Technology Briefing: Foundations of
Information Systems Infrastructure
Each of the major sections within this
briefing provides optional material that
is standalone 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, 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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Foundational Topics in IS Hardware
Foundational Topics in IS Hardware
Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware
concepts.
Foundational Topics in IS Software
Describe foundational topics related to system software, 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
– Bar code and RFID scanners
– Fingerprint readers
– Eye-tracking devices for the disabled
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Input Technologies: Batch Data
• Large amounts of routing data often reside in
paper forms, such as insurance claim forms
– To enable automated computer processing, it
needs to be entered into computer systems
– Bulk scanning and upload of these forms is the
standard process for entering them into computer
systems
– Entering a large quantity of data into a computer
system and processing it all at one time is batch
processing
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Input Technologies: Specialized Scanners
Scanner
Description
Optical mark
recognition
Used to scan questionnaires and test answer forms (“bubble
sheets”) where answer choices are marked by filling in circles
using pencil or pen
Optical character
recognition
Used to read and digitize typewritten, computer-printed, and
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
recognition
Used by the banking industry to read data, account numbers,
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
– Cache: a small block (and faster) of memory used by processors
to store recent and frequently used instructions and data
• 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 or 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
– USB for printer, scanner, mouse, keyboard, digital camera,
and external hard drives
– Ethernet network 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,
Thunderbolt, and HDMI
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How a Computer Works: Power Supplies
• Computers typically need 3.3 to 12 volts of power
to function correctly, so they have a built-in
power supply to provide this
• The power supply in computers has an efficiency
rating, and high efficiency supplies cost more but
waste less power as heat when converting it
• Power supplies are often plugged into surge
protectors to protect computers from external
power spikes
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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 lightemitting diodes (LEDs)
• Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs)
• Touchscreens—the screen is also an input device
• Printers
• Produce paper output
• Ink-jet, LED, and laser technologies
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Foundational Topics in IS Software
Foundational Topics in IS Hardware
Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Foundational Topics in IS Software
Describe foundational topics related to system
software, 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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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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System Software: Utilities
Operating System
Description
Backup
Archives files from hard disk to tapes, flash drives, or other storage devices
File defragmentation
Converts fragmented files into contiguous files that will load and be
manipulated more rapidly
Disk/data recovery
Recovers damaged or erased data
Data compression
Compresses data, allowing more data to be stored on a storage medium
File conversion
Translates a file from one format to another
Antivirus
Scans files for viruses and removes or quarantines any virus found
Device driver
Allows the computer to communicate with various different hardware devices
Spyware detection
and removal
Scans a computer for spyware and disables or removes any spyware found
Media player
Allows listening to music or watching video on a computer
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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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Compilers and Interpreters
• Compilers and Interpreters translate source
code to machine code so the computer and
understand it.
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Types of Programming Languages
• Object-Oriented Languages
– Involve classes, objects, encapsulation,
inheritance and event-driven program execution
• Visual Programming Languages
– Programming for graphical user interface (GUI)
• Web Development Languages
– For building Web-based applications
– Example: HTML
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Common HTML Tags
Tag
Description
<html>…</html>
Delineates an HTML document
<head>…</head>
Sets off the title and other information that is not
displayed on the Web page itself
<body>…</body>
Sets off the visible portion of the document
<b>…</b>
Creates bold text
<a href=“URL”>…</a>
Creates a hyperlink
<a href=mailto:EMAIL>…</a>
Creates a link creating a new e-mail message
<p>…</p>
Creates a new paragraph
<table>…</table>
Creates a table
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Automated Development Environments
System design diagram from Microsoft Visio.
Source: Courtesy of Microsoft Corporation
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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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Foundational Topics in Networking
Foundational Topics in IS Hardware
Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Foundational Topics in IS Software
Describe foundational topics related to system software, 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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Evolution of Computer Networking:
Centralized Computing
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Evolution of Computer Networking:
Distributed Computing
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Evolution of Computer Networking:
Collaborative Computing
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Types of Networks: PBX
• A Private Branch Exchange, or PBX, is a
network to connect phone lines together and
links them to external extensions.
• This minimizes the number of external
extensions a company had to purchase.
• PBXs use ordinary phone lines designed for
voice traffic, with very limited data
throughput capabilities.
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Types of Networks: LAN
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Types of Networks: WAN
• Metropolitan Area
Networks
• Enterprise WANs
• Value-Added Networks
• Global Networks
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Types of Networks: Personal Area Network
(PAN)
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Packet Switching
• Most data networks use packet switching
• Messages are broken up into packets, which are sent
individually to the destination
• The receiving computer assembles the packets back into the
message
• This allows packets from different messages to be
intermingled on the network
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Network Standards and Protocols
• Standards are critical to the success of
the Internet; everyone plays by the
same rules
• Open Systems Interconnection Model
– Divides computer-to-computer
communications into seven connected
layers
• Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
Protocol (TCP/IP)
– The Internet’s standard communication
language, dictates how messages are
broken into packets and later reassembled
• Ethernet
– LAN protocol developed by Xerox in 1976,
allows multiple types of data (including IP
datagrams) to flow over the LAN
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The OSI Model
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Network Topologies
Star
Bus
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Ring
Mesh
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Network Technologies: Hardware
Networking Hardware
Description
Switch
A switch is used to connect multiple computers, servers,
or printers to create a network.
Router
A router is an intelligent device used to connect two or
more individual networks. When a router receives a data
packet, it looks at the network address and passes the
packet on to the appropriate network. Routers are
commonly used to connect a LAN to a WAN, such as the
Internet.
Wireless access point
A wireless access point transmits and receives wireless
(Wi-Fi) signals to allow wireless devices to connect to the
network.
Wireless controller
A wireless controller manages multiple access points and
can be used to manage transmission power and channel
allocation throughout a building.
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Network Technologies: Cable Media
• Twisted Pair
• Coaxial
• Fiber Optic
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Network Technologies: Wireless Media
• Infrared Line of Sight
• High-Frequency Radio
• Microwave Transmission
– Terrestrial: requires line-ofsite
– Satellite: costly, but can
reach remote sites
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Network Technologies: Satellite Orbits
Name
Distance
from Earth
Characteristics/Common Application
Low Earth Orbit
(LEO)
400–1,000
miles
Mapping mineral deposits; monitoring ice caps,
coastlines, volcanoes, and rain forests; researching
plant changes; monitoring wildlife habitats and
changes; search and rescue; research projects in
astronomy and physics
Medium Earth
Orbit
(MEO)
1,000–
22,300 miles
Primarily used in geographical positioning systems
(such as global positioning systems)
Geosynchronous 22,300 miles
Earth
Orbit (GEO)
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Fixed in space in relation to the rotation of the
earth. Because it is fixed in space, transmission is
simplified. Transmission of high-speed data for
television, weather information, remote Internet
connections, etc.
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The Internet: How Did It Get Started?
• U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA) in late 1960s
– Studied ways to interconnect networks
– Created the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network
(ARPANET) linking universities and research centers
• U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) 1986
– development of the National Science Foundation Network
(NSFNET)
– Tied into ARPANET
• Other networks then connected to the growing
Internet
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The Internet: Connecting Networks
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The Internet: Connecting Networks with a
Wide Area Backbone
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The Internet: The Internet Backbone
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Foundational Topics in Database
Management
Foundational Topics in IS Hardware
Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Foundational Topics in IS Software
Describe foundational topics related to system software, 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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Relational Database Design: Associations
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Relational Database Design: EntityRelationship Diagramming
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Relational Database Design: The Relational
Model
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Relational Database Design: Normalization
• Normalization
– Each table contains only attributes related to the
entity
• Attributes are fields such as phone number, name,
address
• Information unrelated to the entity might be the phone
number of the professor who taught a course; that
information can be in another table, for faculty, where
it is only listed once
– Normalization helps to eliminate data duplication
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Relational Database Design: Normalization:
Un-Normalized Table
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Relational Database Design:
Normalization—Normalized Tables
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