CSC 101

Introduction to Computing

Lecture 3

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 Last Lecture Summary I
 Developments in Microcomputers
 From 1984 to 2008
 Intel, AMD, Motorola, IBM, Apple, Microsoft
 Internet
 Computer for Individual Use
 Desktop Computers
 Workstations
 Notebook computers
 Tablet computers
 Handheld computers
 Smart phone
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 Last Lecture Summary II
 Computer for Organizations
 Network servers
 Mainframes
 Minicomputers
 Supercomputers
 Computers in Society
 Home
 Education
 Small business
 Industry
 Government
 Health Care
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Looking Inside Computer
System
 Most people believe that computers must

be extremely complicated devices,

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Parts of the Computer System
 Computer systems have four parts
 Hardware
 Software
 Data
 User

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 Hardware
 Mechanical devices in the computer
 Anything that can be touched
 e.g. printer, keyboard, PDA etc.
 consists of interconnected electronic
devices that you can use to control the
computer’s operation, input, and output.
 generic term device refers to any piece
of hardware

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Software
 Set of instructions that makes the
computer perform tasks
 Tell the computer what to do
 Also called a program
 Thousands of programs exist
 Some for computer’s own use
 Some for the service of the user
 Reason majority of the people would
want to purchase a computer
 E-mail, type letters, play games etc.
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 Data
 Pieces of
information /
individual facts
 By themselves do
not make much
sense
 Computers
organize and
present data

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Users
 People operating the computer

 Most important part

 Tell the computer what to do

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 Information Processing Cycle
 Converts data into information
 Data
 The raw facts and figures that are processed into
information
 Information
 Data that has been summarized or otherwise
manipulated for use in decision making

Processing /
Input Output
Computation

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Steps to Process Data
 Input
 Processing
 Output
 Storage

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Steps to Process Data
 Input
 Computer accepts data from some source
 Processing
 Computers processing components perform
actions on the data based on instructions from
user or program
 Output
 Computer conveys result to user.
 Text, numbers, graphic, image, video, sound
 Optional
 Storage
 Permanently store result on some medium
 Optional
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Essential Computer Hardware
 Computers use the same basic hardware
 Hardware categorized into four types
 Processor
 Memory
 Input and Output
 Storage

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Processing Devices
 Processing
 The procedure that transforms raw data
into useful information
 To perform this transformation, the
computer uses two components:
 The Processor and
 Memory

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 Processor
 Brain of the Computer
 Processor chip
 A tiny piece of silicon that contains millions
of miniature electronic circuits.

Processor chip

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How does everything connect?

Motherboard
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Motherboard
 Main printed circuit
board in the computer
 Everything connects
to the motherboard
 Expansion slots -
“plugs” on the
motherboard for
expanding the PC’s
capabilities via
additional circuit
boards
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Processor
 Carries out instructions from the program
 Manipulate the data
 Most computers have several processors
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
 Secondary processors
 Processors made of silicon and copper

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Memory
 memory is one or more sets of chips that
store data and/or program instructions,
either temporarily or permanently.
 Memory is a critical processing
component in any computer
 Two most important types
 Random access memory (RAM) and
 Read-Only memory (ROM).
 work in very different ways and perform
distinct functions
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Random Access Memory
 Also known as RAM or memory
 Represent primary storage or temporary
storage.
 Hold data before processing and information
after processing.
 Volatile
 More RAM results in a faster system
 In MBs or GBs

RAM

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 Read Only Memory
 Also called ROM
 Nonvolatile
 Permanent storage of programs
 Holds the computer boot directions
 Typically in KBs

ROM

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Input
 Input hardware - devices that allow people
to put data into the computer in a form that
the computer can use
 Allows the user to interact
 Input devices accept data
 Keyboard
 Mouse

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Other Input Devices
 Track ball or touch pad
 Joystick
 Scanners
 Digital Camera
 Microphone
 Webcam
 Digitizer

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Output
 Output devices return
processed data to the
user or to another
computer system.
 Most common
 Monitor
 Printer
 Speaker
 Some devices are
input and output
 Touch screens
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 Output
Sound Card
 Coverts audio signal from
digital to analog and vice
versa
 Both Input and Output device
Speakers
 the devices that play sounds
transmitted as electrical
signals from the sound card.

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 Output
Video card
 converts the processor’s output
information into a video signal
that can be sent through a
cable to the monitor
Monitor
 the display device that takes
the electrical signals from the
video card and forms an image
using points of colored light on
the screen

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Communication Devices
 Modem
 a device that sends
and receives data over
telephone lines to and
from computers..
 Network Interface
Cards (NIC)
 Controls the flow of
data on a network link

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Storage Devices
 Hold data and programs permanently
 Electronic file cabinet
 Difference between storage and
memory
 More capacity in storage
 Contents are retained in storage even the
power is off
 Storage is much cheaper
 Access speed is slow

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Types of Storage Devices
 Magnetic storage

 Optical storage

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Magnetic Storage
 Most common
 Floppy disk
 stores data on
removable 3.5-inch-
diameter diskettes.
 Typical Capacity 1.4MB
Floppy disk
 Zip Disk
 stores data on floppy- Zip disk
disk cartridges with 70-
170 times the capacity
of the standard floppy
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Hard disk drive
 Storage device that stores billions of
characters of data on a non-removable
disk platter.
 Capacity 40GB-750GB or even more in
TBs

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Optical Storage
CD (Compact Disk) drive
 a storage device that uses
laser technology to read data
from optical disks.
 700MB for CD

DVD
 4.7 to 17 GB

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Blu Ray
 optical disc storage
 high-definition video and
data storage.
 same physical dimensions
as standard DVDs and CDs.
 120 mm in diameter and
 1.2 mm thick
 More storage capacity
 25 – 50 GB (single and double
layer
 100 – 128 GB (triple and quad
layer
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Storage Capacity
 1 byte - 1 character of data.
 1 kilobyte – 210 bytes/char; 1,024 characters.
 1 megabyte - 220 bytes/char 1,048,576
characters.
 1 gigabyte - more than 1 billion characters.
 1 terabyte - more than 1 trillion characters.

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Put all the hardware together
and…

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 Power
 What is Left? Power
 Inside system cabinet

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Software Runs The Machine
 Tells the computer what to do
 Reason people purchase computers
 Two types
 System software
 Application software

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System Software
 Most important software
 controls the computer’s hardware
 Operating system
 tells the computer how to use its own components.
 Windows XP
 Network operating system (OS)
 allows computers to communicate and share data
across a network
 Windows Server 2003
 Utility
 makes the computer system easier to use or
performs highly specialized functions.
 Norton Utilities
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Application Software
 Accomplishes a specific task
 Most common type of software
 Word processors
 Spreadsheet
 Database Management
 Presentation
 Graphics
 Multimedia authoring
 Entertainment and Education
 Games
 Web Design tools and web browsers
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Computer data
 Fact with no meaning on its own
 Stored using the binary number system
 Data can be organized into files
 A file is simply a set of data that has been
given a name.
 A file that the user can open and use is
often called a document.

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Computer Users
 User’s Role depends on ability
 Setup the system
 Install software
 Running the Programs
 Manage files
 Maintain the system

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Userless Computers
 Run with no user input
 Automated systems
 A car's on board computer
 Home appliances
 Washers and dryers
 Security systems
 Navigation systems
 Typically controlled by their own
operating systems

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 Summary
 Parts of the Computer System
 Hardware, Software, Data, People
 Information Processing Cycle
 Input, Processing, Output, Storage
 Computer Hardware
 Processor, Memory, Motherboard
 Input Devices Output devices
 Storage Devices
 Computer Software
 Computer Users
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