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Intro To Computers Revised

The document provides an overview of personal computers (PCs), including their components, types, and uses in an office environment. It explains the roles of hardware, software, memory, and storage, as well as the information processing cycle (input, processing, output, and storage). Additionally, it distinguishes between system software and application software, emphasizing the necessity of system software for the operation of computers.

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Caroline Siphiwe Mashaba
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9 views21 pages

Intro To Computers Revised

The document provides an overview of personal computers (PCs), including their components, types, and uses in an office environment. It explains the roles of hardware, software, memory, and storage, as well as the information processing cycle (input, processing, output, and storage). Additionally, it distinguishes between system software and application software, emphasizing the necessity of system software for the operation of computers.

Uploaded by

Caroline Siphiwe Mashaba
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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False Bay College (FBC)

My dream. My college.

Explain what a personal computer


(PC) is and how it is used
Re-cap

 In the previous lesson you learned what is ICT


 How ICTs & computers play a role in our society,
including business.
 The benefits of ICT in modern society.
 Apps and their specific functions.
Personal computers (PCs)

 Personal computers are any general-purpose


computers such as desktop models, laptops,
notebook and tablet PCs – some designed for mobile
use.
 A personal computer mainly consists of hardware,
software, memory and storage (hard drive).
PCs & how they are used

 There are many different types of ICT devices in an


office environment:
1. Mainframe computer.
2. Workstation terminals.
3. PCs, such as desktop computers, laptops and tablets
(refer to figure 1.2.5)
4. Other typical digital devices include a printer,
scanner, fax machine and photocopier (All in one or
multipurpose printer that perform all these tasks)
Examples of office devices & functionality
Figure 1.2.6 (pg. 12)
Electronic devices in an office

Device Office task


Desktop, laptop Key in letters, order, reports and contracts. Check
the company’s social media. Do bookings on the
internet
Mainframe computer Setup workstations for staff members. Process large
invoices.
Tablet, smartphone Record a conversation or a speech. Travel for work
with GPS. Take photos of an office event.
Timeclock machines Record working hours of staff members.
Flat screen TV Play a DVD in the reception area.
Sound system Play music in the reception area. Stream a radio
broadcast in a shop or mall.
Barcode scanner Scan barcodes on products or boxes.
Mobile Devices

 What do you think – is a smartphone a computer?


 A mobile device is basically any handheld computer
 Especially if it has programs & apps needed for work.
Components of a PC/ smartphones

 Hardware: hard part/ tangible, often made of a plastic,


metal, aluminium, silicon. Part that you can see on the
outside.
 Software: computer programs or instructions that make
a device function (eg. Word processor etc).
 Memory: system memory, stores software &
information so that programs can be loaded again & info
processed.
 Storage: allows you store info in a computer for a longer
period of time & retrieve it later
Types of storage
 RAM

 Hard Drive

 Floppy

 USB

 CD ROM
Cloud

 cloud is the Internet


 access it with any computer that has an Internet
connection
Computer hardware…
The main technical hardware parts in side a computer case are, power supply
unit, the hard drive, and electrical circuit board (mother board).
Mothe board contains Central Processing Unit (CPU), different micro chips,
sound card, graphic card, ports, disk controller, battery & cooling fan.
Types & examples of software and
their functions

Types Examples Main function


Operating system Windows 7,8,10 Linux, To start up and run the
Unix, Wear OS, Ubuntu computer
Internet browser
Antivirus
Email
Media player
Word processing
Spreadsheets
Presentation
Accounting
Advantage vs disadvantage
Activity 2
Unit 1.3:
Introduction to system
technologies and the information
processing cycle
Terminology

a) Information processing is when a computer or other


digital device handles, changes, manipulates and
creates electronic information. (the compiling and
processing of raw data to provide meaningful output,
known as information.
b) Information processing cycle, is the order of steps or
events that takes place to process digital information,
namely input, processing, output and storage (IPOS).
Or a sequence of events in processing information
includes IPOS.
Relationship between the concepts of information
processing and information processing cycle

1. Input: Computer receives data and instructions.


2. Process: Computer applies instructions to data to
produce information.
3. Storage: Saving the information for subsequent use
or use in future.
4. Output: Computer sends information to people in
usable format.
Basic model of an information
processing device.
Unit1.4:
Basic concepts of systems
and application software
System software and application
software

 The main difference between System Software and


Application Software is that without system software,
the system cannot run.
 With

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