ICDL/ECDL

Information Technology

Lesson 1

Overview
In this lesson on Information Technology you will be
introduced to what IT is, what IT encompasses with
respect to computer hardware, software, and the
associated services and personnel

Objectives
By the time this lesson is completed, you will be able
to:

1. Explain the meaning and purpose of IT

2. Identify the major components of hardware, software,

and services is IT

3. List and explain the five major components of

acomputer system

4. Describe in detail the hardware associated with input,

processing, output, memory, and control

Information Technology

Meaning of “Information Technology (IT)”: A general term

which includes all of
the computer system hardware, software and services
associated with computer operation.

Definitions:
 Hardware: the objects that are what you see after
turning off the power swith.

Software: the instruction that tell the computer what

to do with the supplied data.

Services: the activities provided bye the IT specialist

which are crucial to the entire operation.

Copyright © Norman T. Bell, 2007

Types of Computers

Two Major Categories of Computers

1. Mainframe computers- large, powerful, very expensive.

2. microcomputadoras- small, powerfull inexpensive.

Three Major Categories of Microcomputers

1. desktop computers

2. laptop

3. Personal Digital Assistants

Major Uses of the Major Categories of Microcomputers

1. Desktop: all types of applications available

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2. Laptop: all types of applications available for use on the
road.

3. PDA: fewer applications use while away from desktop or

laptop.

The Block Diagram of the Computer System

control

Input processing output

Memory

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 Input Devices

Keyboard scanners
Trackball, mouse, touchpad modem, network plug-in
Internal drives(hard and 3.5 floppy)
CD/DVD
External hardrives, thumb drive Camera/microphone for
internet
Printer with camara card touch screen

Processing

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Calculate (+ and -) controls components

Controls operational logic speed (megahertz)

Contains RAM for calculations operations per second

Output Devices

monitor speaker system

printer with card slots CD/DVD recorder
internal drives Thumb drive
external hard drives
modem, network plug in

Memory Devices

Read only memory (ROM) memory that permanently retains.

Operating system info.

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Ramdom access memory = memory that temporarily stores data
volatile in that the data disappear when the system is powerd
down.

Measurement of memory: bit (0 or 1), byte (8bits), kilobyte

megabyte (1024 Kbytes or approx. one million bytes) gigabyte.

Control

control

input processing output

memory

operating system- windows XP

applications programs- Microsoft office
specialized programs on ROM- plug- in

Review of Key IT Terms

IT information technology
Input putting information into the computer
Processing doing something with the information put into the
computer

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 Output getting information out of the computer
Memory storing and retrieving information in the
computer.
Control directing input, processing, memory and output.
Monitor a visual display of information stored in memory
CPU the central processing unit
Applications programs developed to produce products
System Software the programs that perform system operations
Byte 8 bits (a string of 8 zeros and/ or units)
CD-ROM compact disk-read only memory
Diskette a storage device holding 1-2 megabytes of data
Digital discrete, as opposed to analogous
Analog analogous, representing relative size
e-Commerce business conducted on the internet
e-Mail mail sent and received via internet
Freeware computer software which is free to the user
Bit a zero or a one
Touchscreen a special display that outputs video and inputs
location of touch.
Review of Key IT Terms, continued

Mouse a means by which any area of the screen can be

reached
Trackball an alternative to the mouse
Touchpad another alternative to the mouse, mostly on
notebook comp.
Modem a means by which data can be sent and received
via teleph
Megahertz a measure of speed
Gigahertz a measure of speed aprox. Trillion cycles per
second
Kilobyte a measure of quantity
Megabyte a measure of quantity 1024 Kbytes aprox. One
million bytes

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 Hardware the physical parts of the computer and
peripherals
PDA a hand held computer

Summary
In this lesson you have considered the following topics:

1. Explanation of the meaning and purpose of IT

2. Identification of the major components of hardware,
software, and services in IT
3. A listing and explanation of the five major components
of a computer system
4. A description in detail of the hardware associated with
input, processing, output, memory, and control
5. Definitions of terms associated with IT

Quick Quiz

Directions: Using the system explained by your instructor, answer the

following questions related to Information Technology.

1. Which of the following are included as part of the concept,

Measu Information Technology?
remen a. Hardware c. Personnel
t of b. Software d. All of the above responses
Memor
2. Which of the following peripherals functions as both an input and
output device?
a. mouse c. trackball
b. touch screen d. touchpad
3. What you see after turning off the computer’s main power switch
is termed
a. hardware c. software
b. systems applications d. user applications

4. That computer component which tells the computer what to do

with supplied data is called

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 a. firmware c. software
b. directions d. all of the above

5. The smallest of the various types of general purpose computers

is called the
a. calculator c. programmable calculator
b. memory-based calculator d. PDA

6. Which of the following would be classified as input devices?

a. touchpad c. trackball
b. touch screen d. all of the above

7. A flat-bed scanner is classified as a/n ____________ device

a. processing c. control
b. memory d. input

8. Which of the following are both input and output devices?

a. 3.5” floppy drive c. DVD player
b. CD player d. all of the above

9. The device which is used to modulate and de-modulate signals is

called a/n
a. modem c. de-modulator
b. modulator d. converter

10.Which of the following is a task of the central processing unit?

a. calculations c. control logic
b. control components d. all of the above

11. A central processing unit, the heart of the computer, is

approximately how large?
a. 1 foot by 1 foot c. less than 4” square
b. 8” by 12” d. no more than .25” square

12. The speed of the CPU is measured in

a. cycles/minute c. cycles/hour
b. operations/second d. all of the above

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 13. In terms of output devices, which of the following is probably
the most used?
a. monitor c. printer
b. CD-writer d. tape recorder

14. ROM stands for _______________ memory

a. random operational c. read-only
b. read-once d. recursive operational

15. Which of the following is true of RAM?

a. It is permanent c. It is highly volatile
b. It is extremely expensive d. all of the above

16. Which of the following is a good definition of a “bit”?

a. a zero or a one c. one-eighth of a byte
b. a binary digit d. all of the above

17. Memory is measured in bytes. What is the definition of a byte?

a. eight zeros or ones c. 1/10,000 of a terabyte
b. 2 bits
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d. 10 bits

18. A kilobyte is
a. exactly 1024 bytes c. 25 bits
b. one million bits d. exactly 1024 bits

19. A terabyte is one million megabytes or approximately

____________ bytes.
a. one thousand c. ten million
b. one hundred thousand d. one trillion

20. Windows XP is an example of a/n

a. MS Office application c. Operating System
b. Off-line storage system d. all of the above

21. Which of the following would be classified as an application

program?
a. Word c. Photoshop

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 b. PowerPoint d. all of the above

22. The type of monitor that can serve not only as an output device
but also as an input device is called a/n
a. touchscreen c. touchpad
b. trackscreen d. input/output video display
23. Which of the following can be read from a CD-ROM?
a. word processing files c. digital pictures
b. digital movies d. all of the above

24. The CPU is the central processing unit. With a desktop computer,
CPU also may refer to the
a. box, either metal or plastic, that contains the CPU and
peripherals
b. control-program unit
c.. monitor, the visual output display
d. main memory (both RAM and ROM)

25. Which of the following can function as an output device?

a. mouse c. trackball
b. CD-ROM reader d. monitor

Activity 1-1
Directions: In this first activity you will be exploring the Information
Technology employment opportunities. You will first have the
opportunity to read about such opportunities by means of a search
on the Internet. You will see in this activity what the actual
employment opportunities are and what are the needed skills for
those desiring such employment.

1. Study the following excerpts from the classified ads,

announcements of job opening which are all in the area of
information technology. What are some of the major conclusions
you can draw from announcements such as these?
Results of an Internet search related to jobs in the IT field.

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 Note that the
Category is Information Technology and 39,319 job postings were
found. These jobs are listed in the “Newest jobs first” order, and the
names of the companies and locations are indicated.
Further exploration of this website produces the Job
Title/Description, Company, Location, and Date Found categories for
each of the opportunities listed.

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Continued exploration of any of these job postings will provide
information concerning the details of the job and the required
background.

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Scrolling further down the required experience/knowledge is listed.

Note that in this class, you will be studying Windows XP, one of the
requirements.

Activity 1-2

Be on the lookout for job listings in the area of Information Technology.

Such listing may be found in newspapers, magazines related to
Information Technology, and on the Internet. Be prepared for the next
class session to share your findings concerning preparation for
employment in the IT field.

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