Basic Computer

Understanding and Skills

Basic Computer Understanding

Section 1: What is a computer?

Section 2: Different Types
Section 3: Different Operating Systems
Section 4: Basic Components
Section5: How to Buy a computer
Section 6: Different States of a computer
Understanding - What is a computer?

Computers are machines that perform tasks or calculations according

to a set of instructions, or programs. The first fully electronic
computers, introduced in the 1940s, were huge machines that
required teams of people to operate. Compared to those early
machines, today's computers are amazing. Not only are they
thousands of times faster, they can fit on your desk, on your lap, or
even in your pocket
Understanding – What is a computer?

Computers work through an interaction of hardware and software.

Hardware refers to the parts of a computer that you can see and
touch, including the case and everything inside it. The most
important piece of hardware is a tiny rectangular chip inside your
computer called the central processing unit (CPU), or
microprocessor. It's the "brain" of your computer—the part that
translates instructions and performs calculations. Hardware items
such as your monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, and other
components are often called hardware devices, or devices.
Understanding – What is a computer?

• The computer processes input through input devices like mouse and
keyboard.
• The computer displays output through output devices like color
monitor and printer.
• Computers have become indispensable in today’s world. Millions of
people use computers all over the world.
• There are several uses of computers:
Understanding – What is a computer?
• Word Processing - Word Processing software automatically corrects spelling and grammar
mistakes. If the content of a document repeats you don’t have to type it each time. You can use
the copy and paste features. You can printout documents and make several copies. It is easier
to read a word-processed document than a handwritten one. You can add images to your
document.
• Internet - It is a network of almost all the computers in the world. You can browse through
much more information than you could do in a library. That is because computers can store
enormous amounts of information. You also have very fast and convenient access to
information. Through E-Mail you can communicate with a person sitting thousands of miles
away in seconds. There is chat software that enables one to chat with another person on a real-
time basis. Video conferencing tools are becoming readily available to the common man.
• Digital video or audio composition – Audio or video composition and editing have been made
much easier by computers. It no longer costs thousands of dollars of equipment to compose
music or make a film. Graphics engineers can use computers to generate short or full-length
films or even to create three-dimensional models. Anybody owning a computer can now enter
the field of media production. Special effects in science fiction and action movies are created
using computers.
• Desktop publishing - With desktop publishing, you can create page layouts for entire books on
your personal computer.
• Computers in Medicine - You can diagnose diseases. You can learn the cures. Software is used
in magnetic resonance imaging to examine the internal organs of the human body. Software is
used for performing surgery. Computers are used to store patient data.
• Mathematical Calculations - Thanks to computers, which have computing speeds of over a
million calculations per second we can perform the biggest of mathematical calculations.
• Banks - All financial transactions are done by computer software. They provide security, speed
and convenience.
 Understanding – What is a computer?
• Travel - One can book air tickets or railway tickets and make hotel reservations online.
• Telecommunications - Software is widely used here. Also all mobile phones have software
embedded in them.
• Defense - There is software embedded in almost every weapon. Software is used for
controlling the flight and targeting in ballistic missiles. Software is used to control access to
atomic bombs.
• E-Learning – Instead of a book it is easier to learn from an E-learning software.
• Examinations-You can give online exams and get instant results. You can check your
examination results online.
• Computers in Business - Shops and supermarkets use software, which calculate the bills. Taxes
can be calculated and paid online. Accounting is done using computers. One can predict future
trends of business using artificial intelligence software. Software is used in major stock
markets. One can do trading online. There are fully automated factories running on software.
• Certificates - Different types of certificates can be generated. It is very easy to create and
change layouts.
• ATM machines - The computer software authenticates the user and dispenses cash.
Understanding – What is a computer?

• News-There are many websites through which you can read the latest or old
news.
• Classmates-There are many alumni websites through which you can regain
contact with your classmates.
• Robotics - Robots are controlled by software.
• Planning and Scheduling - Software can be used to store contact information,
generating plans, scheduling appointments and deadlines.
• Greeting Cards - You can send and receive greetings pertaining to different
occasions.
• Sports – Software is used for making umpiring decisions. There are simulation
software using which a sportsperson can practice his skills. Computers are also
to identify flaws in technique.
• Aero-planes – Pilots train on software, which simulates flying.
• Weather analysis – Supercomputers are used to analyze and predict weather.
Understanding - Different Types

Following are some of the other important types of computers.

• Mainframe Computers: Large organizations use mainframes for highly

critical applications such as bulk data processing. Most of the mainframe
computers have the capacities to host multiple operating systems and
operate as a number of virtual machines and can thus substitute for several
small servers.

• Microcomputers: A computer with a microprocessor and its central

processing unit is known as a microcomputer. They do not occupy space as
much as mainframes. When supplemented with a keyboard and a mouse,
microcomputers can be called as personal computers. A monitor, a keyboard
and other similar input output devices, computer memory in the form of
RAM and a power supply unit come packaged in a microcomputer. These
computers can fit on desks or tables and serve as the best choices for single-
user tasks.
Understanding - Different Types

Personal computers come in a variety of forms such as desktops,

laptops and personal digital assistants. Let us look at each of these
types of computers.

•Desktops: A desktop is intended to be used on a single location. The

spare parts of a desktop computer are readily available at relative
lower costs. Power consumption is not as critical as that in laptops.
Desktops are widely popular for daily use in workplaces and
households.
•Laptops: Similar in operation to desktops, laptop computers are
miniaturized and optimized for mobile use. Laptops run on a single
battery or an external adapter that charges the computer batteries.
They are enabled with an inbuilt keyboard, touch pad acting as a
mouse and a liquid crystal display. Its portability and capacity to
operate on battery power have served as a boon for mobile users.
Understanding - Different Types

• Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs): It is a handheld computer and

popularly known as a palmtop. It has a touch screen and a memory
card for storage of data. PDAs can also be effectively used as
portable audio players, web browsers and smart phones. Most of
them can access the Internet by means of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi
communication.

• Minicomputers: In terms of size and processing capacity,

minicomputers lie in between mainframes and microcomputers.
Minicomputers are also called mid-range systems or workstations.
The term began to be popularly used in the 1960s to refer to
relatively smaller third generation computers. They took up the
space that would be needed for a refrigerator or two and used
transistor and core memory technologies. The 12-bit PDP-8
minicomputer of the Digital Equipment Corporation was the first
successful minicomputer.
Understanding - Different Types

• Supercomputers: The highly calculation-intensive tasks can be effectively

performed by means of supercomputers. Quantum physics, mechanics,
weather forecasting, molecular theory are best studied by means of
supercomputers. Their ability of parallel processing and their well-designed
memory hierarchy give the supercomputers, large transaction processing
powers.

• Wearable Computers: A record-setting step in the evolution of computers

was the creation of wearable computers. These computers can be worn on
the body and are often used in the study of behavior modeling and human
health. Military and health professionals have incorporated wearable
computers into their daily routine, as a part of such studies. When the users’
hands and sensory organs are engaged in other activities, wearable
computers are of great help in tracking human actions. Wearable computers
are consistently in operation as they do not have to be turned on and off
and are constantly interacting with the user.
What Computer type am I?
What Computer type am I?
What Computer type am I?
What Computer type am I?
What Computer type am I?
What Computer type am I?
What Computer type am I?
What Computer type am I?
Understanding - Different Operating Systems

• Operating System or OS -- is software, consisting of programs and

data, that runs on computers, manages computer hardware
resources, and provides common services for execution of various
application software. The operating system is the most important
type of system software in a computer system. Without an operating
system, a user cannot run an application program on their computer,
unless the application program is self booting.
Understanding - Different Operating Systems

• An OS has brand Name

• Each Brand has different versions of OS
• Can anyone name a brand name of an OS?
Understanding - Different Operating Systems

• Common Brands. Windows or Mac

• Others: UNIX / Linux, Google Chrome OS, Novel
• Before Windows, Microsoft used Dos. Dos was a non- GUI OS
(Graphical User Interface)
• Window versions: Windows CE, Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows
98, Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000,
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7
Understanding - Different Operating Systems

• Mac versions: Apple DOS 3.1, Apple System 1-7, Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9,
Mac OS 10, Mac OS X
• Unix/Linux got its start in 1957-- Bell Labs found they needed an
operating system for their computer center that at the time was
running various batch jobs. The BESYS operating system was created
at Bell Labs to deal with these needs.
Understanding - Different Operating Systems

• Unix/Linux has many variations or brands that have evolved since

then
• Brands: BSD, FreeBSD, SCO/Caldera, Red Hat, Solaris, Linux
• Linux was not started until 1991, but it is the most noted UNIX OS
Understanding - Different Operating Systems

• Today’s computers are:

1. Multi-user - A multi-user operating system allows for multiple users to

use the same computer at the same time and different times.

2. Multiprocessing - An operating system capable of supporting and

utilizing more than one computer processor.

3. Multitasking - An operating system that is capable of allowing multiple

software processes to run at the same time.

4. Multithreading - Operating systems that allow different parts of a

software program to run concurrently.
Understanding - Different Operating Systems

• Operating System or OS -- is software, consisting of programs and

data, that runs on computers, manages computer hardware
resources, and provides common services for execution of various
application software. The operating system is the most important
type of system software in a computer system. Without an operating
system, a user cannot run an application program on their computer,
unless the application program is self booting.
Understanding - Basic Components

• Motherboard
• CPU – Central Processing Unit
• RAM – Random Access Memory
• Video Card -
• Power Supply
• Hard disk or drive
• Optical Drive
Understanding - Basic Components
Understanding - Basic Components

• http://www.videojug.com/film/what-components-are-inside-my-computer

• Hardware and Software -- All of these components are usually found

within the tower of a desktop computer. They are referred to as
"hardware". Hardware can be thought of as the actual physical
components that go into the computer. "Software" refers to the
programs and systems that operate within the hardware.
Understanding - Basic Components
Understanding - Basic Components

• The Motherboard -- The motherboard is the “heart” of the

computer. It is the largest and most fundamental component of a PC
and every other component is attached to it in some way. This is
because all the different components use the motherboard to
communicate and work with each other.
The motherboard has a series of slots, sockets and connectors for
attaching the components of a PC.
In most cases, the memory, accessory cards, and CPU are installed
directly onto the motherboard. The drives and peripherals
communicate with the motherboard through wired connections.
There are a wide range of motherboards to choose from. They differ
in features, speed, capacity and the CPU supported. They also differ
in size, shape and layout, this is commonly referred to as the "form
factor"
Understanding - Basic Components

• The CPU -- CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. This is the brain of
the computer and is often referred to as the "processor" or the
"chip". It is found under a heat sink and fan and sits directly on the
motherboard.

The CPU directs, coordinates and communicates with the other

components and performs all of the "thinking". It's not really
thinking, what a CPU actually does is perform mathematical
calculations. It is the software that people write that translates those
calculations into useful functions for us.
Understanding - Basic Components

• RAM -- RAM stands for Random Access Memory, and comes as

modules in predefined amounts. It is also found directly on the
motherboard and usually in one, two or four slots. The memory chips
store information, temporarily, for short term use by the CPU. RAM
is used to store information for files that are actually being used by
the CPU at any given time.

The computer's RAM memory is an entirely different thing from the

hard disk "memory". The hard disk stores information "permanently"
for long term use.
Understanding - Basic Components

• The Graphics Card -- The graphics card or video card translates

information into the graphics and text that appear on the monitor
screen.
Most motherboards now include a slot specifically designed for the
graphics adapter called the AGP slot. This stands for Advanced
Graphics Port.
Modern graphics adapters usually incorporate some memory right
on the card to improve their performance.
Understanding - Basic Components

• The Power Supply -- This supplies power to the other components,

which is why it has so many wires coming out of it.
It is usually positioned at the back top corner of the computer case.
The power supply has a fan built into it to keep itself and the
computer cool.
Understanding - Basic Components

• The Hard Disk -- A hard disk - which is also called a "hard drive" - is
much like a filing cabinet. The programs and data are stored on the
hard disk and the computer accesses them as they are needed.
When the computer accesses the hard drive, it is reading and moving
the stored information into the RAM memory. That memory is the
temporary workspace. However, the original file is still on the hard
disk and is left undisturbed until the file is saved.

When the computer stores or "saves" information, it writes the data

to the hard disk. That process results in the old file being replaced or
modified with the new information. If you save data to a new file, or
install new software, the information is written to the disk in an
available, unused portion of the disk.
Understanding - Basic Components

• The Optical Drive -- The optical drive is often called a DVD drive, or a
CD drive. It sits at the front of the computer for ease of access, and
uses a laser to read and write information to CD's and DVD's
 Understanding - How to Buy a computer
• What is important to any computer purchase?
1. Ram – if money is tight, buy more RAM by choosing a lesser CPU or smaller hard drive. For Window7 buy 2 GB – 4 GB.
2. CPU or processor – a multi-core CPU is mandatory today in desktops and laptop. CPU speed is less important today because
they are all very fast.
3. Hard drive – Get the largest you can (250 – 500 GB). The fastest hard drives is not always better. Computers dislike heat,
slower hard drives product less heat and last longer in home environments. SATA hard drive 7200RPM
is a good choice.
• What is important to you as a individual?
1. What do I want this computer for: general home/school computer (internet, email, Office suite software, some video/audio
use), High use AutoCad or Multimedia with audio and video editing, or Gaming. Gaming computers are like hot-rod car fast,
strong, and expensive. Most general home/school computers can do most games very well.

2. Desktop, Laptop, or minicomputer (Tablet, IPAD, Multimedia phone)?

• Desktop: will generally out last a laptop, faster and perform better
than laptop, and cheaper to work on and find replacement parts.
• Laptop: Always buy the 3 year warranty on laptops. If you keep
Laptop cool, they last longer. Handle your power supply cord gently
over time, it will need replacing. Laptops are nice on portability, but
just expect to replace it sooner than a desktop
• Minicomputer – very convenient and fun. They are not full functioning
PCs. Fun to have in addition to your desktop or laptop. Example: (your
desktop have your music file on it, you your minicomputer to play files
from it)
 Understanding - How to Buy a computer
• Today, most computers come with everything you need. There are not
a lot of accessories that people need to buy extra
• Make sure it comes with a wired Optical Mouse and wired keyboard.
Wireless is nice, but you will soon get tired of replacing batteries
• Most computes have a standard sound card and speakers, which meets
most peoples needs
• Web-Cam – very nice in saving long distance calls
Basic Computer Skills

Section 1: What is My Desktop?

Section 2: Basic Desktop Navigation
Section 3: Start button
Section 4: My Files
Section 5: Customizing Your Desktop
Section 5: Control Panel
Section 6: Administration Tools
Section 7: Working With Folders and Files
Section 8: Working With Programs
Section 9: Managing Windows
Section 10: Logging On and Off Windows
Section 11: Protecting Your computer
Basic Computer Skills Cover

• Use a mouse to point, click and double-click

• Keyboard and typing tips
• Opening and closing software files
• Accessing a CD-ROM
• Locating a saved file
• How to copy and paste files or text