Chapter 1

Computers: Tools for an Information Age

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 Objectives
Describe the three fundamental characteristics
of computers.
Describe at least four areas of society in which
computers are used.
Identify the basic components of a computer
system: input, processing, output, and
storage.

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 Objectives (Cont.)
List some common input, output, and storage
media.
Differentiate between data and information.
Describe the importance of networking.
Explain the importance of the Internet.
Explain the various classifications of
computers.

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 Forging a Computer-Based
Society
Traditional Fundamentals
of Economy:
 Land
 Labor
 Capital
New Economic Element:
 Information

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 What Is Computer Literacy?
Awareness
Knowledge
Interaction

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 Awareness
Becoming aware of the importance, and
Spread of computers in our society

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 Knowledge
Learning what computers are and how
they work.
Learning some technical Terms.

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 Interaction
Knowing how to use computers for some
simple applications.

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Fundamental Characteristics
Speed
Reliability
Storage Capability

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 Areas of society in which
computers are used
Education
Medicine
An Automation Robotics
Finance
Transport

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 Education
 Teaching.
 Distance Learning.
 Registration.

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 Medicine
 Monitor patients.

 Electronic imaging.

 Diagnosis of illnesses.

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 An Automation Robotics
 Perform jobs that
are dangerous for
humans.
 Factory work.

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 Finance
 Electronic Banking.
 ATM.

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 Transport
 Railways Control.
 Air Traffic Control.

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Computer System Components
Hardware
 Equipment associated with the system.
Software
 Instructions that tell the hardware what to do.
People
 Computer programmer: writes software.
 User: purchases and uses software.
Often called end-user.

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 Hardware: The Basic Components
of a Computer
A Computer is a machine that
can be programmed to accept
data, process it into useful
information, and store it away.
 Data: raw facts

representing people and

events.
 Information: data that is

organized, meaningful, and

useful.

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Primary Hardware Components
Four primary hardware components:
 Input devices
 Processor
 Output devices
 Storage

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 Input: What Goes In
Input: the data put into the computer for
processing.

Common input devices:

 Keyboard
 Mouse
 Scanner

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 Keyboard
Most common input device.
 Generates electrical signals
which are translated into
characters.

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 Mouse
Moves over a flat surface
 Movement of mouse ball causes corresponding
movement of pointer on screen.

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 Scanner
Reads special letters,
numbers, and symbols.
 Bar code reader often
used in stores.
 Flatbed scanners scan
pictures or printed
documents.

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The Processor and Memory:
Data Manipulation
Processor
 Also called central processing unit (CPU).
Center of activity in the computer
 Consists of electronic circuits
Interprets and executes program instructions.
Communicates with input, output, and storage.
devices
Actually transforms data into information.

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 Memory (Primary Storage)
Memory (primary storage)
 Closely related to, but distinct from processor.
 Provides temporary storage.

Used to temporarily hold data

 After it is retrieved from input device and before it is
processed.
 After it is processed and before it is released to output
device.
Temporary (volatile) storage
 Data in memory lost if power is lost or program closed.

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 Output: What Comes Out
Output: the result produced by the CPU.
Common forms of output: text, numbers,
graphics, and sounds.

Common output devices:

 Screen (monitor)
 Printer

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 Screen (monitor)
Can display text, numbers, photographs, even
video, in full color.

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 Printer
Produces printed reports as instructed by a
program.

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 Secondary Storage
Provides long-term storage
 Separate from memory.

Common media:
 Magnetic disks
 Optical disks
 Magnetic tape

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 Magnetic Disks
The most common storage media
 Diskette: 3.5” flexible diskette in plastic case.
 Hard Disk: more storage capacity and faster
access than diskette.

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 Optical Disks
Use a laser beam to read large volumes of
data inexpensively.
 CD-ROMs
 DVD-ROMs

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 Magnetic Tape
Stores large amounts of data inexpensively.
Often used for system backup.

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 Peripheral Devices
All hardware devices attached to the
computer.
 Includes all input, output, and storage
devices.

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 Networking
Network: a system that uses communications
equipment to connect computers and their
resources.
Common network tools:
 Local Area Network (LAN)
 Modem
 Electronic mail

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 Local Area Network
Personal computers in an office are
connected so users can communicate.
 Users can operate computers independently.
 Can share resources and exchange data.

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 Modem
A device that allows users to communicate
with other computers over telephone lines.
 Required when you don’t have a digital
connection such as DSL or a cable modem.

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 Electronic Mail (e-mail)
Send and receive messages electronically.
 Can send text, pictures, links to Web sites.
 Can attach files for collaboration.
Messages stored in computer “mailbox”.

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 The Internet
The largest and most wide network.
 Connects users worldwide.
 Not actually a network, but a collection of
thousands of networks.

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 Getting Around the Internet
Began as a means for Department of
Defense and its research institutions to
share information.
 Information was text-only.
 Commands to navigate were obscure.
Now, much more visually based
 Use browser to explore the Internet
 World Wide Web

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 Browser
Software that allows you to use a mouse to
explore the Internet.
 Click on screen text and/or graphics to move to
different locations.
 Most commonly used to explore the World Wide
Web.
 Examples of browsers are Internet Explorer and
Firefox.

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 The World Wide Web
A subset of the Internet.
 Actually, a standard for
displaying and
transmitting information.
Web site: a location on
the Web.
 Home page: the main
page of a Web site

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 Getting Connected
To access the Internet, connect to a server
computer
 Server receives, processes, and transmits
information.
Computers use a standard to communicate
Need an Internet Service Provider (ISP)

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 Internet Service Providers
The owner of a server computer
 Charges a fee for access to the Internet
Fee can provide unlimited access or be based on
usage.
Provides the user a means to connect to
the server.
 Once connected, you can connect to the
Internet and all other server computers.

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 Classification of Computers
Personal Computers
Notebook Computers
Handheld Computers
Midrange Computers
Mainframes
Supercomputers

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 Personal Computers
Desktop computers:
 Also known as PCs, microcomputers, or home
computers.

PC Categories:
• Low-end computers
 Fine for home users, word processing, simple games,

Internet access.

Fully powered computers

 Good for heavy use of graphics, programming, or

action-oriented games.

Workstations
 Very high-end computers used by engineers and

graphic designers.
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 Notebook Computers
Small, lightweight computers
Capabilities approach that of
desktop computers.
 Similar processing and memory.
 Most have hard disk, and
diskette or CD-ROM drive.
Typically more expensive than
comparable desktop
computers.

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 Handheld Computers
Personal Digital Assistant
(PDA)
 Keeps track of appointments,
contacts, etc.
 Accepts input with hand-held
stylus.
Pocket PC
 Offers capabilities of PDAs, plus
the ability to run stripped-down
versions of software such as word
processing and spreadsheets.

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 Midrange Computers
Multi-user computers designed to serve
the needs of medium-sized organizations.
 Hundreds or thousands of users connected.
 Used for inventory, order-entry, and other
company-wide applications.

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 Mainframes
Very large and powerful computers
 Capable of processing billions of instructions
per second.
 Capable of handling billions of characters of
data.
Often used for applications with many users
 Reservations systems
 E-mail servers

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 Supercomputers
The fastest and most
powerful computers.
 Capable of processing trillions
of instructions per second.
Used for very advanced
applications requiring huge
data manipulation:
 Weather forecasting
 Weapons research
 Special effects for movies

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Personal Computer System

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