Expert systems act very similarly to human experts in certain fields. An expert system is software that uses a knowledge base of human expertise for problem solving, or to clarify uncertainties where normally one or more human experts would need to be consulted (1). Expert systems help companies all over the world increase their profit. For example, expert systems helped reduce raw material waste and it also helped increase profits for organizations. There are many types of expert systems and many different organizations throughout the world use them. Some examples of types of expert systems are repair, diagnosis, instruction, interpretation, prediction, monitoring and control, and classification.
An example of an organization that uses expert systems is the United States Army. The United States Army uses an expert system called Knowledge and Information Fusion Exchange. The Knowledge and Information Fusion Exchange expert system consolidates current, relevant irregular warfare data from numerous sources into a central web portal easily accessible by the United States and coalition war fighters anywhere in the world (2). By using this expert system, it makes it easier for the United States Army soldiers to access information on whatever battlefield they are fighting on so they are able to adapt to the new environment quicker. This also helps the military to make better decisions because they are able to make their decisions based on previous choices made by other military engagements.
The knowledge base is a very crucial part of expert systems. A knowledge base is a system of related concepts that enable the computer to approximate human judgment. The main purpose of the knowledge base is to provide the guts of the expert system—the connections between ideas, concepts, and statistical probabilities that allow the reasoning part of the system to perform an accurate evaluation of a potential problem (3). Having this knowledge base makes expert systems different from your everyday software applications. The knowledge base stores all of the information that the expert system uses. There are two ways to make up a knowledge base, which are using rules and using cases. If you are dealing with a knowledge base that involves rules, a statement that links actions to outcomes, then the knowledge base usually suggests certain conclusions. If the knowledge base uses cases, then the expert system is capable of developing a solution to the problem or situation at hand.
Expert systems are very beneficial because they can help any kind of organization and help solve problems and increase the profit brought in by these organizations.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expert_system
2. http://usjfcom.dodlive.mil/tag/knowledge-information-fusion-exchange/
3. http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9220/expert.htm
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
MIS
A management information system is a system that provides information needed to manage organizations effectively (1). Technology, information, and the people involved are the three primary resources involved with management information systems. There are four types of management information systems. These four types include: Transaction processing systems, management information systems, decision-support systems, and executive support systems. Management information systems have a few advantages. Management information systems allow the company to showcase their strengths and weaknesses because of the revenue reports, employee records, and other records and reports that have benefits for the company. By identifying these facets, it helps the company improve the processes and operations of the business. By using management information systems, the business is able to manage customer data. By managing customer data effectively, the company is capable of performing direct marketing. Direct marketing gives the customers exactly what they are looking for which enhances sales and helps the business in so many ways.
Management Information systems provide regular information to managers to allow them to make decisions based on data rather than guesses (2). This is so helpful because managers can advertise and make their product based on what the consumers want. It is much easier for the managers to make their decisions with data because they do not have to assume what the customers want; they know and have the information right in front of them. This data analysis, in which management information systems provide, plays a very significant role in the quality of the products and the business itself. Management information systems answer many questions for managers making their job much less stressful. It shows the manager what decisions to make and when to make these decisions. By having a quality and successful management information system, the managers of the businesses are able to make decisions when they are more informed about the situations instead of a disorganized state.
Management information systems provide a great deal of information on the past, present, and future and on relevant events inside and outside of the organization (3). Management information systems help organize the applications on the computer of the business. These applications on the business’ computer are not independent processing jobs, but they do so much for the business. By using these applications with management information systems, the manager’s job becomes so much easier because his decisions are practically made for him, the only thing that he has to do is follow through and complete the jobs.
Management Information systems provide regular information to managers to allow them to make decisions based on data rather than guesses (2). This is so helpful because managers can advertise and make their product based on what the consumers want. It is much easier for the managers to make their decisions with data because they do not have to assume what the customers want; they know and have the information right in front of them. This data analysis, in which management information systems provide, plays a very significant role in the quality of the products and the business itself. Management information systems answer many questions for managers making their job much less stressful. It shows the manager what decisions to make and when to make these decisions. By having a quality and successful management information system, the managers of the businesses are able to make decisions when they are more informed about the situations instead of a disorganized state.
Management information systems provide a great deal of information on the past, present, and future and on relevant events inside and outside of the organization (3). Management information systems help organize the applications on the computer of the business. These applications on the business’ computer are not independent processing jobs, but they do so much for the business. By using these applications with management information systems, the manager’s job becomes so much easier because his decisions are practically made for him, the only thing that he has to do is follow through and complete the jobs.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Electronic Business
Electronic business, or e-business, is defined may be defined as the application for information and communication technologies in support of all the activities of business (1). E-business is not the same thing as e-commerce; however e-commerce is a subset of e-business. E-business falls more into the category of the functions that go on while using electronic capabilities. E-commerce, as a subset of e-business, is more concerned with the revenue of the business by using Internet functions. Electronic Commerce is one of three subsets of electronic business. The other two subsets consist of internal business systems and enterprise communication and collaboration.
E-commerce is a term for any type of business or commercial transaction that involves the transfer of information across the Internet (2). E-commerce usually refers to the buying and selling of products on the Internet. However, it can also refer to more than that. E-commerce can in fact refer to the marketing of products online or even the process of developing and servicing a product. A large percentage of electronic commerce is conducted entirely in electronic form for virtual items such as access to premium content on a website (1).
There are two types of electronic commerce. These different types of e-commerce include business-to-business electronic commerce and business-to-consumer electronic commerce. Business¬¬ to business electronic commerce is companies buying from and selling to each other online. But there's more to it than purchasing (3). An example of a company that uses business-to-business electronic commerce is Dell. Business-to-business e-commerce helps Dell by quickly integrating with customers who are capable today and helping customers build a business-to-business solution for quicker consumption. Business-to-consumer electronic commerce is the process of buying and selling products using the Internet rather than methods like catalog orders or maintaining a brick or mortar establishment (4). One significant benefit to business-to-consumer electronic commerce is that the consumer has the ability to place orders for shopping at any time of the day because the online stores are programmed to allow orders to come in during any time. Another advantage to the business-to-consumer type of electronic commerce is that since you are buying or selling online, you can buy or sell products from all over the world as oppose to when you go to a store to buy something and having to physically be in the store.
I found the electronic commerce subset of electronic business to be fascinating because I feel that it truly showcases how technologically advanced the world of business has become over the years.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_business
2. http://www.networksolutions.com/education/what-is-ecommerce/
3. http://www.netessence.com.cy/downloads/b2b.pdf
4. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-business-to-consumer-e-commerce.htm
E-commerce is a term for any type of business or commercial transaction that involves the transfer of information across the Internet (2). E-commerce usually refers to the buying and selling of products on the Internet. However, it can also refer to more than that. E-commerce can in fact refer to the marketing of products online or even the process of developing and servicing a product. A large percentage of electronic commerce is conducted entirely in electronic form for virtual items such as access to premium content on a website (1).
There are two types of electronic commerce. These different types of e-commerce include business-to-business electronic commerce and business-to-consumer electronic commerce. Business¬¬ to business electronic commerce is companies buying from and selling to each other online. But there's more to it than purchasing (3). An example of a company that uses business-to-business electronic commerce is Dell. Business-to-business e-commerce helps Dell by quickly integrating with customers who are capable today and helping customers build a business-to-business solution for quicker consumption. Business-to-consumer electronic commerce is the process of buying and selling products using the Internet rather than methods like catalog orders or maintaining a brick or mortar establishment (4). One significant benefit to business-to-consumer electronic commerce is that the consumer has the ability to place orders for shopping at any time of the day because the online stores are programmed to allow orders to come in during any time. Another advantage to the business-to-consumer type of electronic commerce is that since you are buying or selling online, you can buy or sell products from all over the world as oppose to when you go to a store to buy something and having to physically be in the store.
I found the electronic commerce subset of electronic business to be fascinating because I feel that it truly showcases how technologically advanced the world of business has become over the years.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_business
2. http://www.networksolutions.com/education/what-is-ecommerce/
3. http://www.netessence.com.cy/downloads/b2b.pdf
4. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-business-to-consumer-e-commerce.htm
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
E-Books
E-books are arising as one of the most popular pieces of literary technology in the world. An e-book is a digital object with text or other contents that you would normally find in a hardcopy in the form of a book. E-books have in-use features that include the ability to search and cross reference different pieces of information. You have the ability to use hyperlink texts, bookmarks, annotations, highlights, multimedia objects, and even interactive tools. E-books are said to be one of the most significant developments in the literary world in hundreds of years. As incredible as the concept of the e-book is, it has developed greatly over the years that it has been around. In the beginning stages of the e-book, it did not quite reach the expectations. It was expected to make about a billion dollars, but only reached approximately twelve million dollars. Issues affected the e-book’s success greatly. Some examples of these issues include the Internet and the World Wide Web. However, over the past few years, the e-book has become more and more popular. The nature of the content has become extraordinary and the accessibility of the product has become much better. The vast improvement of these two aspects of the e-book has improved the popularity of the product because the advances have made this product take leaps ahead of the Internet and World Wide Web. E-books have risen largely in the academic world. Professors choose to use e-books in their classes instead of textbooks and other hardcopy books. The development of this product is making its movements to become better and more useful than laptops or any desktop computers. The product of the e-book has made unbelievable improvements, but it also has an outstanding future and can improve greatly and will have a great future. The market for the e-book seems as it will be able to mature in the next few years (1). Some examples of these e-books would be Sony Reader and Kindle 2. Academic publishers have embraced the concept of the e-book and will increase the demand by a great deal because these products are almost becoming second nature for professors. The e-book has had a great journey over the years and seems like it will only get better (2).
1. http://www.researchinformation.info/features/feature.php?feature_id=235
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-book
1. http://www.researchinformation.info/features/feature.php?feature_id=235
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-book
Cloud Computing
To use cloud computing means to use multiple server computers by using a digital network. Cloud computing is made up of six different layers. These layers consist of the provider, the client, the application, the platform, the infrastructure, and the server. These six layers all play a crucial role in the success of cloud computing. The cloud provider is the company that is responsible for the cloud service. The cloud client is made up of the computer hardware or software that relies on the services of cloud computing. The cloud application services, also known as Software as a Service, deliver the software as a service over the Internet. This eliminates the need to install or run the application on the customer’s own computers. The cloud platform, also known as Platform as a Service, delivers a computing platform as a service. The cloud infrastructure, also known as Infrastructure as a Service, delivers computer infrastructure as a service. The server is made up of computer hardware and software products that are specifically designed for the delivery of cloud services (1).
The layer of cloud computing that interests me the most is the cloud application services. One of the many key characteristics about cloud application services is has activities that are managed from central locations. Other services tend to have locations at customers sites. The purpose of this is to allow customers to access their applications on the Internet. Cloud application services include an application delivery that is usually closer to a “one-to-many model” than a “one-to-one” model. Software as a Service also has a centralized feature-updating perk. This prevents the need for downloadable patches and upgrades. Software as a Service also has a network-based access. This is different than your custom software because it was very beneficial for management (1). For cloud application services to work, there are a few things that they must have and must happen for everything to go smoothly with the services. True multi-tenancy is very important because it gets rid of many problems that traditional software could create. It also makes sure that the customer and the service are on the same version of software. A world-class data center and security system are also vital to the success of the cloud application services. This allows the customers to do their work on their own and not have to worry about any security issues (2). I found the nature of the cloud application services very interesting.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing
2. http://www.cloudave.com/11803/10-critical-requirements-for-cloud-applications/
The layer of cloud computing that interests me the most is the cloud application services. One of the many key characteristics about cloud application services is has activities that are managed from central locations. Other services tend to have locations at customers sites. The purpose of this is to allow customers to access their applications on the Internet. Cloud application services include an application delivery that is usually closer to a “one-to-many model” than a “one-to-one” model. Software as a Service also has a centralized feature-updating perk. This prevents the need for downloadable patches and upgrades. Software as a Service also has a network-based access. This is different than your custom software because it was very beneficial for management (1). For cloud application services to work, there are a few things that they must have and must happen for everything to go smoothly with the services. True multi-tenancy is very important because it gets rid of many problems that traditional software could create. It also makes sure that the customer and the service are on the same version of software. A world-class data center and security system are also vital to the success of the cloud application services. This allows the customers to do their work on their own and not have to worry about any security issues (2). I found the nature of the cloud application services very interesting.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing
2. http://www.cloudave.com/11803/10-critical-requirements-for-cloud-applications/
Monday, July 18, 2011
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