BEGINNING COMPUTER BASICS Maldives Business School

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Introduction to basic components of a computer
Learn common computer terms
Become familiar with basic computer hardware and software
 WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
 An electronic device that accepts input, processes data, (provides storage
and retrieval) and provides output for the user.
or
 A computer is any machine that can be programmed to carry out a set of
algorithms and arithmetic instructions.
What purposes does a computer have?
 5 PARTS OF A COMPUTER
Whether it's a gaming system or a home PC, the five main components that make up
a typical, present-day computer include:
•A motherboard
•A Central Processing Unit (CPU)
•A Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), also known as a video card/graphics cards
•Random Access Memory (RAM), also known as volatile memory
•Storage: Solid State Drive (SSD) or Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
 OPERATING SYSTEM
An Operating System (OS) is a software that acts as an interface between
computer hardware components and the user. Every computer system must
have at least one operating system to run other programs.
 Applications like Browsers, MS Office, Notepad Games, etc., need some
environment to run and perform its tasks.
 FUNCTIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEMS
 Manage all of the computer hardware inside your computer and all of the
connected peripherals.
 Manage all of the software and communication between software programs
installed on the computer.
Handle all of the data generated by he software.
EXAMPLES OF COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEMS
Microsoft Windows - Microsoft Windows is the most common and used operating
system on computers today, with Microsoft Windows 10 being the most recently
released Windows version. The operating system is used PC and IBM-compatible
computers.
Apple macOS - With Apple computers, macOS is the primary operating system used
with Apple desktop and laptop computers.
Linux - Linux is a free and open source operating system used with PC and IBM
compatible computers. Because the operating system is open source, it is used to create
many variants of Linux, including Ubuntu, Debian, Red Hat, and Slackware. See our
Linux page for a full listing of variants listed on our site with further information about
the operating system.
Chromium / Chrome OS - Chrome OS is an operating system used with Google
Chromebooks.
2 BASIC COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
1. Hardware

2. Software
 HARDWARE & SOFTWARE
For a computer to function properly, it must consist of both hardware and
software, because the hardware and software are interdependent. This means
that the one will not function without the other.
Hardware: Any part of your computer that has physical structure. Such as the
monitor, mouse, key board, computer data storage, hard disk drive (HDD),
graphic cards, sound cards, memory, motherboard, and so on, all of which are
physical objects that are tangible.
Software: Software is any set of machine-readable instructions that directs a
computer’s processor to perform specific operations.
A combination of hardware and software forms a usable computing system.
 HARDWARE
Hardware consists of two components. Input and output devices.

Input device allows us to put information into the computer. Example: Keyboard, Mouse,
Microphone etc.
Output device displays or puts out information from a computer either in visual or
auditory format. Example: Monitor, Printer, Speaker etc.
BASIC COMPUTER EQUIPMENT

Monitor
Speakers
Console

Printer Mouse Keyboard

 CONSOLE
Console: The main computer box is the console, although it may also be called the
system unit or the CPU (which is incorrect). It houses many electronic components,
serves as the main connecting point for other devices, and shields all of the vital
working parts of your PC, from dust, dirt, static electricity, etc.
On the outside, the console sports various buttons, lights, and holes into which you
plug the rest of the computer system.
 MONITOR
The monitor is the device where the computer displays information, its output.
A common mistake made by new computer users is to assume that the monitor is the
computer. No, the console is the computer. The monitor merely displays information.
 MOUSE
Mouse: pointing device that allows you to select and manipulate objects you see on
your monitor.
Left Click - used to select or place cursor where you want it on the page
Double Click - used to open a program
Drag and Drop - used to pick up and move a picture or object to another area
Click and drag - used to select multiple items or highlight text
Right Click - gives a drop down menu of options specific to the task you’re trying to
perform
 KEYBOARD
The keyboard allows you to enter letters, numbers, symbols, and other commands into
your computer.
Both keyboard and mouse are universal meaning that any kind can be plugged into a
computer and will work. QWERTY refers to the standard US keyboard and refers to
the first six letters on the keyboard.
 KEYBOARD BUTTONS
Tab – used to indent paragraphs by moving your cursor Space Bar – adds one blank space between objects
over ten spaces or to move from field to field in a form
Windows Key – open and closes your windows start menu
Caps Lock – makes all letters capital until you turn it off
Enter – starts a new line or functions as the “Go” key when
Shift - allows you to capitalize letters when pressed down navigating to a website, opening a program, etc.
and allows you to access the secondary function of your
computer keys
 PRINTER
Printer: device that reproduces text and pictures that you create on paper.
 Inkjet Printer:
- Most popular, least expensive
- Occasional printing (Home use)
- Uses print cartridges
- Decent quality image
 Laser Printer
- More expensive
- Extensive Printing (Office use)
- Uses toner cartridges
- Higher quality image
 SOFTWARE
Software is a set of instructions, data or programs used to operate computers and
execute specific tasks. It is the opposite of hardware, which describes the physical
aspects of a computer.
Software is a generic term used to refer to applications, scripts and programs that
run on a device.
The two main categories of software are application software and system software.
Application Software Example: Office Suites, Graphics Software, web browsers,
games, and word processors such as Microsoft Word.
System Software Example: Operating Systems
 EXAMPLES OF SOFTWARE
Browsers

–Internet Explorer

–Mozilla Firefox

–Google Chrome

Games

–Solitaire

Office

–Word

–Excel

–PowerPoint

All programs

–Anything listed under all programs and anything you download

REFRESHING MEMORY!
1. What are the 2 basic components of a computer?
2. Give me 1 example of an input device and an output device.
3. What does CPU stand for?
4. What are two examples of software?
5. What does the TAB button allow you to do?
DESKTOP
DESKTOP
The place where you can easily gain access to everything on your computer
Uses icons to represent programs on your computer.
Background on which the icons sit is called the ‘desktop’.
You can use the mouse to move around on the desktop.
 ICONS
Icons represent programs you have on your computer
They act as shortcuts to your programs and are instantly accessible from your desktop
instead of having to go to the start menu and open them.
Icons are movable and can be arranged any way you want.
Any program or file on your computer can be an icon including pictures, documents, and
other software.
You can create icons one of two ways:
–1) Go to the start menu and right click on a program. Select send to. Select desktop
and a copy of it will now be on your desktop
–2) Go to your libraries folder and right click on a document, music file, or picture file.
Select send to. Select desktop and a copy of it will now be on your desktop
Note: Double click icons to open them
TASKBAR
The strip along the bottom of the desktop.
Serves as the Windows control center.
Three important items on the taskbar: Start menu, Quick Launch Bar, System tray
 TASKBAR
Start Menu: contains all programs on your computer. Programs are listed in
alphabetical order. Items that you use frequently can be pinned to the start menu.
Quick Launch Bar: contains programs that are pinned to the taskbar and can be
accessed simply by clicking the program. Items that you use frequently can be pinned
to the quick launch bar.
Note: Start menu and quick launch bar items only need to be clicked once to open
them
System Tray contains your general computer information such as time, date, sound
volume, power supply, the USB icon when one is plugged in, security antivirus
information, updates for your computer, internet connection, and computer processes.
 PERSONALIZATION
When you right click on your desktop, you get a series of options that you can use to
make it look how you want it to look
View: allows you to change the size of your icons, arrange them in the order you want and
choose to hide them or show them
Sort By: allows you to sort your icons by name, size, item type or date modified
New: allows you to create a new folder or document and places it directly on your
desktop
Personalize: allows you to change the background on your desktop, your screensaver
settings, your color scheme, your mouse pointer and other cosmetic changes
REFRESHING MEMORY!
1. What on the desktop do you have to double click to open?
2. What three items are located on the taskbar?
3. What’s one place you can pin items you use frequently?
4. What is the system tray used for?
END OF SLIDES!
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to
try just one more time.” – Thomas A. Edison