Understand Computer Fundamentals

What Is A Computer? An electronic device that receives,

processes, and store data, and produces a result (output).

Classified by size, speed and application Uses hardware and software

What Is A Computer? An electronic device that receives,

processes, and store data, and produces a result (output).

Classified by size, speed and application Uses hardware and software

Types of Personal Computers

Desktop computer: designed to be used on a desktop.

Laptop computer: designed to be small enough and light enough to be

used on your lap.

Notebook/Tablet computer: designed to be used on a desktop but still small enough to be portable.

Hardware vs. Software Has to be one or the other (not both) Everything has to fall into a category

What is the difference?

Hardware The tangible, physical equipment that can be

seen and touched such as:

“the equipment of the computer that you can see and touch”

Monitor

Keyboard

Mouse

Printer

Speaker

Computer Case (Processor inside)

Floppy Disk Drive

CD-ROM/DVD Drive

PARTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM

The Parts A of Computer

CPU (Central Processing Unit)• The “brains” of the computer

housed on a tiny silicon chip inside the computer case.

Floppy Disk Drive CD-ROM/DVD Drive Monitor

Keyboard Mouse Speakers Printer Scanner

Hardware

Let’s view some hardware!

Computer Parts Video

Input vs. OutputInput: Information goes into the computer

though it

Output: Information comes out of the computer to it

Input Devices

Keyboard Mouse/Trackball Joystick Light Pen Pointing Stick Touchpad

Touch Screen Bar Code Reader Scanner Microphone Graphics Tablet Digital Cameras

Output Devices

Monitor: screen that displays information such as text, numbers, and

Printer: gives you information pictures.• Softcopy

• from the computer in printed form.

• Hardcopy

Speakers: allow you to hear voice, music, and other sounds from your computer.

Processing Device

Central Processing Unit (CPU) – known as the heart or “brain” of the computer and is responsible for processing the information that has been entered into the computer

Storage Devices Internal Storage: Allows you to store information inside of the computer

Hard Drive: Allows the fastest access to information RAM (Random Access Memory) – temporary ROM (Read Only Memory) - long-term memory

External Storage: Allows you to use devices to store information outside of the computer Floppy Disks CD-ROMs (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) CD-RW (Compact Disc (Read and Write) DVDs (Digital Video Disc) USB/Jump Drives

Storage Devices

Hard Disk Drive: used to store data inside of the computer.

• Magnetic platter that holds a large amount of information in a form the computer can understand.

• Floppy Disk: flat circles of iron oxide-coated plastic enclosed in a hard plastic case.

• Most are 3 ½ inches and have a capacity to hold 1.44 MB or more of data.

CD ROM Drive: a compact disk that reads only memory.

CD-RW: a device that allows you to read and write to a compact disk

Which Storage Device Holds The Most Information?

FLOPPY DISKS

1.44 MB

CD-ROM DISC

640 MB

DVD DISC

17 GB

HARD DRIVES

80 and above GB

Storage Capacity1. Floppy Disk

2. Zip Disk

3. CD

4. DVD

5. Jump Drive*** (could be smaller)

6. Hard Drive

Input vs. Output vs. Storage vs. Processing

Mouse “Jump Drive”/USB Drive Intel Processor Microphone Speaker CD

Scanner Floppy Disk Hard Drive Printer Keyboard Zip Drive

Software The intangible set of instructions that tells the

computer what to do; known as programs or software programs.

Types of Software Operating System Software

• Sets the rules for how computer hardware and application software work together, controls the operation of the computer.• Example: Windows XP

Application Software• Lets you accomplish specific tasks based on

your needs.• Examples: MS Word, Excel, Access, Explorer

Operating System Software Tasks

Boots (starts up) the computer Formats disks Creates folders Saves and retrieves files Moves and copies files

Every Computer Has ONE Operating System Software!

Types of Application Software Word Processing

• Program that allows you to create, edit, and print text documents• Report, flyer, memo

Spreadsheet• Numbered Rows and Lettered Columns• Intersection of a row and column is a cell

• Grade book, financial info Database

• Lets you set up an electronic filing system• Enter text and numbers

• Find, search, and print info in different ways• Address book, Card Catalog

Operating or Application? Microsoft XP Microsoft Word Explorer Microsoft 2000 MicroType MAC OS Novell (what you log into when you first get here)

The Information Cycle

What Happens During The IPOS Cycle?

INPUT – when information is entered into the computer; the

computer receives information PROCESSING –

when the computer processes the information that has been entered

OUTPUT – when information leaves the computer

STORAGE – when information is stored to be used later.

Computer Terms

What Is A Computer?

An electronic device that receives data, processes data, stores data, and produces a result (output).

A collection of electronic circuits, which can be on or off (open or closed).• These two states of the circuit are represented

by two digits, 0 and 1.• Called the binary system

Types of Computers

Supercomputer: most powerful• Used to do things like predict hurricanes and

navigate satellites Mainframes and minicomputers: used by

business and government to process large amounts of information

Personal computers: smaller and less powerful than the other types of computers

Additional Types of Computers PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants): a handheld

device that is often used in conjunction with a desktop or other PC.• May have a special keyboard, some use a pen or stylus for entering data- Data can be transferred to a desktop or laptop computer

Data Communications The technology that enables computers to

communicate The transmission of text, numeric, voice or video

data from one machine to another. Popular examples:

• Internet, electronic messages (e-mail), faxes, and electronic or online banking

Four components:• Sender: the computer that is sending the message.• Receiver: the computer receiving the message.• Channel: the media that carries or transports the message.

(telephone wire, coaxial cable, microwave signal, or fiber optic)

• Protocol: the rules that govern the orderly transfer of the data sent.

Data Communications

Network: when computers are connected to other computers• They can share information and sometimes hardware

(printers)• Local Area Networks (LAN): computers connected together

in a relatively close location such as in the same building or department.• The data and software for these computers are stored on a

central computer called the file server.

• Wide Area Networks (WAN): when local area networks are expanded to include several local area networks within a city, state, region, territory, country, continent, or the world.

System Components Central Processing Unit (CPU): the microprocessor,

the brains of the computer.• Housed on a tiny silicon chip• CPU has two primary sections:

• Arithmetic/logic unit• Control unit

Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU): performs arithmetic computations and logical operations; by combining these two operations the ALU can execute complex tasks.

Control Unit: is the “boss” and coordinates all of the CPU’s activities. • Uses programming instructions, it controls the flow of

information through the processor by controlling what happens inside the processor.

System Components

Memory: found on the motherboard; short term and long term.• Random Access Memory (RAM): memory on the

motherboard that is short term.• When the computer is turned off or if there is loss of power,

what ever is stored in RAM disappears.• The computer can read from and write to RAM.

• Read-Only Memory (ROM): memory on the motherboard that is long term.• This memory is nonvolatile and your computer can only

read from a ROM chip.• The instructions remain on the chip regardless if the power

is turned on or off.

System Components Basic Controllers: on the motherboard, a

device that controls the transfer of data from the computer to a peripheral device and vice versa.

• Examples: keyboards, mouse, monitors, and printers.• Generally stored on one single chip.

Serial and Parallel Ports: used to connect our peripheral devices to the computer; usually one serial and one parallel port on a computer.

• Serial devices transmit data one bit at a time.• A modem may be connected to this port.

• Parallel devices transfer several bits at a time.• A printer may be connected to this port.

System Components Universal Serial Bus (USB): a new standard that

supports data transfer rates of up to 12 million bits per second.• A single USB port can be used to connect up to 127

peripheral devices• Expected to replace serial and parallel ports in the

near future. Expansion Slots: an opening on the

motherboard where a circuit board or expansion board can be inserted.• Examples: Additional Memory, video cards, modem

cards, and sound cards.

Data Representation

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange): the most popular and widely used standardized coding system

Byte: eight bits or combinations of ones and zeros represent a character.• MB-Megabyte or roughly 1 million bytes

• GB-Gigabyte or roughly one billion bytes

Three Types of Printers

Dot Matrix• Gives a printed image in a

pattern (matrix) of tiny ink dots.

• Less expensive and not as clear

Inkjet Printer• Better quality of printed

document• Machine uses an ink

cartridge and a printing element to print a finer image on the paper.

Laser• Best quality of

printed documents• Laser beam

• More expensive

• Quick

A group of programs that coordinate and control the resources and operations of a computer system.• Enables all components of the computer system to

communicate. Operating System (OS): provide an interface

between the user or application program and the computer hardware.• Win 95/98/2000• Mac System 6/7

GUI (graphical user interface): graphical symbols (icons) represent files, disks, programs, and other objects.

Systems Software

Systems Software – DOS Prompt/GUI

Things To Note Hardware vs. Software (including types of Hardware and

Software)

Input vas Output Types of Storage System Components

• Central Processing Unit (CPU)• Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)• Control Unit: • Memory:

• Random Access Memory (RAM): Short Term• Read-Only Memory (ROM): Long Term

• Serial/Parallel Ports/USB: used to connect our peripheral devices

Pick A Part & Define (26 Total)

Desktop SoftwareData ComputerLaptop PDAsMainframes/Minicomputers ALUNetwork Serial and Parallel PortsUSB LAN/WANPC case MotherboardCPU Control UnitMemory RAMExpansion Slots ASCIIByte NotebookHardware SupercomputerWeb TV ROM