TechKnowledge

INFORMATION APPLIANCES - EASY ONLINE ACCESS

An information appliance is a specialized computer that is built with embedded systems, which can be any of the following: operating systems, DBMSs, application systems, or Web browsers. It provides wireless connectivity to the Internet and perhaps to corporate systems. The increasing popularity of PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), or handheld systems, is one indication of the growth of this technology. It's other devices, however, that make this an interesting topic. New, improved Web tablets and smartphones are looking good. And a new device, a smart display, has just appeared.

Web Tablets, or Tablet PCs
Web tablets have been available for several years, but the new ones coming out are lightweight, easy to use, and actually a lot of fun! Users can write the way they naturally write, and change ink color, use highlighters, erase, italicize, draw diagrams, work in portrait or landscape, etc. In addition, users can annotate documents and view files and/or Websites. Not only that, but many of the devices have microphones so they also accept voice input. Just picture having all the notes you take – or say - during a meeting automatically stored for reference and revision. Imagine being able to draw a diagram and have it transmitted to all the meeting participants who can add their own suggestions and revisions. When the meeting is over and you review your notes, you can attach a keyboard and type additions and revisions. With operating systems (including Microsoft's Windows XP Web Tablet edition) and wireless connectivity, you can check email, calendar and contacts, view websites, images and videos, and use Windows compatible programs to write email, documents and create spreadsheets.

Web tablets use "digital ink," which is a new data type. Each pen (stylus) stroke with its associated properties (color, author, width, text translation, etc.) can be manipulated, stored and accessed just like conventional text data. This means that ink can be used for email, instant messaging, highlighting, annotation, and traditional text entry, to list only a few possibilities.

Web tablets are categorized as pure tablets (or slate tablets), with touch screens that work with pen and stylus only, or as convertible tablets that have an add-on keyboard and can function as a regular laptop. Both offer better mobility than a laptop as they can be used in situations where laptops don't work well. You can take notes while standing or walking. They're great in meetings where typing is unacceptable, and they're easier to use in crowded spaces. Whether or not they will become a popular choice for business men and women depends on a lot of things, including the accuracy of the handwriting recognition software and price. Right now tablet PCs are pricey!

Smartphones
Smartphones have been referred to as transformer devices, named after the 1980s toys that could be transformed from e.g. a car to a robot with a few turns and clicks. Well, you can buy a cell phone that becomes a PDA when you flip open the cover. No one wants to carry around two devices, and companies have been working on the combination device for several years. Best example of use – imagine looking in your address book for a phone number and having it instantly set to dial with the push of a button. Or, look up an email address and get the message screen – address already filled in. These devices function as phones, provide Internet, email, and messaging capabilities, act as PDAs with built in address books, calendars, etc., and take pictures! There's no doubt that these devices will be successful.

Smart Displays
A smart display is a computer/monitor intended for home use. It uses Wi-Fi wireless technology to network with a host computer that can be as much as 150 feet away. Most smart displays use a stylus and touch-sensitive screen, include hand-writing recognition software, and have an on-screen keyboard. This means that the monitor can be carried from room to room for email, surfing the Web, or any other operation you're comfortable working on with these tools. These devices run Windows CE for Smart Displays, and when you're using them the host computer cannot be used. This does mean that you've bought two computers and two operating systems and can only use one of them at a time, but if this doesn't bother you, you do have the flexibility of surfing the Web from your living room couch, or the swing on the back porch. These are new in 2003, and it remains to be seen if they will be successful. Again, price could be a drawback.

Other Devices
Don't forget the set-top boxes, e-book readers, kiosks, and smart photo-frames. And keep your eyes open for whatever will come next. Wireless technology allows us to create truly mobile devices that do not require physical connectivity. This opens the door for imagination, initiative, and technology. There's definitely going to be more to come.


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Exciting Spring Offers!

Special Combo Pricing
We're working on the proofs for the 14th edition of Computers: Systems, Terms and Acronyms, and are really happy with the book. We've missed it too, but went to TechRef to be able to take advantage of the computer and the Internet – to provide daily updates, cross referencing, drill down capabilities, quick searching with multiple arguments, and unlimited room for information. Now, with the print copy of the book and the online database, you can get the best of both worlds. The book gives you quick and easy access to systems coverage and definitions of the most common terms and acronyms. The online database provides everything included in the book, plus all the detail, advanced search capabilities, and organizational functions that provide lists of similar products.

Our special combo pricing lets you purchase both products for the price of the online database alone - $99. This offer is only good for the first 250 paid orders, and they're going quickly. You'll get immediate access to TechRef, and your book will be shipped as soon as we get them from the printer.

Free Combos for March Seminars
We're also going to provide the combo to all participants in the Chicago CSTA seminar on March 13th and 14th, the DC seminar on March 17th and 18th, and the NYC area seminar on March 24th and 25th. Register today to get your combo at no charge. And, get two days of instructor-led coverage of today's technical environments - in plain English, with time to ask all your questions. Although the book won't be back from the printer by then, we want everyone to share our excitement, and will send participants the book as soon as we get it.

Another CSTA Seminar added in the DC Area
Scheduling seminars to meet the needs of large numbers of people is always difficult. We've been working with several companies in the DC area who want training before the next scheduled session. We have all agreed on March 17th and 18th, have the hotel scheduled, and are ready to go! If you're in the DC area, check out this new date. You'll get the training before you expected it – and you too will get the CSTA/TechRef combo.

It does seem that 2003 is going to be better – the technical world is simmering with new technology and products (see Information Appliances article and TechCheck quiz). It's going to be a fun year.

To register for any of our seminars, call us at (407.830.5400) or go to SemCo Enterprises to register over the Web.

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TechCheck

1. We know disks hold a lot of data – but just how big are they?

2. What are the hottest technical certifications?

3. What's a federated database?

4. Which of the following does not belong:

a. iSeries
b. pSeries
c. xSeries
d. ySeries
e. zSeries

Short Connectivity Vocabulary

Programs and systems have to work together. ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems have to provide information to eCommerce systems that provide information to CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems. This software must be integrated with an interface that is part of the infrastructure. Understanding these terms and the different types of connectivity programs can be confusing.

adapter A type of program written to connect specific vendor packages with other application systems. Describes certain middleware programs, specifically part of EAI (Enterprise Application Integration) systems. Software written for specific vendor supplied packages includes ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems, databases, languages, operating systems, and even other middleware systems. This software allows different information resources to seamlessly connect to the broker.

agent A type of program written to perform specific tasks to access remote sites or run in the background. Once an agent is started it continues to run until it decides to stop. Agents also learn from their environment, and will adjust activity based on findings. Commonly used in networking, where agents monitor applications locally and pass information to system management software running at a central site. In Web applications, agents are used for such things as finding the lowest fare airline tickets. In EAI (Enterprise Application Integration) systems, agents work with brokers and actually integrate the diverse systems. They perform conversions and manage the business processes. In other applications, agents try to interpret what needs to be done, and provide assistance. Microsoft's Word uses an agent to ask, "Are you writing a letter?" and then provide hints. Wizards provided by many different programs are also examples of agents. Also see intelligent (or smart) agent.

API (Application Program Interface) Communication software. A set of routines, protocols, and other tools used to integrate two pieces of code to provide the interface between application programs and support programs: operating systems, database management systems, and communications software. Programmers write calls according to the rules of the API to use services such as data access and screen displays. Each specific operating system, or support software has its own APIs, and this can cause problems if, for example, a program had to access data from two different databases. Therefore in addition to specific APIs, general APIs have been written to provide cross-platform, and multi-database connectivity. ODBC and JDBC are examples of APIs that have been written to provide access to many different databases, and software that is "ODBC compliant" can access multiple databases.

broker A type of program written to process requests for services from other programs. Term used with middleware and specifically with EAI (Enterprise Application Integration) software. The broker resides on a server and processes the requests from the users. It provides security and monitors activity. There are several types of brokers including integration brokers and information brokers.

dashboard Design architecture. A user interface that organizes information in a manner that is easy to use. Often used to refer to a screen display that integrates information from diverse sources, including operating systems, networks, and one or more applications. First developed by Hewlett-Packard.

EAI (Enterprise Application Interface) Communications. Middleware products that integrate products from different vendors and different applications. It includes middleware, messaging, and database software, and provides the infrastructure for ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), especially when building ERP from different vendors. It's used on the Internet to connect Web browser front-ends to eapplications and legacy systems.

infrastructure Infrastructure refers to the connections between the parts of a system. System infrastructure is a combination of hardware (the physical infrastructure that is comprised of cables and equipment), and software (the middleware and software tools). Another way of looking at it is by comparison. The infrastructure of a city is how you get around the city – the roads, subways, bridges, etc. The infrastructure of a computer system is how data gets around the system – the hardware and the software.

integration Terminology. In Information Technology, integration means providing the hardware and/or software - usually software - that makes separate products function as one. Some IT companies offer integration services, or are described as systems integrators. These companies specialize in building an environment in which diverse operating systems, databases, and network systems all work together to support the application systems.

interface Terminology. In Information Technology, an interface is a hardware or software element that is used to provide access to a computing resource. For example a GUI (Graphic User Interface) is the programming that provides access to systems via a mouse, touchscreen, or any other device that works with point and click actions.

middleware Communication software that connects heterogeneous computer environments. Supports multiple protocols. Used in client-server environments to connect the front-end client GUI (Graphics User Interface) systems with the back-end server database managers. Allows queries to multiple databases through a standard interface. Uses common APIs (Application Program Interfaces). There are several types of middleware: remote procedure call, message passing, conversation, legacy middleware, object-oriented middleware and transaction server.

portal High level Websites that allow browsers a one-stop location to start Web searches. Called gateway sites, as they provide a gateway to other sites. There are various kinds of portals. AOL, Excite, Netcenter (Netscape) and Yahoo are general interest portals. Other portals have been built around specific interests such as sports, women's issues, the stock market, etc. Companies are building their own portals called EIPs (Enterprise Information Portals) as gateways to their own applications, documents, reports, etc. as well as Internet sites.

server Server is a broad term that is used for many things. First of all, it describes both hardware and software. Server software is any program that makes anything – data, other programs, services, devices – available to any other program. A server computer is any computer that runs server software, though the term is usually used to refer to small enterprise systems. These systems are often dedicated to a single function and are referenced as, e.g. database servers, Web servers, file servers, application servers, etc.

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Training Schedule

Computers: Systems, Terms And Acronyms

March Chicago: 13,14 / DC area: 17,18 / NYC area: 24,25
April Boston: 7,8 / Atlanta: 28,29
May DC: 29,30
June Chicago: 9,10 / NYC area: 23,24

Webinars

All Webinars are 90 minutes and listed start times are ET (Eastern Time)

Understanding IT Jobs

March 3 (11:00 am) / 20 (1:00 pm)
April 2 (11:30 am)
May 5 (11:00 am)
June 4 (1:00 pm)

Platforms

March 3 (3:00 pm)
April 2 (1:30 pm)
May 5 (3:00 pm)
June 4 (11:00 am)

Development

March 4 (11:00 am)
April 3 (1:00 pm)
May 6 (11:00 am)
June 5 (9:30 am)

Files and Databases

March 4 (1:00 pm)
April 3 (11:00 am)
May 6 (1:00 pm)
June 5 (1:30 pm)

Communications

March 5 (9:30 am)
April 4 (11:00 am)
May 7 (9:30 am)
June 6 (11:00 am)

Networking

March 5 (11:30 am)
April 4 (1:00 pm)
May 7 (11:30 am)
June 6 (1:00 pm)

Applications

March 3 (1:00 pm)
April 2 (9:30 am)
May 5 (1:00 pm)
June 5 (11:30 am)

Weblets

All Weblets are 45 minutes and listed start times are ET (Eastern Time)

Knowledge Management

March 4 (2:45 pm)
April 4 (2:45 pm)
May 7 (1:30 pm)
June 4 (2:45 pm)

Wireless Technology

March 5 (2:30 pm)
April 3 (2:45 pm)
May 7 (2:30 pm)
June 5 (3:15 pm)

Embedded Systems

March 5 (1:30 pm)
April 2 (3:15 pm)
May 6 (2:45 pm)
June 6 (2:45 pm)

eTR

Webinars

All Webinars are 90 minutes and listed start times are ET (Eastern Time)

Recruiting Overview

March 20 (11:00 am)
April 14 (11:00 am)
May 15 (11:00 am)
June 16 (11:00 am)


Understanding IT Jobs

March 3 (11:00 am) / 20 (1:00 pm)
April 2 (11:30 am)
May 5 (11:00 am)
June 4 (1:00 pm)

Weblets

All Weblets are 45 minutes and listed start times are ET (Eastern Time)

Sourcing

March 20 (2:45 pm)
April 14 (1:00 pm)
May 15 (1:00 pm)
June 16 (1:00 pm)

Screening

March 21 (11:00 am)
April 14 (2:00 pm)
May 15 (2:00 pm)
June 16 (2:00 pm)

Interviewing

March 21 (12:30 pm)
April 15 (11:00 am)
May 16 (11:00 am)
June 17 (11:00 am)

Negotiating

March 21 (1:30 pm)
April 15 (12:30 pm)
May 16 (12:30 pm)
June 17 (12:30 pm)
Enroll Now!

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Answers to TechCheck

1. Think small. Hitachi and IBM are developing disks the size of a quarter that will hold 4G of data (4,000,000,000 bytes). These are designed for wireless and mobile systems, which will increase the functionality of handheld computers and other information appliances. And, IBM is working on even smaller disks.

2. The hottest certifications for 2003 according to CertCities (online magazine for IT professionals) are:

a. CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert)
b. Security+
c. RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer)
d. CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional)
e. CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)