New Technologies - OpenMeans

It is beyond one's doubt that day by day we are advancing towards modernisation and along with it new developments in the fields of techniques and technologies are also taking effect. We welcome this advancement as this makes our lives easier compared to what it was before. Our young generation accepting this advancements in the different technical fields and are very happy to live and learn with these changes as it makes their lives more enjoyable and worth living.

It is worthwhile to mention in this context that the bar code system has arrived very long ago in our world and during those days it was found written on the body of foreign products or item goods. Today we find barcode prints in almost every products and it is beyond one's doubt that in future too this will be widely used by us. Bar code prints are generally marked by thick and thin lines on the cover of the products and under these lines some numerical are written.

Today we find bar code prints not only in foreign products items but also in our own Indian products like on wheat packets, sauce bottles, tooth paste cover, salt packets and on boxes of clothes, shoes, medicines etc. Today bar-coding has become compulsory because without it the different items and durables might not find a place in big malls and shopping centres of our country. Bar coding system is such a system with the help of which different information relating to a product is available along with its price, manufacturing date and serial number by just looking at the vertical lines at the backside of a particular product. The bar coding prints are in the computer readable format and with the help of a bar coding reader an operator could very easily find out the price and weight of the product by just focusing some light from the bar code reader.

In a bar code we generally see a combination of some thick and thin lines. The fact is that within these codes lies the data of the product. Generally barcode readers comes with a software which helps in reading bar codes. A data base system works in the background and are built with a software named "Access" which has a fonding and an interface. It also helps to recognize numbers related with the bar codes.

Now-a-days, companies prints the bar codes on the packets of its different products and to read these bar codes different types of barcode readers are available in the market. More often then not, stickers in the form of bar codes are stuck on the packet cover of different products. Through barcode printout barcode printer it is printed in the sticker format.

To tell you the truth, bar codes are even found printed on wine bottles, televisions, DVDs, Almira, blankets, bedsheets and in cosmetics like powder, nail polish etc. A common man doesn't understand anything by just looking at the bar codes. To read bar codes you need a barcode reader. A scanner is there inside the barcode reader together with a software and when light emits from the barcode reader, its light falls on the bar codes. The thick bars of the bar codes absorb more lights and reflects less and the whole process results in displaying all the details of a particular products. When light passes through a scanner there is also a photo sensor. The reflected rays from the barcode fall on the sensor and as a result an electrical signal is created. Now this electrical signal pass through a type of hardware and software and the software decodes it to break it to present the main data in front of us. For instance, quite often you might have seen in a shopping mall that as soon as a bar coder operator flashes light on the bar codes of a particular product its detail flashes on the computer screen.

So with the use of barcode readers different types of it are available in the market starting from Rs 600 to Rs 2000 to even Rs 5000. According to its shape and sizes and its functions different types of barcode readers are available in the market. Among them Wand type reader and gun type readers are very famous. These two types of readers are mostly used in shopping malls and are basically handheld types.

Types of Readers or Scanners

Wand type reader

This type of readers are a bit taller length wise and they resemble to a torch or a pen. It is swiped against the bar codes by holding it in our hands similarly as we do with a mouse. Now-a-days powerful wand readers could focus or reflect light from a distance.

Gun type reader

Yes, this type of reader looks more or less like a gun as the name suggests and this is largely being used in shopping malls by the shopping sales person. Basically this type of reader is used by aiming the bar codes and as soon as the trigger is pressed it emits a red or a green rays of light which gets reflected from the bar codes

Fixed type reader

This type of reader is more or less like that of a gun type of scanner but the difference lies in the fact that it remains stationary or fixed at a place. It depends upon the user to use this type of scanner or not because its usage is limited to a certain places only. But shopkeepers generally use this type of scanners and some are found at the check out point of the Super Markets and with other retailers.

It is worthwhile to mention here that with every reader there is a scanner with some type of specification. Wand type readers are available at a cheap price whereas fixed type readers are very powerful and expensive too. Wand type readers are required to be moved very often and hence might come up with technical errors and problems but now-a-days wand type readers are available in wide ranges and types and they work for a long time.

Gun type readers could scan even from a distance of one to two feet but in dusty conditions these readers doesn't work properly. In contrast to this fixed type of readers work very fast and it is capable of giving maximum output in very less time.

Generally we get data from readers which we need to decode in a methodical way. Most often the barcode readers doesn't come along with a decoder and one needs to purchase it separately because the output which we get from the barcode readers are not only used in computers but also in different industrial and consumer durables. Normally a computer hardware interface connects with barcode readers and decodes in two ways namely through serial ports or keyboard ports but now-a-days UCB boards are mostly used for the purpose.

In conclusion, to tell you the truth, barcode readers are very useful to us and its mere application makes things more easier and simpler for us and that's why it is considered as a boon in terms of shopping, marketing and billing sectors. Gun type readers are used in all shopping malls and by retailers and for future we can only hope that its usage and popularity will always be at the pick

Data Transmission:

Data transmission is the movement of data from one place to another using some form of representation appropriate to the transmission medium within a network, Data Transmission system caninclude electrical signals carried along a conductor, optical signalscarried along an optical fiber and electromagnetic waves, e.g. radio,or infrared signals transmitted through space.

Internal Data Transmission:

Internal Data Transmission refers to the data within a computer,between its different operational units e.g., between CPU andmemory. This takes place through internal data paths known asBuses.

External Data Transmission:

External Data Transmission refers to the transfer of data toeither local equipment (e.g. printers) or remote computers.

Here are some of the types of data transmission.

Analog Transmission: Analog Transmission has dominated all communication for thelast few decades. In analog transmission, signals are transmitted byvarying one of the physical characteristics continuously as a functionof time.Normally, continuously varying voltage is used for such atransmission (e.g. telephone line).Analog Transmission is generally used for the transmission ofvoice signals or TV signals, In terms of voltage, voice can be representedas follows

Digital Transmission:

In digital (binary) transmission the strings of 0,s and 1's aretransmitted. These bit streams consist of data, which might consist ofcharacters or numbers digitally, e.g., equivalent of 25 can be representedas 11001. This binary bit string can then be transmitted.

Communication Channel:

• Narrow bands handle low data volume. Data transmission ratesare from 45 to 300 baud. The low speed devices might usenarrow band communication.

• Voice bands handles moderate data transmission volumebetween 300 and 9600 baud. They are used for applicationranging from operating CRT to running a line printer. Theremajor application is for telephone voice communication, hencethe term voice band.

• Broadband handles very large volume of data. These systemsprovide data transmission rates of 1 million bytes or more.High-speed data analysis and satellite communication areexamples of broadband communication system.

Simplex, Half-duplex, Communication:

The direction in which information can flow over a transmissionpath is determined by the properties of both the transmitting and thereceiving devices. There are three basic options.

In Simplex mode, the communication channel is used in onedirection. The receiver receives the signals from the transmittingdevice. A typical use is to gather data from a monitoring device at aregular interval. The simplex mode is rarely used for data communication

In Half-duplex mode, the communication channel is used inboth directions, but only in one direction at a time. This requires thereceiving and transmitting devices to switch between sent andreceive modes after each transmission. The analogous example ofthis mode is the old wireless system (walkie-talkie), which is used ineither transmit mode or receive mode.

Parallel Transmission:

In parallel data transmission, there are multiple parallel linesconnecting the transmitting and receiving units.Each wire carries a bit of information. Normally, one characteris transferred in one go.

Serial Transmission:

In serial data transmission, each bit is sent sequentially oneafter another and it requires only one pair of wire conductors forconnecting the receiving and transmitting units.Serial transmission is slower than parallel transmission, whichis used primarily for transferring data between devices at the samesite; most common example is Personal Computer to Printer. Communicationb between computers is almost always serial.

Communication protocols/ Standard:

There are several manufacturers of computer hardware andsoftware across the, globe. For successful data communication theseproducts should be compatibles with each other or they should compatiblewith each other or they should conform to certain set of rulesso that any one can use them. These sets of rules are known ascommunication protocols or communication standards.

In other words, protocols are technical customs or guides thatgovern the exchange of signal transmission and reception betweenequipment.

Some of the functions that communication protocol regulates are:

•Control of information transfer

• Structure and formats of data

• Error recoveries• Re-transmission control

• Interface management-only communication devices using sameprotocols can communicate with each other.

• To make sure that the bits (or characters) are transmittedthrough the channel or line, we need a link level protocolbetween two computers.

Synchronous transmission:

The mode of transmission is the way in which coded charactersare assembled for the process of transmission and permits thereceiving devices to” identify where the coding for each characterbegins and ends within the torrent of bits. When two computerscommunicate, they must have a way to synchronize the flow of dataso that the receiving computer can read at the same speed at whichthe sending computer transmits.

Asynchronous Transmission:

In asynchronous transmission, each character is transmittedseparately, that is, one character at a time. Each character beginswith a start bit, which tells the receiving device where the charactercoding begins and ends with a stop bit, which tells the receivingdevice where the character coding ends. Then, the next character issent, with start and stops bits. The start and stop bits and the intervalof time between consecutive characters allow the receiving andsending computers to synchronize the transmission. The parity bit isused for error checking while transmission of data.

Wide Area Network:

A WAN spans a large geographic area, such as a state,province or country.WANs often connect multiple smaller networks, such as localarea networks (LANs) or metro area networks (MANs)

The world's most popular WAN is the Internet. Some segmentsof the Internet, like VPN-based extranets, are also WANs inthemselves. Finally, many WANs are corporate or research networksthat utilize leased lines.

Subnet is a logical grouping of connected network devices.Nodes on a subnet tend to be located in close physical proximity toeach other on a LAN.

Network designers employ subnets as a way to partitionnetworks into logical segments for greater ease of administration.When subnets are properly implemented, both the performance andsecurity of networks can be improved.

In the world of computers, networking is the practice of linkingtwo or more computing devices together for the purpose of sharingdata. Networks are built with a mix of computer hardware andcomputer software.

Data Communication:

Data communication is the process of transporting encloseddata from one location to another using any transmission mediawithin a network. A communication system consists of five basiccomponents, which are

• The Sending or Originating Computer: The originating computer orterminal hosts the data to be transmitted. The data may consist ofa file on a disk or may be entered through a keyboard andtransmitted as it is typed.

• Data Encoding Device: This device is attached to the sendercomputer. This converts the data into a form in which it can betransmitted over the communication medium.

• The Communication Channel (Link): This carries the encoded datafrom source to its destination, e.g. Telephone Lines, MicrowaveRelay Systems.

• Data Decoding Device: This device is attached to the receivingcomputer. This device converts the received data into a form that thereceiver computer can understand and process.

• The receiving computer or terminal which receives the data &displays them on a screen, prints them, or stores them in a file.

Computer communication is important for following reasons:

• Sending and receiving data at a very high speed is required intoday’s scenario.

• Connection between two different departments from largedistance offices in an organization is possible due to computernetwork.

• Update on stocks and international market price is possiblethrough the computer communication.

Co-Axial Cable:

The core of the Co-axial cable consists of a solid copper wire,which is surrounded by an insulating material. A cylindrical conductorencases the insulator and the outer conductor is covered in aprotective insulating sheath. They consist of central copper wiresurrounded by PVC insulation over which a sleeve of copper mesh isplaced. It can be used for both analog and digital transmission andprovides a high performance communication path for applications,requiring bulk transmission of data at high data transfer rate.

Advantage and Limitation of Co-Axial Cables:

Co-axial cables offer higher bandwidths and are capable oftransmitting digital signals at very high rates of 10 Mega bits persecond. They are extensively used in long distance telephone linesand as cables for closed circuit TV They are also used by telephonecompanies to transmit data.

Microwave System:

These systems use very high frequency radio signals for transmissionof data through space. Data may be transmitted along aground route by repeater station which receives the data, amplifies itand again retransmitted along.

Optical Fiber:

Latest development on technology has made it possible totransmit data using pulses of light. A light pulses can be used torepresent one binary value by presence and another binary value byabsence of the pulse signal.Optical fiber provides high performance capabilities of widebandwidth, high noise immunity, and long distance spacing betweensignal amplifiers. The bandwidth of an optical transmission system isextremely large.

Planning a job or a project before launching is logical and practical. Individuals and companies realize the worth of planning specific tasks and projects. The application planning of a major and complex function of a business is also equally important. Project usually has a one or two year time horizon, usually in three to five years range. Planning has gone through a stage evolution consistent with the stages theory concept of information system growth within most companies. It is not just an IS (Information System) issue but a corporate one as well. Managers have always been doubtful of planning. Planning is a hard work, not so much fun, defined not easily, rewarding and can detract from time devoted to day-to-day operations of the business.

System development is the entire set of activities needs to construct information systems solutions to a business problem or opportunities. The strategic plans states the firms overall mission, the goal that follow from the mission, and the broad steps necessary to reach these goals. The organizational strategic plan and the existing IT architecture provide the inputs in developing the IT strategic plans. The IT architecture delineates the way an organization’s information resources should be accomplish it mission.

Evolution of Information System planning

In the early stages of Information System, application were initiated and implemented as separate entities without much attention to integration. That was to get specific application up and running to satisfy a particular user’s need. The first emergence of planning was project planning. It was found that many of the earlier application did not really satisfy user’s needs once the implementation was completed.

The increase in computer resources, management became alarmed over the sharply rising cost of Information System services. This led to a third type of planning, resource or budgetary planning. Information System managers began developing annual operation plans, which necessitated looking ahead at least a year to projects what hardware, software, people, and facilities were required to run the operation and handle the growth portfolio of computer applications.

Structure of Information System planning

The information system strategic plan: IS planning must meet the following objectives:

1. It must be aligned with the organizational strategic plan.

2. It must provide an IT architecture that enables users, applications and database to be networked and integrated.

3. It must efficiently allocate IS development resources among all projects, so the projects can be completed on time.

The IS Operational plan: A typical Information System operational plan contains the following elements:

1. Mission

2. Information System environment

3. Objectives of Information System function

4. Constraints on the Information System function

5. Long term systems needs

6. Short range plan

Pragmatic planning: Executives and planners who address the key business direction of the company jointly conduct planning. This is followed and modified as market changes. The plan is the basis for action, not a book that’s put on the shelf for review by the intelligentsia.

Roles of Information System and user department

Users

Information workers, those who earn their living by creating, using, processing, managing, or exchanging information are sometimes termed white-collar workers to distinguish them from the so called blue – workers in industry and agriculture. Although accurate information worker is too abstract a term and is not normally used in business and in the information system industry. The more common name for information worker is user, a term referring to those who actually use the information and information system.

Types of Users: The term end-user is widely used by system analysis to refer to people who are not professional information system specialist’s jobs. The various types of user and their characteristics are:

(a)Hands on end user- Operates the system. It directs interaction through system requirement.

(b) Indirect End user- Uses reports or information produced by system but doesn’t operate equipment

(c) User management- oversees investment in development or use of the system. Has organizational responsibility for control of system activities.

(d) Senior Management- Incorporates competitive and strategic uses of information system with corporate plans and strategic. It evaluates organizations exposure to risk from information system failure.

The role of Information systems Department (ISD) has been changing from technical to more managerial and strategic. The role of the director of the ISD is changing from technical manager to senior executives, referred to as the chief information officer (CIO). The Important structure of the ISD is changing to reflect its new role; the ISD emphasizes vendor relations over software programming as outsourcing becomes more efficient than internal development of systems. The ISD must frequently work closely with external organizations such as business partners, research institutions, universities and consultancies.

A computer network is defined as interconnected collection of autonomous computers. Computer are said to be interconnected, if they able to exchange information. Connection is physically established through cables, lasers, microwaves, fiber optics and communication satellite.

What we mean by the word ‘autonomous’? Autonomous is any one computer in the network that cannot forcibly start, stop or control another computer in the network. In other words, the computer works independently. This is in sharp contrast to a computer with full control over many slaves. This is not a computer network.

Now there is another term ‘distributed computing’ which is closely related with networks. A distributed computer system differ from a computer network in one as aspect that in a distributed system, the existence of multiple autonomous computers is not visible to the user. The user can type commands that are executed in a different machine selected by the operating system. It is the job of the operating system to select free processor, find and move all the required input files to that processor and send the result to the user.

In a network, the user must logon to the network, locate files and submit jobs. The network management has to be handled personally by the user. In a distributed system, all jobs are done automatically by the system without the user’s knowledge. Hence the distributed system is a special case of network system, one whose operating system has a high degree of transparency.

Objectives of Computer Network

Right from the day of computer automation, a computer has developed computer in each department. For example, the task can be to keep of track off inventories, monitor productivity and maintain accounts. Initially, this computer in different department works as an isolation from other computer. These provided the necessary computer assistance in the activities pertaining to the respective department. It was not possible to share information among the departments. As a result, the information was replicated wherever needed. This increased redundancy caused increased in storage space, less data consistency etc.

Hence, at a point it was decided to connect the computers in various departments to extract the information and correlate information about the entire company. The following are the objectives of the computer networks.

1. Resource sharing is the main objective of the computer network. The goal is to provide all the program, date and hardware is available to everyone on the network without regard to the physical location of the resource and the users.

2. The second objective is to provide the high Reliability. It is achieved by replicating the files on two or more machines, so in case of unavailability (due to fail of hardware) the other copies can be used.

3. Computer organization has helped organization in saving money. This is due to the fact that the small computer has much better price to the performance ratio comparison than the large computer like mainframe. Mainframe computer are approximately ten times faster that the microcomputers, but they cost thousands times more. As a result of this imbalance, organization has preferred to install interconnected microcomputer connected to the mainframe computer.

4. Computer network have provided means to increase system performance as the work load increases (load balancing). In the days of mainframe when the system was full it was to replace with the other large mainframe computer, usually at and expensive rate not convenience for user.

5. Computer network help people who live or work apart to report together. So, when one user prepared some documentation, he can make the document online enabling other to read and convey their opinions. Thus computer network is a powerful communication medium.

6. Only authorized user can access resource in a computer network. Users are authenticated by their user name and password. Hence it is not possible to access the data without proper account. This increases security.

Application of Networks: Some of the network applications of the different fields are the following.

1. Marketing and sales: Marketing professional uses them to collect exchange and analyze data relating to customer needs and product development cycles.

Sales application includes Teleshopping, which uses order entry computers or telephone connected to an order processing network, and online reservation services for railways, hotels, airlines, restaurants theatre etc.

2. Financial services: It include credit history searches, foreign exchange and investment services and electronic fund transfer (EFT), which allow a user to transfer money without going to bank.

3. Manufacturing: computer networks are used today in many aspects of manufacturing, including the manufacturing processes itself. Two aspects that uses network to provide essential services are computer Assisted design (CAD) and computer Assisted manufacturing (CAM), both of which allow multiple user to work on a project simultaneously.

4. Electronic Messaging: E-mails transfer the messages between two and more users in a network. With this application user can transfer the information in the form of text, picture and voice.

5. Directory Services: It allows list of files to be stored in central location to speed up the world wide search operation. E.g. search engines like Google, Britannia, and Yahoo etc.

6. Information Services: It includes Bulletin Boards and data bank. A ‘www’ site offering the technical specification for a new product in a information services.

7. Electronic Data Exchange (EDI): EDI allows business information (including documents such as purchase orders and services) to be transferred without using paper.

8. Teleconferencing: It allows conference to occur without the participant being in the same location. It includes:

Text Conferencing: Participant communicates through their keywords and computer monitors.

Voice Conferencing: Participant at a number of locations communicates simultaneously through phone (talk).

Video Conferencing: Participant can see as well as talk to another.

9. Cellular Telephone: Wireless phone communication even while travelling through long distance.

10. Cable TV: This is widest usable thing today throughout the world.

Computer Bar Code System.

Data Transmission

Introduction to Networking

Information system planning

Computer networks

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