Microsoft Office 2007 Essential Introduction to Computers

Chapter Concepts Definitions Computer Data and information Four basic computer operations: input, processing, output, and storage Principal components of a computer and their use Storage media: magnetic disks, optical disks, USB flash drives, and other types Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques2

Chapter Concepts (cont.) Computer software System software Application software Computer communications channels and equipment The Internet and World Wide Web E-commerce Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques3

What is a Computer? An electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory, that can do four basic operations: Accept data (input) Process the data according to specified rules (process) Produce results (output) Store the results for future use (storage) Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques4

Benefits of a Computer Speed Reliability Accuracy Huge storage capability Communications capability Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques5

The Physical Components of a Computer Input devices Output devices Processor Central Processing Unit (CPU) Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU) Memory (sometimes called internal memory Storage devices (sometimes called external memory) Communications devices Some components, such as the processor, internal memory, and some storage devices are housed in a box-like case called the system unit Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques6

Components of a Computer Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques7

Memory versus Storage Memory (internal memory) Electronic Transient (only lasts while the power is on) Expensive (thus relatively small capacity) Storage (external memory) Non-electronic (generally magnetic or laser) Persistent (can last a very long time) Can be very cheap (thus very large capacity) Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques8

Input Devices An input device is any hardware component that allows you to enter data, programs, commands, and user responses into a computer Keyboard Mouse Touchpad Microphone Digital camera Stylus Touch screen Others… Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques9

Output Devices An output device is any hardware component that makes the information resulting from processing available for use Monitor CRT (cathode ray tube) LCD (liquid display crystal) flat panel Printer – Impact, non-impact Speakers Others… Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques10

Processor The central processing unit (CPU) interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer. Comprised of Control unit – carries out instructions Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) – does math and comparisons Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques11

Memory RAM (random access memory) consists of electronic components that temporarily store instructions waiting to be executed by the processor, data needed by those instructions, and the results of processed data Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques12

System Unit Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques13

Storage Devices (External Memory) A storage device is used to store instructions, data, and information for the long term. Current media are Magnetic Optical Infrequently, other… Storage media may be Non-removable without powering off the computer (hard drive) Removable (USB drive, floppy disk, CD/DVD disk, tape) Off-line – stored in a long term location, such as a business’s archived backups Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques14

Magnetic Storage Media Hard disks Flash cards Smart cards Tape “Floppy” disks Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques15

Magnetic Storage Media (cont) Disks use magnetic particles to store items on the disk’s surface A hard disk is a storage device that contains one or more inflexible, circular platters that magnetically store data, instructions, and information A floppy disk is an inexpensive portable storage medium Tape is a magnetically coated ribbon of plastic housed in a tape cartridge Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques16

Magnetic Disk Devices Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques17

Disk Storage Terms Platter: a disk; often a hard drive may have multiple platters Tracks: concentric circles on a disk Sectors: pie-slice-shaped segments of a track Data is found by specifying its platter, track, and sector Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques18

Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques19

Optical Storage Devices An optical disc is a portable storage medium that consists of a flat, round, portable disc made of metal, plastic, and lacquer that is written and read by a laser Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques20

Storage Devices Miniature mobile storage media are rewriteable media usually in the form of a flash memory card, USB flash drive, or a smart card Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques21

Communications Devices A communications device is a hardware component that enables a computer to send and receive data, instructions, and information to and from one or more computers Communication requires a communication device (for example, a modem), transmission media (wired, wireless), and software Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques22

Software A software program is a very detailed sequence of instructions that tells the computer what operations to perform System software Applications software Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques23

System Software Controls the operations of computer equipment – Operating system Microsoft Windows 7 Microsoft Windows Vista Microsoft Windows XP Microsoft Windows CE Apple Mac OS X Linux Unix Others… – Drivers Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques24

Application Software Application software consists of programs designed to make users more productive and/or assist them with personal tasks – Word processing – Spreadsheet – Database – Presentation graphics – Entertainment (games, music, video, …) Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques25

Networks A network is a collection of computers and devices connected together, often wirelessly, via communications devices and transmission media – Local area network (LAN) – Wide area network (WAN) Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques26

The Internet The Internet is a network of networks that connects millions of businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and individuals Individual connection can be by – Internet service provider (ISP) – Online service provider (OSP) – Wireless Internet service provider (WISP) Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques27

The World Wide Web Not a network, but a vast collection of data that is accessible through the internet, and usually linked together Web page – a single document Web site – a group of pages Web browser – software that displays a web page Uniform Resource Locator (URL) – the location of a desired page Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques28

URLs Consists of Protocol Domain name Path Page name is Hypertext transfer protocol go.microsoft.com is the domain name /fwlink/users/ is the path Index.htm is the page name Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques29

Electronic Commerce When you conduct business activities online, you are participating in electronic commerce, also known as e-commerce – Business to consumer (B2C) – Consumer to consumer (C2C) – Business to business (B2B) Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques30