1. Component 4: Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Unit 1: Basic Computing Concepts, Including History
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 1.0/Fall 2010

2. Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Unit 1 Objectives
Define what a computer is
List different types of computers (PC's, mobile devices, embedded computers, etc.)
Define common elements of computer systems
Describe the various hardware and software options for typical desktop, laptop and server systems for home/business use (focusing on healthcare systems)
Explain the development of computers and the Internet, including healthcare systems up until the present time
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 1.0/Fall 2010

3. Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Computer Definition
According to Webster's Dictionary:
one that computes; specifically : a programmable usually electronic device that can store, retrieve, and process data
Originally term applied to people
Computers, by definition, are very general and include most electronic devices. Far more broad that just your desktop or laptop. Historically, the term referred to people who performed computations. As mechanical and then electronic computers were developed and used, the term no longer has been used for people.
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 1.0/Fall 2010

4. Types of Computers Personal Computers
Desktop computer
Laptop/Notebook/Netbook
Tablets/iPad
Smartphones
Laptop
The first computers were extremely large and expensive—were developed by the government, universities and industry. In the 1970's, computers for personal use were introduced. These were used by businesses, too, and eventually become commonplace by the 1980's and 90's.
Desktop computers were the first personal computers; then laptops were introduced. Notebooks and netbooks are basically smaller, lighter laptops. Tablet computers have touch screens and are usually small and light. The iPad is the latest tablet computer.
Today, personal computing has become even more ubiquitous with the advent of mobile computing and smartphones. Initially mobile phones weren't considered to be personal computers, but now, smartphones have functionality and systems similar to personal computers—operating system, large memory, significant storage, network connectivity, applications (apps). Personal computers are becoming faster, more powerful and smaller as technology progresses.
iPad
© Glenn Fleishman
Android Smartphone
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 1.0/Fall 2010

5. Types of Computers Large Scale Computers
Mainframe
Server
Supercomputer
We're all familiar with the desktop and laptop computers, but there are very large, fast computers used by corporations, the government, etc. that store, calculate and process huge amounts of data.
Mainframes and servers can handle large amounts of data; supercomputers can perform computations very quickly on large amounts of data. Because technology has progressed so much, the power of our personal computers has approached the power of mainframes and supercomputers of not very long ago. But today's supercomputers and mainframes are capable of handling even more data and computations…applications demand it. Scientific applications, for example, can become more precise and faster with more computing power and storage. The models that the computers run are more accurate with more data points—increased storage and computing power is needed to run bigger and better models.
IBM 704 Mainframe
Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory
The Columbia Supercomputer at NASA Ames
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 1.0/Fall 2010

6. Types of Computers Embedded Computers
DVD
© Filipe Micaroni Lalli
MRI
Laboratory of Functional and
Molecular Imaging,
NINDS, NIH
Embedded computers are everywhere; you may not be aware of all of them. Anything that has some "smartness" to it has an embedded computer. Most electronic devices today are "computers"—everything from microwaves to DVD players to MP3 players to anti-lock brake systems. Can you think of any other examples of embedded computers?
All sorts of electronic devices, machines, equipment, etc. contain embedded computers. These computers are not general purpose ones like our desktops; instead they provide specific functionality with very limited input (e.g. the load, play, pause, forward and reverse buttons on a DVD) and very specific outcomes. It has been "programmed" by the manufacturer to do specific tasks, hopefully safely and correctly.
ABS Brakes
© Jeff Dean
Household Appliances
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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7. Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Computer Components
Hardware
Software
All computers have some sort of hardware and software as well. We will talk about what makes up the hardware and software for a computer, including components such as networking and databases that are a combination of both.
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 1.0/Fall 2010

8. Computer Hardware Input Devices
Keyboard
Touch Screen
Mouse
Microphones
Camera
Stylus
Scanners
Input devices allow users to provide input to the computer. There are many different ways that users can provide input to a computer. Some examples are keystrokes on a keyboard, mouse clicks, touching a touch screen, speaking into a microphone, importing photos from a camera, touching or writing with a stylus, scanning a photo or a document. This input is then processed by the computer and the appropriate action is taken. For example, if you click on a button at your favorite online store, the computer does something in response, like adding an item to your shopping cart.
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 1.0/Fall 2010

9. Computer Hardware Output Devices
Monitors
Projectors
Printers
Sound Output
Output devices are anything that display or provide output from some computer action. For example, when you use a personal computer, you are continually providing input through your keyboard and mouse and the resulting actions are displayed on your computer monitor. If you're typing a document in word, each keystroke results in a character appearing on your monitor. Similarly, if you were projecting the output from your computer instead of using a monitor, the output would appear projected on a screen or wall. Printers are another way to get output from your computer. At one time, printers were used exclusively for output instead of monitors or other output devices. Now, printers are used to produce paper output when the user chooses. Sound is another way to receive output from a computer. These sounds can be beeps, clicks, etc. that confirm that your input was received. It can also be sound in videos or music that's being played on the computer.
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 1.0/Fall 2010

10. Computer Hardware Motherboard
A motherboard is a circuit board
Contains
Processor
Memory
Connectors
Expansion slots
The motherboard is the central printed circuit board. It holds all parts of the computer and provides connectors to peripherals.
Example motherboard
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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11. Computer Hardware Processor
Intel 80486DX CPU
© Andrew Dunn
The processor or Central Processing
Unit (CPU) is the "brain" of the computer
Controls all functions of the computer
Its processing speed is measured in hertz (Hz)
Current systems run at GHz speeds (billion machine cycles per second)
Not the only determinant of overall computer speed
Modern systems have multiple processors or cores
The CPU performs all the calculations/operations of the computer. It executes all the instructions (steps) in a program. When a computer has multiple cores, it can execute multiple instructions concurrently, which speeds up the computer.
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1.0/Fall 2010

12. Computer Hardware Memory
Two types
Read Only Memory (ROM): permanent
Random Access Memory (RAM): volatile
RAM is where programs are stored as they run
Known as primary storage
Can be multiple levels of RAM
Too little memory can slow down computer
RAM Memory Modules
ROM is very small and just holds the information needed to start your computer. RAM is larger; it is active only when the computer is on and running. RAM is known as primary storage. RAM can have multiple levels…fastest is often called a cache. It's small and close to the CPU, so it's fast. More RAM can speed up your computer since it provides more space for programs to run. If not enough space, the computer will load a portion of what's running into memory and then switch it out for another portion when you need it. This switching can slow down your computer.
RAM (often just called memory) holds all programs as they run, but it is not where the programs are stored permanently. For example, if you are using a word processor, your program is running in memory and the document you are editing is in memory as well. That is why you have to save your document for it to persist after the word processing program ends.
Where are programs and documents saved permanently? In secondary storage…
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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13. Computer Hardware Secondary Storage
Secondary storage is permanent, off chip storage
Hard drives: internal and external
Slower than memory
Secondary storage is where all your programs, data and files are stored permanently. Internal hard drives store your programs and data that you use often. External hard drives can store that, too, but also may be used to backup computers.
When the computer loads something from secondary storage, it's much slower than accessing something from memory. Computer systems try to minimize the times you need to load/switch programs that are running in memory.
Internal View of Hard Drive
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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14. Computer Hardware Other storage
Removable storage
Floppy disks
Optical disks
USB Flash drive
DVD
Floppy drives aren't used much anymore; optical drives (CD and DVD) are much more popular. Flash drives are small portable drives you can plug into your computer using the USB port. All removable storage allows users to store data (e.g. video, images, etc.) as a backup or a way to archive. Also, removable storage provides a way to transfer data/files from one computer to another (i.e. share DVD of photos from an event).
USB Flash Drive
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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15. Computer Hardware Connectors and Ports
Ports are way to connect peripheral devices to your computer
Universal serial bus (USB) port is very fast
Other ports
Video
Audio
Firewire
Ethernet
Modem
For computers to be effective today, they need to be connected to other computers and devices. Ports are the way to do this. USB is a very fast port on a Windows PC—many printers and scanners connect to computers using this. Firewire is the comparable port for Macs. Also, you need to connect keyboard, mouse (if not using wireless) and monitor. Finally, there are ports for network connections (Ethernet, modem)
USB Cable
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 1.0/Fall 2010

16. Computer Software Operating System
The operating system (OS) coordinates hardware and software
Computers cannot run without an OS
Allows users to interact with the computer
Manages tasks in the CPU, memory, storage, peripheral devices, programs, etc.
Examples
Microsoft Windows
Mac OS
Linux
The other component of computers is Computer Software. Without software, the hardware is virtually useless. The most important software on your computer is your operating system (ever have your OS crash?). The function of the OS is to coordinate all the functions of the computer; it's the layer between the other programs you want to run and the hardware. It also provides a way for the user to interact with the computer. Today, we are used to OS that have graphical user interfaces, but there are some OS that still use typed commands (DOS, Unix , Linux).
Start Button from Windows OS
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 1.0/Fall 2010

17. Computer Software Application Software
Application software are the programs you run
Includes
Word processors
EMR
Spreadsheets
Browsers
Video Games
Applications are what make computers fun for most users. They are the reasons we use our computers for work, social networking and play. There are so many applications available it's impossible to list them all.
OpenOffice Word Processor
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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18. Health IT Workforce Curriculum
More Components
Networks
Allow computer to connect to others and to Internet
Hardware: network ports, connections, routers
Software: OS and NOS
Databases
Collection of data easily stored and retrieved
Hardware: server (computer and storage)
Software: DBMS
There are still other parts of a computer that could be considered "components". These two are used on many computers and are a combination of both hardware and software.
Networks connect to other computers and to the Internet. There are hardware ports on PC's to do this; cables connect PC's to routers and other network connections. The OS of the computer and the Network OS of the network are what make the network work.
Databases are often parts of large applications. You may not have one on your PC, but you may connect to one, especially online. Databases require a server, which is a computer with a large amount of storage, along with a DBMS to make it work. Databases store data in such a way that it's quickly and easily stored and retrieved (much faster than a flat file or a spreadsheet).
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 1.0/Fall 2010

19. Computer Software and Hardware
Software is the interface between the user and the computer
Without meaningful, easy to use applications, people wouldn't use computers
If the hardware is slow, people won't use the applications
Important to get a good balance
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 1.0/Fall 2010

20. Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Summary
Computers are electronic devices that input, calculate and output data
Computers range from PC's to large mainframes and supercomputers
Computers are also found in most electronic devices today
Composed of hardware and software
Component 4/Unit 1
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 1.0/Fall 2010