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By Professor Omar Hasan Kasule Sr.
Learning Objectives
· Understanding the information revolution and its impact on medicine
· Understanding basic computer technology
· Limitations and ethics of information
Key Words and Terms
· Artificial Intelligence
· Bit
· Byte
· Central processing unit
· Computer hardware
· Computer language
· Computer Programs
· Computer Security
· Computer software
· Computer, mainframe
· Computer, minicomputer
· Computer, personal computer
· Computer, supercomputer
· Computer-assisted Decisions
· Computing Methodology
· Data dictionary
· Data set
· Database, hierarchical database
· Database, network database
· Database, relational database
· Information Retrieval
· Information Science
· Information Storage
· Information Systems
· Input device
· Internet
· Mathematical Computing
· Mathematical Statistics
· Medical Informatics
· Modem
· Network, Local Area Network
· Network, Metro Area Network
· Network, Wide Area Network
· Numerical Analysis
· Output device
· RAM
· Robotics
· Systems analysis
Unit Outline
INFORMATION REVOLUTION AND COMPUTER AGE:
A. Increased Generation and Use of Data
B. Storage of Large Data Sets
C. Processing Of Large Data Sets
D. Development of Statistical Methodology:
E. Development of Statistical Theory
INFORMATION SYSTEM
A. Components of an Information System
B. Database Management Systems
C. System Analysis and Design
D. Computer Programming
E. Ethical Problems
HISTORY OF COMPUTING
A. Ancient times
B. Earliest computing machine
C. The first computer
D. Mainframe and minicomputers
E. Personal computers
COMPUTER HARDWARE DEVELOPMENTS:
A. Types of Computers
B. Input and Output Devices
C. Central Processing Unit
D. Connectivity
E. Ergonomics
COMPUTER SOFTWARE:
A. Definition and Types of Software
B. Operating Systems
C. General Purpose Programs
D. Specialized Programs
E. Artificial Intelligence
UNIT SYNOPSIS
INFORMATION REVOLUTION AND THE COMPUTER AGE:
Data is used for operational, managerial and planning functions. Use of computers is facilitated by routine computerization of operational data. The invention of the computer enabling humans to handle large amounts of data has created an information revolution. New computers can manage (collection & storage) and analyze large amounts of data, a feat that was unthinkable a few years ago. The growth of computational techniques has enabled deeper and more sophisticated analyses. Availability of high speed and efficient computing has encouraged growth in statistical methodology and more sophisticated statistical analysis. This has in turn called for developments in statistical theory that is later translated into newer and more powerful analysis programs.
INFORMATION SYSTEM
An information system has 5 components: people, procedures software, hardware, and data. Database management systems (DBS) create, modify, and access data. Data elements are arrayed to make a record or an observation. Files are made up of several observations. Several files make a database. A data dictionary describes the structure of the data. A relational database is in the form of a table with rows and columns in the form of one-to-one. A hierarchical database is several layers of information in the form of one-to-many. A network database is a many-to-many architecture. A program is a series of instructions that the computer executes. Computer languages are at various levels of sophistication. Machine language and assembly language are in binary code. High level procedural languages are BASIC, Pascal, C, COBOL, and FORTRAN. Problem oriented languages are query languages used in searching databases. Natural language is usual human language that the computer cannot use directly. Ethical issues of privacy, accuracy, data ownership, data access, and security arise due to the large amount of personal information now kept on computers.
HISTORY OF COMPUTING
The Chinese discovered the abacus for making arithmetic computations easier. In 1882 John Shaw Billings invented the Hollerith punched card for processing US census results. The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC) was invented after World War II for ballistic calculations. The Digital Computer Company developed the first personal computer in 1965. The development of personal computers was the real computer revolution because it led to widespread availability of computers in homes and offices. This increased access of ordinary people to computing.
COMPUTER HARDWARE DEVELOPMENTS:
Computer can be microcomputers, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and supercomputers. Computer hardware consists of input devices, a central processor, output devices, and communication devices such as the modem. The central processing unit (CPU) is the calculating part of the computer. Data is stored as binary units (bits) either 0 or 1. Eight bits make a byte. A KB is 1024 bytes, MB is 106 bytes, GN is 1 billion bytes, and TB is 1 trillion bytes. Data in a computer is stored as files (sequential or random access) that are grouped in directories. RAM keeps data during the processing stage. Long-term memory is the hard disk, floppy disk, or CD-ROM. The modem is used to transfer data from one point to another. Communication channels can be telephone lines, co-axial cables, fiber optic cables, and microwaves. Microwaves operate over short distances and require satellites as relay stations. Computers may be interconnected in a local area network, LAN; a metro area network, MAN; or a wide area network, WAN. Ergonomic designs are used to avoid health problems due to working at computer workstations for long hours.
COMPUTER SOFTWARE:
Software consists of the operating system and the application programs. A statistical package is a collection of programs. There are three types of software: operating systems such as windows, general-purpose programs such as word processors and statistical packages, and futuristic programs. The most popular statistical packages are BMDP, SPSS, Minitab, Censtat, SAS, and GLIM. Epi-info and Egres are specific for epidemiology. Specialized programs may be graphics, communication, multimedia, and futuristic programs. Artificial intelligence is an attempt to simulate human thought and actions used in robotics, expert systems, and virtual reality. Knowledge-based or expert systems are programs that incorporate the human thought or problem-solving processes. Virtual reality, also called artificial reality or virtual environment, is used in entertainment and simulators that train aircraft pilots.
EXERCISES: JOURNAL STUDY
Using the internet of online databases identify and summarize
1. One article on the information revolution and its impact on medicine
2. One articles on artificial intelligence
3. One article on computer-based diagnosis