APPLIED BUSINESS TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGIES

Course Code HPC-5 Week/Day Week 1

Course Description Applied Business Tools and Technologies Duration 1 Week
Lesson Topic Basic Computing Concepts Lesson No. 1
Learning Outcome/s 1. Develop knowledge on the information processing cycle of a computer
2. Familiarize the different components of a computer system.
Values Integration Service-oriented Learning
Reference/s “A unique visual step-by-step guide to computers, coding, and communication”, Dorling Kindersley
Limited, 2018.
Course Coach/Module Claire O. Carpio
Developer

A. ACTIVATION OF PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Activity 1: Computers are essential for the functioning of government, society, national and international businesses
and institutions. Perhaps we can’t run the modern world without computers. List your daily activities that would be
hard/impossible without the aid of computer. Write your answer on the answer sheet found on page 10.

B. Engagement in Relevant Content and Appropriate Why study computer science?

Learning Activity/Activities
▷ No limits

People without computing skills are limited to using the

Read and develop an understanding on each section as
discussed in this module. At the end of this module you websites, apps, and games that are already available.
will be asked to work on an activity and answer a short People with computing skills, on the other hand, are in a
evaluation. Good luck and have a fun learning. position to turn their ideas into reality, and to make the
things that will shape the future of computers.

LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS

OVERVIEW: Welcome to the first module of this course

on Introduction to Computing. This first chapter is a
general introduction that introduces important computing
concepts. Hopefully, at the end of this module you will
understand and appreciate the importance of computers.

1.1 What is Computer Science?

Digital technology is all around us, giving us access to
information, communication, and entertainment that
would have seemed unimaginable to people 100 years
ago.

Computer science is the study of how this technology ▷ The world is digital
works, from the microchips at the heart of devices, to
The world is becoming increasingly digital. Computers
the code that controls them. Studying computer science
control a lot of the basics of modern life, from paying for
gives young people the tools to understand today’s
things to driving cars, and from hospitals to satellites.
technology and puts them in a position to create the
Here are just a few of the ways in which computers
machines, apps, websites, and services of the future.
control aspects of everyday life.
Rather than being restricted by what others create,
computer science gives students the ability to turn their
own ideas into reality.

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Programming is a large part of computer science, but it Some people wonder which programming language to
involves more than simply stringing together a list of learn in order to get a job. However, the most important
commands. Before any code is written, we must think skill is learning how to apply computational thinking to a
about what we are trying to achieve in a step-by-step problem, and then produce a solution that can be
manner in order to see and overcome problems. We call expressed in code. Once a computer scientist is
this computational thinking, and it can be useful for comfortable solving problems using one programming
things that don’t involve computers at all. language, learning others becomes less intimidating.
Here are some of the most common programming
languages.

COMPUTERS ARE EVERYWHERE

Computers are everywhere: at work, at school, and

at home. In the workplace, employees use
computers to create correspondence such as e-mail
Programming languages

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messages, memos, and letters; manage calendars;
calculate payroll; track inventory; and generate
invoices. At school, teachers use computers to
assist with classroom instruction. Students use
computers to complete assignments and research.
People also spend hours of leisure time using a
computer. They play games, communicate with
friends and relatives online and using e-mail,
purchase goods online, converse in chat rooms,
listen to music or radio broadcasts, watch or create
videos and movies, read books and magazines,
share stories, research genealogy, retouch photos,
and plan vacations. At work, at school, and at home,
computers are helping people do their work faster,
more accurately, and in some cases, in ways that
previously would not have been possible.

Some people feel computers are too complex for All computer processing requires data. Data is a
them to use without special skills and knowledge. collection of unprocessed items, which can include
However, they interact with computers all the time text, numbers, images, audio, and video. Computers
without necessarily realizing it. manipulate data to create information. Information
conveys meaning and is useful to people. During the
Computers are almost everywhere, not just in the output operation, the information that has been
conventional setup that includes a monitor, created is put into some form, such as a printed
keyboard, and mouse. They are also found in report, or it can be stored on the computer for future
everyday devices such as mobile phones, lifts, use. As shown in Figure below, a computer
televisions, and cars. From watching movies to processes several data items to produce a cash
playing games, and even making dinner, computers register receipt.
can be used to do almost anything.

▷ Household devices
Many household devices contain computers.
Selecting a program on a microwave, for example,
actually runs a small program on the computer
embedded in the device.

1.3 INPUT DEVICE

Input: Information provided to the computer by a person,

the environment, or another computer.
Examples of Input
 words and symbols
 numbers
1.2 What Is a Computer? A computer is an  pictures
electronic device, operating under the control of  audio signals from a microphone
instructions stored in its own memory, that can  signals from another computer
accept data (input), process the data according to  temperature, speed, pressures, etc. from
specified rules (process), produce results (output), sensors
and store the results (storage) for future use.
An input device is any hardware component that allows
Computers perform four basic operations — input, you to enter data and instructions into a computer.
process, output, and storage. These operations Depending on your particular program and
comprise the information processing cycle.

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requirements, the input device you use may vary. optical sensor, or laser sensor) that detects
Commonly used input devices are the following: movement of the mouse.
Most notebook computers have a touchpad, a
1. Keyboard - typewriter-like devices that allows small, flat, rectangular pointing device near the
the user to type in text, numeric and execute keyboard that allows you to move the pointer by
commands with the aid of the functional keys on sliding a fingertip on the surface of the pad.
the keyboard.

3. Light pen: This is a stylus with a light sensitive

A variety of options are available for typing on a tip that is used to draw directly on a computer is
smart phone. Many can display an on-screen
video screen or to select information on the
keyboard, where you press the on-screen keys
screen by pressing a clip in the light pen or by
using your finger or a stylus. A stylus is a small
metal or plastic device that looks like a tiny ink pressing the light pen against the surface of the
pen but uses pressure instead of ink. Some screen. The pen contains light sensors that
smart phones have one key for each letter of the identify which portion of the screen it is passed
alphabet, often called a mini-keyboard. Other over. It is mostly used with Laptop.
phones have keypads that contain fewer keys
than there are letters in the alphabet. For these 4. Joystick: a pointing device composed of a lever
phones, each key on the keypad represents that moves in multiple directions to navigate a
multiple characters, which are identified on the cursor or other graphical object on a computer
key. screen.

5. Optical Scanner: This is light-sensing equipment

that converts images such as a picture or text
into electronic signals that can be manipulated
by a computer. For example, a photograph can
be scanned into a computer and then included
2. Mouse and Other Pointing Devices in a text document created on that computer.
A mouse is a pointing device that fits The two most common scanner types are the
comfortably under the palm of your hand. With a flatbed scanner, which is similar to an office
mouse, users control the movement of the photocopier, and the handheld scanner, which is
pointer, which is a small symbol on the screen passed manually across the image to be
whose location and shape change as a user processed.
moves a pointing device. As you move a mouse,
for example, the pointer on the screen also
moves. Generally, you use the mouse to move
the pointer on the screen to an object such as a
button, a menu, an icon, a link, or text. Then,
you press a mouse button to perform a certain
6. Microphone: This is a device for converting
action associated with that object. The bottom of
sound into signals that can then be stored,
a mouse is flat and contains a mechanism (ball,
manipulated, and played back by the computer.

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A voice recognition module is a device that computer that accepts data, performs operations on the
converts spoken words into information that the data and sends out the result.
computer can recognize and process.

Most CPU chips are composed of four functional

sections:

1. Arithmetic Logic Unit: Calculating ability either

1.4 COMPUTER PROCESSOR arithmetical or logical operations.
Processing - manipulation of data. 2. Registers: Temporary storage areas that hold data,
Examples of Processing keep tracks of instruction, and hold the location and
 Arithmetic calculations results of these operations.
 Sorting a list 3. Control Unit: Times and regulates the operation of the
 Modifying pictures entire computer system, by using its instruction decoder
 Drawing graphs to read patterns of data in a designated register and
translate the patterns into activities, such as addition or
The system unit is a case that contains electronic comparison. It also uses its interrupt input to indicate the
components of the computer used to process data order in which individual operations uses the CPU and
(Figure 12). System units are available in a variety of regulates the amount of CPU time allotted to each
shapes and sizes. The case of the system unit, also operation.
called the chassis, is made of metal or plastic and 4. Internal Bus: Network of communication lines that
protects the internal components from damage. connects the internal elements of the processor and also
leads to external connectors that links the processor to
the other element of the computer.

The main functions of the microprocessor (CPU clips)

includes the following:
a. Control use of the main storage in storing data and
instructions.
b. Control the sequence of operations.
c. Give commands to all parts of the computer system.
System Unit d. Carry out processing.

Memory refers to the computer chips that store

The motherboard, sometimes called a system board, is
information for quick retrieval by the CPU. They are
the main circuit board of the system unit. Many
electronic components attach to the motherboard; others basically divided into two ROM and RAM.
are built into it. The motherboard is indispensable to the
computer and provides the main computing capability. Random Access Memory (RAM) is used to store
Personal computers normally have one central information and instructions that operate the computer’s
processing unit (CPU) on the motherboard. programs. Typically, programs are transferred from
storage on a disk drive to RAM. RAM is also known as
volatile memory because the information within the
computer chips is lost when power to the computer is
turned off.

Motherboard

The processor, also called the central processing unit Read-Only Memory (ROM) contains critical information
(CPU), interprets and carries out the basic instructions and software that must be permanently available for
that operate a computer. This is the main brain of the computer operation, such as the operating system that
directs the computer’s actions from start up to shut

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down. ROM is called non-volatile memory because the
memory chips do not lose their information when power
to the computer is turned off.

2. Printers: Information and graphics processed or

produced with the aid of computer are printed
out as hardcopy with the aid of printer. There
are different types of printers; Dot-matrix
1.5 OUTPUT DEVICE printers, Laser printers, Inkjet, etc.
Output: the result produced by a computer after
processing the data.
Examples of Output
 images on a monitor
 printed documents
 sounds
 signals to device controllers

Output device –displays, prints, or transmits the results

after processing. Output devices are hardware 3. Speakers - Output devices that receive signals
components that convey information to one or more from the computer’s sound card to play music,
people. Commonly used output devices include display narration, or sound effects.
devices; printers; speakers, headphones, and ear buds;
and data projectors.

1. Display Devices - an output device that visually

conveys text, graphics, and video information. A monitor
is a display device that is packaged as a separate
peripheral. A widely used monitor is an LCD monitor.
The LCD monitor shown in the figure below uses a liquid
crystal display to produce images on the screen. The
surface of the screen of an LCD monitor is composed of
individual picture elements called pixels. Resolution is
the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in a display
device. A higher resolution provides a smoother,
sharper, clearer image.
1.6 STORAGE DEVICE

Storage devices provide permanent storage of

information and programs for retrieval by the computer.

Hard disk drives store information in magnetic particles

embedded in a disk. Usually a permanent part of the
computer, hard disk drives can store large amounts of
information and retrieve that information very quickly.
Mobile computers such as notebook computers, The system unit on most personal computers contains at
including netbooks and Tablet PCs, and mobile devices least one hard disk, sometimes called an internal hard
such as smart phones, portable media players, PDAs, disk because it is not portable. Storage capacities of
handheld game consoles, and digital cameras, have internal hard disks for personal computers range from
built-in LCD screens.
160 GB to more than 2 TB.

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one time and another part at a later time. Each part of a
CD-R can be written on only one time, and the disc’s
contents cannot be erased.

A USB flash drive, sometimes called a thumb drive, is a

flash memory storage device that plugs into a USB port
on a computer or mobile device. USB flash drives are
convenient for mobile users because they are small and
lightweight enough to be transported on a keychain or in
a pocket.

A CD-RW (compact disc-rewritable) is an erasable

multisession disc you can write on multiple times. To
write on a CD-RW disc, you must have optical disc
burning software and a CD-RW drive. Burning is the
process of writing on an optical disc. A popular use of
CD-RW and CD-R discs is to create audio CDs. For
example, users can record their own music and save it
on a CD, purchase and download songs from the Web
to their computer and then burn the songs on a CD, or
rearrange tracks on a purchased music CD. The process
An optical disc is a flat, round, portable metal disc with a
of copying audio and/or video data from a purchased
plastic coating. CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs are three
disc and saving it on a storage medium is called ripping.
types of optical discs. A CD can hold from 650 million to
1 billion characters. Some DVDs can store two full-
length movies or 17 billion characters. Blu-ray Discs can
store about 46 hours of standard video, or 100 billion
characters. Optical discs used in personal computers
are 4.75 inches in diameter and less than one-twentieth
of an inch thick. different formats of optical discs exist
today are the following:

A CD-ROM, or compact disc read-only memory, is a

type of optical disc that users can read but not write
(record) or erase — hence, the name read-only. A DVD-ROM (digital versatile disk-read-only memory or
Manufacturers write the contents of standard CD-ROMs. digital video disc-read-only memory) is a high-capacity
A standard CD-ROM is called a single-session disc optical disc on which users can read but not write or
because manufacturers write all items on the disc at one erase. Manufacturers write the contents of DVD-ROMs
time. Software manufacturers often distribute programs and distribute them to consumers. DVD-ROMs store
using CD-ROMs. A typical CD-ROM holds from 650 MB movies, music, huge databases, and complex software.
to 1 GB of data, instructions, and information.

A newer, more expensive DVD format is Blu-ray, which

A CD-R (compact disc-recordable) is a multisession is a higher capacity and better quality than standard
optical disc on which users can write, but not erase, their DVDs, especially for high-definition audio and video. A
own items such as text, graphics, and audio. Blu-ray Disc (BD) has storage capacities of 100 GB, with
Multisession means you can write on part of the disc at expectations of exceeding 200 GB in the future.

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△ Opening files

A filename usually includes a full stop followed by some

letters. This is the file extension, which identifies the type
Cloud storage is an Internet service that provides hard of file and tells the computer what kind of program it
disk storage to computer users. Fee arrangements vary. should use to open it.
For example, one cloud storage service provides 25 GB
of storage free to registered users; another charges $5
per month for 150 GB of storage. Figure identifies a
variety of cloud storage providers.

△ In the bin

Deleting a file by mistake is quite common. Deleted files

A memory card is a removable flash memory device, usually go into the recycle or trash bin, and can be
usually no bigger than 1.5 inches in height or width, that restored by opening the bin and taking the file out.
you insert and remove from a slot in a computer, mobile
device, or card reader/writer. Memory cards enable
mobile users easily to transport digital photos, music, or
files to and from mobile devices and computers or other
devices.

Looking for files

Searching for files on a computer is similar to finding

them in a real-world filing cabinet. The file system on a
computer is usually accessed using a window containing
small icons of folders or documents. A folder can be
opened to display the files inside by touching with a
finger on a touchscreen or double-clicking with a mouse
or trackpad.

△ Searching for files

The best way to look for a file is to find the magnifying

glass icon. Then, click on it and type the filename or C. REFLECTION AND RESPONSE/ACTION
keywords in the search bar.
Activity 1: The figure below shows how computer perform the four basic operations — input, process, output, and
storage or also called the information processing cycle. Explain the cycle and provide example. Write your answer on
the answer sheet found on page 10.

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PROCESSING
DEVICE
CONTROL
ALU
INPUT UNIT OUTPUT
DEVICE DEVICE
REGISTER

MEMORY (RAM)

STORAGE
DEVICE

D. SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT:
Activity 1: Solve the crossword puzzle below. Write your answer on the answer sheet found on page 11.

E. FEEDBACK

As your course coach on this course, I will appreciate it if you can share with me your thoughts about the context of
the module. If there are learning gaps or concerns this module failed to address, please let me know by writing
your views on the spaces provided on page 11. Thank you and see you on our next module.

Annex A

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Name: ______________________________________________ _______ Course, Year & Set: ___________________________

Subject: ____________________________________________________ Module No.: __________________________________

Answer Sheet
Activation of Prior Knowledge
Activity 1

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Answer Sheet
Reflection and Response/Action
Activity 1

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(This sheet should be returned to your course coach)

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Annex B

Name: ______________________________________________ _______ Course, Year & Set: ___________________________

Subject: ____________________________________________________ Module No.: __________________________________

Answer Sheet
Summative Assessment
Activity 1

Student’s Feedback

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(This sheet should be returned to your course coach)

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