Chapter 1

Overview of IT

Department of Information and Communications Technology

2
Introduction

3
What is a computer?
• A computer is an electronic device that operates under the
control of stored instructions in its memory. It is
programmable machine and basically used to capture and
process the data, generate the results, and store the results
for future use.
• Computers are popular because they have the advantages
of speed, reliability, consistency, storage and
communication capabilities.

4
Types of computers
• Supercomputers
• Mainframes
• Minicomputers/Midrange computers / servers
• Microcomputers

5
6
What is Data Representation?
Data consist of analog
Data representation refers to and digital data, so the
the internal method used to computers recognize two
represent various types of data states only: on and off.
stored on a computer. This is known as the
digital data.
Use a binary system to
recognize two states or two
A group of eight bits is
unique digits: 0 and 1, called
called the byte.
bits (binary digits); smallest unit
of data computer can process.

16
Data Representation (cont.)

Binary representation of electronic states

17
FOR INFORMATION ONLY - NOT TO BE ASSESSED
Data Representation (cont.) Illustration of character ‘B’ decoded into binary

Step 1: The user presses the capital

Step 2: An electronic signal for the capital

B
Step 3: The signal for the capital letter B is
converted to its ASCII binary code (01000010)
and is stored in memory for processing.
Step 4: After processing, the binary code
for the capital letter B is converted to an
image and displayed on the output device.

18
FOR INFORMATION ONLY - NOT TO BE ASSESSED
Data Representation (cont.)
Representation of word “BYTE”

19
Basic Operation of a Computer

20
 FOUR Basic Computer Operations - INPUT
• It can be any kind • to provide, give or • Keyboards,
of data that needs enter something mouse, scanner,
to be entered into (data or touch pad, touch
a computer information) to screen.
system. the
computer system. Example of Devices
Definition
Function

21
 FOUR Basic Computer Operations - PROCESSING
• The retrieval or • To manipulate the • Central Processing
manipulation of data into Unit (CPU)
data to a new information Example of Devices
program or known
as an information. Function

Definition

*This is 3D model.

22
 FOUR Basic Computer Operations - STORAGE
• The storing or • To keeps or holds • Primary storage
preservation of the data and (temporary/volatile) –
information for programs during RAM
• Secondary storage
current and later and after
(permanent/non-
use. processing. volatile) – compact
Definition Function disk (CD), hard disk
drive (HDD), solid-
state drive (SSD),
thumb drives, flash
memory cards
Example of Devices
23
 FOUR Basic Computer Operations - OUTPUT
• Anything • To generates • Monitor, speaker,
produced by the result of printers,
computer system processing in headphones, LCD.
or the end results human-readable Example of Devices
of processing. form.
Definition Function

24
Computer Hardware

25
The System Unit
The system unit is a case that contains electronic components of the
computer used to process data. Often referred to the motherboard.
Two important components of the system unit are microprocessors and
memory.
• The microprocessor controls and manipulates data to produce
information.
• Memory is a holding area for data, instructions, and information.

26
FOR INFORMATION ONLY - NOT TO BE ASSESSED
The System Unit (cont.)
Types of system unit:

Tablet Mobile
Laptop Device
Desktop

27
FOR INFORMATION ONLY - NOT TO BE ASSESSED
Storage Hardware
• It is used for storing, porting, or extracting data files. It can also
store information/data both temporarily and permanently.
• There are two types of storage: primary storage and secondary
storage.

28
Primary Storage Vs Secondary Storage
• A computer needs both primary and secondary storage to make it
functional. The differences are:

29
Primary Storage Secondary Storage

RAM

30
Random-access Memory (RAM)
• Also known as main memory
• holds the program and data that are currently being processed.
• sometimes referred to as temporary storage because its contents
will typically be lost if the electric power to the computer is
disrupted.

31
Secondary Storage
• It holds the data, instructions, and information for current or future
use.
• Two main characteristics of storage are:
• storage medium - the physical material that holds data, instructions, and
information (e.g. disk platter, magnetic tape, electronic circuits).
• storage device - the mechanism that records to and retrieves data from the
storage medium (e.g read/write head, media player/driver).
• Access time is the time taken to complete one reading operation or
one writing operation.
• Transfer rate is the speed of moving the amount of data from storage
medium to RAM or vice versa.
32
Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
• Most secondary storage has larger capacities than RAM with much
cheaper costs. Some new computers now come with hard disk
drive (HDD) with a capacity of 1TB.
• A hard disk must be formatted before it can store any file.
Formatting is the process of dividing the disk surface into tracks
and sectors to enable the operating system (OS) to store and read
data on the disk.

33
Hard disk’s tracks, sectors and clusters

34
FOR INFORMATION ONLY - NOT TO BE ASSESSED
Solid-State Drive (SSD)
• SSD is a storage that consists of electronic components with no
moving parts. It uses electronic memory or flash memory.
• It can stand shocks/vibrations and durable compared to a hard
disk.
• Initially, SSDs were used only for critical tasks due to the expensive
price. However, now they have become popular in many
applications especially in smartphones and other small, mobile
devices.

35
36
SSD HDD
Pro’s:
Pro’s:
1.Very fast access time (0.1ms)
2.Less heat generated 1.Cheaper cost per byte
3.No moving parts (it is 2.Large capacity
essentially a memory chip)
4.Longer battery life
5.Lower power consumption
(averages 2 to 3 watts) Con’s:
6.Lighter weight (±73g)
1.Slower access time (5.5 ~ 8.0
ms)
Con’s: 2.More heat generated
3.Moving parts (a motor)
1.Expensive cost per byte 4.Higher power consumption
2.Smaller capacity (average 6 to 7 watts)
5.Heavy in weight (±365g)

37
Storage Capacity
It refers to the maximum amount of data (the number of bytes) the
storage can hold. If a file size is 1KB that means, there are about 1000
bytes (1 x 10³). RAM with a capacity of 4GB can hold approximately
four billion bytes.

38
39
40
Information System
• An information system is an organised system for collecting,
manipulating, storing, and processing data into information.
• The goal of an information system is to process data and produce
quality information.
• Most companies will use information system to organise
information to provide better services to their customers.

41
The Elements of an Information System
 The Elements of an Information System

PEOPLE PROCEDURES HARDWARE SOFTWARE DATA CONNECTIVITY

• People prepare • The guidelines • The physical • The non- • The • The ability to
the procedures and rules for tool of an IS. physical tool of unprocessed communicate
and design the users to follow • All hardware an IS. factual items. with another
system. when using an devices must be • The step-by- • Data are computer or
• People input the information reliable and step instructions manipulated by computer
data into the IS system capable of that tell the software to system.
and use the • They explain handling the hardware how to produce useful • A computer
information how tasks must expected perform a task. information that network is the
produced by it. be done or how workload of the are requested best way to
• People build the to accomplish IS. by the user. have
hardware and an activity. connectivity in a
ensure it runs company.
smoothly.
*The most
important element.

43
Data vs Information
• People are looking for quality information from an information
system.
• Quality information helps us to become more knowledgeable and
can make better decisions.
• Storing, organising, and processing data in a systematic way will
result in quality information.

44
Data vs Information (cont.)
• Data are raw factual items, such as text and numbers, collected
from various sources.

45
Data vs Information (cont.)
• Information is a set of processed data. Therefore, information is
more meaningful to the user than data and may be useful for
decision-making.

46
Data vs Information (cont.)
Event Data information
A list of numbers 1,3,5,7,9,11,13,1 ●All are odd numbers.
5,17,19,21 ●The smallest number is 1.
●The biggest number is 21.
●The difference of one number with
the next number is 2.
●The sum of all the numbers here is
121.

Final exam marks 56, 77, 80, 50, ●Average mark: 64.9
of ten students. 47, 85, 50, 66, ●Lowest mark: 47
61, 77 ●Highest mark: 85

47