1 Computing for Todays Yumei Huo Fall 2006. 2 Contents Discussion of the syllabus, requirements,...

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Computing for Todays

Yumei HuoFall 2006

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Contents Discussion of the syllabus,

requirements, topics to be covered, etc. Essential Computer Concepts Exploring the basics of Windows XP

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Contents Discussion of the syllabus,

requirements, topics to be covered, etc. Essential Computer Concepts Exploring the basics of Windows XP

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Contents Discussion of the syllabus,

requirements, topics to be covered, etc. Essential Computer Concepts Exploring the basics of Windows XP File Management

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What is a Computer?

A computer is a device that:

Accepts input

Processes data

Stores data

Produces output

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What is a Computer?

A Computer System is made up of:

Hardware—the physical components

Software—the programs or lists of instructions

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What is a Computer?

Architecture or configuration is the design of the computer.

As in, what does the computer consist of?

Specification is the technical detail about each component.

As in, how big is the monitor?

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How a Computer Works

The hardware, software, and you work together to complete tasks.

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How a Computer Works

The data you type into the computer is called input.

The result of the computer processing your input is called output.

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Types of Computers

The categories of computers are:Personal or microcomputers

Desktop

Laptop

Hand-held or PDAs

Mainframes

Supercomputers

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Computer Hardware

Computer hardware includes:Input devices

Output devices

Processing hardware

Storage devices and media

Keyboard,Mouse,Wireless pointer,Touch pad

Monitors(CRT monitors and LCD) and Printers

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Computer Hardware

The most important computer function is data processing.

Processing hardware is used to process data.

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Processing Hardware Computers interpret every signal

as “on” or “off.”

1 (“on”) and 0 (“off”) are referred to as bits.

Eight bits is a byte. Each byte represents a unique character.

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Data Representation

Storage and memory capacity is the amount of data the storage device can handle.

Kilobyte (KB) is about one thousand bytes

Megabyte (MB) is about one million bytes Gigabyte (GB) is about one billion bytes

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Processing Hardware

The two most important components of personal computers hardware are the microprocessor and memory.

These two factors directly affect the computer’s price and performance.

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The Microprocessor

The microprocessor is a silicon chip designed to manipulate data.

Its speed is determined by: Clock speed Word size Cache size

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Memory

Computer memory is a set of storage locations on the motherboard.

There are four types of memory: Random access memory (RAM) Virtual memory Read-only memory Complementary metal oxide

semiconductor memory (CMOS)

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Memory

A storage device receives data from RAM and writes it on a storage medium. Later, it can be read and sent back to RAM.

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Storage Devices

Data is stored as files.

Executable files tell computers how to perform specific tasks.

Data files are created by the user, usually with software.

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Storage Devices

Files are kept on storage devices.

There are:Magnetic storage devices andOptical storage devices.

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Storage Devices

Some common magnetic storage devices are:

Floppy disks Hard disk drives Tape drives Zip drives

A floppy disk

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Storage Devices

Some common optical storage devices are:

CD-ROM drives DVD drives CD-R drives CD-RW drives

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Storage Devices

CD-ROMs are for “read-only” access.

CD-R drives allow you to record data on a CD-R disk.

CD-RW drives allow you to write data on a CD-RW disk and access and modify data.

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Data Communications

Data Communications is the transmission of text, numeric, voice, or video data from one computer to another.

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Data Communications

The four essential components of data communications are:

Sender Channel Receiver Protocols

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Data Communications

A sender is the computer that originates the message.

The message is sent over a channel, such as a telephone.

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Data Communications

The receiver is the computer at the message’s destination.

Protocols are the rules that establish the transfer of data between sender and receiver.

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Data Bus

The data bus is the communication between microprocessor, RAM, and the peripherals.

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Data Bus

An external peripheral device has a port or cable that connects it to the computer.

Each port connects to a controller card, which plugs into expansion slots.

The transmission protocol is handled by a device driver.

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Data Bus

Microcomputers have several types of ports:

Parallel Serial Small computer system interface

(SCSI) Musical instrument digital interface

(MIDI) Universal serial bus (USB)

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Networks

A network connects one computer to other computers and peripherals.

In a local area network (LAN), computers and peripherals are close to each other.

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Networks

A client/server network is a network with a file server. A file server acts as the central storage location.

A network without a file server is a peer-to-peer network. All of the computers are equal.

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Networks

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Networks

Each computer that is part of the network must have a network interface card and network software.

Then it becomes a workstation.

Any device connected to the network is called a node.

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Telecommunications

Telecommunications is communicating over a telephone. In the telecommunications process, the modem converts digital signals to analog signals at the sending site and a second modem converts them back at the receiving site.

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Telecommunications

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The Internet

The Internet is the world’s largest network.

E-mail and the World Wide Web are two benefits of the Internet.

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The Internet

A hyperlink is a place on a Web page allowing you to connect to a particular file.

http://www.course.com/newperspectives

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The Internet

A Web browser is the communications software that allows you to navigate the WWW.

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Computer Software

Software is the instructions and data that direct the computer to accomplish the task. It can refer to a single program or a package.

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System Software

System software helps the computer carry out its basic operating tasks.

Application software helps the user carry out a variety of tasks.

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System Software

The four types of system software are:

Operating systems Utilities Device drivers Programming languages

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System Software

The operating system controls the I/O or input/output, the flow of data from microprocessor to memory to peripherals.

The operating system makes multitasking possible.

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System Software

Some types of system software include:

Virus protection software Utilities Device drivers Computer programming

languages

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Application Software

Application software enables you to perform specific tasks. Application software includes:

Document production software Spreadsheet software Database management software Graphics and presentation software

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Application Software

Document production software includes word processing, desktop publishing, and Web authoring software that assist you in writing and formatting documents.

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Application SoftwareIt often has grammar and spell-checking, thesaurus,

search and replace, and template features.

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Application Software

With spreadsheet software, you can create formulas that perform calculations. Spreadsheet software creates worksheets with columns and rows. The intersection of a column and row is a cell.

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Application Software

Database management software creates structured databases to contain information.

Graphics and presentation software allow you to create illustrations, diagrams, and charts to be presented or transmitted. Most allow you to include graphics.

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Application Software

Multimedia authoring software allows you to record digital sound files, video files, and animations that can be included in presentations and other documents.

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Application Software

Object linking and embedding (OLE) is the ability to use data from another file, called the source.

This integration between applications has become an important skill in business.

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Contents Discussion of the syllabus,

requirements, topics to be covered, etc. Essential Computer Concepts Exploring the basics of Windows XP File Management

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Starting Windows XP Windows XP

Starts when computer is turned on Elements of the desktop

Icon Pointer Desktop Date/Time control Taskbar Start button Notification area

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Starting Windows XP

Figure 1-1 shows the Windows XP desktop

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Starting Windows XP

Windows XP desktop uses a graphical user interface

Graphical user interface (GUI) Displays icons to represent items

stored on the computer Icons: Pictures of familiar objects

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The Windows XP Desktop Desktop

Area that appears on the screen when Windows XP starts

A workspace for projects and tools Uses default settings when the

computer is first started Default settings: settings preset by the

operating system Appearance can be changed by the

user

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Using a Pointing Device

A pointing device Helps the user interact with objects

on the computer screen Comes in many shapes and sizes

Mouse Most common pointing device

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Pointing

Pointing device Used to move the mouse pointer over

objects on the desktop Pointing

Positioning the pointer over a specific part of the screen

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Pointing ScreenTips

Appear when the mouse pointer is positioned over certain objects

Display the purpose or function of the object Figure 1-3 shows a ScreenTip

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Clicking Clicking

Pressing a mouse button and immediately releasing it

Menu A list of options which can be used to perform

tasks Submenus

Start menu Appears when the Start button is clicked Provides access to programs, documents, etc.

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Clicking

Figure 1-6 shows the Start menu

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Selecting

Selecting a menu command Two possible ways of selecting

objects in Windows XP Pointing to an object Pointing to and then clicking an object

A selected object is highlighted

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Selecting

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Viewing the contents of the Recycle Bin

Click the desktop, and then point to the Recycle Bin icon. After a few moments, a ScreenTip appears that describes the Recycle Bin

Click the left mouse button twice quickly to double-click the Recycle Bin icon. The Recycle Bin opens

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Viewing the contents of the Recycle Bin

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Right-Clicking

Right-clicking Clicking an object with the right

button of the mouse Selects an object and opens its

shortcut menu Shortcut menu: a list of options directly

related to the object

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Right-Clicking

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Exploring the Start menu

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Starting and Closing a Program Starting a program

A program must be started before it can be used

To start a program Click the Start button Locate and click the program’s name in

the submenus An open or running program

A program which has been started

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Starting and Closing a Program

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Starting and Closing a Program

Program button Appears on the taskbar for each open

program Click to switch between open programs

Close button Located in the upper-right corner of

the program window Click to close the program

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Starting and Closing a Program

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Running Multiple Programs

Multitasking Ability to run multiple programs on

Windows XP at the same time Allows the user to work on more than

one project at a time The active program is the one you are

currently using

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Switching Between Programs

Program buttons Located on the taskbar Offer the easiest way to switch

between programs

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Closing Inactive Programs from the Taskbar Options for closing a program

Use the Close button on the title bar of the program window

Use the shortcut menu associated with the program button on the taskbar

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Anatomy of a Window

A window A rectangular area of the screen that

may contain A program Text Graphics Data

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Anatomy of a Window Controls

Located in a window Graphical or textual objects used for

Manipulating the window Using the program

Examples Menu bar Sizing buttons Status bar Title bar Toolbar Workspace

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Anatomy of a Window

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Manipulating a Window

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Moving a Window

To drag an object Click an object and then hold down

the mouse button while moving the mouse

To move a window Drag the window by its title bar

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Changing the Size of a Window

Options for changing a window’s size Sizing handle

Located at the lower-right corner of the window

Window borders Can be dragged left, right, up, or down

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Changing the Size of a Window

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Using Program Menus

Menus Organize a program’s features and

available functions Menu bar

Typically located at the top of the program window

Shows the names of the menus

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Selecting Options from a Menu

Menu items or commands Choices for a menu Appear when a menu name is clicked Possible actions when clicked

Immediately carry out an action Show submenus Ask the user for more information about

the desired action

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Selecting Options from a Menu

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Selecting Options from a Menu

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Using Toolbars

Toolbars in the program window Provide one-click access to frequently

used commands Have buttons grouped and organized

by tasks To perform a command

Select a toolbar button by clicking it

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Using List Boxes and Scroll Bars

List box Displays a list of available choices Usually includes

Array buttons A scroll bar A scroll box

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Using List Boxes and Scroll Bars

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Using Dialog Box Controls Dialog box

Opens when a menu command or item followed by an ellipsis is selected

Allows the user to provide more information about how a program should carry out a task

Groups different kinds of information in panes

Panes: bordered rectangular areas

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Using Dialog Box Controls

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Exploring Your Computer

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Changing the View

Change the view by selecting an option from the View menu on the menu bar

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Using Help Windows XP Help

Provides on-screen information about programs

Available by Clicking the Start button and selecting Help and

Support from the Start menu

Windows Help and Support Center window Provides access to

Help files stored on the computer Help information stored on Microsoft’s Web site

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Using Help

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Using Help Windows XP Help and Support window

Organizes information into pages Home page Index page Favorites page History page Support page Options page

Search box Used to search for keywords contained in Help

pages

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Shutting Down Windows XP Turn Off Computer

option Located on the Start

menu Turns off the

computer Log Off option

Located on the Start menu

Logs off Windows XP but leaves the computer on

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End of lecture 1

Thank you!