ITSS 3300 Lec. 4

Hardware

the tangible physical components that input, process, output, and store data based on software instructions

Central Processing Unit (CPU) “the brain”

Microchip that executes instructions, does arithmetic and logical comparisons, stores results in memory

Varies in speed, function, cost - runs the OS and apps

Random Access Memory - RAM (main memory)

Short-term working memory of the CPU uses for data it’s actively using

VOLATILE

More RAM = More tasks at once, faster multitasking

Volatile

loses contents when power is off

Nonvolatile

Memory keeps the content when the power is off

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Non-Volatile secondary storage using spinning magnetic platters + read/write head

Slower, cheaper, less durable, and noisy

Solid-State Drive (SSD)

Non-volatile storage using flash memory chips, no moving parts

Faster, more durable, quiet - best choice today

3 parts inside the CPU (internal circuitry)

Control Unit (CU), Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), and Registers

Control Unit (CU)

fetches instructions from memory, decodes them, directs other components

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

does math calculations and logical decisions

Registers

tiny, very fast memory inside the CPU holding data/intermediate results temporarily

Other hardware components

motherboard, power supply, input/output devices, Graphics processing unit (GPU), cooling systems, networking hardware, peripherals

6 types of hardware

1. Personal Desktop, laptop (ex. Macbook)

2. Tablet (ex. iPad)

3. Phablet (ex. Samsung Galaxy Note)

4. Smartphone (ex. iPhone)

5. Server (ex. Dell PowerEdge)

6. Server Farm (ex. Racks of servers)

Internet of Things (IoT)

Physical objects embedded with sensors, software, and connectivity so they connect to the internet and collec/exchange data and act autonomously

3 major types of IoT

Smart Homes (thermostats)

Industrial IoT (sensors on equipment)

Healthcare (remote patient monitoring)

IoT Advantages

efficiency/productivity, better decisions and business insights, cost reduce, enhanced safety

Data Sizes (Bit vs. Byte)

Bit: Binary digit - smallest unit of data (either 1 or 0)

Bytes: 8-bit chunks; # of bits to represent 1 character

Byte → KB → MB → GB → PB → EB → Zb

5 disruptive forces - new hardware

1. Digital Reality Devices

2. Autonomous Vehicles

3. Industrial Robots

4. 3D printing

5. FinTech

Organizations care about new hardware because it is a potential opportunity or threat to revenue

Digital Reality Devices

Technologies creating immersive (3D) experiences by blending the physical world with virtual environments

3 types of Digital Reality

1. Virtual Reality (VR)

2. Augmented Reality (AR)

3. Mixed Reality (MR)

Virtual Reality

Completely computer-generated and replaces the real world (ex. Meta Oculus Quest)

Augmented Reality

Overlays digital information on real-world objects; does not replace reality (ex. Google Glass)

AR market can disrupt the smartphone market

Mixed Reality

Combines VR +AR; virtual and real objects interact in real time (ex. Magic Leap)

2 types of Autonomous Vehicles

1. Self-Driving Vehicles

2. Drones

Self Driving Vehicles

Use sensors to navigate without human interaction; easier, cheaper, safer (but software failures can be disastrous)

Drones

Aircraft flown remotely or autonomously via software flight plans

Drone Advantages

Faster delivery, less human labor cost, lower shipping costs, deliver to real-time locations, lower environmental impacts, and lower road traffic

Drone Disadvantages

Interference with other aircraft, accidents/injury, limited range and package size, can be hacked/misused, affected by weather

Industrial Robots

Machines programmed to sense the environment, make decisions, and perform tasks automatically

• automates physical work done by humans

• can cause worker displacement

3D Printing

Disruptive force with the power to change businesses; risks raised could be illegal items, counterfeiting

ex. Nike released new AIR 3D printed shoes using AI and math

FinTech

Innovative use of tech to offer financial services more efficiently - digital banking, blockchain, crypto

• makes finance faster, cheaper, and more accessible

• ex. venmo, zelle

Blockchain

decentralized digital ledger that securely, transparently, permanently records transactions across a network of computers

• Transactions are grouped into blocks linked chronologically into a chain

• Once data is recorded, it is almost impossible to alter or delete without affected enter chain

Blockchain process

Transaction requested → broadcast to network of nodes → network validate using known algorithms → combined with other transactions into a block → block added to chain → transaction completed

Benefits of Blockchain

eliminates middlemen, enhances transparency, simplifies processes, reduces costs, increases trust - could disrupt industries

Cryptocurrency

Unlike FIAT currencies - Digital/virtual currency secured by cryptography, running on decentralized systems using blockchain - bypasses banks (ex. Bitcoin launched in 2009)

FIAT: traditional currencies issued by governments

Software

Set of instructions and programs used to operate computers and perform tasks

Operating System (OS)

programs that control the computer’s resources and manages the user interface, display, keyboard, mouse, etc.

OS Functions

read/write data, allocate main memory, perform memory swapping, start/stop programs

Specific OS version is written for SPECIFIC hardware (ex. Windows OS is for Intel hardware while Mac OS is exclusively for Mac Hardware)

2 types of software application

Native Application and Web Application

License vs. Own Software

You buy a license to use a software not the software itself - large companies negotiate a flat fee called a site license

Native App (Thick Client)

a software program that is specifically designed and written to run on a particular operating system (ex. Windows, macOS)

• installed on device and uses device hardware

Web App (thin client)

A software application that runs on a web server and is accessed by users through a web browser over the internet or local network (ex. google docs)

Client

Device/software application that requests services, data, or resources from a server - initiator (ex. user’s computer, phone, web browser)

Server

powerful computer/software that provides resources, services, or data to clients over a network - response to requests (ex. web server, email server, database server)

Major Operating System

1. Nonmobile Client: Windows, MacOS, Unix, Linux

2. Mobile Client: iOS, Android, Windows 10

3. Servers: Windows Server, Unix, Linux

2 types of Application Program Types

Off-the-Shelf and Custom-Developed

Off-the-shelf

Standardized software application that is mass-produced and readily available to the general public - Horizontal Market, Vertical market

Custom-developed software

designed and customized to fit an organization’s workflows and goals and evolve with the organization’s needs - Vertical Market and One-of-a-kind

Horizontal Market

Used across many industries, general purposes (ex. excel)

Vertical market

Meets needs of one specific industry; more expensive but tailored (ex. AutoCAD, dentist softwares)

One-of-a-kind

Custom-built for a unique need no one else has (ex. IRS, space shuttles)

Firmware

software installed into the special read-only memory of devices. acts as a permanent part of the hardware and as the intermediary between the hardware and the software- must be updated for security/performance

Open-source Software

source code freely available; anyone can view, modeify, enhance, distribute

Philosophy: collaboration and transparency yield better, reliable, software

Ex. FireFox, Android, Linux

Father of the Open-Source movement

Richard Matthew Stallman

Mobile Systems

info systems that support users in motion - users move geographically and from device to device

4 key components of Mobile Systems

1. Mobile Devices

2. Mobile OS

3. Mobile Applications

4. Mobile networks

Importance of Mobile Systems

competitive advantages, better customer service, collects customer data, reduces costs, support the growing remote workforce