Abstract
Information technology (IT) is the genesis and catalyst of a lot of paradigm changes in our society. The IT industry generates approximately 100 billion dollars. Since about three million professionals are required for this effervescent industry, several universities have taken the initiative to introduce the study of essentials of IT in their syllabi to help youth become employable and to provide them with relevant skills to work in IT-enabled environments.
Rajaraman is one of the doyens whose expertise lies in building a discourse and dealing with fundamentals— bottom-up, in terms of difficulty. This latest edition follows an acclaimed and widely accepted edition which has been reprinted 10 times. The present edition, intended for Indian scholars, incorporates the evolving concepts and also, the recent trends in the fast-paced arena of computers and allied sciences.
The book has been bifurcated into three very appropriate sections. The first section delves, in detail, into acquisition of data of all types—numerical, textual, image, audio, video, etc. The second part deals with its processing and storing and the essentials of designing of requisite hardware. Building blocks of software such as programming languages, operating systems and databases are deliberated on lucidly. The concluding chapters of the book deal with IT applications such as search engines used in World Wide Web, remote computing, usage of telephony and video-conferencing. The penultimate chapter deals with the most pertinent impact of electronic medium on management of modern-day businesses. Social networking has metamorphosed communications, and hence an exhaustive discussion is warranted.
The first chapter discusses, comprehensively, data and its various types. Recent types such as web data, images, audio and other multimedia forms are accorded their due significance. Each of these types of data has its own unique acquisition, processing, storage and display techniques which are discussed in detail. The following chapters deal with acquisition of data and their input methodologies, and also discuss all modern input devices. Internal representations of data and necessary binary conversions are explained in an easy step-by-step approach and followed up by several solved examples to make comprehension easier.
Image data, which form a large component of big data in vogue currently, are taken up along with its input methodology. Acquiring of engineering drawings, multi-tone pictures, etc., is taking up with graphic detail. A very useful component of this discussion is an explanation of storage formats of gif and jpeg formats. The demand of storage has increased exponentially, hence the imperative need for compression and reduction, which is highlighted subsequently. The author then divulges into details of audio data dealing with details of audio signals before discussing their acquisition, compression and storage. Video and live streaming are the most important and essential part of big data. The author explains MPEG formats with precision and lucidity.
Storage technology and its various techniques are the next set of topics for discussion and each of them are explained with a liberal dosage of diagrammatic illustrations. The primary memory and its bifurcations are explained, and then the author goes on to discuss secondary storage. An interesting feature is solved examples and subsequent exercises on memory. Modern devices such as DVDROM and Blu-ray Disc are also taken up. Another very useful feature is an in-depth analysis of needs and arrangement of archival storage.
The central processing unit is the hub of any computing device and must be given prime importance in any discourse of computing. Detailing of its structure, specifications and components is the subject of discourse subsequently. The uniqueness of this section lies in extensive visualisation, diagrams and charts.
Computer networking has constricted the world into a global village. Popular methodologies such as local area networking are discussed along with their building blocks in the subsequent section. It is then followed up by a detailed listing of types and applications of networks in the modern-day scenarios of business. Relevant diagrams complement the text at appropriate places.
The author then goes on to discuss output devises in depth, especially the contemporary technologies such as LCD and LED displays. Modern-day printers and voice output devices also get suitable mention.
From hardware, the book follows a progression into discussion of software. It delves into processing and displays of numeric, textual and multimedia data. Graphic and audio signal processing are topics which add to the essential knowledge of the reader.
The last section of the book is of utmost importance and relevance to scholars of modern-day IT. Significant applications such as e-commerce, e-payment systems (EPS), electronic data interchanges (EDI) and IT Act are deliberated upon. It is followed up with an interesting section on societal impacts of IT. The World Wide Web is an incessant deluge of information, and to use it prudently is of prime significance. The writer goes into enlightening discussions on privacy, security and integrity of data, followed by a unique section on intellectual property rights, understanding of which is the need of the hour.
The flow of the book is commendable with each chapter beginning with clearly defined learning goals and concluding with a summary. It has liberal dosage of diagrams and visualisations for clarity. Relevant examples increase comprehensibility.