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Unit 3: Computer Applications.
Starter: “Computer use”.
Take a look at the computer use in these areas:
 Supermarkets
 identifying items;
 pricing;
 stock control;
 checking cash cards;
 checking sell-by dates;
 tracking customer buying habits;
 monitoring and controlling freezer temperatures.
 Hospitals
 database of patient records, appointments;
 database of equipment, drugs and supplies;
 patient monitoring;
 staff records;
 staff rosters;
 accounts;
 statistics on patients treated;
 wordprocessing of letters;
 database of patients awaiting transplants for easy matching with donors.
 Airports
 plotting aircraft movements – air control;
 arrival and departure information displays;
 check-in facilities;
 baggage handling – some use bar codes to direct baggage;
 staff database; security for entry to restricted areas;
 intranet for internal communications.
 Police Headquarters
 database of crimes, criminals, suspects, missing people;
 files of fingerprints and DNA data which can be matched with suspects;
 files of stolen cars and other stolen property;
 staff rosters.
Technical Terms.
AI: abbreviation for artificial intelligence.
artificial intelligence: an area of computing concerned with developing computer
programs that perform tasks that can normally only be done using
human intelligence.
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cleanse: a term used in data mining meaning to remove duplicate information and
erroneous data.
cluster: a term used in data mining meaning a group of data that has similar features or is
based on a limited data range.
clustering: a method used in data mining that divides data into groups based on similar
features or limited data ranges.
data mart: a storage system that archives large amounts of data in a way that makes it easy
to access.
data mining: a process of analyzing a large amount of stored data to find a new useful
information.
data warehouse: a computing center that provides a large collection of data gathered from
different sources for data mining.
decision tree: an AI technique used in data mining that separates data into subsets then
further divides the subsets into smaller subsets until the subsets are small
enough to allow the mining process to find interesting patterns and
relationships within the data.
desktop: the main graphical user interface background screen that displays icons for other
programs.
EAN: abbreviation for European Article Number system. The European price and item
codes commonly used in barcode systems.
EPOS till: acronym for electronic point-of-sale till. A computerized cash register that
edits records in sales and stock control databases.
flat file database: a simple database in which all the data is stored in one table which is not
related to any other table.
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mailmerge: a wordprocessing facility that causes a mailing list to be automatically
combined with a standard letter to produce a separate copy of the letter
addressed to each person on the mailing list.
microprocessor: the main electronic chip in a computer. It can be thought of as the ‘brain’
of the computer because it does the main processing and controls the
other parts of the computer. It is sometimes called the CPU.
neural net(work): an artificial intelligence system that is capable of developing rules from
given input so that it learns how to deal with more complex input.
OCR: abbreviation for optical character recognition.
optical character recognition: a process that enables a computer to scan and recognize
printed characters using the reflection of light.
radar: a system of using the reflection of radio waves to detect an object and determine its
location.
rule: name given to patterns found in data when using neural networks.
subset: a small group of related data that is part of a larger set of data.
Reading: “The operation of a new speed trap”.
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
The first unit records the time each vehicle passes.

It identifies each vehicle by its number plates using OCR software.

It relays the information to the second unit.

The second unit also records the time each vehicle passes.

The microprocessor calculates the time taken to travel between the units.

It relays the registration numbers of speeding vehicles to police headquarters.

A computer matches each vehicle with the DVLC database.

It prints off a letter to the vehicle owners using mail merge.
Task 1: Number the sequence steps in the operation of an EPOS till.
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
(
) The branch computer searches the stock file for a product matching the barcode
EAN.

(
) The scanner converts the barcode into electrical pulses.

(
) The branch computer sends the price and description of the product to the EPOS
till.

(
) The checkout operator scans the item.

(
) The till prints the item and price on the paper receipt.

(
) The scanner sends the pulses to the branch computer.

(
) The scanner reads the barcode.

(
) The branch computer records the sale of the product.

(
) The till shows the item and price.
Task 2: Number the sequence steps in the use of an ATM.
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
(
) The strip contains the name of the account holder, their account number and
details of the network it is linked to.

(
) If their account has sufficient funds, the ATM is instructed to dispense the cash
requested.

(
) First the customer puts their card into the machine and enters their PIN number on
the keypad and the amount they wish to withdraw.

(
) This information is then sent to a central computer which holds information on
many accounts.

(
) The ATM reads the information on the magnetic strip on the card.

(
) The customer’s PIN number is checked as well as the amount of money in their
account.
Task 3: Number the sequence steps in the use of a credit card.

(
) Next the transaction is sent to San Mateo in California for processing.
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
(
) A customer uses a Visa card to pay for a $ 1,295 computer in Chicago.

(
) The response is sent back to the original store in approximately 15 seconds.

(
) Because the purchase is above a certain limit, details are forwarded to a computer
in Atlanta for closer scrutiny.

(
) The California computer checks the card details in a database of cardholders and
finds that the card was issued by a Portland bank.

(
) The store uses a swipe card reader to send details of the purchase and the
customer’s card number to a processing center in New Jersey.

(
) Then it checks with the Portland bank’s computer to see if the transaction request
should be approved or denied.