ISP 523: Fundamentals of Information Technology

1. ISP 523: Fundamentals of Information Technology Instructor: Stephen Lackey December 7, 2005

2. Today • Presentations • Course wrap-up • How we tag ourselves • Barcodes • RFID: brief mention • Course Review • Final Exam notes • Time for questions, extra help, etc.

3. Ok, Present already! • Volunteers? • Group 1 • Group 2 • Group 3

4. 30 second talks about things I think you should know about • Automated Identification (AutoID) • Barcodes • RFID • Does this have anything to do with the Web? • Not really, but this is an intro class and you use this technology every day whether you’re aware of it or not

5. AutoID • How we tag ourselves and our stuff so that computers can read them • Users: • Automated Supply Chain Management (transportation, warehousing, distribution of goods, and EDI to track it all) • DoD: Inventory control • Document tracking (Law offices, gov’t) • Car registration stickers, etc

6. Barcodes (UPC shown below)

7. Barcodes as AutoID • Alternating bands of black and white to be read by specific readers to convert into numbers / letters • First uses: grocery stores (checkout lines) • Inventory control • Document management • Allows presence of item to be quickly recorded by computer, the reading of which subject to interpretation by usage • Checkout line: you’re buying what was scanned • Washington Park: you shouldn’t have parked there

8. Radio Frequency Identification

9. RFID • Radio Frequency ID tags • Like barcodes, but using short range radio • No direct line of sight required. Can scan tagged items in your pocket / pocketbook (like newer passports) • Radio waves activate tiny transmitter that sends ID code to receiver • Can scan without your knowledge / consent

10. RFID and Privacy • Tags can cost 10 – 30 cents: soon to cost 5 cents • Expensive products can be tagged – computer printers, cosmetics, or other small, expensive goods • Great for inventory control • What happens when you throw goods away? • Dumpster divers know you bought something expensive without going for a plunge! (more a problem in urban areas)

11. RFID • Active • Shipping Containers • Passive • Computer printers • Other costly merchandise • Semi-passive • Pallets • EZ-Pass tags

12. Course Review • Web Technologies (HTML, CSS) • Content Management (CMS, XML, graphics) • Data Organization (connectivity, convergence, AutoID)

13. Main themes - data • Organization of data: • Lists, simple and complex (nested) lists • Tables • Management of data • Content management systems • Data archiving, data compression • Image types and management

14. Main Themes - presentation • Separation of structure from presentation • HTML • CSS • Separation of data from structure • XML/ RSS • Other template systems (SSI)

15. Main themes - communication • Computing and networks • Browsers • HTML • CSS • Client / Server • Web servers (Apache, others) • Other Application Servers (email, etc) • The rise of “Social software” • Instant messaging • Blogging • Wikis / other WCMS • Social Bookmarking

16. Main Themes – Connectivity and Convergence • Connectivity • Signal sharing between computing devices (wires) • Data sharing (bits) • Convergence • Different technologies brought together to solve problems (fax machines, camera phones)

17. Final Exam • Take-home final to be distributed via Web by December 9th. Alternate arrangements can be made if necessary. • Exam must be returned by 3 pm, December 15thvia email,or in person in Draper Hall dept office. • Exam will be open-book, and similar format to prior tests. • Check class home page for updates or news.