BASIC COMPUTING

Easter SEMESTER, 2021

By

Doreen Atukunda

[email protected]

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 Course Objectives
At the end of this course participants should be able to:

• Name the main parts of a computer

• Understand fundamental concepts of IT &its benefits
• Open an email and communicate using it
• Open a word processor, enter text, edit, format, save and print it
out.
• Open, a spreadsheet enter data; manipulate it, use common
functions, Save and print it out.
• Represent data in a graph, bar and column charts and a pie chart.

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What is a computer?
- electronic - General purpose
- programmable device
- accepts inputs
- processes outputs
- stores processed data as information

Capabilities

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WHY or WHY NOT computers??

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 EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
• Communication (VoIP, Voice recognition software)
• Transport (Self driving automobiles, Next Generation
GPS devices-trackers)
• Manufacturing (Robot oriented production)
• Business and Commerce (E-wallets, Digital security,
Electronic Fund transfer)
• Banking (Financial Management systems, ATMs,
Record management systems)
• Education (E-learning systems)
• Internet for everything.

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 Types/categories of computers
Micro/PC (Personal Computer)
Mini Computer
Main Frame
Supercomputer

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 Basic Concepts of Information
Technology

• Data
• Information
• Technology
• Information Technology

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• Hardware:

• Software:

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Main HW Parts of a Computer
• System Unit • Monitor/ Screen
• Motherboard(main circuit • Keyboard, Mouse, CD-ROM
board) • Hard Disk
• CPU(brain of the computer) • Power Supply
• System buses • Fan
• ROM memory chips
• RAM memory chip(main working What are peripheral devices???
memory)
• Universal Serial Bus
 Hardware cont’d

• MotherBoard
This is the circuit board where all
parts/components of the computer
are integrated.
It is also referred to as the backbone
of the computer.

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 Hardware – Processor (CPU)

The Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• The CPU is the brain in your computer.

• CPU parts (Memory or Storage Unit, Control Unit ,ALU(Arithmetic

Logic Unit)
• The CPU speed is measured in Hertz (Hz)

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 Hardware – Memory
RAM- Random Access Memory
• The main 'working' memory used by the computer.
• All programs are loaded into memory before they are used.
• RAM is a Read/Write.
• RAM is volatile .

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 Hardware – Memory

ROM – Read Only Memory

• Read Only Memory (ROM) is a memory chip that holds
software that can be read but not written to.
• A good example is the ROM-BIOS chip, which contains
instruction to enable computer to start.
• network cards and video cards also contain ROM chips.

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Software: Set of instructions that make a
computer work and also perform specific tasks.

System SW Application SW

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 Main Functions of an Operating System.

• Enables the Graphic User Interface.

• The link between the hardware and you, the computer
user.
• Makes the computer easy to use without having to
understand the maths of bits and bytes!
• Cordinates activities among the hardware components of
a computer.
• Allows for you to install application software.
• Memory Management.

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A set of interrelated components that collect (or retrieve) data,
process it, store, and distribute information to support decision
making, co-ordination and control in an organization

For a computer to be used to process data – first, it must be in

form of a computer system (an Information system).

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COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM

• Hardware:
• Software:
• Users:
• Data:
• Procedures:

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 Graphical User Interface (GUI)

• A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is simply an additional part of the

operating system that displays windows and drop down menus, and also
enables you to drive your computer using a mouse.
• Examples of operating systems that use a GUI include: Windows
95/98/2000/XP/Vista/7,Windows 8, Ubuntu, Suse, and Redhat.

Why the GUI??????

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 Memory Measurements
Bit: All computers work on a binary numbering system, i.e. they process data
in one's or zero's. This 1 or 0 level of storage is called a bit (binary digit).

 1 Bit = either a 0 (zero) or a 1 (one)

 8 Bits =1 Byte
 1024 bytes = 1 KB (Kilobyte)
 1024 Kilobytes = 1 MB (Megabyte)
 1024 Megabytes = 1 GB (Gigabyte)
 1024 Gigabytes = 1 TB (Terabyte)

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 Computer Performance
There are three major factors that impact the performance of
computer.
• Central Processing unit speed: the more the Hertz, the faster the
machine
- Right click My Computer and select Properties
• Random Access Memory size: since RAM is the main working
memory, the bigger the bytes the better the performance

• Hard disk capacity and speed: since Hard disk stores information,
lots of space and speed is needed for better performance.

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 How does a Computer work?
• Switch on power
• BIOS is started
• Voltage levels are set on motherboard
• BIOS detects connected drives and other start up
files
• When hard drives are detected OS files are then
loaded into memory.
• After this process your machine is ready for use. This
process is called BOOTING

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Health and Safety Issues when using a computer

• Need to protect your Computer

• Need to safeguard the computer user

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 Safety measures for the computer

• Cables – safely secured? Use cable ties/tunneling

• Power points – do not overload them
• Stable flat surface/vibration free
• No sharing power adapters with other devices
• No Liquids and foodstuffs
• Sequentially Shut your computer down after use

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 Health measures for the computer user
• Sitting posture – directly in front of computer/monitor at eye
level.
• A reasonable distance from the computer
• Good keyboard
• Glare from screen – avoid constant staring at the screen/use anti-
glare
• Mouse – use pad/mouse-mat to make it easier to use
• Breaks – take breaks (to avoid Repetitive Strain Injury -RSI caused
by constant use of keyboard and mouse)
• Environment – enough light and ventilation

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