Week 6: Clear

Week 6: Understanding Application Software

Application software is the hands-on equipment that we use to actually accomplish tasks. Examples of application software include Web browser, word processing software, spreadsheet software, database software, and presentation graphics software; Microsoft Office is an example that offers these types of software in one package.

Webopedia describes application software as: “a program or group of programs designed for end users. Application software can be divided into two general classes: systems software and applications software. Systems software consists of low-level programs that interact with the computer at a very basic level. This includes operating systems, compilers, and utilities for managing computer resources. In contrast, applications software (also called end-user programs) includes database programs, word processors, and spreadsheets. Figuratively speaking, applications software sits on top of systems software because it is unable to run without the operating system and system utilities.”  

As described in Information Systems: A Manager’s Guide to Harnessing , “Application software (sometimes referred to as software applications, applications, or even just apps) perform the work that users and firms are directly interested in accomplishing. Think of applications as the place where the users or organization’s real work gets done.”  The cake layers of the users, applications, operating system, and hardware; explained during lecture, helps each layer communicate through the Application Programming Interface. This API allows the applications to talk to the operating system, in essence it is a go-between that enables software programs to interact with other software.

webopedia.com

mosaic-industries.com

softwarebee.com

Week 5: Clear - Storyboards and Presentations

Storyboards and Presentations

Unforgettable!           

How can I make myself, my idea unforgettable?

Creating a presentation is not just about putting a power point together and adding my voice to explain the bullet points listed. It is about trying to tell a story, make a connection to the audience, and relay my message in a way that will hold the importance to that audience as it is to me.

In order to create this presentation, I must utilize the storyboard for the first step, in which I make detailed plans, organize those plans and ideas, figure out what media sources would best suit my ideas, and practice the presentation thoroughly. There are three types of Multimedia; Images, Audio, and Video. Although a presentation can have too much going on and cause the audience to tune out the points all together, it is important to use at least two forms of Multimedia during the presentation. If a story is being told, pictures can help to make the ideas become more concrete. If we are seeing a video, the video will come to life for us if we can hear music or other audio stimulation. These are just a couple of examples on how we can add to the impression our presentation will make.

In the video: Why Learn about Presentations? We learned that design is all about finding solutions. In design, there are several things stated by Dr. Means that we should remember: “embrace constraints, practice restraint, know when to stop, adopt a beginner’s mind, become a master storyteller, simplify, utilize empty space, and break the rules”. We need to use our own minds and creativity to design our graphics, audio, and story. We need to make sure that these are presented in a way that does not offend, or overpower the senses.

Whatever process we use, we need to ensure that the message “will stick”, says Chip and Dan Heath. That is the purpose of the presentation, to get our message or idea heard and remembered. Without that purpose coming to completion, there is no point in the presentation, in wasting your time or the audience’s time.

The visual aides used on this blog were found in google images are are listed as public domain under the two websites listed below.

1.stock‑photo‑black‑and‑white‑multimedia‑icons‑6344695.jpg

shutterstock.com

shutterstocshuttershock.com

iconfinder.com

Week 4: Clear

Week 4: Clear- The Value Chain

Information Systems: A Manager’s Guide to Harnessing  

Our text, as well as video stream with Michael Porter, explained the Value Chain in clear and easily understandable terms. An additional website to visit for a quick look at The Value Chain is QuickMBA under Strategic Management, NetMBA offers the same information. This is a process in which a product or service is created and carried through the appropriate channels where it is delivered to the customers.

The five basic links in the Value chain begin with the Inbound logistics. This is the place where the materials are gathered from the suppliers. Operations is the making of the actual product or service to be sold. Outbound logistics is the transfer of those products/services to the retailers for distribution. The 4^th link is Marketing and sales. This is an important step in which the product is promoted and priced. The 5^th link is Support. There are many areas that support come into play in a business to verify that the customer is receiving quality merchandise.

As stated in Information Systems, there are four secondary components in the Value Chain: Firm Infrastructure, HR management, Technology/Research and development, and Procurement. All of these components deal specifically with the business itself, how it is run, who is hired and through what process that employment takes shape, product design, and purchasing.

It is important for the business to remember that the Value Chain is constructed for the business as a whole, not just for departmental units or the corporate offices. In order to maintain a lucrative business, the entire business must remain a unit, or the chain of operations is broken.

http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/value-chain/

 http://www.netmba.com/strategy/value-chain/

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=the+value+chain&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=8AbP5FYB2S6xzM:&imgrefurl=http://managementhelp.org/blogs/business-planning/2011/08/18/value-chain-your-way-to-profitability/&docid=e6XlXNjv1X2SaM&w=510&h=382&ei=LZN0Tq5Qgrq2B_Wa6NQM&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=548&vpy=447&dur=100&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=126&ty=89&page=1&tbnh=130&tbnw=174&start=0&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:18,s:0&biw=1719&bih=941

Avatar

Creating an Avatar was not that difficult to do once I found a website that did not require me to input my life history. There are several out there that are not exactly G or even PG13. As I am a mother of three, I need to make sure that this is a website that I would allow my children to use as well. I used myWebFace.com to create my avatar and was able to send this directly to my Facebook page.
http://home.mywebface.com/mangas/82/51/98/2891528.jpg

Week 3: Clear

Networking with Packets

I find it truly baffling how digital data moves in the packets despite the fact that I understand the concept and idea behind it all. We have learned that the data in our computers uses the binary system. These 0s and 1s are translated into everything from mathematical equations to reports to pictures and videos. I understand the concept of this, however the actual process of breaking this all down into coherent data is a different story. From there, these binary bits are combined into packets that can be sent from computer to computer from one cubical to another and from one country to another.

The information on how all of this works is stated very clearly in our text: How Computers Work as it was also reiterated during lecture. The shear velocity of information that can be transported to and from millions of different computers through the use of MAC, for identifying the identity of the computer, IP address, for where it is going, TCP, for special handling, the UDP, or rush order, and the DNS, for translation from numbers to names seems to be too much information to be handled so thoroughly.

I found this website http://www.networksorcery.com/enp/protocol/ip.htm that offers more explanation as well as diagrams to help understand how the packets are put together as well as sent from one system to another. This second website, http://www.laneye.com/network/how-network-works/mac-address-and-ip-address-relationship.htm  offers the same type of information with a much easier explanation on how it works. Both of the images that I used are under public domain under Google. The top image is from Laneye.com the second image is from forums.techguy.org.

 http://www.google.com/imgres?q=networking+with+IP+packets&um

Week2: Muddy

Muddy: Inside a Computer

Ok, I understand the fact that there are countless circuits, lasers, and mirrors and so on that makes up my computer. All this terminology is just too much for me to grasp. The information is going to memory not storage! Once I shut down for the evening, all is lost.

I would imagine that the longer I go over these parts of a computer, the more I would recognize them and the purpose they hold. There seem to be too many different models that are so close to one and the same that I don’t understand the importance. Perhaps that is my problem, I don’t want to know more about them, I just want to turn on the computer, and have what I need in front of me. This class is causing me to become a more involved consumer.

I chose to do a little more research on the parts of a computer to see if I could place, at least a minimum amount of information, into a long term memory slot if not into a permanent storage facility. Because I consider my children to be more knowledgeable about computers than myself, I selected a website that is geared toward children.  www.kids-online.net has several great links that explain the purpose and name of each part of the computer.

Videojug.com offers a video series that further explains the components, hardware, software, motherboard, as well as several other important components in 9 steps. The overall volume of identification that this task of memorization requires has definitely put my sensors on alert, however after looking at this from a different perspective of just vocabulary words, something that my children are subjected to on a weekly basis, I feel that I can at least absorb enough of the information to be able to utilize this equipment at home and in the work field. Maintaining more of a knowledge of the ins and outs of the equipment in use will allow me to get more out of my money and to know what exactly it is that I am purchasing!  

Both images that are used in this blog are public domain. The first is from computerhope.com and the second is from ticnetwork.org.

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000997.htm

http://www.videojug.com/film/what-components-are-inside-my-computer
http://www.kids-online.net/learn/clickjr/clickjr.html

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000997.htm

http://ticnetwork.org/donate/why-give/question-marks/