Understanding Computers
Today and Tomorrow 12th Edition
Chapter 1
Introduction to the World
of Computers
Learning Objectives
Explain why it is essential to learn about computers
today and discuss several ways computers are
integrated into our business and personal lives.
Define a computer and describe its primary
operations.
List some important milestones in computer
evolution.
Identify the major parts of a personal computer,
including input, processing, output, storage, and
communications hardware.
Define software and understand how it is used to
instruct the computer what to do.
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Learning Objectives
List the five basic types of computers, giving at least
one example of each type of computer and stating
what that computer might be used for.
Explain what a network, the Internet, and the World
Wide Web are, as well as how computers, people, and
Web pages are identified on the Internet.
Describe how to access a Web page.
Discuss the societal impact of computers, including
some benefits and risks related to their prominence in
our society.
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Overview
This chapter covers:
What computers do and how they are used
Computer terminology
An overview of the history of computers
The basic types of computers in use today
An overview of networks and the Internet
Societal impacts of computers
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Computers in Your Life
Why learn about computers?
Pervasive computing
Also known as ubiquitous computing
Computers have become an integral part of our
lives
Basic computer literacy
Knowing about and understanding computers
and their uses is an essential skill today for
everyone
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Computers in Your Life
Before 1980
Computers were large, expensive
Very few people had access to them
Computers were mostly used for high-volume
processing tasks
Microcomputers in the early 80s
Inexpensive personal computers
Computer use increased dramatically
Today
More than 60% of US households include a
computer, and most use computers at work
Electronic devices are converging into single units
with multiple capabilities
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Computers in the Home
Computers used for a variety of tasks:
Looking up information and news
Exchange e-mail
Shopping and paying bills
Downloading music and movies
Organizing digital photographs
Playing games
Telecommuting
Convergence
The computer has become the central part of
home entertainment
Dual-mode mobile phones
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Computers in the Home
Wireless networking
Computers can be used in nearly any location
Smart appliances
Traditional appliances with built-in computer or
communication technology
Smart homes
Household tasks are monitored and controlled by
a main computer in the house
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Computers in the Home
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Computers in Education
K-12 schools now use the computer as an overall
student-based learning tool
Colleges and universities are even more integrated
Classrooms, computer labs, dorms, libraries
Wireless hotspots and Internet assignments
Teachers
Prepare handouts, exams, and class
presentations
Maintain course Web pages
Distance learning
Students participate from locations other than the
traditional classroom setting using computers and
Internet access
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Computers in Education
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Computers in the Workplace
Computers have become a universal on-the-job tool
for decision-making, productivity, and communication
Used by all types of employees
Used for access control and other security
measures
Use by service professionals is growing
Used extensively by the military
Employees in all lines of work need to continually
refresh their computer skills
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Computers in the Workplace
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Computers on the Go
Computers are encountered in nearly every aspect of
daily life
Portable PCs and handheld computers
Wi-Fi hotspots and Internet cafes
ATM machines and retail stores
Self-checkout systems and consumer kiosks
M-commerce systems
GPS systems
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Computers on the Go
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What Is a Computer and What Does It
Do?
Computer: A programmable, electronic device that accepts
data, performs operations on that data, and stores the data
or results as needed
Computers follow instructions, called programs, which
determine the tasks the computer will perform
Basic operations
Input: Entering data into the computer
Processing: Performing operations on the data
Output: Presenting the results
Storage: Saving data, programs, or output for future use
Communications: Sending or receiving data
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What Is a Computer and What Does It
Do?
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Data vs. Information
Data
Raw, unorganized facts
Can be in the form of text, graphics, audio, or
video
Information
Data that has been processed into a meaningful
form
Information processing
Converting data into information
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Computers Then and Now
The computer as we know it is a fairly recent
invention
The history of computers is often referred to in terms
of generations
Each new generation is characterized by a major
technological development
Precomputers and early computers (before 1945)
Abacus, slide rule, mechanical calculator
Punch Card Tabulating Machine and Sorter
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Computers Then and Now
First-generation computers (1946-1957)
Enormous and powered by vacuum tubes
Used a great deal of electricity, and generated a
lot of heat
ENIAC and UNIVAC
Second-generation computers (1958-1963)
Used transistors
Computers were smaller, more powerful, cheaper,
more efficient, and more reliable
Punch cards and magnetic tape were used to
input and store data
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Computers Then and Now
Third-generation computers (1964-1970)
Used integrated circuits (ICs)
Keyboards and monitors introduced
Fourth-generation computers (1971-present)
Use microprocessors
IBM PC, Apple Macintosh
Use keyboards, mice, monitors, and printers
Use magnetic disks, flash memory, and optical
disks for storage
Computer networks, wireless technologies,
Internet introduced
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Computers Then and Now
Fifth-generation (now and the future)
Infancy stage
No precise classification
May be based on artificial intelligence (AI)
Likely use voice input
May be based on optical computers and utilize
nanotechnology
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Computers Then and Now
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Hardware
Hardware: The physical parts of a computer
Internal hardware
Located inside the main box (system unit) of
the computer
External hardware
Located outside the system unit and plug into
ports located on the exterior of the system unit
Hardware associated with all five computer
operations
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Hardware
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Hardware
Input devices
Used to input data into the computer
Keyboards, mice, scanners, cameras,
microphones, joysticks, etc.
Processing devices
Perform calculations and control computers
operation
Central processing unit (CPU) and memory
Output devices
Present results to the user
Monitors, printers, speakers, projectors, etc.
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Hardware
Storage devices
Used to store data on or access data from storage
media
Hard drives, DVD disks and drives, USB flash
drives, etc.
Communications devices
Allow users to communicate with others and to
electronically access information
Modems, network adapters, etc.
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Hardware
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Software
Software: The programs or instructions used to tell
the computer hardware what to do
System software: Operating system allows a
computer to operate
Boots the computer and launches programs at
the users direction
Most use a GUI to interact with the user via
windows, icons, menus, buttons, etc.
Windows, Mac OS, Linux, etc.
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Software
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Software
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Application Software
Application software: Performs specific tasks or
applications
Creating letters, budgets, etc.
Managing inventory and customer databases
Editing photographs
Scheduling appointments
Viewing Web pages
Sending and receiving e-mail
Recording / playing CDs
Designing homes
Playing games
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Application Software
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Computer Users and Professionals
Computer users (end users)
People who use a computer to obtain information
Computer professionals include:
Programmers
Systems analysts
Computer operations personnel
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Computers to Fit Every Need
Six basic categories of computers
Embedded computers
Mobile devices
Personal computers
Midrange servers
Mainframe computers
Supercomputers
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Embedded Computers
Embedded computer: Embedded into a product and
designed to perform specific tasks or functions for
that product
Cannot be used as general-purpose computers
Often embedded into:
Household appliances
Thermostats
Sewing machines
A/V equipment
Cars
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Mobile Devices
Mobile device: A very small device with
some type of built-in computing or
Internet capability
Typically based on cellular phones
Examples:
Smart phones
Smart watches
Handheld gaming devices
Portable digital media players
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Personal Computers/Desktop PCs
Personal computer: a computer system designed to
be used by one person at a time
Also called a microcomputer
Can be desktop or portable computers
Desktop PCs: fit on or next to a desk
Can use tower case, desktop case, or all-in-one
Can be PC-compatible or Macintosh
Not designed to be portable
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Portable PCs
Notebook (laptop) computers
Typically use clamshell design
Tablet PCs
Can be slate
tablets or
convertible
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Portable PCs
Handheld computers
Size of a paperback book or pocket calculator
Some include phone capabilities
Ultra Mobile Personal Computer (UMPC): Fullyfunctioning handheld
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Portable PCs
Most include wireless networking capabilities
Can synch (share information) with a desktop
computer as needed
Can use a docking station or notebook stand as
needed
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Thin Clients and Internet Appliances
Thin client or network computer (NC): PC designed to
access a network for processing and data storage
Lower cost and easier maintenance
Limited or no local storage
Not able to function as a computer if network is
down
Internet appliance: Specialized network computer
designed for Internet access and/or e-mail exchange
Often set-top boxes
Can include Internet-enabled gaming consoles
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Thin Clients and Internet Appliances
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Midrange Servers
Midrange server: A medium-sized computer used
to host programs and data for a small network
Users connect via a network with a computer,
thin client, or dumb terminal
May consist of a collection of individual circuit
boards called blades (blade servers)
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Mainframe Computers
Mainframe computer: Powerful computer used by several
large organizations to manage large amounts of centralized
data
Standard choice for large organizations, hospitals,
universities, large businesses, banks, government offices
Located in climate-controlled data centers and
connected to the rest of the company computers via a
network
Larger, more expensive, and more powerful than
midrange servers
Usually operate 24 hours a day
Also called high-end servers or enterprise-class servers
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Mainframe Computers
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Supercomputers
Supercomputer: Fastest, most expensive, most powerful
type of computer
Generally run one program at a time, as fast as possible
Commonly built by connecting hundreds of smaller
computers, supercomputing cluster
Used for space exploration, missile guidance, satellites,
weather forecast, oil exploration, scientific research,
complex Web sites, decision support systems, 3D
applications, etc.
Grid computing: Using the unused processing power of a
large number of computers to work together on a single
task
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Supercomputers
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Computer Networks and the Internet
Computer network: A collection of hardware and other devices
that are connected together.
Users can share hardware, software, and data
Users can communicate with each other
Network servers: Manage resources on a network
Clients: Access resources through the network server
Computer networks exist in many sizes and types
Home networks
School and small business networks
Large corporate
Public wireless networks
The Internet
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Computer Networks and the Internet
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What Are the Internet and the
World Wide Web?
Internet: The largest and most well-known computer
network in the world
Individuals connect to the Internet using an Internet
service provider (ISP)
World Wide Web: One resource (a vast collection of
Web pages) available through the Internet
Web sites contain Web pages stored on Web servers
Web pages viewed using a Web browser (Internet
Explorer, Safari, Firefox, Opera, etc.
A wide variety of information is available through the
Web
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What Are the Internet and the
World Wide Web?
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Accessing a Network or the Internet
Need a modem or network adapter
Some networks require a username and password
Internet connections can be:
Direct (always-on) connections
Dial-up connections
Internet addresses are used to access resources on the Internet
IP address: Numeric address that identifies computers
(207.46.138.20)
Domain name: Text-based address that identifies computers
(microsoft.com)
Uniform resource locator (URL): Identifies Web pages
(http://www.pbskids.org)
E-mail address: Identifies people for e-mail exchange
(
[email protected])
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IP Addresses and Domain Names
IP addresses are numeric and unique
Domain Names: Correspond to IP addresses
Top-level domains (TLDs)
identifies type of organization
or its location
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Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)
URL: Uniquely identifies a Web page
Consists of:
Information identifying the Web server
Names of folders in which the Web page files are
stored
Web pages filename
Protocols:
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (http) is typically used to
display Web pages (https is used for secure Web pages
File Transfer Protocol (ftp) is often used for file
exchange
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Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)
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E-Mail Addresses
E-mail addresses consist of:
Username: A persons identifying name for a
particular domain
The @ symbol
Domain name for the computer that will be
handling the persons e-mail (mail server)
Pronouncing Internet addresses
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Surfing the Web
Web browser: Used to display Web pages
Browser home page: The first page displayed when
the browser is opened
To load a Web page, you can:
Type a URL in the Address bar
Click a hyperlink on a displayed Web page
Select a Favorite/Bookmark or page from the
History list
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Surfing the Web
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Searching the Web
Search site: Web page that helps you find Web
pages containing the information you are seeking
Typically search using keywords
Reference sites: Look up addresses, telephone
numbers, ZIP codes, maps, etc.
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E-Mail
Electronic mail (e-mail): electronic messages
exchanged via a private network or the Internet
Can be conventional or Web-based
Can contain photos, attached files, etc.
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Computers and Society
The vast improvements in technology over the past decade
have had a distinct impact on daily life, both at home and at
work
Many benefits of a computer-oriented society
Also risks
Computer viruses
Identity theft and phishing
Privacy issues
Differences in online communications
The anonymity factor
Information integrity (not all information on the Internet is
accurate)
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Summary
Chapter 1
Computers in Your Life
What Is a Computer and What Does It Do
Computers to Fit Every Need
Computer Networks and the Internet
Computers and Society
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