Microsoft Office 2007

Essential Introduction to Computers

Chapter Concepts

• Definitions• Computer• Data and information

• Four basic computer operations: input, processing, output, and storage

• Principal components of a computer and their use

• Storage media: magnetic disks, optical disks, USB flash drives, and other types

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•Chapter Concepts (cont.)

• Computer software• System software• Application software

• Computer communications channels and equipment

• The Internet and World Wide Web• E-commerce

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What is a Computer?

An electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory, that can do four basic operations:• Accept data (input)• Process the data according to specified rules

(process)• Produce results (output)• Store the results for future use (storage)

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Benefits of a Computer

• Speed• Reliability• Accuracy• Huge storage capability• Communications capability

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The Physical Components of a Computer• Input devices• Output devices• Processor• Central Processing Unit (CPU)• Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU)

• Memory (sometimes called internal memory• Storage devices (sometimes called external memory)• Communications devicesSome components, such as the processor, internal

memory, and some storage devices are housed in a box-like case called the system unit

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Components of a Computer

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Memory versus Storage

• Memory (internal memory)• Electronic• Transient (only lasts while the power is on)• Expensive (thus relatively small capacity)

• Storage (external memory)• Non-electronic (generally magnetic or laser)• Persistent (can last a very long time)• Can be very cheap (thus very large capacity)

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Input DevicesAn input device is any hardware component that

allows you to enter data, programs, commands, and user responses into a computer• Keyboard• Mouse• Touchpad• Microphone• Digital camera• Stylus• Touch screen• Others…

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Output Devices

An output device is any hardware component that makes the information resulting from processing available for use• Monitor• CRT (cathode ray tube)• LCD (liquid display crystal) flat panel

• Printer – Impact, non-impact• Speakers• Others…

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ProcessorThe central processing unit (CPU) interprets and carries

out the basic instructions that operate a computer. Comprised of• Control unit – carries out instructions• Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) – does math and

comparisons

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MemoryRAM (random access memory) consists of electronic

components that temporarily store instructions waiting to be executed by the processor, data needed by those instructions, and the results of processed data

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System Unit

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Storage Devices (External Memory)A storage device is used to store instructions, data, and

information for the long term. Current media are• Magnetic• Optical• Infrequently, other…

• Storage media may be• Non-removable without powering off the computer (hard

drive)• Removable (USB drive, floppy disk, CD/DVD disk, tape)

• Off-line – stored in a long term location, such as a business’s archived backups

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Magnetic Storage Media

• Hard disks• Flash cards• Smart cards• Tape• “Floppy” disks

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Magnetic Storage Media (cont)

Disks use magnetic particles to store items on the disk’s surface• A hard disk is a storage device that contains one or

more inflexible, circular platters that magnetically store data, instructions, and information

• A floppy disk is an inexpensive portable storage medium

Tape is a magnetically coated ribbon of plastic housed in a tape cartridge

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Magnetic Disk Devices

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Disk Storage Terms

• Platter: a disk; often a hard drive may have multiple platters

• Tracks: concentric circles on a disk• Sectors: pie-slice-shaped segments of a track• Data is found by specifying its platter, track, and

sector

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Optical Storage Devices

An optical disc is a portable storage medium that consists of a flat, round, portable disc made of metal, plastic, and lacquer that is written and read by a laser

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Storage Devices

Miniature mobile storage media are rewriteable media usually in the form of a flash memory card, USB flash drive, or a smart card

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Communications Devices

A communications device is a hardware component that enables a computer to send and receive data, instructions, and information to and from one or more computers

Communication requires a communication device (for example, a modem), transmission media (wired, wireless), and software

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Software

A software program is a very detailed sequence of instructions that tells the computer what operations to perform

• System software• Applications software

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System SoftwareControls the operations of computer equipment– Operating system• Microsoft Windows 7• Microsoft Windows Vista• Microsoft Windows XP• Microsoft Windows CE• Apple Mac OS X• Linux• Unix• Others…

– Drivers

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Application Software

• Application software consists of programs designed to make users more productive and/or assist them with personal tasks– Word processing– Spreadsheet– Database– Presentation graphics– Entertainment (games, music, video, …)

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Networks

• A network is a collection of computers and devices connected together, often wirelessly, via communications devices and transmission media– Local area network (LAN)– Wide area network (WAN)

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The Internet

The Internet is a network of networks that connects millions of businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and individuals

Individual connection can be by– Internet service provider (ISP)– Online service provider (OSP)– Wireless Internet service provider (WISP)

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The World Wide Web

Not a network, but a vast collection of data that is accessible through the internet, and usually linked together• Web page – a single document• Web site – a group of pages• Web browser – software that displays a web page• Uniform Resource Locator (URL) – the location of a

desired page

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URLs

Consists of• Protocol• Domain name• Path• Page name

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/users/index.htmhttp:// is Hypertext transfer protocolgo.microsoft.com is the domain name/fwlink/users/ is the pathIndex.htm is the page name

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Electronic Commerce

When you conduct business activities online, you are participating in electronic commerce, also known as e-commerce– Business to consumer (B2C)– Consumer to consumer (C2C)– Business to business (B2B)

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