Navigating the Computer

McGraw-Hill Technology Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All

 Terms to Remember
Peripherals: An external device
connected to a computer, like a mouse or
printer.
Volatile: Memory that loses data when
power is turned off.
Cohesive: United and working together
effectively.
Interface: Point of interaction or
communication between systems.
1B-2
 Terms to Remember
Dominance: State of being more powerful
or influential.
Compatibility: Ability to work well
together without issues.
Precision: Exactness or accuracy in
performance or measurement.
Mechanical: Relating to machinery or
devices with moving parts.

1B-3
 Terms to Remember
Efficiency: The ability to accomplish a
task with minimal resources.
Maintenance: Actions taken to keep
something in good condition.
Programmable: Capable of being set to
perform specific tasks.
Sensor: Device that detects or measures
physical input.

1B-4
 Terms to Remember
Expansion Cards: Additional hardware
components to enhance computer
capabilities.
Aspect ratio: The proportional
relationship between the width and height
of a display screen.
Circuit board: A rigid board that holds
and connects electronic components in a
computer or device.

1B-5
 Terms to Remember
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT): An older
technology for computer monitors, now
largely replaced by LCD screens.
Erratic: Inconsistent or unpredictable in
behavior or movement.

1B-6
 Parts of the Computer System
• Computer systems have four parts
– Hardware
– Software
– Data
– User

1B-7
 Parts of the Computer System
• Hardware
– Mechanical devices in the computer
– Anything that can be touched
• Software
– Tell the computer what to do
– Also called a program
– Thousands of programs exist

1B-8
 Parts of the Computer System
• Data
– Pieces of information
– Computer organize and present data
• Users
– People operating the computer
– Most important part
– Tell the computer what to do

1B-9
 Information Processing Cycle
•Steps followed to process data
•Input
•Processing
•Output
•Storage
•Communications
devices

1B-10
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Computers use the same basic
hardware
• Hardware categorized into four types

1B-11
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Processing devices
– Brains of the computer
– Carries out instructions from the program
– Manipulate the data
– Most computers have several processors
– Central Processing Unit (CPU)
– Secondary processors
– Processors made of silicon and copper

1B-12
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Memory devices
– Stores data or programs
– Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Volatile
• Stores current data and programs
• More RAM results in a faster system
– Read Only Memory (ROM)
• Permanent storage of programs
• Holds the computer boot directions

1B-13
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Input and output devices
– Allows the user to interact
– Input devices accept data
• Keyboard, mouse
– Output devices deliver data
• Monitor, printer, speaker
– Some devices are input and output
• Touch screens

1B-14
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Storage devices
– Hold data and programs permanently
– Different from RAM
– Magnetic storage
• Floppy and hard drive
• Uses a magnet to access data
– Optical storage
• CD and DVD drives
• Uses a laser to access data

1B-15
 HARDWARE

1B-16
 Motherboard
The main circuit board within a computer
that connects and allows communication
between various hardware components
like CPU, memory, storage, and
peripherals.

1B-17
 Hard disk
A device for permanent data storage
within a computer, storing files, software,
and the operating system magnetically on
a spinning disk.

1B-18
 RAM (Random Access Memory)
Temporary memory where the computer
stores data currently being used, allowing
quick access for the CPU. It's faster but
volatile (loses data when powered off).

1B-19
 Power supply
Converts electrical power from an outlet
into usable power for the computer's
components.

1B-20
 Processor
The "brain" of the computer that executes
instructions and performs calculations,
handling most tasks.

1B-21
 Case
The enclosure housing all the computer's
internal components, providing protection
and often containing cooling systems.

1B-22
 Monitor
The display device that shows output from
the computer, allowing users to interact
visually with the system.

1B-23
 Keyboard
An input device with keys for typing text
and executing commands.

1B-24
 Mouse
An input device used for pointing, clicking,
and navigating the computer's graphical
interface.

1B-25
 Mouse
Ball mouse: This uses a ball to roll across
the surface and move rollers attached to
sensors inside the mouse that reflect the
ball movement as cursor movement.
Optical mouse: This uses a camera to
take thousands of images per second and
sent them for digital processing. The red
LED lights up the surface for the camera.
The digital processor compares images
and can sense the movement of the
1B-26 mouse.
1B-27
 Graphics tablets
Becoming popular as a replacement for a
mouse as they offer much more control of
cursor movement. This is important in
applications such as Illustration Graphics,
Image Editing and CAD.

1B-28
 Expansion Cards
Additional cards installed on the
motherboard to add functionality to a
computer beyond its basic capabilities.
Examples include graphics cards for
better visuals or network cards for internet
connectivity.

1B-29
 Ports
Connection points on a computer that
allow various devices to be connected,
such as USB ports for peripherals, HDMI
ports for displays, Ethernet ports for
networking, etc.

1B-30
 Speakers
Output devices that produce audio and
sound generated by the computer,
providing users with auditory feedback,
such as music, system alerts, or other
audio content.

1B-31
 Printer
An output device that produces physical
copies of documents or images stored in a
digital format on a computer, using ink or
toner to transfer the content onto paper.

1B-32
 Scanner
An input device that captures images or
documents in a digital format, converting
physical copies into digital data that can
be stored, edited, or printed using a
computer.

1B-33
 Cache Memory

It is a high-speed type of volatile computer

memory that a processor or CPU uses to
access frequently used instructions or
data quickly. It's a smaller and faster form
of memory located closer to the CPU than
the computer's main memory (RAM).

1B-34
 Keyboard

1B-35
1B-36
 The most common typing key
arrangement is called QWERTY after the
first six keys. Other typing key
arrangements are available including
Dvorak, ABCDEF, AZERTY etc. These
are common in other countries but the
qwerty keyboard has maintained
dominance in Western Europe.

1B-37
1B-38
 Software Runs The Machine
• System software
– Most important software
– Operating system
• Windows XP
– Network operating system (OS)
• Windows Server 2003
– Utility
• Symantec AntiVirus

1B-39
 Software Runs The Machine
• Application software
– Accomplishes a specific task
– Most common type of software
• MS Word
– Covers most common uses of computers

1B-40
 SOFTWARE

1B-41
 System software

The programs that control the operation of

the computer system. Operating systems
and utility programs are the most
common.

1B-42
 Operating System

Initiates the computer, offers a user

interface, oversees memory, storage,
security, and facilitates networking and
internet access, among other functions.
Various OS options exist, like Microsoft
Windows XP, Vista, Apple's OS X, Unix,
and Linux.

1B-43
1B-44
 Utility programs

Perform maintenance tasks on the

computer system. This includes file
management programs, uninstall
programs, disk scanners and
defragmenters, backup utilities, antivirus
etc.

1B-45
1B-46
 Application Software

Used to do non-system-based tasks.

Categories include business software,
engineering software, medical software,
games etc.

1B-47
1B-48
 Computer data
• Fact with no meaning on its own
• Stored using the binary number system
• Data can be organized into files

1B-49
 Computer users
• Role depends on ability
– Setup the system
– Install software
– Mange files
– Maintain the system
• “Userless” computers
– Run with no user input
– Automated systems

1B-50
 End of Chapter

McGraw-Hill Technology Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All