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Introduction to computing
International Journal of Information Management (1993), 13 (390-391) gentle introduction. McGraw-Hill, 1993, 0 07 707712 1.
Book Reviews Peter Greenfield. Introduction to computing. London: McGraw-Hill, 1992, 258 pp. ISBN 0 07 707419 X. There are many books aimed at providing a painless introduction to computing. Although this offering, written by a lecturer at the University of Birmingham, may appear at first sight to be another of the many, it has a number of rather distinctive points. As befits its academic origins, it is primarily a textbook, aimed at students. There are two main audiences: primarily, those taking Masters conversion courses in information technology, and hence picking up the arcane mysteries of computing from a background in another discipline; secondly, arts students taking a ‘computer appreciation’ course, though clearly one involving some serious study, rather than just tinkering with the technology. So, how come this book may be of interest to an ZJIM readership, who may be presumed to have some familiarity with computers anyway? Well, because of its intended readership it starts, genuinely, from scratch, assuming no previous knowledge. This is likely to be useful to those who have some expertise with some aspects of IT, but may have some rather large knowledge gaps elsewhere; a fair description, perhaps, of most of our readers. Its academic bias ensures that the topics are covered in an up-to-date and reasonably rigorous fashion, of much more lasting use than the ‘computing without tears’ texts, which proliferate elsewhere. Finally, no-one’s intelligence is going to be insulted by this book; if you want cartoons, anecdotes and general tweeness, go elsewhere. The ordering of the material is a little different from what would be encountered elsewhere. This follows the author’s intention to ‘equip the reader with the ability to recognize in a constructive manner the possible and actual uses, conditions and risks
of the application of computers to a wide range of circumstances . . . [by] analysis and reduction, followed by synthesis and discussion’. It may sound rather heavy going, but the result is readable, and well-worth perusing. The book begins with a general introduction to computing, emphasizing the processing of data, information and knowledge in a variety of application areas. The next section gives an overview of the structuring of information, exemplified by relational database and logic programming. Principles of human-computer interaction and interfaces come next, followed by the processing of knowledge, as in natural language handling and rule-based systems. A section on the construction of applications covers problem solving techniques, data structures and algorithms, their expression in various kinds of specification and programming languages, and a look at the principles of software engineering. The next section deals with a little more of the nitty-gritty operation of computers: hardware components, the compilation and execution of programs, operating systems, and networks. A final, very brief, section, deals with the application of computers, the categorization of systems and users, and some questions of values and ethics. Overall, this book can be recommended to anyone wanting a refresher course on computing concepts, concentrating on an up-to-date presentation of the fundamentals. Lyn Robinson British Postgraduate Medical Federation C. Avgerou and T. Cornford. Developing information systems. Concepts, issues and practice. London: MacMillan, 1993, 237 pp. ISBN 0 333 57726 4. C. Britton Software
and J. Doake. system development.
0266-4012/93/05
A
Maidenhead: 214 pp. ISBN
Here are two new books, both promising an introduction to the development of information system, in the broadest sense, but with distinctly differing flavours. Avgerou and Cornford are both from the London School of Economics, and add a volume to the MacMillan Information Systems Series, which seems, as yet, to be entirely LSE-based. They offer a ‘comprehensive description and critical discussion of the processes of information systems development and management’, aimed equally at technical people and those of a management bent. Specifically they suggest that their book is suitable for introductory courses in information systems and in information management, as a complement to IT texts. The book is essentially in three parts. The first, and fairly pragmatic section, runs through what is involved in the development of an information system, from conception to operation; initial investigation, requirements definition, construction, evaluation, and so on. The second section goes back over some of this ground, to look at the theoretical bases, such as they are, for these activities, and to examine some of the themes and controversies of the area. These include the nature of information and systems, the systems life cycle, and different approaches to, and methodologies for, systems development. The third, and briefest, section considers organizational and management contexts. The material is generally solid and informative, and there is reasonable provision of case studies, exercises, and references. The presentation lacks clarity in some aspects, however, and the whole book could have done with sharper focusing. Britton and Doake, computer scientists from Hertfordshire University and Anglia Polytechnic University respectively, address a rather different audience. Their book is part of a series on Software Engineering, and, though the usual caveats are made by the authors and by the blurb writer as to
0390-02 0
1993
Butterworth-Heinemann
Ltd
Book Reviews Peter Greenfield. Introduction to computing. London: McGraw-Hill, 1992, 258 pp. ISBN 0 07 707419 X. There are many books aimed at providing a painless introduction to computing. Although this offering, written by a lecturer at the University of Birmingham, may appear at first sight to be another of the many, it has a number of rather distinctive points. As befits its academic origins, it is primarily a textbook, aimed at students. There are two main audiences: primarily, those taking Masters conversion courses in information technology, and hence picking up the arcane mysteries of computing from a background in another discipline; secondly, arts students taking a ‘computer appreciation’ course, though clearly one involving some serious study, rather than just tinkering with the technology. So, how come this book may be of interest to an ZJIM readership, who may be presumed to have some familiarity with computers anyway? Well, because of its intended readership it starts, genuinely, from scratch, assuming no previous knowledge. This is likely to be useful to those who have some expertise with some aspects of IT, but may have some rather large knowledge gaps elsewhere; a fair description, perhaps, of most of our readers. Its academic bias ensures that the topics are covered in an up-to-date and reasonably rigorous fashion, of much more lasting use than the ‘computing without tears’ texts, which proliferate elsewhere. Finally, no-one’s intelligence is going to be insulted by this book; if you want cartoons, anecdotes and general tweeness, go elsewhere. The ordering of the material is a little different from what would be encountered elsewhere. This follows the author’s intention to ‘equip the reader with the ability to recognize in a constructive manner the possible and actual uses, conditions and risks
of the application of computers to a wide range of circumstances . . . [by] analysis and reduction, followed by synthesis and discussion’. It may sound rather heavy going, but the result is readable, and well-worth perusing. The book begins with a general introduction to computing, emphasizing the processing of data, information and knowledge in a variety of application areas. The next section gives an overview of the structuring of information, exemplified by relational database and logic programming. Principles of human-computer interaction and interfaces come next, followed by the processing of knowledge, as in natural language handling and rule-based systems. A section on the construction of applications covers problem solving techniques, data structures and algorithms, their expression in various kinds of specification and programming languages, and a look at the principles of software engineering. The next section deals with a little more of the nitty-gritty operation of computers: hardware components, the compilation and execution of programs, operating systems, and networks. A final, very brief, section, deals with the application of computers, the categorization of systems and users, and some questions of values and ethics. Overall, this book can be recommended to anyone wanting a refresher course on computing concepts, concentrating on an up-to-date presentation of the fundamentals. Lyn Robinson British Postgraduate Medical Federation C. Avgerou and T. Cornford. Developing information systems. Concepts, issues and practice. London: MacMillan, 1993, 237 pp. ISBN 0 333 57726 4. C. Britton Software
and J. Doake. system development.
0266-4012/93/05
A
Maidenhead: 214 pp. ISBN
Here are two new books, both promising an introduction to the development of information system, in the broadest sense, but with distinctly differing flavours. Avgerou and Cornford are both from the London School of Economics, and add a volume to the MacMillan Information Systems Series, which seems, as yet, to be entirely LSE-based. They offer a ‘comprehensive description and critical discussion of the processes of information systems development and management’, aimed equally at technical people and those of a management bent. Specifically they suggest that their book is suitable for introductory courses in information systems and in information management, as a complement to IT texts. The book is essentially in three parts. The first, and fairly pragmatic section, runs through what is involved in the development of an information system, from conception to operation; initial investigation, requirements definition, construction, evaluation, and so on. The second section goes back over some of this ground, to look at the theoretical bases, such as they are, for these activities, and to examine some of the themes and controversies of the area. These include the nature of information and systems, the systems life cycle, and different approaches to, and methodologies for, systems development. The third, and briefest, section considers organizational and management contexts. The material is generally solid and informative, and there is reasonable provision of case studies, exercises, and references. The presentation lacks clarity in some aspects, however, and the whole book could have done with sharper focusing. Britton and Doake, computer scientists from Hertfordshire University and Anglia Polytechnic University respectively, address a rather different audience. Their book is part of a series on Software Engineering, and, though the usual caveats are made by the authors and by the blurb writer as to
0390-02 0
1993
Butterworth-Heinemann
Ltd