Nursing Info 2

• Computer


  A general term referring to information technology (IT) and computer systems. An electronic device that performs tasks, such as calculations or electronic communication, under the control of a set of instructions called a program.
• Computers


  • Perform a wide variety of activities reliably, accurately, and quickly.
• Computer architecture


  The basic operational design of a computer system.
• Von Neumann computer architecture

  • Has three major components: the central processing unit (CPU), memory, and input/output (I/O).
• Hardware devices

  • Input devices (keyboard, mouse, etc.)
  • Output devices (monitor, printer, etc.)
  • Central Processing Unit (CPU)
  • Primary memory (ROM, RAM)
  • Secondary storage (hard disk, etc.)
  • Networks
• Computer categories

  • Supercomputers
  • Mainframes
  • Minicomputers
  • Microcomputers (PCs)
  • Laptops, handhelds, PDAs
• Abacus invented as a simple counting aid

  4th Century BC
• Wilhelm Schickard built the first mechanical calculator

  1623
• Charles Babbage invented the Difference Engine


  1820
• Konrad Zuse developed the first general programmable calculator


  1941
• ENIAC, the first electronic general-purpose computer, was built

  1945
• Transistor invented at Bell Telephone Laboratories


  1947
• Integrated circuit (IC) developed


  1959
• Intel founded


  1968
• Intel introduced the 4004 microprocessor CPU


  1970
• Altair 8800, the first "personal computer", was released


  1975
• Microsoft was founded

  1975
• VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet program, was released

  1979
• Apple II personal computer was released

  1977
• IBM PC was released

  1981
• Apple Macintosh with graphical user interface was released


  1984
• Windows 1.0 was distributed


  1985
• USSR launched Sputnik, leading to the formation of ARPA


  1957
• ARPANET, the experimental network, was created


  1968
• TCP/IP protocol was developed to allow diverse computer networks to interconnect


  1973
• Ethernet was developed to allow fast data transfer over coaxial cable


  1976
• National Science Foundation created

  1985
• World Wide Web was created, Internet Society chartered


  1992
• Pizza Hut offered online ordering from its website


  1994
• Corporate intranets and extranets emerged


  1996
• ENIAC was designed to calculate artillery firing tables for the US Army
• ENIAC was heralded as a "Giant Brain" when announced in 1946
• ENIAC had a speed 1000 times faster than electro-mechanical machines
• The Internet and World Wide Web have greatly expanded access to information and communication
• The Internet has enabled new uses like file transfer, remote access, email, online forums, and the World Wide Web
• Evaluating online information for credibility, content, disclosure, links, design, and interactivity is important
• Patients and consumers can use the Internet to access healthcare information and services
• Nursing has seen the adoption of computers and information technology evolve over six time periods from the 1960s to the present
• Key nursing organizations like the ANA and JCAHO have contributed to standards and policies around healthcare information technology
• Significant landmark events in the history of nursing and computers include the founding of HIMSS, development of early hospital information systems, and the establishment of nursing informatics as a specialty