Scribd
Upload
5 views28 pages

Lec 1 Basic Concepts of Information Technology

The document provides an overview of basic concepts in Information Technology, including definitions of information, computers, and their components. It discusses the processing of information through the 'Black Box' model, the types of computers, and the roles of hardware and software. Additionally, it covers the importance of the operating system and application software, along with best practices for computer maintenance.

Uploaded by

Zeeshan Ahmed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
5 views28 pages

Lec 1 Basic Concepts of Information Technology

The document provides an overview of basic concepts in Information Technology, including definitions of information, computers, and their components. It discusses the processing of information through the 'Black Box' model, the types of computers, and the roles of hardware and software. Additionally, it covers the importance of the operating system and application software, along with best practices for computer maintenance.

Uploaded by

Zeeshan Ahmed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 28

Basic Concepts Of Information

Technology (IT)
Course Name: Introduction to ICT
Course Code: COSC-1105

Reference Material:
1. Introduction to Computers by Peter Norton, McGraw Hill
Education; 6th International Edition. (2004). ISBN-10:
0672315327
2. Using Information Technology: A Practical Introduction to
Computer & Communications by Williams Sawyer, McGraw
Hill Learning Solution; 10th Edition (2013)
The Basics – What is
Information?
• Information is data processed for some purpose
• Information can only be considered to be 'real'
Info if it meets certain criteria i.e.
• 1.it must be communicated to the recipient
• 2.it must be in a language that is understood
• 3.it must be in a suitable form
• 4.it must be relevant for achieving some
purpose
Information
-
is any form of
communication that provides
understandable and useful
knowledge for the person
receiving it.
What Is A Computer?

A computer is a general purpose,


programmable device that is used
for the production and processing of
information
capable of calculating and
storing results
What do we mean by
purpose
general
?
 Most devices can be described by their function
e.g Washing Machine, DVD Player
 Computers, however, can be used for almost any
purpose:
- typewriter
- video editor
- accounts tracker
- database / address book
- DVD / CD Player
- and many others…
Computers Are Programmable
 Computers repond to instructions in the form of
programs
 Programs are written in order to make
computers behave in specific ways i.e. word
processor, systems control
 Programs are stored in the Computer
memory
How computers process information
 Computers accept inputs ( i.e. data)
 The input is translated into binary numbers and
‘processed’
 The process produces output (i.e information)
 This sequence can repeat endlessly: outputs
can be inputs!
 Illustrating this - the ‘Black Box’ model
Processing - the ‘Black Box’
model
 We can think of a computer as a ‘black
box’ :

input process output

3+5
8
Components of a Computer
System
 Computer Systems are made up of:
 Hardware – the physical parts
 Software - the instructions or programs
that control the hardware
 The Human Being – the brains behind the
whole system!
Types Of Computer

 Mainframe Computer
 Minicomputer
 Personal Computer (Microcomputer / Desktop)
 Laptop
 Network Computer / Server
Computer Organisation – the Von
Neumann model

 Most Computers are based on a model


proposed by John Von Neumann in 1946
 The ‘logical’ units of this model are:
– Stored program
– Central Processing Unit: fetches and executes the
program instructions sequentially
– Memory
– Input and Output devices
Computer Hardware components
 A typical PC System is made up of:
– System Unit
– Keyboard
– Monitor (VDU)
– Mouse
– Printer
– Modem
– Multim
edia
Device
s
Hardware – The System
Unit
 Thecentral component of the system
 Houses:
– The Processor: corresponds to the CPU
– Memory: RAM and ROM
– Storage: Hard Disk, Removable
Storage devices
The Processor (CPU)
 Types include Intel Pentium series, Celerion,
AMD Athlon
 Chip at the heart of the computer- does the
calculations
 Speed is very important – measured in
megahertz (MHz): the faster the processor the
more calculations performed per second.
Memory
A computer must be able to store its calculations
and programs
 Two types of memory: “Volatile” and permanent.
 Measured in bytes
 One byte = eight bits
Random Access Memory
(RAM)
 Used by the Computer as the working area
 Holds the working program, the data being
processed and the interim results
 Volatile - contents are erased if power is
cut
 Can be accessed randomly: can get any piece
of data directly.
 Faster than perminant storage
 Not to be confused with ROM (Read-Only
Memory)
Storage - Hard
Disk
 Permanent Memory - records and stores
all programs and data / information
magnetically
 Larger than RAM - average 12 - 120GB
 Slower - involves mechanical movement
(read/write head, revolving disk)
Other types of
Storage
 Floppy Disks
 CD/DVD ROM
 Zip Drive
 Magnetic Tape
Input Devices
 Keyboard
 Mouse: used in conjunction with the GUI
(Graphical User Interface), point and click
 Other types of Input Devices:
– Trackballs
– Light Pens
– Touch Screens
– Tablets
Output Devices
 Monitor: also known as the Visual Display Unit
(VDU)
 Printers
– Laser
– Printer
– Inkjet Printer
Impact
Softwar
e
 Generic name of all programs
 Made up of code interpreted by the hardware
 Written in programming languages - Java, C,
C++, Perl
 Two kinds of Software:
– System
– Applicatio
n
System
Software
 Concerned with the computer itself: devices,
file and storage management, error correction
 Main piece of SS: Operating System (OS)
 OS: the driving program of the computer
– communicates between all programs and
the hardware
– controls timing and sequence of events
– manages data to ensure security and
integrity
– Examples: Windows, Mac OS, Unix
Applications Software
 Concerned with the world outside the computer
 Gives the computer its general purpose nature
 Used for the things you want the computer to
do
 Common Examples - Word, Excel, Internet
Explorer
 Applications can be more specialised: e.g.
Architecture package
How Software is
made
 Involvesa cycle of research, analysis,
development and testing
 Systems Analysts - study the business
processes and designs the software
 Programmers - develops the software
Problems with Software
 Software is complex
 Difficult to test comprehensivly
 Can have bugs: these can be trivial or major
 Symptoms of bugs
– hangin
– g
crashes
The Graphical User Interface (GUI)
 Represents all the program / computer
resources as icons
 Workspace represented graphically - creates
‘virtual’ documents
 More usable: led to wider use of computers
 Adds to the unique nature of the computer as
both a tool and a medium
Do’s and Don’t’s
 DO  DON’T
 give the computer room  block air vents
to breathe  eat or drink while using
 keep it in a dry the computer
 place dust free  expose to extremes
 shut down properly of temperature
 keep removable storage  just switch off
away from the screen  move while the
computer is in operation

You might also like