Is this really all that important to

know ?
 Server  Expansion Slots
 Program  MHz
 Client  Application Software
 Network  Upload
 CPU  FTP
Operating System

Introduction to Information Technology

  IT
 bit, byte, kilobyte,  Network Drive
megabyte …
 Memory
 World Wide Web
 Storage
 Internet
 etc.

1
Will there be computers in your
place of work?

Introduction to Information Technology

2
Will you have to communicate with
those you work with?

Introduction to Information Technology

3
Becoming Computer Savvy
 Understand general computer terms.
 Have a better sense of computers when
buying.
 Know how to fix ordinary problems

Introduction to Information Technology

 Efficiently use the Internet
 Know how to learn new and different
programs

4
 Using Information
Technology
Chapter 1
Introduction to Information Technology
Your Digital World
What is a computer?
 A programmable machine
 A machine that accepts input (raw
data), processes that input, and
produces output (information).

Introduction to Information Technology

6
What is a network?
 Two or more computers connected
together using communications
equipment.

Introduction to Information Technology

7
Then along came …
 Being “online” – using a computer to access information
from another computer through the use of a network.
 The Internet
 World Wide Web
 E-mail

Introduction to Information Technology

 Information technology (“infotech”):
 IT - Technology that helps in the production, processing,
storing, communication and dissemination of information.
 The E-World (E-business, E-commerce, E-government,
E-learning, E-pinions, E-tailing, E-waste)

8
The Internet, the World Wide Web, & the
“Plumbing of Cyberspace”
 Cyberspace
 encompasses the whole wired and wireless world
of communications.
 Term created by William Gibson – author
 Not a commonly used term in the field of
Computer Science.
 Internet

Introduction to Information Technology

 A global network of networks (tangible)
 Do not confuse with WWW.
 World Wide Web
 Most common use of the Internet
 Encompasses information that can be viewed
through a web browser (web pages).
 Do not confuse with the Internet.
9
1.2 The “All-Purpose Machine”:
The Varieties of Computers
1. Supercomputers
2. Mainframes

Introduction to Information Technology

3. Workstations
4. Microcomputers
5. Microcontrollers

10
Supercomputers
 Fastest computer
 Can cost one million to 350
million dollars
 looks like rows of refrigerator-
size boxes
 Consists of thousands of
processors and can carry out
several trillion calculations per

Introduction to Information Technology

second.
 Used for computer simulations
 tracking hurricanes, biological
contamination, or
understanding ocean currents.

11
Mainframes
 Small mainframes (mid-
size computers or
minicomputers).
 5,000 to 5 million dollars
 Used in large organizations
– banks, airlines, insurance
companies, colleges.

Introduction to Information Technology

 Processes billions of
instructions per second.
 Often used with a terminal.

12
Workstations
 usually used for complex
scientific, mathematical,
and engineering
calculations and for
computer-aided design

Introduction to Information Technology

 Example: designing
airplanes, special effects
in movies

13
Microcomputer
 $500 - $5000
 Personal Computer (PC)
 Tower PC
 Desktop PC
 Laptop / Notebook
 Personal digital assistants

Introduction to Information Technology

(PDAs), also called handheld
computers or palmtops
 Mac
 While a Mac is a PC, most
people relate the term, PC,
with systems that run the
Windows operating system.
14
Other types of microcomputers.

Introduction to Information Technology

Personal Digital Assistant

Laptop computer

15
Microcontrollers
 tiny, specialized
microprocessors
installed in “smart”
appliances and
automobiles

Introduction to Information Technology

 also called embedded
computers

16
Servers
The word “server” refers to how a computer is used.
Server - a central computer that holds collections of
data & programs for clients
Clients - PCs, workstations, & other devices
attached to a server

Introduction to Information Technology

Server + Clients linked together form a client/server
network

17
How Computers Work
 The purpose of a computer is to process
data into information.
 Data (Input)
 The raw facts and figures that are processed into

Introduction to Information Technology

information
 Information (Output)
 Datathat has been summarized or otherwise
manipulated for use in decision making

18
Computers consist of hardware and
software.
 Hardware
 All the machinery and equipment in a
computer system
 Tangible
Software

Introduction to Information Technology


 All the instructions that tell the computer
how to perform a task
 Intangible

19
All computers follow the same five
basic operations.
1. Input

2. Processing

Introduction to Information Technology

3. Storage

4. Output

5. Communications

20
 Input

Mouse
Keyboard

21

Introduction to Information Technology

 Processing
- Manipulating data into information
 Case or system cabinet
 the box that houses
 the processor chip
(CPU – Central Processing Unit)

Introduction to Information Technology

 memory chips (RAM)

 motherboard with power supply

 secondary storage devices

 video card

 Etc. …..

22
Motherboard
 Motherboard - the main
circuit board in the
computer.

 Everything else attaches

to the motherboard

Introduction to Information Technology

through connections
called ports.

 Expansion slots - “plugs”

on the motherboard for
expanding the PC’s
capabilities via additional
circuit boards.
23
Processing
Front Back

Introduction to Information Technology

 Processor chip
 A tiny piece of silicon that contains millions of miniature
electronic circuits.

24
Storage
 Primary storage
 Computer circuitry that temporarily holds data
waiting to be processed and after it has been
processed
 Also called:

Introduction to Information Technology

 Memory or primary memory
 RAM – Random Access Memory

 Temporary storage

25
 RAM

Memory chips

26

Introduction to Information Technology

Secondary storage
 The area in the computer where data or
information is held permanently
 Also simply called:
 Storage

Introduction to Information Technology

27
Storage capacity is measured in:
 1 byte - 1 character is represented using 1 byte.
= 8 bits (a bit is a 0 or a 1)
 1 kilobyte - 1,024 characters.
= 210 bytes (approx. 103 bytes)
 1 megabyte - 1,048,576 characters.

Introduction to Information Technology

= 220 bytes (approx. 106 bytes)
 1 gigabyte - more than 1 billion characters.
= 230 bytes (approx. 109 bytes)
 1 terabyte - more than 1 trillion characters.
= 240 bytes (approx. 1012 bytes)

28
 Storage

Floppy disk

Zip disk

29

Introduction to Information Technology

 Storage

Hard-disk drive

30

Introduction to Information Technology

 Storage

CD drive

31

Introduction to Information Technology

 Storage

Flash Memory Sticks

32

Introduction to Information Technology

 Output

Speakers

33

Introduction to Information Technology

Speaker output requires a sound
card.

Introduction to Information Technology

Sound card

34
 Output

Monitor

35

Introduction to Information Technology

A video card controls the video
display of your monitor.

Introduction to Information Technology

36
 Output

Printer

37

Introduction to Information Technology

 Communications

38

Introduction to Information Technology

 Put all the hardware together and…

39

Introduction to Information Technology

You still need the software!
 System software

 Helps the computer

perform essential

Introduction to Information Technology

operating tasks and
enables the
application software
to run

40
You still need the software!
 Application software

 Enables you to
perform specific

Introduction to Information Technology

tasks--solve
problems, perform
work, or entertain
yourself

41
The slides that follow will not
be covered in class.

Introduction to Information Technology

42
1.4 Where Is Information
Technology Headed?
Three Directions of Computer
Development
 Miniaturization

Introduction to Information Technology

 Speed
Then (1946) Now
 Affordability

43
Three Directions of
Communications Development
 Connectivity

 Interactivity

Introduction to Information Technology

 Multimedia

44
When Computers &
Communications Combine:
Convergence, Portability, &
Personalization
 Convergence

Introduction to Information Technology

 Portability

 Personalization

45
“E” Also Stands for Ethics
 Speed and scale

 Unpredictability

Introduction to Information Technology

 Complexity

46
Onward: Handling Information in
the Era of Pervasive Computing
 Learn to deal with information overload

 Have a strategy to memorize information:

reduce dependence on technology

Introduction to Information Technology

 Learn how to make your “multitasking”
efficient

47
Onward: Handling Information in
the Era of Pervasive Computing
 Be aware that “smart mobs” could also be
dumb mobs: Know when technology is
being used against you.

Introduction to Information Technology

48
Concept Check

 What are the two key components of information

technology?

Introduction to Information Technology

 Computers and communications

49
Concept Check

 What are the two key aspects of cyberspace?

Introduction to Information Technology

 The Internet and the World Wide Web

50
Concept Check

 What are the five sizes of computers from

largest to smallest?

Introduction to Information Technology

 Supercomputer, mainframe, workstation,
microcomputer, microcontroller

51
Concept Check

 What is a LAN?

Introduction to Information Technology

 A local area network is a connected group of
desktop PCs and other devices such as printers,
normally located in an office or building.

52
Concept Check

 Which size of computer is also called an

“embedded computer?”

Introduction to Information Technology

 Microcontroller

53
Concept Check

 What is the term for a computer used to hold

collections of data and programs for connecting
PCs, workstations, and other devices?

Introduction to Information Technology

 Server

54
 Concept Check

 What are the five basic operations that

computers have in common?

Introduction to Information Technology

 Input, processing, storage, output, and
communications

55
 Concept Check

 Which type of storage is composed of computer

circuitry that temporarily holds data waiting to be
processed?

Introduction to Information Technology

 Primary storage (memory)

56
Concept Check

 What computer device consists of electronic

circuitry that executes instructions to process
data?

Introduction to Information Technology

 CPU (Central Processing Unit)

57
Concept Check

 Are RAM chips used for primary or secondary

storage?

Introduction to Information Technology

 Primary - they’re also called memory chips.

58
Concept Check

 What is the name of the main circuit board in the

computer, to which everything else is attached
via connections called ports?

Introduction to Information Technology

 Motherboard

59
Concept Check

 How many characters can be represented by a

byte? A kilobyte?

Introduction to Information Technology

 A byte represents a single character; 1, 024
characters make a kilobyte

60
Concept Check

 What is the name for the unit of storage capacity

representing one billion characters?

Introduction to Information Technology

 One gigabyte

61
Concept Check
 What is the name for any component or piece of
equipment that expands a computer’s input,
storage, and/or output capabilities? A zip-disk
drive is an example of this type of component.

Introduction to Information Technology

 Peripheral device

62
Concept Check

 What type of software includes the operating

system and the master control program that runs
the computer?

Introduction to Information Technology

 System software

63