ISP 523: Fundamentals of Information Technology

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ISP 523 Fundamentals of Information Technology

• Instructor Stephen Lackey
• December 7, 2005

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Today

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

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Ok, Present already!

• Volunteers?
• Group 1
• Group 2
• Group 3

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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 youre
  aware of it or not

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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, govt)
• Car registration stickers, etc

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Barcodes (UPC shown below)
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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 youre buying what was scanned
• Washington Park you shouldnt have parked there

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Radio Frequency Identification
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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

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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)

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RFID

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

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Course Review

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

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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

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Main Themes - presentation

• Separation of structure from presentation
• HTML
• CSS
• Separation of data from structure
• XML/ RSS
• Other template systems (SSI)

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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

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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)

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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 15th via
  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.