UNDERSTANDING YOUR COMPUTER

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE USE A COMPUTER? Data output DATA INPUT Data processing

Bites and bytes Quantity Information 8 bits = 1 byte. This is the lowest 'data' level and is a series of 0s and 1s, e.g. 00111010 = 1 byte with each 0 or 1 equal to 1 bit. Each keyboard character = 1 byte. Each number, letter and keyboard symbol is represented by a series of 8 bits (each, of course, is different). 1000 keyboard characters = 1000 bytes or 1 KB (kilobyte). In reality it is really 1024 bytes which make a kilobyte, but generally people refer to 1000 bytes as a kilobyte. 1000 kilobytes = 1 MB (1 million keyboard characters). Floppy disks have a capacity of 1.44 MB CD ROM disks have a capacity of 650 MB. 1000 megabytes = 1 GB (gigabytes or 1 billion characters) DVD disks can hold between up to 4.7 GB of data.

Example of a Binary Number Binary Number System A Binary Number is made up of only 0s and 1s How do we Count using Binary? 110100 Example of a Binary Number Binary   We start at 0 1 Then 1 ??? But then there is no symbol for 2 ... what do we do? Decimal: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Binary: 11 100 101 110 111 1000 1001 1010

ACTIVITIES Example: 25 = 100000 in binary numbers. Copy the example and write 28 and 210 in binary numbers. Convert the number 11 into a binary number. Convert the binary number 11001 into a decimal number. Write the numbers 28 and 342 in binary code. Convert the following binary numbers into decimal numbers: 10001 and 10010.

TWO BASIC TYPES OF COMPUTERS Personal Computers Called PC’s. This type of computer is made by several different companies. The computers we will use in class. Macintosh Often called Macs and Apples. These computers look different on the inside and outside but they can do basically the same things.

OPERATING SYSTEMS (OS) The operating system tells everything in your computer how to act. It can change the way things appear on your screen or desktop. Windows is the most common operating system for PCs.

HARDWARE Hardware is the name for the physical parts of your computer. CPU Monitor Keyboard Mouse Speakers Printer

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT This is what makes a computer work. It is like the brain of the computer. Contains the disk drives and hard drive. This is where you will find the power switch to turn the computer on and off. Also called CPU, Computer, and Processor. Have students turn PCU and Monitor On. Do any other log in necessary to get to desktop.

WHAT’S INSIDE A CPU?

MEMORIES ROM: Its contents can only be read. It stores the data that enable the computer to operate when we turn it on. RAM: Its contents can be changed. It´s erased when we turn off the computer. It temporarily stores the programs and data used on the computer

DRIVES Drives are different places on your computer to save information. C: is the hard drive D: is a partition of the hard drive E: is the DVD or CD-ROM drive Click on My computer to see the drives in your computer. Now click on 3 ½ Floppy A to access the A drive where your disk is.

Storage devices Optical storage Magnetic storage Solid-state storage

Cursor Click Double-Click Click and Drag Right-Click MOUSE Cursor Click Double-Click Click and Drag Right-Click Move the mouse around and see the cursor move. Now click once with the left button on an icon on the screen. See it become highlighted Now double click on “my Computer”. See the window open. Now to close the window click on the X in the right hand corner. Now hold down the left button over an icon and drag it across the screen. Notice that you’ve put it in a new place. Now right click in the middle of the screen. See how a menu appears. Left click on arrange icons. Another menu appears next to it. Lift click on “Auto arrange”. The icons should go back into rows. No

KEYBOARD 10-Key pad Arrow Keys Caps Lock Shift Back Space/ Delete Enter or Return Explain what each does and have students find them on their keyboard.

ACTIVITIES What is a computer drive? What types of drive are there? When you connect an MP3 player to your computer to listen to music, is it a peripheral device used for output or for input? Why?

ACTIVITIES Copy the following devices in your exercise book and match them with the definitions monitor Web camera Barcode reader tablet modem computer-like devices operated primarily by a touch screen but not intended to run general PC operating systems or applications. A computer screen A device to connect computers to the Internet. A device to show the person who is talking to you on an Internet connection. A device that reads the label on a product ina supermarket

Desktop The first screen you see when the computer starts up The desktop has several icons that can be used as short-cuts to a program or file.

Folders and Documents Folders help organize the things you save on the computer. Each thing you save is called a document or a file. Now click on the folder “From your Teacher” Then click on the Document “Welcome to Class” Explain the software program that was used to create this document.

SOFTWARE Some examples of software programs that we will use in class: Software is information or instructions for your computer. Software needs to be installed on a computer, usually from a CD. Some examples of software programs that we will use in class: Word Excel PowerPoint Publisher Internet Explorer Mavis Beacon

MICROSOFT WORD Word Processor Like a typewriter except you can edit, copy, move and delete text. You can check your spelling and grammar, too. Use for letters and documents which are mainly words.

MICROSOFT EXCEL Spreadsheet Use with documents which are mainly numbers or graphs. Adds and multiplies numbers.

MICROSOFT POWERPOINT Presentation software. Use for posters and presentations. This presentation was created on PowerPoint!

MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER This software allows you to use the internet. When you use the internet you can send and receive e-mail.

MAVIS BEACON Mavis Beacon is a learning software. Mavis Beacon teaches typing and 10-Key. You can use this software to learn to type.