1. INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

2. COURSE OUTLINE Definition and parts of Information Technology
Overview of computer system
Characteristics of computers
Importance of computers in business
Hardware components
Computer Networks
The internet and
Microsoft office

3. Reading materials
Parsons, J. J., & Oja, D. (2010). Practical Computer Literacy, Cengage learning
Shelly, G., & Vermaat, M. (2011). Discovery Computers and Microsoft office 2010: A Fundamental Combined Approach. Cengage Learning.
Blanc, I. & Vento, C. (2008). Performing with microsoft office Boston, MA: Thomspm Course Technology.

4. expectations Full participation in class
If you want to ask a question or make any comment raise up your hand, let me call you before you do so.
Attendance; if you absent your self more than three times consecutively without permission, I will consider it that you are not my student.
Impromptu texts
Assignments
Individual assignments
Research and Presentations

5. Definition of information technology
How do you understand the term Information Technology (IT)?

6. What is Communication Technology?
Information Technology or IT is a general term that describes any technology that helps to acquire, process, store and disseminate vocal, pictorial, textual or numerical information.
There are two parts to IT
Communication Technology
Computer Technology
What is Communication Technology?

7. COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
Communication technology, also called telecommunications technology, consists of electromagnetic devices and systems for communication over long distances.
The typical examples are telephone, radio and broadcast TV
In more recent times, there has been the addition of communication among computers – which is what happens when people “go online” on the internet.

8. In this context, online means using a computer or some other information device, connected through a network, to access information and services from another computer or information device.
IT includes not only computers but also communications networks T/F

9. Overview of computer system

10. What is a computer?

11. The term computer is derived from the Latin word compute, which means to calculate.
A computer is a programmable, multiuse machine that accepts data- raw facts and figures- and processes, or manipulates, it into information we can use. OR
A computer is an electronic device that performs diverse operations with the help of instructions to process the information in order to achieve desired results.
Its purpose is to speed up problem solving and increase productivity.
What are the characteristics of computers?

12. Characteristics of computers
The main characteristics of computers are
Speed
Storage
Accuracy
Versatility
Automation
Diligence and
Reliability

13. SPEED
Computers are capable of carrying out the task with enormous speed. Today’s computers, according to their class, can perform from 4MIPS (Millions of instructions per second) to 100 MIPS.
What may take days for manual calculations may take only a few hours for computers to perform.
Inside the computer, the information signal travels at incredible electronic speed.

14. storage
Computers can store enormous quantity of information. Which is expressed in Kilobytes (or) Mega Bytes (MB) or Gega Bytes (GB). It is achieved through its ‘Main memory’ or ‘Primary storage’ and through ‘auxiliary storage’ or ‘Secondary storage’.
The Hard disks, floppy disk, Compact Disc (CD) and Magnetic Tape storage are examples of secondary storages. These large volumes of storage occupy much lesser space compared to paper documents and the aspect of computers makes them more powerful.

15. Accuracy
The accuracy of a computer is consistently high. In fact, this quality of the computers make them essential in various fields such as Scientific Research, Space Research, Weather Predictions and many other areas where precision of a high order is required.
The accuracy of the computer is best achieved by programming them in the most efficient manner. When it comes to very complex mathematical or scientific problem the computer’s accuracy has no substitute.

16. Versatility (flexibility)
Computers are versatile in that they can perform almost any task, provided they are given the appropriate logical steps.
For example, they are capable of performing wide ranging tasks such as construction of payroll, inventory management in a factory, hotel billing, hospital management, banking application and any imaginable task in every walk of life.

17. automation
The biggest advantage of computers is that it is automatic in its operation. Once a programming logic is initiated the computer performs repeated operations without human interventions until program completion.

18. Diligence/careful persistence work
Computers are machines and that they do not get tired or ‘lose concentration’ like human beings.
If a large number of calculations say million calculations are to be performed the resultant output will remain exactly the same even if operations are repeated any number of times. But when a human being is asked to do the same job this consistency cannot be achieved.

19. reliability
The computers give very accurate results with predetermined values. They correct and modify the parameters automatically, giving suitable signals. They give formatted results with high degree of precisions.

20. exercise

21. Exercise 1 (20 minutes) What is information technology?
List the two main components of information technology
What is a computer
Explain any three characteristics of computer

22. Components of computer system
A computer system is a combination of various components. It performs the system functions such as input, processing output, storage and control.
What are the components of a computer system?

23. A computer system consist of the following components
Hardware
Software
Human ware
Firmware
Bridge ware

24. HARDWARE
The physical components of the computer, such as electrical, electronics and mechanical unit are known as the hardware of the computer. That is, the inputs units, output units and CPU are called hardware. Thus the hardware is the equipment involved in the function of a computer.
It consists of the components that can be physically handled.
The function of these components is typically divided into three main categories: Input, output, and storage.

25. software
A computer performs operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division only when the user instructs it to do so. The user issues instructions and the CPU acts in accordance with the instructions. The sets of instructions, which control the sequence of operations, are known as programs, and collectively programs are called software.
A computer software refers to the programs – the step-by-step instructions that tell the hardware what to do. Without software, hardware is useless.

26. The software can be broadly classified into two types.
They are System Software and Application software
System software controls the basic operation of the hardware. It consists of programs that let the computer manage its resources. The most important piece of system software is the operating system
Application software completes tasks for the user. Electronic spreadsheets and word processing software.
A hardware refers to the physical components of the computer T/F

27. Human ware
The man-machine interface is called human ware. The people who work in connection with the computer are collectively called the human ware or livewire.

28. firmware
The computer programs permanently stored in non-volatile memory devices such as read-only memory (ROM) are called firmware. These programs are provided by hardware manufacturers along with the computers. Generally, these are booting programs which help in the starting of a computer. Such programs cannot be erased or overwritten.

29. Bridge ware
A computer components and programs used to translate instructions and information written for one type of computer into a format that another computer can understand is called bridge ware. These necessary because different computers are made by different manufacturers.

30. What are the Importance of computers in business?

31. 1. Office automation
Computers have helped automation of many industrial and business systems. They are used extensively in manufacturing and processing industries, power distribution systems, airline reservation systems, transportation systems, banking systems, and so on.

32. 2. Stores large amount of data and information
Business and commercial organizations need to store and maintain voluminous records and use them for various purposes such as inventory control, sales analysis, payroll accounting, resources scheduling and generation of management reports.
Computers can store and maintain files and can sort, merge or update as and when necessary.

33. 3.IMPROVES PRODUCTIVITY
With the introduction of word processing software, computers have recently been applied to the automation at office tasks and procedures. This is aimed at improving the productivity of both clerical and managerial staff.

34. 4. Sharing of data and information
Due to networking of computers, where a number of computers are connected together to share the data and information, use of and internet has changed the ways of business operations.

35. 5. competitiveness
Computers offer a reliable and cost- effective means of doing business electronically. Routine tasks can be automated. The customers can be provided support round the clock, which is 24 hours a day.
With advancement in IT sector, corporate are spreading business around the world thus, increasing their presence and entering new markets.

36. 6. security
To provide security to data and important computer programs, almost every organisation has some security programs to avoid the illegal access of the company’s information by unauthorised persons.
The three fundamental attributor of a security program are confidentiality, integrity (validity) and availability which allow access to only authorized persons in an organization.

37. 7. Cost benefits
The extensive availability of internet based information means that companies have a wider choice of suppliers which leads to a more competitive pricing.
Due to the presence of internet, the role of the middleman becomes less important as companies can sell their product or services directly to the customer.

38. 8. Marketing
Corporate engaged in e-business can take help of their respective websites to create brand awareness of their products, thus, creating new avenues of promotion of their products.
In addition, companies’ websites can also provide better services such as after sales service to the customer.

39. Exercise 2 (10 minutes) List the components of a computer system
Explain five main roles of computer in business

40. ASSIGNMENT 1
Write short notes on the following in connection to the history of computers
Abacus
Napier’s logs and bones
Slide rule
Calculations machines and Pascal’s calculator
Babbage difference and analytical engines
Lady Ada Lovelace
ABC computer
ENIAC