Fundamental of Information System

(IS 2121)

Instructor: Tsegaye Berhanu

Email: [email protected]
 Chapter 1

Overview of Computers
 Outline
 Overview of computers and ICT

 Characteristics of computers

 Data Vs Information

 Characteristics of Information

 Application areas of computers

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 Overview of Computers
 A computer is a fast electronic device that processes
the input data according to the instructions given by
the programmer/user and provides the desired
information as an output.
 A computer is a machine that can receive, store, and
process data to provide information.
 It is a set of interrelated and interconnected devices
which accept raw data, process it, store and produce
the result by following pre-determined instructions or
a program.
Chapter 1: Overview of Computers
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 Overview of Computers
 computer transforms data to Information.
 Computer can be defined in terms of its functions.
 It can
I. Accept Input (data)
II. Store data
III. Process data
IV. Display Output (information)
V. Communication (optional)
 Accepts input, processes data, stores data, and produces output

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 How a Computer Works?
• Computers accept inputs (data)
• The input is translated into binary numbers (0 & 1)
and ‘processed’ by a processor(CPU)
• Data is stored in the storage device of a computer.
• The process produces output (information)
• This sequence can repeat endlessly: outputs can be
inputs!

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 How a Computer Works?

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 Input
 The act of entering data into a computer
 Input can take a variety of forms, from commands
you enter from the keyboard to data from another
computer or device..
 The user initiates the action by doing something:
 Clicking the mouse
 Typing on the key board
 Touching the touch screen
 A device that feeds data into a computer, such as a
keyboard or mouse, is called an input device.
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 Processing
 The process of transforming input data into
and output (Information).
 The CPU handles the majority of the
processing tasks and is the "brain" of the
computer
 The computer processes input and produces
output.
 Without processing, the computer’s output
would be the same as its input
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 Storage
 Store is the action of saving information for
later use.
 In computers, that may be to a storage device,
such as an internal hard drive, optical disc
drive, or an external storage device
 The OS (operating system) of the computer is
responsible for storing data on your
computer.
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 Output
 The visual, auditory, or textual
perceptions provided by the computer after
processing the provided information
 Once the computer has processed the request, it
shows you the result by changing what you see on
the monitor or playing a sound through the
speakers
 This is output

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 Information and Communication
Technology (ICT)
 Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) is an umbrella term that covers all technical
means for processing and communicating information.
 ICT describes digital technologies including:
• Communication protocols
• Transmission techniques
• Communications equipment
• Communication media
• Computing for storage and processing

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 Information and Communication
Technology (ICT)
 ICT is the convergence of information technology (IT) and
telecommunication technology.
 Benefit of ICT:
 ICT is technology's version of economic growth, to satisfy the
needs and wants of the community over time.
 ICT tools can be used to find, explore, analyze, exchange and
present information responsibly and without discrimination.
 ICT can be employed to give users quick access to ideas and
experiences from a wide range of people, communities and
cultures.
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 Information and Communication
Technology (ICT)
Benefit of ICT:
 Employment opportunities
 Data and information gathering and distribution
 Better customer service
 Greater product variety
 Shorter response time
 Enhanced product quality
 Better customization of products and services…
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 IT- Information Technology
 IT is "the study, design, development, implementation,
support or management of computer-based information
systems, particularly software applications and
computer hardware."
 IT deals with the use of electronic computers and
computer software to convert, store, protect, process,
transmit, and securely retrieve information.
 IT is a general term that describes any technology that
helps to produce, manipulate, store, communicate,
and/or disseminate information
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 Data Vs Information
Data
 Data are raw facts about anything
 Data items have little meaning or no meaning.
 Data are plain facts.
 Data in themselves are fairly useless.
 when data are interpreted, structured, organized
and processed to determine its true meaning, they
become useful and can be called Information.
 Data is computer's language. Information is our
translation of this language.
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 Information
 Information is data that has been refined and organized by
processing and purposeful intelligence.
 Information is data processed for some purpose
 Information is any form of communication that provides
understandable and useful knowledge for the person receiving it
 Information can only be considered to be 'real' Information if it
meets certain criteria i.e.
 it must be communicated to the recipient
 it must be in a language that is understood
 it must be in a suitable form
 it must be relevant for achieving some purpose
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 Data Vs Information

Data Information
• raw facts • data with context
• no context • processed data
• just numbers and text • value-added to data
– summarized
– organized
– analyzed
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 Example for Data vs. Information
 Data: 51007
 Information:
 5/10/07 The date of your final exam.
 $51,007 The average starting salary of an
accounting major.
 51007 Zip code of Bronson Iowa.

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 Data vs. Information
Data Information
SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO INC.
 6.34
 6.45 $7.20

 6.39 $7.00

 6.62 Stock Price

$6.80

 6.57 $6.60

 6.64 $6.40

 6.71 $6.20

$6.00
 6.82
$5.80
 7.12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
 7.06 Last 10 Days

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 Data  Information  Knowledge
Data

Summarizing the data

Averaging the data
Selecting part of the data
Graphing the data
Adding context
Adding value

Information
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 Data  Information  Knowledge
Information

How is the info tied to outcomes?

Are there any patterns in the info?
What info is relevant to the problem?
How does this info effect the system?
What is the best way to use the info?
How can we add more value to the info?

Knowledge
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 Data  Information  Knowledge Wisdom

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 Characteristics of information

Information that is meaningful for the people and the

organization must have certain characteristics
 Accurate: Information must not contain any errors.
Sufficiently accurate for its purpose
 Accessible: Authorized users should be able to
access the information whenever required.
 Complete: Information must contain all important
and related data and Complete enough for the
problem.
 Reliable: Reliable and targeted to the right person.
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 Characteristics of information
 Economical: Information should be economical
to produce both in terms of time and cost.
 Format: Information should be available in the desired
format. Communicated by an appropriate channel, i.e.
one that is understandable to the user.
 Flexible: Information should be flexible enough to be
used for different purposes.
 Timely: Information must be available when it is
needed. Communicated in time for its purpose. Late
or outdated information is of no use.
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 Characteristics of information
 Relevant: Information must be relevant for its
purpose, so that it can be used by the
organization.
 Verifiable: There should be a means to
crosscheck the available information.
 Secure: Unauthorized users should not be able to
access the information. Access is allowed only to
authorized individuals.
 Simple: Information must be easily understandable
and usable. Complex information is difficult to use
andChapter
may not serve its purpose.
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 Characteristics of Computers
 Speed: A computer is so fast that it can perform the given task
(arithmetical or logical) in few seconds as compared to human
who can spend many hours for doing the same task. A
computer can process millions of instructions per second.
 Accuracy: While doing calculations, a computer is more
accurate than man. Man can make mistakes in calculations but
a computer does not make mistakes, if it is provided accurate
instructions.
 Diligence: A computer does not suffer from the human traits of
tiredness. Man will be tired and bored while doing millions of
calculations but a computer, being a machine, does this job
veryChapter
efficiently and without any tiredness and boredom.
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 Characteristics of Computers
 Storage Capacity: A computer has much more memory or
storage capacity than human brain. It can store millions of
data and instructions, which can be retrieved and recalled
even after a number of years. This is not possible in case of
human brain.
 Versatility: A computer can perform various types of jobs.
On a computer system, we can listen to songs while typing
text or play games while working on any other package, do
calculations, make drawings, surf the net, send e-mail, etc.

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 Characteristics of Computers
 Reduction in Manpower: Earlier, the work in industries/factories
was done by a number of persons. But with computers, it can be
completed by a few persons and that too more accurately and
efficiently. The advent of computer has reduced the need of
manpower.
 Paper Work can be Reduced: The use of computer reduces the
burden of paper work in any organization. For example, record of
each student of a school can be kept in the computer itself rather
than keeping manual files for each student. Also, information
regarding any student can be obtained easily and quickly with the
help of a computer.

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 Limitations of a Computer
Despite having various advantages, computers do have the following
limitations that are the strengths of human beings. These are:
 No Intelligence: A computer is a machine and obviously has no
intelligence of its own. Each and every instruction must be given
to the computer for doing a task. Man has an intelligence and it is
the man who invented computer and gives it all the instructions
and logic to work.
 A computer cannot take decisions on its own and it is the main
drawback of computer.
 Computers do not have intelligence of their own, they work
according to the instructions given by humans.

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 Limitations of a Computer
No Decision-making Ability: Computers cannot take
any decisions. Human beings assist the computer to
take the decisions.
For example, suppose a street Man is selling flowers.
If such kind of flowers are already in our house, we
will decide not to purchase them. Taking decision in
this way, without the assistance of human beings, is
not possible by a computer.

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 Limitations of a Computer
No Emotions and Feelings: Computers are far away
from emotions and certainly being machines, they
cannot have feelings and instincts.
These limitations of computers are characteristics of
human beings. Thus, computers and human beings
work in collaboration to make a perfect pair.

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 Application Areas of Computers
Why we use Computers?
The following are some of the capability computers.
 Store and process large amount of information
with high speed and accuracy;
 Transmit information across continents via
communication channels
 Simulate events
 Perform complex mathematical computations
and make comparisons;
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 Application Areas of Computers

 Monitor ongoing industrial operations

 Perform repetitive processes with great ease,
speed, and reliability;
 computers have evolved in terms of increased
computing power and decreased size.
 Life in today’s world would be unimaginable
without computers.

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 Application Areas of Computers
 Engineers, architects, jewelers, and film makers use
computers to design things.
 Teachers, writers, and most office workers use
computers for research, word processing and emailing.
 Small businesses can use computers as a point of sale
and for general record keeping.

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 Application Areas of Computers
 Learning Aids: learning toys

 Entertainment: games/music/movie

 Commercial or business applications: text processing

 Scientific research applications: space technology

 Information Utilities: internet

 Electronic Banking and Service: online Banking, ATM
 Shopping from Home
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 Application Areas of Computers
 Household Control

 Weather and Environment: weather forecasting

 Transportation: air planes are aided by computers

 Medical and Health Care: blood pressure, heart rate

 Routine and Dangerous Tasks: war

 Consultant (Expert system)

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 Application Areas of Computers
EDUCATION
 Computers can significantly enhance performance in
learning.
 Distance learning is made productive and effective through
internet and video-based classes.
 Researchers use computers in their scholarly work
 Computers are used in teaching and research.
 students can solve different kinds of problems quickly and
efficiently by using computers.
 It is used in a result processing.
 Exam preparation

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 Application Areas of Computers
Health and Medicine

 Most of the medical information can now be

digitized from the prescription to reports.
 Computers provide Therapies to patients.
 Radiotherapy is not possible without computers.
 Researchers use computers in health
 Development of Health Net of doctors and Hospitals
 CT Scanning and Ultra sound
 Record Keeping of patients
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 Application Areas of Computers
Financial Institutions
 Computers are used to store account information of
customers in a banks database.
 Computers Keep the records of the cash flow, giving
the information regarding your account.
 Most of the banks provide the facility of ATM. The
customers can draw money through ATM card from
any branch of that bank (or another bank) at any
time of a day.
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 Application Areas of Computers
Transport System
 With internet on computers we can know the details of the buses
or trains or the flight available to our desired destination.
 The timings and even the updates on the delay can also be known
through these computers.
 We can book tickets online.
 Computers keep a track of the passengers, trains or flight details,
departure and arrival timings.
 Computers are used in cars to monitor fluid levels, temperatures
and electrical systems.
 An air control traffic systems, where computers are used to
control the flow of traffic between airplanes which needs a lot of
precision and accuracy to be dealt with.
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 Application Areas of Computers
Computers in Business
 Every single information shared can be recorded by using computer.
 Official deals and the issues were made even through online.
 Today, in global markets, it is impossible to run the business without
the use of computer technology.
 Many business activities are performed very quickly and efficiently by
using computers.
 The administrative paperwork is also reduced by using computers.
 Many business use websites to sell their products and contact their
customers.
 Businessmen are using computers to interact with their customers
anywhere in the world.
 Many business tasks are performed more quickly and efficiently.
 Computers also help them to reduce the overall cost of their business

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 Application Areas of Computers
Computer for Defense
 help in developing missiles and other equipment in the
defense system.
 Designing and the maintenance are possible only
through computers.
 Computer builds the links between the soldiers and
commanders through the satellite.
 Construction of weapons and controlling their
function is not possible without the aid of computers.
 The list of the criminals and the records of the cops
are maintained regularly in the system.

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 Application Areas of Computers
Computers for Entertainment
 Computers are now the major entertainers and the
primary pass time machines.
 We can use computers for playing games, watching
movies, listening to music, drawing pictures.
 Many computer games and other entertainment
materials of different kinds are available on the
Internet.

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 Application Areas of Computers
Agriculture
 Farmers use small computers to help with billing,
crop information, and cost per hectare, feed
combinations, and market price checks.
 Cattle farmers can also use computers for
information about livestock breeding and
performance.

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 Application Areas of Computers
Consultant (Expert system)
 An Expert system is a computer program, which can solve
problems from a specific knowledge base.
 These systems don't replace expert humans because the
knowledge base of expert system is given from the skilled
specialist.
 Example: Mycin: a medical diagnostic program by using
sophisticated decision making process.
 This expert system was designed to identify bacteria
causing severe infections, such as bacteremia and
meningitis, and to recommend antibiotics, with the dosage
adjusted for patient's body weight.
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