Preliminary IPT Notes 2015

Hayden Nicholls

[Company name] [Company address]

Covers

Computer Storage

Data and Information

Data Types in IPT

Developing a System

Feasibility Studies

Implementing and Converting

System Conversion

User Interface Design

bit 1 or 0

Byte 8 BITS

KiloByte 1024 Bytes

MegaByte 1024 KiloBytes

GigaByte 1024 MegaBytes

TeraByte 1024 GigaBytes

PetaByte 1024 TeraBytes

ExaByte 1024 PetaBytes

ASCII – American Standard Code for Information Interchange

Storage Devices Description

Registers Memory mounted on the processor within the CPU (Direct Access) (Volatile)

ROM Once data has been written onto a ROM chip, it cannot be removed. (Direct Access)

(Non-Volatile)

RAM Random Access Memory (Direct Access) (Volatile)

HDD Hard Disk Drive, Mechanical (Direct Access) (Non-Volatile)

SSD Solid-State Drive, Non-mechanical (Direct Access) (Non-Volatile)

CD/DVD Optical Disk Memory Devices (Direct Access) (Non-Volatile)

Tape Magnetic Tape data recording (Sequential Access) (Non-Volatile)

Volatile – Faster, Needs Power

Non-Volatile – Doesn’t Need power

Data and Information

Data is raw stuff which has been collected but has no context and gives no meaning.

Information is processed and analysed data, the data is given context and therefore meaning as the data shows something about the systems environment.

System; A series of elements or components that work together harmoniously to achieve a given purpose or a desired outcome/product

Data Types in IPT/Digital Media

Text:

ASCII Codeo 1 Byte (8 bits [A bit is a 1 or a 0])

UNICODE .doc, .txt, .pdf Only Lossless

Images:

Vectoro Smaller file sizeso .ai, .svg, .cgm (lossless)

Bitmapo Larger File Sizeo Looks like a Photographo Scales Poorly

.png Lossless .jpg Lossy

Animation:

Frame/Cell Based Path Based .swf Lossless .xxx Lossy

Video:

Capture of a Real World Environment in Real Time, Caught and Edited by a Camera .mpeg Lossless film Lossless .wmv Lossy

Audio:

WAVo Captured Real Time Audio Recording (like a bitmap) (sampling)

MIDIo Instructions for Specifics Notes at Specific Times (like a vector) (individual notes)o Digital Representation of a Sound Property

.wav Lossless .mp3 Lossy

Developing a System

Understanding problem Planning, Research and Design, Management of Project Design and Build, Process of Building Implementing the System Input Testing, Evaluating, Maintaining

Supermarket System Change

Self-Serve Checkouts:

o Wages for Cashiers are too Expensive/Wanting to Save Moneyo Research Different Computer Models, Planning Physical Input of Machines into Storeso Clearing of Checkout Lanes to Build Machineso Open Self-Serve Checkouts to Publico Evaluate Success of Checkouts by Firing People and Saving Money

Feasibility Studies

What do you require for a system?

Technical:

The IT Does the IT Exist Is the IT Available

Economic:

How much does it cost Total system cost

Schedule:

How much time available/required

Operational:

Will it work Will it fit within clients organisation Does it require training Implementation Strategies

o Directo Parallelo Phasedo Pilot

Case Study

Creating an iPhone

Technical:

What new technology will be usedo Fingerprintso Sirio Gyroscope

Is this technology available?

Schedule:

Aim for a new iPhone every year Aim for tech demonstrations every 3 months Time required to implement new features and new design

Operational:

How user friendly is the new iPhone Will any tutorials or training need to be implemented Does it function properly Human-Centred system

o Requires high customisabilityo Ease of access

Direct conversion of old and new iPhoneso Factories will stop producing old iPhone and start making new oneo Direct conversion of iPhone by userso Phased conversion of selling of iPhones in stores

Economic:

Price of creating iPhone Selling price of iPhone Is the price for manufacturing and selling reasonable compared to older models How much money is dedicated towards iPhone project How much money is neglected from other technology projects (i.e. less funding for

new Mac) Estimated cost if project goes over time

Machine and Human Centred Mindset

Machine:

Humans adapt to the function of the machine Humans have to keep system running Requires maintenance and supply

Human:

Machine adapts to the lifestyle of a human Highly Customisable

Implementing

6 Steps:

Installing Cabling Purchasing and Installing Software/Hardware Configuring New Hardware Installing and Configuring Software Converting Data from Old System to New Training Users and Participants

These six tops do not have to be strictly completed in this laid out order. Whilst some of these steps do have to be completed first, such as purchasing software before you install it, for practically reasons, not all the steps have to be performed one after the other. In some cases it may be wise to convert the old system data after training users in order to ensure that the new system is suitable for its purpose. For example software may be purchased but after installation and testing with users, it is found that it is difficult software to work with and is ultimately scrapped; in this case time would be saved by not converting data as the old system will remain in use.

4 Methods of Conversion:

Direct – 2 ready systems, at press of switch the systems switch overo Instant Conversion from Old to Newo Good for replacing an old product with an entirely new system (Where new system

did not exist previously)o E.g. Replacing old software with new (replace Word 2007 with Word 2010)

Parallel – 2 systems in function, after a while the old system is turned offo Tests new system whilst old system is still in functiono Good for testing new system whilst an old system is still a backupo E.g. Testing a new data base that may have bugs but old data base is still available

for use (Where the database is critical for constant accessibility) Phased – Converting system bit by bit over a period of time

o New system is slowly implemented into old systemo Good for slow integration of new system functionso E.g. Regular updates of an existing software (Expansion Packs and Upgrades)

Pilot – Beta test of new system, converted after testingo New system is tested before replacing old systemo Allows for extensive testing of new systemo E.g. Testing a New software for first time before public release

Direct

Day 1

Day 2

System A

System B

Parallel

Day 1

Day 3

System A

System B

Day 2System A

System B

Phase

Day 1

Day 3

System A

Day 2 System A B

A B

Day 3A B

Day 4B

Pilot

Day 1

Day 3

System A

System B

Day 2 System A

B

Testing

System Conversion

Case Study: Taxi Conversion

In the process of switching between the old and new taxi systems a phased conversion would be preferable. This is evident as newer taxi drivers will be using the new system and older taxi drivers will be using the old system. However, over time more and more taxi drivers will either choose to change to the new system or new taxi drivers will be initially introduced to the new system eventually leaving the old system to die out.

Training Participants and Users

1) “Training for users and participants should occur after the new system has been implemented”

I disagree with this statement. A user’s familiarity with a product is critical, especially when in commercial use. In order to maintain a constant function of the system by users and participants the users should be trained prior to the systems implementation, otherwise an environment is risking a period where the new system is implemented and no-one knows how to use it. In some scenarios training before implementation may be physically impossible, but when available training should be performed prior.

2) Propose strategies for the conversion of taxis systems

As mentioned above a phased conversion would be preferable for the taxi system conversion. This would allow new users to work with the new system and allows old users to remain with the old system and then gradually be introduced to the new system overtime. Some strategies that could be used to help achieve this involve:

Introducing new taxi drivers to the new system from the start, an online method of this training would be useful as it trains the users at minimal cost

Have training groups to gradually introduce old drivers into the new system, this can also involve peer training exercises

Allow use for use of both the new and old system until the old system is no longer used

Gradually promote the benefits of the new system to older drivers and if necessary cut back on the benefits of the old system

Training Techniques:

Traditional Group Sessionso Trainer teaching a group either on or off siteo Allows a specialist teachero Allows greater focus on the training process

Peer Trainingo Users teaching each othero Allows on the job style training

Online Training and Tutorialso Allows users to learn at their own paceo Lacks personal teaching advantage

Printed Manualso Flexible read and learn on the go styleo Documents the procedural manner of executing a system

Simulatorso Intimate real work experienceso Can be expensive to create a digital simulatoro Used for military and sometimes for driving

Role Playingo Acting out workplace scenarioso Allows teachings for both theory and practice

Lectureso Usually a classroom formato Large amount of information to a large amount of people all at once

Management Gameso Like role playing of workplace issueso Higher focus on game environment opposed to formal role playing

Outdoor Trainingo Used to develop teamwork skillso May not please indoor peopleo Usually involves physical challenges and exercises

Films and Videoso Aims to stimulate communal discussions on the topic after the training dayo Gives trainers a break from teachingo Can be expensive and boring

Case Studieso Allows higher focus on theory work of role playing scenarioso Develops problem solving skills

Coaching/Mentoringo One on one training experienceso Direct and insightful training method

User Interface Design

Users

Target Market Trends

Consistency of Design

Screen Flow Text Flow

Readability

Font Size Easy to Understand Font shape

Clear Display

Easy Access and Understanding of Layout Know Where Everything is

Logical Flow and point of Access

Where to Access UI Does the Flow of Design make Sense