CSC101 – Introduction to ICT

Lecture 01
Introduction

šCourse Instructor:
šSajida Kalsoom
šContact
š[email protected]
šRoom# 102, Floor I, Academic Block 2

2
Information and Communications
Technology (ICT)

3
ICT?

š Information and Communication Technology

Information
Technology

Computer Communication
Technology Technology
ICT?

store, study, transmit, receive and manipulate data

Information
Technology

Computer Communication
Technology Technology

How different devices store, study, How different devices communicate?

and manipulate data? (transmit, receive data)
What is Information and Communications
Technology ?

šICT is an extended form of Information Technology (IT)

šThe term means all devices, networking components,
applications and systems that combined allow people
and organizations to interact in the digital world
šIT is subset of ICT
šIT is an application of computers to store, study, transmit and
manipulate data or information
 A World of Computers

š Computers are everywhere

McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Chapter 1A

Introducing Computer Systems

McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
 A Computer?
• A computer is a programmable, multiuse machine (hardware+software) that
accepts data—raw facts and figures—and processes, or manipulates, it into
information we can use, such as summaries, totals, or reports.

computer
data Information

u Data: Unproductive, useless information

u Information: Productive, Fruitful and Useful data

u Example: Information Retrieval System

 The Computer Defined
• Electronic device
• Converts data into information
• Modern computers are digital
– Two digits combine to make data
• Older computers were analog
– A range of values made data

1A-11
 Computers For Individual Use
• Desktop computers
– The most common type of computer
– Sits on the desk or floor
– Performs a variety of tasks
• Workstations
– Specialized computers
– Optimized for science or graphics
– More powerful than a desktop

1A-12
 Computers For Individual Use
• Notebook computers
– Small portable computers
– Weighs between 3 and 8 pounds
– About 8 ½ by 11 inches
– Typically as powerful as a desktop
– Can include a docking station

1A-13
 Computers For Individual Use
• Tablet computers
– Newest development in
portable computers
– Input is through
a pen
– Run specialized versions of
office products

1A-14
 Computers For Individual Use
• Handheld computers
– Very small computers
– Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)
– Note taking or contact management
– Data can synchronize with a desktop
• Smart phones
– Hybrid of cell phone and PDA
– Web surfing, e-mail access

1A-15
 Computers For Organizations
• Network servers
– Centralized computer
– All other computers connect
– Provides access to network resources
– Multiple servers are called server farms
– Often simply a powerful desktop

1A-16
 Computers For Organizations
• Mainframes
– Used in large organizations
– Handle thousands
of users
– Users access through a
terminal

1A-17
 Computers For Organizations
• Minicomputers
– Called midrange computers
– Power between mainframe and desktop
– Handle hundreds of users
– Used in smaller organizations
– Users access through a terminal

1A-18
 Computers For Organizations
• Supercomputers
– The most powerful computers
made
– Handle large and complex
calculations
– Process trillions of operations
per second
– Found in research
organizations

1A-19
 Computers In Society
• More impact than any other invention
– Changed work and leisure activities
– Used by all demographic groups
• Computers are important because:
– Provide information to users
– Information is critical to our society
– Managing information is difficult

1A-20
 Computers In Society
• Computers at home
– Many homes have multiple computers
– Most homes have Internet as well
– Computers are used for
• Business
• Entertainment
• Communication
• Education

1A-21
 Computers In Society
• Computers in education
– Computer literacy required at all levels
• Computers in small business
– Makes businesses more profitable
– Allows owners to manage
• Computers in industry
– Computers are used to design products
– Assembly lines are automated

1A-22
 Computers In Society
• Computers in government
– Necessary to track data for population
• Police officers
• Tax calculation and collection
– Governments were the first computer users

1A-23
 Computers In Society
• Computers in health care
– Revolutionized health care
– New treatments possible
– Scheduling of patients has improved
– Delivery of medicine is safer

1A-24
 Chapter 1B

Looking Inside the Computer

System

McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Parts of the Computer System
• Computer systems have four parts
– Hardware
– Software
– Data
– User

1B-26
 Parts of the Computer System
• Hardware
– Mechanical devices in the computer
– Anything that can be touched
• Software
– Tell the computer what to do
– Also called a program
– Thousands of programs exist

1B-27
 Parts of the Computer System
• Data
– Pieces of information
– Computers organize and present data
• Users
– People operating the computer
– Most important part
– Tell the computer what to do

1B-28
 Information Processing Cycle
• Steps followed to process data
– Input
– Processing
– Output
– Storage

1B-29
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Computers use the same basic hardware
• Hardware categorized into four types

1B-30
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Processing devices
– Brains of the computer
– Carries out instructions from the program
– Manipulate the data
– Most computers have several processors
– Central Processing Unit (CPU)
– Secondary processors
– Processors made of silicon and copper

1B-31
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Memory devices
– Stores data or programs
– Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Volatile
• Stores current data and programs
• More RAM results in a faster system
– Read Only Memory (ROM)
• Permanent storage of programs
• Holds the computer boot directions

1B-32
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Input and output devices
– Allows the user to interact
– Input devices accept data
• Keyboard, mouse
– Output devices deliver data
• Monitor, printer, speaker
– Some devices are input and output
• Touch screens

1B-33
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Storage devices
– Hold data and programs permanently
– Different from RAM
– Magnetic storage
• Floppy and hard drive
• Uses a magnet to access data
– Optical storage
• CD and DVD drives
• Uses a laser to access data

1B-34
 Software Runs the Machine
• Tells the computer what to do
• Reason people purchase computers
• Two types
– System software
– Application software

1B-35
 Software Runs the Machine
• System software
– Most important software
– Operating system
• Windows XP
– Network operating system (OS)
• Windows Server 2003
– Utility
• Symantec AntiVirus

1B-36
 Software Runs the Machine
• Application software
– Accomplishes a specific task
– Most common type of software
• MS Word
– Covers most common uses of computers

1B-37
 Computer Data
• Fact with no meaning on its own
• Stored using the binary number system
• Data can be organized into files

1B-38
 Computer Users
• Role depends on ability
– Setup the system
– Install software
– Manage files
– Maintain the system
• “Userless” computers
– Run with no user input
– Automated systems

1B-39