Introduction to Information Technology Chapter 1 Mind Tools for Your Future

Chapter 1: Key Questions 1.1 How does information technology facilitate , networks, and the use of the Internet and the Web, and what is the meaning of the term cyberspace? 1.2 What are the five sizes of computers, and what are clients and servers? 1.3 What four basic operations do all computers follow, and what are some of the devices associated with each operation? How does communications affect these operations? 1.4 What are three directions of computer development and three directions of communications development?

What is Information Technology ? Information Technology(Infotech) – Merging computers with high speed communications links Computer systems – Programmable, multiuser machines that accept data and processes, or manipulate it into information we can use Communications systems – electromagnetic devices and systems for communicating over long distances

Infotech Examples PCs Telephones Televisions Personal digital assistants

Communications – the Plumbing of Cyberspace Cyberspace – Internet Mother of all networks Over 400,000 smaller networks – World Wide Web Part of the Internet Multimedia format

The Categories of Machines Supercomputers Mainframe computers Workstations Microcomputers – Desktop, tower, laptop, and PDAs Microcontrollers – “Smart” appliances & automobiles

Servers & Clients Server – Central computer – Holds databases and programs for clients E.g., Web servers and mail servers Clients – Linked by wired or wireless network – PCs, workstations, & other devices

How Computers Work? Processes data into information – Data – raw facts and figures that are processed into information – Information – data that has been summarized or manipulated for use in decision making Uses hardware & software – Hardware – all machinery and equipment in a computer system – Software – instructions that tell a computer how to perform a task Operates by performing: – Input – whatever is put in to a computer system – Processing – CPU processes data into information – Storage – store data/programs in memory and hard disks – Output – the results of processing – Communications - extends the power of the computer

The Basic Operations of a Computer

Input Hardware Keyboard – Converts letters, numbers, and & characters into electrical signals – Looks like a typewriter keyboard Mouse - manipulates objects

Processing & Memory Hardware Case Processor chip – CPU- the brain Memory chips – RAM Motherboard – Main circuit board

Motherboard

Storage Hardware Storage capacity – Byte – 1 character – Kilobyte – 1000 characters – Megabyte – 1 million characters – Gigabyte – 1 billion characters – Terabyte – 1 trillion characters

Storage Hardware Hard disks – storage device that stores billions of characters of data on a nonremovable disk platter Floppy disks – stores data on removable 3.5-inch-diameter diskette – Stores 1.44 million bytes CD-ROM – storage device that stores billions of characters of data on optical disks – Read only

Output Hardware Devices that translate information processed by the computer into human readable forms Peripheral devices – expands computer’s input, storage, and output capacities: Video card Pair of speakers Sound card Printer Monitor

Communications Hardware Modem – Sends and receives data over telephone lines – Mounted on an expansion card – Telephone line connects from a wall plug into the back of the computer

Computer Software System software – Performs essential operations – Enables application software to run E.g., Windows 95/98/2000, Linux Application software – Performs specific tasks – Requires system software E.g., Word, Excel, Netscape,

Directions of Computer Development Miniaturizations – Transistors – Integrated circuits Speed – Faster Affordability – Less expensive

Directions of Communications Development Connectivity – Ability to connect computers by communications line Interactivity – Two-way communication Multimedia – Text, pictures, sound, & animation

Computers & Communications Combined Convergence – computers, communications, consumer electronics, entertainment,mass media Portability – Portable and smaller Personalization – Information tailored to personal preferences Information overload

Ethics & InforTech Concerns Speed & scale – great amounts of information can be stored, retrieved, and transmitted at a speed and on a scale not possible before Unpredictability – a lot less predictable and reliable Complexity – some computer systems are not even understood by their creators