Mahad (Tanzania): October 2012

We learned what data is and what information is. Also we learned the difference between data and information. Data is a raw facts or unprocessed item. Data can exist in various forms such as numbers, symbols, characters, pictures or even sound. Data does not have a meaning when it stands on its own. Information is data that is organized and meaningful. also information can be defined as data that has been processed into a useful fact. Learned that the main difference between data and information is that data has no any meaning when it stand on its own but information has the meaning. I learned six quality of valuable information. Valuable information should have the following qualities. First one is information should be accurate. In. it must be looked if information is current. Third one is information should complete. Information to be complete it does not have to miss anything. Fourth one is information should be organized.it should be well arranged. Fifth information should be verifiable. Last quality is information should be useful.

Information plays several roles. The following are three roles of information we have learned. Firstly, information is used in decision making. For instance, Managers of organizations collect information from various sources and they use information which has been collected to make decisions. Secondly, information is used to influence and persuade. For example, Information is used in advertisement to persuade customers to buy commodities. Lastly, information can be a capital resource.

We learned to basic elements of information known as reach and richness. Reach can be defined as the number of people either at home or at work exchanging that information. Richness can be defines as amount of quality information shared in transaction. There are three components of richness. Those components are Bandwidth, customization and interactivity. Bandwidth is amount of information that can be moved from sender to receiver in a given time. Customization is when information is tailored an audience of particular size. Interactivity is the extent to which involved parties can converse.

I learned what computer network is. Computer network is simply a group of interconnected computer that are connected via hardware and software and able to communicate with each other. Also i learned that how do computer represent data. Bit is used in computer to represent data. Bit is the most basic unit if information in a computer. Bit uses only two digit to represent data which are 0 and 1. We learned five basic operations which a computer can perform. Those operations are input, output, processing, storage and communication. Three element must exist during data communication in a computer are sender, medium and receiver. People can use computer network for resource sharing. For instance one printer can be shared by more than one user. Computer network can be used for information sharing and promote communication and collaboration. For example users can communicate with each other by sending an email from one computer to another.

Input is any data or instruction entered into a memory of a computer. a good example of input is password. Also we learned what an input device is. Input device is any hardware component that allows users to enter data and instruction into a computer. Examples of inputs devices are mouse, scanner, keyboard, light pen and other else.

Input devices

Also we learned that output is the data that has been processed into a useful form. Output device is any type of hardware components that convey information to one or more people. Examples of output devices are monitor,printer, speaker and all display devices such as television.

output devices

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
The fist thing we learned in this week is about information management.we learned what information management is. information management can be defined as general terms that refer to managing any kind of information or is management and collection of information from one one or more sources and distribution of that information to one or more audience. Information can be found from sources such as paper documents,electronic documents,audio,video.also we learned there are types of information management system such as web content management,document management,records management,digital asset management,learning management system and learning content management system. another thing we have learned is problems associated with information management.information management can face various problem such as little coordination between information systems, large number of disparate information management systems,direct competition between information management systems, poor quality of information and other else.To implement what we learned in class, we were divided in groups and each group were given a topic to work for. my group was concerned with information management. we studied deeply when we were searching information regarding information management from various sources. sources which we uses to search information about information management are books, internet, library and magazine. This assignment of information management has expanded my knowledge since it gave me a chance to exercise my mind by searching information.

second thing we have learned is computer. we learned what is computer. computer is any programmable machine that carries out what it has been instructed to do. we learned five generation of computer and categories of computer.

GENERATION OF COMPUTER

computer has been improved gradual from first generation to the last generation.

PRE COMPUTER AND EARLY COMPUTER

Before 1940s people were using calculating devices known as abacus.

THE FIRST GENERATION:VACUUM TUBES

The first generation of computer was between 1940 and 1950. In this generation two kind of computers were made.The first computer was called ENIAC which was made in 1945 by us arm to perform calculation during world war two.Another computer was UNIVC. This was made in1950 as commercial computer.

THIS IS AN IMAGE OF UNIVAC.

SECOND GENERATION: TRANSISTORS

second generation was between 1964 and 1964. Replacement was made in this generation where vacuum tubes have been replaced by transistors

THIRD GENERATION: INTEGRATED CIRCUIT.

In this generation which was between 1963 and 1974.I have learned that microprocessor chips combined thousands of transistors, entire circuit on one computer chip.

FOURTH GENERATION

This generation is between 1974 until present, integrated circuits was more modified and the result of modification is occurrence of very large scale integration (VLSI) and ultra large scale integration (ULSI).

FIFTH GENERATION

This is last generation. This generation is between now and future .This generation use artificial intelligence where computer can think, reason and learn. primary means of input are voice and touch.

Also,in this week i leaned other thing like computer architecture,computer processing power, categories of computer, unit of measurement of speed and capacity of each part of computer. For instance speed is measures in hertz and capacity is measured byte. before i did not know about system unit and mother board i have learned it in second week where Mr. azamudin taught us what is mother mother board, system unit and there components.
I have learned why people rely on computer. things which cause people to rely on computer are speed, reliability, storage, communication.
I learned categories of computer. computer can categorized according to their size, capability and prize. six categories of computer i have learned are embedded computer, mobile devices,personal computer, mid range servers, main frames and super computer.
Embedded computer
This is min computer embedded into specific product for specific function.example of embedded computers are price checkers,digital cameras, digital timer on an oven and air condition,digital clock on washing machine and other else.