Libertad National High School

Libertad, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

TECHNOLOGY
Personal Computer (PC)
WHAT IS A COMPUTER?

A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or

data. It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You may
already know that you can use a computer to type documents, send
email, play games, and browse the Web. You can also use it to edit or
create spreadsheets, presentations, and even videos.
COMPUTER OR NOT?
COMPUTER OR NOT?
What are the different types of computers?

When most people hear the word computer, they think of a personal
computer such as a desktop or laptop. However, computers come in many
shapes and sizes, and they perform many different functions in our daily
lives. When you withdraw cash from an ATM, scan groceries at the store,
or use a calculator, you're using a type of computer.
 Desktop Computer

Many people use desktop computers at work, home, and

school. Desktop computers are designed to be placed on a desk,
and they're typically made up of a few different parts, including
the computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
 Laptop computers

The second type of computer you may be familiar with is a laptop

computer, commonly called a laptop. Laptops are battery-powered
computers that are more portable than desktops, allowing you to
use them almost anywhere.
 Tablet computers

Tablet computers—or tablets—are handheld computers that are even more

portable than laptops. Instead of a keyboard and mouse, tablets use a
touch-sensitive screen for typing and navigation. The iPad is an example of
a tablet.
 Servers

A server is a computer that serves up information to other computers

on a network. For example, whenever you use the Internet, you're
looking at something that's stored on a server. Many businesses also
use local file servers to store and share files internally.
 Other types of computers

Many of today's electronics are basically specialized computers, though

we don't always think of them that way. Here are a few common
examples.
 Smartphones

Many cell phones can do a lot of things computers can do, including
browsing the Internet and playing games. They are often called
smartphones.
 Wearables

Wearable technology is a general term for a group of devices—including

fitness trackers and smartwatches—that are designed to be worn
throughout the day. These devices are often called wearables for short.
 Game consoles

A game console is a specialized type of computer that is used for playing

video games on your TV.
 SMART TV

Many TVs now include applications—or apps—that let you access various
types of online content. For example, you can stream video from the
Internet directly onto your TV.
 Activity No. 1

Take at least three (3) photos of you

with any type of computers.
What are the major components of computers?

COMPUTER

Hardware Software
What is hardware component?

Hardware is any part of your computer that has a physical

structure, such as the keyboard or mouse. It also includes all of the
computer's internal parts, which you can see in the image below.
Some Hardware Components
What is software component?

Software is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do

and how to do it. Examples of software include web browsers, games,
and word processors. Below, you can see an image of Microsoft
PowerPoint, which is used to create presentations.
Some Software Components
What are the functions of computer?

Data input

Data processing.

Information output.

Data and information storage.

 Data Input
Every computer is designed with data input as a first function, an
activity which is accomplished via input devices.

Data entry is done manually, automatically or both. Manual input is

done via add-on peripherals like the keyboard, mouse and stylus.
Input can also be accomplished via vocal dictation applications and
body gestures peripherals like Kinect and biometric devices.
Elsewhere, data input is also done using secondary storage media
and networking interfaces.

Application software used for this purpose will also dictate what
data is entered. Word processing software is designed to input
basic alphanumerical data, while a photo editing application is
used to input and manipulate images.

This data may be entered into a database, spreadsheet or other

forms of a computerized work area.
 Data Processing
Data processing is the core function of a computer. Processing
involves manipulation of raw data into before converting it into
meaningful information. Usually, data is in raw form, and will
thus undergo processing before dissemination for user
consumption.

The 'brain' of the computer where data is processed is referred

to as the microprocessor. It is also commonly known as the
central processing unit (CPU) or accelerated processing unit
(APU).

Besides the microprocessor, the dynamic random access

memory (DRAM) and static random access memory (SRAM) are
integral parts of data processing. Data entered via input devices
is stored temporarily in DRAM, then transferred to SRAM from
where the microprocessor manipulates it.
 Information Output

When raw data has been manipulated by the microprocessor,

the outcome is meant to be disseminated for useful purposes.
The output is thus referred to as information and is beneficial
to the computer user.

Processed data or information can be, viewed as alphanumeric,

images and video via a display hardware listened to as audio
files by use of a speaker printed as hard copy output onto
paper printed as 3D models
 Information Output
The fourth and equally very important function of a computer is data and
information storage. After sleepless nights of video and animation
creation and editing, the user wants to have the finished product stored
for future dissemination and additional editing.

A computer can store information internally and externally. The hard disk
drive (HDD) and/or solid-state disk drive (SSD) are internal storage
devices and serve to protect and house all data and information on a
computer. In bigger systems, the RAID system is used. Multiple disk
drives operate simultaneously to ensure data and information integrity.

External storage is achieved through accessories that attach externally to

the computer. They include external drives and optical disks.

Better still data and information can be stored online in cloud solutions
for a fee or for a fee if large space is required.
What are the uses of computers?
 Activity No. 2

In your own observations, are computers

good or bad to you as student? Cite a
situation that supports your answer.
Thank You!
The basic parts of a desktop computer
Computer case

The computer case is the metal and plastic box that contains
the main components of the computer, including the
motherboard, central processing unit (CPU), and power supply.
The front of the case usually has an On/Off button and one or
more optical drives.

Computer cases come in different shapes and sizes. A desktop

case lies flat on a desk, and the monitor usually sits on top of it.
A tower case is tall and sits next to the monitor or on the floor.
All-in-one computers come with the internal components built
into the monitor, which eliminates the need for a separate
case.
 Monitor

The monitor works with a video card, located inside the

computer case, to display images and text on the screen. Most
monitors have control buttons that allow you to change your
monitor's display settings, and some monitors also have built-in
speakers.

Newer monitors usually have LCD (liquid crystal display) or LED

(light-emitting diode) displays. These can be made very thin,
and they are often called flat-panel displays. Older monitors
use CRT (cathode ray tube) displays. CRT monitors are much
larger and heavier, and they take up more desk space.
 Keyboard

The keyboard is one of the main ways to communicate with a

computer. There are many different types of keyboards, but
most are very similar and allow you to accomplish the same
basic tasks.
 Mouse

The mouse is another important tool for communicating with

computers. Commonly known as a pointing device, it lets you
point to objects on the screen, click on them, and move them.

There are two main mouse types: optical and mechanical. The
optical mouse uses an electronic eye to detect movement and
is easier to clean. The mechanical mouse uses a rolling ball to
detect movement and requires regular cleaning to work
properly.
 Peripherals you can use with your computer

The most basic computer setup usually includes the computer

case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse, but you can plug many
different types of devices into the extra ports on your
computer. These devices are called peripherals. Let's take a
look at some of the most common ones.
 Printers:

A printer is used to print documents, photos, and anything else

that appears on your screen. There are many types of printers,
including inkjet, laser, and photo printers. There are even all-in-
one printers, which can also scan and copy documents.
 Scanners

A scanner allows you to copy a physical image or document and

save it to your computer as a digital (computer-readable)
image. Many scanners are included as part of an all-in-one
printer, although you can also buy a separate flatbed or
handheld scanner.
Speakers/headphones

Speakers and headphones are output devices, which means

they send information from the computer to the user—in this
case, they allow you to hear sound and music. Depending on
the model, they may connect to the audio port or the USB port.
Some monitors also have built-in speakers.
Microphones

A microphone is a type of input device, or a device that

receives information from a user. You can connect a
microphone to record sound or talk with someone else over
the Internet. Many laptop computers come with built-in
microphones
 Web cameras:

A web camera—or webcam—is a type of input device that can

record videos and take pictures. It can also transmit video over
the Internet in real time, which allows for video chat or video
conferencing with someone else. Many webcams also include a
microphone for this reason.
 Game controllers and joysticks

A game controller is used to control computer games. There are

many other types of controllers you can use, including joysticks,
although you can also use your mouse and keyboard to control
most games.
Software Types
The term 'software' refers to the set of electronic program
instructions or data a computer processor reads in order to
perform a task or operation. In contrast, the term 'hardware'
refers to the physical components that you can see and touch,
such as the computer hard drive, mouse, and keyboard.

Software can be categorized according to what it is designed to

accomplish. There are two main types of software: systems
software and application software.
 Systems Software

Systems software includes the programs that are dedicated to

managing the computer itself, such as the operating system, file
management utilities, and disk operating system (or DOS). The
operating system manages the computer hardware resources in
addition to applications and data. Without systems software
installed in our computers we would have to type the
instructions for everything we wanted the computer to do!
 Applications Software

Application software, or simply applications, are often called

productivity programs or end-user programs because they
enable the user to complete tasks, such as creating documents,
spreadsheets, databases and publications, doing online
research, sending email, designing graphics, running
businesses, and even playing games! Application software is
specific to the task it is designed for and can be as simple as a
calculator application or as complex as a word processing
application. When you begin creating a document, the word
processing software has already set the margins, font style and
size, and the line spacing for you. But you can change these
settings, and you have many more formatting options available.
For example, the word processor application makes it easy to
add color, headings, and pictures or delete, copy, move, and
change the document's appearance to suit your needs.
KEYBOARDING AND MOUSE SKILLS
 Keyboarding Position

Keeping your hands positioned correctly proves crucial when

typing. When at rest, your hands should be on the home row,
with your left fingers on the "A" through "F" keys and your right
fingers on "J" through the semi-colon. From this position, it is
easiest for your fingers to reach the other keys with a minimum
of movement, and on many keyboards, the "F" and "J" keys
have tiny ridges that you can feel with your fingertips as a
reminder. As you learn the key position, you can focus on typing
without looking at the keys. It may help to quietly say the name
of the key as you type it.
 Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts keep your hands on the keyboard, instead

of reaching for the mouse, saving you time as well as reducing
strain on your hands, fingers and wrist. With keyboard
shortcuts, you can quickly access the "Start" and "Help" menus,
format text, save documents, search, access file menus and
select, cut, copy and paste text. For example, "Ctrl-C" copies
highlighted text and "Ctrl-V" pastes the text.