Week 5 - The Final Post

It’s wild to think how something as everyday as a mobile app is rooted in so many deep IT fundamentals. After learning more throughout this course, I now see how connected my blog topic is to everything we’ve studied—from the history of computers to networks and databases. Web and mobile apps aren’t just creative tools or job-generating platforms; they result from decades of IT evolution, hardware innovation, and software development (Hanif et al., 2019).

Tied to Tech’s Origins and Operation 

 Web and mobile apps wouldn’t exist without the evolution of computing. Applications have gone from running on massive mainframe computers to living in the cloud today. They remain closely tied to the foundational IT principles of input/output, software architecture, networking, and programming logic. We witness a modern take on decades of computer science advancement each time we tap an app.

Hardware Still Matters 

 Even though apps seem simple, they rely on essential hardware components. Smartphones, tablets, and servers all need fast processors, solid memory, and high-speed storage to keep up with modern app demands. Features like real-time interactivity and rich media wouldn’t be impossible without continuous hardware advancement.

Code Is the Core 

 At the heart of every app is code. Depending on the platform, developers use languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and others. Randhawa (2022) highlights how front-end, back-end, and mobile-specific programming come together through design frameworks and compilers to create efficient, scalable applications.

Apps Are Software 

 Application software powers everything from fitness trackers to financial dashboards. They connect to system software and leverage hardware resources to accomplish tasks and communicate with services. Understanding this layered software structure has helped me understand why IT fundamentals are critical when building reliable tech tools.

Databases Make Apps Smart 

 Apps “remember” us because of behind-the-scenes database systems that store, retrieve, and secure user data. Database design, access, and maintenance principles keep apps fast and intelligent. Without these systems, personalization and data syncing would be unreliable at best.

Networks Tie It All Together 

 From sharing photos to streaming music, apps depend on networks. They rely on DNS, protocols, routers, and switches to deliver data securely. Learning about firewalls, VPNs, and encryption throughout this course made me realize how network design is integral to app performance and user safety.

References

Hanif, S. R. M., Jagadeesan, S., Drave, V. A., & Bhatt, P. C. (2019). Mobile application development: A comprehensive and systematic literature review. Proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management. https://ieomsociety.org/pilsen2019/papers/519.pdf

Randhawa, T. S. (2022). Mobile applications: Design, development and optimization. Springer. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-02391-1