LAB MANUAL

Introduction Information
and Communication
Technologies

Faculty of Computing and Emerging

Technologies

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 Preface
This lab manual has been prepared to facilitate the students of software engineering in
understanding and applying ICT skills for productivity. It will assist students in learning
MS Office suite like MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint. These labs would also be
helpful in developing confidence among students to prepare their own assignments,
reports, and other documents.

Tools/ Technologies
 MS Word

 MS Excel

 MS PowerPoint

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface................................................................................................................................. ii

Tools/ Technologies.............................................................................................................ii

LAB 1- 2: INTRODUCTION TO LAB EQUIPMENT.......................................................1

LAB 3-8: MICROSOFT WORD.......................................................................................10

LAB 11-13: MICROSOFT EXCEL.................................................................................. 12

LAB 14- 15: MICROSOFT POWERPOINT.....................................................................13

LAB 16: OPEN-ENDED LAB..........................................................................................14

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 LAB 1- 2: INTRODUCTION TO LAB
EQUIPMENT

COMPUTER HARDWARE & SYSTEM INFORMATION

1. OBJECTIVES

To provide basic knowledge of Computers and their Hardware Devices. Visually

learning method is adopted by conducting practical Labs.

2. KEY FEATURES:

Hardware Devices of a Computer

3. INPUT DEVICES:

An input device is any peripheral (a piece of computer hardware equipment) used to

provide data and control signals to an information processing system such as a computer
or other information appliance.

3.1 Types of Input Devices:

Mouse, Joystick, Keyboard and Scanner, etc

Figure: 1 “Input Devices”

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4. OUTPUT DEVICES:

An output device is any piece of computer hardware equipment used to communicate the
results of data processing carried out by an information processing system (such as a
computer) to the outside world.

4.1 Types of Output Devices:

Speakers, Headphones, Screen (Monitor), Printer

Figure: 2 “Output Devices”

5. SYSTEM UNITS:

The system unit is the core of a computer system. Usually it's a rectangular box placed on
or underneath your desk. Inside this box are many electronic components that process
information. The most important of these components is the central processing unit
(CPU), or microprocessor, which acts as the "brain" of your computer. Another
component is random access memory (RAM), which temporarily stores information that
the CPU uses while the computer is on. The information stored in RAM is erased when
the computer is turned off.

Almost every other part of your computer connects to the system unit using cables. The
cables plug into specific ports (openings), typically on the back of the system unit.
Hardware that is not part of the system unit is sometimes called a peripheral device or
devices.

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 Figure: 3 “System Unit”

Figure: 4 “System Unit”

5.1 MOTHERBOARD

In personal computers, a motherboard is the central printed circuit board (PCB) in many
modern computers and holds many of the crucial components of the system, providing
connectors for other peripherals. The motherboard is sometimes alternatively known as
the main board, system board, or, on Apple computers, the logic board. It is also
sometimes casually shortened to mobo.

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 Figure: 4a Mother Board
5.2 PORTS AND SLOTS

In the most easy to understand terms, "ports" are holes used to plug external devices into
your computer. They will be found largely in the back of the computer. "Slots" are holes
used to plug internal devices (sound/video cards...etc) INTO your computer. These will
be found on the inside of your computer...and the devices you pug into the will have
"ports" on them...which will be able to be accessed from the back of the computer like the
other ones.
The most common "slots" that you will find inside the computer are as follows:

ISA (Industry Standard Architecture): This slot is obsolete and you probably won’t find it
on any computer newer than 5 years old. It is the longest of the slots, and usually colored
black.

PCI (Peripheral Component Interface): The most common slot. It is the second to the
smallest slot, and is the most widely used slot, being smaller, and faster than ISA. It is
typically colored white.

AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port): This usually "light brown" colored slot is used almost
exclusively for video cards. It is quite a bit faster than PCI, with a larger data path,
making it perfect for data-rich video/graphics. You'll find one of these slots on just about
any computer 5 years old or newer.

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5.3 SERIAL PORT

Serial ports transmit data one bit at a time. Typically on older PCs, a modem, mouse, or
keyboard would be connected via serial ports. Serial cables are cheaper to make than
parallel cables and easier to shield from interference.

5.4 PARALLEL PORT

The parallel port of older PCs could transmit 8 bits of data at a time, so it was faster than
the old serial port (just as more traffic can move along a multi-lane highway than can
move along a one-lane road). The parallel port was typically used to connect a printer to
the computer.

5.5 USB PORT

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a newer type of serial connection that is much faster than
the old serial ports. USB is also much smarter and more versatile since it allows the
“daisy chaining” of up to 127 USB peripherals connected to one port.

USB ports can support the connection of many kinds of devices (keyboard, mouse,
printer, audio in/out, external floppy or Zip drives, scanner, flash drive, etc.). Newer PCs
and Macs include several USB ports, some often located in handy spots on the front panel
of the computer case or the side of the keyboard. USB connections are hot-swappable
(they can be connected and disconnected while the devices are turned on; this is not
always true for older connection methods).

An updated version, called USB 2.0 has a speed of 480 Mb/sec, which is 40 times faster
than the older USB port’s high-speed mode (the connectors look the same).

5.6 STORAGE DEVICES

Your computer has one or more disk drives—devices that store information on a metal or
plastic disk. The disk preserves the information even when your computer is turned off.

5.6.1 Types of Storage Devices:

Hard Disk Drive, Floppy Disk, CDs and DVD and Flash Stick Devices etc

5.7 HARD DISK DRIVE

Your computer's hard disk drive stores information on a hard disk, a rigid platter or stack
of platters with a magnetic surface. Because hard disks can hold massive amounts of
information, they usually serve as your computer's primary means of storage, holding
almost all of your programs and files. The hard disk drive is normally located inside the
system unit.
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 Figure: 5 “Hard Disk”

5.8 CD AND DVD DRIVES

Nearly all computers today come equipped with a CD or DVD drive, usually located on
the front of the system unit. CD drives use lasers to read (retrieve) data from a CD, and
many CD drives can also write (record) data onto CDs. If you have a recordable disk
drive, you can store copies of your files on blank CDs. You can also use a CD drive to
play music CDs on your computer.

Figure: 6 “Compact Disk”

DVD drives can do everything that CD drives can, plus read DVDs. If you have a DVD
drive, you can watch movies on your computer.
Many DVD drives can record data onto blank
DVDs. If you have a recordable CD or DVD drive,
periodically back up (copy) your important files to CDs
or DVDs. That way, if your hard disk ever fails, you
won't lose your data.

5.9 FLOPPY DISK DRIVES

Floppy disk drives store information on floppy

disks, also called floppies or diskettes. Compared to

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CDs and DVDs, floppy disks can store only a small amount of data.
They also retrieve information more slowly and are more prone to

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 damage. For these reasons, floppy disk drives are less popular than they used to be,
although some computers still include them.

Figure: 7 “Floppy disk” Figure:8 “Floppy disk and CD Drive

6. COMMUNICATION DEVICES

Computers can communicate (To transfer information from one computer to another)
with the other computer by forming networks (with the help of different communication
devices).

6.1 Types of Communication Devices

Modem, Nic Adapters, Routers, Hubs, Switches, Gateways Networking Cables etc.

6.2 MODEM

To connect your computer to the Internet, you need a modem. A modem is a device that
sends and receives computer information over a telephone line or high-speed cable.
Modems are sometimes built into the system unit, but higher-speed modems are usually
separate components.

Figure: 9 “Cable Modem”

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6.3 NIC ADAPTERS:

NIC is Network Interface Card; this is the most important device in building network.
These adapters are the most common part of computers which are used in our homes and
offices. Nic is also referred to LAN, i.e. is Local area network card. Communication
mediums (cables) are attached to this card to build network.

This device has unique Mac address. To build network unique IP

address is assign to this LAN card to begun communication. In
case of developing WLAN, instead of LAN card we use
Wireless card. Its functionality is same as simple LAN card; it is
just wireless communication device which connects to
router for communication.
Figure: 10
“NIC Adapters”

6.4 ROUTERS

Router is intelligent device which routes data to destination computers. It helps in

connecting two different logical and physical networks together. In small network server
is connected to router along with clients for communication. With routers network
communication is not possible; it is soul of network without which distribution if internet
and other network data to entire network is impossible.

It works very same when it comes to use wireless

network using wireless network router. It
performs all functions similarly without using any
medium like cables etc. Router uses software
known as routing table. Routing table is used to
store source and destination address. Major
companies which know for manufacturing
routers and wireless routers are Tp Link, Cisco systems,
Nortel, D link etc.
Figure 11: “Router”
6.5 HUBS

Networks on larger scale hub(s) are required to build network. All computers are
connected directly to the hub as hub performs as centralized
device the network. When data is sent to the hub it
broadcasts the data to all the ports of the hub and
then it is sent to destination computer on the
network. If hubs fails to perform its routine
functions it will halt the working of the entire
network until it is put back in normal condition.
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Figure 12: “Hub”

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6.6 SWITCHES

Switch is another important device when we talk

about computer network on broader
spectrum.It is used at the same place as hub is but
the only difference between the two is that switch
possess switching table with in it. Switching
tables store the MAC addresses of every
computer it is connected to and send the
data to only requested address unlike hub
which broadcasts the data too all the ports.
Switches can be considered advance form of hubs.

Figure 13: “Switches”

6.7 GATEWAYS

As name suggests it some kind of passing through to some thing. Interestingly gateways
can be software or it can also be device. Gateway device connects LAN with internet. Its
basic functionality is to provide security to the network. By using gateways incoming/out
going traffic can be monitored for any malicious activity within the network which can be
harmful to network integrity.

6.8 CABLES

Cables are obviously used to connect communication devices with each other to form
network. There different types of cables, commonly used cables are 10baseT/CAT5 ,
coaxial cable, Ethernet and fiber optical cable. Fiber optical is the most expensive as it
enables the data transfer at speed of light. It is costly solution which is mostly get adopted
by corporate sector. However in recent developments optical fiber cable is now being
used in home networking and also used as medium to connect to internet.

Work to be done at the end of the Lab as an assignment

 Find all the input and output hardware from Internet, label them and
identify them as input or output device.
 Take a picture of the Computer or laptop and identify the parts.
 Write a Lab Report

After completion of above set labs:

One week will cover the Viva Voca, grading and testing of students after completion.
Grading will be done on the basis of rubrics displayed on notice board.

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 LAB 3-8: MICROSOFT WORD

1. OBJECTIVES

To provide basic knowledge of Microsoft Word in such a way that one is able to have a
full command while preparing assignments, CV, lab reports etc.

2. KEY FEATURES

Basic
 Different Views
o Normal, web, print etc.
 Formatting Text
o Copy, Paste, Cut, coloring, highlighting etc.
 Alignment
o Left, central, right, justify
 Spacing
o Line spacing, paragraph spacing
 Moving Text from other sources
 Styling and modifying styles

Page settings
 Page sizes and margins
 Working on Headers & Footers
o Different functions
o Page Numbering
 Tables
o Creating, deletion, adding etc.
 Columns
o Creating, deletion, adding etc.
 Text Boxes
 Pictures
o Creating, moving and working on toolbar
 Hyperlink
o Creating, deletion, adding bookmarks etc.
 Saving document and converting to PDF

Usability
 Keyboard shortcuts
 Grammar and Spelling Check
 Bookmarking and references Links
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 Templates
 Mail merging
 Macros

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o Creating, disabling, etc
 Working on Sections
 Adding security to a document

Lab Tasks

 Each task performed in the lab shall be presented in the form of lab report.

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 LAB 11-13: MICROSOFT EXCEL

1. OBJECTIVES

To provide basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel so that one is able to have a full command
while preparing different Formulas Sheet and helps to enter Data in proper Format etc

2. KEY FEATURES

 Creating a Basic worksheet

 Concepts of cells, rows and columns
 Merging cells
 Entering data
 Workign with Basic Formulas
 Calculate using Functions
 Copy Formulas and Functions
 Making graphs for analysis

Lab Tasks

 Each task performed in the lab shall be presented in the form of lab report.

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 LAB 14- 15: MICROSOFT POWERPOINT

1. OBJECTIVES

To provide basic knowledge of PowerPoint such that, one is able to have a full command
while preparing different presentation and assignments etc. and it helps them to enhance
their presentation skills.

2. KEY FEATURES of LAB

 Understanding the basics

 Starting a new presentation
 Master slide concepts and how it helps in preparing presentation.
 Formatting text
 Drawing tools
 Using Pictures
 Slide Layouts
 Design and coloring
 Creating tables and charts
 Inserting graphics and multimedia
 Using animation and triggers.
 Templates

Lab Tasks

 Each task performed in the lab shall be presented in the form of lab report.

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 LAB 16: OPEN-ENDED LAB

Objective

An open-ended laboratory is where students are given the freedom to develop their own
experiments, instead of merely following the already set guidelines from a lab manual or
elsewhere.

Lab Tasks

 Students shall be given a random task from the lab work previously performed.

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