Intro

Digital Skills Session
Introduction to Computers
1
What Is A Computer?
A computer is an electronic device that can:
- Enter data (input)
- process data (processing)
- produce information (output) and
- store the results for future use (storage).
Generally, the term is used to describe a collection of

devices that function together as a system.
2
Devices that comprise a computer system
Monitor
Speaker
(output)
(output) System unit
(processor, memory…)
Printer
(output)
Storage devices
(CD-RW, Floppy,
Hard disk, zip,…)
Mouse
(input)
Scanner Keyboard
(input) (input)
3
Data and Information
 All computer processing requires data, which is a collection of
raw facts, figures and symbols, such as numbers, words,
images, video and sound, given to the computer during the
input phase.
 Computers process data to create information. Information is
data that is organized, meaningful, and useful.
 During the output Phase, the information that has been created
is put into some form, such as a printed report.
 The information can also be put in computer storage for future
use.
4
Why Is A Computer So Powerful?
 High Speed;
 Reliability (low failure rate);
 Accuracy;
 Ability to store huge amounts of data and
information;
 Ability to communicate with other computers.
5
How Does a Computer Know
what to do?
 It must be given a detailed list of instructions,
called a compute program or software,
that tells it exactly what to do.
 Before processing a specific job, the
computer program corresponding to that job
must be stored in memory.
 Once the program is stored in memory the
compute can start the operation by executing
the program instructions one after the other.
6
What Are The Primary
Components Of A Computer ?
 Input devices.
 Central Processing Unit (containing the control unit
and the arithmetic/logic unit).
 Memory.
 Output devices.
 Storage devices.
7
What Are The Primary
Components Of A Computer ?
Input Devices
 Keyboard.
 Mouse.
9
The Keyboard
The most commonly used input device is the
keyboard on which data is entered by manually
keying in or typing certain keys. A keyboard
typically has 101 or 105 keys.
10
The Mouse
Is a pointing device which is used to control the
movement of a mouse pointer on the screen to make
selections from the screen. A mouse has one to five
buttons. The bottom of the mouse is flat and contains
a mechanism that detects movement of the mouse.
11
The Central processing Unit
The central processing unit (CPU) contains electronic
circuits that cause processing to occur. The CPU
interprets instructions to the computer and performs
the logical and arithmetic operations. It is considered
the “brain” of the computer.
12
Memory
Memory also called Random Access Memory or RAM
(temporary memory) is the main memory of the
computer. It consists of electronic components that store
data including numbers, letters of the alphabet, graphics
and sound. Any information stored in RAM is lost when
the computer is turned off.
Read Only Memory or ROM is memory that is etched on

a chip that has start-up directions for your computer. It is
permanent memory.
13
Output Devices
Output devices make the information resulting from
the processing available for use. The two output
devices more commonly used are the printer and the
computer screen.
14
Output Devices
The printer produces a hard copy of your
output, and the computer screen produces
a soft copy of your output.
Storage Devices
Auxiliary storage devices are used to store data when they
are not being used in memory. The most common types of
auxiliary storage used on personal computers are hard
disks, CD/DVD-ROM drives and miniature mobile storage
media.
16
Hard Disks
 A hard disk is the main device for auxiliary storage.
 Storage capacities of hard disks for personal
computers range from 40 GB to 1 TB (around 1
trillion bytes!)
17
Compact Discs
 A compact disk (CD), also called an optical disc, is a
flat round, portable storage medium that is usually
4.75 inch in diameter. The capacity of a CD is 650-
750 MB of data.
 DVDs have the same shape and size as CDs, but a
much larger capacity.
18
Miniature Mobile
Storage Media
Rewriteable media which allow users to
transport files conveniently:
 Flash memory cards
 USB flash drives
19
Computer Software
Computer software is the key to
productive use of computers. Software
can be categorized into two types:
 Operating system software

 Application software.
20
Operating System Software
Operating system software tells the computer how to

perform the functions of loading, storing and
executing an application and how to transfer data.
Today's operating systems have a graphical user
interface (GUI) that provide visual clues such as
icon symbols to help the user.
- Windows
- MAC
- Linux
21
Application Software
Application Software consists of programs that tell a
computer how to produce information. Some of the
more commonly used packages are:
 Word processing
 Electronic spreadsheet
 Database
 Presentation graphics
22
Word Processing
 Word Processing software is used to create and print

documents. A key advantage of word processing
software is that users easily can make changes in
documents.
23
Electronic Spreadsheets
 Electronic spreadsheet software allows the user to

add, subtract, and perform user-defined calculations
on rows and columns of numbers. These numbers
can be changed and the spreadsheet quickly
recalculates the new results.
24
Presentation Graphics
 Presentation graphic software allows the user to

create documents called slides to be used in making
the presentations. Using special projection devices,
the slides display as they appear on the computer
screen.
25

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Digital Skills Session

Generally, the term is used to describe a collection of

Read Only Memory or ROM is memory that is etched on

 USB flash drives

 Operating system software

Operating system software tells the computer how to

 Word Processing software is used to create and print

 Electronic spreadsheet software allows the user to

 Presentation graphic software allows the user to

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