Tutorial Preparation Assignment 04

KYSB2014-7-01
Afiqah Aqilah Norhisamshah

INFO101

Hardware contains electronic components and related gadgetry that functioned to input,
process, output and keep data according to the procedures encoded by the programmers in
computer programs or software. Input hardware are those with the ability to insert data to the
programme or software that goes complement with it. For example, barcode scanner at the
check-out counter allows the barcode input to show the price of the product. Next, hardware
that widely used for processing purposes is Central Processing Unit (CPU) that allows all the
actions on the computer to be correctly taken place. CPU attain data and instructions from the
main memory or Random Access Memory (RAM) before processing them. Special function
cards are also included in computers to catalyse its basic capabilities like enhancing the refresh
speed for computers video display. Furthermore, output hardware are used to bring out items
in the computer to the third party such as printing documents meanwhile storage hardware has
the capability to store data and programs.
Computer processes data in the form of binary digits call bits as it is easy to compute.
Computers are adjusted to this binary code in three forms; open or close switch, direction of
magnetism and reflection of small pits for optical media. All of these forms are represented by
two numbers; 0 or 1. Computer data such as characterized or non-characterized are transformed
into strings of bits once it enters the computer region. For example, 1 MB (Megabyte)
represents 1048576 bytes that means a computer with these features are able to handle 1048576
characters/byte. An interpretation of bytes could be differ between manufacturers although the
real one is i.e. 1MB= 1024K.
This figure illustrates how computer work;

MAIN MEMORY

DISK

Data block
Instruction
set for OS

Transfer program

Instruction
via bus +
data
channel

CACHE

CPU

Small amount in computer

Very fast memory
Contains freq. used cache
Expensive

Loads programs into memory in

chunks as it cannot afford to process
all in one time.
Memory swapping

Figure 1: A flow diagram on how computer works

INFO101 TPA 04

Afiqah Aqilah Norhisamshah

1014 Words

Tutorial Preparation Assignment 04

KYSB2014-7-01
Afiqah Aqilah Norhisamshah

INFO101

Managers need to know how computer works to conduct efficient work process as the
identification on the workload of employees will determine the adequate size of memory
needed. Simple task employees probably needed only 32-bit CPU while 64-bit for employees
who handle large number of programs and documents with faster CPU speed. Once cache and
main memory being turned off, all the contents will disappear while magnetic and optical disks
are not.
Client represents frontline applications that allows people to connect directly with
programs to perform desired tasks. It could be private or public access. Servers are used to
perform multiple services at the same time such as process websites, emails or others. Servers
must be fast, possessed large memory and required large disks because it acquired services
from multiple users and process it at the same time. A collection of server called server farm
to collect requests and process them instantly without the user even realise that once they
connect to a website and made an online transactions, they had gone through multiple servers
for just one activity!
An operating system is included in every computer to utilise and control its resources.
It only has little application-specific work. Therefore, there is a need for application programs
that mostly traded in licensed form. Both server and client need operating system although it
differ. Available operating system restricted to certain hardware and complement for selected
application programs.
Four major operating systems are; (refer Figure 2).
Operating System

Instruction set

Windows

Intel

Mac OS

Intel

Unix

Sun and others

Linux

Open source

Common
applications
Microsoft Office
Macintosh
application+
Microsoft Word
Excel
Can run Windows
on Macintosh
hardware
Engineering,
complex design,
architecture
Open source

Target users
Business
Home
Graphic artists
Arts community

Preferred to
engineers and
computer scientists
Rare typical user,
increasingly used
due to limited
budget

Figure 2: Four major operating system

INFO101 TPA 04

Afiqah Aqilah Norhisamshah

1014 Words

Tutorial Preparation Assignment 04

KYSB2014-7-01
Afiqah Aqilah Norhisamshah

INFO101

Computer programs are available for users once they bought the licensed for it. They do
not own any right of the software; just permissions to access to it. Large organisations use site
license to authorize the company to install the product on all computers present. Linux is a
public made operating system; therefore there is no license restricted process to attain its
service.
Application software can provide general or specific purposes. It is classified into three
kinds of applications. First, horizontal-market application that consist general function, able to
cater all industries. Vertical-market application are created for specific industry while one-ofa-kind application is a development for a very specific and unique need. Organisations can
acquire those software by grabbing whats in the store and use it directly or off-the-shelf with
alterations to meet the needs or custom-developed software which is the last resort option for
organisations as it risky and costly. Firmware is a software that contains set of instructions
programmed on hardware device so that it will perform the computed instructions upon tasks.
Thin and thick clients are interdependent of each other. The connection between these
two segments is called client-server applications (CSA). According to Beal, thin clients refers
to CSA without disk drive with small processing bulk while thick clients is vice versa of it. For
example, sending email client to an email server (Beal, 2015).
Open source software is open for public access without any cost applied. This software
is made through network of programmers that willing to sacrifice their time and contribute
ideas without any compensations. The reason why they come up with this just merely to expand
their potentials and unleash their creativity.
Software with open-source characteristics has source code which will compiled into
machine code for computer purposes. Machine code will not appear in figure form because it
would look like endless strings of binary codes. The opposite of open source is closed source
which restricted its source code to identifiable and certain employees to make adjustments on
the codes. Code for open source can publicly modified according to their own standard and
goals. Collaboration such as peer responses encourage the success of open source. Open source
is viable by identifying the requirements and constraints on particular situation because free
does not measures reliability of the information.

References
Beal, V. (2015). thin client. Retrieved from webopedia:
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/T/thin_client.html (5/8/2015)
Kroenke, David; Hooper, Tony. (2013). Using MIS. Auckland, New Zealand: Pearson. (pg 82-102)

INFO101 TPA 04

Afiqah Aqilah Norhisamshah

1014 Words

Tutorial Preparation Assignment 04

KYSB2014-7-01
Afiqah Aqilah Norhisamshah

INFO101 TPA 04

INFO101

Afiqah Aqilah Norhisamshah

1014 Words