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Its All Geek To Me: Computer Basics

The document provides an overview of basic computer components and processes. It describes the information processing cycle involving input, processing, output, and storage. Key components include input devices like keyboards and mice, memory hardware like ROM and RAM, processing hardware like the CPU, and auxiliary storage devices. It defines other concepts such as data, binary code, bytes, and file sizes. The document also covers software including operating systems and applications, and explains the boot process of loading an operating system into memory.

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gabriela
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
21 views

Its All Geek To Me: Computer Basics

The document provides an overview of basic computer components and processes. It describes the information processing cycle involving input, processing, output, and storage. Key components include input devices like keyboards and mice, memory hardware like ROM and RAM, processing hardware like the CPU, and auxiliary storage devices. It defines other concepts such as data, binary code, bytes, and file sizes. The document also covers software including operating systems and applications, and explains the boot process of loading an operating system into memory.

Uploaded by

gabriela
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Its All Geek to Me

COMPUTER BASICS

The Information Processing Cycle


MAIN
MEMORY

INPUT

PROCESSING

AUXILIARY
STORAGE

OUTPUT

INPUT DEVICES (Hardware)


Keyboard
Mouse
Microphone
Scanner
Touch screens
Bar code scanner
Voice recognition
Auxiliary Storage Device

OUTPUT DEVICES (HARDWARE)


Useful information that leaves the system

Output Hardware includes:

Monitor: soft copy

Printers: hard copy

Projector

Voice and music - speakers

OUTPUT

MEMORY PROCESSING HARDWARE


ROM

RAM

READ ONLY MEMORY

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY

Small

Main Memory

Instructions are installed

Temporaryit is erased

permanently at the factory


Cannot be changed
These instructions check
the computers resources
and looks for Operating
System

when turned off.


It is where programs and
data is stored while being
processed

PROCESSING HARDWARE
Central Processing Unit: CPU
The Brains or Intelligence of the computer.
Controls input and output
interprets instructions
executes instructions.
Silicon chip: integrated circuit board
Pentium: name give to a particular chip
Hertz: the speed of the CPU
Gigahertz: executes a billion instructions per second
Megahertz: executes a million instructions per second

Processors
Come in Many Sizes
Mainframe: large, powerful, serving many connected

terminals. Super Computers

Minicomputer: mid-sized, serves more than one

user at a time

Microcomputer: PC, individual workstation


Laptop: portable, small, a.k.a. notebook
Handheld: cell phones, tablets

What is Data?
Facts used by a computer
Words
Numbers

What two numbers are used in Binary Code?


0 and 1

They are each called a BIT


8 BITS make a BYTE
1 BYTE makes a letter or number
KILOBYTE = 1,024 bytes
MEGABYTE = 1,048,576 bytes

GIGABYTE = 1,024 megabytes


TERABYTE = 1,024 gigabytes

AUXILIARY STORAGE DEVICES


Network Drive (H: drive)

Hard Disk Drive (C:drive)


Floppy Disk Drive with 3 Floppy Disk (A:drive)
Jump Drive/Thumb Drive

I-Pod
CD Read/Write Drive
DVD

Zip Drive

AUXILIARY
STORAGE

SOFTWARE
Programs that Make the Computer Work
Operating System Software
Vista
Windows XP: GUI (Graphical User Interface)
Unix
Linux

Application Software
Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Front Page, Publisher
WordPerfect
Illustrator, Photoshop, Dreamweaver

What is the Boot Process?


The process of starting up a computer from a

halted or powered-down condition.

Commands in ROM memory are followed

The process of loading the Operating System

software into Main Memory


Windows 98
Windows XP
Unix

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