Discovering Computers

 Chapter 1 : Introduction to Computers

Chapter 1 Objectives
Recognize the importance of
computer literacy
Distinguish between system software
and application software
Define the term, computer
Describe the categories of computers
Identify the components
of a computer
Identify the elements of
an information system
Discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of using computers
Describe the various types
of computer users
Recognize the purpose of a network
Discuss various computer
applications in society
Discuss the uses of the Internet and
World Wide Web

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A World of Computers

What is computer literacy (digital literacy)?

 Current knowledge and understanding
of computers and their uses
 Computers are everywhere

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What Is a Computer?

How is a computer defined?

 Electronic device operating under the control of
instructions stored in its own memory

Processes data into

Accepts data information
Collection of
Conveys meaning and is
unprocessed items
useful to people

Produces and stores results

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What Is a Computer?
What is the information processing cycle?
 Input
 Process
 Output
 Storage
 Communication

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The Components of a Computer
What is an input
device?
 Hardware used
to enter data
and instructions

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The Components of a Computer
What is an output device?
 Hardware that
conveys
information
to one or more
people

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The Components of a Computer
What is the system unit?
 Case that contains
the electronic
components of the
computer that are
used to process data

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The Components of a Computer
What are two main components on the motherboard?

Processor
Also called a Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The electronic component that interprets and carries
out the basic instructions that operate the computer

Memory
Consists of electronic components that store
instructions waiting to be executed and data needed by
those instructions

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The Components of a Computer
What is storage?
 Holds data, instructions, and information
for future use

Storage media
Physical material on which data, instructions,
and information are stored

Storage device
Records and retrieves items to and from
storage media

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The Components of a Computer
What is a USB flash drive?

Portable storage device

Small and lightweight enough
to be transported on a keychain
or in a pocket
The average USB flash drive
can hold about 2 billion
characters

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The Components of a Computer
What is a hard disk?
 Provides greater storage
capacity than a
USB flash drive

 Most are housed inside

the system unit

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The Components of a Computer
What is a compact disc?
 Flat, round, portable metal disc
 CD
 DVD

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The Components of a Computer
What is a communications device?

Hardware component that

enables a computer to
send and receive data, instructions,
and information

Occurs over cables, telephone

lines, cellular radio networks,
satellites, and other
transmission media

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Advantages and Disadvantages
of Using Computers
What are the advantages of using computers?

Speed Reliability Consistency

Storage Communications

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Advantages and Disadvantages
of Using Computers
What are the disadvantages of using computers?

Violation of
Public Safety
Privacy

Impact on Impact on
Health Risks
Labor Force Environment

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 Networks and the Internet
What is a network?
 Collection of computers and devices connected together,
often wirelessly
Used to share

Resources
Hardware
devices Software
programs Saves
Data time
Information and
money

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Networks and the Internet
What is a server?
 A server controls
access to resources
on a network
 Clients, or
workstations,
request resources
from the server

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Networks and the Internet
What is the Internet?
 Worldwide collection of networks that connects
millions of businesses, government agencies, educational
institutions, and individuals

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Networks and the Internet
Why do users access the Internet?
1. Communications
2. Research and Information
3. Shopping
4. Banking and Investing
5. Classes
6. Entertainment
7. Download Music
8. Share Information

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Networks and the Internet
What is the Web?
 Billions of documents, called Web pages, available to
anyone connected to the Internet
You can share A podcast is
A Web site is information on a social recorded audio
a collection of networking Web site or stored on a Web site
related Web pages a photo sharing that can be
community downloaded

A Web page contains

A blog consists of time-
text, graphics, audio,
stamped articles in
video, and links to
a journal format
other Web pages

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Computer Software

What is software?

Consists of a series
of instructions that
Also called a
tells the computer
program
what to do and
how to do it

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Computer Software

What is a graphical user interface (GUI)?

 Allows you to
interact with the
software using text,
graphics, and visual
images such as
icons
 Controls how you
enter data and
instructions and
how the screen
displays
information
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Computer Software

What is system software?

 Programs that control or maintain the operations of
the computer and its devices

Operating System (OS)

is a set of programs
that coordinates all
activities among
computer hardware Utility Programs allow the user to
devices perform maintenance-type tasks
usually related to managing a
computer, its devices or its programs

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Computer Software

What is application software?

 Programs designed to make
users more productive

Word
Spreadsheet
Processing

Presentation
Database
Graphics

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Computer Software

How do you install and run programs?

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Computer Software
JavaScript
What is a programmer?
 Someone who develops
software
 Programmer writes
the instructions to
direct the computer
to process data into
information

Web application
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Categories of Computers

What are the categories of computers?

Personal Computers
(desktop)
Mobile Computers and
Mobile Devices

Game Consoles

Servers

Mainframes

Supercomputers

Embedded Computers
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Personal Computers

What are the two most popular styles of personal

computers?
 PC and compatibles  Apple Macintosh
use the Windows usually uses the
operating system Macintosh operating
system (Mac OS X)

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Personal Computers
What is a desktop computer?
 Designed so all of the components fit entirely on
or under a desk or table

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Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices
What is a notebook computer?
 Portable, small enough
to fit on your lap
 Also called a laptop
computer
 Usually more expensive
than a desktop computer
with equal capabilities

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Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices
What is a Tablet PC?
 Resembles a letter-sized slate
 Allows you to write on the
screen using a digital pen
 Especially useful for taking
notes

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Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices

What are mobile devices?

Small enough to
carry in a pocket
Internet-enabled
telephone is a
“smart phone”

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Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices
What is a handheld computer?

Used
Small by mobile
enough to fit employees such as
in one meter readers and
hand delivery people

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Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices
What is a personal digital assistant (PDA)?
 Provides personal organizer functions
 Calendar
 Appointment book
 Address book
 Calculator
 Notepad

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Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices
What are smart phones?

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Game Consoles
What are game consoles?
Mobile computing device designed for
single-player or multiplayer video games

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Servers
What types of servers are there?
A server controls access to network
resources and provides centralized
storage
Mainframe Very powerful,
expensive computer that supports
thousands of connected users
Supercomputer The fastest, most
powerful, most expensive
computer. Used for applications
requiring complex mathematical
calculations

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Embedded Computers
What is an embedded computer?
 A special-purpose computer that functions as a
component in a larger product

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Elements of an Information System
What are information system elements?
 Hardware
 Software
 Data
 People
 Procedures

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Examples of Computer Usage
What software is available for a home user?
 Personal finance
management
 Web access
 Communications
 Entertainment

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Examples of Computer Usage
What software is available for a small
office/home office (SOHO) user?
 Productivity
software
 Specialty
software
 Web usage
 E-mail

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Examples of Computer Usage

What is available for

a mobile user?
 Hardware
 Notebook computers
 Tablet PCs
 Internet-enabled PDAs
 Smart phones
 Software
 Word processing
 Spreadsheet
 Presentation graphics
software

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Examples of Computer Usage

What are the needs of a power user?

 Speed and large amounts of storage
 Types of power users
 Engineers
 Scientists
 Architects
 Desktop publishers
 Graphic artists

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Examples of Computer Usage

What are the needs of the large business user?

 Payroll
 Inventory
 E-commerce
 Desktop
publishing

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Computer Applications in Society

What are some examples

of computer applications
in society?
 Education
 Finance
 Government
 Health Care
 Science
 Publishing
 Travel
 Manufacturing

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Summary of Introduction to Computers

Basic computer concepts The uses of the Internet

The term, computer Computer software

The components of a computer Categories of computers

The advantages and disadvantages of Types of computer users

using computers

The purpose of a network Computer applications in society

Chapter 1 Complete