How to Create an Entity Relationship Diagram

Entity-relationship diagrams are used to plan and design a database for normalization purposes.
The entity-relationship model starts with the entities, data normalization starts with the attributes, and the two tools tend to verify each other. The entity-relationship model’s entities, attributes, and relationships map smoothly to a physical database.
ERD gives a clear, high-level logical view of the data in a system. It is an excellent starting point for modeling the system.
Before creating an entity-relationship diagram, the analyst must have at least a preliminary sense of the system’s logical entities, attributes, and data structures. The necessary information is obtained during the information gathering and problem definition stage Entity-relationship diagrams are important tools in the structured requirements methodology and in database design.An entity is an object (a person, group, place, thing, or activity) about which data are stored. A relationship links two entities and is shown by drawing a line between them.
Logically, a relationship can be stated in the form of a sentence with a verb linking the two entities.  However, the entity being displayed as reference are only example of an entity name or a table in your database.  Remember that you still need to add data fields for your table.  Moreover, you have to connect some entities as necessary especially if there is a foreign key within your table.

 

Guide in Conducting Interview

Conducting Interview

1. Occasionally check the tape recorder (if used) is working.
2. Ask one question at a time.
3. Attempt to remain as neutral as possible. That is, don't show strong emotional reactions to their responses. Patton suggests to act as if "you've heard it all before."
4. Try to Encourage responses with occasional nods of the head, "uh huh"s, etc.
5. Be careful about the appearance when note taking. That is, if you jump to take a note, it may appear as if you're surprised or very pleased about an answer, which may influence answers to future questions.
6. Provide transition between major topics, e.g., "we've been talking about (some topic) and now I'd like to move on to (another topic)."
7. Don't lose control of the interview. This can occur when respondents stray to another topic, take so long to answer a question that times begins to run out, or even begin asking questions to the interviewer.

What to Do After Interview

1. Make sure if the tape recorder, if used, worked throughout the interview.
2. Insert any notes e.g., to clarify any scratchings, ensure pages are numbered, fill out any notes that don't make senses, etc.
3. Write down any observations made during the interview. For example, where did the interview occur and when, was the respondent particularly nervous at any time? Were there any surprises during the interview? Did the tape recorder break?

How to Interview with the Client in Systems Project

First of all you need to understand "why" you are meeting with the client! What is the purpose of this meeting?

For example:

• Is the purpose of this meeting to discuss the Vision of the document?
• Does the Vision, Business Case, and Project Charger exist and you are now ready to elicit requirements?

You also need to understand the "state" of the project!

For example:

• Are you adding creating a brand new system to support existing business processes? If so, are these processes already documented?
• Are you replacing an existing system? If so, any documentation exist for the existing system (requirements, functional specifications, user guides, etc.)?
• Are you modifying an existing system? Again, are there any existing artifacts which describe the existing system?

You need to understand the "methodology" used on your project and in your organization!

For example:

• Are you operating in an Agile process where you will have direct access to the stakeholders during the development process? if so, you might not need to capture/elicit too much upfront as many of the details will come up via subsequent iterations.
• Are you in an environment where requirements must be all documented upfront in details, using a specific type of artifact, and signed in blood by the C-Level Executives?
• Somewhere in between?

In general, as long as you are somewhat prepared for the meeting (and you say you are) you'll be OK. Just make sure you have some high-level open ended questions that you can ask and then be prepared to be quiet and listen.

The Key to Effective Project Resource Allocation

What Do We Need to Implement the Plan?

1. Determine quickly what resource you will need
Always remember that every resource is the person working and involved in the project.

2. Determine who the best people are in the project
They are the one who are commited and focused and can deliver quality standard

3. Approach and check on their availabiliy
Assuming they are available put their name down against the relevant tasks in your project plan

Project Management and Quality Systems

Course Outline

Project Management Concepts
Project Organizational Structures
Project Organisational Behaviour
Applied Project Planning
Resource Allocation
Cost Estimating and Budgeting
Project Performance Measurement and Control
Project Evaluation and Termination

Course Project: Online Systems for Business Process

Computer worm targeting Iranian

April 16, 2011, Saturday where a computer worm targeting Iranian nuclear facilities could have caused accidents in Iran. A computer worm, Stuxnet, was first appear in September which sends centrifuges-used in nuclear fuel production which spins out of control.

The code was suspiciously came from the laptop of an employee of the said nuclear plant. Gholam Reza Jalali, head of military unit who is in-charge of combatting sabotage,said Iranian experts have determined that the US and Israel were behind Stuxnet.

Jalali said Iranian experts have traced the Stuxnet virus back to the U.S. state of Texas and Israel, IRNA reported. Western experts say only a number of powerful countries could have developed Stuxnet.

Jalali also blamed the German engineering conglomerate Siemens, whose equipment and software is used at the Bushehr nuclear power plant, where technical issues have halted its planned startup.

"Siemens should explain why and how it provided the enemies with the codes of the SCADA software for a cyber attack against us."

Courtesy of xfinity.

iPhone 5 Features

The iPhone 5 quickly approaching this June, the typical launch window for next-generation iPhones. Will the iPhone 5 have a completely new design or just be a slightly modified version of the iPhone 4 with enhanced parts and various tweaks? Is it in lower-cost iPhone?All is unknown.

The next iPhone’s specs and features

The most recent assumption is that because Apple’s camera supplier, OmniVision, has just released a new 12.6 megapixel sensor with full HD video recording capabilities that we’ll see this built-in to the iPhone 5. However, Sony’s CEO is quoted to have said that his company will be supplying an 8 megapixel sensor. So, maybe we’ll have an 8 megapixel iPhone 5, and next year’s model could be the 12 megapixel model.

It’s widely assumed that the dual-core custom A5 processor found in the iPad 2 will make its way to the iPhone. This is probably the only rumor that can be taken as guaranteed. Last year the iPad’s A4 made its way across, and so I expect the A5 to do the same. The phone will be faster, and will offer even better gaming experience.

Storage could be available in 3 flavors: 16GB, 32GB and 64GB to match the iPad range. A leaked video showed up not long ago of a prototype iPhone 4 with a 64GB storage capacity. Not only could we expect a higher storage, but a boosted memory to go with it. I still wouldn’t complain if it kept the same 512MB of RAM found in the current model.

This year could also be the year we see Apple stray from its usual 3.5″ screen. Back when the first iPhone was launched this was plenty of real estate, but compared to its main rivals it’s starting to look a little insignificant. Expect a minimum 3.7″ possibly 4″ edge-to-edge display on the next model. A “source” at Foxconn apparently spotted the iPhone 4 and claimed it had a 4″ screen, no photos have been leaked to add any weight to this alleged spotting.

thank's to TiP.

How true Amazon steals Android from Google?

I have been watching Amazon's recent moves involving Android with great fascination. Two weeks ago, it launched the Amazon Appstore that focuses on Android apps, and last week it announced a cloud-based music service with a special version just for Android. Although Google has its own Android Marketplace, Amazon is bringing a more structured store to Android with room for users comments and reviews—a key step to vetting the apps it carries.

This is a very strategic move by Amazon, and it could actually bring some sanity and consistency to the Android development community and all Android users. At the moment, Google's approach to creating Android is scattered. There are so many versions of this OS floating around that the OEMs who license Android are increasingly frustrated with Google's lack of discipline in laying out a consistent roadmap for Android that they can follow.

At first, Google said it would have one version of Android for smartphones and another for tablets. Now it says that it will merge both versions into a product codenamed Ice Cream and that it most likely will be the same OS used on Google TVs in the future as well. Initially, vendors could only use one version for devices with up to 7 inch screens and another one for screens larger then 7 inches but less then 11 inches.

Part of the problem with Google's Android strategy is that it thinks Android needs to be open source. This means that Google creates the core source code and then vendors who use it can customize it to deliver various forms of differentiation. While that is great in concept, what it has led to is various levels of fragmentation within Android devices, apps, and even services. Interestingly, Google's main goal with Android is to get it on as many devices as possible and to use it as a medium to deliver Google search and advertisments to millions of users around the world. As I understand it, it has an annual goal to bring in $10.00 of ARPU (average revenue per unit) annually by the end of 2012. If it could get Android on 1 billion smartphones, tablets, TVs, car navigation systems, etc, that could mean as much as $10 billion annually to its bottom line sometime in the future (if it achieves this level of success).

But since Google is an engineering driven company, the focus has always been about delivering an OS that meets the goals I mentioned, not necessarily to create a structured OS with strict guidelines and enforce rigid practices to deliver a constant user experience between devices. It has pushed this open source model for Android from the beginning, and now it's coming back to bite Google in the form of serious fragmentation, as well as causing continual frustration and angry feedback from the licensees.

There are reasons why Apple and Microsoft's OSs are extremely successful and why Linux has struggled to gain any market share beyond its use in servers and controllers. Apple has total control of its OS, UI, and, in its case, standardization of certain connectors that are part of its IP. That means that all hardware and software developers must subscribe to Apple's strict rules and SDK structure in order for their products to work on Mac OS X and iOS. This control makes sure users' experiences on Apple products are consistent.

By Tim Bajarin

Courtesy of PC-MAG

Digital Image Processing and Computer Vision Workshop

Invites Everyone to A Two-day Workshop on Hands-On Introduction to Digital Image Processing and Computer Vision

by Vladimir Mariano, Ph.D. of Institute of Computer Science, UPLB

Venue: Institute of Computer Science, University of the Philippines Los Banos,

Pre-requisites:

Knowledge of programming such as C or C++ (preferred)

Elementary Statistics, Elementary Calculus

Maximum Number of Participants: 30 individuals

Schedule Dates: 15-16 April 2011

Fees: 1,500.00 PhP, Inclusive of 6 meals and workshop materials (Please use the mode of payment as stated below)

Time: 9.00am to 5.00pm

Note:

Another Session will be scheduled on 28-29 April 2011,

if the number of registered participant will exceed 50 individuals.

MODE OF PAYMENT:

If paying via cheque, make cheque payable to: COMPUTING SOCIETY OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC. (Note: It is very important to include INC.)

Registration payments may be made through the CSP's bank account in BANCO DE ORO. Below are the details:

Name: COMPUTING SOCIETY OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC.

Bank: BANCO DE ORO

Branch: Loyola Heights - Katipunan, Quezon City

Savings Account Number: 3570008929

NOTES:

Any bank charges should be charged to the payor and not to CSP.

Keep a copy of your bank transaction as proof of payment.

Development of an ICT-led “disaster science” in the Philippines

After what had happened in Japan of a shocking 8.9 earthquake and a devastating tsunami, a lawmaker in the Philippines called for the development of an ICT-led "disaster science" to make the country ready and equipped in terms of facing natural calamities.

Sen. Angara emphasized a need of a system that can monitor rain in real-time, as well as a low-cost wave monitoring system that automatically sends an alarm when there is an indication of vertical acceleration.

Next PhilCSBi Monthly Webinar

PhilCSBi Monthly Webinar (Web-Seminar)
will be on March 22, 2011 at 5:30 – 6:30 PM (Manila time).

Rollyn Labuguen and Philip Redondo of Ateneo Innovation Center are going to present 3 of their projects using image processing for biological applications. The titles of their 20-minute talks are:

Talk 1: Automated Fish Fry Counting and Schooling Behavior Analysis Using Computer Vision

Talk 2: Image Processing Assisted Tool for Hand Movement Disorder Characterization

Talk 3: Specific Feature Tracking for Echo-cardiograms Using Image Processing"

Please email your Skype user name to Eduardo Mendozamendoza@lmu.de> by March 21 if you want to participate in this Skype phone conference. You will get the slides for the talks latest on March 21 so that you can follow the presentation.

It is recommended to use a headset (instead of microphone and loudspeakers) to reduce the echo effects during the phone conference.

Study Guide Chapter 12 -14

INTERNETWORKING I
CHAPTERS 12-14 STUDY GUIDE

What are the primary duties of the Transport Layer (Layer 4)?

What are the two main Layer 4 protocols we use?

What are four or more characteristics of TCP?

What are four or more characteristics of UDP?

What layer does IP work on? How does it work with TCP?

What is the difference between TCP and UDP?

What are the parts of a TCP segment? Give a brief description of each part.

List four protocols that use UDP. Briefly describe each one.

What do TCP and UDP use to pass information to upper layers?

What do port numbers do?

What port numbers are used for public applications? Are assigned to companies? Are unregulated?

What is a three-way handshake?

What is PAR?

What is windowing?

What is window size?

What happens if a transmission using TCP fails to deliver one segment out of a multi-segment file?

How does the receiving device know that there’s a segment missing?

What is the definition of the Session Layer (Layer 5)?

What is dialogue control?

What is the difference between two-way alternate communication and two-way simultaneous communication? Which one is prone to collisions?

What is dialogue separation?

List six important Layer 5 protocols.

What is the definition of the Presentation Layer (Layer 6)?

Name 3 important functions of this layer:

Name two types of text formatting. What is the difference between the two?

Name at least 4 standards for graphic images.

Which if the above are used on the Internet?

Name at least 3 standards for sound and movies.

What is the definition of streaming audio?

What is HTML?

Senior Study Guides

In preparation to our LT for this week you are instructed to answer Chapter 12-14 and 15 Study Guides. Points earned for this activity will be credited under quizzes. 1 whole sheet pad paper due 2nd meeting for the week.




from,
Sensei