Fundamentals of Information

Technology
What is Information Technology?

 A term used to refer to a wide variety of items

and abilities used in the creation, storage, and
dispersal of data and information.
 IT is the use of computers and networks to
store, process, and receive data.

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What is Information Technology?
Definition (Continued)

3
What is a Computer?
 A computer system includes a computer, peripheral
devices, and software
 Accepts input, processes data, stores data, and produces
output
 Input refers to whatever is sent to a computer system
▪ Data refers to the symbols that represent facts, objects, and
ideas
▪ Example of data/input: name of student, grades in quizzes,
projects and major exams.
 Processing is the way that a computer manipulates data
▪ A computer processes data in a device called the central
processing unit (CPU)
What is a Computer?

 A computer stores data so that it will be

available for processing
 Memory is an area of a computer that holds data
that is waiting to be processed, stored, or output
 Storage is the area where data can be left on a
permanent basis
What is a Computer?

 Computer output is the result produced by

the computer
 An output device displays, prints or transmits
the results of processing
 Information is the processed, summarized data
and output is the information which is the result
of processing
 Example of information/output: Name of student
with his/her final grade
What is a computer?
Computer Categories

 Computers come in four sizes:

 Microcomputers
 Midrange computers
 Mainframes
 Supercomputers
What is a Computer?
 Microcomputers: A relatively compact type of computer, the
most common of all, easily outsells all other types of
computers annually for use in business and at home.

 Five types of Microcomputers:

 Desktop Computers
 Notebook Computers/Laptop Computers
 Tablet PCs
 Personal Digital Assistants
 Palm PCs
What is a Computer?

 Midrange computers and Mainframes: A computer

uses to interconnect people and large sets of
information. More powerful than a
microcomputer, the minicomputer is usually
dedicated to performing specific functions.

 Supercomputers: The most powerful of all

computers, supercomputers were designed to
solve problems consisting of long and difficult
calculations.
Personal Computer Systems
What’s a personal computer system?

 A personal computer system consists of the

following:
 System unit
 Display device
 Keyboard
 Mouse
 Hard disk drive
 CD and DVD drives
What’s a personal computer system?

 Video or graphics adapter card

 Sound card and speakers
 Modem and network cards
 Printer
What is a personal computer system?
What makes a computer a server?

 A server serves the computers on a network

by supplying them with data
 A client requests data from a server
 Any computer can be a server or a client
Computer-Based Information Systems

 Technology infrastructure:
 Includes all hardware, software, databases,
telecommunications, people, and procedures
▪ Configured to collect, manipulate, store, and process
data into information

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Computer-Based Information Systems
(continued)
Elements of Computer-Based Information Systems: Hardware

 Hardware is the physical component of a

computer.
 Hardware is the equipment used to
perform the necessary computations.
 Examples:
 Main memory (RAM, ROM), secondary
memory (hard disk drive, floppy disk drive),
CPU, input devices (keyboard and mouse),
and output devices (monitor and printer).
What’s inside the
system unit?
System Unit
 The system unit is the main
component of the PC to
which other components are
connected. The system unit
contains:
 Motherboard
 Microprocessor or Central
Processing Unit (CPU)
 Memory (RAM and ROM)
 Power supply unit
 Disk drives
 Expansion Cards
Hardware Inside the System Unit
 Most storage and processing occurs in the case
 Internal devices common to most computers:
 Motherboard containing CPU, memory, other parts
 Floppy drive, hard drive, CD drive
 Power supply with power cords supplying electricity
 Circuit boards
 Cables to connect devices to all circuit boards
 Expansion cards are installed in expansion slots
 Two types of cables: data (communication) and power

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 Hardware devices inside the system
unit
Power Supply Power Cables

Disk Drives

Microprocessor

Data Cables
Chipsets

Memory

Expansion Cards
The Motherboard
 The largest and most important circuit board
 Also known as the main board or system board
 Contains the CPU, expansion slots, other devices
 Categories used to group motherboard components
 Processing, temporary storage, communication,
power
 All devices communicate with CPU on motherboard
 A peripheral device links to motherboard via cable
 Some motherboard ports outside of the case:
 Keyboard, mouse, parallel, USB ports, sound ports

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All hardware components are either located on the motherboard or
directly or indirectly connected to it because they must all
communicate with the CPU
 Motherboard
Ports

Expansion Slots

CPU Socket

Chipsets

Memory Slots

IDE
What is a peripheral device?

 Equipment that might be added to a

computer system to enhance its functionality
 Printer
 Digital camera
 Scanner
 Joystick
 Graphics tablet
Hardware Components of a Computer System

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• Arithmetic-Logic Unit
• Control Unit

Input Devices Secondary Storage

• Keyboard • Magnetic disk
• Computer mouse • Optical disk
• Touch screen • Magnetic tape

Buses
Output Devices
• Printers
• Video display terminals Communication
• Plotters Devices
• Audio output

Primary Storage
Input Hardware

 Input hardware consists of all devices that

allow people to enter data and program into
the computer.
 An input device accepts data and converts it
into computer-readable form ready for
processing or storage.
Input Devices

 Input device - keyboard, mouse.

 When we press a letter or digit key on a key
board, that character is sent to main
memory and displayed on the monitor.
 Keyboard consists of three major parts:
main keyboard, keypads, and function
keys.
 A mouse is a hand-held device used to
select an operation.
Categories of Input Devices

 Keyboard entry device

 Keyboards, terminals, touch devices, set-top
boxes

 Source data entry device

 Pointing devices, scanning devices, voice
recognition devices, audio input devices, video
input devices, digital cameras, sensors
Output Hardware

 Output hardware consists of devices that

transform information processed by the
computer into a form that humans can
understand.
Output Devices

 Shows the result of processing data.

 Output devices - monitor and printer.
 Monitor is the TV-like device that displays the
output from a computer.
 Printer produces a hard copy of the text or
graphics processed by the computer.
Figure 1-6 The two most popular output devices are the
monitor and the printer
Softcopy Output

 Output that is in the form of sound or

displayed on a computer screen.
 Monitor
 Video output devices
 Audio output devices
Hardcopy Output

 It refers to printed output.

 Printer
 Plotter
 Multifunction machine
Processing Hardware

 It consists of the Central Processing Unit

(CPU).
 It is responsible for the processing and
control of all the data flowing into, out of and
around the system.
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

 Coordinating all computer operations.

 Performs arithmetic and logical operations
on data.
 To process a program stored in main
memory,
 - CPU retrieves each instruction in sequence.
 - Interprets the instruction to determine what
should be done.
 - Retrieves any data needed to carry out that
instruction
 - Then CPU performs the actual manipulation.
 CPU’s current instruction and data values are
stored temporarily inside the CPU in special
high-speed memory locations called
Central Processing Unit (CPU)

 The CPU consists of a control unit and an arithmetic-logic unit.

 The control unit coordinates and controls the other parts of
the computer system.
 The arithmetic-logic unit (ALU) performs the primary logical
and arithmetic operations of the computer.
 Three kind of buses link the CPU, primary storage, and other
devices in the computer systems.
 The data bus moves data to and from primary storage.
 The address bus transmits signals for locating a given address
in primary storage.
 The control bus transmits signals specifying whether to read
or write data to or from a given primary storage address, input
device, or output device.
Data Bus, Address Bus, and Control Bus

Central Processing Unit (CPU) Primary Storage

Arithmetic-Logic Unit 1
24 + 12 = 36 8
12 < 24
T #
U
Control Unit

Data Bus
Address Bus
Control Bus

Secondary
Input Devices Output Devices
Storage
Storage Hardware

 It consists of all devices that may store data

and programs either temporarily or
permanently.
 Primary Storage – temporary, volatile
 Secondary Storage – permanent, non-volatile
Primary Storage (Main Memory)

 Computer memory is a set of storage

locations on the main circuit board
(motherboard).
 RAM, ROM, Cache, Registers
 Random access memory (RAM)
 Consists of electronic circuits on the
motherboard (main circuit board).
 Temporarily hold programs and data
while the computer is on.
 RAM is constantly changing
(volatile).
 E.g. When we create a document,
the word processing program will be
temporarily copied into RAM so that
microprocessor can quickly access
the required instructions.
Read-only memory(ROM)
 Another set of electronic circuits on the
motherboard inside the computer.
 We cannot increase ROM capacity.
 Manufacturer permanently installs ROM.
 When computer is on, the sets of
instructions in ROM
 checks all the computer system’s components
to make sure they are working and
 activates the essential software that controls
the processing function.
Secondary Storage Devices

 RAM retains data only when the power is on, so

computer must have a more permanent storage option.
 Because secondary storage requires mechanical
movement to access the data, it is relatively slow.
 Information systems need to store information outside
the computer in a nonvolatile state and to store data
too large to fit into a computer of any size today.
 The most common secondary storage: magnetic disk,
optical disk, and magnetic tape.
 Magnetic storage devices are hard disk drive, floppy
disk drives, and tape drives.
Hard disk drive
 HD or HDD, C:
 The main storage media device
 Most computers contains one hard disk.
 Provides a storage area to be shared by all
users of the computer.
 Generally, the programs that are needed
to operate the computer system are stored
here.
Floppy disk drive
 FD or FDD, A:
 Most common magnetic storage device.
 Users can have any number of floppy disks
that can be inserted into computer’s
floppy disk drive.
 High density disk- capacity to store 1.44
MB.
 Low-density disk - capacity to
store 720 KB.
Tape drive

 Another magnetic storage device.

 Provides inexpensive archival storage for
large quantities of data.
 Too slow to be used for day-to-day tasks.
 Used to make backup copies of data
stored on hard disks.
 If a hard disk fails, data from the backup
tape can be reloaded on a new hard disk.
Compact Disk-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM)
 Optical storage device.
 Uses laser technology to read and write
data on compact discs (CDs).
 High capacity and portability
 Disadvantage: The surface of the CD is not
rewriteable like magnetic media.
 Relatively slow access. Mainly used for
software distribution and storing large data
files such as graphics, animation, and
video.
CD-RW
 One of the problems with a CD-R disk is that
information can only be written onto it once.
 A CD-RW disk (rewritable) allows the disk to be
written onto multiple times.
 Most new computers come with a CD-RW drive so
that users can store and backup large amounts of
information on a reusable disk.
Secondary Storage
Communications Hardware

 Communications (or telecommunications)

technology consists of electromagnetic
devices and systems communicating over
long distances.
 Devices used for communication
 Modem
 Network cable
Modem
 A modem is a device that
translates the digital signals from
your computer into analogue
signals that can travel over a
standard phone line.
 A modem on the other end of
the line can understand it and
converts the sounds back into
digital information.
 It is the device that will connect
you to the internet or allow you
to communicate with a friend.
Elements of Computer-Based
Information Systems: Software
 Software refers to the
programs that control
the functioning of the
hardware and direct its
operation.
 Application Software
 System Software
Programmers and Programming Languages:
Who creates computer software?

 Computer programmers write the

instructions for the computer programs
 Software publishers distribute the
software
 They specialize in packaging, marketing, and
selling commercial software
Application Software and System
Software: How is software categorized?

 Software is categorized as either

application software or system software
 Application software is designed to be used
for a purpose
 System software is designed to help the
computer carry out the basic operating
functions
▪ Operating systems, utilities, and drivers
What is application software?

 A set of computer programs that helps a

person carry out a task
 Create, edit, and print documents
 Manage money accounts
 Create and edit home movies
Types of Application Software

 Customized software
 Payroll system, student registration system
 General-purpose or Packaged software
 MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher, Flash
System Software

 Programs designed to manage the functions

of the computer
 OS – master control program
 Translators – Compiler, Assembler, Interpreter
 Utility programs – for frequently used tasks
 Performance-monitoring software – to monitor,
analyze the system
Operating System Overview: What does
an operating system do?

 The master controller for all of the

activities that take place within a
computer
 Microsoft Windows XP, Mac OS, Linux, UNIX
 Interacts with the application software
What does an operating system do?
Elements of Computer-Based Information
Systems: Data/Information
 Data: Raw facts, figures, and details.

 Information: An organized, meaningful, and

useful interpretation of data.
Types of Data
Binary Representation of Data
 For information to flow through a computer system, it
must be in form suitable for processing.
 A binary digit is called a bit and it represents either a 0
or a 1.
 In the computer, the presence of an electronic or
magnetic signal means “one” and its absence means
“zero”.
Binary Representation of Data
 A string of 8 bits that computer stores as a
unit is called a byte.
 Each byte is used to store a decimal number,
a symbol, a character, or a part of a picture.
 There are two standard binary codes:
 EBCDIC (Extended Binary Coded Decimal
Interchange Code)
 ASCII (American Standard Code for
Information Interchange).
 Bits and Bytes

0 or 1 One bit bit for character A

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 One byte for character A

The Computer representation in ASCII for the name ALICE is:

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 A

0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 L

0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 I

0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 C

0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 E
Quantifying Bits and Bytes: How can I tell
the difference between bits and bytes?

 Kilo- means a 1000, Mega- means million,

Giga -means billion
 Kilobit (Kb) is 1,024 bits
 Kilobyte (KB) is 1, 024 bytes
 Megabyte (MB) is 1,048,576 bytes
 Gigabyte (GB) is 1,073,741,824 bytes
Hierarchy of Data Organization

 Bit – smallest unit of information

 Byte – a group of 8 bits; holds the equivalent
of a character
 Field – unit of data consisting one or more
characters
 Record – collection of related fields
 File – collection of related records
 Database – collection of interrelated files
What is a file?

 A named collection of data that exists on a storage

medium
 A data file contains data such as the text for a
document
 An executable file contains the programs or instructions
that tell a computer how to perform a specific task
 A filename extension indicates a file’s contents
 EXE
 JPG
Elements of Computer-Based
Information Systems: People
 The most important element in computer-based
information systems.
 IT Professionals – trained workers in the IT field
 Data encoder
 Computer operator
 Computer programmer
 Systems Analyst
 IT manager
Elements of Computer-Based
Information Systems: Procedures
 Procedures are descriptions of how things are
done, steps for accomplishing a result.
 User manuals; documentation
Elements of Computer-Based Information
Systems: Communication
 It is defined as the electronic transfer of data
or information from one place to another.
 Telecommunication – communication at a
distance.
Data Communication

 The transmission of text, numeric, voice, or video data

from one machine to another is called data
communications.
 For example, Send an electronic mail to your friends
around the globe.
 The four essential components of data
communications are a sender, a receiver, a channel,
and a protocol.
 Sender => The computer that originates the message is
called the sender.
 Receiver => The computer at the message’s destination
is called the receiver.
Data Communication

 Channel => The message needs some kind of medium

to be transmitted. This medium is called channel. For
example, telephone or coaxial cable, microwave signal,
or optical fibers
 Protocol => The rules that establish an orderly transfer
of data between the sender and the receiver are called
protocols.
Message => The information to be communicated.