PASSI CITY COLLEGE

City of Passi, Iloilo

SCHOOL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection

Module Number: 2

Introduction

Topic entitled “Basic components and function of digital devices and definition of
computer terminology” we will take a look at this component of information systems, learn a
little bit about how it works, and discuss some of the current trends surrounding it.

Lesson Objectives:

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. Define what an information system is by identifying its major components;

2. Describe the basic history of information systems; and
3. Describe the basic argument behind the article “Does IT Matter?” by Nicholas Carr.
4. Describe information systems hardware;
5. Identify the primary components of a computer and the functions they perform; and
6. Explain the effect of the commoditization of the personal computer

Indicative Content:

 Defining Information Systems

 Digital Devices
 The Rise Of Mobile Computing
 The Commoditization of the Personal Computer
 Types Of Software

PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA

(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection Page 1
MODULE 2
 Information Systems Components

Defining Information Systems

Almost all programs in business require students to take a course in something

called information systems. But what exactly does that term mean? Let’s take a look at some
of the more popular definitions, first from Wikipedia and then from a couple of textbooks:

 “Information systems (IS) is the study of complementary networks of hardware and

software that people and organizations use to collect, filter, process, create, and
distribute data.”
 “Information systems are combinations of hardware, software, and
telecommunications networks that people build and use to collect, create, and
distribute useful data, typically in organizational settings.”
 “Information systems are interrelated components working together to collect,
process, store, and disseminate information to support decision making,
coordination, control, analysis, and viualization in an organization.”

As you can see, these definitions focus on two different ways of describing information
systems: the components that make up an information system and the role that those
components play in an organization. Let’s take a look at each of these.

The Components Of Information Systems

As I stated earlier, I spend the first day of my information systems class discussing exactly
what the term means. Many students understand that an information system has something
to do with databases or spreadsheets. Others mention computers and e-commerce. And they
are all right, at least in part: information systems are made up of different components that
work together to provide value to an organization.

The first way I describe information systems to students is to tell them that they are made up
of five components: hardware, software, data, people, and process. The first three, fitting
under the technology category, are generally what most students think of when asked to
define information systems. But the last two, people and process, are really what separate
the idea of information systems from more technical fields, such as computer science. In
order to fully understand information systems, students must understand how all of these
components work together to bring value to an organization.

TECHNOLOGY

Technology can be thought of as the application of scientific knowledge for practical

purposes. From the invention of the wheel to the harnessing of electricity for artificial
lighting, technology is a part of our lives in so many ways that we tend to take it for granted.

PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA

(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection Page 2
MODULE 2
As discussed before, the first three components of information systems – hardware,
software, and data – all fall under the category of technology.

Hardware

Information systems hardware is the part of an information system you can touch – the
physical components of the technology. Computers, keyboards, disk drives, iPads, and flash
drives are all examples of information systems hardware.

Software

Software is a set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do. Software is not
tangible – it cannot be touched. When programmers create software programs, what they
are really doing is simply typing out lists of instructions that tell the hardware what to do.
There are several categories of software, with the two main categories being operating-
system software, which makes the hardware usable, and application software, which does
something useful.
 Examples of operating systems include Microsoft Windows on a personal computer
and Google’s Android on a mobile phone.
 Examples of application software are Microsoft Excel and Angry Birds.

Data

The third component is data. You can think of data as a collection of facts.
For example, your street address, the city you live in, and your phone number are all pieces
of data. Like software, data is also intangible. By themselves, pieces of data are not really
very useful. But aggregated, indexed, and organized together into a database, data can
become a powerful tool for businesses.

Networking Communication: A Fourth Technology Piece?

Besides the components of hardware, software, and data, which have long been
considered the core technology of information systems, it has been suggested that one other
component should be added: communication. An information system can exist without the
ability to communicate – the first personal computers were stand-alone machines that did
not access the Internet. However, in today’s hyper-connected world, it is an extremely rare
computer that does not connect to another device or to a network. Technically, the
networking communication component is made up of hardware and software, but it is such a
core feature of today’s information systems that it has become its own category.

PEOPLE

When thinking about information systems, it is easy to get focused on the technology
components and forget that we must look beyond these tools to fully understand how they

PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA

(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection Page 3
MODULE 2
integrate into an organization. A focus on the people involved in information systems is the
next step. From the front-line help-desk workers, to systems analysts, to programmers, all
the way up to the chief information officer (CIO), the people involved with information
systems are an essential element that must not be overlooked.

PROCESS

The last component of information systems is process. A process is a series of steps

undertaken to achieve a desired outcome or goal. Information systems are becoming more
and more integrated with organizational processes, bringing more productivity and better
control to those processes. But simply automating activities using technology is not enough
– businesses looking to effectively utilize information systems do more. Using technology to
manage and improve processes, both within a company and externally with suppliers and
customers, is the ultimate goal. Technology buzzwords such as “business process
reengineering,” “business process management,” and “enterprise resource planning” all have
to do with the continued improvement of these business procedures and the integration of
technology with them. Businesses hoping to gain an advantage over their competitors are
highly focused on this component of information systems.

THE ROLE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Now that we have explored the different components of information systems, we

need to turn our attention to the role that information systems play in an organization. So
far we have looked at what the components of an information system are, but what do these
components actually do for an organization? From our definitions above, we see that these
components collect, store, organize, and distribute data throughout the organization. In fact,
we might say that one of the roles of information systems is to take data and turn it into
information, and then transform that into organizational knowledge. As technology has
developed, this role has evolved into the backbone of the organization. To get a full
appreciation of the role information systems play, we will review how they have changed
over the years.

THE MAINFRAME ERA

From the late 1950s through the 1960s, computers were seen as a way to more efficiently do
calculations. These first business computers were room-sized monsters, with several
refrigerator-sized machines linked together. The primary work of these devices was to
organize and store large volumes of information that were tedious to manage by hand. Only
large businesses, universities, and government agencies could afford them, and they took a
crew of specialized personnel and specialized facilities to maintain. These devices served
dozens to hundreds of users at a time through a process called time-sharing. Typical
functions included scientific calculations and accounting, under the broader umbrella of
“data processing.”

In the late 1960s, the Manufacturing Resources Planning (MRP) systems were introduced.
PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA
(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection Page 4
MODULE 2
This software, running on a mainframe computer, gave companies the ability to manage the
manufacturing process, making it more efficient. From tracking inventory to creating bills of
materials to scheduling production, the MRP systems (and later the MRP II systems) gave
more businesses a reason to want to integrate computing into their processes. IBM became
the dominant mainframe company. Nicknamed “Big Blue,” the company became
synonymous with business computing. Continued improvement in software and the
availability of cheaper hardware eventually brought mainframe computers (and their little
sibling, the minicomputer) into most large businesses.

THE PC REVOLUTION

In 1975, the first microcomputer was announced on the cover of Popular Mechanics:
the Altair 8800. Its immediate popularity sparked the imagination of entrepreneurs
everywhere, and there were quickly dozens of companies making these “personal
computers.” Though at first just a niche product for computer hobbyists, improvements in
usability and the availability of practical software led to growing sales. The most prominent
of these early personal computer makers was a little company known as Apple Computer,
headed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, with the hugely successful “Apple II.” Not wanting
to be left out of the revolution, in 1981 IBM (teaming with a little company called Microsoft
for their operating-system software) hurriedly released their own version of the personal
computer, simply called the “PC.” Businesses, who had used IBM mainframes for years to
run their businesses, finally had the permission they needed to bring personal computers
into their companies, and the IBM PC took off. The IBM PC was named Time magazine’s
“Man of the Year” for 1982.

Because of the IBM PC’s open architecture, it was easy for other companies to copy, or
“clone” it. During the 1980s, many new computer companies sprang up, offering less
expensive versions of the PC. This drove prices down and spurred innovation. Microsoft
developed its Windows operating system and made the PC even easier to use. Common uses
for the PC during this period included word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. These
early PCs were not connected to any sort of network; for the most part they stood alone as
islands of innovation within the larger organization.

CLIENT-SERVER

In the mid-1980s, businesses began to see the need to connect their computers
together as a way to collaborate and share resources. This networking architecture was
referred to as “client-server” because users would log in to the local area network (LAN)
from their PC (the “client”) by connecting to a powerful computer called a “server,” which
would then grant them rights to different resources on the network (such as shared file areas
and a printer). Software companies began developing applications that allowed multiple
users to access the same data at the same time. This evolved into software applications for
communicating, with the first real popular use of electronic mail appearing at this time.

THE POST-PC WORLD

PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA

(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection Page 5
MODULE 2
 After thirty years as the primary computing device used in most businesses, sales of
the PC are now beginning to decline as sales of tablets and smartphones are taking off. Just
as the mainframe before it, the PC will continue to play a key role in business, but will no
longer be the primary way that people interact and do business. The limited storage and
processing power of these devices is being offset by a move to “cloud” computing, which
allows for storage, sharing, and backup of information on a massive scale. This will require
new rounds of thinking and innovation on the part of businesses as technology continues to
advance.

Digital Devices
Information system is made up of five components: hardware, software, data, people,
and process. The physical parts of computing devices – those that you can actually touch –
are referred to as hardware.

computer hardware encompasses digital devices that you can physically touch. This includes
devices such as the following:

 desktop computers
 laptop computers
 mobile phones
 tablet computers
 e-readers
 storage devices, such as flash drives
 input devices, such as keyboards, mice, and scanners
 output devices such as printers and speakers.

Besides these more traditional computer hardware devices, many items that were once
not considered digital devices are now becoming computerized themselves. Digital
technologies are now being integrated into many everyday objects, so the days of a device
being labeled categorically as computer hardware may be ending. Examples of these types of
digital devices include automobiles, refrigerators, and even soft-drink dispensers.

DIGITAL DEVICES
A digital device processes electronic signals that represent either a one (“on”) or a
zero (“off”). The on state is represented by the presence of an electronic signal; the off state
is represented by the absence of an electronic signal. Each one or zero is referred to as a bit
(a contraction of binary digit); a group of eight bits is a byte. The first personal computers
could process 8 bits of data at once; modern PCs can now process 64 bits of data at a time,
which is where the term 64-bit processor comes from.

PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA

(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection Page 6
MODULE 2
Computing Devices
TOUR OF A PC
All personal computers consist of the same basic components: a CPU, memory, circuit
board, storage, and input/output devices. It also turns out that almost every digital device
uses the same set of components, so examining the personal computer will give us insight
into the structure of a variety of digital devices. So let’s take a “tour” of a personal computer
and see what makes them function.

PROCESSING DATA: THE CPU

As stated above, most computing devices have a similar architecture. The core of this
architecture is the central processing unit, or CPU. The CPU can be thought of as the
“brains” of the device. The CPU carries out the commands sent to it by the software and
returns results to be acted upon.

The earliest CPUs were large circuit boards with limited functionality. Today, a CPU is
generally on one chip and can perform a large variety of functions. There are two primary
manufacturers of CPUs for personal computers: Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).

The speed (“clock time”) of a CPU is measured in hertz. A hertz is defined as one cycle per
second. Using the binary prefixes mentioned above, we can see that a kilohertz (abbreviated
kHz) is one thousand cycles per second, a megahertz (mHz) is one million cycles per second,
and a gigahertz (gHz) is one billion cycles per second. The CPU’s processing power is
increasing at an amazing rate (see the sidebar about Moore’s Law). Besides a faster clock
time, many CPU chips now contain multiple processors per chip. These chips, known as
dual-core (two processors) or quad-core (four processors), increase the processing power of
a computer by providing the capability of multiple CPUs.

MOTHERBOARD

The motherboard is the main circuit board on the computer. The CPU, memory, and storage
components, among other things, all connect into the motherboard. Motherboards come in
different shapes and sizes, depending upon how compact or expandable the computer is
designed to be. Most modern motherboards have many integrated components, such as
video and sound processing, which used to require separate components.

The motherboard provides much of the bus of the computer (the term bus refers to the
electrical connection between different computer components). The bus is an important
determiner of the computer’s speed: the combination of how fast the bus can transfer data
and the number of data bits that can be moved at one time determine the speed.

PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA

(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection Page 7
MODULE 2
RANDOM-ACCESS MEMORY

When a computer starts up, it begins to load information from the hard disk into its working
memory. This working memory, called random-access memory (RAM), can transfer data
much faster than the hard disk. Any program that you are running on the computer is loaded
into RAM for processing. In order for a computer to work effectively, some minimal amount
of RAM must be installed. In most cases, adding more RAM will allow the computer to run
faster. Another characteristic of RAM is that it is “volatile.” This means that it can store data
as long as it is receiving power; when the computer is turned off, any data stored in RAM is
lost.

RAM is generally installed in a personal computer through the use of a dual-inline memory
module (DIMM). The type of DIMM accepted into a computer is dependent upon the
motherboard. As described by Moore’s Law, the amount of memory and speeds of DIMMs
have increased dramatically over the years.

HARD DISK

While the RAM is used as working memory, the computer also needs a place to store data for
the longer term. Most of today’s personal computers use a hard disk for long-term data
storage. A hard disk is where data is stored when the computer is turned off and where it is
retrieved from when the computer is turned on. Why is it called a hard disk? A hard disk
consists of a stack of disks inside a hard metal case. A floppy disk (discussed below) was a
removable disk that, in some cases at least, was flexible, or “floppy.”

SOLID-STATE DRIVES

A relatively new component becoming more common in some personal computers is the
solid-state drive (SSD). The SSD performs the same function as a hard disk: long-term
storage. Instead of spinning disks, the SSD uses flash memory, which is much faster.

Solid-state drives are currently quite a bit more expensive than hard disks. However, the use
of flash memory instead of disks makes them much lighter and faster than hard disks. SSDs
are primarily utilized in portable computers, making them lighter and more efficient. Some
computers combine the two storage technologies, using the SSD for the most accessed data
(such as the operating system) while using the hard disk for data that is accessed less
frequently. As with any technology, Moore’s Law is driving up capacity and speed and
lowering prices of solid-state drives, which will allow them to proliferate in the years to
come.

REMOVABLE MEDIA

Besides fixed storage components, removable storage media are also used in most personal
computers. Removable media allows you to take your data with you. And just as with all
other digital technologies, these media have gotten smaller and more powerful as the years
have gone by. Early computers used floppy disks, which could be inserted into a disk drive in
the computer. Data was stored on a magnetic disk inside an enclosure. These disks ranged
PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA
(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection Page 8
MODULE 2
from 8″ in the earliest days down to 3 1/2″.

Around the turn of the century, a new portable storage technology was being developed: the
USB flash drive .This device attaches to the universal serial bus (USB) connector, which
became standard on all personal computers beginning in the late 1990s. As with all other
storage media, flash drive storage capacity has skyrocketed over the years, from initial
capacities of eight megabytes to current capacities of 64 gigabytes and still growing.

NETWORK CONNECTION

When personal computers were first developed, they were stand-alone units, which meant
that data was brought into the computer or removed from the computer via removable
media, such as the floppy disk. Beginning in the mid-1980s, however, organizations began to
see the value in connecting computers together via a digital network. Because of this,
personal computers needed the ability to connect to these networks. Initially, this was done
by adding an expansion card to the computer that enabled the network connection, but by
the mid-1990s, a network port was standard on most personal computers. As wireless
technologies began to dominate in the early 2000s, many personal computers also began
including wireless networking capabilities.

INPUT AND OUTPUT

In order for a personal computer to be useful, it must have channels for receiving input from
the user and channels for delivering output to the user. These input and output devices
connect to the computer via various connection ports, which generally are part of the
motherboard and are accessible outside the computer case. In early personal computers,
specific ports were designed for each type of output device. The configuration of these ports
has evolved over the years, becoming more and more standardized over time. Today, almost
all devices plug into a computer through the use of a USB port. This port type, first
introduced in 1996, has increased in its capabilities, both in its data transfer rate and power
supplied.

Bluetooth

Besides USB, some input and output devices connect to the computer via a wireless-
technology standard called Bluetooth. Bluetooth was first invented in the 1990s and
exchanges data over short distances using radio waves. Bluetooth generally has a range of
100 to 150 feet. For devices to communicate via Bluetooth, both the personal computer and
the connecting device must have a Bluetooth communication chip installed.

Input Devices

All personal computers need components that allow the user to input data. Early computers
used simply a keyboard to allow the user to enter data or select an item from a menu to run a
program. With the advent of the graphical user interface, the mouse became a standard

PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA

(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection Page 9
MODULE 2
component of a computer. These two components are still the primary input devices to a
personal computer, though variations of each have been introduced with varying levels of
success over the years. For example, many new devices now use a touch screen as the
primary way of entering data.

Besides the keyboard and mouse, additional input devices are becoming more common.
Scanners allow users to input documents into a computer, either as images or as text.
Microphones can be used to record audio or give voice commands. Webcams and other types
of video cameras can be used to record video or participate in a video chat session.

Output Devices

Output devices are essential as well. The most obvious output device is a display, visually
representing the state of the computer. In some cases, a personal computer can support
multiple displays or be connected to larger-format displays such as a projector or large-
screen television. Besides displays, other output devices include speakers for audio output
and printers for printed output.

OTHER COMPUTING DEVICES

A personal computer is designed to be a general-purpose device. That is, it can be used to

solve many different types of problems. As the technologies of the personal computer have
become more commonplace, many of the components have been integrated into other
devices that previously were purely mechanical. We have also seen an evolution in what
defines a computer. Ever since the invention of the personal computer, users have clamored
for a way to carry them around. Here we will examine several types of devices that represent
the latest trends in personal computing.

PORTABLE COMPUTERS

In 1983, Compaq Computer Corporation developed the first commercially successful

portable personal computer. By today’s standards, the Compaq PC was not very portable:
weighing in at 28 pounds, this computer was portable only in the most literal sense – it
could be carried around. But this was no laptop; the computer was designed like a suitcase,
to be lugged around and laid on its side to be used. Besides portability, the Compaq was
successful because it was fully compatible with the software being run by the IBM PC, which
was the standard for business.

In the years that followed, portable computing continued to improve, giving us laptop and
notebook computers. The “luggable” computer has given way to a much lighter clamshell
computer that weighs from 4 to 6 pounds and runs on batteries. In fact, the most recent
advances in technology give us a new class of laptop that is quickly becoming the standard:
these laptops are extremely light and portable and use less power than their larger
counterparts. The MacBook Air is a good example of this: it weighs less than three pounds
and is only 0.68 inches thick!

PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA

(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection Page 10
MODULE 2
Finally, as more and more organizations and individuals are moving much of their
computing to the Internet, laptops are being developed that use “the cloud” for all of their
data and application storage. These laptops are also extremely light because they have no
need of a hard disk at all! A good example of this type of laptop (sometimes called a netbook)
is Samsung’s Chromebook.

SMARTPHONES

The first modern-day mobile phone was invented in 1973. Resembling a brick and weighing
in at two pounds, it was priced out of reach for most consumers at nearly four thousand
dollars. Since then, mobile phones have become smaller and less expensive; today mobile
phones are a modern convenience available to all levels of society. As mobile phones
evolved, they became more like small computers. These smartphones have many of the same
characteristics as a personal computer, such as an operating system and memory. The first
smartphone was the IBM Simon, introduced in 1994.

In January of 2007, Apple introduced the iPhone. Its ease of use and intuitive interface
made it an immediate success and solidified the future of smartphones. Running on an
operating system called iOS, the iPhone was really a small computer with a touch-screen
interface. In 2008, the first Android phone was released, with similar functionality.

TABLET COMPUTERS

A tablet computer is one that uses a touch screen as its primary input and is small enough
and light enough to be carried around easily. They generally have no keyboard and are self-
contained inside a rectangular case. The first tablet computers appeared in the early 2000s
and used an attached pen as a writing device for input. These tablets ranged in size from
small personal digital assistants (PDAs), which were handheld, to full-sized, 14-inch devices.
Most early tablets used a version of an existing computer operating system, such as
Windows or Linux.

These early tablet devices were, for the most part, commercial failures. In January, 2010,
Apple introduced the iPad, which ushered in a new era of tablet computing. Instead of a pen,
the iPad used the finger as the primary input device. Instead of using the operating system of
their desktop and laptop computers, Apple chose to use iOS, the operating system of the
iPhone. Because the iPad had a user interface that was the same as the iPhone, consumers
felt comfortable and sales took off. The iPad has set the standard for tablet computing. After
the success of the iPad, computer manufacturers began to develop new tablets that utilized
operating systems that were designed for mobile devices, such as Android.

THE RISE OF MOBILE COMPUTING

PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA

(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection Page 11
MODULE 2
 Mobile computing is having a huge impact on the business world today. The use of
smartphones and tablet computers is rising at double-digit rates each year. The Gartner
Group, in a report issued in April, 2013, estimates that over 1.7 million mobile phones will
ship in the US in 2013 as compared to just over 340,000 personal computers. Over half of
these mobile phones are smartphones.[5] Almost 200,000 tablet computers are predicted to
ship in 2013. According to the report, PC shipments will continue to decline as phone and
tablet shipments continue to increase. [6]

INTEGRATED COMPUTING

Along with advances in computers themselves, computing technology is being integrated

into many everyday products. From automobiles to refrigerators to airplanes, computing
technology is enhancing what these devices can do and is adding capabilities that would
have been considered science fiction just a few years ago. Here are two of the latest ways that
computing technologies are being integrated into everyday products:

 The Smart House

 The Self-Driving Car

The Commoditization of the Personal Computer

Over the past thirty years, as the personal computer has gone from technical marvel
to part of our everyday lives, it has also become a commodity. The PC has become a
commodity in the sense that there is very little differentiation between computers, and the
primary factor that controls their sale is their price. Hundreds of manufacturers all over the
world now create parts for personal computers. Dozens of companies buy these parts and
assemble the computers. As commodities, there are essentially no differences between
computers made by these different companies. Profit margins for personal computers are
razor-thin, leading hardware developers to find the lowest-cost manufacturing.

There is one brand of computer for which this is not the case – Apple. Because Apple does
not make computers that run on the same open standards as other manufacturers, they can
make a unique product that no one can easily copy. By creating what many consider to be a
superior product, Apple can charge more for their computers than other manufacturers. Just
as with the iPad and iPhone, Apple has chosen a strategy of differentiation, which, at least at
this time, seems to be paying off.

THE PROBLEM OF ELECTRONIC WASTE

Personal computers have been around for over thirty-five years. Millions of them
have been used and discarded. Mobile phones are now available in even the remotest parts
of the world and, after a few years of use, they are discarded. Where does this electronic
debris end up?

PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA

(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection Page 12
MODULE 2
Often, it gets routed to any country that will accept it. Many times, it ends up in dumps in
developing nations. These dumps are beginning to be seen as health hazards for those living
near them. Though many manufacturers have made strides in using materials that can be
recycled, electronic waste is a problem with which we must all deal.

SUMMARY

Information systems hardware consists of the components of digital technology that

you can touch. We reviewed the components that make up a personal computer, with the
understanding that the configuration of a personal computer is very similar to that of any
type of digital computing device. A personal computer is made up of many components,
most importantly the CPU, motherboard, RAM, hard disk, removable media, and
input/output devices. We also reviewed some variations on the personal computer, such as
the tablet computer and the smartphone. In accordance with Moore’s Law, these
technologies have improved quickly over the years, making today’s computing devices much
more powerful than devices just a few years ago. Finally, we discussed two of the
consequences of this evolution: the commoditization of the personal computer and the
problem of electronic waste.

TYPES OF SOFTWARE

Software can be broadly divided into two categories: operating systems and
application software. Operating systems manage the hardware and create the interface
between the hardware and the user. Application software is the category of programs that
do something useful for the user.

OPERATING SYSTEMS

The operating system provides several essential functions, including:

1. managing the hardware resources of the computer;

2. providing the user-interface components;
3. providing a platform for software developers to write applications.

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

The second major category of software is application software. Application software

is, essentially, software that allows the user to accomplish some goal or purpose. For
example, if you have to write a paper, you might use the application-software program
Microsoft Word. If you want to listen to music, you might use iTunes. To surf the web, you
might use Internet Explorer or Firefox. Even a computer game could be considered
application software.

PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA

(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection Page 13
MODULE 2
Activity No. 1

Test I. Identification (1 point each)

1. The CPU can also be thought of as the _____________ of the computer.

2. What is the bus of a computer?
3. It can store data as long as it is receiving power; when the computer is turned off, any
data stored in RAM is lost.
4. carries out the commands sent to it by the software and returns results to be acted
upon.
5. What are the basic components of a personal computer?

Activity No. 2

Test II. Essay

Directions: Explain the following statement. (5-10 points) (rubrics: see attached sheet)

Answers must be logical, concise and direct to the point (5-10 points)
1. Explain why the personal computer is now considered a commodity.
2. If you could build your own personal computer, what components would you
purchase? Put together a list of the components you would use to create it, including
a computer case, motherboard, CPU, hard disk, RAM, and DVD drive. How can you
be sure they are all compatible with each other? How much would it cost? How does
this compare to a similar computer purchased from a vendor such as Dell or HP?
3. What is the primary purpose of a computer?
4. What is the useful of computer in daily lives? Explain how can it relate to Law
Enforcement.

PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA

(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection Page 14
MODULE 2
 Rubrics for Short Essay Questions
Criteria 5 %

Criteria Unsatisfactory Needs Satisfactory Outstanding

0 pts Improvement 3 pts 5 pts
2 pts

Focus/ Main The essay poorly The essay is The essay is The essay is
Point addresses topic focused on topic focused on the focused,
and includes and includes topic and purposeful, and
irrelevant ideas few loosely includes reflects clear
related ideas relevant ideas insight and
ideas

Originality No Very little Sufficient Distinctive

(Expression experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation
of the theme nor to enhance with language with language
in a creative enhancement of concepts and usage to and usage to
way) concepts enhance enhance
concepts concepts

Organization Organization Structure of the Structure is

& Structure and structure paper is not mostly clear and -Structure of the
detract from the easy to follow. easy to follow. paper is clear
message. - Transitions - Transitions are and easy to
- Writing is need present. follow.
disjointed and improvement. - Conclusion is - Transitions are
lacks transition - Conclusion is logical. logical and
of thoughts. missing, or if maintain the
provided, does flow of thought
not flow from throughout the
the body of the paper.
paper. - Conclusion is
logical and
flows from the
body of the
paper.

Prepared by:

PCpl PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA

Instructor

PAUL ALVIN M. CATALOCTOCAN, MPA

(CDI 9) Intro to Cyber Crime & Environmental Laws and Protection Page 15
MODULE 2