Professionalpracticesi N Information Technology: Handbook

Lecture 1 CSC 110
ProfessionalPracticesi
n Information
Technology
HandBook
COMSATS Institute of Information

Technology
(Virtual Campus)
Islamabad, Pakistan
Lecture 1 CSC 110
Lecture No. 1
Professional Practices in IT
1.1 Introduction
The objective of the course is to make students aware of their professional responsibilities when
they will work in IT sector. The course will teach students about the historical, social, ethical,
economical and professional issues related to IT profession.
 Information Technology
IT (information technology) is a term that encompasses all forms of technology used to create,
store, exchange, and use information in its various forms (business data, voice conversations,
still images, motion pictures, multimedia presentations, and other forms, including those not yet
conceived). It's a convenient term for including both telephony and computer technology in the
same word. It is the technology that is driving what has often been called "the information
revolution."
More formal definition of information technology is: “Information Technology (IT) describes
any technology that helps to produce, manipulate, store, communicate, and/or disseminate
information, Part 1: Computer Technology, Part 2: Communication Technology”.
In a business context, the Information Technology Association of America has defined

information technology as "the study, design, development, application, implementation, support
or management of computer-based information systems". The responsibilities of those working
in the field include network administration, software development and installation, and the
planning and management of an organization's technology life cycle, by which hardware and
software is maintained, upgraded and replaced.
Lecture 1 CSC 110
 How is IT being used in Education?
Almost 99% universities in Pakistan have internet access. Majority of university students own
their own computer. 80% of students use the internet for 4 or more hours per week. ½ of
professors in universities require students to use email in their classes. Distance Learning such as
this is a prime example of usage of IT in education.
 Health: High Tech for Wellness
Telemedicine is medical care via telecommunications lets doctors treat patients from far away.
3D Computer models allow accurate tumor location inside a skull. Robots permit precise
microsurgery. Handheld computers allow patients to measure blood sugar. Medical implants
allow stroke patients to directly control computers to talk for them. Health websites provide
medical information.
 Money: Cashless Society
Definition: Virtual means something that is created, simulated, or carried on by means of a

computer or a computer network. For example, virtual airline tickets, virtual money, online bill
paying, PayPal, electronic payroll deposit, micropayments for online music etc.
 Leisure: InfoTech in Entertainment & the Arts
Information technology is also used for entertainment and arts. For example, videogames,
downloading, movies, music, eBooks. Most movies use computer animation and digital editing.
 Jobs & Careers
Information technology helps office careers like budget, payroll, letter-writing, email. Teaching
career for automated grading systems, emailing, distance teaching. Fashion career for
Lecture 1 CSC 110
sales/inventory control systems, ordering, and personnel. Information technology is also useful
for job-hunting, word processor to create resumes; post resumes online, online job searches.
 The Telephone Grows Up
The first cell phone call was made in 1973. In 2006, Nokia estimates 2 billion mobile phone
subscribers. Today’s cell phones are mobiles; these can take and send pictures, connect to the
internet, can send and receive text messages.
1.2 Internet, World Wide Web, & Cyberspace

 World Wide Web
It is the multimedia part of the internet. It is an interconnected system of servers that support
specially formatted documents in multimedia form. It includes text, still images, moving images,
sound. These things are responsible for the growth and popularity of the internet.
 Cyberspace
Term coined by William Gibson in Neuromancer (1984). They described it as a futuristic

computer network where people “plugged” into directly with their brains.
Now through means like:

The web
Chat rooms
Online diaries (blogs)
The wired and wireless communications world
1.3 Five Computer Types

Five main types of computers are:
• Supercomputers
• Mainframe Computers
Lecture 1 CSC 110
• Workstations
• Microcomputers
• Microcontrollers
 Supercomputers
A supercomputer is a computer with a high level of performance compared to a general-purpose

computer. Performance of a supercomputer is measured in floating-point operations per second
(FLOPS) instead of million instructions per second (MIPS). As of 2017, there are
supercomputers which can perform up to nearly a hundred quadrillions of FLOPS, measured in P
(eta) FLOPS. As of November 2017, all of the world's fastest 500 supercomputers run Linux-
based operating systems. Additional, state of the art research is being conducted in China, United
States, European Union, Taiwan and Japan to build even faster, more powerful and more
technologically superior exascale supercomputers.
Supercomputers play an important role in the field of computational science, and are used for a
wide range of computationally intensive tasks in various fields, including quantum
mechanics, weather forecasting, climate research, oil and gas exploration, molecular
modeling (computing the structures and properties of chemical compounds,
biological macromolecules, polymers, and crystals), and physical simulations (such as
simulations of the early moments of the universe, airplane and spacecraft aerodynamics, the
detonation of nuclear weapons, and nuclear fusion). Throughout their history, they have been
essential in the field of cryptanalysis.
 Mainframe Computers
Mainframe computers can store huge amount of data. They are large in size and memory, power
and expensive. These machines are capable to different operating system on the same time and
support time sharing and virtual memory. Universities, banking institutions, stock exchanges,
insurance companies are some examples of using mainframe servers for maintaining students’
data, ATM transactions, financial transactions, clients and employees’ records.
Lecture 1 CSC 110
The main difference between supercomputer and mainframes is that supercomputer has a speed
of calculations and mostly used for space scientific and engineering related problems i.e. data
crunching while mainframe servers are used for transaction process.
Modern mainframes Computers

 IBM zSeries
 System z9
 System z10 servers
 Minicomputer
Compare to mainframe these are midrange computers, small in size and more compact and less
expensive. They are designed for computerization of data, scientific research, industrial process,
data collection and telephone switches. Minicomputers are multiprocessing system and can
support upto 200 user at a time but the power of processing is not as great as the mainframe and
supercomputers. Timesharing, batch processing and online processing is available on these
midrange computers.
Examples of Minicomputers
 IBM System/3
 Honeywell 200
 TI-990
 Microcomputers
These are also known as personal computers (PCs). They are small in sizes and relatively
inexpensive. They are highly flexible and designed for small scale personal use and business
application. these are based on microprocessor technology, a silicon chip containing the
important circuitry to perform operations. IBM, Dell, Sony, HP and Apple are the manufacturer
of microcomputers. Nowadays they have come more advance and powerful in technology.
Lecture 1 CSC 110
The business community uses personal computer for word processing, desktop publication,
inventory and accounting software like QuickBooks and spreadsheets. At home users perform
surfing internet and playing games.
o Microcontrollers
Microcontrollers are also called embedded computers. These are tiny, specialized
microprocessors inside appliances and automobiles. They are in: microwaves,
programmable ovens, blood-pressure monitors, air bag sensors, vibration sensors,
MP3 players, digital cameras, e-pliances, keyboards, car engine controllers, etc.
o Workstations
Workstations were introduced in early 1980s. These were expensive, powerful

personal computers. Used for scientific, mathematical, engineering, computer-
aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). These were less-
expensive and an alternative to mainframes
1.4 Servers
Servers are central computers. In a technical sense, a server is an instance of
a computer program that accepts and responds to requests made by another program, known
as a client. Less formally, any device that runs server software could be considered a server as
well. Servers are used to manage network resources. “Server” describes a function; hold data
(databases) and programs connect to and supply services for clients. Clients are other computers
like PCs, workstations, other devices
 Convergence, Portability, & Personalization
Convergence is the combination of computers, consumer electronics, entertainment and mass

media. In general, convergence is a coming together of two or more distinct entities or
phenomena. Technological convergence is increasingly prevalent in the information technology
Lecture 1 CSC 110
world; in this context, the term refers to the combination of two or more different technologies in
a single device.
Portability is collaboration software that allows people to share anything instantly. Help people
to enhance the information as they forward it.
1.5 Future of Information Technology

3 directions of Computer Development are Miniaturization, Speed and Affordability.
3 directions of Communications Development are Connectivity, Interactivity and Multimedia.

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Lecture 1 CSC 110

COMSATS Institute of Information

In a business context, the Information Technology Association of America has defined

 How is IT being used in Education?

 Health: High Tech for Wellness

 Money: Cashless Society

Definition: Virtual means something that is created, simulated, or carried on by means of a

 Leisure: InfoTech in Entertainment & the Arts

 Jobs & Careers

 The Telephone Grows Up

1.2 Internet, World Wide Web, & Cyberspace

Term coined by William Gibson in Neuromancer (1984). They described it as a futuristic

Now through means like:

1.3 Five Computer Types

A supercomputer is a computer with a high level of performance compared to a general-purpose

Modern mainframes Computers

Workstations were introduced in early 1980s. These were expensive, powerful

 Convergence, Portability, & Personalization

Convergence is the combination of computers, consumer electronics, entertainment and mass

1.5 Future of Information Technology

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