COMSATS Institute of Information Technology,

Islamabad

Lecture # 1
by:
Ch. Anwar Shaukat
Agenda
 What is a computer ?
 How have they evolved ?
 What can they do ?
 What is IT?

A Survey
 Employers Want IT  86% want basic
Competency spreadsheet skills.
 83% think computer  83% want basic
competency skills are database skills.
important in the hiring  75% want basic
decision.
presentation software
 96% want basic word skills.
processing skills.
 93% want e-mail experience.
 64% want internet and
searching skills. 3
 What is a Computer ?

 A computer is an electronic device that can accept

 The processing is carried out by a set of stored

 The physical components which allow the information to

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 Utilization of Computers
 Neuroscience + Computer Science
 How does the Internet work?
 Medical Brain Imaging & Computer Science
 Robotics & Marine research
 Sports & Computers
 Astronomy & Computer Science
 Languages and Hearing aids...
 Biology & IT
 Arts, Graphics & Computer Science
 Examples of Computer Usage
Software for: Software for: Software for:
Home User Small office / Home Mobile User
• Personal finance office (SOHO) user Hardware
management • Productivity  Notebook computer
• Web access software  PDAs
• Communications • Web usage  Smart phones
• Entertainment • E-mail  Tablet PCs
Software
 Word processing
Software for: Software for:  Spreadsheet
Large Business User Large Business User  Presentation
• Payroll • Payroll
graphics software
• Inventory • Inventory
• E-commerce • E-commerce
• Desktop publishing • Desktop publishing
 Computer Applications in Society

• Education
• Finance
• Government
•Mobiles
• Healthcare
•Microwave oven
• Science • Missiles etc
• Publishing •Virtual house tours
• Travel •On-line voting
• Manufacturing •Obtain a doctor’s consultation via
telemedicine
•Cashless society
•Continuous stock market
 Why are computers so powerful?
Efficiency & Effectiveness of a Other Capabilities of a Computer:
Computer are because of: • Perform high-speed, high-volume,
numerical computation.
• Provide fast, accurate & inexpensive
• Speed communication within and between
organizations.
• Reliability
• Store huge amounts of information
• Storage in
an easy-to-access, yet small space.
• Communication
• Allows quick and inexpensive
access
to vast amount of information,
worldwide.
• Facilitate the analysis of vast
amounts
of data.
• Enable communication and
collaboration anywhere, any time.
• Increase the effectiveness and
Looking Back a Few Years
Home
PCs computers
introduced! & networks
1960s 2001

mid- 2003
Very
expensive
1970s
Powerful PCs
computers
on every
for large
desktop.
companies.
Explosion of
Computer
applications.
professionals
ran the show.
How does a computer know
what to do?
Data vs Information
 Programs or software tell
computers what to do.  Data – raw facts
06/01/1999 – a date
 Software is the part of a  Information – data that
computer system which
doesn't break when you drop have a particular
it. meaning within a
specific context
 Software is now a bigger 06/01/1999 the date an
business than hardware. automobile was sold

 The key distinction is between

INPUTS PROCESSING OUTPUTS

Feedback
Output that is used to
make changes to input or
processing activities
Data, Information and Systems
Characteristics of a Valuable
Information
Humans Vs Computer
 Information Components of a
Processing Cycle Computer
• Input • Input Devices
• Process
• System Unit /
• Output
Processing Unit
• Storage
• Communication
• Output Devices

• Storage Media

• Communication
Devices
 The New Economy VS. The Old Economy

Example Old New

Buying and selling Visit the bookstore Visit web site for
text book publishers and retailers
Registering for Walk around campus to Access campus web site
classes Departments, Registrar’s
office, etc.
Photography Buy film, use camera, take Use digital camera
picture, take it for processing

Paying for goods Visit store, take the item, pay , Use credit cards, visa
go cards etc
Supplying commercial Use newspapers, paper, Use hub-like supply chain
photos catalog or on line with digitized picture

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 IT in business

 Customer relationship management (CRM)