Database Management Systems

The article on Access Science about Database Management Systems contained a very generic overview of the basic database components.  This section was very informative even though it is written for someone who had little to no knowledge of a database and network.  The subsection on data gave a very detailed description of the parts that are important to the use of a database.  I found this helpful as my understanding of how data is used and manipulated inside a database is not that good.  I also found the subsection on user informative.  Generally I would think that the users did not have much differentiation between them; however this section show otherwise.  Also the discussion of how users receive data through the database was interesting to read.  The next main section about the characteristics of data was very helpful in gaining a larger grasp on how databases work.  The explanation of integrated data and shared data was very helpful in understanding the concept.  I found the diagram of the Three Level Architecture very helpful to understand the concept.  It made the semi-confusing description offered below it clear to understand.  The section on relational databases was very helpful in understanding the assignment that is due in a week.  It was very detailed on how the different tables must relate to each other, along with give a description of the terms that are used in this type of database.  The description of table operations was helpful, even though what the operations actually did was a bit unnecessary.  I liked the section about the emerging technologies; however the section seemed out of date.  From my coop experience some of the technologies mentioned in this section are already being widely used.

            The first article I read is titled “Scenario Control for Smart Buildings Using Relational Databases”.  The article discusses how various systems can be placed into a house to do any and everything that the owner would want.  Examples given in the article, range from being able to control the lights with the television remote to being able to control everything that would be desired to set up a romantic dinner by pushing one button.  Many of the features that a “clever house” can offer are the same as what a hired servant could do.  However the house would be able to learn the tendencies of the owner in only a matter days where a servant could take years to learn all the tendencies.  Relational databases would be used to communicate all of the systems together, because of the extraordinary flexibility of the program.  The implementation of the database is another main point brought up by the article.  The software will allow the user to access the program and create various scenarios, for instance if the user was going away on a long trip, they could program regular systems to operate as if they were still home.  The article demonstrates the process of setting up this operation inside a program, which can be accessed through the internet.  This section gives a detailed list of the advantages of the application.  “The benefit of adding smart systems to a house increases the comfort of a house by 30-40% and only increases the cost of 12-16%.”  This article is very informative about the benefit of a smart house, and how simple they can be to set up.  The concept discussed here can be applied to a building however the necessary parameters to be set would need to be done by someone who can fully understand the entire building.  The article is a little hard to read as I believe it is a translation.  The phone numbers at the top of the article indicate that the authors are from Romania.  This is the only real downside to the article.   

     The second article I read was titled “Virtual Value Visions”.  This article talks mainly about the value of the building industry evolving to the virtual world.  The author makes a great point when he quotes Henry Ford, “ ‘If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.’ I believe there are those in the traditional building automation industry who are designing faster horses, rather than trying to get their minds around the fact we are moving into a new era where all the rules will change and everything will be done differently.”  This point is very strong and really shows how there are 2 different approaches to the future of buildings.  At the time of the article the author talks about how the integration of various technologies into buildings will make the operation much easier.  While I do not believe that this has occurred on a large scale integration into buildings, technologies such as VOIP, have occurred on a large scale integration into houses.  One example of the integration into houses is through the cable companies.  Many providers offer the “triple play” package where phone, internet, and cable are bundled together, integrate many of the concepts mentioned here, such as VOIP, or use of LCDs to display pertinent information (caller id on television).  I believe, like the author, that the future of buildings is through the “general” web based systems, not through the development of individual management programs.  The article continues on to talk about the benefit for the individual and the community of virtual value.