Essential Computer Concepts

FIRST COURSE

What Is a Computer?
A computer is an electronic device that accepts data and instructions from a user, manipulates the data according to the instructions, displays the information in some way, and stores the information for retrieval later

XP

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

What is a computer?
An electronic device that accepts input,
processes the data and instructions, produces

XP

output from the processing that is useful and

meaningful and stores the results for future

use.

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

How Does A Computer Know What To Do?

It must be given a detailed set of instructions that tell it exactly what to do.
These instructions are called a computer program, or software.

XP

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

Types of Computers
Personal computers (PCs)
Desktop computers Notebook (laptop) computers Tablet PCs

XP

Handheld computers
PDA (personal digital assistant) MP3 players Cell phones

Mainframe computers Supercomputers

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition 5

Types of Computers
Personal Computers PDA

XP

Desktop

Notebook

Tablet PC

Super Computers
New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition 6

Computer Systems
Includes computer hardware and software

XP

Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer Software refers to the intangible components of a computer system, particularly the programs the computer needs to perform a specific task

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

System Software
System software manages the fundamental operations of your computer
Operating system
System resource Multitasking

XP

Utilities Programming Languages

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

Application Software
Application software enables you to perform specific computer tasks, such as document production, spreadsheet calculations, and database management
Document production software

XP

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

Application Software
Presentation software

XP

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

10

Application Software
Web site creation and management software Spreadsheet software Database management software

XP

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

11

Application Software
Photo editing software Multimedia authoring software Accounting software Information management software

XP

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

12

XP

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?

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

13

Processing Hardware
The motherboard is the main electronic component of the computer The microprocessor is one of the most important pieces of processing hardware on the motherboard Cards are removable circuit boards

XP

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

14

Processing
Microprocessor, also referred to as processor or CPU (Central Processing Unit RAM - Random Access Memory
Volatile

XP

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

15

Input and Output

XP

The data or instructions you type into the computer are called input The result of the computer processing your input is referred to as output and also referred to as information. Peripheral devices accomplish input and output functions
New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition 16

Input Devices
You use an input device, such as a keyboard or a mouse, to input data and issue commands
Keyboard Pointing device
Controls the pointer Mouse Trackball Touch pad Pointing stick

XP

Scanner Touch Screen Pen Input

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition 17

Output Devices
Output devices show you the results of processing data
Monitor
Flat panel LCD CRT

XP

Printer
Laser Inkjet Dot matrix

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

18

Data Representation
Binary digits (bits) A series of eight bits is called a byte

XP

ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

19

Storage Measurements
Byte = one character Kilobyte = approximately 1000 characters Megabyte = approximately one million characters

XP

Gigabyte = approximately one billion characters

Terabyte = approximately one trillion characters

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

20

Memory
Random access memory (RAM)
Volatile memory SDRAM

XP

Cache memory (RAM cache or CPU cache) Virtual memory

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

21

Memory
Read-only memory (ROM)
BIOS Nonvolatile memory

XP

Complementary metal oxide semiconductor memory (CMOS) Semi permanent memory

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

22

Method of Access
Sequential access retrieve data in order.
Example of media- magnetic tape

XP

Direct or random access go directly to required data.

Example of media- magnetic disk, CD-Rom, DVD

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

23

Storage Media

XP

A computer file is a named collection of stored data An executable file contains the instructions that tell a computer how to perform a specific task A data file is created by a user

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

24

Storage Media
Magnetic media
Hard disk Tape Floppy disk

XP

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

25

Hard Drive
Consists of one or more rigid metal platters coated with a metal oxide material that allows data to be magnetically recorded on the surface of the platters

XP

The number of platters permanently mounted on the spindle of a hard disk varies.

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

26

Storage Media
Optical storage device
CD DVD CD-R CD-RW CD-ROM

XP

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

27

Storage Media
Flash memory
Flash memory cards USB flash storage device USB drive (flash drive)

XP

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

28

Data Communications

XP

The transmission of text, numeric, voice, or video data from one computer to another or to a peripheral device is called data communications
Sender and receiver Channel Protocol Device driver (driver)

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

29

XP Components of Data Communications

The four essential components of data communications are: Sender Channel Receiver Protocols

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

30

Data Communication
A sender is the computer that originates the message. The message is sent over a channel, such as a telephone The receiver is the computer at the messages destination. Protocols are the rules that establish the transfer of data between sender and receiver.

XP

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

31

Networks
A network connects one computer to other computers and peripherals.

XP

In a local area network (LAN), computers and peripherals are close to each other.
New Perspectives on Essential Computer Concepts New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

32
32

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.
New Perspectives on Essential Computer Concepts New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

XP

33
33

Telecommunications

XP

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.
New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition 34

Telecommunications

XP

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

35

The Internet
The Internet is the worlds largest network. E-mail and the World Wide Web are two benefits of the Internet.

XP

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

36

The Internet

XP

A hyperlink is a place on a Web page allowing you to connect to a particular file. http://www.course.com/newperspec tives

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

37

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

XP

New Perspectives on Essential Computer Concepts New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

38
38

Networks

XP

A network connects one computer to other computers and peripheral devices, enabling you to share data and resources with others Network interface card (NIC) LAN WAN WLAN PAN WiMax
New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition 39

Telecommunications

XP

Telecommunications means communicating over a comparatively long distance using a phone line or some other data conduit
Modem
Digital and analog signals

DSL

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

40

The Internet
The Internet is the largest network in the world, connecting millions of people
Electronic mail World Wide Web
Web page Web site

XP

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

41

Security Threats on Your Computer

Security refers to the steps a computer owner takes to prevent unauthorized use of or damage to the computer
Malware
Viruses
Antivirus software

XP

Spyware Adware

Firewall Phishing Pharming

New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition

42