What is Information Technology?

Communication Technology

consists of electromagnetic/optical devices and

systems for communicating over long distances InfoTech or IT is any technology that helps to produce, manipulate, store, communicate, and/or disseminate information

Merges computing with high-speed communications

links carrying data, sound, and video

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The Computer defined

A device that computes

Electronic device
Converts data into information Modern computers are digital Two digits combine to make data (1s and 0s) Older computers were analog

A range of values made data

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Communication Defined
Communication: To transfer data/information from one point to another Using Wires Electrical Signals Optical Signals (Light) Wirelessly ElectroMagnetic Waves Using Analog Signals Using Digital Signals
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Related IT Terms
What is a Network?
communications system connecting two or more
computers with/without wires

What does being online mean?

using a computer or other information device, connected through a voice or data network, to access information and services from another computer or information device
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Related IT Terms
Cyberspace encompasses the whole wired and wireless world of communications The Internet the network of all networks Multimedia technology that presents information in more than one medium, such as text, still images, moving images, and sound World Wide Web graphical side of the Internet global network of linked documents on the Internet

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Related IT Terms
The E-word ; E Stands for Electronic
E-mail
E-learning E-business E-commerce E-government

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Computers for individual use

Desktop computers
The most common type of computer Sits on the desk or floor Performs a variety of tasks

Workstations
Specialized computers Optimized for science or graphics More powerful than a desktop

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Computers for individual use

Notebook computers
Small portable computers Weighs between 3 and 8 pounds About 8 by 11 inches Typically as powerful as a desktop Can include a docking station Lightest laptop: Sony VAIO X Series 655g!

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Discussion
Contrast desktop and notebook computers. Focus on the pros and cons of each type of computer

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Computers for individual use

Tablet computers
Newest development in portable computers Input is through a pen Run specialized versions of office products

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Computers for individual use

Handheld computers
Very small computers Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) Note taking or contact management Data can synchronize with a desktop

Smart phones

Hybrid of cell phone and PDA Web surfing, e-mail access Example: Blackberry Features Phone Internet (Email, Browsing) Camera Video Recording
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Computers For Organizations

Network servers
Centralized computer All other computers connect Provides access to network resources Multiple servers are called server farms Often simply a powerful desktop

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Computers For Organizations

Mainframes
Used in large organizations Handle thousands of users Used for Bulk data processing, warehousing Industry/consumer stats Financial transaction processing Users access through a terminal Dumb Terminal Intelligent Terminal
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Computers For Organizations

Minicomputers
Called midrange computers Power between mainframe and desktop Handle hundreds of users Used in smaller organizations Users access through a terminal Microcomputer evolved from minicomputer Examples SPARC, POWER and Itanium -based systems from Sun Microsystems, IBM and HewlettPackard.
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Computers For Organizations

Supercomputers
The most powerful computers made Handle large and complex calculations Process trillions of operations per second Found in research organizations Used in Simulation and modeling, weather forecasting
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Specialized Computers
Microcontrollers also called embedded computers tiny, specialized microprocessors installed in smart appliances and automobiles Dedicated to performing a specific task Low power devices Examples:

engine control systems, remote controls, office machines, appliances, power tools

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Computers Everywhere
Not just Desktops, Workstations, Tablet PCs, Handheld PCs (PDAs), Servers, Mainframe computers, Minicomputers But also
Cell phones Alarm Clocks Microwave Ovens Lighting control in a building Washing Machines

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Computers In Society (Self Study)

Computers at home
Business, education, entertainment, communication

Computers Computers Computers Computers Computers

in education in small business in industry in government in health care

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Where Is Information Technology Headed? Three Directions of Computer Development Miniaturization Speed Affordability
Then (1946)

Now

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Where Is Information Technology Headed? Three Directions of Computer Development Connectivity Interactivity Multimedia
Image Courtesy: http://blog.wired.com/cars/images/20 07/05/31/telematics.jpg

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When Computers & Communications Combine: Convergence, Portability, & Personalization Convergence Portability Personalization
Image courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wearabl e_computer

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How Computers Work

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How Computers Work Concept#1

The purpose of a computer is to process data into information Information Data that has been summarized or otherwise manipulated for use in decision making

Data The raw facts and figures that are processed into information

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Types of Data
Text Raw: Processed: One of the most important concepts students must understand is the fundamental difference between

data and information.

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Types of Data
Image
Raw

Processed

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Types of Data
Audio
Raw: Conversation between people in cockpit of aircraft and Flight Controller recorded in Black box Processed: In case of air crash, the recorded audio will be converted to digital form, background noise will be removed, and the clarity of speech will be improved to assist investigators

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Types of Data
Video
Raw: Old Black and White movies Processed: Black and white movie made colored Raw: Any Video in foreign language Processed: Dub it in Urdu

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How Computers Work Concept#2

Parts of a Computer System Computer systems have four parts Hardware Software Data User

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Parts of a Computer System

Hardware
Mechanical devices in the computer Anything that can be touched Examples?

Software

Tells the computer what to do Also called a program Thousands of programs exist Some for computers own use Some for the service of the user Reason majority of the people would want to purchase a computer Examples?
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Parts of a Computer System

Data
Pieces of information/individual facts By themselves do not make much sense Computers organize and present data

Users
People operating the computer Most important part Tell the computer what to do

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How Computers Work Concept#3

Information Processing Cycle
Steps followed to process data
Input Computer accepts data from some source Processing Computers processing components perform actions on the data based on instructions from user or program Output Computer conveys result to user. Text, numbers, graphic, image, video, sound, print Storage Permanently store result on some medium

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Information Processing Cycle

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Input Devices
Devices that allow people to put data into the computer in a form that the computer can use Input Devices
Keyboard: converts letters, numbers, and other characters into electrical signals readable by the processor Mouse: Select options from onscreen menu

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Other Input Devices..?

Scanners Microphone Webcam Digital Camera Joystick

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Processing
The manipulation a computer does to transform data into information Processing Device:
Central Processing Unit (CPU) Specialized chips called microprocessor Brain of the computer Carries out instructions from the program Processors made of silicon and copper Plugged into computers motherboard

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Processing Devices
Processor chip - A tiny piece of silicon that contains millions of miniature electronic circuits.
Processor chip

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Motherboard
PCB (Printed Circuit Board) made of Fiberglass sheet with electrical pathways, called traces, etched into it System Clock Microprocessor Read-Only Memory (ROM) Random Access Memory (RAM) Battery Power Supply Ports Expansion Slots plugs on the motherboard for expanding the PCs capabilities via additional circuit boards Buses Address Bus Data Bus
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Motherboard

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Memory Devices
One or more sets of chips that store data and/or program instructions, either temporarily or permanently Two types of memory:
Random Access Memory (RAM) Read-Only Memory (ROM)

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RAM Primary Storage

Computer circuitry that temporarily holds data waiting to be processed Volatile Stores current data and programs More RAM results in a faster system

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Memory
Memory
Stores open programs and data Small chips on the motherboard or on a small circuit board attached to the motherboard More memory makes computer applications run faster

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Non-volatile Memory
Holds data when power is off Read Only Memory (ROM) Data is only read but not changed Types of ROM

Programmable ROM (PROM) can be customprogrammed by the user (once) using special circuitry
Erasable-Programmable ROM (EPROM) can also be programmed and erased by the user using ultraviolet light and special circuitry external to the computer Electrically Erasable PROM (EEPROM) can be erased and reprogrammed by special circuitry within the computer
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Non-volatile Memory
ROM contains a set of start-up instructions called Basic Input Output System (BIOS)

The BIOS boot program in the ROM is activated first

Performs the Power On Self Test (POST) to ensure system is functioning properly and all expected hardware devices are present Ensures that RAM chips are functioning properly Keyboard/mouse is attached properly Detects which drives are available Loads the operating system

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Flash Memory
Data is stored using physical switches Special form of nonvolatile memory Camera cards, USB key chains

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RAM
Volatile memory
Requires power to hold data Random Access Memory (RAM) Single in-line memory module (SIMM) Dual in-line memory module (DIMM) Small outline DIMM (SODIMM) Used in laptops
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RAM Access
CPU uses a memory address to store and retrieve each piece of data Memory address: a number that indicates a location on the memory chip CPU reads data using the address CPU can read any address

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Virtual RAM
Computer is out of actual RAM Unload/swap out non-essential parts (least recently used data) from RAM to hard disk and then load/swap in the required data Swapping slows down the systems performance More RAM would mean less swapping

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CPU Registers
Small amount of storage available on the CPU Fastest way for CPU to access data Measured by the number of bits they can hold, sometimes called word size 32-bit CPU or processor means the word size (size of registers) is 32 bits

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ROM Secondary Storage

The area in the computer where data or information is held permanently Holds the computer boot directions to store the initial program that runs when the computer is powered on Since it cannot be modified, it is really only suitable for storing data which is not expected to need modification

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Units of measurement for Memory

Storage capacity is represented in:
1 byte - 1 character of data. 1 kilobyte 210 bytes/char; 1,024 characters. 1 megabyte - 220 bytes/char 1,048,576 characters. 1 gigabyte - more than 1 billion characters. 1 terabyte - more than 1 trillion characters.

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Storage Devices
Purpose is to hold program files and data permanently
Different from RAM Computer takes a copy of program and data from storage device Puts it in RAM and processes it Replaces the data in the storage device with modified data

Differences: More room in storage than in memory Volatile vs non-volatile Storage devices are slower but cheaper than memory chips
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Storage Devices
Magnetic storage
Floppy and hard drive Uses a magnet to access data

Optical storage
CD and DVD drives, Blue-Ray Uses a laser to access data

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Storage Devices
Hard-disk drive a storage device that stores billions of characters of data on a non-removable disk platter Capacity 40GB-320GB or even more

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Storage Devices
CD (Compact Disk) drive or DVD (Digital Video Disk) drive
a storage device that uses laser technology to read data from optical disks. 700MB for CD 1.4 to 17 GB for DVD

Blue Ray
optical disc storage high-definition video and data storage. same physical dimensions as standard DVDs and CDs. Currently Upto 50GB capacity
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Output Hardware
Devices which translate info processed by the computer into a form that humans can understand Example:
Printer - an output device that produces text and graphics on paper

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Output Devices
Sound Card Coverts audio signal from digital to analog and vice versa Both Input and Output device Speakers the devices that play sounds transmitted as electrical signals from the sound card
Speakers
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Sound card

Output Devices
Video card converts the processors output information into a video signal that can be sent through a cable to the monitor Monitor the display device that takes the electrical signals from the video card and forms an image using points of colored light on the screen
Electrical Engineering Department CPS101: Introduction

Video card

Monitor
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Input & Output Device ?

Touchscreen

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Communication Devices
Modem
a device that sends and receives data over telephone lines to and from computers

Modem

NIC

Controls the flow of data on a network link

Network Interface Card

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Put all the hardware together and

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Put all the hardware together and What is Left? Power

Inside system cabinet

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You still need the software!

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Software Runs The Machine

Tells the computer what to do Reason people purchase computers Two types
System software Application software

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1B-63

System Software
Helps the computer perform essential operating tasks and enables the application software
Operating system
Windows XP, Linux, Macintosh OS

Network operating system (OS)

Windows Server 2003

Utility
Designed to help manage and tune the computer hardware, operating system or application software by performing a single task or a small range of tasks Symantec AntiVirus, Disk fragmentation, Disk partitioning, Backup, Disk compression
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1B-64

Application Software
Tells the computer how to accomplish specific tasks
Word processing MS word Spreadsheets MS Excel Database Management MS Access, Oracle Presentation programs MS powerpoint Graphics software Adobe photoshop Multimedia players Web design tools

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Computer Users
Role depends on ability
Setup the system Install software Manage files Maintain the system

Userless computers
Run with no user input Automated systems

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