Information Systems

Information systems are systems which provide information to users. The term "information system" would normally refer to a computer based system using a DBMS. A DBMS is a program which creates and manages a database. A database is the file that is then created by a DBMS.

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Contents

1. Computer based Information Systems Vs Non-Computer Based Systems
2. 5 Types of Information Systems
3. Context Diagrams and DFDs
4. Data Modelling
5. Flat File Databases
6. Normalisation
7. Relational Databases
8. SQL and Wildcards
9. SQL
10. Mathematical Operators
11. Social and Ethical Issues (Identity Theft, Case Studies, Korean Courtroom Computers sentencing people to death, Australian Taxpayers have their tax file numbers stolen)
12. Testing and Implementation

Network Notepad is a Freeware program for creating interactive network diagrams and Flowcharts

Network Notepad is a Freeware program for creating interactive network diagrams.

http://www.networknotepad.com/ Click Here

free software for doing network designs, similar to Visio

http://www.weresc.com/network.php

Computer Based Vs Non-Computer Based Information Systems

There are advantages and disdavantages to both. In many ways while computer based systems are far easier for most large information systems there are definitely advantages to paper based systems. Paper based systems don't need electricity to work. They don't get virus'. It is much more difficult for someone to steal information from a paper based system than it is for hackers to destroy or break into confidential records in a computer based system. The disadvantages and advantages to both systems need to be understood for the HSC.

Non-Computerised Information Systems

Include telephone books, dictionaries, recipe books, encyclopaedias and anything else which has organised and collected data to make it useful information which is designed to solve a problem and for a purpose. It will be organised and sorted alphabetically, numerically or in some other way which makes inherent sense of the data. For instance how useful would a telephone directory be if it was not sorted in some useful way. It would be entirely unusable.

Activity 1

1. List examples of computerised information systems and non-computerised.

2. Draw a table as set out below and list the advantages and disadvantages of Computerised information systems over non-computerised.

5 Types of Information Systems

1. Transaction Processing Systems (TPS)
2. Descision Support Systems (DSS)
3. Expert Information Systems (EIS)
4. Management Information System (MIS)
5. Office Automation System (OAS)

Transaction Processing System

EFTPOS terminals and ATMs are examples of transaction processing systems (TPS) which store the daily transactions

of an organisation. The word transactions refers to money.

Money may be in the form of cash or card.

Decision Support Systems

Decision Support Systems are created to help people make decisions by providing access to information and analysis tools. many stockbrokers now use programs that will automatically put in requests to sell shares once they reach a certain price (either high or low). A DSS creates a mathematical model of the system which helps decison making about actions affecting a person organisation. Another example of a decision support system is the simple analysis tools that banks use to help formulate loans for prospective customers. A DSS allows the users to pose what-if questions and by changing a number of variables and then find out what the outcomes would be. In the home loan DSS customers can analyse how paying off more each pay would affect their loans, how a different type of loan may make it easier to make ends meet and by so doing tailor the loan to suit the customer.

A DSS depends upon the accuracy of the maths involved in creating the model and the ability of the user to accurately interpret the resulting data.

Worksheet on Decision Support Systems (courtesy Jenny Nixon)

Example

Computer-driven trade has significantly affected the stock exchange. The Australian stock exchange uses a system called SEATS (Stock Exchange Automated Trading System). Computer and telecommunications technology, besides opening a wide market in over the counter dealings, has also given rise to trading on an international level. Personal computers and modems allow trading to occur around the clock, and the securities trading on one major stock exchange can now significantly affect the trading on others.

Expert Systems

Expert Systems are a form of decision support system but more specialised. Expert systems are information systems which do a job which otherwise would require specialist knowledge. They may contain AI and in fact most of them will contain some aspect of AI. Expert systems are very dependant on the knowledge base. If there are problems with the knowledge base then thaty will affect the reliability of the system

Expert systems are a specialised type of Decision Support system.

Expert knowledge comes from a sound theoretical understanding, which we refer to as the knowledge base, and a number of heuristic problem-solving rules that that can be applied in varyious circumstances. Expert systems work by compiling this knowledge from a human expert and then creating a program which is able to apply this information to solve problems and give "expert advice".

Activity 2

1. List and describe each of the 5 types of information systems.
2. Write down more examples of each of the 5 different information systems.
3. In what ways do each of these information systems impact upon your life.
4. What factors is a DSS dependent on?
5. Where are expert systems useful?
6. What is the knowledge base in an expert system?
   Critical Thinking and Extended Responses
7. New office automation systems do not always result in increased productivity. Time is too easily wasted formatting documents, needlessly organising irrelevant data or surfing the Web.' Do you agree? Why or why not? What should a manager do to use office automation systems productively?
8. Expert systems require a large, expensive and powerful software. Making the knowledge base is expensive and requires human experts. Outline areas where expert systems may be used effectively. Give examples of areas where expert systems should not be used.

Context Diagrams and DFDs

Context diagrams and DFDs are two tools used to help design information systems.

A context diagram is a graphical representation of a system which deliberately does not go into defining processes. It is just to give an overview of a system without getting bogged down in detail. There are only three symbols used in a context diagram: a circle to represent a the system in terms of a single process, arrows to show data flow, and a rectangle to show any external entities affecting the system.

Systems analysts draw data flow diagrams in several nested layers. A single process Context diagram can be expanded to show a more detailed data flow diagram. The context diagram must be drawn first which can then be expanded by various layers of data flow diagrams.

The nesting of data flow layers (diagram courtesy of "Smart Draw" tutorial Click here)

A context diagram is a top level (also known as Level 0) data flow diagram. It only contains one process node (process 0) that generalizes the function of the entire system in relationship to external entities.

Context Diagran Example

• Data Flow Diagrams
  A data flow diagram is the next level of detail in a context diagram. It will show a number of processes, inputs, outputs and storage. Note: A context diagram will not have storage. Only a DFD. The DFD focus is the data flow between the processes within a system. A DFD can become as detailed as the user requires. Remember that a context diagram is a level 0 DFD. The DFD will become increasingly detailed as the level increases. However each level will tend to focus on extending one or more of the processes rather than the entire system. The IPT course will only use level 0 (context diagram) DFD and a level 1 DFD.

The first level DFD shows the main processes within the system. Each of these processes can be broken into further processes until you reach pseudocode.

DFD Diagram Example: TAFE Library

If we expand the context diagram for the TAFE library into a DFD for borrowing books we end up with a DFD that looks like this:

Activity 3

1. What is a context diagram?
2. What are the essential elements of a context diagram?
3. What is a data flow diagram?
4. What is the difference between a context diagram and a data flow diagram?
5. Following is the question from the 2004 HSC. This is from the core area and so was compulsory for all students. Complete the following question.
   Question 21 (10 marks) Use a SEPARATE writing booklet.

   A primary school is considering the introduction of a lunch-ordering information system. Students will be able to place their orders via a computer and their school accounts will be charged. Order details are stored in the LunchOrders table. A canteen worker will generate:

   • printed orders for packing and delivery of lunches;

   • receipts for the students; and

   • a summary for the school administration department for charging to student accounts. The Lunch-Orders table contains the following details:

   Field	Example
   Order Number	C612
   Student Identification	0013 (which is linked to the Students table)
   Date Ordered	12/05/2004
   Food Choice Code	F015 (which is linked to the Food table)

   (b) Draw a dataflow diagram to describe the new information system, including the processes of:

   • ordering lunch

   • printing orders

   • packing and delivery .

Data Modelling

Data modelling is the process of identifying entities, the relationship between those entities and their attributes. There are a range of tools used to achieve this such as data dictionaries, decision trees, decision tables, schematic diagrams and the process of normalisation.

Data Dictionaries

A data dictionary is a comprehensive description of each field in a database set out in a table. A data dictionary would normally include a field name, data type, field size and a description of each field.

Data Dictionary

–A data dictionary is a table with the details of all the fields about a single entity in a relational database or the entire database if it is a flat file database. Below is an example of a data dictionary.

Booking Table Data Dictionary

this table can then be used to easily create the table in Access or DBMS of your choice. Below is a screen dump of a design view of a table in Access. Note this is not the table. This is how the table is created.

Decision Tables:

Show the outcomes of all possible events in table form

Another Style of Decision Table

Decision Trees

will show the same information as a decision table but in a branching format

Activity 4

1. Using the scenario in question 5 above answer the following questions

(a) Construct a data dictionary to describe the data to be stored in the Lunch-Orders table.

2. Describe the ticket purchasing information in the decision table.

3. What is the function of a data dictionary?

4. Using the "Broadway Ticket Decision Table"

• Under what conditions would a ticket be purchased?
• Under what types of conditions would a ticket not be purchased?

5. Using The "Decision Tree" answer the following questions:

• What are the 3 initial decisions which need to be made?
• Under what conditions are tickets pucrhased?
• Under what conditions are tickets not purchased?

6.

Flat file databases are simple to create and organise. They look like a spreadsheet. Each column represents a field and each row represents a record of fields. The table is sorted by one of the fields. However while they are easy to use they require more work to maintain due to the high level of data redundancy and are only suitable for files with less than 100 records.

A database is a collection of related records stored in files. The elements of a flat file database are:

· Files: a collection of related records. It looks much the same as a spreadsheet but with named columns.

· A Record: is a collection of information about one specific topic (i.e. it might contain all the information about a student called John Smith. If the file is sorted alphabetically then the next name will come after Smith and might be all the records about Penny Thompson including all the fields which might be class, age, address, home phone number).

· A field: These are the columns in a flat file database and are usually named at the top of that column. For the example of Penny Thompson one field would be her name, another one would be her home phone number).

Activity 5

1. What is a flat file database?
2. What are the limitations and drawbacks of using a flatfile database.
3. Give an example of when it might be useful to use a flatfile and an example of when you should not. Explain and justify your choices.

From Flat file (single table) to multiple related tables

Normalisation of data is the process of the reduction of duplication of data in a database or table. One of the positive aspects of a relational database is that duplication of data is almost unnecessary and should be kept to a minimum. Duplicated data is called redundant data. The data that is stored in tables are organized logically based on a particular purpose that minimizes duplication, reduces data anomalies, and reinforces data integrity. The process by which data is organized logically is called normalization. Normalization simplifies the way data is defined and regulates its structure. There are five forms in the normalization process with each form meeting a more stringent condition The first normal form, 1NF, has the least data redundancy while the fifth normal form, or 5NF, structures the data with the least anomalies and least redundancy. There is a trade-off with multiple form normalisation (5NF) taking longer to query the database as such for faster response times for some queries the database may need to retain a higher level of data redundancy.

Imagine being the owner of this video store and re-entering the same details such as name and address time and time again. You would be hoping that people would only borrow a single movie. Unfortunately with that type of attitude your business would soon go broke. This repeated information is called redundant data. This is where the relational model helps. Data should only be entered once.

In the video store example above the information would be divided into 3 separate tables. One table for customer information, one that contains the names of all the videos in the store and one for loans. In this way the only information that needs to be entered is the date the video is borrowed and the return date. In fact both of these would be automated. The date the video is borrowed would come from the system clock while the return date would automatically come up based on the date the video is borrowed and the name of the video which would then automatically work out whether it is an overnight or weekly. In this way the only thing the shop assistant needs to do is to scan or enter the customers member number, scan or enter the video number, take the money and hand back the change. In the old system they needed to enter all of the details for each and every video hired; a very long process.

Normalising A Table

Tables are the foundation of any database. If you are wondering where to start in building a database it is here. Before you do anything you should have a clear idea of what information you want in your database. Lets use an example. Lets say for instance that you own a flower shop and require a database to help you keep track of customer orders. You might just start by scribbling down on a piece of paper the types of things that you need to keep track of.

Now that you have made that list it needs to be divided up by topic. Each topic or entity as we will call it from now on will have its own separate table. A such we will need to create a table for customers, another table about the orders, and another table which will include out flower information. Of course in real life there would most likely be many more things that we would need to store information about. Now take your list and divide your list up by subject. As such all of the topics to do with customers will be in one group, the orders will be another group and so on.

Once that is done we draw up a table for each of the tables in the database in which we begin to put some details in there about filed names, data types, filed size and any other details in a description column.

Activity 6

1. What is normalisation?
2. Why is normalisation important.
3. Explain how normalisation is carried out.

Relational Databases

Relational databases are the most commonly used type of database. A relational database consists of a collection of tables that store particular sets of data. The invention of the relational database system has standardized the way that data is stored and processed. Most of the database management systems used today are based on the relational system.

Organisation of Relational Databases

A relational database organises information through a series of related tables.

Relational databases are the most commonly used type of database. A relational database consists of a collection of tables that store particular sets of data. The invention of the relational database system has standardized the way that data is stored and processed. Most of the database management systems used today are based on the relational system. Related databases have the following features:

Parts of a Relational Database

Entity : is a “topic” or specific thing about which information is being collected. For instance if it is a school database the entities (topics) about which information might be collected are such things as students, teachers and classes. If it was a flat file database we would probably have a separate table for each one.

Attribute : is a defined property of an entity. In the school example an attribute of student (which is an entity) might be name or student ID. Attributes are the same thing as fields in a flat file database.

Primary Keys: Primary keys are unique fileds. Primary keys can be an individual attribute, or a combination of attributes. A field which is a primary key must not be null.

Foreign Key : is the primary key of another table. In the example of a school database student ID may well come under loans in a library/ loans table as well as in its own student table. Foreign keys relate tables in the database to one another. A foreign key in one table is a primary key in another. The foreign keys generally define parent-to-child relationships between tables.

Table: information about an entity is stored in tables. A table contains columns and rows. A row in a table is called a tuple of an entity and represents a record. A column of a table is also called the attribute. In a flat file database it is referred to as a field. In a relational database it may be called an attribute or field. Tables can be related to each other in a variety of ways. Functional dependencies are formed when an attribute of one table relates to attributes of other tables. The simplest relationship is the one-to-one relationship, in which one record in a table is related to another record in a separate table. A one-to-many relationship is one in which one record in a table is related to multiple records in another table. A many-to-one relationship defines the reverse situation; more than one record in a single table relates to only one record in another table. Finally, in a many-to-many relationship, more than one record in a table relates to more than one record in another table.

Relationship s:

This refers to the link between the various tables and is usually made through a primary key in the primary table linking through to a field in the secondary table. The relation is the critical element of storage in a relational database, which is a two-dimensional table. A relational database can contain two or more of these tables. Each table consists of a unique set of rows and columns. A single record is stored in a table as a row, also known as a tuple. Attributes of the data are defined in columns, or fields, in the table. The characteristics of the data, or the column, relates one record to another. Each column has a unique name and the content within it must be of the same type.

There are four types of relationships.

1. One-to-One: Occurs when the Primary key in one table is linked to the Primary key in another table. This means that the primary key in both tables is identical and that exactly one row in one table is related to exactly one row in another table. These are not very common and achieve very little. Basically the information in a one to one relationship could be combined into the single table. These might be used if there was information which you wanted to hide from others but still relate to that table. For instance the information maybe very confidential while other people still need access to the other information by doing this the confidential material maybe be secured.

2. One-to-Many: The one-to-many relationship is used to relate one record in a table with many records in another. This allows a customer to make more than one order and is the most common type of relationship.

These are the most common and most practical for the majority of applications. An example of these relationships is:

One student will have many different classes, One student may have many assignments, One teacher will have many students, One doctor will have many patients. The primary key is a unique number and will never be repeated. When this is joined to the "Foreign key" (which is a key that was a primary key in another table) this will then form a 1 to many relationship

3. Many-to-One: This involves a lookup table taking the place of the primary key. For instance a customer may choose a state from a lookup table and that state will relate to many customers in the next table. Many one to many relationships can be reversed into many-to-one. For example many pets can have the same owner so if we had a lookup table with the pets’ names then they could be related to the owner in the next table.

4. Many-to-Many: Think of it as a pair of one to many relationships between two tables. A patient can go to a hospital on many different dates so that forms a one-to-many relationship but at the same time on each date, many people can be brought into the hospital. This is also a one-to-many relationship. So an individual patient may visit the hospital on many dates, and on a given date, many patients may visit the hospital. Thus a pair of separate, two-way, one-to-many relationships creates a many-to-many relationship. This is not used much and can generally be turned into a one to many relationship. An example of many to many is that many students will have many classess and many classess will have many students

Activity 7

use the database schema below to answer the following questions

1. What kind of relationship is between the students table and the student classes?
2. What kind of relationship is formed between StudentClasses and the Classes tables?
3. How do these relationships differ?
4. Referential integrity has not been used when these tables were related. How can you tell this and what does this mean? (NOTE: relational integrity is not part of the HSC syllabus but I still believe it is important to understand.)
• Use the table below to answer questions 5. (questions 15, 2006 IPT HSC)
• 
5. Which schema represents the relationships between the three tables
• 
6. 
   

Forming Relationships Between Tables

Forming relationships in Access is relatively simple as long as the structure is logical.

Firstly click on the relationships icon as show in the image below:

refresh the page to watch the movie

Data Warehousing

The storage of data from a large range of sources for use by other people is referred to as data warehousing. The data stored in these warehouses would normally either be as a result of data mining or will be used for data mining. Web sites and other places store information under various categories and other databases will collect information from a range of sources and all of these activities is called data warehousing.

See Also: Knowledge Management, data mining,Information systems

Data Mining

Data mining is the process of looking for relationships and patterns in data held in a database. This might look for patterns in the type of visitors to a web site, where these visitors are going to or why they have come. It might look for any number of relationships and nay relationship discovered is an opportunity to increase business or traffic to a web site or the usefulness of a database over all. There is a lot of money in data mining.

Unfortunately because of the potential money involved some managers or data miners may become unthinking in regards to privacy and individual rights.

Articles and Examples of Data Mining

Activity 10

1. Write a definition for data mining.
2. Explain the difference between data mining and data warehousing.
3. Make a list of application areas for data mining and then describe the positive and negative impacts of each of these applications.
4. Which application do you believe is the most useful. Justify your choice.
5. Which application is potentially the most dangerous. Justify your choice.
   

SQL (Search Query Language)

Search query language which is designed to help a DBMS manage and search databases.

Testing and Implementation

Testing occurs throughout the development cycle. It is not just a straight path. In this section we will examine case studies and documents about testing and implementation including the problems faced, the reasons, how the problems were solved and how they could have been avoided.

Activity

1. When The individual components of a system were tested no errors were found. However when all components were tested together the system failed to operate. Which of the following most likely identified the failure:
1. testing with live data
2. Testing backup procedures
3. Testing user documentation
4. Testing individual components
• Explain and justify your reasoning
• Explain why the other reasons were wrong

2. A school is planning to change its reporting system from paper-based reports to reports accessed online. The implementation plan currently details participant training and system testing.

   Which of the following needs to be added to the implementation plan?

   (A) Specification of a prototype

   (B) Details of conversion method

   (C) Details of the technical feasibility study

   (D) Schedule for the development of the new system

Mathematical Operators

There are seven basic mathematical operators. These are also known as arithmetic operators becasue they are used for performing arithmetic calculations:

*             multiply

+             Add

-              Subtract

/              Divide

\              Integer Divide

^             Exponentiation

Mod        Modulo

Examples

The following operations are carried out on fileds but they can also be carried out using a combination of fields, numbers or a variable.

[UnitCost] - [Discount]

[UnitCost] + [TransportCost]

[UnitCost] * [NumberofItems] + [TransportCost]

[GrossAmount] - ([GrossAmount]*[Discount])

SQL and Wild Cards

SQL is a  programming language which is used to search databases while wildcards are a tool used within that language. Wildcards allow the programmer to make searches or queries where a a single character can represent any number of characters. 

Some Wildcards which can be used in queries are:

* Any number of characters

? Any one character in that position

# Any one number in that position

Social and Ethical Issues

What is the difference between social and ethical issues?

Ethical issues are more individual and involve the difference between right and wrong. It is important that in NAZI Germany it was legal to indiscriminantly kill or harass a Jew. It was not an ethical thing to do. It was immoral.

Social issues are those that will effect society and large numbers of people such as discrimination, changing work place laws, changing job roles etc.

Today’s office looks very different from those in the 1980s. Then typewriters, filling cabinets, and correction fluid were the norm. Today these items have been replaced by microcomputers, database management systems, and word processing software. You are already familiar with some of the benefits of using computers in the workplace--- for example, computers make it easier to manage the company database, accounting, and finance-related activities, and communications in a company--- but what are some of the ethical issues that have arisen as a result of using computers in the work place?

Many people are concerned that too much emphasis has been put on what the computer can do to streamline business and too little on how it may be affecting the quality of our lives. For example, is it distorting the meaning of thought? That is, is it absurd and dangerous to attribute the capabilities of thinking and creativity to a computer? People have experience, convictions and cultural traditions. Are these qualities being devalued? What of surveilance, databases in individuals, tracking and monitoring populations?

There are numerous problems being caused by changes in Information Systems. It is important that we are not just passive participants being swept along but informed consumers.

Identity Theft

http://www.idtheftc enter.org/ index.shtml

The issue may not be one of theft but of the wrong information being stored about a person. What if you were applying for a job and a check said that you had a police record when you didn't or that you didn't have one when you did such as reported in the Melbourne Age, "

"The latest troubles come just days after police were forced to apologise for another database bungle after the wrong criminal record was sent to a potential employer.

Senior police chiefs blamed that breach on a data entry mistake made seven years ago."

"Melbourne Age: Police Reveal Database Misuse" By Andrea Petrie May 18, 2006

Identity Theft Resource Center

http://www.idtheftc enter.org/ index.shtml
Visitors can access victim information guides, learn about consumer scams including a section called, "In the Workplace" where visitors can learn how to avoid identity theft in the workplace, and browse a list of prevention tips. Very interesting and helpful information. Its frightening to find how easily it can happen.

Alert over stolen tax file numbers

More than 170 Australians have had their tax file numbers stolen by online scammers who captured the information from their home computers when they were using the online e-tax system.

The Pizza Parlour Nightmare

Comedy Video about the invasion of privacy through databases. What Do You Think of A Pizza Place That Tells The Customer that based on His private Health Records and private Health Insurance premiums he should order the sprouts pizza instead of a double meat which he wanted... Whoops the operator notices that his credit card is maxed out because of his overseas trip... He better pay cash. Its all on this very funny but short video stream. Click Here

How About Computers Sentencing People To Death?

"Criminals in China face being sent to the firing squad by a computer after the introduction of a software programme to help decide the sentences handed out by courts..." Click Here

What about When A Government Wants To Control What You Know?

"From our data... the set of sites blocked in China is by no means static: whoever maintains the lists is actively updating them, and certain general-interest high-profile sites whose content changes frequently appear to be blocked and unblocked as those changes are evaluated... new sites with sensitive content do not appear to take long to be blocked... The Chinese government and associated network authorities are clearly continuing to experiment with different forms of blocking... Chinese network filtering is an important instrument of state Internet policy, and one to which significant technical and human resources continue to be devoted... " Click Here

Cyber Crime

But just how much damage can cybercrime cause? About US $67 billion to U.S. companies last year, according to an estimate based on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's 2005 Computer Crime Survey, released in January. The FBI questioned 2000 public and private organizations in four states and extrapolated some of the results to the rest of the country. It found that viruses and spyware were the most common problems reported [see table], while the effects of viruses and worms were the most costly. The attacks came from 36 different countries, with half of all the attacks originating in the United States or China. Click Here

Facebook The New Killer App

New applications being written for Facebook using the released API has become something of a bonanza for coders. Developers search for killer apps for the social operating system. Click here

Google Plans To Profit From Private Information

SMH May 14th, 2007

THE internet giant Google has plans to compile psychological profiles of
millions of web users by covertly monitoring the way they play online games. The company thinks it can glean information about an individual's
preferences and personality type by tracking his or her online behaviour,
which could then be sold to advertisers. Details such as whether a person
is more likely to be aggressive, hostile or dishonest could be stored for
future use, it says.

The move is intended to customise advertisements shown to players of online video games by tailoring them to specific tastes and interests. But it has worried privacy campaigners who say the implications of compiling and
storing such detailed information are alarming.

The plans are detailed in a patent filed by Google in Europe and the US last
month. It says people playing online role-playing games such as Second Life
and World of Warcraft would be good to target, because they interact with
other players and make decisions that probably reflect their behaviour in
real life. The information could be used to make advertisements that appear
inside the game more "relevant to the user", Google says.

Players who spend a lot of time exploring "may be interested in vacations,
so the system may show ads for vacations". And those who spend more time
talking to other characters will see advertisement for mobile phones.

The patent says Google could also monitor people playing on any game console that hooks up to the internet, including the Sony PlayStation, Wii and Xbox. It says information could be retrieved from previous
game details saved on memory cards.

Sue Charman, of the online campaign Open Rights Group, said: "I can
understand why they are interested in this, but I would be deeply disturbed
by a company holding a psychological profile. Whenever you have large
amounts of information it becomes attractive to people - we've already seen
the American Federal Government going to court over data from companies
including Google."

Google said it did not have any plans to roll out the technology in the near
future, and that it was just one of a large number of patents that it had
filed in recent months.

"STOLEN ID Podcast on SBS (download)
Tue, May 13 2008

How easy is it for thieves to steal your identity? Are we making it easier for them by putting our lives online? Police data show identity crime is on the rise. Meanwhile, popular social networking sites encourage users to create online profiles rich in personal detail. But do they offer a treasure chest of information for identity thieves to use? This week, Insight examines whether social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace make us vulnerable to identity theft. Identity theft has become a lucrative business. The internet has opened the way for organised criminals to 'spy' on personal computers anywhere in the world. Some succeed in 'phishing' personal details or stealing internet banking login details by using fake email addresses." from SBS website

http://podcasting.sbs.com.au/videopodcasts/2008-05-13_Insight_Podcast.mp4

They know where you live: big council is watching you

Sunanda Creagh, Urban Affairs Reporter
September 18, 2008

"TIM RAHR was sitting in his backyard in Paddington "re-reading my tattered copy of Franz Kafka" when the phone rang.

It was an officer from the City of Sydney council calling about his application for a resident parking permit. "She wanted to know why was I applying for a parking permit when she could clearly see on her computer satellite image of my backyard that I had off-street parking," Mr Rahr recalled." (for full article from Sydney Morning Herald, September 19 2008)

HSC Exam Questions on Information Systems

HSC Exam Questions

• 2001

Multiple Choice Question 3

Which of the following design tools shows the flow of information in an information system?

a) Decision table
b) Context diagram
c) System flowchart
d) Data flow diagram

• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• 2005

2005

(a) With reference to the above database, identify an example of data redundancy, and describe TWO problems that could arise with this database structure. 3 Marks.

(b) Normalise this flat-file structure into three tables. Indicate all necessary relationships, and label all primary and foreign keys. 3 Marks.

(c) Susan wants to present a report at the end of the year, showing the usage of the multimedia projector by the different faculties. 3 Marks.