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Introduction To IT Support & Binary Calculation

Information Technology (IT) involves using digital tools to manage data across various sectors, impacting daily activities like communication and banking. IT Support Specialists are responsible for maintaining systems, troubleshooting issues, and providing user support. Key skills include troubleshooting, communication, and documentation, while understanding binary and logic gates is essential for grasping how computers process data.

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3 views5 pages

Introduction To IT Support & Binary Calculation

Information Technology (IT) involves using digital tools to manage data across various sectors, impacting daily activities like communication and banking. IT Support Specialists are responsible for maintaining systems, troubleshooting issues, and providing user support. Key skills include troubleshooting, communication, and documentation, while understanding binary and logic gates is essential for grasping how computers process data.

Uploaded by

mistr.nicepotato
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is IT?

Information Technology (IT) is the use of digital tools (computers, networks, internet, software) to store,
process, and communicate data effectively. IT impacts everything — from communication and healthcare
to education and finance.

Real-World Impact: Every time you check email, access online banking, or use cloud storage, you're
interacting with IT systems.

Role of an IT Support Specialist

IT Support Specialists keep technology running for organizations. They're the go-to people for solving tech
issues, maintaining systems, and ensuring smooth day-to-day IT operations.

🛠️ Core Tasks You’ll Handle:

• Set up desktops, laptops, and peripherals (printers, monitors).


• Install & configure software like browsers, office apps, antivirus, etc.
• Troubleshoot hardware and software issues (e.g., system won’t boot, printer not connecting).
• Maintain systems (updates, patches, backups).
• Document issues and use ticketing systems (like Jira, ServiceNow, or Zendesk).
• Provide user support — remotely (via chat, email) or in person.
• Preventive measures — ensure systems are secure, stable, and backed up.

✅ Example: A user reports slow internet. You check the router, ping the default gateway, and confirm
with ipconfig and tracert.

Key Skills for L1 Support

Skill Practical Use

Troubleshooting Fix common issues like frozen screens, failed logins, or software crashes.

Communication Explain technical steps in user-friendly language.

Customer Service Stay calm, helpful, and professional — even under pressure.

Documentation Log what went wrong, how it was resolved, and any steps for future prevention.

Important Concepts

• Digital Divide: Not everyone has equal access to tech or the internet. IT pros help bridge this gap.
• IT is people-focused: Tech only matters if people can use it effectively. Your job is to enable users.
• Generalist to Specialist: Most IT support roles start broad. Over time, you can specialize (e.g.,
networking, cybersecurity, cloud).
Suggested Tools & Commands

• ping – test network connectivity.


• ipconfig / ifconfig – view network settings.
• tracert / traceroute – check path to a server.
• Remote tools – TeamViewer, AnyDesk, RDP, Zoom.
• Ticketing systems – Jira, ServiceNow, Freshdesk.

Evolution of Computing
Abacus (500 BC)

Mechanical Calculator – Pascal (1600s)

Punch Cards – Jacquard (1800s)

Analytical Engine – Babbage & Lovelace

ENIAC – 1940s

Transistors & Compilers – 1950s–60s

Apple II / IBM PC – 1970s–80s

Linux, Windows, Mac – 1990s+

Smartphones, Cloud, IoT – 2000s–Now

1. What Computers Actually Do

• Computers process data by performing billions of basic binary calculations (0s and 1s) per second.
• Everything on a computer (text, video, images) is just a large combination of binary (1s and 0s).
🧠 What is Binary?

• Binary is how computers count — using only 0 and 1.


• Each digit (bit) in binary represents a value based on its position.
• Binary uses powers of 2:
o 128, 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1
(From left to right — 8 bits = 1 byte)

2. Binary (Base-2 System)

• Binary uses only 2 digits: 0 (off) and 1 (on).


• Grouped into 8 bits = 1 byte.
• A byte can store 256 values (2⁸).
o Example: 01100001 = 97 (decimal) = a (ASCII character)

3. Character Encoding

• ASCII: Maps binary to English letters, digits, symbols (e.g., a = 01100001).


• UTF-8: Expands ASCII to support:
o Multiple languages
o Emojis, etc. (via multibyte characters)
• Use ASCII/UTF-8 tables for decoding characters from binary.

Useful for:

• Reading log files, debugging encoding errors, scripting file parsing, etc.

4. How Binary Is Created

• Computers detect electrical signals:


o Voltage present = 1, no voltage = 0
• This is enabled by transistors (tiny switches).

5. Logic Gates (Used in Circuits & CPUs)

Gate Inputs Output = ON when… Notes


NOT 1 Input is OFF Inverts input
AND 2 Both inputs ON
OR 2 At least one ON
XOR 2 Only one ON Exclusive OR
NAND 2 Not both ON = AND + NOT
XNOR 2 Both same = XOR + NOT

Use case (basic understanding): Knowing these helps grasp how CPUs make decisions and process
data.
🔁 Convert Binary to Decimal

Step-by-step:

Let’s take this binary number:


01010111

Write down the values for each bit position:

Bit Position 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

Binary Digit 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1

Now, add up the values where there's a 1:

• 64 (because there's a 1 in the 64 spot)


• 16 (1 in the 16 spot)
• 4
• 2
• 1

So:
64 + 16 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 87

✅ Final Answer: 01010111 = 87 (decimal)

🔁 Convert Decimal to Binary

Let’s convert 87 to binary.

Step-by-step:

Start with the list of values:


128, 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1

Now ask: Can I subtract this value from 87?

Decimal Value Subtract? Result Bit

128 No — 0

64 Yes 87 - 64 = 23 1

32 No — 0

16 Yes 23 - 16 = 7 1

8 No — 0

4 Yes 7-4=3 1
Decimal Value Subtract? Result Bit

2 Yes 3-2=1 1

1 Yes 1-1=0 1

So the binary result is:


01010111

✅ Final Answer: 87 = 01010111 in binary

📝 Quick Tips

• Always write out: 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1 (for 8-bit values)


• Binary: Add values where there’s a 1
• Decimal: Subtract highest values until you reach 0, mark 1 if used, else 0

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