INFORMATICS PRACTICES

Course Contents

• Computer organization (basic concepts): CPU, Memory (RAM and ROM), I/O devices, communication bus, ports (serial, parallel), device specific ports;
• Input devices: Keyboard, Mouse, Light pen, Touch screen, Graphics Tablet, Joystick, Microphone, OCR, Scanner, Smart Card reader, Barcode reader, Biometric sensor, Web camera;
• Output Devices: Monitor/Visual Display Unit (VDU), LCD screen, Television, Printer (Dot Matrix Printer, Deskjet/ Inkjet/ Bubble jet Printer, Laser Printer), Plotter, Speaker;
• Secondary Storage Devices: Floppy disk, Hard disk, Compact disk, Magnetic tape, Digital Versatile disk (DVD), Flash drive, Memory cards.Comparative properties of storage media;
• Memory Units: bit, byte (Kilobyte, Megabyte, Gigabyte, Terabyte, Petabyte)
• E-waste disposal

Security of computer system
Sources of attack and possible damages, malware - virus, worms, trojan, spyware- and their propagation,
cookies as security threat, malware detection using a tool.Computer security, Digital certificate, Digital signature, firewall, password, file access permissions

• Operating systems: Need for operating system, major functions of Operating System; Examples of OS for mainframe, PC/Server, and mobile devices.
• Language Processors: Assembler, Interpreter, and Compiler

• General Purpose Application Software: Word Processor, Presentation Tool, Spreadsheet Package, Database Management System, Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
• Specific Purpose Application software: Inventory Management System, Purchasing System, Human Resource Management System, Payroll System, Financial Accounting, Hotel Management and Reservation System, etc.

• Introduction, Rapid Application Development using IDE (Integrated Development Environment); Familiarization of IDE using basic Interface components- Label, Text Field, Text Area, Button, Checkbox, Radio Button.
• Developing General Application (As per the guidelines at appendix B) - Getting Familiar with Java Swing User Interface components-Frame, Dialog, Option Pane, Panel, Scroll Pane, Label, Text Field, Password Field, Text area, Button, Check Box, Radio Button, Combo Box, List.
• Basic component handling methods and properties: setText(), getText(), is Selected(), set Selected()

• Data Types: Concept of data types; Built-in data types - byte, short, int, long, float, double, char, String, boolean
• Variables: Need to use variable, declaring variables, variable naming convention, assigning value to variables;
• Integer object method: parseInt
• Double object method: parseDouble, parseFloat
• Control structures:
• Decision structure - if, if-else, switch;
• Looping structure- while, do . . while, for;

• General concepts; modular approach;
• Stylistic guidelines: clarity and simplicity of expressions and names; comments, indentation;
• Running and debugging programs, syntax errors, run-time errors, logical errors;
• Problem solving methodology: Understanding of the problem, Identifying minimum number of inputs required for output, breaking down problem into simple logical steps.

Database Management System

• Introduction to database concepts: database, relational database, relation/table, attribute/field, tuple / row;
• Data types: Text (CHAR, VARCHAR), Number (DECIMAL, INT/INTEGER), Date and Time
• Keys: candidate key, primary key, alternate key, foreign key;
• Examples of common Database Management System:MySQL, Ingres, Postgres, Oracle, DB2, MS SQL, Sybase, etc.; Common Database management tools for mobile devices.

Introduction to MySQL

• Classification of SQL Commands:
  DML - SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE
  DDL - CREATE, DROP, ALTER
• Creating and using a database: SQL CREATE command to create a database, USE command to select a database.
• Creating a table: CREATE command to create a table, DESC command to display a table structure, INSERT command for inserting new rows, inserting new rows with null values and values of all the studied data types.
• Displaying table data: SELECT command for selecting all the columns, selecting specific column(s) using arithmetic operators, operator precedence.
• Defining and using column alias.
• Eliminating duplicate values from display using DISTINCT keyword
• Limiting rows during selection (using WHERE clause)
• Using comparison operators - =, <, >, <=, >=, <>, BETWEEN, IN, LIKE(%,_);
• Logical operators -AND, OR, NOT and corresponding operator precedence;
• Working with NULL values.
• ORDER BY clause: Sorting in ascending/descending order, sorting by column alias name, sorting on multiple columns;
• Manipulating data of a table/relation: update command to change existing data of a table, delete command for removing row(s) from a table.
• Restructuring a table: ALTER TABLE for adding new column(s) and deleting column (s);

Functions in My SQL:

• String Functions: ASCII(), CHAR(), CONCAT(), INSTR(), LCASE(), UCASE(), LEFT(), LOWER(), LENGTH(), LTRIM(), MID(), RIGHT(), RTRIM(), SUBSTR(), TRIM(),UPPER(), ASCII()
• Mathematical Functions: - POWER(), ROUND(), TRUNCATE().
• Date and Time Functions: CURDATE(), DATE(), MONTH(), YEAR(), DAYNAME(), DAYOFMONTH(), DAYOFWEEK(), DAYOFYEAR(), NOW(), SYSDATE().

IT Applications

• e-Governance: Definition, benefits to citizens, e-Governance websites and their salient features and societal impacts; e-Governance challenges.
• e-Business: Definition, benefits to customers and business, e-Business websites and their salient features and societal impacts; e-Business challenges.
• e-Learning: - Definition; benefits to students (learners), teachers (trainers) and school (institution) management; e-Learning websites and their salient features and societal impacts; e-Learning challenges.
• In each of the above domains, identify at least two real-life problems, list the input(s) required for the expected output(s), and describe the problem solving approach.
• Impact of ICT on society - social and economic benefits, infomania.