BASIC CONCEPTS OF COMPUTING

MODULE 2.1
CONTENTS

 What is a computer?
 An expanded model of a compu
ter
 The role of software
 Types of computers
 ICT systems
 Glossary
2
WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
 Main components or parts of a
computer
• all the parts of • the programs –
a computer sets of
that you can instructions –
physically that tell the
touch computer what
to do
Hardwar Softwar
e e
3
WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
 The basic model of a computer
 IPO model

Processin
Input Output
g

4
WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
 A definition of a computer
 A computer is a multi‑purpose
electronic tool that can receive data
(input),can process the data, can
produce results and can output them.
Produc
Input Proces e
data s results/
Output

5
DATA INFORMATION
 raw, unprocessed facts.  is the result of the
processing of data and
should be useful and
meaningful.

CAT123NW CAT123N
 Wnumber of a
registration
car from the North West
province.

WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
6
 AN EXPANDED MODEL OF A COMPUTER
executes the
instructions,
processes the data
and manages and
controls all the other get feedback from
get data into parts of the the computer
computer computer

allow computers to
communicate with
each other

keep instructions and

data that it is not
7
currently working on
AN EXPANDED MODEL OF A
COMPUTER
 Note the following:
 Programs have to be ‘loaded’ before
they can be used.
 Data must also be in memory if the
computer is to work with it.
 The contents of memory only become
‘permanent’ when you ‘Save’ them.

8
ACTIVITY 1

9
THE ROLE OF SOFTWARE
 Software categories according to
function

System Applicatio
Software n
Software
10
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Graphics and Design

Word Processor

Spreadsheet

Database

Presentation Software
11
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Communication Software

Office Suite

Desktop Publishing

Games

Web Authoring Software

12
APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Web browser

Plug-ins

Financial Applications

13
THE ROLE OF SOFTWARE
 Software categories according to distribution model
• Advantages :No cost / low cost; Access to source
code; Freedom to adapt and change; Access to a
Open community of users / support.
sour • Disadvantages: No one to hold responsible; Risk of
ce poor support; Higher skills needed; Various
soft
ware
‘varieties’.
(OSS)
• Shrinkwrap; Shareware; Freeware
• Proprietary software is owned by a company – you
Prop never get the source code – in fact you only ever
rieta ‘license’ the software, you do not ‘own’ the
ry
software.
soft
ware

14
ACTIVITY 2

15
TYPES OF COMPUTERS
 Size and processing power
Processing power

Physical size
Portabl
16
TYPES OF COMPUTERS
 Servers

-used in
network
environme
nts to help
‘run’ a
network of
linked
computers

17
TYPES OF COMPUTERS
 Consumer Tablets & Tablet PCs
 These are small
portable devices
 They are designed
to be controlled
through touch
screen interfaces
 Consumer tablets
usually have WiFi,
Bluetooth and 3G
communication built
in 18
TYPES OF COMPUTERS
 Uses
Server
• Providing services to users in a network.

Desktop, laptop, notebook, netbook, Tablet PC

• Productive work and the use of applications that allow one
to be creative.

Consumer tablet
• Use digital content, access the web and e-mail, create
documents, play games, etc.

Smartphone
• Mobile access to connectivity and services.

19
TYPES OF COMPUTERS
 Advantages and disadvantages of using computers
ONLY
QUICKLY BECOME OUTDATED TH AS G
E EY A O OD
T
A TH RE U AS T
R AGTOIO S ED HE W
C U S D
FEADT REPA NID T AY T
C E T
TO T TIVH EETA HAT
A H EM DS K
ATAS
LIMITED N D
NUMBER OF PHYSICAL APPLICATIONS
A
S T MULTI-PURPOSE
FA
NE T T H IN K
O
DO NOT GETETIRED DS OR COMPLAIN OR C AN N INCREASES
DEMAND IN PA
PEC S O LVE
CAN BE VERY IAL N OR EMS
TLIYOD O BL
EXPENSIVE I CA EVE PR
M U N LOP G R EC O R DS
C OM ED
A T K EEPIN
S TER
E XC ELLENT SOFT
FA ND ERS WA
D A M RE
IN E M
AMETHODS
RVARIOUS
A G R TO PROCESS AND ANALYSE DATA
T O
EED D PR ORS
N L LE
I R AT
SK P E
D O
AN 20
ACTIVITY 3

21
ICT SYSTEMS
 The ability to analyse and interpret data in order to arrive at
valid conclusions and to form accurate predictions
(information) can spell the difference between success and
failure.
Newspaper
s sell
information
about their
Informatio subscribers

n is power
using information
and
to streamline their
stock control and
creates
ordering
processes
the
potential Google and
Facebook
for wealth. advertising

22
ICT SYSTEMS

Information Communication Technology

• Systems
The process technologies
of transferring (hardware and
data/ software)
Manipulated information • Communications
or processed from one place technologies
data to another (networks and
communication
devices)

23
ICT SYSTEMS
 Data storage by businesses
 Data warehousing:
 securely store, manage and retrieve large
amounts of data.
 Data mining:
 process and analyse data looking for
valuable information that you did not even
know was there.

24
ICT SYSTEMS
 Examples of ICT systems in
everyday life
 Supermarket chain
 Modern POS systems use
barcodes and scanning
 Scanning is also more
accurate
 An ICT system
 Items scanned removed enables them to
from a computerised  Order only the right
database of what is in amount of stock when
stock – enabling you to needed
better manage your  See which items are
inventory.
not selling well
 Data sent to the head
office - stock ordering and
 track sales
25
management decisions.
ICT SYSTEMS
 Examples of ICT systems in

everyday life
Cellphone company
 contracts
 adequate supplies & stock of
cellphones
 generating finance for
expansion and maintenance  An ICT system enables them
to
 tracking of call durations,
SMSs, data transfers, free talk
 List how many calls you have
time, carry-over of free made, to which numbers and
how long each call was
minutes/seconds, and expiry
of the same
 Total the number of minutes
used and bill you for them
 service and repairs of
cellphones and other
 Total the amount of data you
infrastructure have transferred (usually in
megabytes) and then bill you
 monitoring the network status
for that.
 maintaining staff records 26
ACTIVITY 4

27
GLOSSARY
Application
Information POS system
software

Proprietary
Computer Input
software

Data IPO model Shareware

Freeware IT and ICT Software

Open source
Hardware Source code
software

System
ICT system Output
software

28