Dr. Awad Khalil Dr.

Mohamed Hussein
Faculty of Computers & Information Technology
Outline
 Preamble
 Learning Objectives
 What is a Computer?
 Information Technology (IT)
 Information System
 Computer Hardware
 Computer Networks/Internet
 Computer Software
 Data Versus Information
 Careers in IT
Preamble
 Welcome to Computer and IT world. In today’s digital
society, computers and technology affect virtually
everyone’s life.
 This course helps prepare you for success
 in a world that is filled with computers. At work, at
school, at home, in stores, and as you travel,
computers help make things run more smoothly.
 In this course, you will learn about the technologies
that drive our computerized society, including the
Internet and local area networks (LANs).
Learning Objectives

 Understand the purpose and elements of information

systems
 Recognize the different types of computers
 Distinguish the main software types
 Identify the components of a computer system
 Understand how computers communicate
What is a Computer ?
 A computer is an electronic device that manipulates
data (quantifiable facts). It has the ability
to store, retrieve, and process data to produce
information.
For What Purpose We Need Information?

 Support Decision Making

 Planning
 Monitoring and Controlling
What That Make Computer so Different?
 Computational Speed: can perform billions of
operations per second (measured as a clock speed,
Ghz)
 Storage: virtually unlimited, measured in GigaBytes,
TeraBytes, … etc.
 Generality: unlimited applications
 Accuracy: very high
 Connectivity: can be connected to other devices
(wired or wireless)
300
 Memory

Aritmatic and logic

unit

Control unit
Information Technology IT
Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to store, retrieve,
transmit, and manipulate data or information. IT is a merging of two
technologies:
 Computing Technology
 Communications Technology

There are many types of IT, hereafter only some of them:

 Information System IS …
 Big Data & Big Data Analytics: the discovery of meaningful information in large data
volumes ...
 Artificial Intelligence. Intelligent software that learns. ...
 Capacity Management. ...
 Configuration Management. ...
 Content Management. ...
 Customer Relationship Management. ...
 Decision Support System. ...
 E-commerce …
 E-government …
 E-learning …
 GIS (Geographical Information System) …
 …
Information System
An information system is a complete interconnected
environment in which raw data - quantifiable facts - is turned
into useful information.
An information system includes the following parts:
◾ People (Users)
◾ Computer(s):
 Hardware
 Software (Programs)
◾ Procedures
◾ Data
 Communications:
 Networking
 Internet
Information System

People
 Technical Staff
 Administrative Staff
 End Users

Procedures
 The rules or guidelines for people to follow when using
software, hardware, and data are procedures.
 These procedures are typically documented in manuals
written by computer specialists.
 Software and hardware manufacturers provide manuals
with their products. These manuals are provided in either
printed or electronic form.
 Memory

Arithmatic
Input and logic output
unit

Control unit

CPU=ALU+CU
Computer Hardware
Computer Hardware compromise all physical components of the
computer, which are:

 CPU - central processing unit: where decisions are made,

computations are performed, and input/output requests are
delegated.
 Main Memory: stores information being processed by the CPU
 Secondary Memory (Mass Storage): stores data and programs
 Input devices: Allow people to supply information to computers
 Output devices: Allow people to receive information from
computers.
 Network connection: Modems, Ethernet interface and Internet
connection.
Computer Hardware
Computer Hardware

CPU (Central Processing Unit), “brains” of the

Computer,
structured as:
 Arithmetic Logical Unit (ALU), performs arithmetic and
logical operations.
 Control Unit (CU): decodes and executes instructions.
 Registers that hold data and instructions for CPU to
process.
Arithmetic and logical operations are performed using
binary number system (only 0’s and 1’s).
Computer Hardware

Microprocessor: A CPU on only one electronic chip

(Integrated Circuit).
Computer Hardware

Memory
 Stores
 programs
 operating system
 applications
 data
 Types
 RAM - volatile
 ROM
 Composed of bits, which are combined into bytes
Memory Cells
Address Contents

0 -27.2
1 354
2 0.005
3 -26
4 H
5 RTV 001
6 ...
... X
999 75.62

19
Computer Hardware

Secondary Storage
 Semi permanent data-storage capability
 Magnetic
 Hard disk
 Floppy disk

 Tape

 Non-magnetic
 CD or DVD

 memory stick, flash drive

 Secondary memory usually has much more storage capacity than

main memory
Computer Hardware
Computer Networks
 Allow multiple computers to connect together to share
resources and/or data
 LAN - Local area network
 Organizational
 WAN - Wide area network
 Internetworking: Connected Networks
 Internet
 Requires additional hardware
 modem
 network interface
Computer Hardware
Local Area Network (LAN)
Computer Hardware
Wide Area Network (WAN) with satellite
communications
Computer Hardware
Internet
 The Internet is the global system of interconnected computer
networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to
communicate between networks and devices.

 It is a network of networks that consists of private, public,

academic, business, and government networks of local to
global scope, linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless,
and optical networking technologies.

 The Internet carries a vast range of information resources

and services, such as the applications of the World Wide
Web (WWW), electronic mail, telephony, and file sharing.
Computer Hardware
Connectivity & Networking
 Connectivity is the capability of a computer to share information with other computers.

 Networking
 Communications system connecting two or more devices
 Central to the concept of connectivity
 Largest network is the Internet
 Web provides a multimedia interface for Internet resources

 Emerging technologies
 Cloud computing
Computers on the Internet
o
o Access to more resources
 Wireless technology
o Changing the way we communicate
o Tablets, smartphones, wearable devices
 The Internet of Things (IoT)
o Continuing development of the Internet
o Allowing all types of devices to communicate
Computer Software

There are two major kinds of software: system

software and application software.

 System Software
• Programs to manage and control computer
resources
 Application Software
• Programs users use
Computer Software

System Software

 Enables application software to interact with the

computer hardware.
 Background software helps the computer manage its own
internal resources.

System software is not a single program, rather, it is a

collection of programs, including the following:

 Operating Systems
 Utilities programs
 Device Drivers
 Language Translators
Computer Software

Operating Systems (OS)

 Operating System
 Coordinates computer resources
 Provides the user interface
 Runs applications
Types of Operating Systems:
 Embedded operating system
 Used by Smartphones and tablets
Real-time operating systems (RTOS)
 Standalone operating system
 Used by desktops
 Networking operating systems
 Used to run networks
Computer Software

Utilities

 Perform specific tasks related to managing computer

resources.
 Antivirus Program: Protects from viruses
 can damage your software or hardware
 Comprise the security and privacy of personal
data
Computer Software

Applications: End-user Software

 General-Purpose applications
 Widely used programs
 Browsers

 Word Processor

 Specialized applications
 More narrowly focused
 Two of the best known are graphics and web
authoring programs.
 Mobile applications or simply apps, designed for
mobile devices such as social media apps
Types of Computer
 Supercomputers
o Most powerful computers
o they are used to analyze
and predict worldwide
weather patterns
 Mainframe computers
o Process large amounts of
data
o mainframe computers are
capable of great
processing speeds and
data storage
Types of Computer
 Midrange computers
also referred to as servers, are computers with
processing capabilities less powerful than a mainframe
computer yet more powerful than a personal computer.

 Personal computers
Also known as PCs, are the least powerful, yet the most
widely used and fastest-growing type of computer.
There are five types of personal computers
Types of Computer

Personal computer Types

• Desktop • Smartphones
• Laptop (Notebook) • Wearables
• Tablet
Data versus Information
 Data mean known facts that can be recorded and that have implicit
meaning.

 Data and information are often used interchangeably; however, data

are raw, unprocessed facts including text, numbers, images, and
sounds. The result of processing data is Information.

 There are 3 types of data

 Structured data – Relational databases
 Semi-structured data – Documents, Email messages, … etc.
 Unstructured data – Text documents, HTML pages, … etc.

 Digital data is stored electronically in files, common types of files are:

 Document
 Worksheet
 Database
 Presentation
Data
Document Files
 Created by word processors to
save documents such as
reports, memos, term papers,
and letters.

Worksheet Files
 Created by electronic
spreadsheets to analyze things
like budgets and to predict
sales
Data
Database Files
 Typically created by database
management programs to
contain highly structured and
organized data.

Presentation Files
 Created by presentation
graphics programs to prepare
presentation materials.
Careers in IT

 Webmaster
 Develops and maintains websites and web resources
 Software Engineer
 Analyzes users’ needs and creates application software
 Computer Support Specialist
 Provides technical support to customers and other users
 Computer Technician
 Repairs and install computer components and systems
 Technical Writer
 Prepares instruction manuals, technical reports, and other
scientific or technical documents
 Network Administrator
 Creates and maintains computer networks
 Database Administrator
 Designs, creates and maintains databases
 ……..