Julianne's MIS Blog: Chapter 4: Hardware, Software, and Mobile Systems

Introduction

Hardware, software, and open source alternatives // self-driving cars, 3D printing, Internet of things
Systems thinking - inputs & outputs / have a processes style or a lens / how we view the world > apply that model to teach complexity and find solution

Q4-1: What do business professionals need to now about computer hardware?

Computer hardware - components that use instructions encoded in computer programs or software to input, process, output, and store data / hardware (touchable) + software (ideas, thoughts, etc.)
Hardware Components

Central processing unit (CPU) - the "brain" that has the "smarts" of the machine/computer; selects instructions, processes them, performs logical/arithmetic comparisons, and stores operation results in memory (speed, function, and cost may vary)
Dual-processor - when a computer has two or more CPUs
Quad-processor - four CPUs (some have 16+)
Main memory (also known as RAM: random access memory) - works in conjunction with CPU; CPU reads instructions/data from memory then stores results in main memory
Storage hardware - saves data and programs; most common = magnetic disks/hard disk
Solid-state storage (SSU) - much faster, but more expensive than hard drive
USB flash drives back up data & transfer from one computer to another + CD / DVD

Types of Hardware

Personal computers (PCs) - individually used classic computing devices; includes desktops & laptops > Apple Mac Pro
Tablets > iPad, eBook readers, Microsoft surface, etc.
Server - Computer that processes requests from many remote users and computers; PC on steroids > servers take requests from clients & bring them things (Web pages, emails, files, etc.)

Clients - PCs, tablets, and smartphones with access to servers

Server farm - collection of thousands of servers; often placed in large truck trailers w/ 50,000+ servers; has 2 cables, for power & for data communications
Other types of hardware (in-class)

Input devices - feeds data into computer / some data or instructions to operate // e.g. keyboard, mouse, smart pencil, etc.
Output devices - allow you to consume data // e.g. printer, speakers, projector, headphones, etc.
Processor - CPU brain of computer & memory inside and outside

Two types of software

Application - interact directly; Microsoft Word/Excel
System - makes sure apps work; iOS / Windows 10

Computer Data

Binary digits (bits) - zero or one; used to represent computer data since easy to represent physically; can design open switch = 0 & closed switch = 1
Computer Data Sizes

Data can be #'s, currency amounts, photos, recordings, or characters (string of bits)
Bytes - 8-bit chunks (bits grouped together into 8 // 100,000 bytes = 800,000 bits)
Data storage capacity / specification for size:

Kilobyte (KB) - 1024 bytes
Megabyte (MB) - 1024 kilobytes
Gigabyte (GB) - 1024 megabytes
Terabyte (TB) - 1024 GB > Petabytes (PB) - 1024 TB > Exabyte (EB) > Zettabyte (ZB)
e.g. Facebook = 600TB processed per day 300PB data warehouse
e.g. Cisco = annual global internet traffic will exceed 1.6 ZB by end of 2018

Specifying Hardware with Computer Data Sizes

CPU speed = cycles called hertz

3.0 Gigahertz = slow PC < 3.5+ Gigahertz = high speed / very fast

Volatile - (cache & main memory) when power is off contents are lost
Nonvolatile - (magnetic & optical disks) when power is off contents survive

Q4-2: How can new hardware affect competitive strategies?

Three new hardware developments that can disrupt existing organizations:

Internet of Things (IoT) - to interact with other devices, applications, or services, objects need to be connected to the Internet; hardware can sense, process, and transmit data then connect with network and share data with other devices, services, or applications

Smart device - when device has ability to interconnect with other devices & applications + Wifi connectivity, Internet access + more processing power and more memory
Augmented reality (AR) - real world combined with virtual objects or images; Google Glass, HoloLens, Meta Pro
Virtual reality (VR) - virtual world that is completely computer-generated
Impact of the IoT - smart devices will need: microprocessors, memory, wireless network connections, power source, new software + new protocol, more bandwidth, tighter security, and more energy to be consumed

Self-Driving Cars (driverless car) - navigates using a variety of sensors without human intervention / can even move without anyone in the car; advanced hardware + integrated software

Google is shooting for 2018 & others by 2020; Google's cars logged 700,000 miles without a single accident
Self-driving cars make things easier - allow users to be more productive during car rides or sleep / no need to park anymore, users can be dropped off / car sent to pick up family member from airport / plans route for you & reroutes around accidents, fills up gas on its own, never get a red light
Self-driving cars make things cheaper - may be used more effectively, so you might only need one per family / drive more efficiently so less fuel / no more traffic or parking tickets / car insurance drops dramatically
Self-driving cars will make things safer - crash avoidance systems apply brakes before you're aware / see better, react more quickly, and communicate with other cars / analyze traffic patterns, avoid construction, and contact emergency if needed
Self-driving cars will disrupt businesses - fewer cars sold, auto loans, auto insurance, parts sold due to fewer accidents, parking lots / may even take more car trips and less flights / more jobs for engineers, programmers, and systems designers / offspring may never learn to drive a car

3D Printing

May change competitive landscape + nature of businesses
e.g. Nike could use 3D printer to design lighter, stronger cleat
Can print more than plastic > ceramics, foods, & biological material

Q4-3: What do business professionals need to know about software?

Operating system (OS) - program that controls the device's resources; read & write data, allocate main memory, start and stop programs, etc.

Makes the computer usable, but still need applications / softwares
Two software constraints:

Particular version of OS is written for particular type of hardware; Microsoft Windows & Linux
There are two types of application programs:

Native application (thick-client applications) - programs written to use certain OS; runs on just one OS > Microsoft Access only on Windows
Web application (thin-client application) - designed to run within a browser (Firefox, Chrome, etc.) and can run on any type of computer

What are the major operating systems (OS)?

Nonmobile Client Operating Systems (used on personal computers)

Microsoft Windows / Mac OS / Unix (Bell Labs) / Linux
Modern-style applications - major rewrite of prior systems (Windows 8); touch screen oriented + provide context-sensitive, pop-up menus

Mobile Client Operating Systems

Symbian / Blackberry OS / iOS / Android / Window 10 (mobile)

Server Operation Systems

Windows Server / Unix / Linux
Windows server = business with strong commitment to Microsoft

Virtualization - when one physical computer hosts many different virtual computers within it

Host operating system - the ONE OS that runs one or more operating systems as applications
Virtual machines (VM) - those hosted operating systems (ran as applications); has other resources & disk space allocated to it
Host OS controls activities of VMs it hosts to prevent interference with one another
Three types of virtualization:

PC Virtualization - PC hosts several different operating system; MacBook Pro running both Mac OS & Windows
Server Virtualization - server computer hosts 1+ other server computers
Desktop Virtualization - server hosts many versions of desktop OS's; go to computer at airport and access virtualized desktop like it is on your own PC

Own Versus License

License - right to use a license / program; Apple continues to own Mac OS, but you have the right to use it when you buy a license
Site license - authorizes a company to install the product for a negotiated flat fee

What types of applications exist, and how to organizations obtain them?

Application software - performs function or service; some a general purpose & others provide specific functions
Horizontal-market application - software provides capabilities commonly used across all organizations and industries

e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop, etc.
Purchased off the shelf, little customization of features needed
Many people buy them, then uses for different purposes

Vertical-market application - software for specific industry needs

e.g. those used in Dental offices for appointments & billing
Can be altered and customized

One-of-a-kind application - software made for specific, unique need

Has a need that no other organization has
e.g. U.S. Department of Defense
Custom, expensive, and takes longer to make
Off-the-shelf software / off-the-shelf with alterations software / custom-developed software (difficult & risky)

What is Firmware?

Firmware - computer software installed into devices

Includes printers, print servers, and various types of communication devices
Coded & installed into special, read-only memory of device; part of device's memory = program's logic

Q4-4: Is open source software a viable alternative?

GNU - GNU not Unix (set of tools) // Richard Matthew Stallman
GNU general public license (GPL) agreement - open source software's standard license agreement

Stallman unable to attract enough developers to finish free Unix system
Linus Torvalds worked on another version of Unix > Linux

Open source projects: LibreOffice / Firefox / Android / MySQL / etc.
How does open source work?

Open source - public has access to source code of the program
Source code - computer code, written and understood by humans
Machine code - source code compiled > then processed by a computer; can't be modified & not understandable by humans
Closed source project - highly protected source code, only available to trusted employees or contractors (only ones who can make changes)

Is open source viable?

Depends on to whom & for what / requirements & constraints
Involve a blend of both proprietary and open-source software

Q4-5: What are the differences between Native and Web applications?

Developing Native Applications

Uses serious, heavy-duty, professional programming languages
Swift programming language (Objective-C) - constructs Mac OS & iOS applications // Linux (Android) uses Java
Object-oriented - used to create complex, difficult applications; when requirements change, easy to alter the high-performance code
Downside of native applications: can only be run on the OS they are programmed for > iOS app must be completely recoded for Android and recoded again to run on Windows
Native apps are expensive relative to web apps

Developing Web Applications

In theory, should be able to develop single application that works on all browsers on all devices, but some apps won't run correctly in some browsers
Limited to capabilities of browser
Cheaper to develop - can use less skilled, lesser-paid employees
html5 / css3 / javascript

Which is better?

Depends on your strategy and particular goals
Web apps are cheaper and easier to maintain, but lacking

Q4-6: Why are mobile systems increasingly important?

Mobile systems - information systems supporting users in motion; users can access the system from any place using any smart device
Read book on Kindle can continue reading same book on PC
Major elements in a mobile system: users in motion, mobile devices, wireless connectivity, cloud-based resource
Mobile device - computing device that is small, lightweight, power-conserving, and capable of wireless connectivity
M-commerce - mobile e-commerce
Five components of mobile change and opportunity

Hardware - many more mobile devices to be sold
Software - continuous building a new, innovative platforms and programs
Data - large amount of new data that can be used to create more info
Procedures - mobile systems are always on, blending our personal and professional lives; can be distracting, but also lead to richer, more complex relationships

Just-in-time data - data delivered to user the exact/precise time it is needed

People - change the value of our thinking; dynamic environment

Q4-7: What are the challenges of personal mobile devices at work?

Love: cost savings / Hate: increased vulnerability & loss of control
Advantages and disadvantages of employee use of mobile systems at work

Advantages: cost savings, greater employee satisfaction, reduced need for training, higher productivity, and reduced support costs
Disadvantages: data loss or damage, loss of control, compatibility problems, risk of infection, and greater support costs

Survey of organizational BYOD policy

Bring your own device (BYOD) policy - when using their own devices for organizational business, this is the statement entailing the employee's permissions and responsibilities
Mobile device management (MDM) software - install & update software, back up & restore devices, if device is lost or stolen or employee leaves company it wipes employee software and data, and reports usage

Q4-8: 2026?

People always on, connected, and communicating
IoT will continuously connect more and more devices; control everything, even home, from your smartphone > become a smart home
Self-driving car to work
New best-paying job positions, current: IoT architect, marketing technologist, BigData architect, and DevOps manager