Friday 12 April 2013

Web 2.0


The web 2.0

The main aim of this lesson is to know the services provided by internet and different types of web. First and first what is web application? Web app is term that refer to application or services on internet. There three generations of web: the first one is the static web. This web allow people to search and read information. They cannot edit the web content. For example Web 1.0 such as AIU website.
Secondly there is the dynamic web: this web allows interactions with people and they can upload or change web content. For example Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 (YouTube, blog, etc.)
In addition Web 2.0 Uses and implement the Application software like Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash player, Microsoft Silverlight, Oracle Java, Windows Media, etc. to make the Web more interactive Web. The best categories for Web 2.0 are online social networking. They are also called aggregators which means they mix and match content from other websites.in order to create web 2.0 a programmer will use 7 languages of programing to communicate the instructions to a computer.
XML= Extensible Markup Language,  it contains structured information including words and pictures
AJAX= acronym referring to Asynchronous JavaScript and XML.  Java script                         
  Some examples of web pages using AJAX is: YouTube, Gmail, Google Maps and most of web 2.0 website
 Tagging: it is about metadata it is part of the nature of Web 2.0. Keyword for a piece of information in Web (Describe the item)
Blogs: short for weblog.it is informal website (articles, diary, journal) a shared on-line journal where people can post diary entries about their personal experiences and hobbies
Wiki: a collaborative website that allows users to create, add, modify or delete                 website content via their web browser. Many wikis are open to modification by public. A popular wiki are Wikipedia and Web encyclopedia
RSS (RSS 2.0) Really Simple Syndication. RSS is a technology that is being used by millions of web users    around the world to keep track of their favorite websites. Examples RSS Reader= Google reader, Blog lines
Podcasting and Video casting
                -  Digital media consist of (audio, video)
                - Technology in web 2.0
                - download/upload digital media (online)
For example: use the iTunes free software to subscribe to a                       specific podcast.              
  And lastly Web 3.0 which is about semantic web. It is based on intelligent web applications using: Machine-based learning reasoning and intelligent applications. Examples: Decision Support System, Expert System portal.

Internet


INTERNET 


In 1690 the internet used to be called Arpanet till in 1969 where people started calling it internet. It is important to know that no single person who owns internet. Basically internet is the largest network that connects people or organization around the world. Usually internet is used to find or access information. To send or receive files, to chart with friends or conferencing, shopping and etc. there are seven main services of internet:
The email: electronic mail. It allows messages to be exchanged from computer to computer.  Email Program is used to create, send, receive, forward, store, print and delete email. Examples, Yahoo, Gmail, MSN, Hotmail etc.
The web is a collection of linked Web pages that has a common theme or focus is called a Web site. While a Website is a Collection of the documents. Markup language for displaying web pages and other information that can be displayed in a web browser
Transfer protocol: The transfer protocol is the set of rules or software that the computers use to move files from one computer to another on the Internet.
Chat rooms which are like mediums between to people connect by internet and lastly the news group (online chat or conference for a specific topic) and the VoIP. VoIP is to use a call on internet like Skype, messenger, etc.  
Before we moved on to web application the teacher gave us a brief knowledge about the bibliography and how to write references using APA style.

Thursday 11 April 2013

DATABASE MANAGEMENT


DATABASE MANAGEMENT

Firstly database is simply a place to store information or a collection of information which is organized alphabetically. The main role of database is to collect, organize store, and retrieve the information when needed, for example in collage or food production. A software which is used to manipulate the database is called database management system. There are 4 components of database: data items which is a distinct piece of information, relationships which represents a correspondence between different data, constraints this one I still don’t understand it. I have to read about it again and lastly schema; schema describes the organization of data and relationships within the database. For example in this three courses the schema will tell u the data for the student x in these three deferent subject. It will relate all information for student x from different subjects







The student x has got 30 in math, 25 in English and 73.
DBMS is database management system and how it function is very important. The five main functions of DBMS are: 1. define, create and organize a database: the DBMS establishes the logical relationships among different data elements and also defines schemas and subschemas using DDL.
2. Input data: it performs the functions of entering the data into the database through an input device (like data screen, or voice activated system) with the help of the user.
3Process data: It performs the function of manipulation and processing of the data stored in the database using the DML.
4. Maintain data integrity and security: It allows limited access of the database to authorized users to maintain data integrity and security.
5. Query database: It provides information to the decision makers that they need to make important decisions. This information is provided by querying the database using SQL.
In order to create database we have to use database models, they tell us how data can be classified or organized in a database. There are three database models: “entity” which symbolizes or represents   data in the real world, it is always in raw. The second entity is: “attribute” which represent the characteristic of the entity (always in column). The last one is relationship; describes the relationship in entities.
Lastly I studied three types of database: hierarchical, network and relational database. The first one allows “one to many” relationship, the 2nd allows many to many and lastly relational allows one to one relationship between entities. This one is mostly used in small organizatons.



INFORMATION SYSTEM (IS)
First and what is system? A system is a set of element that works together, such as input, output, processing mechanism and feedback. For instance in an organization (for example restaurant) how the information is passed out from customers, to the cook till to the top manager of the restaurant. This people to complete their task, they use an application which is called CBIS (computer base information system).basically there are so many IS  such as  TPS, DSS, ESS, MIS, OAS …but mostly there are classified in this to category : support decision making ex: MIS and support business operation ex: TPS, OMS,  ECS
Now let talk about IS components. there are seven components first and first people who operates the system, secondly the hardware, thirdly the software, fourth application software, programming language software,  procedures which are  strategies rules or methods used to manage the IS telecommunication and lastly the database which is the place where the information is stored.
There are there types of planning in almost every organization: strategic, tactical, and operational. The top manager will use the strategic planning and ESS to manage and set goals and missions for the company. While the Middle manager, will use tactical planning and MIS to support decision making. the MIS produces reports whereby  The input of MIS is the output of TPS. The low manager will use TPS and the operational planning to monitor, collect, keep records and process data generated from business transaction. Each department in a company must have its own TPS.
After this, the lecturer gave us an activity here is the picture of the activity: three case studies 




IT and ICT



Information technology is a term that covers all forms of technology used to create, store exchange and use information. It is very important to know and understand the
 concept of IT.
IT has two concepts that a student will use later in his project of IS. IT architecture which is the structure of the entire organization i.e.  IT architecture focuses more on how you structure your information-the design and IT infrastructure which deals with physical facilities; IT component, IT service, IT personnel that support the entire organization.
ICT
ICT is similar to IT but it focuses mostly on communication technologies such as internet wireless networks cell phones
the application of ICT, was very much useful, in a sense that all what I knew ideally; I could put them in practice and compare it with examples in the real world. This made understand more this lesson much better.
For instance, ICT is used in Banking (e-baking), education (e-learning) healthcare, science government and businesses. Most importantly the activity (how is ICT applied in Kenya) we did in the class, also helped me to understand more this lesson. We were like 5 students the activity was about to describe how ICT is applied in one of our group members country so we chose kenya.in Kenya ICT is used in many domains as showed by this following picture.