C1: Introduction to the World of Computers for decision-making, productivity, and communication

– By all types of employees

• Why learn about computers?
– For access control and other security measures
– Pervasive computing
– For service professional use
• Also known as ubiquitous computing
– Extensively by the military
• Computers have become an integral part of our lives
– Requires continually refreshing computer skills
– Basic computer literacy
– Common uses:
• Understanding what a computer is and how it works
– Decision making, productivity, off-site
• Before 1980
communications, and authentication
– Computers were large and expensive
• Computers are encountered in nearly every aspect of
– Very few people had access to them
daily life
– Computers were mostly used for high-volume
– Consumer kiosks
processing tasks
– ATM transactions
• Microcomputers in the early 1980s
– POS systems at retail stores
– Inexpensive personal computers
– Self-checkout systems
– Computer use increased dramatically
– Consumer authentication systems
• Today
– Portable computers or mobile devices
– Nearly 90% of US households include a computer,
– GPS systems
and most use computers at work
Technology and You Box Restaurant iPad Ordering
– Electronic devices are converging into single units
Systems
with multiple capabilities
– Used in conjunction with e-menus
• Check e-mail on living room television
– Customers can place and pay for orders
• View Internet content on mobile devices
– Can provide more resources to customers
– Computer literacy is an essential skill for everyone
What Is a Computer and What Does It Do?
• Computers used for a variety of tasks:
• Computer
– Looking up information and news
– A programmable, electronic device that accepts data,
– Exchanging e-mail
performs operations on that data, and stores the data
– Shopping and paying bills
– Follows instructions, called programs, which
– Watching TV and videos
determine the tasks the computer will perform
– Downloading music and movies
• Basic Operations
– Organizing digital photographs
– Input: Entering data into the computer
– Playing games
– Processing: Performing operations on the data
– Making vacation plans
– Output: Presenting the results
• Used for reference, productivity, and entertainment
– Storage: Saving data, programs, or output for future
• Wireless networking
use
– Computers can be used in nearly any location
– Communications: Sending or receiving data
• Smart appliances
• Data
– Traditional appliances with built-in computer or
– Raw, unorganized facts
communication technology
– Can be in the form of text, graphics, audio, or video
• Smart homes
• Information
– Household tasks are monitored and controlled by a
– Data that has been processed into a meaningful form
main computer in the house
• Information Processing
• Youth today: the computing generation
– Converting data into information
• Computer labs and classrooms
• The computer as we know it is a fairly recent
– Most students today have access to computers at
invention
school
• The history of computers is often referred to in terms
– Some schools integrate e-books into the curriculum
of generations
• Wireless hotspots
• Each new generation is characterized by a major
– Colleges and universities are even more integrated
technological development
– Some have computer requirements for enrollment
• Pre-computers and early computers (before approx.
• Supplied or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
1946)
• Distance learning
– Abacus, slide rule, mechanical calculator
– Students participate from locations other than the
– Punch Card Tabulating Machine and Sorter
traditional classroom setting using computers and
• First-generation computers (1946-1957)
Internet access
– Enormous and powered by vacuum tubes
• Computers have become a universal on-the-job tool
– Used a great deal of electricity and generated a lot of – Start button, Start screen, tiles, charms, etc.
heat • Application Software
– ENIAC and UNIVAC – Performs specific tasks or applications
• Second-generation computers (1958-1963) • Creating letters, budgets, etc.
– Used transistors • Managing inventory and customer databases
– Computers were smaller, more powerful, cheaper, • Editing photographs
more energy-efficient, and more reliable • Scheduling appointments
– Punch cards and magnetic tape were used to input • Viewing Web pages
and store data • Exchanging e-mail
• Fifth-generation (now and the future) • Burning DVDs
– Infancy stage • Designing homes
– May be based on artificial intelligence (AI) • Playing games
– Will likely use voice and touch input Application Software
– May be based on optical computers and utilize • Examples of application software
nanotechnology – Word processing programs
• Hardware: The physical parts of a computer – Multimedia programs
– Internal hardware – Web browsers
• Located inside the main box (system unit) of the – E-mail programs
computer • Computer Users (end users)
– External hardware – People who use a computer to obtain information
• Located outside the system unit • Computer professionals include:
• Connect to the computer via a wired or wireless – Programmers
connection • Write programs computers use
– Hardware devices are associated with all five – Systems analysts
• Input Devices • Design computer systems
– Used to input data into the computer – Computer operations personnel
– Keyboards, mice, scanners, cameras, microphones, • Manage day-to-day computer operations
touch pads, touch screens, fingerprint readers, etc. – Security specialists
• Processing Devices • Secure computers and networks against hackers.
– Perform calculations and control computer’s
operation
– Central processing unit (CPU) and memory
• Output Devices
– Present results to the user
– Monitors, printers, speakers, projectors, etc.
• Storage Devices
– Used to store data on or access data from storage
media
– Hard drives, CD/DVD discs and drives, USB flash
drives, etc.
• Communications Devices
– Allow users to communicate with others and to
electronically access remote information
– Modems, network adapters, routers, etc.
• Software
– The programs or instructions used to tell the C2: The Systems Unit: Processing and Memory
computer hardware what to do
• System Software • Digital Data Representation
– Operating system starts up the computer and controls – Coding Systems
its operation • Used to represent data and programs in a manner
– Without OS, computer cannot function understood by the computer
– Boots the computer and launches programs at the – Digital Computers
user’s direction • Can only understand two states, off and on (0 and 1)
– Most use a GUI to interact with the user via icons, – Digital Data Representation
buttons, tiles, etc. • The process of representing data in digital form so it
• Windows 8 interface can be understood by a computer
– Bit • Hard drive, CD/DVD drive, flash memory card
• The smallest unit of data that a binary computer can reader
recognize (a single 1 or 0) • Connected to the motherboard with a cable
– Byte = 8 bits • Processors
• Byte terminology used to express the size of – The CPU (Central Processing Unit)
documents and other files, programs, etc. • Circuitry and components packaged together and
– Prefixes are often used to express larger quantities of connected directly to the motherboard
bytes: kilobyte (KB), megabyte (MB), gigabyte (GB), • Does the vast majority of processing for a computer
terabyte (TB), petabyte (PB), exabyte (EB), zettabyte • Also called a processor; called a microprocessor
(ZB), yottabyte (YB). when talking about personal computers
• Audio Data • Memory
– Must be in digital form in order to be stored on – Refers to chip-based storage located inside the
or processed by a computer system unit
– Often compressed when sent over the Internet – Storage refers to the amount of long-term storage
• MP3 files are 10 times smaller than their available to a computer
uncompressed digital versions – Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Download more quickly and take up less storage • Computer’s main memory
space • Consists of chips arranged on a circuit board called
• Video Data a memory module which are plugged into the
– Displayed using a collection of frames, each frame motherboard
contains a still image • Stores essential parts of operating system, programs,
– Amount of data can be substantial, but can be and data the computer is currently using
compressed • Volatile
• System Unit – RAM content lost when the computer is shut off
– The main case of a computer – ROM and flash memory are non-volatile
– Houses the processing hardware for a computer • Measured in bytes
– Also contains storage devices, the power supply, and – Amount installed depends on the CPU and
cooling fans operating system being used
– Houses processor, memory, interfaces to connect to – Flash Memory
peripheral devices (printers, etc), and other • Nonvolatile memory chips that can be used for
components storage
– With a desktop computer, usually looks like a • Have begun to replace ROM for storing
rectangular box system information
• The Motherboard • Now stores firmware for personal computers and
– Computer Chip other devices
• Very small pieces of silicon or other semi-conducting • Built into many types of devices (media tablets,
material onto which integrated circuits are embedded mobile phones, and digital cameras) for user storage
– Circuit Board • Fans
• A thin board containing computer chips and other – Fans used on most personal computers to help cool
electronic components the CPU and system unit
– System Board – Heat is an ongoing problem for CPU and computer
• The main circuit board inside the system unit to manufacturers
which all devices must connect • Can damage components
• External devices (monitors, keyboards, mice, • Cooler chips run faster
printers) • Heat Sinks
• Wireless devices (e.g., Bluetooth) – Small components typically made out of aluminum
• Power Supply with fins that help to dissipate heat
– Connects to the motherboard to deliver electricity • Cooling Systems
(personal computer) – Liquid cooling systems
– Portable computers use rechargeable battery pack • Cool the computer with liquid-filled tubes
• Nonremovable batteries more difficult and expensive – Immersion cooling
to replace • Hardware is actually submerged into units filled with
• Drive Bays a liquid cooling solution
– Rectangular metal racks inside the system unit that – Notebook cooling stand
house storage devices • Cools the underside of a notebook computer
– Other cooling methods, such as ion pump cooling
systems, are under development
• Expansion Slots, Expansion Cards, and Express Card
Modules
– Expansion Slot
• A location on the motherboard into which expansion
cards are inserted
– Expansion Card
• A circuit board inserted into an expansion slot
• Used to add additional functionality or to attach a
peripheral device
– Express Card Modules
• Designed to add additional functionality to notebooks
• Port
– A connector on the exterior of a computer’s system
unit to which a device may be attached
– Typical desktop computer ports include:
• Power connector, Firewire, VGA monitor, Network,
USB, Audio, and HDMI
– Others include IrDA and Bluetooth ports, eSATA
ports, Thunderbolt ports (Apple devices)
– Most computers support the Plug and Play standard
Ports and Connectors
– Portable computers have ports similar to
desktop computers, but often not as many
– Smartphones and mobile devices have more limited
expansion capabilities
• Usually have a USB port, HDMI port, and/or
flash memory card slot
• Flash memory cards often use the Secure Digital
(SD) format
• Mini SD and microSD cars are smaller than regular
SD
cards