COMM 205 - Lesson 4 (Business Intelligence/Tableu)

• Management information system (MIS): Provides ready access to current business information to enhance operational and tactical decision making.
• Server


  a computer or computer program that manages access to a centralized resource or service in a network.providing access to info and application
• client


  computers used to review and process info
• where are one of a kind applications sourced

  they are custom developed
• where are vertical applications sourced?

  off the shelf or off the shelf and customized
• Where are horizontal applications sourced?

  off the shelf (since they are generic)
• Example of One-of-a-kind application software

  Canada revenue agency tax software
• One-of-a-kind application software


  developed for a specific, unique need
• Examples of Vertical Market Application Software

  appointment scheduling software, dental billing system, restaurant order processing system
• Vertical Market Application Software


  serves the needs of a specific industry, so its customized
• Examples of Horizontal Market Application Software

  spreadsheets, presentations, web browsing, accounting
• Horizontal Market Application Software


  provides capabilities common across all organizations and industries (general purpose software)
• Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)


  built-in program which initializes computer hardware and launches theoperating system when the computer starts (which is needed since volatile memory all lost when the computer is shut down)
• Is firmware non-volatile or volatile?

  Firmware is installed into NON VOLATILE Read Only Memory (ROM), since it becomes part of the devices memory
• Firmware


  System software that controls hardware devices. This is installed into devices printers, game controllers, communication devices
• Server Computers


  A computer that serves other computers with data and applications, such as an accounting databaseprovides access to information and application (faster and larger then client computers)
• Client Computers


  the computers at which the users work to perform their computational tasksused to review and process information, like word processing, spreadsheets, database access
• read-only memory (ROM)


  Permanent storage; instructions are burned onto chips by the manufacturer. (which is non volatile, since it stays even without power)

  • used to 'boot up' machine
• Memory Swapping


  the movement of programs and data into and out of memorysince main memory is too small to hold all data, so the CPU loads programs into memory chunks
• Whats the kind of memory used in a CPU/Microprocessor

  Cache (which keeps frequently used instructions), like being able to log in, adjust brightness etc.
• Microprocessor


  CPU, having a small amount of VERY FAST memory called cache
• Sound Output Devices


  Speakers
• Printed Output Devices


  Printers (ink jet vs laser)
• Video Output Devices


  Monitors - work by lighting pixels (pixel elements) and resolution on the screenCRT, flat panel display

  
• Human Indirect Input Devices


  translate action of human body into data

  scanners, digital camera, camcorders, biometric systems
• Human Direct Input Devices


  no intermediary, the movement of body is the input in the machine

  keyboards, mouse, touch pad, touch screen
• Cloud Computing


  the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer.
• Mobile Computing


  A person's ability to use technology in non-stationary positions and on a personal device (with very similar capabilities as a PC)
• Wide Area Network (WAN)


  A network that connects devices in geographically separated areas. (the internet, email, web browsing)

  
• Local Area Network (LAN)


  Connects a group of computers in close proximity, such as in an office building, school, or homelinks many personal computers together and gives shared access to data and printers etc.

  
• Networking Personal Computers


  Critical to the rapid adoption of personal computers and rise of social networks.
• disadvantages of open source software

  - Support not assured- Lack of investment- Security fixes not guaranteed- interface can be challenging to use
• Advantages of open source software

  - Free to use - If you know how, you can edit it yourself to improve it, large community of programmers
• software ownership

  when you install software, you are now given a license to use it, but you cannot make copies/use it for anything illegal
• open source software

  source code is available to users, can be modified by users (linux), but thousands of programmers can change things
• Closed Source Software


  The software whose source code is not freely available from the original author; Windows 7, for example. this means it is NOT collaborative
• programming language


  a set of commands, instructions, and other syntax used to create a software program
• Software Creation


  software is created via programming, which is the process of creating a set of logical instructions for a digital decide to follow (java)
• Packaged/off the sheld software disadvantages


  might pay for features that are not needed or wantedsoftware may lack the required features and customization you want customization can be costly
• Packaged/off the shelf software advantages

  initial cost is lower usually meets the basic needs of the organization may offer the ability to customizesupport and training available