WK3 - Modules 4 To 5
WK3 - Modules 4 To 5
NCMB210: MODULES 4 TO 5
COMPUTER SOFTWARE John Von Neumann (1903 – 1957)
From Module 4 - Proposed that both data and instructions could be stored in the
- Software is a general term for the various kinds of programs computer and that the instructions could be automatically
used to operate computers and related devices. carried out.
- Software can be thought of as the variable part of a computer. - Stored program concept was subsequently implemented as a
- Software requires hardware, which is the physical substrate on major concept in the evolution of the computer.
which software exists and runs, and hardware is useless August 2, 1790
without software. - America’s founders decreed that a census be taken every 10
- The term software dates back to at least 1850. At that time, it years and the first census was done.
is referred to a type of garbage that would decompose, and 1860
hardware referred to garbage that would not decompose. The - Found out that manual method of processing census were
current usage dates back to at least 1958, when John W. Tukey, inadequate.
a highly influential statistician who held posts at both Joseph Jacquard
Princeton University and Bell Labs, used it in an article in the - A weaver from France and invented the Jacquard Loom
January 1958 issue of American Mathematical Monthly. Titled - Jacquard Loom - A device that uses blocks of wood with holes
the Teaching of Concrete Mathematics, he described software drilled in such a way that the threads to be woven into cloth
as the carefully planned interpretive routines, compilers, and could form a program to the loom.
other aspects of automotive programming. - The program varied the way the cloth was worked by the loom
- Software purposes: so that a particular design would be produces in the fabric.
• Translate instructions created in human language into Herman Hollerith (1860 – 1929)
machine language. - A weaver from France and invented the Jacquard Loom
• Packaged or stored software is needed to make the - Jacquard Loom - A device that uses blocks of wood with holes
computer an economic work tool. drilled in such a way that the threads to be woven into cloth
could form a program to the loom.
Types of Software - The program varied the way the cloth was worked by the loom
System Software so that a particular design would be produces in the fabric.
- System software is a program that manages and supports the Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper
computer resources and operations of a computer system while - Mother of Computing
it executes various tasks such as processing data and - Worked with the first digital mainframe computers (Mark I
information, controlling hardware components, and allowing and Mark II)
users to use application software. - Developed many concepts and mathematical foundations of
- That is, systems software functions as a bridge between computer programming science.
computer system hardware and the application software. - Debugging – checking the program to ensure that the
Basic Input and Output System (BIOS) computer is free of error.
- The BIOS software has a number of different roles, but its - Recognized that obscure assembly and machine-like
most important role is to load the operating system. When you programming languages limited access to the computer and
turn on your computer and the microprocessor tries to execute therefore the utility of the machines.
its first instruction, it has to get that instruction from - Her work formed the foundation for the first truly English-like
somewhere. It cannot get it from the operating system because language (COBOL)
the operating system is located on a hard disk, and the - Had an early vision of computers working independently and
microprocessor cannot get to it without some instructions that together so that more could be accomplished.
tell it how. The BIOS provides those instructions.
System software
Brief history of computer programming and software Operating Systems
Augusta Ada Byron (1815 – 1852) - Operating systems are the software component of a computer
- Countess of Lovelace system that is responsible for the management and
- Mathematician who described the concept of a stored coordination of activities and the sharing of the resources of
computer program. the computer.
- Loop Concept - Use of automatic repetitious arithmetic steps - The operating system acts as a host for applications that are
that the analytical engine would follow to solve a problem. run on the machine. As a host, one of the purposes of an
- First programmer in computer history. operating system is to handle the details of the operation of the
Charles Babbage (1792 – 1871) hardware.
- Invented (but never built) a device that he named the - This relieves application programs from having to manage
analytical machine. these details and makes it easier to write applications.
- It could perform mathematical functions and instructions - Almost all computers, including handheld computers, desktop
communicated the machine. computers, supercomputers, and even video game consoles,
use an operating system of some type.
- Common examples are Microsoft Windows and Linux / Unix.
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NURSING INFORMATICS: WEEK 3 – MODULES 4 TO 5
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The primary propositions of the theory are the following: - Feedback within system is typically used as part of a system’s
• A system takes an input on which to perform processes self-regulation function.
• The processes performed by a system on input result in - In computer system, feedback components are important
system output functions of the OS and utility programs.
• The processes in a system are subject to control forces
• Feedback is the key mechanism of control in a system Systems Classification
• A system’s parts interact in such a way that the parts are Closed System
interdependent with respect to the system’s process - defined as a system that exhibits several characteristics. A
• Impingement on one part in a system will produce effects closed system is clearly differentiated from all other systems
on the system’s processes and may produce distortions on and factors in its environment. Its boundaries are clearly
other parts of the system. defined and rigid. It has sealed boundaries that separate it from
the rest of the environment. Access to the closed system is
• Distortion in one part of a system may be a symptom of a
highly restricted, because the only inputs acceptable to the
problem in another component (secondary malfunction)
system are from another part of itself.
• Correlation of a malfunctioning part will correct the
- A closed system has to be self-sufficient, because any input
system functioning only if the malfunction was a primary
from the external environment is a threat to the integrity of a
malfunction and not a secondary malfunction
closed system. It does not need an internal source to help rid of
• Effects on the system’s processing function will affect the
its output or waste products.
system’s output
- An example of a closed system in nursing is the chest tube
• A system is more than the sum of its parts. If the parts of drainage system. The components of the system are dependent
the system will function independently, the system no to each other to achieve the common goal. If the integrity of
longer exists: the tubes will be compromised, air (an external factor) will
- The functioning of the system is different than the enter the system and the desirable results will not be realized.
functioning of its separate parts Open System
- The output of each separate parts, even if combined, - a system that exhibits integration, fluid or fuzzy boundaries
does not equal the output of the system and interaction with environments. They need not be self-
- When combined into a system, the component parts regulating although they might exhibit that characteristic. An
form an entirely new entity open system overlaps other systems and may be a subsystem
within a larger system. It is sometimes difficult to identify the
Elements of the System boundaries of an open system because boundaries are
Interdependent parts permeable to external influences rather than sealed against
- Without the interaction of the parts, the system process could them.
not occur. In computer systems, the process involves - Intrauterine circulation of the fetus is an example of an open
mathematical, logical or data transfer operations interacting system. Fetuses exhibit a certain degree of circulatory
among its components. independence but it needs interaction with the permeable
Input components of the maternal blood for nourishment, respiration
- Input is any feed from the system’s external environment. and excretion. Similarly, adults have basic needs (air, water,
- Input in a computer system may serve to initiate computer food, medication) coming from an outside source.
functioning, as when the machine is turned on and the OS is
loaded into RAM. Information Systems
Process - a set of people, procedures and resources that collects,
- Process is the activity of the system. A system perform transforms and disseminates information in an organization; a
process on its inputs to produce outputs or some sort of results. system that accepts data resources as input and processes them
- Process in a computer system can be seen in the example of a into information products as output; a system that uses the
presentation graphic system. resources of hardware, software and people to perform input,
Output processing, output, storage and control activities (key pieces)
- Output is any end product or waste produced as a result of the that transform data resources into information products; a
system process. purposefully designed system that brings data, computers,
- The output in a presentation graphic system, for example, procedures, and people together to manage information
might be an electronic file (softcopy) stored on D hard drive or important to an organization's mission.
removable storage.
Control Types of Information Systems
- Control refers to any component or activity that serves to Transaction Processing System (TPS)
prevent or correct problems or errors in a system’s input, - TPS records daily routine transactions such as diagnostic exam
process, or output. requests from clients. TPS are vital for the organization, as
- A system must function with rules and procedures. In they gather all the input necessary for other types of systems.
computer systems, variety of control facilities exists within the TPS provide the basic input to the company's database. A
OS. failure in the TPS often means disaster for the organization.
Feedback Knowledge Work System (KWS)
- is the output from one part of the system process that serves as - KWS supports highly skilled knowledge workers in the
input to another part of the system process. creation and integration of new knowledge into the company.
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Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems, for example, used by - Track the accuracy of is predictions and judgments and alter
product designers not only allow them to easily make its own decision-making rules, based on new knowledge it
modifications without having to redraw the entire object (just generates for itself.
like word processors for documents), but also enable them to Natural Language System
test the product without having to build physical prototypes. - Used to recognize and process human speech (voice) and/ or
Office Automation System (OAS) handwriting.
- OAS support general hospital work for handling and managing
documents and facilitating communication. Text and image Hospital Information Systems
processing systems evolved from word processors to desktop - Hospital information systems (HIS) is a computer system that
publishing, enabling the creation of professional documents is designed to manage all the hospital’s medical and
with graphics and special layout features. administrative information in order to enable health
- Spreadsheets, presentation packages like powerpoint, personal professional perform their jobs effectively and efficiently.
database systems and note-taking systems (appointment book, - Hospital information systems were first developed in the
notepad, cardfile) are part of OAS. 1960s and have been an essential part in hospital information
Management Information System (MIS) management and administration.
- MIS generates information for monitoring performance (e.g. - Early systems consisted of large central computers connected
productivity information) and maintaining coordination (e.g. to dumb terminals, which are now being replaced by
between purchasing and accounts payable). networked microcomputers. The systems were used to manage
- MIS extract process and summarize data from the TPS and patient finance and hospital inventory. An excellent example
provide periodic (weekly, monthly, quarterly) reports to of HIS is the new Microsoft Amalga.
administrators (e.g. hospital managers, nurse managers).
Decision Support System (DSS) Microsoft Amalga Hospital Information System (HIS)
- DSS supports analytical work in semi-structured or - the new version of Hospital 2000, is a state-of-the-art,
unstructured situations. They enable managers to answer integrated hospital information system designed to meet the
"What if?" questions by providing powerful models and tools needs of developing and emerging markets. Amalga HIS
(simulation, optimization) to evaluate alternatives (e.g. delivers a complete, agile hospital information system that is
evaluating alternative care plans). flexible, affordable and intuitive. This scalable, integrated
- DSS are user-friendly and highly interactive. Although they HIS:
use data from the TPS and MIS, they also allow the inclusion o Manages all hospital functions with one affordable,
of new data, often from external sources, such as current share integrated solution
prices or prices of competitors. o Helps improve operational efficiency, care quality and
Executive Support System (ESS) patient experience by providing staff with a single,
- provide a generalized computing and communication customized view of healthcare information
environment to senior managers to support strategic decisions. o Helps improve care quality and the patient experience by
- They draw data from the MIS and allow communication with providing clinicians with a single, customizable view of
external sources of information. But unlike DSS, they are not patient data across all encounters to enable more informed
designed to use analytical models for specific problem solving. decision-making and faster throughput.
- ESS is designed to facilitate senior managers' access to
information quickly and effectively. Program Modules of HIS
Bibliographic retrieval system - HIS offers variety of administrative applications. Clinical
- Retrieval system that generally refers to bibliographic data, support programs are increasingly being viewed as the
document information, or literature. critically important modules in an HIS.
Stand-alone, Dedicated, or Turnkey System - Semi clinical Modules
- A special purpose system designed for a single application or Order-Entry System
set of functions. - Its main function is to monitor and sometimes control the flow
Physiologic Monitoring System (PMS) of patients in a hospital from admission to discharge.
- monitor vital physiologic parameters so that clinicians can be Order-Entry-Results Reporting Module (OE)
informed of changes in a patient's condition. They typically - OE is almost always available in all HIS. This enables the staff
consist of several distinct components, including a central to enter laboratory, pharmacy and radiology orders, results and
station, bedside monitors, and ambulatory telemetry reports online.
transmitters and receivers.
Decision support system Clinical Modules
- Work with the user to support, but not replace, human Charting Systems
judgment in a decision-making situation. - Usually included are the medication reports, admission
Expert system assessment, shift assessment, special assessments and some
- Designed for users to stimulate cause and effect reasoning that elements of the nursing care plan. Charting systems are
an expert would use if confronted with the same situation in a variable due to lack of universally implemented standard
real live environment. nursing language.
Artificial Intelligence System Point of Service Systems (POS)
- Attempts to model human reasoning processes. - POS are special type of clinical system that uses hand-held or
bedside PC to ensure that the data are entered at the point at
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Network Systems
- A network is a set of interconnected computers that through
the hardware and software technology, work cooperatively for
the purpose of information and application program
interchange.
- The central concept of network science is cooperation. All
computers in a network must function in an interdependent
way. Moreover, it must have software that can interpret the
signals it receives and a set of communication rules. The rules
are written into system software programs called protocols or
networking software.
- Network systems are keys to the effective functioning of most
hospital computer systems.
- Types of Networks:
• Local Area Network (LAN) - The computers are
geographically close together (that is, in the same
building).
• Wide Area Network (WAN) - The computers are farther
apart and are connected by telephone lines or radio waves.
• Campus Area Network (CAN) - The computers are within
a limited geographic area, such as a campus or military
base.
• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) - A data network
designed for a town or city.
• Home Area Networks (HAN) - A network contained
within a user's home that connects a person's digital
devices.
Terms
• Computer System - is used to describe the set of peripherals,
computer box, and the software that together perform
computing functions to achieve common goal.
• Information Systems (IS) - a set of people, procedures and
resources that collects, transforms and disseminates
information in an organization; a system that accepts data
resources as input and processes them into information
products as output; a system that uses the resources of
hardware, software and people to perform input, processing,
output, storage and control activities (key pieces) that
transform data resources into information products; a
purposefully designed system that brings data, computers,
procedures, and people together to manage information
important to an organization's mission.
• Hospital information systems (HIS) - a computer system that
is designed to manage all the hospital’s medical and
administrative information in order to enable health
professional perform their jobs effectively and efficiently.
• Network - a set of interconnected computers that through the
hardware and software technology, work cooperatively for the
purpose of information and application program interchange.
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