Introduction to Computers and

Information Technology
Unit 1
 Introduction to Computer Systems
• Computer – An electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored
in its own memory.
• A computer can accept data, process the data according to specified rules, produce
results and store the results for future use.
• A computer process data into information.
• Data – The collection of unprocessed items, which include text, numbers, images,
audio and video.
• Information – Conveys meaning and is useful to people.
• Computer Systems - A set of components that interact to achieve a common goal.
The purpose, therefore, of a computer system is to use all its working components to
produce quality information.
• Computer System Components – A computer contains many electric, electronic
and mechanical components known as hardware, (see Fig. 1.1).
• Input Devices – Allows you to enter data and instruction into the computer.
• Output Devices – Convey information to one or more people.
• System Unit – Contains the electronic components of the computer that is used to
process data.
• Storage Devices – Holds data, instructions and information for future use.
• Information Technology - information technology is the use of computers and
software to manage information.

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 Components of an Information System

Information Processing Cycle

• A series of input, processing, output and storage activities performed by the computer
• Input - Data are collected and entered into computer.
• Processing - Data are manipulated into information using mathematical, statistical,
and other tools.
• Output - Information is displayed or presented
• Feedback -This is an output that help the organization to evaluate or correct the input
stage.

Fund of IT - Unit 4 3
 Introduction to Computer, (Cont) monitor
(output device)
printer
(output device)

card
reader/writer
(storage device)
modem
(communications device)

memory
cards
(storage
device) external hard
disk
(storage device)

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 Information Systems
What is an Information System?
• A set of interrelated components that collect (or retrieve), process, store and
distribute information to support decision making, coordination and control in an
organization.
• Help managers and workers analyze problems, visualize complex subjects and
create new products.
• Examples: ATMs, airline reservation systems, course reservation systems.
Data
• The collection of unprocessed items such as text, numbers, image, audio and video
for input in the computer.
Information
• Processed data (output) that conveys a meaning and is useful to people.
• Desired characteristics of information
• Accurate, clear, timely, complete yet concise
• Receiver has confidence in it
• Appropriate channel, given to the right person, should not be excessive
• Cost effective
• Must have a purpose and relevant to the purpose (user related)

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 Introduction to Computer, (Cont)
• Communication Devices – Enable the computer to transmit and receive
data, instructions, and information to and from one or more computers or
mobile devices
• Information Processing Cycle – A series of input, processing, output and
storage activities.
• Unit of Storage –.Binary – smallest unit of storage

Figure 1. 2 Unit of Storage

Term Abbreviation Number of bytes Exact Value

Kilobyte KB 1 thousand 210 or 1, 024
Megabyte MB 1 million 220 or 1, 048, 576
Gigabyte GB 1 billion 230 or 1, 073, 741, 824
Terabyte TB 1 trillion 240 or 1, 099, 511, 627, 776
Petabyte PB 1 quadrillion 250 or 1, 125, 899, 906, 842, 624
Exabyte EB 1 quintillion 260 or 1, 152, 921, 504, 606, 846, 976

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 Components of a Computer System
Input Devices:
• An input device is any peripheral device that allows one to enter data or
instructions into a computer, (see Fig 1.3).
• Five widely input devices are keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, web
cam.
• Other input devices that are used in today’s society may include, Light-pen,
Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Magnetic-Ink Character Recognition
(MICR), and Joy Sticks.
Forms used for Input:
• A turnaround document is a machine readable document that has some
information printed on it by a computer.
• A turn around document is one that is fed to the computer for analysis. This
source data entry eliminates the need for transcriptions, thus eliminating
errors to be made.
• Examples: shaded answer sheets, utility bills (OCR), and bar codes, U.P.C.,
encoded cheques, among others.

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)

Figure 1.3 Input Devices

 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Output Devices:
• An output device is any peripheral that conveys information to one or more
individuals, (see Fig 1.4).
• We consider data that has been processed into a useable form as output.
• Computer systems can generate several types of output, depending on the
hardware and software being used –it may be printed, seen, or heard.
• Popular output devices include: printer, speaker, and monitor.
Output Highlights:
• Output is the process of translating data that are in machine-readable form
to a form that human being can understand.
• Thus, the output device is the hardware that enables this communication
with human and computer.
• Output can be divided into output that is read and used by persons, as well
as those that hold data for temporary or permanent storage.
• Hard copy – Refers to output that can be held (tangible); usually refers to output
on paper, in a more permanent form.
• Soft copy – Refers to a more transient form of output (intangible); usually it refers
to output that are on screen or heard.
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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)

Figure 1.4 Output Devices

 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Output Highlights:
• As noted, output may be in the form of a hardcopy and softcopy. The printer
is used to produce this type of output. However due to the respective
industries that require hardcopy output, there are various types of printers.
• Thus two types of printing mechanisms allow printers to be either impact
printers and non-impact printers
• Impact printers – Refers to printers that strike the papers to leave an
impression of the information desired.
• Non-impact printers – Refers to printers that use additional technology,
such as laser or thermal heating, to give impressions of information as
output.
• Consequently, there are line, characters, and page printers.
• Character printers – Print one character at a time; some character printer
prints from left to right and right to left which speeds up the printing.
• Line printers – Use special mechanism to print one line at a time; some will
print typically a range of hundreds to thousands of lines per minute.
• Page printers – Use to print one page at a time; typically, these printers
produce thousands of pages per minute.

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Output Highlights:
• Monitor - The monitor is the most common form of softcopy output device.
• The quality of an image is dependent on the resolution that is given by the
monitor (a measure of the number of elements of a picture, or pixel on a
monitor).
• Pixel - A pixel is the smallest increment of display that can be controlled by
an individual.
• The more pixel the clearer and sharper the image on screen –dot per inch.
• Other factors that affect the monitor is the refresh rate.
• Refresh Rate - the number of times a screen is scanned to maintain an
image.
• There are two kinds of monitors for viewing: cathode-ray tube (CRT) and the
flat-panel display (liquid crystal display).

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Storage:
• Storage components hold data, instruction, as well as information for future
use; these items are kept on storage media (which are housed within the
system unit).
• Storage, or memory, consists of electrical components that store instructions and
data waiting to be executed by the processor, as well as their results.
• The computer system stores three categories of items: OS and software;
application programs; and data being processed.
• Computer memory consist of two types of memory: volatile and non-volatile. An
example of volatile memory is RAM, while ROM is and example of non-volatile
memory.
• It is also important to note at this point, that when information in memory is being
accessed it can be retrieved sequentially or directly.
• Also the terms storage medium is singular, while storage media is plural; and
storage devices are technology to get/store data.
• The term capacity is commonly used to refer to the number of bytes a storage
medium can hold.
• Additional terms related to memory is access time and transfer rate.

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Storage Volatile and Non-Volatile:
• The amount of primary (main) memory within a computer is dependent on
the software packages to be used.
• Consequently, there are various types of volatile storage: RAM, DRAM,
SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, RDRAM, and SRAM; cache and buffer, among
others.
• The non-volatile storage affords the computer system the capability of
letting data survive without power.
• This type of memory are classed as either secondary or tertiary storage.
Additionally, the memory capacity is dependent on user’s or organizational
needs.
• Some types of non-volatile storage include: ROM, PROM, EEPROM, hard
disk, flash drive, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-RW, Zip Disks, and Blu-Ray
Discs, among others.

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Volatile :
• Primary (main) memory consists of chips that can only store information
when electricity is present; within which time its contents can change.
• Two basic types of RAM chips exit: dynamic RAM and static RAM .
• Dynamic RAM: DRAM chips must re-energize else their contents are lost;
the synchronous DRAM are faster as their contents are coordinated to the
systems clock; double data rate SDRAM refresh their contents twice each
clock cycle;
• Static RAM: SRAM chips are notably more reliable, as their contents are
not refreshed as often as DRAM chips; however, they are expensive.
• The following memory storage now relate to hardware: cache and buffers.
• Cache memory: aids the processing speed of computers because it stores
frequent instructions and data. Most computers use L1 and L2 cache
(smaller to larger).
• Fetching of data or instructions will occur from slower storage media, if not
present in cache.
• Buffer: is a segment of storage in which items are placed while waiting to
be transferred from and input device, or to an output device.

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Non-Volatile :
• We now turn our attention to the storage media that are non-volatile; as
expected they are much slower that main memory, however their capacity
and ability to store for future use complements its speed.
• Hard Disk: fixed/external disk, store majority of computer’s information;
they are enclosed in a module. A hard disk has multiple read/write heads on
an access arm that moves across the magnetic surface (platters), that store
information ,(see Fig 1.7).
• The read/write head access/store data based on an address that is given
through the disk’s track and sector number.
• Advantages - Considered the fastest secondary storage media for
information retrieval; capable of holding large amount of information.
• Disadvantages - Expensive and least portable.

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Non-Volatile :
• Magnetic Tape: This media has a continuous reel of recording surface,
where the reel is a magnetized surface on which data is stored.
• Magnetic surface of magnetic tapes are found on debit cards, but are known
as strips.
• The data on a magnetic tape is stored in parallel tracks; each surface has
an extra track that is used to store a parity bit (used to ensure the integrity
of the data that is being read or written on the frame).
• Advantages - It is least expensive; its fairly safe to use; and has space for
backing up large amount of information.
• Disadvantages - The access of files are done sequentially, and thus
retrieving information is slow.

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Non-Volatile :
• Read-Only Memory: These memory chips store data and instructions
permanently ( cannot be modified); many such chips are found in hardware
devices (firmware).
• A programmable read-only memory (PROM), enables microcode
instructions to be written to chips by programmers.
• On the other hand, a electrically erasable programmable read-only memory
(EEPROM) enables removal of microcode with electric signals
• Advantages - Instructions and data are not lost when power ceases;
instructions are either unchangeable or require special operation to change
them.
• Disadvantages - If instructions are incorrect, or the data on chips need to
be updated, they are useless; some chips limited with respect to the times
data can be re-written.

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Non-Volatile :
• Optical Disc: With respect to portability, this media can store more data
than some magnetic disks.
• There exists three types of discs: ROM, Recordable, and Re-Writeable.
• Optical discs use laser technology to both store and read data.
• It uses pulses for the 1's and non-pulses for the 0's to record data on the
surface of the disc, as microscopically small pits and lands. Some optical
discs are: Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disc
Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disc Re-Writable (CD-RW), Digital Versatile
Discs (DVD), and Blu-Ray Discs.
• Advantages - Some optical discs store massive data; facilitates portability;
good means of distributing software; some discs facility reuse.
• Disadvantages - The contents of some discs can not be changed; must
have respective optical drives to use certain discs.

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Non-Volatile :
• Flash Memory: The contents of such technology are erased similar to
EEPROM.
• It has a grid of columns and rows with a cell that has two transistors at each
intersection: a floating gate and a control gate.
• An electrical charge, usually 10 to 13 volts, is applied to the floating gate. If
the flow through the gate is greater than ½ the charge it has a value of 1,
else the value changes to 0.
• Some examples are: the computer's BIOS chip; Compact Flash, Smart
Media and Memory Stick (found in digital cameras); and Memory cards for
video game consoles.
• Advantage - Good means for easy and fast information storage.
• Disadvantage - Limited with respect to the times data can be re-written.

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Storage Media :
• Also called secondary storage, is the physical material on which the
computer keeps data, instructions, and information.
• Examples - hard disk, solid state drives, memory cards, USB flash drives,
optical discs, smart card magnetic stripe cards and microfilm
• Optical Disc: With respect to portability, this media can store more data
than some magnetic disks.
• There exists three types of discs: ROM, Recordable, and Re-Writeable.
• Optical discs use laser technology to both store and read data.
• It uses pulses for the 1's and non-pulses for the 0's to record data on the
surface of the disc, as microscopically small pits and lands. Some optical
discs are: Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disc
Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disc Re-Writable (CD-RW), Digital Versatile
Discs (DVD), and Blu-Ray Discs.
• Advantages - Some optical discs store massive data; facilitates portability;
good means of distributing software; some discs facility reuse.
• Disadvantages - The contents of some discs can not be changed; must
have respective optical drives to use certain discs.

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Processing:
• The processor is the electronic component that interprets and carries out
instructions to operate the computer system (which resides on the
motherboard), (see Fig 1.5).
• The central processing unit is that part of the computer that decodes and
executes instructions; it is comprised of the arithmetic/logical unit as well as
a control unit.
• In microprocessors, the CPU is combined on a single chip; where as in
large computers there is need for more than one CPUs due to the
processing requirements.
• As such large computers will implement parallel processing –dividing a task
among other processors, allowing simulations to for example, to be
performed quickly. Thus, a microcomputer will use a single processor to do
serial processing.
• Access time measures the amount of time taken by a storage device to
retrieve an item on storage media as well as deliver item from memory to
processor.
• Transfer rate is the speed at which data, instructions and information move
to and from a device.
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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
The Control Unit:
• The control unit is a component of the processor that directs and
coordinates most of the operations in the computer.
• It interprets each instruction issued by a program and then initiates the
appropriate action to carry out the instructions.
• The types of internal component that the control unit directs include
arithmetic logic unit (ALU), registers and buses.
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
• ALU is another component of the processor that performs arithmetic,
comparison, and other operations.
• Arithmetic operations include basic calculations such as addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division.
• Comparing operations involve comparing one data to another to determine
greater than, less than or equal to.
Machine Cycle:
• For every instruction, a processor repeats a set of four basic instruction
which is comprised or called a machine cycle.

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Fetching
• The process of obtaining a program instruction or data item from memory.
• Example - A student enter a maths problem into the memory of the
computer
• Step 1 - The CU fetches the math problem’s instructions and data from
memory.
Decoding
• The process of translating the instructions into signals the computer can
execute
• Step 2 – The CU decodes the instructions and sends the instructions to the
ALU.
Executing
• The process of carrying out the commands
• Step 3 – The ALU performs calculations on the data
Write back (Storing)
• This process writes the result to memory
• Step 4 – The results of math are stored in memory.

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Registers
• The processor contains a small, high-speed storage locations, called
registers, that temporarily hold data and instructions.
The System Clock
• The processor relies on a small quartz crystal circuit called the system clock
to control the timing of all computer operations.
• Clock speed – the pace of the system clock is measured by the number of
tick per second.
• Current PC have clock speed in the gigahertz (GHz) range.
• The faster the clock speed the more instructions the processor can execute
per second.

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)

Figure 1.5 Processing

 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Processing:
• The control unit is main controller of data flowing within as well as out of the
computer system; its effectiveness is based on a synchronization of tasks.
• That is, controlling the occurrences of events through the use of electrical
timing signals that are given by the system clock.
• Microprocessor
• These are processors that are developed through the use of semiconductor
technology.
• Such technology are made up of transistors that form electrical circuits that
allow transmission of electricity.
• This is ideal since data representation is zero or one.
• Thus, a complete electronic semiconductor circuit that is etched onto a
silicon gives an integrated circuit (microchip), which is then placed on a
motherboard.

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 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)

Figure 1.6 Processor Chip Manufacturers

Below are some of the leading processor chip manufacturers:

Chip Name Manufacturer Clock Speed
Itanium 2 Intel 1 GHz and up
Xeon Intel 1.4 to 2.8 GHz
Pentium 4 Intel 1.4 GHz to 3.06 GHz
Opteron AMD 2 to 2.4 GHz
Athlon AMD 500 MHz to 1.4 GHz
Duron AMD 600 MHz to 1.4 GHz
PowerPC Motorola 50 MHz to 1.25 GHz
68040 Motorola 25 to 40 MHz
68030 Motorola 16 to 50 MHz

To avoid ‘burnt chips’ processors are not only coupled with fans, but
also heat sinks (heat pipes are used in laptops).
 Components of a Computer System, (Cont)
Communication devices:
• A communication device is a hardware component that enables a computer to
send (transmit) and receive data, instructions, and information to and from one or
more computers or mobile devices.
• A widely used communications device is a modem.
• Communications occur over cables, telephone lines, cellular radio networks,
satellites, and other transmission media.
• Some transmission media, such as satellites and cellular radio networks, are
wireless, which means they have no physical lines or wires.

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 Benefits of the Computer
• The common uses of computer may then include: entertainment, classes for
learning, banking and investments, shopping, research for information, and
communication, among others.
• Benefits from using computers are possible because computers have the
advantages of speed, reliability, consistency, storage, and communications.
Advantages of Using Computers:
• Speed: When data, instructions, and information flow along electronic
circuits in a computer, they travel at incredibly fast speeds.
• Many computers process billions or trillions of operations in a single second.
Processing involves computing (adding, subtracting, etc.), sorting (e.g.,
alphabetizing), organizing, displaying images, recording audio, playing
music, and showing a movie or video.
• Reliability: The electronic components in modern computers are
dependable and reliable because they rarely break or fail.
• Consistency: Given the same input and processes, a computer will
produce the same results - consistently.
• A computing phrase ­known as garbage in, garbage out – points out that the
accuracy of a computer's output depends on the accuracy of the input.
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 Use of the Computer, (Cont)
• Storage: A computer can transfer data quickly from storage to memory,
process it, and then store it again for future use.
• Many computers store enormous amounts of data and make this data
available for processing anytime it is needed.
• Communications: Most computers today can communicate with other
computers, often wirelessly.
• Computers with this capability can share any of the four information
processing cycle operations - input, process, output, and storage.

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 Use of the Computer, (Cont)
Disadvantages of Using Computers:
• Some disadvantages of computers relate to health risks, the violation of
privacy, public safety, the impact on the labor force, and the impact on the
environment.
• Health Risks: Prolonged or improper computer use can lead to injuries or
disorders of the hands, wrists, elbows, eyes, neck, and back.
• Computer users can protect themselves from these health risks through
proper workplace design, good posture while at the computer, and
appropriately spaced work breaks.
• Two behavioral health risks are computer addiction and technology
overload.
• Computer addiction occurs when someone becomes obsessed with using a
computer.
• Individuals suffering from technology overload feel distressed when
deprived of computers and mobile devices.
• Once recognized, both computer addiction and technology overload are
treatable dis­orders.

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 Use of the Computer, (Cont)
• Violation of Privacy: Nearly every life event is stored in a computer
somewhere in medical records, credit reports, tax records, etc.
• In many instances, where personal and confidential records were not
protected properly, individuals have found their privacy violated and
identities stolen.
• Public Safety: Adults, teens, and children around the world are using
computers to share publicly their photos, videos, journals, music, and other
personal information.
• Some of these unsuspecting, innocent computer users have fallen victim to
crimes committed by dangerous strangers.
• Protect yourself and your dependents from these criminals by being
cautious in e-mail messages and on Web sites.
• For example, do not share information that would allow others to identify or
locate you and do not disclose identification numbers, passwords, or other
personal security details.
• Impact on Labor Force: Although computers have improved productivity in
many ways and created an entire industry with hundreds of thousands of
new jobs, the skills of millions of employees have been replaced by
computers.
Fundamental of IT- Unit 1 33
 Use of the Computer, (Cont)
• Computers impact on the labor force makes it crucial that workers keep their
education up-to-date.
• A separate impact on the labor force is that some companies are
outsourcing jobs to foreign countries instead of keeping their homeland
labor force employed.
• Impact on Environment: Computer manufacturing processes and
computer waste are depleting natural resources and polluting the
environment.
• When computers are discarded in landfills, they release toxic materials and
potentially dangerous levels of lead, mercury, and flame retardants.
• Green computing involves reducing the electricity consumed and
environmental waste generated when using a computer. Strategies that
support green computing include recycling, regulating manufacturing
processes, extending the life of computers, and immediately donating or
properly disposing of replaced computers.
• When you purchase a new computer, some retailers offer to dispose of your
old computer properly.

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 Categories of Computers
• Computer experts typically classify computers in seven categories: personal
computers (desktop), mobile computers and mobile devices, game
consoles, servers, mainframes, supercomputers and embedded computers.
• A computer’s size, speed, processing power and price determines the
category it best fits.
• Convergence – The overlapping of computers and devices with technology,
example – new cell phone often include media player, camera, and Web
browsing capabilities.

Fundamental of IT- Unit 1 35

 Categories of Computers, (Cont)
• Summary of categories of computer
Category Physical Size Number of General Price Range
Simultaneous Users
Personal Computers Fits on Desk Usually one (Can be Several $100s - $1000s
more if networked)
Mobile computers Fits in your lap or in Usually one Less than $100s to
and mobile devices your hand $1000s
Games Consoles Small box or One to several Several $100s or less
handheld devices
Servers Small cabinet Two to thousands Several $100s to million
dollars
Mainframes Partial room to a full Hundreds to $300,000 to several
room of equipment thousands millions
Supercomputers Full room of Hundreds to $500,000 to several
equipment thousands billions

Embedded Miniature Usually one Embedded in the price of

Computer the product

Fundamental of IT- Unit 1 36

 Categories of Computers, (Cont)
Personal Computers (Desktop):
• The two most popular personal computers are PC (Windows, Linux) and
Apple Macintosh (Mac OS).
• Desktop computers are so described because their components are
designed to fix on or under ones desk.

Fundamental of IT- Unit 1 37

 Categories of Computers, (Cont)
Mobile computers and mobile devices:
• These technologies are small enough to carry around in ones pocket; such
devices usually have internet enabled (smart phones).
• Handheld computers are those devices small enough to fit in one hand;
often used by mobile employees –meter readers or delivery persons.
• Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) are used as organizers with calendar,
calculator, address book, appointment booking and even notebook.
• A smart phone is an Internet-enabled telephone that usually provides PDA
capabilities; while, a smart watch is an Internet-enabled watch that
automatically adjusts to time zone changes and stores personal information.
• Notebook computers, also called laptops, are portable computers that tend
to be more expensive than desktops.
• Tablet PC, resembles a letter-sized slate which is useful for note taking.

Fundamental of IT- Unit 1 38

 Categories of Computers, (Cont)
Game Console:
• A game console is a mobile computing device designed for single player or
multiplayer video games.
• Standard game consoles are use a handheld controller(s) as an input
device(s); a television screen as an output device; and hard disks, optical
discs, and/or memory cards for storage.

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 Categories of Computers, (Cont)
Midrange servers:
• Powerful, large computer that supports up to a few
thousand computers.

Mainframe:
• Very powerful, expensive computer that supports
thousands of computers.

Supercomputer:
• The fastest, most powerful, most expensive computer.
• Used for applications requiring complex mathematical
calculations.

Fundamental of IT- Unit 1 40

 Categories of Computers, (Cont)
Embedded computer:
• Typically, these computers are special-purpose computers, with functions that are
part of a whole system.

Fundamental of IT- Unit 1 41

 Categories of Users
Home:
Hardware Usage:
• Desktop or notebook computer
• Smart phone or other mobile device
• Game consoles
Software Usage:
• Business (e.g., word processing)
• Personal information manager
• Personal finance, online banking
• Web browser
• E-mail, blogging, instant messaging, chat rooms, online and social
networking
• Internet telephone calls
• Photo and video editing
• Reference (e.g., encyclopedias, medical dictionaries, road atlas)
• Entertainment (e.g., games, music composition, greeting cards)
• Education (e.g., tutorials, children's math and reading software)
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 Categories of Users
Small Office/Home Office:
Hardware Usage:
• Desktop or notebook computer
• Smart phone or other mobile device
• Shared network printer
Software Usage:
• Business (e.g., word processing, spreadsheet, database)
• Personal information manager
• Company specific (e.g., accounting, legal reference)
• Network management
• Web browser
• E-mail
• Internet telephone calls

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 Categories of Users
Mobile:
Hardware Usage:
• Notebook computer equipped with a wireless modem, or a Tablet PC
• Video projector
• Smart phone or other mobile device
• Handheld game consoles
Software Usage:
• Business (e.g., word processing, note taking, presentation)
• Personal information manager
• Web browser
• E-mail

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 Categories of Users
Power:
Hardware Usage:
• Workstation or other powerful computer with multimedia capabilities
• Smart phone or other mobile device
Software Usage:
• Desktop Publishing
• Multimedia authoring
• Computer-aided design
• Photo, audio, and video editing
• Personal information manager
• Web browser
• E-mail

Fundamental of IT- Unit 1 45

 Categories of Users
Enterprise:
Hardware Usage:
• Server or mainframe
• Desktop or notebook computer
• Industry-specific handheld computer
• Smart phone or other mobile device
Software Usage:
• Business (e.g., word processing, spreadsheet, database)
• Personal information manager
• Accounting
• Network management
• Web browser
• E-mail
• Blogging

Fundamental of IT- Unit 1 46

 Memory
Memory (RAM & ROM, Cache)
• Primary - also called IAS (immediate access storage), main storage, main memory.
• To hold data and instructions after input until needed.
• Hold info awaiting output.
• Fast data instantly accessible.
• Close proximity to the processor.
• Data must be transferred here before it can be processed.
• Expensive - contained in a semi-conductor chip. Part of O/S remains resident in memory.
 Instructions awaiting to be obeyed, Instructions currently being obeyed
 Data awaiting processing
 Data currently being processed, Data awaiting output.
• Made up of silicon and galium (semiconductors) on the motherboard.
• The motherboard is the main circuit board, on it are mounted the microprocessor, memory chips,
slots for adding other circuit boards.
RAM
• Random access memory - another name for main storage.
• Arranged like series of boxes, numbered from 0, so know location.
• Once data placed in each box it remains until replaced by more.
• Each location has a 0 or 1.
• Volatile - info lost if power switched off.

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 Memory
• There are different types of RAM
• Examples
• DRAM (dynamic RAM – needs to be reenergized constantly).
• SRAM (static RAM), SIMM, DIMM (dual inline memory module – pins are on opposite side of
circuit board).
• SDRAM – synchronous because synchronized to system clock).
ROM
• Read only memory. Permanently written during manufacture.
• Non-volatile - info kept even if power switched off.
• Firmware - software instructions held in ROM (contents hard wired into device).
• Controls the function of the machine.
• ROM extends computer instruction set, O/S, control S/W for peripherals.
CMOS
• Complementary Metal-Oxide semiconductor.
• A chip that holds computer settings/configuration.
• Example - Date, start up info, keyboard. A battery is used to keep the information.
PROM
• Programmable read only memory.
• Able to have data and programs written in them after manufacture, but once written become
permanently fixed.
• Used to provide permanent instruction capability to microprocessor on functions to perform each
time it is used.
• Does not lose data when power turned off.

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 Memory
EPROM
• Erasable PROM - PROMS which may be erased by a special process (e.g. thru exposure to ultra
violet light) and written again as a new PROM.
EAPROM
• Electrically alterable ROM - a variant of EPROM.
RAMdisk
• RAM used as if it were hard disk. (e.g. palm top, data bank).
• Also called silicon disks.
• Advantage is fast performance.
Cache
• A special high speed memory that operates at the speed of the processor.
• It holds data or instructions that were recently used in anticipation that it will be required in the
near future.

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 Social, Legal, Ethical, and Economic Implications
Social
• Social networks – Revolutionizes communication in 2009.
• Social network website encourages members in its online community to share their interests,
ideas, stories, photos, music, and videos with other registered users.
• Example – Facebook and mySpace
Netiquette
• Short for internet etiquette.
• The code of acceptable behaviours users should follow while on the internet.
• Include rules for all aspect of the internet including the WWW, e-mail, instant messaging, chat
rooms, FTP, newsgroups and message boards.
• Rules include – keep messages short, be polite, avoid sending flames (abusive or insulting
messages sent on the internet) or spam, use emoticons (symbols used on the internet to express
emotions) and acronyms, clearly identify a spoiler (message that reveals a solution to a game or
ending to a movie or program), read the FAQ, do not assume materials are up to date, and never
read someone’s private e- mail
Legal
• Computer crime - Any illegal act involving the computer
 Example – copying software illegally
• Identity theft - Scam artists using techniques such as phishing to try to steal personal ID.
• Privacy – I Invasion of privacy (personal records) using the computer.
• Plagiarism – copying information from the internet
• Copyright infringement – infringement on rights to given to authors and artists to duplicate, copy,
duplicate and sell their produces.

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 Social, Legal, Ethical, and Economic Implications
Ethical
• Academic integrity - honesty and responsibility
• Software piracy – computer risk
• Pornography –
• Ten Commandment for Computer Ethics - The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics were
created in 1992 by the Computer Ethics Institute
1. Thou shall not use a computer to harm other people.
2. Thou shall not interfere with other people's computer work.
3. Thou shall not snoop around in other people's computer files.
4. Thou shall not use a computer to steal.
5. Thou shall not use a computer to bear false witness.
6. Thou shall not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid.
7. Thou shall not use other people's computer resources without authorization or proper
compensation.
8. Thou shall not appropriate other people's intellectual output.
9. Thou shall think about the social consequences of the program you are writing or the
system you are designing.
10. Thou shall always use a computer in ways that ensure consideration and respect for your
fellow humans.
Economic
• Cost of access -
• Virtual companies and taxation – They open up business opportunities on the Internet for people
who might never have been able to have their own business

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 Social, Legal, Ethical, and Economic Implications
• Job creation – IT predicted to be the fastest growing industry for the next 10 years.
• Job loss -

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 References
Gary, B. Shelly and Misty E. Vermaat, (2010). Discovering Computer 2010:
Living in a Digital World, Complete. Boston: Course Technology

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