Wednesday, June 30, 2010
QUIZ ANNOUNCEMENT
Chapter 1 Quiz on July 5, 2010 for MW class and Quiz on July 6, 2010 for TTh class.. Be conscious of your time. 30-minute quiz only.
Monday, June 7, 2010
CHAPTER 2 : SOFTWARE, PROCEDURE
2.1.2 SOFTWARE
Software is the step-by-step instructions that tell the hardware how to perform a task. Without software, the hardware is useless. Software is of two types: Systems software and Applications software.
Applications software is the software that can perform useful work on general-purpose tasks while the systems software enables the applications software to interact with the computer and help the computer manage the internal resources.
2.1.3 DATA / INFORMATION
2.1.4 PROCEDURE
Procedures are the steps for accomplishing a result. Some procedures maybe expressed in manuals or documentation.
2.15 PEOPLE
People are the most important part of, and the beneficiaries of, a computer-and-communications system. The whole point of data processing is to benefit people. People of all level and skills, from novices to programmers, are the users and operators of the system. Regardless of the size of the data processing system, data processing personnel will probably be needed to make the system efficient and effective.
For a small organization, there maybe only one or two people in the data processing department. A large system may require literally hundreds or even thousands of personnel. A small business owner who decides to operate a microcomputer will be performing the functions of a complete data processing department.
People and procedures are probably the easiest elements to understand in a computer-and-communications system – although, arguably the most complicated.
Software is the step-by-step instructions that tell the hardware how to perform a task. Without software, the hardware is useless. Software is of two types: Systems software and Applications software.
Applications software is the software that can perform useful work on general-purpose tasks while the systems software enables the applications software to interact with the computer and help the computer manage the internal resources.
2.1.3 DATA / INFORMATION
2.1.4 PROCEDURE
Procedures are the steps for accomplishing a result. Some procedures maybe expressed in manuals or documentation.
2.15 PEOPLE
People are the most important part of, and the beneficiaries of, a computer-and-communications system. The whole point of data processing is to benefit people. People of all level and skills, from novices to programmers, are the users and operators of the system. Regardless of the size of the data processing system, data processing personnel will probably be needed to make the system efficient and effective.
For a small organization, there maybe only one or two people in the data processing department. A large system may require literally hundreds or even thousands of personnel. A small business owner who decides to operate a microcomputer will be performing the functions of a complete data processing department.
People and procedures are probably the easiest elements to understand in a computer-and-communications system – although, arguably the most complicated.
CHAPTER 2 : COMMUNICATIONS HARDWARE
2.1.1.5 COMMUNICATIONS HARDWARE
“Computers and communications: these are the parents of the Information Age. When they meet, the fireworks begin”.
This was written by one writer who referred to fireworks as how portable information and communications technologies are changing the conventional meanings of time and space.
The physical locations we traditionally associate with work, leisure and similar pursuits are rapidly becoming meaningless. The term cyberspace, which was coined by William Gibson in his novel Neuromancer, referring to a futuristic computer network that people use by plugging their brains into it, has become very popular. It has now come to mean the whole wired and wireless world of communications.
Connectivity is the ability to connect devices by telecommunications lines to other devices and other sources of information. With connectivity, or connected communications devices, users can use the technology for a number of purposes, ranging from low-skill to high-skill activities. They can use telephone-related services, such as fax, voice-mail, and e-mail. They can do teleconferencing, share resources through workgroup computing and Electronic Data Interchange.
They can make their work portable with telecommuting, mobile workplaces, and virtual offices. They can use online information services for research, e-mail, games, travel services, and teleshopping. They can use electronic bulletin board systems (BBSs), large and small. They can connect with the global Internet and information gathering, e-mail and discussion and news groups. In the future, they can engage in interactive TV or video through set-top boxes, picture phones and TV/PCs.
Computers communicate in two main ways: through modems and through networks.
Modems allow computers to use the telephone lines or cellular connections to trade data.
Networks connect computers directly, either through special wires or by some form of wireless transmission. The communications hardware commonly used in business are as follows: modems, fax modems, and multiplexers, concentrators and front-end processors.
A modem (from modulator/demodulator) is a device that converts digital signals to analog format to allow data to be transmitted through a telephone line and from analog back to digital format to be accessed back by the computer on the other end.
Modems are probably the most widely used data communications hardware. They allow the user to directly connect the computer to the telephone line. They are either internal or external. An internal modem is located on a circuit board that is placed inside a microcomputer (plugged into an expansion slot). It draws its power directly from the computer’s power supply. An external modem is an independent hardware component – that is, it is outside the computer and uses its own power supply.
A fax modem, which is a circuit board inside the computer’s system cabinet, is a modem with fax capability. It enables one to send data and scanned-in images directly from one’s computer to someone else’s fax machine or fax modem.
When an organization’s data communications needs grow, the line available for that purpose often become overloaded, even if the company has leased one or more private telephone lines – called dedicated lines – used only for data communications.
Multiplexing optimizes the use of communications lines by allowing multiple users or devices to share one high-speed line, thereby reducing communications costs. Multiplexing can be done by multiplexers, concentrators, front-end processors.
A multiplexer is a device that merges several low-speed transmissions into one high-speed transmission. Messages sent by a multiplexer must be received by a multiplexer of the same type. The receiving multiplexer sorts out the individual messages and directs them to the proper recipient.
A concentrator is a piece of hardware that also enables several devices to share a single communications line. However, it collects data in a temporary storage area and then forwards them when enough has been accumulated to be sent economically. Often, a concentrator is a minicomputer.
A front-end processor is a smaller computer that is connected to a larger computer and assists with communications functions. It may itself be a minicomputer or a mainframe. It transmits and receives messages over the communications channels, corrects errors, and relieves the larger computer of routine computational tasks.
This was written by one writer who referred to fireworks as how portable information and communications technologies are changing the conventional meanings of time and space.
The physical locations we traditionally associate with work, leisure and similar pursuits are rapidly becoming meaningless. The term cyberspace, which was coined by William Gibson in his novel Neuromancer, referring to a futuristic computer network that people use by plugging their brains into it, has become very popular. It has now come to mean the whole wired and wireless world of communications.
Connectivity is the ability to connect devices by telecommunications lines to other devices and other sources of information. With connectivity, or connected communications devices, users can use the technology for a number of purposes, ranging from low-skill to high-skill activities. They can use telephone-related services, such as fax, voice-mail, and e-mail. They can do teleconferencing, share resources through workgroup computing and Electronic Data Interchange.
They can make their work portable with telecommuting, mobile workplaces, and virtual offices. They can use online information services for research, e-mail, games, travel services, and teleshopping. They can use electronic bulletin board systems (BBSs), large and small. They can connect with the global Internet and information gathering, e-mail and discussion and news groups. In the future, they can engage in interactive TV or video through set-top boxes, picture phones and TV/PCs.
Computers communicate in two main ways: through modems and through networks.
Modems allow computers to use the telephone lines or cellular connections to trade data.
Networks connect computers directly, either through special wires or by some form of wireless transmission. The communications hardware commonly used in business are as follows: modems, fax modems, and multiplexers, concentrators and front-end processors.
A modem (from modulator/demodulator) is a device that converts digital signals to analog format to allow data to be transmitted through a telephone line and from analog back to digital format to be accessed back by the computer on the other end.
Modems are probably the most widely used data communications hardware. They allow the user to directly connect the computer to the telephone line. They are either internal or external. An internal modem is located on a circuit board that is placed inside a microcomputer (plugged into an expansion slot). It draws its power directly from the computer’s power supply. An external modem is an independent hardware component – that is, it is outside the computer and uses its own power supply.
A fax modem, which is a circuit board inside the computer’s system cabinet, is a modem with fax capability. It enables one to send data and scanned-in images directly from one’s computer to someone else’s fax machine or fax modem.
When an organization’s data communications needs grow, the line available for that purpose often become overloaded, even if the company has leased one or more private telephone lines – called dedicated lines – used only for data communications.
Multiplexing optimizes the use of communications lines by allowing multiple users or devices to share one high-speed line, thereby reducing communications costs. Multiplexing can be done by multiplexers, concentrators, front-end processors.
A multiplexer is a device that merges several low-speed transmissions into one high-speed transmission. Messages sent by a multiplexer must be received by a multiplexer of the same type. The receiving multiplexer sorts out the individual messages and directs them to the proper recipient.
A concentrator is a piece of hardware that also enables several devices to share a single communications line. However, it collects data in a temporary storage area and then forwards them when enough has been accumulated to be sent economically. Often, a concentrator is a minicomputer.
A front-end processor is a smaller computer that is connected to a larger computer and assists with communications functions. It may itself be a minicomputer or a mainframe. It transmits and receives messages over the communications channels, corrects errors, and relieves the larger computer of routine computational tasks.
CHAPTER 2 : STORAGE HARDWARE
2.1.1.4 STORAGE HARDWARE
Secondary storage is external storage, that is, it is outside the system board. It is also referred to as permanent storage or auxiliary storage. The function of the storage hardware is to provide a means of storing software and data in a form that is relatively permanent, or nonvolatile, that is, the data is not lost when the power is turned off – and easy to retrieve when needed for processing.
Secondary storage devices come in the following forms: diskettes, hard disks, optical disks, magnetic tape, and flash memory cards.
A diskette, or floppy disk is a removable round, flat piece of mylar plastic flexible disk that stores data as magnetized spots. More specifically, data is stored as electromagnetic charges on a metal oxide film that coats the mylar plastic.
Data is represented by the presence or absence of these electromagnetic charges, following standard patterns of data representation (such as ASCII – American Standard Code for Information Interchange).
Two types of floppy disks are commonly used for microcomputers. The older and larger size is called minifloppy disk, 5 ¼ inches in diameter, comes in soft plastic envelopes about 5 1/2 inches square, and comes in capacities of 360 kilobytes (K) and 1.20 megabytes (M). The smaller and now the most popular size, is microfloppy disk. It is 3 ½ inches in diameter, comes in a hard plastic shell that measures about 3 1/2 inches by 3 3/4 inches and comes in capacities of 720 kilobytes (K) and 1.44 megabytes (M).
To use a diskette, the computer must have a floppy disk drive which is a device that holds, spins, and reads data from and writes data to a diskette.
Hard disks are thin but rigid metal platters that hold data as magnetized spots. They are sealed inside a hard disk drive which is usually built into the system unit in a microcomputer. Inside the hard disk drive is the disk is on the drive spindle, with read/write heads mounted on the actuator (access) arm that moves back and forth and power connections and circuitry.
Data may be recorded on both sides of the disk platters. External hard disk drives are also available, as are removable hard disk cartridges. An external hard-disk drive has its own power supply and is not built into the system cabinet. It is usually easy to add an external hard disk which can normally store gigabytes of data.
A hard disk cartridge consists of one or two platters enclosed along with read/write heads in a hard plastic case. The case is inserted into a detached cartridge system connected to a computer.
An optical disk is a removable disk on which data is written and read through the use of laser beams. The optical disk used with computers consists of four types: CD-ROM, CD-R, WORM disks, erasable optical disks.
CD-ROM, which stands for compact disk-read-only memory, is the best known type of optical disk. It is an optical disk format that is used to hold prerecorded text, graphics and sound. Read-only means the data stored on the disk can only be read but not modified or erased by the user.
CD-R, which stands for compact disk-recordable, is a CD format that allows user to write data onto a specially manufactured disk that can be read by a standard CD-ROM drive. WORM stands for write-once-read-many.
A WORM disk can be written, or recorded, onto just once and then cannot be erased, it can be read many times. WORM technology is useful for storing data that needs to remain unchanged, such as that used for archival purposes. An erasable optical disk allows user to erase data so that the disk can be used over and over again. The most common type is the magneto-optical disk which uses aspects of both magnetic disk and optical disk technologies.
Magnetic tape is made of flexible plastic coated on one side with a magnetic material on which data are represented with magnetized spots.
Magnetic tape used for computers is made from the same material used for audiotape and videotape. Because a tape is a long strip of magnetic material, the tape drive has to write data to it sequentially – one byte after another.
Sequential access is inherently slower than direct access used for disks. When a user wants to access a specific set of data on a tape, the drive has to skip over all data not needed to get to the data wanted resulting in a long access time.
The magnetic tape access time varies depending on the speed of the drive, the length of the tape, and the position on the tape to which the head wrote the data in the first place. On large computer, tapes are used on magnetic-tape units. On microcomputers, tapes are used in cartridge tape units and are nowadays used mainly to provide duplicate storage called backup.
Flash-memory or flash RAM cards consist of circuitry on credit-card-size cards that can be inserted into slots connecting to a motherboard of a microcomputer. They can hold up to 100 megabytes of data. Flash-memory cards, however, are not infallible. They circuits wear out after repeated use, limiting their life span.
CHAPTER 2 : PROCESSOR and MEMORY
2.1.1.3 PROCESSOR AND MEMORY
The complex procedure that transforms raw input data into useful information for output is called processing. To perform this transformation, the computer uses the processing and main memory devices, which are housed in the computer’s system unit or system cabinet. The system unit, or system cabinet, houses among other things, the electronic circuitry, called the CPU that does the actual processing and the main memory that supports processing.
The Central Processing Unit, or CPU, is the processor and is considered as the brain or heart of the computer. It reads and interprets software and coordinates the processing activities that must take place. In a microcomputer, the CPU is usually contained on a single integrated circuit or chip.
This single chip is called a microprocessor. This chip and other components necessary to make it work are mounted on a main circuit board called a system board. In larger computers, the CPU is contained on one or several circuit boards. The design of the CPU affects the processing power and the speed of the computer, as well as the amount of main memory it can use effectively.
The CPU uses the computer’s memory to hold pieces of data or information while it works with them, together with the instructions for processing these data. It operates like a chalkboard that is constantly being written on, then erased, and then written on again.
The main memory, which is also called random access memory (RAM), internal memory, or primary storage, is contained on chips mounted on the system board. The major attribute with main memory is storage capacity or size because it determines how much data can be processed at a time and how big and complex a program may be used to process it.
RAM is volatile, that is, all contents are lost when the computer’s power is shut off. To produce a copy of the data and instructions that are stored in the memory, they should be saved, before the computer is turned off, to a secondary storage device for future use.
CHAPTER 2 : OUTPUT HARDWARE
2.1.2 OUTPUT HARDWARE
Output Hardware consists of devices that translate information processed by a computer into a form that humans can understand. The two principal kinds of output are hardcopy and softcopy.
Hardcopy refers to printed output while softcopy refers to output that is not tangible. These include data that is shown on a display screen or in audio or voice form.
Devices that output hardcopy include printers, plotters and multifunction devices.
A printer is an output device that converts computer output into printed images. Printers are categorized according to whether or not the image produced is formed by physical contact of the print mechanisms with the paper.
Impact printers form characters or images by striking a mechanism such as a print hammer or wheel against an inked ribbon, leaving an image on paper. For microcomputer users, the most common impact printers are daisywheel and dot-matrix.
Non-impact printers, on the other hand, form characters and images without making direct physical contact between printing mechanism and paper. They are faster and quieter than impact printers because they have fewer moving parts.
Two types of non-impact printers often used with microcomputers are laser printers and ink-jet printers.
A third kind, the thermal printer, offers the highest-quality color printing available with a desktop printer. However, it is seen less frequently because it is expensive, and requires expensive paper. It uses colored waxes and heat to produce images by burning dots onto special paper.
Plotters are specialized output device designed to produce high-quality graphics in a variety of colors. They are especially useful for creating maps and architectural drawings, although they may also produce less complicated charts and graphs.
The three principal kinds of plotters are pen, electrostatic, and thermal.
Multifunction devices combine several capabilities, such as printing, scanning, copying, and faxing, all in one device.
Softcopy output generally refers to the display on a monitor, the output device that many people use the most.
Display screens or monitors are output devices that show programming instructions and data as they are being input and information after it is processed. On display screens, images are represented by individual dots or picture elements called pixels which are the smallest units on the screen that can be turned on and off or made different shades.
The two main types of monitors are cathode-ray tube and flat-panel displays.
A cathode-ray tube uses a vacuum tube like that in a television set while flat-panel displays are much thinner, weigh less, and consume less power.
Flat panel displays are made up of two plates of glass with a substance in between them, which is activated in different ways.
The three types of technology used for flat-panel display screens are: liquid-crystal display (LCD), electroluminescent (EL) display, and gas-plasma display.
Whether CRT or flat-panel, screen clarity depends on three qualities: resolution, dot pitch and refresh rate. To display graphics, a display screen must have a video display adapter, also called a graphics adapter card, which is a circuit board that determines the resolution, number of colors, and how fast images appear on the display screen.
Video display adapters embody certain standards. The Monochrome Display Adapter (MDA) and Color Graphics Adapter (CGA) are no longer favored. Newer computer displays tend to favor the Video Graphics Array (VGA), Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA) and Extended Graphics Array (XGA).
Other softcopy hardware includes audio-output devices, video-output devices, virtual reality devices and robots.
Audio-output devices include those devices that output voice or voice-like sounds and those that output music and other sounds. These include the voice-output devices which convert digital data into speech-like sounds.
The two types of voice-output technology that exist are speech coding and speech synthesis. Speech coding uses actual human voices speaking words to provide a digital database of words that can be output as voice sounds. Speech synthesis uses a set of 40 basic speech sounds (called phonemes, the bases of all speech in English) to electronically create any words.
Sound-output devices produce digitized sounds, ranging from beeps and chirps to music which are all nonverbal sounds. To be able to output sound, the computer must have the necessary software and the sound card, a digital audio circuit board plugged into an expansion slot in the computer.
For musical sounds, the two types of sound-output technology are FM synthesis and virtual acoustics.
In FM synthesis, a synthesizer mimics different musical instruments by drawing on a library of stored sounds. Sounds are generated by combining wave forms of different shapes and frequencies.
In virtual acoustics, instead of storing a library of canned sounds, the device stores a software model of an actual instrument.
Video-output includes videoconferencing, high-definition television and three-dimensional television.
Videoconferencing is a method whereby people in different geographical locations can have a meeting-and see and hear one another-using computers and communications.
High-definition television (HDTV) is a television system that features enhanced video and crisp, clear pictures. These pictures are far superior to any seen on television today.
The other kind of HDTV manufactured is the experimental 3D HDTV. It uses special glasses with polarized lenses, while others used what appeared to be normal screens but these screens employed hundreds of tiny prisms/lenses giving a stunning 3D effect.
Virtual reality is a kind of computer-generated artificial reality that projects a person into a sensation of three dimensional space. It has the ability to recreate physical places and phenomena real to people. It is one of the most exciting applications of computer technology to date.
Virtual reality uses the body’s senses of sight, sound, motion, and touch to simulate real objects or places. To achieve this effect, the following interactive sensory equipment is necessary: headgear, glove, and software.
Robots are automatic devices that perform functions ordinarily ascribed to human beings or that operate with what appears to be almost human intelligence. Robots are of several kinds – industrial robots, perception systems, and mobile robots.
All of these are the objects of study of robotics, a field that attempts to develop machines that can perform work normally done by people.
Robotics in turn is a subset of artificial intelligence, a family of technologies that attempts to develop computer systems that can mimic or simulate human through processes and actions.
Output Hardware consists of devices that translate information processed by a computer into a form that humans can understand. The two principal kinds of output are hardcopy and softcopy.
Hardcopy refers to printed output while softcopy refers to output that is not tangible. These include data that is shown on a display screen or in audio or voice form.
Devices that output hardcopy include printers, plotters and multifunction devices.
A printer is an output device that converts computer output into printed images. Printers are categorized according to whether or not the image produced is formed by physical contact of the print mechanisms with the paper.
Impact printers form characters or images by striking a mechanism such as a print hammer or wheel against an inked ribbon, leaving an image on paper. For microcomputer users, the most common impact printers are daisywheel and dot-matrix.
Non-impact printers, on the other hand, form characters and images without making direct physical contact between printing mechanism and paper. They are faster and quieter than impact printers because they have fewer moving parts.
Two types of non-impact printers often used with microcomputers are laser printers and ink-jet printers.
A third kind, the thermal printer, offers the highest-quality color printing available with a desktop printer. However, it is seen less frequently because it is expensive, and requires expensive paper. It uses colored waxes and heat to produce images by burning dots onto special paper.
Plotters are specialized output device designed to produce high-quality graphics in a variety of colors. They are especially useful for creating maps and architectural drawings, although they may also produce less complicated charts and graphs.
The three principal kinds of plotters are pen, electrostatic, and thermal.
Multifunction devices combine several capabilities, such as printing, scanning, copying, and faxing, all in one device.
Softcopy output generally refers to the display on a monitor, the output device that many people use the most.
Display screens or monitors are output devices that show programming instructions and data as they are being input and information after it is processed. On display screens, images are represented by individual dots or picture elements called pixels which are the smallest units on the screen that can be turned on and off or made different shades.
The two main types of monitors are cathode-ray tube and flat-panel displays.
A cathode-ray tube uses a vacuum tube like that in a television set while flat-panel displays are much thinner, weigh less, and consume less power.
Flat panel displays are made up of two plates of glass with a substance in between them, which is activated in different ways.
The three types of technology used for flat-panel display screens are: liquid-crystal display (LCD), electroluminescent (EL) display, and gas-plasma display.
Whether CRT or flat-panel, screen clarity depends on three qualities: resolution, dot pitch and refresh rate. To display graphics, a display screen must have a video display adapter, also called a graphics adapter card, which is a circuit board that determines the resolution, number of colors, and how fast images appear on the display screen.
Video display adapters embody certain standards. The Monochrome Display Adapter (MDA) and Color Graphics Adapter (CGA) are no longer favored. Newer computer displays tend to favor the Video Graphics Array (VGA), Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA) and Extended Graphics Array (XGA).
Other softcopy hardware includes audio-output devices, video-output devices, virtual reality devices and robots.
Audio-output devices include those devices that output voice or voice-like sounds and those that output music and other sounds. These include the voice-output devices which convert digital data into speech-like sounds.
The two types of voice-output technology that exist are speech coding and speech synthesis. Speech coding uses actual human voices speaking words to provide a digital database of words that can be output as voice sounds. Speech synthesis uses a set of 40 basic speech sounds (called phonemes, the bases of all speech in English) to electronically create any words.
Sound-output devices produce digitized sounds, ranging from beeps and chirps to music which are all nonverbal sounds. To be able to output sound, the computer must have the necessary software and the sound card, a digital audio circuit board plugged into an expansion slot in the computer.
For musical sounds, the two types of sound-output technology are FM synthesis and virtual acoustics.
In FM synthesis, a synthesizer mimics different musical instruments by drawing on a library of stored sounds. Sounds are generated by combining wave forms of different shapes and frequencies.
In virtual acoustics, instead of storing a library of canned sounds, the device stores a software model of an actual instrument.
Video-output includes videoconferencing, high-definition television and three-dimensional television.
Videoconferencing is a method whereby people in different geographical locations can have a meeting-and see and hear one another-using computers and communications.
High-definition television (HDTV) is a television system that features enhanced video and crisp, clear pictures. These pictures are far superior to any seen on television today.
The other kind of HDTV manufactured is the experimental 3D HDTV. It uses special glasses with polarized lenses, while others used what appeared to be normal screens but these screens employed hundreds of tiny prisms/lenses giving a stunning 3D effect.
Virtual reality is a kind of computer-generated artificial reality that projects a person into a sensation of three dimensional space. It has the ability to recreate physical places and phenomena real to people. It is one of the most exciting applications of computer technology to date.
Virtual reality uses the body’s senses of sight, sound, motion, and touch to simulate real objects or places. To achieve this effect, the following interactive sensory equipment is necessary: headgear, glove, and software.
Robots are automatic devices that perform functions ordinarily ascribed to human beings or that operate with what appears to be almost human intelligence. Robots are of several kinds – industrial robots, perception systems, and mobile robots.
All of these are the objects of study of robotics, a field that attempts to develop machines that can perform work normally done by people.
Robotics in turn is a subset of artificial intelligence, a family of technologies that attempts to develop computer systems that can mimic or simulate human through processes and actions.
CHAPTER 2 : INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 2.
COMPUTER HARDWARE FOR HOSPITALITY
COMPUTER HARDWARE FOR HOSPITALITY
Objective:
This chapter introduces the concept of a computer system. The fact that the computer is never useful by itself is introduced here. It is the computer system as a whole, with each component complementing the others, which perform the task of processing data into information to help ease humans with the burden of manual processing especially in the field of hotel management and tourism.
2.1 THE COMPUTER SYSTEM
The purpose of a computer system is to convert data into information. A computer system is a combination of six elements. These are:
2.1 THE COMPUTER SYSTEM
The purpose of a computer system is to convert data into information. A computer system is a combination of six elements. These are:
- Hardware
- Software
- Data / Information
- Procedures
- People
- Communications
2.1.1 HARDWARE
Hardware refers to the machine itself or the physical component of the computer system. It is what most people think of when they picture computers. Any piece of hardware that is connected to a computer is referred to as peripheral device. In general, computer hardware falls into five categories. These are:
Hardware refers to the machine itself or the physical component of the computer system. It is what most people think of when they picture computers. Any piece of hardware that is connected to a computer is referred to as peripheral device. In general, computer hardware falls into five categories. These are:
- Ø Input
- Ø Output
- Ø Processor and memory
- Ø Secondary Storage
- Ø Communications
INPUT HARDWARE
Input is the process of transferring human readable data into the computer system. This process can be done by means of an input device through a keyboard, pointing, scanning or voice-recognition device. The function of input hardware, therefore, is to collect data and convert it into a form suitable for computer processing.
A keyboard type of input devices contains the standard typewriter keys plus a number of specialized keys. The standard keys are used mostly to enter words and number, while the special keys which include the function keys (labeled F1, F2, etc.) are used to enter commands. These devices can be a terminal device which may be dumb, smart or intelligent, a touch-tone device or an information appliance.
Pointing devices are used to control an on-screen cursor for such actions as “clicking” on-screen buttons in dialog boxes, choosing menu items, and selecting sub-areas in the work area of a screen window. They are also used to create drawings or graphical shapes. These devices include the mouse, which is the most common pointing device, trackball, joystick, stylus, light pen, graphics tablet and puck.
Scanning devices translate image of text, drawings, photos and the like into digital form. The images can then be processed by a computer, displayed on a monitor, stored on a storage device, or communicated to another computer. These devices include an image or graphic scanner, fax machine, bar-code readers, Magnetic-Ink Character Recognition (MICR), Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) and Optical Mark Recognition devices, and smart and optical card readers.
Voice Recognition devices convert a person’s speech into digital code by comparing the electrical patterns produced by the speaker’s voice with a set of prerecorded patterns stored in the computer. Voice recognition systems are finding many uses including speed inventory-taking, stock-market trading, and for giving commands to computers (e.g. blind people, astronauts on repairing equipment on space, etc.).
CHAPTER 1
Linear Systems Theory
Characterizing the complete input-output properties of a system by exhaustive measurement is usually impossible. When a system qualifies as a linear system, it is possible to use the responses to a small set of inputs to predict the response to any possible input. This can save the scientist enormous amounts of work, and makes it possible to characterize the system completely. (Professor David Heeger)
To see whether a system is linear, we need to test whether it obeys certain rules that all linear systems obey. The two basic tests of linearity are homogeneity and additivity.
To see whether a system is linear, we need to test whether it obeys certain rules that all linear systems obey. The two basic tests of linearity are homogeneity and additivity.
- Homogeneity: As we increase the strength of a simple input to a linear system, say we double it, then we predict that the output function will also be doubled.
- Additivity: If a single input is given separately and the result of these two separate inputs is equal to the input as whole, then it is said to be in a linear system.
-------end of chapter 1------
Management Systems: Mechanistic Organization Form and Organic Organization Form
| Mechanistic | Organic |
Appropriate | Stable | Changing |
Distribution | Specialized differentiation of | Contributive nature of special |
Nature | The abstract nature of each | The "realistic" |
Who | The reconciliation, for each | The adjustment and continual |
Task | The precise definition of | The shedding of |
How | The translation of rights and | The spread of commitment to |
Structure | Hierarchic, Contractual | Network, Presumed Community of |
Locating | Reinforcement of the | Omniscience no longer imputed |
Communication | Vertical; i.e., between | Lateral; i.e., between people |
Governance | Instructions and decisions | Information and advice rather |
Values | Insistence on loyalty to the concern and obedience to | Commitment to the concern's task and to the |
Prestige | Greater importance and | Importance and prestige attach |
CHAPTER 1
Common Elements of a System:
1. Input
The energy & raw material transformed by the system
2. Output
The product or service which results from the system's throughput or processing of technical, social, financial & human input.
3. Throughput or process
The processes used by the system to convert raw materials or energy from the environment into products that are usable by either the system itself or the environment.
4. Feedback
Information about some aspect of data or energy processing that can be used to evaluate & monitor the system & to guide it to more effective performance.
5. Control
cybernation the activities & processes used to evaluate input, throughput & output in order to make corrections
6.Environment boundary
the line or point where a system or subsystem can be differentiated from its environment or from other subsystems. Can be rigid or permeable or some point in between. Systems or subsystems will engage in boundary tending.
7. Goal
the overall purpose for existence or the desired outcomes. The reason for being. Currently, many organizations put their goals into a mission statement.
The energy & raw material transformed by the system
2. Output
The product or service which results from the system's throughput or processing of technical, social, financial & human input.
3. Throughput or process
The processes used by the system to convert raw materials or energy from the environment into products that are usable by either the system itself or the environment.
4. Feedback
Information about some aspect of data or energy processing that can be used to evaluate & monitor the system & to guide it to more effective performance.
5. Control
cybernation the activities & processes used to evaluate input, throughput & output in order to make corrections
6.Environment boundary
the line or point where a system or subsystem can be differentiated from its environment or from other subsystems. Can be rigid or permeable or some point in between. Systems or subsystems will engage in boundary tending.
7. Goal
the overall purpose for existence or the desired outcomes. The reason for being. Currently, many organizations put their goals into a mission statement.
PLEASE READ
POSTINGS HERE ARE FROM BOTTOM TO TOP...
Meaning, you start reading from the very bottom going to the top. The topmost postings are the most recent posts.
be guided...
Meaning, you start reading from the very bottom going to the top. The topmost postings are the most recent posts.
be guided...
CHAPTER 1
Perspective of the ICT Revolution
The greatest concern in the ICT revolution is, will the ICT revolution still continuing especially with the widespread skepticism especially with regards to 3G mobile telephony and how many chips per person will there be in 2010.
What ICT applications are embedded in our normal environments and the applications of bioinformatics?
Bioinformatics refers the field of science in which biology, computer science, and information technology merge into a single discipline. It the use of computers, laboratory robots and software to create, manage and interpret massive sets of complex biological data.
More than 50 years later, the work in understanding systems has evolved to the point that we incorporate many of the concepts into our everyday language. We speak of a health care system, a family system, body systems, information systems, banking systems, political systems, hospitality system, etc. One of the reasons we do this is because the amount of knowledge & information available has increased tremendously during this time period. We cannot know all there is to know. We seek some way of ordering what we encounter to avoid being overloaded with information. We focus in on small areas of knowledge rather than trying to comprehend the whole.
Whether we like it or not, hotels and restaurants are enmeshed in many systems. It is to our benefit to gain some basic understanding of how systems work. We can more effectively cater for guests, families and communities when we do understand. We can more effectively bring about desired changes in our workplace if we are able to step back & consider how best to accomplish this within our workplace system.
Definition:
Defined as an "entity which can maintain some organization in the face of change from within or without." or "a set of objects or elements in interaction to achieve a specific goal."
Function:
The function of any system is to convert or process energy, information, or materials into a product or outcome for use within the system, or outside of the system (the environment) or both. Indeed, if a system is to survive, it must save some of the outcome or product to maintain the system.
The greatest concern in the ICT revolution is, will the ICT revolution still continuing especially with the widespread skepticism especially with regards to 3G mobile telephony and how many chips per person will there be in 2010.
What ICT applications are embedded in our normal environments and the applications of bioinformatics?
Bioinformatics refers the field of science in which biology, computer science, and information technology merge into a single discipline. It the use of computers, laboratory robots and software to create, manage and interpret massive sets of complex biological data.
Components of a systems theory:
Understanding General Systems Theory
This theory was developed by biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy in 1936. He felt the need for a theory to guide research in several disciplines because he saw striking parallels among them. His hunch was that if multiple disciplines focused their research & theory development efforts, they would be able to identify laws & principles which would apply to many systems. This would allow scholars & scientists to make sense of system characteristics such as wholeness, differentiation, order, equifinality, progression & others. With a common framework, scientists could better communicate their findings with each other & build upon each other's work. He believed that over time, what was discovered would come to be applicable to life in general.Understanding General Systems Theory
More than 50 years later, the work in understanding systems has evolved to the point that we incorporate many of the concepts into our everyday language. We speak of a health care system, a family system, body systems, information systems, banking systems, political systems, hospitality system, etc. One of the reasons we do this is because the amount of knowledge & information available has increased tremendously during this time period. We cannot know all there is to know. We seek some way of ordering what we encounter to avoid being overloaded with information. We focus in on small areas of knowledge rather than trying to comprehend the whole.
Whether we like it or not, hotels and restaurants are enmeshed in many systems. It is to our benefit to gain some basic understanding of how systems work. We can more effectively cater for guests, families and communities when we do understand. We can more effectively bring about desired changes in our workplace if we are able to step back & consider how best to accomplish this within our workplace system.
Definition:
Defined as an "entity which can maintain some organization in the face of change from within or without." or "a set of objects or elements in interaction to achieve a specific goal."
Function:
The function of any system is to convert or process energy, information, or materials into a product or outcome for use within the system, or outside of the system (the environment) or both. Indeed, if a system is to survive, it must save some of the outcome or product to maintain the system.
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 1.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES: EVOLUTION AND REVOLUTION.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES: EVOLUTION AND REVOLUTION.
Objective:
This chapter introduces the concepts of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It defines the meaning of ICT in its simplest term and to discuss the elements of ICT used in tourism particularly in the hotel and restaurant management. It also touches the role of the Internet in the tourism industry.
This chapter introduces the concepts of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It defines the meaning of ICT in its simplest term and to discuss the elements of ICT used in tourism particularly in the hotel and restaurant management. It also touches the role of the Internet in the tourism industry.
ICT Defined
ICT stands for Information and Communication Technology. It is the catch-all phrase used to describe a range of technologies for gathering, storing, retrieving, processing, analyzing and transmitting information. Advances in ICT have progressively reduced the costs of managing information, enabling individuals and organizations to undertake information-related tasks much more efficiently, and to introduce innovations in products, processes and organizational structures.
ICT is the fusion of computers and telecommunications. Computers enable people to work creatively. But they are limit by what they can access. Adding a communications channel, such as the Internet or other information services, significantly extends the capability of the computer. It allows it to be not only an inexpensive communications device. It can also become a means of obtaining education, information, and working creatively with others irrespective of geographical barriers.
ICT Evolution and Revolution
The 1990’s vision and its problems could be traced back to what were the predominant expectations with regards to the revolution of ICT. Expectations such as this: will microelectronic technology significantly increase our capabilities to process information. Another concern is that will ICT spread rapidly to all areas of societal activity. Will ICT lead towards faster economic growth and raise the level of productivity not just in the tourism industry but also to other business organizations as well?
A brief history of the evolution: ICT’s early roots start in the mechanical calculator sketched by Charles Babbage and then later on Blaise Pascal has invented the first mechanical calculator. It is then followed with the invention of the Shockley’s Transistor by William Shockley in the 1940’s and the development of the first computer ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator) released by IBM (Integrated Business Machines).
With the onset of computers, follows the emergence of chips, planar method and integrated circuits. Computer sizes changed dramatically with the use of integrated circuits from Altair to Apple to IBM PC and then to Mac computers. (PC Revolution) Computers need operating systems to run and thus, the rise of new software.
Evolution and revolution of ICT will not be widespread if not for DARPA (Defense Advance Research Projects Agency) to now commonly called as the Internet. Another is the fast telephone technology especially the mobile phones. With mobile phones, its start from analog cellular phones, to digital ones with monotones, then polytone devices, colored images and animated pictures to the latest innovation in the mobile phone industry, the 3G with an eye. Also, along with these technologies are the digital radios and TV, from coaxial cables to fiber optics to satellites.
ICT revolution continues with the different technological paradigms especially in economics and the Silicon Valley phenomenon. Shockley's attempts to commercialize a new transistor design in the 1950s and 1960s led to California's "Silicon Valley" becoming a hotbed of electronics innovation. Silicon Valley, a place in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States, originally referred to the region's large number of silicon chip innovators and manufacturers, but eventually came to refer to all the high tech businesses in the area; it is now generally used as a metonym for the high-tech sector.
The efforts to create new Silicon Valleys in the parts of the world marks the onset of technopolies and the concept of innovative millieux or the age of innovations such as those in the research and development (R & D) and technology forecasting.
ICT is the fusion of computers and telecommunications. Computers enable people to work creatively. But they are limit by what they can access. Adding a communications channel, such as the Internet or other information services, significantly extends the capability of the computer. It allows it to be not only an inexpensive communications device. It can also become a means of obtaining education, information, and working creatively with others irrespective of geographical barriers.
ICT Evolution and Revolution
The 1990’s vision and its problems could be traced back to what were the predominant expectations with regards to the revolution of ICT. Expectations such as this: will microelectronic technology significantly increase our capabilities to process information. Another concern is that will ICT spread rapidly to all areas of societal activity. Will ICT lead towards faster economic growth and raise the level of productivity not just in the tourism industry but also to other business organizations as well?
A brief history of the evolution: ICT’s early roots start in the mechanical calculator sketched by Charles Babbage and then later on Blaise Pascal has invented the first mechanical calculator. It is then followed with the invention of the Shockley’s Transistor by William Shockley in the 1940’s and the development of the first computer ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator) released by IBM (Integrated Business Machines).
With the onset of computers, follows the emergence of chips, planar method and integrated circuits. Computer sizes changed dramatically with the use of integrated circuits from Altair to Apple to IBM PC and then to Mac computers. (PC Revolution) Computers need operating systems to run and thus, the rise of new software.
Evolution and revolution of ICT will not be widespread if not for DARPA (Defense Advance Research Projects Agency) to now commonly called as the Internet. Another is the fast telephone technology especially the mobile phones. With mobile phones, its start from analog cellular phones, to digital ones with monotones, then polytone devices, colored images and animated pictures to the latest innovation in the mobile phone industry, the 3G with an eye. Also, along with these technologies are the digital radios and TV, from coaxial cables to fiber optics to satellites.
ICT revolution continues with the different technological paradigms especially in economics and the Silicon Valley phenomenon. Shockley's attempts to commercialize a new transistor design in the 1950s and 1960s led to California's "Silicon Valley" becoming a hotbed of electronics innovation. Silicon Valley, a place in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States, originally referred to the region's large number of silicon chip innovators and manufacturers, but eventually came to refer to all the high tech businesses in the area; it is now generally used as a metonym for the high-tech sector.
The efforts to create new Silicon Valleys in the parts of the world marks the onset of technopolies and the concept of innovative millieux or the age of innovations such as those in the research and development (R & D) and technology forecasting.
CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION:
This course examines the significance of information technology (IT) in the tourism industry. It introduces the role of IT as a tool vital to tourism operations and its applications to the tourism industry. The evolution of IT in tourism is discussed and the rise of global distribution systems is reviewed.
Information Technology for Tourism will first examine how information technology influences the business world and how it can help maximize operations efficiency. More specifically, it is designed to give students a comprehensive study of electronic marketing for the tourism, hospitality, and entertainment industries. Students will be provided with the skills and techniques needed for developing an IT strategy for a given tourism oriented business in order to make the best use of new technology in daily operations. Student will learn how organizational information systems evolve, based on the integration of core business concepts and the fast-changing information technology field.
This course examines the significance of information technology (IT) in the tourism industry. It introduces the role of IT as a tool vital to tourism operations and its applications to the tourism industry. The evolution of IT in tourism is discussed and the rise of global distribution systems is reviewed.
Information Technology for Tourism will first examine how information technology influences the business world and how it can help maximize operations efficiency. More specifically, it is designed to give students a comprehensive study of electronic marketing for the tourism, hospitality, and entertainment industries. Students will be provided with the skills and techniques needed for developing an IT strategy for a given tourism oriented business in order to make the best use of new technology in daily operations. Student will learn how organizational information systems evolve, based on the integration of core business concepts and the fast-changing information technology field.
References
These are the book references for the course:
- D. V. Tesone. Hospitality Information System and E-Commerce. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. c2006. Canada
- A. T. Stutts. Hotel and Lodging Management: an Introduction. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., c2005. New York
- Dimitrios Buhalis. E-Tourism – Information Technology for Strategic Tourism Management. Prentice Hall. C2003
Instructor:
Magdalene Cesar-Unajan
Magdalene Cesar-Unajan
HRTM 135 GRADING SYSTEM
Grading System
Lecture: Attendance – 5%
Homework / Assignments – 10%
Quizzes – 35%
Major Exams – 50%
Laboratory: Attendance – 5%
Exercises – 45%
Practical – 50%
Midterm and Final Grades = 60% Lec + 40% Lab
Sem Grade = 40% midGrade + 60% finGrade
TOPICS
These are the topics for the entire semester:
Chapter 1: Understanding Hospitality Information Systems and Information Technology
- Information and Communication Technologies: Evolution and Revolution
- Analyzing systems theory in general
- Reviewing information systems, planning, analysis and evaluation
Chapter 2: Computer Hardware for Hospitality
Computer hardware classifications
- Input devices
- Storage devices
- Other hardware components
Chapter 3: Computer Software for Hospitality
- Word-processing programs
- Spreadsheet application program
- Database programs
- Other general purpose application programs
- Operating systems software
- Business Software for hospitality organizations
- Artificial intelligence software
- Basic HTML tags using MS Frontpage
Chapter 4: Computer Networks and Telecommunications for Hospitality
- Networking data resources
- Computer networks
- Network operating systems
Chapter 5: Hospitality Management and the Internet
- Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce)
- Span and scope of e-Commerce
- E-commerce applications for hospitality organizations
- Technical components of e-commerce
Chapter 6: E-Information and Distribution Systems
- Hospitality functions
- Business process
- Enterprise resource planning systems
- Artificial intelligence
Chapter 7: E-Business Strategies and Solutions
- Strategic planning process
- E-Business solutions
Chapter 8: Computer Reservation Systems (CRS) and Global Distribution Systems (GDS)
- Electronic reservation systems
- Evolution of central reservation system networks
- Modern networks
- Hotel distribution intermediaries
- Application of speech technology to distribution system
Subject Scope
Subject Scope
Lecture - 2hrs / week
Laboratory - 3hrs / week
Total Units - 3 units
PREREQUISITE:
CSci21 (Introduction to Computers)
Lecture - 2hrs / week
Laboratory - 3hrs / week
Total Units - 3 units
PREREQUISITE:
CSci21 (Introduction to Computers)
Subject Scope
SCOPE:
Lecture = 2hrs / week
Laboratory = 3 hrs / week
Total Units = 3
PREREQUISITE:
CSci 21 (Introduction to computer)
Lecture = 2hrs / week
Laboratory = 3 hrs / week
Total Units = 3
PREREQUISITE:
CSci 21 (Introduction to computer)
COURSE OUTLINE
This course will equip the students with comprehensive knowledge and hands on experience in Computer Reservations in at least two Global Distribution System used in the travel industry.
General Objectives:
WELCOME
WeLcOmE.....
This blogspot are where your notes in HRTM135 will be posted and some other assignments as well.
Course outline will be posted here, the grading system as well as some other announcements.
keep posted and welcome to HRTM 135 - Information Technology for Tourism
-MCESAR-UNAJAN
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