Introduction to Computers Principles of Information Technology Lytle High School Press Enter or Click to continue

Introduction to Computers This tutorial is designed to introduce you to some of the terminology associated with computers. While the text and pictures will appear automatically, each slide will prompt you to “Press Enter or Click to continue.” Press Enter or Click to continue

Introduction to Computers Computers are one of the more common tools of the business office. Businesses of all sorts consider this electronic tool to be essential to their day-to-day operations. Press Enter or Click to continue

Categories of Computers All computers fall into two basic categories. 1. There are “Dedicated” computers 2. There are “Programmable” computers Press Enter or Click to continue

The Dedicated Computer Most electronic devices today, are controlled by a computer microchip. The microchip in this television is programmed to do one thing and one thing only, control the functions of the T.V. The computer chip that controls this device is what makes it a dedicated computer. Press Enter or Click to continue

Other Examples of Dedicated Computers Following are examples of things we see every day. Press Enter or Click to continue

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What do all of these things have in common? Press Enter or Click to find out.

Dedicated Computers The computer chip in these devices are programmed to do one and only one function, to control the device. Dedicated computer chips cannot be programmed to do anything else. Press Enter or Click to continue

The Programmable Computer A programmable computer can be used to run a variety of computer programs like Games, Word Processors, Spreadsheet or presentation programs like Microsoft PowerPoint. Dedicated computers are electronic devices that do only one thing. A programmable computer is an electronic device designed to run all sorts of computer programs. Press Enter or Click to continue

Types of Computers While all computers fall into two categories (dedicated and programmable), there are five types of programmable computers. Press Enter or Click to continue

Types of Computers Laptop Used for portability. Mainframe Used by banks and large companies and corporations. (Still in use by some companies) Desktop The computer you are using in this class is a desktop. Press Enter or Click to continue

Types of Computers Super-Computers Used by scientists and government agencies where vast quantities of large numbers must be processed quickly. Mini-Computers Were used by small to medium sized companies to operate small computer networks. They are no longer manufactured. They were replaced by today’s desktop computers. Press Enter or Click to continue

What makes a computer a computer? All computer systems consist of two things that make them work. HARDWARE All the physical components of a computer you can physically touch. SOFTWARE The computer programs like WordPerfect, Excel or PowerPoint. These programs are what make computers the useful tools they have become. Press Enter or Click to continue

Hardware of a Computer There are 5 basic components that make up the computer’s hardware system. Press Enter or Click to continue

The C P U (Central Processing Unit) The first component of a computer system is the CPU or Central Processing Unit. It is the main component. While the CPU is actually the main microprocessor chip inside the cabinet, many people refer to this cabinet as the CPU. You will be introduced to the actual Central Processing Unit in the next lesson. Press Enter or Click to continue

The Computer Monitor The monitor is another component of the computer hardware system. It displays the programs you are running and allows you to see what you are working on. People may refer to the monitor as the Computer Screen, or the Video Display Unit. Press Enter or Click to continue

The Computer Keyboard Another component of computer hardware is the keyboard. The keyboard is the most common input device. It is used to input or key information and commands into the computer. Press Enter or Click to continue

Computer Keyboard Vs. Typewriter Keyboard Press Enter or Click to continue Computers have many and various additional special keys not found on the older typewriter keyboards. Special function keys are programmed to perform various tasks when working with various computer programs.

The Computer Disk Drives Disk drives are another component. They are used to permanently save information on disk. There are various kinds of storage drives where information is saved. These drives are usually found in the CPU cabinet. Press Enter or Click to continue

Computer Printers The last component we will discuss in this lesson is the printer. There are different types of printers to use with computers. Printers are used to print letters, reports and other documents needed for home, school or business. Press Enter or Click to continue

In Review There are dedicated and programmable computers. There are 5 types of programmable computers. Mainframe Computers Desktop Computers Laptop Computers Super Computers Mini Computers Press Enter or Click to continue

In review Computer systems consist of Hardware and Software. The basic computer Hardware system consists of: The CPU Cabinet The Monitor The Keyboard The Disk Drives The Printer Press Enter or Click to continue

Congratulations You have just completed your first computer lesson. Now that your worksheet is completed, be prepared to share information in class as we review what you learned. Press Enter or Click to continue