Information Technology

 Hi there !! 

It's good to see you all again. I am feeling so excited to share my understanding about IT with you all because I understood better about IT than the last two semesters.  In information technology (IT), I learnt 6 topics.  So, I would like to write reflection according to topics. 

Topic 1
          In topic one, I learnt about generation of computers and data and information.  Firstly, I am going to talk about generation of computers. And then, I will continue about data and information.  

 Like human, computers also have generation.  The first generation of the computers was vacuum tube.  It was used since 1940 until 1950.  In the second generation, vacuum tubes were replaced by transistors.  The transistors were used from 1950 to 1964.  In transistors, people used high level languages such as COBOL and FORTRAN.  Third generation was from 1964 to 1974.  Integrated circuits were used in third generation.  In third generation, people started to use OS, keyboard and monitor. Fourth generation computers are the modern computers that are being used now since 1974.   They have VLSI (very large scale integration) and ULSI (ultra large scale integration). The last and fifth generation of computers is meant for now and for future.  They are created by using artificial intelligence.  So, they can be controlled by using new inputs such as voice and touch.

 There are seven types of computers.  They are embedded computers which are used for a specific function, mobile computers which used for computing and internet capability, personal computers which is designed especially for a single user at a time, midrange server which hosts data and programs for small group of clients, mainframe computers which are large and very powerful that can handle thousands of users, super computers which are extremely powerful and used for complex computation and processing and hybrid computers such as ATM machines.

 Now, here is the important part, data and information.  Data is raw facts that can in the form of numbers, characters, symbols, pictures or sounds and etc.  When we organized the data in a meaningful way, it becomes information.  Information is used to make decisions.


 IP (information processing) method needs to use I-P-O to get information.  In that process, data (input) are processed and then information is got as outputs.  Furthermore, IM stands for information management.  People need IM to manage or organized all data and information.

While we were learning about data and information, we had to form a group of six and did presentations concerning with IT and ICT.  The title of our group presentation was "ICT and your everyday life".

Exercise over APA citation and reference method


In our lap class, we did an exercise about APA reference and citation method.  APA is very important in doing research paper, term papers, writing reports and anything about education.  It is used to prove that your information is correct and reliable.  So, every student needs to know how to use APA style citation and reference method.
Erwin Van Der Man . (2000). Computer viruses. New Jersey: Prientice Hall.
  
Gower, C. (1999). Direction in conservation biology. Journal of animals ecology,                              63(3), 215-244.

 Rosazman Hussin (2007). Pelancongan global dan Kepentingan    teknologi. Pemikir,               2(2), 189-207.

 Razif Isamil (October, 2005). Desktop publishing in information marketing. PC               Magazine, 21-23.

Rivin, B. E. (June 06, 2010). FCGH can support accountability for women’s right                   to health. Retrieved May 23, 2013, from http://www.hhrjournal.org:                     http://www.hhrjournal.org/2013/06/13/fcgh- can-support-accountability-for-                  womens-right-to-health.

 Seelan, S. (April 1-15, 2009). Living up to its names. Times, 21-23.

 Waston, W., & Anderson, L. (1999). Sociology 2000. Boston: Boston.




Topic 2
In this topic two, I learnt about IT and ICT.  It looks completely similar but they are a bit different.  IT means anything about technology used to create, store, exchange or organize information, whereas, ICT, although it is also about technology, focuses more on communication.  ICT is emphasizing on internet, cell phone, networks and communication by using IT.
             
 Let’s talk about IT first.  IT is the physical facilities which support an entire organization.  In an IT group, there will be IT components such as hardware, software, communication tools and etc.  There will be people who are programmers or who are expert in IT to use to components and they will provide IT services to people.





 People use ICT in their daily life.  They use it in science, healthcare, education, banking, business and government.  Hand phones, laptop, TV, and others are the ICT things that we are using every day.   ICT really helps people to perform things easier.  E.g. in education, computers, e-learning and projectors are now very important items for students.  In business, ICT services and devices such as e-banking, ATM machine, smart cards are effectively helping people to perform business easier and smoother. 


While learning topic two, we had to write a report about the IT management of any organization.  Our group wrote about AIA Health Insurance Company. 
        Topic 3

In learning outcome 3, I learnt about IS (Information system) and CBIS (computer based information system). CBIS is a combination of hardware, software, telecommunication networks that people build and use to collect, create, distribute data or information in an organization.

Types of CBIS are Transaction Processing System (TPS), Decision Support System (DSS), Expert System (ES), Management Information System (MIS), and Executive Support System (ESS).   Among them, TPS is the backbone of IS.

People, especially from business field use CBIS to get effective information.  CBIS is very useful in decision making and business operations and processes.


Information system support operation system and management system of an organization or a business.  In an organization, there are different staffs who are working in different levels.  Each of them needs different types of information.  For example, in a business organization, low level manager need operational information, middle manager needs tactical information and top manager need strategic information.  Information system provides every kinds of information to any level.



Topic 4
           In this topic, I learnt about database.  Database was introduced by E.F.Codd in 1970.  Database is a place which collects, organizes, stores and controls data and information.  

It will store the data and information in alphabetical order.  It records and displays data in a form of row and column as in a table.


Database can be used anyone either by one person or company which will stored all the data in a mainframe by a computer professional or database can be distributed which means storing the data in several locations.  Database consists of some components.  They are actual database which is content, hardware to process and store data, software to manipulate the contents and people to administer the access, control and modification of data.




 Database is very important for its organization because every data and information is stored in the database.  Database are normally used in hospitals to record the data of patients, medicine and others stuffs, so do companies and organizations to record and collect all the information and data. 

Topic 5

In topic five, I learnt about Internet applications and World Wide Web.  Before talking about those things, I would like to explain what internet is. 


Internet was created in 1986.  It is the largest network which connects people, share resources and information through computers, other electronic devices and web applications.  It has certain services.  They are communication (electronic mail), World Wide Web, protocol, chat room, instant messaging.



Let’s talk about service of communication.  Communication service uses electronic mail to exchange messages from one computer to another computer.  Those electronic email programs are invented to create, send, receive, forward, store, print and delete emails.  Some of the examples are Yahoo, Gmail and Hotmail.

The service of web is created by Tim Berners Lee.  A web site is the collection of documents which is called web pages. It contains images, news, play, videos, audios, maps and hypertext links of what people are searching.



All the documents are saved in servers which are computers.  Users called clients can access the web from servers.

We can only access internet when there is connection and internet service provider which is a commercial organization that sells connections to the users and after that we still need special software called web browsers.  Examples of browsers are Firefox, Chorme, Internet Explorer and etc. 






Service of transferring files from one computer another needs a set of rules or software that can make the computer understood which is called protocol.  The most common transfer protocol used on the internet is (http) hypertext transfer protocol.  Clients (users) have to request information from server by using protocol and then server will send the requested information by using protocol.   


Chat room service is providing a channel or location on the internet that allow people to chat with each other. Examples of chat room service are real chat, Yahoo message chat room and AOL chat room and etc.


VoIP service or voice over internet protocol or internet telephony is a service that can allow users to make a call or a video call. Example, Skype, Yahoo voice, window live call and etc.



News group service is an electronic bulletin board and it conducts discussions about specific topic or subject.  It needs programs to access newsgroup like Google talk or Google group.




Topic 6

I learnt some web applications which are used to manage information and other resources by using available tools.

Let’s have a quick look at internet and web.  Internet is the largest network in the world that connects people and organizations through computers all over the world.  Web is the collection of electronic documents which contains hypertext links or highlighted keywords and images that is concerned with what people are searching.

So, do you think web and internet is similar or not?
The answer is “NO”.

Now, I would like to tell you about the differences between the internet and World Wide Web.   

First difference is that internet is the interconnection among computers to connect people and organizations, whereas, the web is a service of interlinked documents that can be accessed via the internet.  

Second difference is internet was creates by Tim Berners Lee in 1990 while web was created by Vint Cerf .  Third difference is the big collection of HTML pages on the internet but internet is a big collection of computers.  

When you are using the internet, you may not use World Wide Web but if you use web, you are using internet.

I learnt about web applications as well.  Web Apps are refers to any application, services in the internet. Examples of web apps are website, Facebook and windows live Hotmail.  Users or clients ask information from server by using web applications and web browsers and then server accepts the request and sends the information that the users asked through those web apps.

There are two types of website. They are static web and dynamic web.  Static web are read only websites such as company websites and educational websites.  Dynamic websites are active websites such as Facebook, blog.

There are three generations in website.  The first generation is Web 1.0.  It is static and read only web and it does not allow users to do external editing.  Those websites are created by html coding.

 The second generation is Web 2.0 and it has advanced internet technology.  In those websites, people can communicate with websites. This second generation webs are dynamic webs and users can edit, redo, undo, by using software like adobe reader, flash players and Microsoft and etc.  Examples of second generation websites are Twitter, Facebook, blog and Wikipedia and etc.


The third and last generation of web is Web 3.0.  It is based on intelligent web applications by using machine-based learning and reasoning and artificial intelligent applications.  Its examples are decision support system and expert system portal.
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