Information Technology 2 Flashcards
Office Automation Systems
Designed to improve productivity by supporting daily work of employees (e.g., word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, e-mail, electronic calendars, contact management software)
Transaction Processing Sytems
Involve the daily processing of transactions (e.g., airplane reservation systems, payroll recording, cash receipts, cash disbursements)
Management Reporting Systems
Designed to help with the decision-making process by providing access to computer data
Management Information Systems
Systems designed to provide past, present and future information for planning, organizing and controlling the operations of the organization
Decision Support Systems
Computer-based information systems that combine models and and data to resolved nonstructured problems with extensive user involvment
Expert Systems
Computer systems that apply reasoning methods to data in a specific relatively structured area to render advice or recommendations, much like a human expert
Executive Information Systems
Computerized systems that are specifically designed to support executive work
Parallel Implementation
Method that uses both systems until it is determined that the new system is operating properly.
Plunge Implementation
Method where the organization ceases using the old system and begins using the new system immediately
Pilot Implementation
Method that involves having a small group of individuals using the new system until it is seen to be working properly
Phased Implementation
Method that involves installing the system in a series of phases
Supercomputes
Extremely powerful, high-speed computers used for extremely high-volume and/or complex processing needs
Supercomputer
Large, powerful, high-speed computers
Servers
High-powered microcomputers that “serve” applications and data to clients that are connected via a network (e.g., web servers, database servers)
Microcomputers
Designed to be used by one person at a time, they are often called personal computers.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Principal hardware components of a computer. It contains an arithmetic/logic unit, primary memory, and a control unit. Major function is to fetch stored instructions and data, decode the instructions, and carry out the instructions.
Arithmetic/logic unit
Performs mathematical operations and logical comparisons
Primary memory (storage)
Active data and program steps that are being processed by by the CPU. May be divided into RAM and ROM.
Control Unit
Interprets program instructions and coordinates input, output, and storage devices.
Magnetic Tape
Slowest type of storage available because data is stored sequentially. Primarily used for archiving purposes today
Magnetic Disks
The most common storage medium in use on computers today. Also called “hard disk drives”. Data can be accessed directly.
RAID
A way of storing the same data redundantly on multiple magnetic disks
Compact Discs
Use optical technology to read and write data to the disc
Solid State Drives
Use microchips to store data and required no moving parts for read/write operations.
Could-based Storage
Also called SaaS. This type of storage is hosted offsite, typically by third parties, and is accessed via the internet.
Analog
The representation that is produced by the fluctuations of a continuous signal (e.g., speech, temperature, weights, speed, etc.) Rather than using 0s and 1s to represent information, analog signals use electrical, mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic devices to transmit the fluctuations in the signal itself to represent information.
Online
Equipment in direct communication with, and under the control of, the CPU.
Off-line
Equipment not in direct communication with the CPU, the operator generally must intervene to connect off-line equipment or data to the CPU
Console
A terminal used for communication between the operator and the computer (e.g., the operator of a mainframe computer)
Peripheral Equipment
All non-CPU hardware that may be placed under the control of the central processor. Classified as online or off-line, this equipment input, storage, output, and communication.
Controllers
Hardware units designed to operate specific input-output units
Buffer
A temporary storage unit used to hold data during computer operations
MIPS
Millions of instructions per second; a unit of measuring the execution speed of computers
Key-to-tape and Key-to-disk
In which data is entered on magnetic tape and/or disk respectively, and then read into a computer
Visual display terminal/monitors
Uses keyboard to directly enter data into computer
Input Interface
A program that controls the display for the users and allows the user to interact with the system
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Uses icons, pictures, and menus instead of text for inputs (e.g., Windows)
Command Line Interface
Uses text-type commands
Turnaround documents
Documents that are sent to the customer and returned as inputs (e.g., utility bills)
Magnetic Tape Reader
A device capable of sensing information recorded as magnetic spots on magnetic tape
Magnetic Ink Character Reader (MICR)
Device that reads characters that have been encoded with a magnetic ink (e.g., bank check readers)
Scanner
A device that reads characters on printed pages
Automatic teller machine (ATM)
A machine used to execute and record transactions with financial instituions
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
Uses radio waves to track and input data. Does not require line-of-sight access like bar code technology (e.g., Mobil’s Speedpass payment systems, FasTrak toll collection system
Point-of-sale (POS) recorders
Devices that read price and product code data. POS recorders ordinarily function as both a terminal and a cash register.
Electronic commerce and Electronic Data Interchange
Involves one company’s computer communicating with another’s computer
Plotters
Produce paper output of graphs
Computer Output to microfilm or microfiche (COM)
Makes use of photographic process to store output
Operating System
Performs scheduling, resource allocation, and data retrieval based on instructions provided in job control language
Utility Programs
Handle common file, data retrieval based on instructions provided in job control language
Communications software
Controls and supports transmission between computers, computers
and monitors, and accesses various databases
Applications software
Programs designed for specific uses, or “applications”
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Designed as relatively complete information system
“suites” for large and medium size organizations (e.g., human resources, financial applications,
manufacturing, distribution).
Compiler
Produces a machine language object program from a source program language
Multiprocessing
Simultaneous execution of two or more tasks, usually by two or more CPUs that
are part of the same system
Multitasking
The simultaneous processing of several jobs on a computer
Object program
The converted source program that was changed using a compiler to create a set
of machine readable instructions that the CPU understands
Source program
program written in a language from which statements are translated into
machine language; computer programming has developed in “generations”
Machine language
Composed of combinations of 1’s and 0’s that are meaningful to the computer
Assembly language
A low-level programming language that uses words (mnemonics) instead
of numbers to perform an operation. Assembly language must be translated to machine language by a utility program called an assembler
Virtual memory (storage)
Online secondary memory that is used as an extension of primary
memory, thus giving the appearance of larger, virtually unlimited internal memory
Protocol
Rules determining the required format and methods for transmission of data
Desk checking
Review of a program by the programmer for errors before the program is run and
debugged on the computer
Debug
To find and eliminate errors in a computer program. Many compilers assist debugging by
listing errors such as invalid commands in the program.
Edit
To correct input data prior to processing
Loop
set of program instructions performed repetitively a predetermined number of times, or
until all of a particular type of data has been processed
Memory dump
A listing of the contents of storage
Patch
A section of coding inserted into a program to correct a mistake or to alter a routine
Run
A complete cycle of a program including input, processing and output
Online transaction processing (OLTP)
Databases that support day-to-day operations
Online analytical processing (OLAP)
A category of software technology that enables the user to query the system (retrieve data), and
conduct an analysis, etc., ordinarily while the user is at a PC.
Decision support systems
Computer-based information systems that combine models and data in an attempt to solve relatively unstructured problems with
extensive user involvement
data warehouse
A subject-oriented, integrated collection of data used to support management
decision-making processes
Data mart
A data warehouse that is limited in scope
Data mining
Using sophisticated techniques from statistics, artificial intelligence and
computer graphics to explain, confirm and explore relationships among data
Business intelligence (BI)
A combination of systems that help aggregate, access, and
analyze business data and assist in the business decision-making process
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Computer software designed to help humans make decisions
Bit
A binary digit (0 or 1) which is the smallest storage unit in a computer