Week 12: Clear

This week we learned about information systems. While enjoying this topic, the area I found to be most clear was the System Development Life Cycle also known as the SDLC. The SDLC consists of five phases: Planning, Analysis, Design, Implementation, and Operating, Support, and Security. System development is a collaboration of representatives from many different departments all of which bring different talents and skills to the table. These activities and representatives come together to complete the system.

System Development Life Cycle is extremely important in the business environment because it creates solutions to problems. When I company foresees a change in process or a problem which needs to be modified or improved, the Cycle begins. It allows ateam of professionals to brainstorm and eventually develop a system to assist in correcting or streamlining the issue.

While attempting to better understand the topic of SDLC, I came across a very well written article about this topic. The website which housed this article is located at http://ezinearticles.com/?Definition-of-SDLC-and-Its-Phases&id=2817306.

Database Project

The database project using Microsoft Access was a challenging, yet interesting, project. While completing this project I learned how to successfully create a database by either manually inputing data or by importing external data. Once my database was created I learned how to change the format to fit my purpose and desire. Now that I had my data just they way I wanted it, I learned how to complete queries and present my queried data in a report or form view. By completing this project I feel that I have learned the necessary skills to work with Access in the future.

If I were given the option to modify this database, I would set the membership type to auto fill when you begin typing. Since you only have two options, Individual and Family, this would save a great deal of extra typing. This would be accomplished by setting up a combobox and adding a dropdown list which contained your default values. In addition to this I would setup the gender field to only allow Male or Female. This would be accompished by setting up a validation rule in the design view. I would also add validation text to pop up if any other data was input. This would let the user know what error was being made.

Week 11: Clear

After reading chapter 10 and reviewing this weeks lectures, the concept I found most clear was relational databases. A relational database stores information and organizes it into a two dimensional table. When designing a database, most programmers will use a process called normalization. This process helps to insure the least amount of redundancy.

Relational databases are very important for businesses. A business may use a relational databases for task such as payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory, and many other functions. This database help the company stay  organized which ultimately will lead to more profitablity.

While do more research on relational databases, I came across a website located at http://www.howstuffworks.com/question599.htm which explains the history of databases. While reading this information, I learned that databases began in 1970 and were originate by IBM.

Week 10: Clear

This week the concept which I found to be very clear and educational was Communications Devices. There are many different devices used to transmit and receive data. The most common devices are Dial-Up Modems, ISDN, DSL, and Cable modems. A Dial-Up Modem uses a homes telephone line to transmit and receive data. An ISDN modem sends information to an ISDN line and receives information from an ISDN line. A DSL modem uses a DSL line to transmit and receive data and a Cable modem uses a homes cable tv line to transmit and receive data.

These devices are instrumental in the success of a business. Without the use of a Communications device a business could not transmit and receive data. A good example of this is a banks ATM machine. When you use the machine it transmits the transaction to the main computer to verify the information, then receives data from the main computer on how to proceed.

An article I found on WiFi Notes.com located at http://www.wifinotes.com/computer-networks/network-communication-devices.html did an excellent job of elaborating on the hardware involved in communications devices as well as the process associated with each.