1. Information Technology
Lesson 1
Meaning of “Information Technology (IT)”: A general term which
includes all of
the computer system: the hardware, software and other services
associated with computer operation.
Definitions:
Hardware: Objects that you see when the computer is turned off.
Software: Instructions that indicates the computer what to do with
the data.
Services: Crucial activities to the entire operation of computers
provided by the Information Technology specialists
Types of Computers
Two Major Categories of Computers
1. Mainframe Computers
2. Microcomputers
Three Major Categories of Microcomputers
1. PDA (Personal Digital Assistants)
2. Laptop
3. Desktop
Major Uses of the Major Categories of Microcomputers
1. PDA- Has fewer applications to be used when you’re away from desktop
or laptop.

2. 2. Laptop- Has all types of applications available for road use.
3. Desktop- Has all types of applications available for home or office use.
The Block Diagram of the Computer System
Control
Input Processing Output
Memory
Input Devices
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3. 6 10 5 6
9
4
1
2
3
8
7
1. Keyboard 6. Scanner
2. Mouse, Trackball or Touch 7. Modem
Pad 8. CD/DVD
3. Internal Drives 9. Camera/Microphone
4. External Hard Drive 10.Touch Screen
5. Printer
Processing
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4.  Calculate
 Controls operational logic
 Contains RAM for calculations
 Controls components
 Speed (Megahertz 1million operations per second)
Output Devices
1
2
6 4
8
3
7
5
1. Monitor 5. Modem
2. Printer 6. Speaker System
3. Internal Drives 7. CD/DVR Recorder
4. External Hard Drive 8. Thumb Drive
Memory Devices
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5. Read-Only Memory(ROM)= Memory that retains operating system info
permanently
Random Access Memory (RAM)- Temporaly stores data, volatile, the data
disappear when the system is powered-down
Measurement of Memory: bit, byte, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte
Control
Control
Input Processing Output
Memory
Operating Systems- Windows XP
Applications Programs- Microsoft Office
Specialized Programs on ROM- Plug-in games
Review of Key IT Terms
IT Information Technology
Input Putting information into the computer
Processing Doing something with the information put in the computer
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6. Output Getting information out of the computer
Memory Storing and retrieving information in the computer
Control Directing input, processing memory and output
Monitor Visual display of information stored in memory
CPU Central Processing Unit
Applications Programs developed to produce products
System Software Programs that perform system operations
Byte 8 bits (a string of eight zeros and/or ones
CD-ROM Compact Disk Read Only Memory
Diskette Storage device that holds 1.2 megabytes of data
Digital Discrete as opposed to analogous
Analog Analogous, representing relative size
e-Commerce Business conducted on the Internet
e-Mail Mail sent and received via the Internet
Freeware Computer software which is free to the user
Bit A zero or a one
Touchscreen Special display that outputs video and inputs location of
touch
Mouse A means by which any area of the screen can be reached
Trackball An alternative to the mouse
Touchpad Another alternative to the mouse, mostly on laptops
Modem A means by which data can be sent and received via the
telephone
Megahertz Measure of speed; approx. a million cycles per second
Gigahertz Measure of speed; approx. a trillion cycles per second
Kilobyte Measure of quantity; 1024
Megabyte Measure of quantity; 1024 kb, approx. 1 million bytes
Hardware Physical parts of the computer and peripherals
PDA A hand-held computer
Quick Quiz
Directions: Using the system explained by your instructor, answer the following questions
related to Information Technology.
1. Which of the following are included as part of the concept, Information
Technology?
a. Hardware c. Personnel
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7. Measure
ment of
Memory b. Software d. All of the above responses
: bit (0
2. Which of the following peripherals functions as both an input and output device?
a. mouse c. trackball
b. touch screen d. touchpad
3. What you see after turning off the computer’s main power switch is termed
a. hardware c. software
b. systems applications d. user applications
4. That computer component which tells the computer what to do with supplied
data is called
a. firmware c. software
b. directions d. all of the above
5. The smallest of the various types of general purpose computers is called the
a. calculator c. programmable calculator
b. memory-based calculator d. PDA
6. Which of the following would be classified as input devices?
a. touchpad c. trackball
b. touch screen d. all of the above
7. A flat-bed scanner is classified as a/n ____________ device
a. processing c. control
b. memory d. input
8. Which of the following are both input and output devices?
a. 3.5” floppy drive c. DVD player
b. CD player d. all of the above
9. The device which is used to modulate and de-modulate signals is called a/n
a. modem c. de-modulator
b. modulator d. converter
10. Which of the following is a task of the central processing unit?
a. calculations c. control logic
b. control components d. all of the above
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8. 11. A central processing unit, the heart of the computer, is approximately how large?
a. 1 foot by 1 foot c. less than 4” square
b. 8” by 12” d. no more than .25” square
12. The speed of the CPU is measured in
a. cycles/minute c. cycles/hour
b. operations/second d. all of the above
13. In terms of output devices, which of the following is probably the most used?
a. monitor c. printer
b. CD-writer d. tape recorder
14. ROM stands for _______________ memory
a. random operational c. read-only
b. read-once d. recursive operational
15. Which of the following is true of RAM?
a. It is permanent c. It is highly volatile
b. It is extremely expensive d. all of the above
16. Which of the following is a good definition of a “bit”?
a. a zero or a one c. one-eighth of a byte
b. a binary digit d. all of the above
17. Memory is measured in bytes. What is the definition of a byte?
a. eight zeros or ones c. 1/10,000 of a terabyte
b. 2 bits
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d. 10 bits
18. A kilobyte is
a. exactly 1024 bytes c. 25 bits
b. one million bits d. exactly 1024 bits
19. A terabyte is one million megabytes or approximately ____________ bytes.
a. one thousand c. ten million
b. one hundred thousand d. one trillion
20. Windows XP is an example of a/n
a. MS Office application c. Operating System
b. Off-line storage system d. all of the above
21. Which of the following would be classified as an application program?
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9. a. Word c. Photoshop
b. PowerPoint d. all of the above
22. The type of monitor that can serve not only as an output device but also as an
input device is called a/n
a. touchscreen c. touchpad
b. trackscreen d. input/output video display
23. Which of the following can be read from a CD-ROM?
a. word processing files c. digital pictures
b. digital movies d. all of the above
24. The CPU is the central processing unit. With a desktop computer, CPU also may
refer to the
a. box, either metal or plastic, that contains the CPU and peripherals
b. control-program unit
c.. monitor, the visual output display
d. main memory (both RAM and ROM)
25. Which of the following can function as an output device?
a. mouse c. trackball
b. CD-ROM reader d. monitor
Activity 1-1
Directions: In this first activity you will be exploring the Information Technology
employment opportunities. You will first have the opportunity to read about such
opportunities by means of a search on the Internet. You will see in this activity what
the actual employment opportunities are and what are the needed skills for those
desiring such employment.
1. Study the following excerpts from the classified ads, announcements of job opening
which are all in the area of information technology. What are some of the major
conclusions you can draw from announcements such as these?
This type of pages is a good source of classified jobs. It has detailed
information about the job that you are probably looking for. It not only
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10. presents you different options on Information Technology vacant, also
gives you the place where employees are needed.
Results of an Internet search related to jobs in the IT field.
Note that the
Category is
Information Technology and 39,319 job postings were found. These jobs are listed in
the “Newest jobs first” order, and the names of the companies and locations are
indicated.
Further exploration of this website produces the Job Title/Description, Company,
Location, and Date Found categories for each of the opportunities listed.
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11. Continued exploration of any of these job postings will provide information
concerning the details of the job and the required background.
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12. Scrolling further down the required experience/knowledge is listed.
Note that in this class, you will be studying Windows XP, one of the requirements.
Activity 1-2
Be on the lookout for job listings in the area of Information Technology. Such listing may
be found in newspapers, magazines related to Information Technology, and on the
Internet. Be prepared for the next class session to share your findings concerning
preparation for employment in the IT field.
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