Understand Computer Fundamentals

What Is A Computer? An electronic device that receives, processes, and store data, and produces a result (output). Classified by size, speed and application Uses hardware and software

What Is A Computer? An electronic device that receives, processes, and store data, and produces a result (output). Classified by size, speed and application Uses hardware and software

Types of Personal Computers Desktop computer: designed to be used on a desktop. Laptop computer: designed to be small enough and light enough to be used on your lap. Notebook/Tablet computer: designed to be used on a desktop but still small enough to be portable.

Hardware vs. Software Has to be one or the other (not both) Everything has to fall into a category What is the difference?

“the equipment of the computer that you can see and touch” Hardware The tangible, physical equipment that can be seen and touched such as: “the equipment of the computer that you can see and touch”

PARTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM Monitor Speaker Keyboard Computer Case (Processor inside) Mouse CD-ROM/DVD Drive Printer Floppy Disk Drive

The Parts A of Computer Keyboard CPU (Central Processing Unit) Mouse Speakers Printer Scanner CPU (Central Processing Unit) The “brains” of the computer housed on a tiny silicon chip inside the computer case. Floppy Disk Drive CD-ROM/DVD Drive Monitor

Let’s view some hardware! Computer Parts Video

Input vs. Output Input: Information goes into the computer though it Output: Information comes out of the computer to it

Input Devices Keyboard Mouse/Trackball Joystick Light Pen Pointing Stick Touchpad Touch Screen Bar Code Reader Scanner Microphone Graphics Tablet Digital Cameras

Output Devices Monitor: screen that displays information such as text, numbers, and Printer: gives you information pictures. Softcopy from the computer in printed form. Hardcopy Speakers: allow you to hear voice, music, and other sounds from your computer.

Processing Device Central Processing Unit (CPU) – known as the heart or “brain” of the computer and is responsible for processing the information that has been entered into the computer

Storage Devices Internal Storage: External Storage: Allows you to store information inside of the computer Hard Drive: Allows the fastest access to information RAM (Random Access Memory) – temporary ROM (Read Only Memory) - long-term memory External Storage: Allows you to use devices to store information outside of the computer Floppy Disks CD-ROMs (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) CD-RW (Compact Disc (Read and Write) DVDs (Digital Video Disc) USB/Jump Drives

Storage Devices Hard Disk Drive: used to store data inside of the computer. Magnetic platter that holds a large amount of information in a form the computer can understand. Floppy Disk: flat circles of iron oxide-coated plastic enclosed in a hard plastic case. Most are 3 ½ inches and have a capacity to hold 1.44 MB or more of data. CD ROM Drive: a compact disk that reads only memory. CD-RW: a device that allows you to read and write to a compact disk

Which Storage Device Holds The Most Information? FLOPPY DISKS 1.44 MB CD-ROM DISC 640 MB HARD DRIVES 80 and above GB DVD DISC 17 GB

Storage Capacity Floppy Disk Zip Disk CD DVD Jump Drive*** (could be smaller) Hard Drive

Input vs. Output vs. Storage vs. Processing Mouse “Jump Drive”/USB Drive Intel Processor Microphone Speaker CD Scanner Floppy Disk Hard Drive Printer Keyboard Zip Drive

Software The intangible set of instructions that tells the computer what to do; known as programs or software programs.

Types of Software Operating System Software Application Software Sets the rules for how computer hardware and application software work together, controls the operation of the computer. Example: Windows XP Application Software Lets you accomplish specific tasks based on your needs. Examples: MS Word, Excel, Access, Explorer

Operating System Software Tasks Boots (starts up) the computer Formats disks Creates folders Saves and retrieves files Moves and copies files Every Computer Has ONE Operating System Software!

Types of Application Software Word Processing Program that allows you to create, edit, and print text documents Report, flyer, memo Spreadsheet Numbered Rows and Lettered Columns Intersection of a row and column is a cell Grade book, financial info Database Lets you set up an electronic filing system Enter text and numbers Find, search, and print info in different ways Address book, Card Catalog

Operating or Application? Microsoft XP Microsoft Word Explorer Microsoft 2000 MicroType MAC OS Novell (what you log into when you first get here)

The Information Cycle

What Happens During The IPOS Cycle? INPUT – when information is entered into the computer; the computer receives information PROCESSING – when the computer processes the information that has been entered OUTPUT – when information leaves the computer STORAGE – when information is stored to be used later.

Computer Terms

What Is A Computer? An electronic device that receives data, processes data, stores data, and produces a result (output). A collection of electronic circuits, which can be on or off (open or closed). These two states of the circuit are represented by two digits, 0 and 1. Called the binary system

Types of Computers Supercomputer: most powerful Used to do things like predict hurricanes and navigate satellites Mainframes and minicomputers: used by business and government to process large amounts of information Personal computers: smaller and less powerful than the other types of computers

Additional Types of Computers PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants): a handheld device that is often used in conjunction with a desktop or other PC. May have a special keyboard, some use a pen or stylus for entering data - Data can be transferred to a desktop or laptop computer

Data Communications The technology that enables computers to communicate The transmission of text, numeric, voice or video data from one machine to another. Popular examples: Internet, electronic messages (e-mail), faxes, and electronic or online banking Four components: Sender: the computer that is sending the message. Receiver: the computer receiving the message. Channel: the media that carries or transports the message. (telephone wire, coaxial cable, microwave signal, or fiber optic) Protocol: the rules that govern the orderly transfer of the data sent.

Data Communications Network: when computers are connected to other computers They can share information and sometimes hardware (printers) Local Area Networks (LAN): computers connected together in a relatively close location such as in the same building or department. The data and software for these computers are stored on a central computer called the file server. Wide Area Networks (WAN): when local area networks are expanded to include several local area networks within a city, state, region, territory, country, continent, or the world.

System Components Central Processing Unit (CPU): the microprocessor, the brains of the computer. Housed on a tiny silicon chip CPU has two primary sections: Arithmetic/logic unit Control unit Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU): performs arithmetic computations and logical operations; by combining these two operations the ALU can execute complex tasks. Control Unit: is the “boss” and coordinates all of the CPU’s activities. Uses programming instructions, it controls the flow of information through the processor by controlling what happens inside the processor.

System Components Memory: found on the motherboard; short term and long term. Random Access Memory (RAM): memory on the motherboard that is short term. When the computer is turned off or if there is loss of power, what ever is stored in RAM disappears. The computer can read from and write to RAM. Read-Only Memory (ROM): memory on the motherboard that is long term. This memory is nonvolatile and your computer can only read from a ROM chip. The instructions remain on the chip regardless if the power is turned on or off.

System Components Basic Controllers: on the motherboard, a device that controls the transfer of data from the computer to a peripheral device and vice versa. Examples: keyboards, mouse, monitors, and printers. Generally stored on one single chip. Serial and Parallel Ports: used to connect our peripheral devices to the computer; usually one serial and one parallel port on a computer. Serial devices transmit data one bit at a time. A modem may be connected to this port. Parallel devices transfer several bits at a time. A printer may be connected to this port.

System Components Universal Serial Bus (USB): a new standard that supports data transfer rates of up to 12 million bits per second. A single USB port can be used to connect up to 127 peripheral devices Expected to replace serial and parallel ports in the near future. Expansion Slots: an opening on the motherboard where a circuit board or expansion board can be inserted. Examples: Additional Memory, video cards, modem cards, and sound cards.

Data Representation ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange): the most popular and widely used standardized coding system Byte: eight bits or combinations of ones and zeros represent a character. MB-Megabyte or roughly 1 million bytes GB-Gigabyte or roughly one billion bytes

Three Types of Printers Dot Matrix Gives a printed image in a pattern (matrix) of tiny ink dots. Less expensive and not as clear Inkjet Printer Better quality of printed document Machine uses an ink cartridge and a printing element to print a finer image on the paper. Laser Best quality of printed documents Laser beam More expensive Quick

Systems Software A group of programs that coordinate and control the resources and operations of a computer system. Enables all components of the computer system to communicate. Operating System (OS): provide an interface between the user or application program and the computer hardware. Win 95/98/2000 Mac System 6/7 GUI (graphical user interface): graphical symbols (icons) represent files, disks, programs, and other objects.

Systems Software – DOS Prompt/GUI

Things To Note Hardware vs. Software (including types of Hardware and Software) Input vas Output Types of Storage System Components Central Processing Unit (CPU) Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) Control Unit: Memory: Random Access Memory (RAM): Short Term Read-Only Memory (ROM): Long Term Serial/Parallel Ports/USB: used to connect our peripheral devices

Pick A Part & Define (26 Total) Desktop Software Data Computer Laptop PDAs Mainframes/Minicomputers ALU Network Serial and Parallel Ports USB LAN/WAN PC case Motherboard CPU Control Unit Memory RAM Expansion Slots ASCII Byte Notebook Hardware Supercomputer Web TV ROM