- “Write your description of what the term information systems hardware means.”
Information systems hardware is the tangible components of the information system, including input devices (keyboards, mouse, and scanners), output devices (monitor, speakers, printers), storage devices (RAM, drives, hard disks), laptops, mobile phones, tablets, and desktop computers.
- “What has led to the shift toward mobility in computing?”
The rise of smartphones, tablets, laptops, mobile applications, and numerous social media platforms, especially those with mobile collaboration features and those directly connected to mobile computing, are the main reason behind the businesses and organizations shifting towards mobility.
- “What is the impact of Moore’s Law on the various hardware components described in this chapter?”
Moore’s law “states that the number of transistors (circuits) on a processor chip will double every 18 months” (Bourgeois, 2019). Therefore, it means that the price of the above hardware with the same computing power will decrease by half every 18 months. Also, the hardware devices’ size may be expected to decrease as the compatibility and processing speed of the devices increases.
- “Write a one page summary of one of the items linked to in the “Integrated Computing” section.”
Integrated computing is where computing technology is integrated into other devices such as refrigerators, airplanes, and automobiles such as self-driving cars. Waymo completed the First Self-Driving Car with its first trip taking place in 2015. The car can move on safe public roads with less commuting. Today, the technology has been advanced to develop many self-driving cars that are safe and more advanced, with the Phoenix metro region enjoying many of these cars.
Since the inception of the Google project in 2009, Waymo’s Self-Driving Cars have covered approximately 3.5 million miles on public roads in more than 20 cities in the United States (Waymo Team, 2017). The company has employed simulation technologies to find various world scenarios, and its software drives over 10 million miles per day (Waymo Team, 2017). The extreme tests’ main aim is to come up with vehicles that are the most experienced drivers on the road. The Self-Driving Car is equipped with unique safety features that help them achieve autonomy. Some of the safety features include backup steering, computer, power, and braking, useful in bringing the car into a safe stop.
Waymo intends to unveil its self-driving technology through the use of Waymo driverless services. The company plans to invite public citizens to enjoy trips in their autonomous self-driving vehicles through its detailed early rider program (Waymo Team, 2017). The technology will drive people to work, drive children to and from school, and help people get home after a night out. The goal of Self-Driving Cars is to make transportation easy, affordable, and safe for everyone.
The Self-Driving Car is a perfect example of integrated technology. These vehicles create and store a map of the surrounding using various sensors located in different car parts. It is fitted with radar sensors, which help monitor the position and distance of nearby vehicles while on the road. The technology has gone further to include video cameras responsible for detecting traffic lights, reading road signs, look for pedestrians, and track other vehicles.
- “Explain why the personal computer is now considered a commodity.”
The personal computer is now considered a commodity because it is very little or no difference between the functionality of the computers manufactured by different manufacturers. The only difference is in the prices rather than the functionality.
- “The CPU can also be thought of as the ___ of the computer.”
Brain
- “List the units of measure for data storage in increasing order from smallest to largest, kilobyte to yottabyte.”
Kilobytes (KB) (=1024 bytes), Megabyte (MB) (=1024 kilobytes), Gigabyte (GB) (=1024 megabytes), Terabyte (TB) (1024 gigabytes), Petabyte (PB) (=1024 terabytes), Exabyte (EB) (1024 petabytes), Zettabyte (ZB) (=1024 Exabyte), and Yottabyte (YB) (=1024 Zettabyte).
- “What is the bus of a computer?”
The bus is an electrical connection that exists between different components of the computer.
- “Name two differences between RAM and a hard disk.”
The first difference between a RAM and a hard disk is that while the RAM is volatile, which means that it can only store data when connected to a source of power, the hard disk tends to be non-volatile, which means that it can store data even in the absence of power.
The second difference between RAM and Hard disk is that data stored in RAM can be accessed faster than data stored in the hard disk.
- “What are the advantages of solid-state drives over hard disks?”
The solid-state drives do not have moving parts; hence they run quietly while the hard disks produce some noises.
The solid-state drives access data faster than the traditional hard drives.
Finally, the power consumption of the solid-state drives is lower than that of hard disks.
Labs
- “Re-read the section on IoT, then look around your building (dorm, apartment, or house) and make a list of possible instances of IoTs. Be sure to list their location and likely function.”
The following are some of the possible instances of IoT in my house.
The smart TV is located in the living room whose main functions include entertainment, watching the news, gaming, and studying in some instances.
The sound systems like the home theatre located in the living whose main function is to boost and regulate the sound from other devices such as smart TV and mobile phones.
The lighting switches are found on walls close to the doors of the house. The main functions of the switches are for lighting control, switching the lights on and off.
The locks located on every door, safes, and cupboards are also examples of IoT, and their main function is providing security by permitting or restricting entry.
The ventilators are located on the house’s roofs, whose main function is to regulate the room temperatures and the quality of air in the house.
References
Bourgeois, D. (2019). Information systems for business and beyond. CREATESPACE.
Waymo Team. (2017). Waymo’s fully self-driving vehicles are here. Medium. Retrieved 31 August 2020, from https://medium.com/waymo/with-waymo-in-the-drivers-seat-fully-self-driving-vehicles-can-transform-the-way-we-get-around-75e9622e829a.