named iPhone OS;
also used on the iPod Touch and iPad

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Programming Languages

Language Application Description

Basic General Purpose Easy-to-learn language
C/C++ General Purpose Complex general purpose languages
COBOL Business Transaction processing on mainframes
FORTRAN Scientific FORmula TRANslator; designed for
scientific, math, and engineering
Java World Wide Web Highly portable language
.NET Framework World Wide Web Variety of Microsoft languages
LISP Artificial Intelligence Fast AI language
PERL World Wide Web Scripting language
Objective-C App Development Evolved from C, used to program Apps
for Apple devices

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Open Source Software

• The source code is freely available to the

general public for use and/or modification
• People around the world contribute time and
expertise
• The Linux operating system is a good example
of an open source program
• Large projects often have a core group that
verifies updates should be implemented
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