Fourth Edition
1
Introduction to
Information
Technology—
Hardware, Software, and
Telecommunications
Learning Objectives
1. Define IT, computer, computer literacy
2. Describe classification of computers
3. Differentiate between hardware and software
4. Discuss the different hardware components of a
computer
5. Describe the difference between system and
application software
6. Discuss the significance of connectivity and
networking
7. Discuss the expansion of wireless technology
Information Technology
and Computer Literacy
Information technology includes:
Computers
Communication Networks
Computer literacy
Computer
An electronic device which:
Accepts data as input
Processes that data according to instructions stored in
memory
Produces information as output
Stores the results
Computer Literacy
Computer literacy includes:
Knowledge of basic computer concepts
The ability to use computers to make tasks easier
The ability to use the Internet and World Wide Web
Critically judge the information
Computers and Health Care
It is especially crucial for allied health
students to have a knowledge of computers
and networks
The federal government is attempting to
make the use of the electronic health record
(EHR) and integrated hospital information
technology systems universal by 2014
Computer Classifications
1. Supercomputer
Largest and most powerful at any time
Used for scientific applications such as weather
forecasting and simulations
2. Mainframes
Used by large institutions (businesses, hospitals,
universities)
Powerful, multiuser computer; many users access
mainframe through terminals
Used for data processing tasks, e.g., generating a payroll,
processing insurance claims
Computer Classifications
3. Minicomputers
Scaled-down mainframe
Multiuser
Used in small businesses
4. Microcomputers (PCs, desktops)
Used by individuals
5. Net books
Scaled-down microcomputers
Light and easy to carry
Provide a link to the Internet, and support common
application software
Computer Classifications
6. Personal digital assistants (PDAs)
Small, handheld computers
Used throughout the health care system for references, to
gather information, and to write prescriptions
7. Smartphone
Cell phone with built-in applications and Internet access
Provide phone service, text messaging, e-mail, Web
browsing, still and video cameras, MP3 players, and video
viewing
There are many health-related apps for Smartphone, eg:
MEDSCAPE,SKYSCAPE, EVERNOTE.
Figure 1.1: Mobile health apps used by U.S. doctors, 2013-2014
http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2014/04/08/doctors-going-mobile-but-still skeptical-of-connected-health/
(Huang, G. T., 2014)
Figure 1.2: Percentages of surgeons who used smartphones’ built-in cameras for
the respective purposes (%)
Buabbas, A.J., Aldousari, S., Ayed, A.K. et al. Usefulness of smartphone use among surgeons in clinical practice during the
pandemic of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 21, 198 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-
021-01563-1
Computer Classifications
8. Tablet computers
Wireless touch screen computers which may use a stylus
or digital pen to input information
Tablet computers have become widely used by health care
providers
9. Embedded computer
Single-purpose computers on chips inside appliances or
human beings
May be used to regulate a heartbeat or dispense
medication, among other uses
Hardware
Includes all the physical parts of the computer,
the parts you can see and touch
Input Hardware
Includes all devices used to digitize and input
data into the computer
Figure 1.3 Hardware.
Source: Beekman, George, and Ben Beekman. Digital Planet Tomorrow’s Technology and
You. 10th ed. New York: Prentice Hall, 2011.
Figure 1.4: Input Devices of Computer
https://www.tutorialsmate.com/2020/12/input-devices-of-computer.html
Input Devices
1. Keyboards
2. Direct-entry devices
1. Pointing device
2. Mouse
3. Touch screen
4. RFID
5. Scanning devices:
o Bar-code reader—scans universal product codes
Kurzweil scanner—text is input; voice reading the text
aloud is the output
6. Microphone
7. camera
Input Devices
Example of Scanning device
MICR (magnetic ink character recognition)
OCR (optical character recognition)
OMR (optical mark recognition)
RFID (radio frequency identification) tags
Processing Hardware
Processing hardware comprises the brains of
the computer
Central processing unit
Control unit directs operation following instructions of
programs
Arithmetic-logic unit performs arithmetic operations and
logical operations (comparisons)
Memory
Random access memory (RAM)—temporary work space,
holds current work
Read-only memory (ROM)—permanent, firmware, holds
startup instructions
Figure 1.5: Processing hardware
http://dzplacide.over-blog.com/2015/02/computer-hardware-ict-comp-sc.html
Output Devices - translate the language of bits into a form
humans can understand
Soft copy Hard copy
Monitors Printers
Voice synthesis Impact (noisy)
Speakers Nonimpact (quiet)
Plotters
Secondary Storage Devices
1. Magnetic media
Magnetic tape
Diskettes
2. Optical media
CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW
DVD
3. Solid-state high-capacity memory devices
(SSD)
Flash memory
Thumb drive
Pendrive
SD cards
Micro SD cards
Software
1. System software manages the hardware
Operating system (OS)
Utilities
2. Application software does tasks for the user
Word processors
Spreadsheets
Presentation software
Database management systems
Graphics software
Communications software
Specialized packages
Games
Web browsers
Difference between
System and Application Software
System software Application software
System software manages the Application software does tasks
hardware for the user
It is a type of computer It is developed to assist user
program that is designed to run with a particular process that
a computer's hardware and may be related to creativity,
application programs. productivity, or better
communication. It helps you in
completing your tasks
Networks
Allow the sharing of hardware, software, data
Classified by size: LANs, WANs, personal
network (it can be private or connected via
telephone line, making them
telecommunication networks)
Networking and Telecommunications
1. Connectivity—the fact that computers can be
linked for sending and receiving data
2. Telecommunications—involves the linking of
computers and telephone line–Several
communication channel either wired or
wireless
Hospitals use fast T1-T3 lines for moving images
Hospitals can use slow connections for e-mail and small
attachments
Protocols
Definition:
Transmission is governed by sets of technical
standards or rules
It take care of how the connection is set up between
devices
Expansion of Wireless Technology
1. Cell phones
2. GPS
3. WiFi
4. PDAs
5. Smartphone
6. Tablet computers
The Internet
The Internet (interconnected network) is a
networks that spans the world
Originated as ARPAnet (1969); subscribes to
TCP/IP protocols
Services: exchange of text, data, programs;
research; e-mail; MEDLINE; telemedicine;
telecommuting
World Wide Web(www)
1. Part of the Internet that allows the linking of
multimedia documents (Web sites)
2. You must have an Internet connection and
software called a browser
3. The Web is the graphical part of the Internet
4. Comprised of pages with hyperlinks to other
pages
5. Can be searched using a search engine
Finding Information
1. Every document has an address URL
(uniform resource locator) which you can
enter if you know it
2. Browsing: start anywhere and click on links
to other sites
Search Tools
1. Search engines
Allow the user to enter a search expression to find
documents with the matching phrase
2. Subject guides or directories
Organize information into categories
Evaluating Information
There are no standards governing the quality
of information on the Internet; much of it is
unreliable
Evaluating Information
Some questions to ask when judging
reliability of information:
Is the site maintained by an educational (.edu),
nonprofit (.org), or government (.gov) institution?
Is the site maintained by an individual (address may
include ~)?
Is the site maintained by a commercial organization
(.com) that is trying to sell you something?
Evaluating Information
Does the page have an author?
Has the page been updated recently?
Does the information make sense and can it
be supported by other sources?
Be careful of conflicts of interest on any site,
even the FDA. For example, much of the drug
budget for the FDA comes from the drug
companies it regulates.
RECAP
NEXT WEEK CLASS: READ CHAPTER 2
