Chapter
1 Information Technology,
the Internet, and You
Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Learning Objectives
• Explain the parts of an information system: people, procedures, software,
hardware, data, and the Internet.
• Distinguish between system software and application software.
• Differentiate between the kinds of system software programs.
• Define and compare general purpose, specialized, and mobile applications.
• Identify the four types of computers and the four types of personal computers.
• Describe the different types of computer hardware, including the system unit, input,
output, storage, and communication devices.
•
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Define data and describe document, worksheet, database, and presentation files.
• Explain computer connectivity, the wireless revolution, the Internet, and cloud
computing.
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Introduction
• Personal computers are common tools in all
areas of life.
• New forms of learning have developed.
• College course does not have to be a quarter or
semester any longer.
• Computers offer many new ways to
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communicate.
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Parts of an Information System
• People • Hardware
• Procedures • Data
• Software • The Internet
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People
• Most important part of any system
• Contact is
• Direct
• Indirect
• Computer uses
• Entertainment
• Business
• Medicine
• Education
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Software
• Programs – the instructions that tell
computers how to process data
There are two major kinds of software:
• System Software
• Application Software
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The purpose of software is to convert data
into information.
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System Software
• Enables application software to interact with the
computer hardware
• Background software helps manage resources
• Collection of programs
• Operating Systems
• Utilities
• Device Drivers
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System Software cont.
• Operating System
• Coordinates computer resources
• Provides the user interface
• Runs applications
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Return
1-9
System Software cont.
• Utilities
• Perform specific tasks related to managing computer
resources
• Antivirus Program
• Device Drivers
• Programs designed to allow input or output devices
to communicate with the computer
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Application Software
• End-user software
• Three types
• General-Purpose applications
• (ex: browser, word processor, spreadsheet, data base management
system, presentation graphics)
• Specialized applications
• (ex: graphics and Web authoring programs.).
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• Mobile apps
• social networking, playing games, and downloading music and
videos
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Hardware – Types of Computers
Supercomputers
• Most powerful type of computer
• Special high-capacity computers
• Fastest processing
• Used by large organizations, usually research facilities
Mainframe computers
• Capable of great processing speeds and large amounts of data storage
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• Do not have as high of a capacity or as fast processing as supercomputers
• Used by large corporations
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Midrange computers
• Also referred to as servers
• Less powerful than a mainframe computer but more powerful
than a personal computer
• Support end users for specific needs such as retrieving data from
a database or supplying access to application software.
Personal computers
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• Least powerful
• Most widely used
• Fastest growing segment
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Personal Computer Types
• Desktop • Tablet PC
• Laptop (Notebook) • Handheld
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Personal Computer Hardware
• Four basic categories
of equipment
• System Unit
• Input/Output
• Secondary Storage
• Communications
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System Unit
• Two important components
• Microprocessor
• Memory
• Holds data currently
being processed
• Holds the processed information before
it is output
• Temporary storage, contents are lost when
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power is off
Return
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Input/Output Devices
Input
• Keyboard
• Mouse
Output
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• Printer
• Monitor
Return
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Secondary Storage
• Holds data and programs even if power
is off
• Hard disk
• Solid-state storage
• No moving parts
• More reliable
• Requires less power
• Optical disc
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• Laser technology
• Great capacity
• CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray Return
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Communications
• Communication devices, such as modems, provide
personal computers with the ability to communicate
with other computer systems
• Modems modify audio, video and other types of data
into a form that can be transmitted across the Internet
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Data
• Raw, unprocessed facts • Document files
• Processed data becomes • Worksheet files
information • Database files
• Digital data is stored • Presentation files
electronically in files
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Document Files
• Created by word
processors
• Term papers
• Memos
• Letters
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Return
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Worksheet Files
• Created by electronic spreadsheets to analyze things like
budgets and to predict sales
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Return
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Database Files
• Typically created by database management programs to
contain highly structured and organized data
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Return
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Presentation Files
• Created by presentation graphics programs to prepare
presentation materials.
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Connectivity and the Mobile Internet
• Connectivity
• Sharing of information
• Mobile/Wireless devices
• Cloud computing and the Wireless Revolution (Turnitin
Assignment)
• Computer networks
• Connected communication system of computers
• Largest network is the Internet
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• Cloud Computing
• Uses the Internet and the Web to shift many computer
activities from a user’s computer to computers on the
Internet
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Procedures
• Computer users are required to follow rules or
guidelines in order to effectively use software,
hardware, and data.
• Procedures are typically documented in manuals
that are written by computer specialists.
• Software and hardware manufacturers provide
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manuals with their products and are provided either
printed or in electronic form.
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Careers in IT
• For a complete listing of careers, visit http://www.mhhe.com/ce2015/
• Select Student Edition and then Careers
Career Description
Webmaster Develops and maintains websites and web resources. See page
52
Software Engineer Analyzes users’ needs and creates application software. See page
81
Computer Support Specialist Provides technical support to customers and other users. See
page 105
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Computer Technician Repairs and install computer components and systems. See page
132
Technical Writer Prepares instruction manuals, technical reports, and other
scientific or technical documents. See page 159
Network Administrator Creates and maintains computer networks. See page 213
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Open-Ended Questions (Page 1 of 2)- GO TO E-Learning
• Explain the parts of an information system. What part do people play in this system?
• What is system software? What kinds of programs are included in system software?
• Define and compare general-purpose applications, specialized, applications and apps.
Describe some different types of general-purpose applications. Describe some types
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of specialized applications.
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Open-Ended Questions (Page 2 of 2)
• Describe the different types of computers. What is the most common type? What
are the types of personal computers?
• What is connectivity? What are wireless devices and the wireless revolution? What is
a computer network? What are the Internet and the Web? What is cloud
computing?
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