INTRODUCTION TO

COMPUTER
OBJECTIVES
 After completing this chapter, students will
be able to:
◦ Explain why it is important to be computer literate
◦ Define the term computer
◦ Identify the components of a computer
◦ Explain why a computer is a powerful tool
Computer Literacy
 When you hear the word computer: you
may think of those found in the workplace –
the computers used to create
◦ Business letters, memos, and other
correspondence
◦ Calculate payroll; track inventory; or generate
invoices.
Computers help you with your banking in the form
of automatic teller machines (ATMs) used to
deposit or withdraw funds.
What is Computer and What
does it do?
 A computer is an electronic machine,
operating under the control of instructions
in its own memory,
◦ That can accept data (input)
◦ Manipulate the data according specified rules
(process)
◦ Produce results (output)
◦ And store the results for future use.
What is a computer and what
does it do?
 Data is a collection of un-organized
facts, which can include words,
numbers, images, and sounds.
◦ Computers manipulate and process data
to create information.
What is a computer and what
does it do?
 Information is data that is
organized, has meaning, and is
useful.
◦ Examples are reports, newsletters, a
receipt, a picture, an invoice or a check.
◦ Data is processed and manipulated to
create a check
What is a computer and what
does it do?
 Data entered into a computer is
called input.
 Thus a computer processes input

to create output.
 The processed results are called

output.
What is a computer and what
does it do?
A computer also can hold data
and information for future use in
an area called storage.
 This cycle of input, process,

output, and storage is called the

information processing cycle.
What is a computer and what
does it do?
Components of Computer
1 Hardware – refers to the physical parts of
a computer and related devices.
2 Software – is the series of instructions that
tells the hardware how to perform tasks.
3 Peopleware – computer users.
Hardware
Classifications of Hardware
1 Peripheral Devices - A computer
peripheral is any external device that
provides input and output for the
computer.
2 Central Processing Unit (CPU) - This is
the brain of computer. It processes
everything from basic instructions to
complex functions.
3 Mass Storage System -Memory
Hardware
Classifications of Hardware
 Peripheral Devices
 A peripheral device is generally defined as any auxiliary
device such as a computer mouse or keyboard, that
connects to and works with the computer in some way.
 Other examples of peripherals are expansion cards,
graphics cards, image scanners, tape drives,
microphones, loudspeakers, webcams, and digital
cameras.
 Peripheral devices includes the following devices:
 Input devices
 Output devices
 Storage devices
 Communication devices
Hardware
Input Devices
 An input device allows a user to enter data
and commands into the memory of a
computer. Four commonly used input
devices are the keyboard, the mouse, a
microphone, and a PC camera.
Hardware
Output Devices
 An output device is used to convey the
information generated by a computer to a
user. Three commonly used output devices
are a printer, a monitor, and speakers.
Components of Computer
System Unit
 The system unit is a box-like case made
from metal or plastic that houses the
computer electronic circuitry. The circuitry
in the system unit usually is part of or is
connected to a circuit board called the
motherboard.
Components of Computer
System Unit
 Two main components on the motherboard
are the central processing unit (CPU) and
memory. The central processing unit
(CPU), also called a processor, is the
electronic device that interprets and
carries out the instructions that operate
the computer.
Components of Computer
System Unit
 Memory is a series of electronic elements that
temporarily holds data and instructions while
they are being- processed by the CPU. Both the
processor and memory are chips.
◦ A chip is an electronic device that contains many
microscopic pathways designed to carry electrical
current. Chips, which usually are no bigger than one-half
inch square, are packaged so they can be connected to a
motherboard or other circuit boards.
Components of Computer
System Unit
 Some computer components, such as the
processor and memory resided inside the system
unit; that is, they are internal.
◦ Other components, like keyboard, mouse, microphone,
monitor, PC camera, and printer, often are system unit.
These devices are considered external.
 Any external device that attaches to the system unit is called
a peripheral device.
Hardware
Storage Devices
 Storage holds data, instructions, and information
for future use. Storage differs from memory, in
that it can hold these items permanently,
whereas memory holds these items only
temporarily while they are being processed.
 A storage medium (media is the plural) is the
physical material on which data. instructions, and
information are stored. One commonly used
storage medium is a disk, which is a round, flat
piece of plastic or metal on which items can be
encoded, or written.
Hardware
Storage Devices
 A storage device is used to record and retrieve
data, instructions, and information to and from a
storage medium.
 Storage devices often function as a source of
input because they transfer items from storage
into memory.
 Four common storage devices are a floppy disk
drive, a hard disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, and a
DVD-ROM drive. A disk drive is a device that
reads from and max’ write onto a disk.
Hardware
Communication Devices
 Communications devices enable computer users
to communicate and to exchange items such as
data, instructions, and information with another
computer.
 Communications devices transmit these items
over transmission media, such as cables,
telephone lines, or other means, used to establish
a connection between two computers.
Hardware
Communication Devices
 A modem is a communications device that
enables computers to communicate via telephone
lines or other means. Although moderns are
available as both external and internal devices,
most are internal; that is, contained within the
system unit.
Hardware
Classifications of Hardware
 Central Processing Unit
 Control Unit
 Arithmetic Logic Unit
 Memory Unit
Hardware
Classifications of Hardware
 Central Processing Unit
 The central processing unit (CPU) is the
brain of your computer.
 It handles all the instructions you give your
computer, and the faster it does this, the
better.
 Learn about how a CPU processes
instructions and how computer engineers
are continuously coming up with ways to
make it go faster.
Hardware
Classifications of Hardware
 Parts of CPU
 Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) which performs
simple arithmetic and logical operations.
 Control Unit (CU) which manages the various
components of the computer. It reads and
interprets instructions from memory and
transforms them into a series of signals to activate
other parts of the computer. The control unit calls
upon the arithmetic logic unit to perform the
necessary calculations.
 Memory Unit (MU) is the cache, which serves as
high-speed memory where instructions can be
copied to and retrieved.
Hardware
Classifications of Hardware
 Types of Memory
 Random Access Memory - volatile
 Read Only Memory – non-volatile
Hardware
 Types of Memory
 Random Access Memory – volatile
 The contents of volatile memory, such as RAM, are lost
(erased) when the power to the computer is turned off.
 Read Only Memory – non-volatile
 The contents of non-volatile memory, however,
are not lost when power is removed from the
computer.
 For example, once instructions have been
recorded onto a non-volatile ROM chip, they
usually cannot be erased or changed, and the
contents of the chip are not erased when power
is turned off.
Categories of Computer
 The four major categories of computers are
◦ Personal computers
◦ Minicomputers
◦ Mainframe computers and
◦ Supercomputers

 These categories are based on the differences

in the
◦ Size,
◦ Speed,
◦ Processing capabilities, and
◦ Price of computers.
Categories of Computer
 Due to rapidly changing technology,
the categories cannot be defined
precisely.
◦ For example, the speed used to define a
mainframe today may be used to define
a minicomputer next year.
◦ Some characteristics may overlap
categories. Still, they frequently are used
and should be understood.
Categories of Computer
 Microcomputer or Personal Computer (PC)
◦ A personal computer (PC) is a computer that
can perform all of its input, processing, output,
and storage activities by itself; that is.
◦ It contains at least one input device, one output
device, one storage device, memory, and a
processor.
◦ The processor, sometimes called a
microprocessor, is a central processing unit
(CPU) on a single chip and is the basic building
block of a PC.
Categories of Computer
 Microcomputer or Personal Computer (PC)
◦ Two popular series of personal computers are
the PC and the Apple Macintosh.
◦ These two types of computers have different
processors and use different operating systems.
◦ The PC and compatibles use the Windows
operating system, whereas the Apple Macintosh
uses the Macintosh operating system.
Categories of Computer
 Minicomputers
◦ A minicomputer, is more powerful and larger than a
workstation computer.
◦ Minicomputers often can support up to 4,000 connected
users at the same time.
◦ Users often access a minicomputer via a terminal, which is
a device with a monitor and keyboard.
◦ Such terminals - sometimes called dumb terminals
because they have no processing power - cannot act as
stand-alone computers and must be connected to the
minicomputer to operate.
◦ A minicomputer also can act as a server in a network
environment.
 In this case, personal computers access the minicomputer.
Categories of Computer
 Mainframe Computers
◦ A mainframe is a large, expensive, very
powerful computer that can handle hundreds or
thousands of connected users simultaneously.
◦ Like minicomputers, mainframes also can act as
a server in a network environment.
◦ Mainframes can store tremendous amounts of
data, instructions, and information, which users
can access with terminals or personal
computers.
Categories of Computer
 Supercomputers
◦ A super-computer is the fastest, most powerful
computer - and the most expensive.
◦ Capable of processing more than 64 billion
instructions in a single second, supercomputers
are used for applications requiring complex,
sophisticated mathematical calculations.
 For example, a supercomputer would be used for
weather forecasting, nuclear energy research, and
petroleum exploration.
Why is a Computer a Powerful
Tool?
 A computer’s power is derived from its
capability of performing the information
processing cycle operations with speed,
reliability, and accuracy; its capacity to
store huge amounts of data, instructions,
and information; and its ability to
communicate with other computers.
Why is a Computer a Powerful
Tool?
 Speed
◦ Inside the system unit, operations occur
through electronic circuits.
◦ When data, instructions, and information flow
along these circuits, they travel at close to the
speed of light.
◦ This allows billions of operations to be carried
out in a single second.
Why is a Computer a Powerful
Tool?
 Reliability
◦ The electronic components in modern
computers are dependable because they have a
low failure rate.
◦ The high reliability of components enables the
computer to produce consistent results.
Why is a Computer a Powerful
Tool?
 Accuracy
◦ Computers can process large amounts of data
and generate error-free results, provided the
data is entered correctly.
◦ If inaccurate data is entered, the resulting
output will be incorrect.
◦ This computing principle - known as garbage in,
garbage out (GIGO), point out that the accuracy
of a computer’s output depends on the
accuracy of the input.

Why is a Computer a Powerful
Tool?
 Storage
◦ Many computers can store enormous amounts
of data and make this data available for
processing any time it is needed.
◦ Using current storage devices, the data can be
transferred quickly from storage to memory,
processed, and then stored again for future use.
Why is a Computer a Powerful
Tool?
 Communications
◦ Most computers today have the capability of
communicating with other computers.
◦ Computers with this capability can share any’ of
the four information processing cycle operations
- input, process, output, and storage - with
another computer.
 For example, two computers connected by a
communications device such as a modem can
share stored data, instructions, and information.
Why is a Computer a Powerful
Tool?
 Communications
◦ When two or more computers are connected
together via communications media and
devices, they comprise a network.
◦ The most widely known network is the Internet.
a worldwide collection of networks that links
together millions of businesses, government
installations, educational institutions, and
individuals.
Examples of Computer Usage
Every day, people depend on different types
of computers for a variety of applications.
 Home Users

◦ Home users rely on their computers for

entertainment; communications; research and
education; Web access; shopping; personal
finance; and productivity applications such as
word processing and spreadsheets.
Examples of Computer Usage
 Small Business Users
◦ Small business users utilize productivity
software as well as communications software,
Web browsers, e-mail, and specialized software.
 Mobile Users
◦ Mobile users have laptop computers so they can
work on the road. They often use presentation
software.
Examples of Computer Usage
 Large Business Users
◦ Large business users use computers to run their
businesses by using productivity software,
communications software, automated systems for
most departments in the company, and large
networks.
 Power Users
◦ Power users require the capabilities of workstations
or other powerful computers to design plans,
produce publications, create graphic art, and work
with multimedia that includes text, graphics,
sound, video, and other media elements.
Software
Classifications of Software
1. System Software
1. Operating System
2. Utilities
2. Programming Languages
1. First GL – Machine Language
2. Second GL – Assembly Language
3. Third GL – C Programming, BASIC, Pascal,
Foxbase
4. Fourth GL – Powerbuilder, SQL, Magic
5. Fifth GL – Visual Basic, Visual Foxpro, Java, Visual
C++
Software
Classifications of Software
3. Application Software
1. Wordprocessing
2. Spreadsheet
3. Graphics
4. Games
5. Educational
6. Desktop Publishing
7. Accounting Package
8. CAD
Categories of Computers
A. Look for different companies/business that
uses:
1. Minicomputer
2. Large Computer
3. Super Computer

B. Provide description, functions and pictures