Analysis
1.1 Introduction
Information: is processed data.
Accurate and timely
Specific and organized for a purpose
Presented within a context that gives it meaning and relevance
Can lead to an increase in understanding and a decrease of uncertainty
Information science: a scientific field that studies information systems, or more precisely
information related activities such as.. (just a couple examples)
Information Analysis
Information Manipulation
Information Protection
Information Storage
Informatics: an applied form of information science.
Informatics involves:
Processing information
Engineering of information systems
The key characteristics of information systems are receiving, exchanging and transform (thus
increasing the value) of information.
Information systems is not only used by computer systems.
Example: libraries also have information systems.
Computer science: a set of skills and knowledge about technologies focusing on development,
programming and use of computers.
Computers have 4 fundamental operations.
Input: take information
Storage: store information
Processing: process information
Output: give results
Most modern computers are stored-program computers.
The architecture of a stored-program computer:
input, CPU, memory and output.
Von Neumann Architecture of stored-program computers.
,Computers always consist of 2 things.
Hardware
Software
- System software
- Programming software
- Application software
Software: a set of instructions, data or programs used to operate computers and execute
specific tasks.
System software: a type of computer program that is designed to run a
computers hardware and application programs.
Programming software: a program that helps a programmer in
developing other software. It helps creating, debugging and
maintaining software. It is also known as a programming tool.
System software
Application software: a collection of programs used by end users. A software developed to
help user execute a specific task.
There are 2 ways to represent information.
Analog which is continuous.
Digital which is in 1’s and 0’s. It is not continuous, it is always in steps.
Analog: continuous.
Quality deteriorates
Faster
Digital: sequence of 1’s and 0’s.
Quality stays the same.
Minimize chance of information loss.
More precise but limited by memory, technology etc..
Takes more time
More information (that’s why it takes more time)
,Summary Quiz
1. What is computation?
2. How do we define data?
3. What is information?
4. What is information science?
5. What is informatics?
6. What are the key characteristics of information systems?
7. Why are those characteristics so important?
8. What is computer science?
9. What are the fundamental operations of any device we define as computer?
10. What is the key difference between a fixed-program computer and a stored-program
computer?
11. List elements of von Neumann architecture.
12. What is hardware?
13. What is software?
14. What is the difference between system and application software?
15. What is the difference between analog and digital signal?
16. How do we call the process of converting the analog to the digital signal?
17. What is gained and lost in the process (of converting signal)?
18. What type of information storing is native for humans?
19. What type of information storing is native for machines?
20. What are the benefits and disbenefits of storing information in an analog and
digital form?
Summary
1. Computation is a general term for any type of information processing. It is a process
following a well-defined model that is understood and can be expressed in an algorithm,
protocol, network topology, etc.
2. Data is defined as a representation of facts, concepts, or instructions in a formalized
manner, suitable for communication, interpretation, or processing by a human or a
computer.
3. Information is the processed data that is i) accurate and timely, ii) specific and organized
for a purpose, iii) presented within a context that gives it meaning and relevance, and iv)
can lead to an increase in understanding and decrease in uncertainty
4. Information science is a scientific field that studies information systems and information-
related activities such as information: analysis, collection, classification, storage, transfer,
manipulation, dissemination and protection.
5. Informatics is an applied form of information science.
, 6. The key characteristics of information systems are its abilities to acquire, transform and
exchange information.
7. The key characteristic of information systems are the base requirements of any
technological advancement.
8. Computer science is a set of skills and technologies focusing on development,
programming and use of computers. Computer science deals with all practical activities
related to information.
9. The fundamental operations of every computer are its ability to: i) input information, ii)
store information, iii) process information, and iv) output information.
10. The key difference between a fixed-program computer and a stored-program computer is
that the first one is designed to do only very specific things, and that changing its program
would require rewriting, restructuring or redesigning the machine. On the other hand, a
stored-program computer stores (and manipulates) a sequence of instructions and has a
set of elements that will execute any instruction in that sequence. By treating those
instructions in the same way as data, a stored-program machine can easily change the
program.
11. The elements of von Neumann model include: i) input, ii) output, and the computer,
consisting of iii) memory and iv) central processing unit, which contains: iv-a) control unit
and iv-b) arithmetic logic unit.
12. Hardware - physical, tangible parts or components of computer.
13. Software – a set of instructions, data or programs used to operate computer and execute
specific tasks.
14. System software is designed to run a computer’s hardware and application programs.
Application software is a collection of programs used by end users that help them perform
a specific task.
15. Analog signal is continuous while digital signals are always in “steps”.
16. Digitization is the process of converting analog to digital signals (information).
17. Using digitization, we prevent the loss of information. Therefore, more space and time is
required to store and transmit the same information.
18. Humans natively store and manipulate information in analog form.
19. Computers natively store and manipulate information in digital form.
20. The analog form is native for humans and as such will always be present. The digital form
is likely to dominate in the future. Analog used to be more accurate, consumed less space
and could be transmitted faster than the digital form, but with improvement of the
technology that difference diminished. The digital information is resistant to noise and can
be copied without quality degradation.
