Unit 2

Computers in Our Daily Life

Johnson M A. Blanco
Objectives:
1. familiarize themselves with the computer number systems;
2. discuss the role of the ASCII code in computer systems and
explain how computers use it;
3. examine how a computer’s system bus works;
4. identify the different computer network systems and the
wired and wireless connections;
5. distinguish between system software and application
software;
6. compare and contrast a desktop app and a mobile app in
terms of content, layout, and design; and
7. explain the impact of computers on daily life.
How Computers Work

Basic parts of a computer The computer can understand

machine language.
 Decimal Binary Octal Hexadecimal
Computer Number Systems 0 0000 000 0
1 0001 001 1
Decimal number system 2 0010 002 2
• human use in counting, measuring, and 3 0011 003 3

computing 4 0100 004 4

5 0101 005 5
• has ten digits, such as 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, and 9
6 0110 006 6
Binary number system, 7 0111 007 7
• way computers communicate with one another 8 1000 010 8
9 1001 011 9
• prefix bi, means 2
10 1010 012 A
Octal number system 11 1011 013 B
• prefix octa, meaning it uses 8 digits 12 1100 014 C
13 1101 015 D
Hexadecimal number system
14 1110 016 E
• Hexa means 6; Deci means 10; 15 1111 017 F
• Uses 16 digits to represent its values
Table 2.1
Equivalent Number System Values
 American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII)

Dec Hx Oct Chr Dec Hx Oct Chr Dec Hx Oct Chr Dec Hx Oct Chr
48 30 060 0 63 3F 077 ? 79 4F 117 O
32 20 040 Space
49 31 061 1 64 40 100 @ 80 50 120 P
33 21 041 !
50 32 062 2 65 41 101 A 81 51 121 Q
34 22 042 “
51 33 063 3 66 42 102 B 82 52 122 R
35 23 043 #
52 34 064 4 67 43 103 C 83 53 123 S
36 24 044 $
53 35 065 5 68 44 104 D 84 54 124 T
37 25 045 %
54 36 066 6 69 45 10 E 85 55 125 U
38 26 046 &
55 37 067 7 70 46 106 F 86 56 126 V
39 27 047 ‘
56 38 070 8 71 47 107 G 87 57 127 W
40 28 050 (
57 39 071 9 72 48 110 H 88 58 130 X
41 29 051 )
58 3A 072 : 73 49 111 I 89 59 131 Y
42 2A 052 *
59 3B 073 ; 74 4A 112 J 90 5A 132 Z
43 2B 053 +
60 3C 074 < 75 4B 113 K 91 5B 133 [
44 2C 054 ˈ
61 3D 075 = 76 4C 114 L 92 5C 134 \
45 2D 055 -
62 3E 076 > 77 4D 115 M 93 5D 135 ]
46 2E 056 .
78 4E 116 N 94 5E 136 ^
47 2F 057 /
95 5F 137 _
 How Computers Interpret Data
Dec Hx Oct Chr Dec Hx Oct Chr
96 60 140 ˋ 112 70 160 p
97 61 141 a 113 71 161 q
98 62 142 b
❑ Computer programmers create
114 72 162 r
99 63 143 c 115 73 163 s
programs so that computers can do 100 64 144 d 116 74 164 t
specific tasks. 101 65 145 e 117 75 165 u
102 66 146 f 118 76 166 v
103 67 147 g 119 77 167 w
❑ People who write programs are 104 68 150 h 120 78 170 x
programmers. 105 69 151 i 121 79 171 y
106 6A 152 j 122 7A 172 z
107 6B 153 k 123 7B 173 {
❑ Another term used for a program is 108 6C 154 l 124 7C 174 |
codes. Writing programs is called 109 6D 155 m 125 7D 175 }
programming or coding. 110 6E 156 n 126 7E 176 ̴
111 6F 157 o 127 7F 177 DEL
105 69 151 i
106 6A 152 j
How Computers Communicate With Others

System Bus

• how a computer system, on its own,

communicates

• pathway composed of cables and

connectors used to carry data from a
computer's peripheral devices -- monitor,
keyboard, mouse, etc.- to the CPU and
main memory

• consist of three types of buses: the data

bus, address bus, and control bus
Data Bus
It is a communication route through which
data can travel between the computer’s
CPU, memory, and peripherals.

Purpose:

Data can travel through the data bus

between the computer’s CPU, memory, and
peripherals.

Working example:
The number of wires determines the speed of
data traveling. Each wire transmits a single
bit at a time. So 8 bits bus can transfer 8 bits
at a time.
Control Bus
It is the physical connection between CPU
and other devices with the computer.

Purpose:
It carries the control information between
the CPU and other devices within the
computer.

Working example:
One line of the bus is used to indicate
whether the CPU is currently reading from
or writing to the main memory.
Address Bus
• It is the physical connection between CPU and other
devices with the computer.

Purpose:
• It is used to identify particular locations in the main
memory where data is stored.

Working example:
• The number of bits in the address bus can determine
the amount of memory, the CPU can address.in
modern PCs, there are 36 address lines to access the
64 GB of main memory theoretically.
 How Computers Connect to Other Computers
Personal area network (PAN)
limited to an individual person and his or her personal devices.
devices must be within the range of 10 meters with each other.
Local area network (LAN)
group of computers and other devices, such as network printers,
share a common communications line within a certain area such
as a building or a small campus
Wide area network (WAN)
less restrictive than LAN as rules and policies may differ within its
coverage.
made of several LANs and PANs. A WAN can also be made up of
several more WANs
is considered synonymous to the internet.
Methods of Wired communication
Communication Uses different types of cables are used to connect to
a given network.
• coaxial cables,
• fiber-optic cables,
• Ethernet cables, and
• traditional telephone lines.

Wireless communication
• include microwave communications transmission,
satellite communication, cellular transmission and
radio transmission such as Wi-Fi connectivity.
• Wireless technologies (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi)
• 802.11 for Wi-Fi and 802.15 for Bluetooth
 Popular Wired communication

USB FireWire
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a connection or Interface that allows the computer It is a type of connector that can transmit data to and from devices which
too communicate with system peripherals such as keyboard, mouse, printer, have typical high data rates, such as external hard drives. The transfer speed of
etc. as well as other devices like digital cameras and portable fans. a FireWire is faster than that of a USB.

Ethernet cable HDMI

An Ethernet cable transmits signals between a computer and network devices High-definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a connector for transmitting
such as a router, switch, or other computers. audio/video data which are compatible to computers, projectors, and digital
televisions.
Wired VGA
Communication • The 15-pin Video Graphics Array (VGA) connector
• VGA has been provided on many video cards,
• Serial computer monitors, laptop computers, and
• Parallel
• Ps/2
projectors.
• Audio • slowly being phased out in favor of the faster and
more compact HDMI connector.
Wired Serial
Communication • An RS-232 serial connection was once a standard
▪ VGA feature of a personal computer used for
▪ Serial connections to modem, printer mouse, and other
▪ Parallel peripheral devices.
▪ Ps/2
▪ Audio • Now, it has been replaced by USB connections.
Wired
Communication Parallel
▪ VGA • Like the serial connection, parallel connections
▪ Serial were used to connect other computer peripherals
▪ Parallel
▪ Ps/2 such as printers
▪ Audio • It has also been replaced since then by the USB
connections.
Wired Ps/2
Communication • The PS/2 is a 6-pin connector used to connect the
▪ VGA mouse and keyboard to a computer is
▪ Serial color-coded to identify which peripheral will be
▪ Parallel connected to which port.
▪ Ps/2
• Purple is for keyboard and green is for the mouse.
▪ Audio
Wired Audio
Communication • The audio jacks are the 3.5 mm jacks used for
microphones (as input), and speakers (as output).
▪ VGA • It uses color codes as well to indicate the type of
▪ Serial input and output lines
▪ Parallel
▪ Ps/2 • Pink: Mic in
▪ Audio • Blue: Line in
• Green Front speakers out
• Black (or dark blue in some older
boards):Rear speakers out
• Orange: Center/subwoofer out
• Gray. Middle speakers out
•These connections are now being replaced by USB
and HDMI connections.
 Wireless Technologies

Wi-Fi Bluetooth
• uses radio waves information to wirelessly • uses radio waves to connect to other devices
transmit a network • connection via Bluetooth is called pairing.
• signals are ransom in frequencies of between 5 Once paired, devices can send and receive
gigahertz (Hz), which are higher than radio and information provided they are within a given
TV signals to avoid interference.
range which is typically 10 meters.
• often used in schools, TV signals to a companies,
and business establishments, among others.
• Used provide network connection to multiple
users without the for cables
• Majority of Wi-Fi users use mobile devices as
tablets, laptops, and smartphones to connect
via an access port or Wi-Fi hotspot.
 How Humans Communicate with Computers

Computer Software/Programs
• combination of instructions, data and programs
that the computer needs in order to do a specific
task
• Programs are a set or instructions which are usually
designed or written by computer programmers
using a specific programming language such as
object-oriented programming which includes
• Microsoft's C# (pronounced as 'see-sharp’),
• Sun Microsystem's Java, and
• an open-source programming language PHP
(hypertext Preprocessor)

• .
 How Humans Communicate with Computers
TWO TYPES OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE

SYSTEM SOFTWARE
• also called an operating system (OS)
• manages the computer's memory and instructions and can control all the connected hardware
and installed software applications
• allows a person to interact with the computer-from the hardware components and peripherals to
all the installed software applications and files one has stored on the computer. The interaction
can occur in two ways:
1) By using a command-line operating system (eg, DOS) in which the computer responds
according to the text command that is typed.
2) With a graphical user interface (GUI) operating system (e.g., Windows) such as pictures and
buttons through mouse clicks and keyboard entries.

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

• most of the day-to-day tasks done in front of a computer involve the use of application programs
• typing a school assignment using Microsoft Word,
• editing a photo using Adobe Photoshop,
• browsing through Facebook using Google Chrome, or
• listening to music using Apple's iTunes).
System platforms
• Desktop systems differ from mobile systems in terms of how each platform
treats the application software installed in the system.
• A desktop or a laptop computer usually needs an application program to run
a certain application on it, or possibly multiple ones at the same time. A typical
example web browser capable of running multiple web sites with different
"applications" all at the same time.
• A web browser is an application software. However, this scenario typically
played within desktop platform.
• Companies that develop smartphones, for example, have identified specific
system software and application software for these mobile devices (Hope,
2017)
• Facebook, YouTube, and Gmail are typical examples of desktop applications
that have mobile counterparts.
System Software

• Two of the most popular desktop system software PERIOD ANDROID IOS WINDOWS OTHERS
or OS nowadays are Microsoft's Windows and PHONE
Apple's macOS.
2016Q1 83.4% 15.4% 0.8% 0.4%
• In mobile devices, Apple uses iOS for their devices'
system software. But while Microsoft is also using 2016Q2 87.6% 11.7% 0.4% 0.3%
Windows for their mobile system, it is not the
leading mobile OS in the world, compared to its
2016Q3 86.6% 12.5% 0.3% 0.4%
desktop counterpart.

• According to the International Data corporation 2016Q4 81.4% 18.2% 0.2% 0.2%
(IDC), the most popular mobile operating system
as of 2016 is Android OS, acquiring 85% of the
2017Q1 85.0% 14.7% 0.1% 0.1%
global market. (IDC,2017).

Smartphone OS Market Share Chart

 Application Software
Table 2.4
Different types of Application Programs

Application Program Type Examples

Word Processing Software Microsoft Word, Word Pad, and Notepad
Database Software Oracle, Microsoft Access, etc.
Spread sheet Software Apple Numbers, Microsoft Excel
Multimedia Software Real Player, Media Player
Presentation Software Microsoft Power point, Keynote
Enterprise Software Customer Relationship Management Systems
Information Worker Software Documentation Tools, Resources Management Tools
Educational Software Dictionaries: Encarta, Britannica
Mathematics: MATLAB
The table identifies the
different types of Others: Google Earth
application programs Simulation Software Flight and Scientific Simulators
and their corresponding Application Suites Open Office, Microsoft Office
software that are Software for Engineering and Integrated Development Environments (IDE)
available in the market. Product Development
 Online Application Software
• application software consists of programs that are
designed to perform specific tasks for users.
• Specific application software products, called software
packages, are available from different vendors.
• Usually these software packages cost money although a
lot of application software is now being made available
for free. Often called shareware, freeware, or
public-domain software, this software can be downloaded
for free but usually with fewer capabilities compared to
the ones sold.
• Online application software in now introduced with the
improved internet speed made available to consumer.
There are various products available including software
tools that were previously identified only as computer
application.
• Office productivity tools such as Microsoft
Office Suite were only available offline, but
now, Microsoft has developed Microsoft Office
365 which has been made available to
students and teachers for free via their Office
365 Education.
• Google introduced its online application
capable of doing the same thing as Microsoft
Office Suite. Google Docs, Google sheets, and
Google Slides are the online counterparts of
MS Word, Excel, and Power point, respectively.
• Other online productivity tools are also available for
organizations, such as data collection and analysis, especially
for those in the marketing industry.
• PCMag.com has listed down those online survey engines for
2017 and analyzed the top contenders. Included in the list are
• Zoho Survey,
• Survey Gizmo,
• Campaign Monitor Get Feedback,
• Checkbox Survey,
• Fluid Surveys,
• Survey Monkey,
• WorldApp Key Survey,
• Outside Software
• eSurveysPro,
• SoGoSurvey, and
• SurveyPlanet.
Tomsguide.com has also listed down several popular applications available in the App Store and
Google Play that can increase productivity, improved efficiency, and provide convenience:

Any do - a scheduler and reminder notification app

Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and Power Point - available for free download in both Android and iOS

WPS Office - another office productivity suite that does the same as Microsoft’s Word, Excel, and
Power Point

Adobe Acrobat Reader - a PDF reader and annotation app which lets you view and sign PDF forms

Microsoft outlook - for reading emails, managing contacts, and calendar

Newton Mail - for accessing all email accounts in one “unified inbox”

Forge - a mobile drawing app that allows the user to create sketches and edit photos
 ▪ People who have no IT background can now create their own blogs and websites
through online tools which provide web hosting and web content management.
▪ Wix.com and WordPress.com are two of the most popular website creation tools
available online. Both tools offer blogging and website content management
system (CMS).

WordPress Wix
Programming language used Uses PHP,HTML ,and CSS Uses HTML5

Development Process Uses web templates and Uses online drag and
template Processors Drop tools

Comparison between WordPress and Wix Application for Web Development

 How Computers Impact Everyday Life

Education
ICT in general has made things convenient and efficient for teachers, students,
researches, and school administrators.

▪ Teachers can do research and enhance their teaching materials, join online
forums and conferences and gain new ideas and learn from the latest
research findings and trends.

▪ Students use computers with internet access as one of their reference tools.
They can communicate and collaborate with their peers while working in
their own homes.

▪ School administrators use computers for administrative work to ensure that

the entire operation of the school runs proficiently. An access to all school
documents is made easy and always available with the use of a so-called
server.

Electronic learning (e learning) is the newest teaching methodology in which students and teachers can communicate and collaborates which
each other through online discussion of their lessons, activities, and examinations. Such examples are Blackboard, Edmodo, Moodle etc.
Banking
❑ The computer has made all banking
transactions around the world easier and more
secure.
❑ It manipulates the entire banking system as it
include 24-hour electronic banking services.
The services include:
o Automated teller machine (ATM)
o Cheque deposit
o Electronic fund transfer
o Direct deposit
o Pay by phone system
o Personal Computer banking/ internet banking
Workforce Industry
• Computers are used to
o expedite productions planning and control system,
o support chain management, and also to
o facilitate product design in the industrial sector.
• Machines that are fully computer operated are now used.
• Researchers use computers to gather and analyze data for
hypothetical reference which administration use computers
to manage the entire operations of the plant or factory on
detect or anticipate explicit errors or deficiencies that
transpire in the process.
• Large industrial companies that implement ICT include
Toyota Philippines, Honda Philippines, and San Miguel
Corporation.
• threat to assembly- line and factory workers as robots or
machine take over their jobs.
Electronic Commerce
▪ helps boost their economy
▪ With computers, internet, and shared software as the main
tools needed, buying and selling activities are made easier,
more efficient, and faster.
▪ Customer, seller, and suppliers all benefit from capabilities of
ICT.
▪ Some of the known e-commerce markets are Zalora, Lazada,
Shopee, Metro deal, Taka tack, Amazon, OLX.ph, Airbnb,
Booking.com, Agoda.com, and many others.
▪ Customers or clients use computers to communicate with
sellers. This method can save time and cost as consumers do
not have to go physically to ant outlets or department stores.
▪ Suppliers, on the other hand, use computers in keeping track
of their transactions which include the monitoring of inventory.
Hospitals
• Hospitals are creating patients’ databases of health record,
treatment records, and medical records.
• Doctors use computers and various medical applicants not
only for research advancement but also for faster diagnosis of
patients’ illnesses.
• Through computing and monitoring technologies, tests
administered in hospitals such as blood test, urine test, brain
testing, ultrasound, echocardiography, complete blood count
(CBC), mammography, bone density study, magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray, and body scanning, among
others are made possible.
• With the development of database and other application,
ICTs prevent medical errors in particular and improve the
efficacy of the health system in general.