CSC 101 – Applications of

Information and Communication

Technologies
Chapter: 01
Introduction to the
World of Technology

Shahzad Mustafa
The Department of Physics
CUI Islamabad
 Course Details

• Course Code: CSC 101

• Course Title: Applications of
Information and
Communication Technologies
• Credit Hours: 3(2 + 1)

2
 Course Outline -
I
• Introduction to computers and computing
• Classification of computers
• Elements of computers
• Basic Computer Architecture
• Control Unit
• Arithmetic & Logical Unit (ALU operations)
• Main Memory (ROM, RAM, Cache)
• CPU Operations
• The Registers
• Input & Output Devices
• Storage Media
3
 Course Outline -
II
• Data Representation
• Software Concepts; System Software
• Operating Systems
• Application Software; User Designed
Application Software.
• Data Base Management Systems
• Communication Systems
• Security Issues; Threats to computers &
communication systems; Computer
Networks;
• Internet; E-Commerce; Artificial
Intelligence

4
 Recommended Books

• Textbook: Understanding Computers:

Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive,
Deborah Morley, Charles S. Parker,
Cengage Learning, 2017.
• Reference Book: W. Stallings,
Computer Organization and
Architecture , 8th Ed., Pearson Prentice
Hall, New Jersey, 2010

5
 Marks Distribution of course

• Assignments ……….……… 15%

• Quizzes ..…………….10%

• Mid-term Exam ……….….. 25%

• Final Exam .……………… 50%

6
 Learning
Objectives
1. Explain why it is essential to learn about computers today
and discuss several ways computers are integrated into our
business and personal lives.
2. Define a computer and describe its primary operations.
3. List some important milestones in computer evolution.
4. Identify the major parts of a personal computer, including
input, processing, output, storage, and communications
hardware.
5. Define software and understand how it is used to instruct the
computer what to do.

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Learning
Objectives
6. List the six basic types of computers, giving at least one
example of each type of computer and stating what that
computer might be used for.
7. Explain what a network, the Internet, and the World Wide
Web are, as well as how computers, people, and Web pages
are identified on the Internet.
8. Describe how to access a Web page and navigate through a
Web site.
9. Discuss the societal impact of computers, including some
benefits and risks related to their prominence in our society.

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Overvi
ew
• This chapter covers:
– What computers are, how they work, and how they are
used
– Computer terminology
– An overview of the history of computers
– The basic types of computers in use today
– How to access resources on the Internet
– Societal impacts of computers

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers in
Your Life
• Why learn about computers?
– Pervasive computing
• Also known as ubiquitous computing
• Computers have become an integral
part of our lives
– Basic computer literacy
• Understanding what a
computer is and how it works

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers in
Your Life
• Before 1980
– Computers were large and expensive
– Very few people had access to them
– Computers were mostly used for high-volume
processing tasks
• Microcomputers in the early 1980s
– Inexpensive personal computers
– Computer use increased
dramatically

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers in
Your Life
• Today
– Above 90% of US households include a computer, and
most use computers at work
– Electronic devices are converging into single units with
multiple capabilities
• Check e-mail on living room
television
• View Internet content on mobile
devices
– Computer literacy is an essential
skill for everyone

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

Computers in
Your Life

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers in the
Home
• Computers used for a variety of tasks:
– Looking up information and news
– Exchanging e-mail
– Shopping and paying bills
– Watching TV and videos
– Downloading music and movies
– Organizing digital photographs
– Playing games
– Making vacation plans

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers in the
Home
• Used for reference, productivity, and entertainment
• Wireless networking
– Computers can be used in nearly any location
• Smart appliances
– Traditional appliances with built-in computer or
communication technology
• Smart homes
– Household tasks are monitored and controlled by a main
computer in the house

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers in
Education
• Youth today: the computing generation
• Computer labs and classrooms
– Most students today have access to computers at school
– Some schools integrate e-books into the curriculum
• Wireless hotspots
– Colleges and universities are even more integrated
– Some have computer requirements for enrollment
• Supplied or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
• Distance learning
– Students participate from locations other than the traditional
classroom setting using computers and Internet access

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

Computers in
Education

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers on
the Job
• Computers have become a universal on-the-job tool for
decision-making, productivity, and communication
– By all types of employees
– For access control and other security measures
– For service professional use
– Extensively by the military
– Requires continually refreshing computer skills
– Common uses:
– Decision making, productivity, off-site communications,
and authentication

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

Computers on
the Job

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers on
the Go
• Computers are encountered in nearly every aspect of daily life
– ATM transactions
– POS systems at retail stores
– Self-checkout systems
– Consumer authentication systems
– Portable computers or mobile devices
– GPS systems

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Technology and
You Box
Restaurant iPad Ordering Systems
– Used in conjunction with e-menus
– Customers can place and pay for orders
– Can provide more resources to customers

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 What Is a Computer
and What Does It
Do?
• Computer
– A programmable, electronic device that accepts data,
performs operations on that data, and stores the data
– Follows instructions, called programs, which determine the
tasks the computer will perform
• Basic Operations
– Input: Entering data into the computer
– Processing: Performing operations on the data
– Output: Presenting the results
– Storage: Saving data, programs, or output for future use
– Communications: Sending or receiving data

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

What Is a Computer
and What Does It
Do?

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Data vs.
Information
• Data
– Raw, unorganized facts
– Can be in the form of text, graphics, audio, or video
• Information
– Data that has been processed into a meaningful form
• Information Processing
– Converting data into information

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers Then
and Now

• The computer as we know it, is a fairly recent invention

• The history of computers is often referred to in terms of
generations
• Each new generation is characterized by a major technological
development
• Precomputers and early computers (before approx. 1946)
– Abacus, slide rule, mechanical calculator
– Punch Card Tabulating Machine and Sorter

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers Then
and Now
• First-generation computers (1946-1957)
– Enormous and powered by vacuum tubes
– Used a great deal of electricity and generated a lot of heat
– ENIAC and UNIVAC
• Second-generation computers (1958-1963)
– Used transistors
– Computers were smaller, more powerful, cheaper, more
energy-efficient, and more reliable
– Punch cards and magnetic tape were used to input and
store data

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers Then
and Now
• Third generation computers (1964- early 90s)
– Relied on Integrated Circuits and Microprocessors
– Integrated circuits incorporate many
transistors and electronic circuits on a single
tiny silicon chip
– keyboards and monitors were introduced for
input and output; hard drives were typically
used for storage
– Intel 80486, IBM POWER1, Motorola 68040

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers Then and
Now
• Fourth generation computers (1971- present)
– The possibility to place an increasing number
of transistors on a single chip, led to the
invention of the microprocessor in 1971,
– a microprocessor contains the core processing
capabilities of an entire computer on one
single chip
– The original IBM PC, Apple Macintosh
computers, and most of today’s traditional
computers
– computers typically use a keyboard and
mouse for input, a monitor and printer for
output, and hard drives,
Understanding flash
Computers: Todaymemory media,
and Tomorrow, 15th Edition
 Computers Then
and Now
• Fifth-generation (now and the future)
– based on artificial intelligence (AI)
– use voice and touch input
– based on optical computers and utilize
nanotechnology

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

Computers Then
and Now

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Hardw
are
• Hardware: The physical parts of a computer
– Internal hardware
• Located inside the main box (system unit) of the
computer
– External hardware
• Located outside the system unit
• Connect to the computer via a wired or wireless
connection
– Hardware devices are associated with all five computer
operations

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Hardw
are
• Input Devices
– Used to input data into the computer
– Keyboards, mice, scanners, cameras, microphones, touch
pads, touch screens, fingerprint readers, etc.
• Processing Devices
– Perform calculations and control computer’s operation
– Central processing unit (CPU) and memory
• Output Devices
– Present results to the user
– Monitors, printers, speakers, projectors, etc.

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Hardw
are
• Storage Devices
– Used to store data on or access data from
storage media
– Hard drives, CD/DVD discs and drives,
USB flash drives, etc.
• Communications Devices
– Allow users to communicate with others and to
electronically access remote information
– Modems, network adapters, routers, etc.

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

Hardw
are

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Softwar
e
• Software
– The programs or instructions used to tell the computer
hardware what to do
• System Software
– Operating system starts up the computer and controls its
operation
– Without OS, computer cannot function
– Boots the computer and launches programs at the user’s
direction
– Most use a GUI to interact with the user via icons, buttons,
tiles, etc.
– Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, etc.

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Application
Software
• Application Software
– Performs specific tasks or applications
• Creating letters, budgets, etc.
• Managing inventory and customer databases
• Editing photographs
• Scheduling appointments
• Viewing Web pages
• Exchanging e-mail
• Burning DVDs
• Designing homes
• Playing games

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Application
Software
• Examples of application software
– Word processing programs
– Multimedia programs
– Web browsers
– E-mail programs

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computer Users
and Professionals
• Computer Users (end users)
– People who use a computer to obtain information
• Computer professionals include:
– Programmers
• Write programs computers use
– Systems analysts
• Design computer systems
– Computer operations personnel
• Manage day-to-day computer operations
– Security specialists
• Secure computers and networks against hackers

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers To Fit
Every Need
• Six basic categories of computers:
– Embedded computers
– Mobile devices
– Personal computers
– Servers
– Mainframe computers
– Supercomputers

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 1.Embedded Computers

• Embedded Computers
– Embedded into a product and designed to perform specific
tasks or functions for that product
– Cannot be used as general-purpose computers
– Often embedded into:
• Household appliances
• Thermostats
• Sewing machines
• Treadmills
• Answering machines
• Cars

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Trend
Box
Tiny PCs
– Can look like a USB flash drive or small circuit board
– Typically connect your TV to the Internet to display Web
content
– Some are full computers

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 2. Mobile Devices

• Mobile Device
– A very small device with some type of built-in computing
or Internet capability
– Typically has a small screen
and keyboard
– Examples:
• Smartphones
• Handheld gaming
devices
• Portable digital media
players
• Media tablets
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition
 3. Personal Computers
(PCs)
• Personal Computer (PC)
– Small computer designed to be used by one person at a
time
– Also called a microcomputer
– Available in different sizes and shapes
• Desktop Computers
– On or next to a desk
– Tower case, desktop case,
or all-in-one
– PC or Macintosh
– Not portable

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Portable
Computers
• Portable Computers
– Designed to be carried around easily
– Fully functional computers
– Notebook (laptop) computers
• Typically use a clamshell design
– Tablet computers
• Usually use a digital pen/stylus or touch screen
• No physical keyboard; can use on-screen or attached
keyboard
– Hybrid notebook-tablet computers
– Netbooks
• Smaller and have more limited features than conventional
notebooks

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

Portable
Computers

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 4.
Servers
• Server
– A medium-sized computer used to host programs
and data for a small network
– Sometimes referred to as a minicomputer
– Users connect via a network with a
computer, thin client, or dumb terminal
– Virtualization
• Creating virtual rather than
actual environments
(often used to share a
server
for increased efficiency)
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition
 5. Mainframe Computers

• Mainframe Computer
– Powerful computer used by many large organizations to
manage large amounts of centralized data
– Standard choice for hospitals, universities, large
businesses, banks, government offices
– Located in climate-controlled data centers and
connected
to the rest of the company computers via a
network
– Larger, more expensive, and more powerful
than servers
– Usually operate 24 hours a day
– Also called high-end serversComputers:
Understanding or enterprise-class
Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition
Mainframe
Computers

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 6.
Supercomputers
• Supercomputer
– Fastest, most expensive, most powerful type of computer
– Generally run one program at a time, as fast as possible
– Can cost several million dollars each
– Tend to be very large and contain a large number of CPUs
– Titan is one of the fastest computers in the world
– quantum mechanics, weather forecasting, oil
and gas exploration, molecular modeling,
physical simulations, aerodynamics, nuclear
fusion research and crypto analysis.

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

Supercompu
ters

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computer Networks
and the Internet
• Computer Network
– A collection of hardware and other devices that are
connected together
– Users can share hardware, software, and data
– Users can communicate with each other
• Network Servers
– Manage resources on a network

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

Computer Networks and the
Internet
• Computer networks exist in many sizes and types
– Home networks
– School and small office networks
– Large corporate
– Public wireless networks
– Mobile telephone networks

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

Computer Networks and the
Internet

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

What Are the Internet and the
World Wide Web?
• Internet
– The largest/most well-known computer network in the
world
– Individuals connect using an Internet service provider
(ISP)
• World Wide Web
– One resource (a vast collection of Web pages) available
through the Internet
– Web sites contain Web pages stored on Web servers
– Viewed using a Web browser (Internet Explorer,
Chrome,
Safari, Firefox, Opera, etc.)
– Offers a wide variety of information
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition
What Are the Internet and the
World Wide Web?

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

Accessing a Network or the
Internet
• Need a modem or network adapter to connect
• Some networks require a username and password
• Internet connections can be:
– Direct (always-on) connections
– Dial-up connections
• Internet addresses are used to access resources on the
Internet
– IP (Internet Protocol) address
• Numeric address that identifies computers
(207.46.197.32)

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 IP Addresses and Domain
Names
• IP Addresses
– Are numeric and unique
• Domain Names
– Correspond to IP addresses
– Top-level domains (TLDs)
– Identifies type of organization
or its location

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Uniform Resource
Locators (URLs)
• Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)
– Uniquely identifies a Web page, including
• Protocol or standard being used
• Web server hosting the page
• Names of folders in which the Web page file is stored
• Web page’s filename

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Uniform Resource
Locators (URLs)
• Protocols:
– Hypertext Transfer Protocol (http://) is typically used to
display Web pages (https:// is used for secure Web pages)
– File Transfer Protocol (ftp://) is often used for file
exchange

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 E-mail
Addresses
• E-mail addresses consist of:
– Username
• An identifying name
– The @ symbol
– Domain name for the computer that will be handling the
person’s e-mail (mail server)
• Pronouncing Internet addresses

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Surfing the
Web
• Web browser
– Used to display Web pages
• Browser starting page or home page
– The first page displayed when the browser is opened
• To navigate to a Web page, you can:
– Type a URL in the Address bar
– Click a hyperlink – graphics or text linked to other Web
pages
– Select a Favorite/Bookmark or page from the History
list

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Searching the
Web
• Search site:
– Helps you locate what you are
looking for
– Typically search using
keywords
• Reference sites
– Look up addresses,
telephone numbers, ZIP codes,
maps, etc.

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 E-
Mail

• Electronic mail (e-mail)

 – Electronic messages exchanged between
computers on a network
• One of the most widely used Internet application
• Conventional
Can Web-based
be conventional e-mail program, Web-
Microsoftor
based, Outlook Gmail
mobile-based
Mac OS X Mail Outlook.com

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 E-
Mail
• Can contain photos, attached files, etc.
• Mobile e-mail may require a fee
• Other types of mobile communications
– Short Message Service (SMS)
– Multimedia Message Service (MMS)

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

E-
Mail

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers and
Society
• The vast improvements in technology over the past decade
have had a distinct impact on daily life, at home and at work
• Many benefits of a computer-oriented society
– Ability to design products before construction leads to
safer products
– Earlier medical diagnoses and more effective
treatment
– Devices that allow physically and/or visually challenged
individuals to perform job tasks
– Documents e-mailed or faxed in moments
– Download information, music, programs, movies, and
more on demand
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition
 Computers and
Society
• Computer-oriented society also has risks
– Stress and health concerns
– Spam
– Computer viruses and malware
– Identity theft and phishing
– Privacy issues
• How data is collected
• How secure is the collected data

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers and
Society
• Differences in online communications
– Less formal than traditional
– Netiquette
• Be polite and considerate of others
• Refrain from offensive remarks
– Abbreviations (acronyms) and emoticons
• Acronyms, such as BTW (by the way)
• Illustrations of faces, such as 

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

Computers and
Society

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Computers and
Society
• The Anonymity Factor
– Gives many individuals a sense of freedom
– Can also be abused
• Information Integrity
– Use common sense when evaluating online content
– Check your source--not all information on the Internet is
accurate

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition

 Summa
ry
• Computers in Your Life
• What is a Computer and What Does It Do?
• Computers to Fit Every Need
• Computer Networks and the Internet
• Computers and Society

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition