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Basic Concepts-Of-Computer

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21 views

Basic Concepts-Of-Computer

Uploaded by

wiwofi3740
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1

BASIC
COMPUTER
CONCEPTS

Updated 8/27/04
2

Hardware vs. Software

 Hardware
» The computer equipment
» Includes printers, monitors, disk drives, etc.
 Software
» Programs which tell the computer what to
do
» Examples - word processing, gradebook,
tutorials, games, etc.
3
4

History of Computers

 Charles Babbage - father of computer


» 1800’s planned analytical engine
 ENIAC - developed at end of WW II
 1951 - 1963 1st and 2nd generation
» very large, used unreliable vacuum tubes
 1963 - present - 3rd and 4th generation
» smaller, faster - use transistors and
integrated circuits
5

History - Microcomputers

 Apple
» First sold in late 1970’s
» Developed by Jobs and Wozniak
 IBM Personal Computers
» First sold in 1981
» Was quickly accepted by businesses
» IBM compatibles soon developed
6

Computer - Social Impact

 Threat to privacy
 Reduce personal interactions
 Displace workers and change workplace
» Create two tiered society
 Computer failures cause great damage
 Artificial Intelligence
» Create a “new life form”
» Machines smarter than their creators
Types of Computers – 7

Personal Computers (PC)

 Also called
Microcomputers
 Available in desktop
size, notebook size and
handheld
 Can be IBM, IBM
Compatible or Apple
Types of Computers - 8

Minicomputers

 Size of filing cabinet


 Used by small and medium size
companies and institutions
 Operated by computer specialist
 Terminals allow many people to use
Types of Computers - 9

Mainframes

 Very powerful
 Very fast
 Used by large corporations and
governmental agencies
 Operated by computer specialist
Types of Computers- 10

Supercomputers

 Most powerful
 Fastest
 Most expensive
» Several million dollars each
 Used only by
» Governmental agencies
» Large international corporations
11

Computer Operations

Input Processing Output

External Storage
12

Input Devices - Keyboard

 Most commonly used input device

 Ergonomic - fit natural hand placement

 Special keys

» Enter, Function, Ctrl, Alt, Num Lock, Esc


13

Input Devices - Mouse

 Controls cursor on
screen

 May be mechanical
or optical

 Most models have a


“wheel” for scrolling
14

Input Devices - Other

 Pointers (replaces mouse on notepads)


» Track point, track ball, touch pad

 Scanner

 Digital camera

 Touch screen

 Voice
15

Output Devices

 Monitor

 Printer

 Disk Drive
» Can also be input device

 Modem
» Can also be input device
16

Monitors

 Made up of tiny
elements called
pixels
 Each row of pixels is
called a scan line
 Picture is displayed
by an electronic
beam lighting up
certain pixels
17

Monitors - Resolution

 Resolution is how sharp and clear the


picture is

 How many scan lines on the screen


– 640 x 480 is low resolution
– 1600 x 1200 is high resolution
18

Monitors - Dot Pitch

 Measures the distance between pixels

 Commonly seen on monitors advertised


» .49 (not very good)
» .28 (much better)
» .26 or lower (excellent)
19

Monitors - Sizes

 Screen measured diagonally


» May also measure actual viewing area
 14” or 15” on bargain systems

 17” has become the standard


 19 and 21” available but are more
expensive.
20

Monitors - LCD

 Liquid Crystal Display


 Similar to digital watch
 Used for notebook computers
» Should be an Active Matrix Screen
 Also used in flat screen monitors
» Much thinner than regular CRT monitor
» More expensive than regular CRT monitor

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