Computing fundmentals

Maeen Faisal Al-Harasy

 Computing fundmentals

SUMMARY OF
FOUNDATIONS OF
COMPUTER SCIENCE
SUBJECT

INTRODUCTION
This is a short introduction by the author

This is a summary of the first four chapters of foundations of computer science. I

will summarize chapter by chapter, and I will include only what I think is
important. Please remember this is a last-minute summary so you must study the
.book given by Dr/Hussein Al-khat her

CHAPTER 1

INFORMATION SYSTEM

1. What is information system, and what does it include?

Information system is an interconnected environment for managing and

processing data using a computer, and it includes:

a) People

b) Hardware

c) Software

d) Procedures

e) Data

2. What is the difference between hardware and software?

 Software is a program that tells the hardware what to do such as
operating systems .
 Hardware is the physical components of the computer such as
keyboard, monitors.

3. What is the difference between data and software ?

Software operates upon data they receive .

11 Page 1 of
 Computing fundmentals

TYPES OF COMPUTERS

4. What are the types of computers?

 Personal Computer : It is a computer designed to be used a one person
at a time.
1. Desktop PC: It is a computer designed to be set at a desk.
2. notebook PC: a portable PC where the screen and keyboard fold
up against one another.
3. netbook : a small notebook PC designed primarily for accessing
the Internet
4. tablet PC: A lightweight slate-style computer with a touch screen, designed for
easy portability.

5. smart phone: A cellular phone that includes computer applications and

Internet access capability
 Multi-User Computers: computers which can be used by two users or
more.
1. Server : a computer dedicated to serving and supporting a network
of computers .
2. Mainframe : a large and powerful computer capable of serving
many users and managing and processing files.
3. Super Computers: the largest and most powerful computers
usually used by governments researchers.

What is (BIOS)?
BIOS The software that initializes and tests the computer at startup.

TYPES OF SOFTWARE

What are the types of software?

Operating system
Application software

What is an operating system and what does it do?

The operating system (OS) manages all the computer’s activities after
startup, and it does the following:
a. It provides the user interface.
b. It runs applications.
c. It controls and manages the file storage system.
.It communicates with the hardware .d
? What is an application software
application software: Software that
helps a human perform a useful task
.for work or play
Give me examples of operating system operating application
.,and application software system software

window Word

11 Page 2 of Mac Os Access

Android Power point

Linux Outlook
 Computing fundmentals

?What is the difference between operating, and application software

A computer does not work without an Operating software , but it can work
?without application software. What is information processing cycle

INFORMATION PROCESSING CYCLE

The four-step process that data moves through as it is processed by a computer

keyboard
mouse motherboard
touch screen processor
memory chips

processin
input
g

storage output

hard drives monitor

USB flash printers
drives speakers.
DVDs.

11 Page 3 of
 Computing fundmentals

.The smallest unit of data in a computer is a bit

.Eight bits can combine to make a byte

COMPUTER COMMUNICATION

?What is a network

network Two or more computers connected devices to

.share data and resources

Most computers are part of one or more networks. The most common network
standard is

Ethernet, which can be wired or wireless. Wireless Ethernet is called Wi-Fi. To

,connect to a network

the computer needs a network adapter (wired or wireless). A home network uses
a router to

connect the computers to one another and to connect to a shared broadband

Internet connection

.if available

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless alternative to Wi-Fi, used primarily to connect

wireless devices

.directly to specific computers

The Internet is a huge worldwide network. To participate in the Internet,

individuals and companies

.must contract with an Internet service provider (ISP) for access

11 Page 4 of
 Computing fundmentals

CHAPTER 2
.The heart of any computer is its system unit

the system unit is the main body of the computer, containing

.the essential components it needs to function

?What is CPU

central processing unit (CPU) The main

.processor in a computer

The CPU contains millions of tiny transistors and

pathways that take in data and instructions, process (calculate) the data

.according to the instructions, and output the results of the calculations

:CPU consists of three parts

The control
unit manages the flow of data through the CPU
It
directs data to and from the other components within the CPU

(ALU) it does the actual processing.

It receives data and instructions and delivers a result.

Registers are holding areas for both data and

Registers instructions.
registers that hold data
registers that hold
instructions,
registers that store logical states (yes/no)

semiconductor Material that is electricity-neutral, neither a good conductor nor a

flow preventer

Most modern CPUs have multiple cores. core consists of a separate set of
the essential processor components (control

.)unit, ALU, and registers

cache is a small amount

.of very fast memory located near (or within) the CPU

,The most obvious performance factor for a CPU is its maximum speed

11 Page 5 of
 Computing fundmentals

measured in billions of hertz, or gigahertz (GHz)

hertz One cycle per second, a measurement of

.activity speed

word size the number of bits that the CPU can

.accept as input simultaneously

:There are two types of CPU

o 32-bit word size

o 64-bit word size.
5. The two largest manufacturers of CPUs are the companies Intel and
.Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) .6

CHAPTER 3

INPUT DEVICES

?What is un input device

Input device Hardware that enables the computer to accept commands or data
from a

.human user

KEYBOARD

A Keyboard enables you to enter typed data letters, numbers, and symbols

specialty keys

a) Function keys
b) Toggle keys
c) Modifiers keys
d) Positional keys

?What are virtual keyboards

virtual or onscreen keyboard is a replica of a keyboard on the screen that users

.can tap or click to simulate typing

POINTING DEVICES

MOUSE

A mouse is the most common pointing device. It is a palm-sized object

.that you move across a flat surface to move the pointer on the display

11 Page 6 of
 Computing fundmentals

TRACK BALL

A trackball is a pointing device in which the user moves the pointer by rolling a
.ball with his or her fingers

TOUCHPAD

A touch pad is a pointing device consisting of a touch-sensitive pad on which the

.user drags a finger to move the pointer

TOUCH SCREE

A touch-sensitive display monitors those functions both as an input and an

output device

JOYSTICK

joystick A pointing device consisting of a vertically mounted stick that can be

tilted in any direction.

DRAWING TABLETS

DRAWING TABLET

drawing tablet is a flat rectangular touch-sensitive surface on which a user can

.draw with a stylus to create onscreen artwork

STYLUS

stylus A pen-shaped pointer used to drag across the surface of a touch-sensitive

screen

SCANNING

BAR CODE READER

Bar code reader is a scanner that reads and interprets bar codes such as UPC
.symbols

magnetic card reader

magnetic card reader A scanner that reads and deciphers the information on the
magnetic

.strip on a credit card or other ID card

CAPTURE DEVICES

DIGITAL CAMERA

.Digital camera is a camera that captures and stores still images in digital form

DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA

digital video camera is a video camera that captures and stores motion video in
.digital form

11 Page 7 of
 Computing fundmentals

WEB CAMERA

webcam A digital video camera that must remain connected to a computer as it

.operates

Audio Input Devices

Audio Adapter

Audio Adapter is also called a sound card. A component of a computer system

that accepts and

11 Page 8 of
Computing fundmentals

11 Page 9 of
 Computing fundmentals

.processes audio input and delivers audio output

OUTPUT DEVICES

11 Page 10 of