Topic 1 Introduction to Computers

Chapter 1 Objectives
Recognize the importance of Recognize the importance of computer literacy computer literacy Define the term, computer Define the term, computer Describe the categories of computers Describe the categories of computers Identify the components Identify the components of a computer of a computer Discuss the advantages and Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using computers disadvantages of using computers Identify the elements of Identify the elements of an information system an information system

Distinguish between system software Distinguish between system software and application software and application software

A World of Computers
Computers are everywhere: at work, at school and at home.

What is computer literacy?

Knowledge and understanding of computers and their uses

p. 5-6 Fig. 1-1

What Is a Computer?
How is a computer defined?
Electronic device operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory
Accepts data Unprocessed items, raw facts, figures, and symbols Processes data into information Data that is organized, meaningful, and useful

Produces and stores results

p. 6

What Is a Computer?
What is the information processing cycle?
of The series of Input Process Output Storage Communication

p. 6 Fig. 1-2

The Components of a Computer

What are common computer hardware components? PC camera speaker
printer speaker monitor keyboard modem scanner mouse system unit

Next p. 1.5 Fig. 1-3

microphone

digital camera

The Components of a Computer

What is an input device?
Hardware used to enter data and instructions

Click to view Web Link, click Chapter 1, Click Web Link from left navigation, then click Input Devices below Chapter 1 p. 7 Fig. 1-3

The Components of a Computer

What is an output device?
Hardware that conveys information to one or more people

Click to view Web Link, click Chapter 1, Click Web Link from left navigation, then click Output Devices below Chapter 1 p. 8 Fig. 1-3

The Components of a Computer

What is the system unit?
Case containing electronic components used to process data The circuitry of the system unit usually is part of or is connected to a circuit board called the motherboard
p. 8 Fig. 1-3

The Components of a Computer

What are two main components on the motherboard?
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Also called a processor The electronic component that interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate the computer

Memory
Consists of electronic components that store instructions waiting to be executed and data needed by those instructions
p. 8

The Components of a Computer

What is storage?
Holds data, instructions, and information for future use
Storage media Storage media

Physical material on which data, Physical material on which data, instructions, and information are stored instructions, and information are stored
Storage device Storage device

Records and retrieves items to and from Records and retrieves items to and from a storage medium a storage medium
p. 8

The Components of a Computer

What is storage media?

Hard Disks USB Flash Drives

CDs

Memory Cards
p. 7

DVDs

The Components of a Computer

What is a communications device?
Hardware component that Hardware component that enables aacomputer to enables computer to send and receive data, instructions, send and receive data, instructions, and information and information Occurs over cables, telephone Occurs over cables, telephone lines, cellular radio networks, lines, cellular radio networks, satellites, and other satellites, and other transmission media transmission media

Click to view Web Link, click Chapter 1, Click Web Link from left navigation, then click Communications Devices below Chapter 1 p. 9

Networks and the Internet

A network is a collection of computers and devices connected together
Used to share Used to share
Resources Resources Hardware Hardware devices Software devices Software programs programs

Data Data

To save To save Information time Information time and and money money

p. 8

Networks and the Internet

What is the Internet?
Worldwide collection of networks that connects millions of businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and individuals

Click to view Web Link, click Chapter 1, Click Web Link from left navigation, then click Internet below Chapter 1 p. 8 Fig. 1-6

Networks and the Internet

Why do users access the Internet?
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
p. 9 Fig. 1-7

Communications Information Shopping Banking and Investing Classes Entertainment Download Music Share Information

Networks and the Internet

What is the Web?
Billions of documents, called Web pages, available to anyone connected to the Internet
A Web site is A Web site is aacollection of collection of related Web pages related Web pages

You can share You can share information on aasocial information on social networking Web site networking Web site

A podcast is A podcast is recorded audio recorded audio stored on aaWeb site stored on Web site that can be that can be downloaded downloaded

Click to view Web Link, click Chapter 1, Click Web Link from left navigation, then click Social Networking Web Site below Chapter 1 p. 10

A Web page contains A Web page contains text, graphics, audio, text, graphics, audio, video, and links to video, and links to other Web pages other Web pages

A blog consists of timeA blog consists of timestamped articles in stamped articles in aajournal format journal format

Advantages of Using Computers

What are the advantages of using computers?

Speed

Reliability

Consistency

Storage
p. 10

Communications

Advantages of Using Computers

The electronic components in modern computers are dependable and reliable because they rarely break or fail

Speed

Computer operations occur through electronic circuits. When data, instructions and information flow along these circuits, they travel at incredibly fast speeds

Reliability

Advantages of Using Computers

A computer can transfer data quickly from storage to memory, process it, and then store it again for future use

Consistency

Given the same input and processes, a computer will produce the same results. Computer generate error free results, provided the input is correct and the instructions work (GIGO)

Storage

Advantages of Using Computers

Most computer today can communicate with other computers. Computer with this capability can share any of the four information processing cycle operations input, process, output and storage with another computer or a user

Communications

Exam question Nov 2005

Computers are everywhere: at work, at school and at home. Many daily activities either involve the use of or depend on information from a computer. People use computers in a variety of fields, including education, finance, government, travel and many more. DISCUSS five (5) benefits of using computers

Disadvantages of Using Computers

What are the disadvantages of using computers?
Violation of Privacy Public Safety

Impact on Labor Force

Health Risks

Impact on Environment

p. 5

Disadvantages of Using Computers

Violation of Privacy
If records are not properly protected, individuals have found their privacy violated and identifies stolen Although computer have improve the productivity in many ways and create an entire industry with hundreds and thousand of new jobs, the skills of millions of employees have been replaced by computers
Impact on Labor Force

Disadvantages of Using Computers

Computer manufacturing processes and computer waste are depleting natural resources and polluting the environment. When computers are discarded in landfills, they release toxic materials and potentially dangerous level of lead, mercury, and flame retardants

Health Risks
Prolonged or improper computer use can lead to injures or disorders of the hands, wrists, elbows, eyes, neck and back

Impact on Environment

Disadvantages of Using Computers

Adults, teens, and children around the world are using computers to share publicly their photos, videos, journals, music, and other personal information. Some users have fallen victim to crime committed by dangerous strangers. Protect yourself and your dependents from these criminals by being cautious.
Public Safety

Exam question Apr 2007

Your seniors argued that computers have a lot of advantages such as speed, reliability and consistency. They asserted that you should fully support the use of computers in any circumstances for your convenience. You do not agree with them. Discuss.

Computer Software
What is software?

Consists of a series Consists of a series of instructions that of instructions that tells the computer tells the computer what to do what to do

Also called a Also called a program program

Click to view Web Link, click Chapter 1, Click Web Link from left navigation, then click Computer Programs below Chapter 1 p. 15

Computer Software
What is system software?
Programs that control or maintain the operations of the computer and its devices
Operating System (OS) Operating System (OS) is aaset of programs is set of programs that coordinates all that coordinates all activities among activities among computer hardware Utility Programs allow the user computer hardware Utility Programs allow the user devices and allows to perform maintenance-type tasks devices and allows to perform maintenance-type tasks users to run users to run usually related to managing aa usually related to managing application software computer, its devices or its programs application software computer, its devices or its programs
p. 15-16

Computer Software
What is application software?
Programs that perform specific tasks for users

Word Processing Database

Spreadsheet Presentation Graphics

Click to view Web Link, click Chapter 1, Click Web Link from left navigation, then click Application Software below Chapter 1 p. 16 Fig. 1-11

Computer Software
Javascript program

What is a programmer?
Someone who develops application or system software
Programmer writes instructions to direct computer to process data into information

p. 18 Fig. 1-13

Resulting Internet application

Categories of Computers
What are the categories of computers?
Personal Computers (desktop) Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices Game Consoles Servers Mainframes Supercomputers Embedded Computers
p. 13

Personal Computers
What are the two most popular series of personal computers?
PC and compatibles use the Windows operating system Apple Macintosh uses the Macintosh operating system (Mac OS)

Click to view Web Link, click Chapter 1, Click Web Link from left navigation, then click Personal Computers below Chapter 1 p. 19 Figs. 1-151-16

Personal Computers
What is a desktop computer?
Designed so all of the components fit entirely on or under a desk or table

p. 19-20 Fig. 1-15

Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices

What is a notebook computer?
Portable, small enough to fit on your lap Also called a laptop computer Generally more Click to view Web Link, expensive than a click Chapter 1, Click Web Link from left desktop computer navigation, then click Notebook
Computers below Chapter 1 p. 20 Fig. 1-17

Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices

What is a Tablet PC?
Resembles a letter-sized slate Allows you to write on the screen using a digital pen
Especially useful for taking notes

p. 21 Fig. 1-18

Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices

What are mobile devices?
Small enough to carry in a pocket Internet-enabled telephone is a smart phone Handheld computers, PDAs and smart phones

p. 21 Fig. 1-20

Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices

What is a handheld computer?
An ultra personal computer (uPC) or handtop computer

Small enough to fit in one hand

Used by mobile employees such as meter readers and delivery people

p. 21

Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices

What is a personal digital assistant (PDA)?
Provides personal organizer functions
Calendar Appointment book Address book Calculator Notepad

p. 22 Fig. 1-20

Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices

What are smart phones?
A smart phone is an Internet-enabled telephone that usually provides PDA capabilities

A smart phone allows you to send and received email messages and access the Web
p. 22 Figs. 1-211-22

Game Consoles
What are game consoles?
Mobile computing device designed for single-player or multiplayer video games Use handheld controller as input device, a television screen as output device and hard disk, CDs, DVDs and memory cards for storage .

p. 16 Fig. 1-19

Servers
What types of servers are there?
A server controls access to network resources and provides centralized storage Mainframe Very powerful, expensive computer that supports thousands of computers Supercomputer The fastest, most powerful, most expensive computer. Used for applications requiring complex mathematical calculations
p. 23 Figs. 1-231-25

Embedded Computers
What is an embedded computer?
A special-purpose computer that functions as a component in a larger product

p. 24 Fig. 1-26

Elements of an Information System

What are information system elements?
Hardware Software Data People Procedures

p. 25 Fig. 1-27

Summary of Introduction to Computers

The importance of computer literacy The importance of computer literacy The term, computer The term, computer The components of a computer The components of a computer The advantages and disadvantages The advantages and disadvantages of using computers of using computers Elements of an information system Elements of an information system System software and System software and application software application software Categories of computers Categories of computers

Chapter 1 Complete