The document provides an overview of computers and their basic components, including input, output, processing, storage, and communications devices. It discusses the different types of hardware, software, and how computers are used in various contexts like education, business, healthcare, and more. The key aspects of computers, such as what they are, their basic functions and operations, components, and applications are summarized.

1. First Lecture:
Essential Introduction to
Computers
Norazila Mat

2. A World of Computers
What is computer literacy (digital literacy)?
 Current knowledge and understanding
of computers and their uses
 Computers are everywhere

3. What Is a Computer?
An electronic device, operating under the control of
instructions stored in its own memory,

4. What Does a Computer Do?
Four basic operations
compromise the
information processing
cycle
1. Accept data (input)
2. Process the data according to
specified rules (process)
3. Produce results (output)
4. Store the results for future
use (storage)
5. Communication

5. Data Vs Information
Data:
Collection of
unprocessed items
Processes data into
Information:
Conveys meaning and is
useful to people

6. What are the Components of a
Computer?
The six primary
components of a computer Processor
are: Control
Control Arithmetic
Arithmetic
Unit
Unit Logic Unit (ALU)
Logic Unit (ALU)
1) input devices
Instructions
2) the processor (control unit Data
and arithmetic/logic unit), Information
3) memory, Input Output
Devices
Data Memory Information
Devices
4) output devices,
5) storage devices Instructions
Data
6) communications devices Information
The processor, memory, and storage
devices are housed in a box-like case Storage
called the system unit - CPU Devices

7. INPUT: What Is Input and Input
Device?
What is input?
 Data or instructions entered into memory of
computer
 Data = Unprocessed text, numbers, images, audio, and video
 Instructions = Programs, Commands, User responses
 Input device is any hardware component that
allows users to enter data and instructions

8. INPUT: Types of input device? (1)
 Keyboards  Audio videos device
 Pointing device  Voice recognition
 Mouse  MIDI (musical instrument digital interface)
– Trackball  Digital camera
– Touchpad
 Digital video (DV) camera
– Pointing stick
 Web cam
 Light pen
 Touch screen
 Digital pen
 Game controllers

9. INPUT: Types of input device? (2)
 Data collection
 Scanners
device
 Reading Devices
 (POS) terminal
 Bar code reader
 Automated teller
 Optical reader machine (ATM)
 Optical character recognition
(OCR) reads characters in OCR  Biometric Input
font
 Optical mark recognition (OMR)  Fingerprint reader
reads hand-drawn pencil marks,
such as small circles  Voice verification
 Magnetic stripe card system
reader  Signature
 Magnetic-ink verification system
character recognition  Iris recognition
(MICR) reader system

10. The System Unit
What is the system unit?
 Case that contains
electronic components
of the computer used
to process data
 Sometimes called
the chassis

11. The System Unit
What are common components inside the system unit?
 Processor
 Memory
 Adapter cards
 Sound card
 Video card
 Drive bays
 Power supply
p. 185 Fig. 4-2

12. Processor
What is the central processing unit (CPU)?
Interprets and carries
out basic instructions
that operate a computer
 Control unit directs and
coordinates operations in
computer
 Arithmetic logic unit
(ALU) performs
arithmetic, comparison,
and logical operations
Also called the processor

13. Memory
What is memory? How is memory measured?
 Electronic components that store  By number of bytes available for
instructions, data, and results storage
 Consists of one or
more chips on Term Abbreviation Approximate Size
motherboard or
Kilobyte KB or K 1 thousand bytes
other circuit board
Megabyte MB 1 million bytes
 Each byte stored Gigabyte GB 1 billion bytes
in unique location Terabyte TB 1 trillion bytes
called an address

14. OUTPUT: What is Output?
What is output?
 Data that has been processed into a useful form
 Output device is any hardware component that can convey
information to one or more people

15. OUTPUT: Display Devices
 Output device that visually  Printer
conveys text, graphics, and  Impact printer –dot matrix
video information printer
 Information on display device  Nonimpact printers
sometimes called soft copy
print head
 Ink-jet printer
 Monitor houses display device  photo printer
that is packaged as separate
 laser printer
peripheral
 LCD (liquid crystal display)  thermal printer
monitor  Plotter
 Plasma monitor
print cartridge
 CRT (cathode-ray tube) monitor firing
chamber
ink dot
bubble resistor ink
nozzle

16. OUTPUT: Audio output device
 Computer component that produces music, speech, or
other sounds
 Speakers and headsets are common devices

17. OUTPUT: Other Output Devices
 facsimile (fax) machine
 multifunction peripheral
 data projector
 interactive whiteboard

18. Storage
What is storage?
 Holds data, instructions, and information for future use
 Storage medium is physical material used for storage
 Also called secondary storage

19. Storage
What is capacity?
 Number of bytes (characters) a storage medium can hold
Kilobyte (KB) 1 thousand
Megabyte (MB) 1 million
Gigabyte (GB) 1 billion
Terabyte (TB) 1 trillion
Petabyte (PB) 1 quadrillion
Exabyte (EB) 1 quintillion
Zettabyte (ZB) 1 sextillion
Yottabyte (YB) 1 septillion

20. Storage
How does volatility compare?
 Storage medium is nonvolatile—contents retained when
power is off
 Memory is volatile—holds data and instructions temporarily
ON OFF
Screen Display Display Display
Volatile
appears disappears
Memory Data and Data and
(most RAM) instructions instructions
(chips on motherboard) available to erased
Nonvolatile
user
Storage Medium Contents Contents
(hard disks, CDs, DVDs, available to retained
USB flash drives, etc.) user

21. Storage device:
 Hard- Disc
 High-capacity storage, most are housed
inside the system unit
 Consists of several inflexible, circular
platters that magnetically store data,
instructions and information electronically
 External hard disk—freestanding
hard disk that connects to system unit
 Removable hard disk—hard disk
that you insert and remove
from hard disk drive track
sector
 Magnetic disc
 use magnetic particles to store items on a
disk’s surface.
read/wri
 Magnetic Tape head
 is a magnetically coated ribbon of plastic
housed in a tape cartridge platter
sides
cylinder

22. Other Storage device:
 Floppy disc
 Is an inexpensive portable storage
medium
 Optical Disc
 is a portable storage medium that consists of a
flat, round, portable disc made of metal,
plastic, and lacquer that is written and read by
a laser
 CD-ROM (Compact disc read-only
memory)
 CD-RWs (Compact disc-rewritable)
 erasable disc you can write on
multiple times
 CD-R (compact disc-recordable)
 disc you can write on once
 DVD-ROM (digital versatile disc-ROM or
digital video disc-ROM)
 Online storage
 microfilm and microfiche

23. Miniature Mobile Storage Media
What is miniature mobile storage media?
 Storage for small mobile devices
•flash memory cards
•USB Flash Drive
•smart card

24. Computer Software
What is software?
Consists of a series
of instructions that
Also called a
tells the computer
program
what to do and
how to do it
Two types of software: system software and
application software

25. Computer Software
What is system software?
 Programs that control or maintain the operations of
the computer and its devices
Operating System (OS)
is a set of programs
that coordinates all
activities among
computer hardware Utility Programs allow the user to
devices perform maintenance-type tasks
usually related to managing a
computer, its devices or its programs

26. Operating Systems
What are the functions of an operating system?

27. Operating Systems
 Operating system
 Microsoft Windows Vista
 Microsoft Windows XP
 Apple Mac OS X
 Linux
 Booting
 Process of starting or restarting a computer
 Spooling
 Sending print jobs to buffer instead of directly to printer
 Graphical user interface (GUI)
– User interacts with menus and visual images such as buttons and other
graphical objects
 Program management features of operating systems
 Multitasking, multiprocessing, multiuser and fault-tolerant

28. Operating System Utility Programs
What is a utility program?
 System software that performs
maintenance-type tasks
 Also called
utility

29. Application Software
What is application software?
 Programs designed to make users more productive
and/or assist them with personal tasks

30. Application Software
How is software distributed?
 Packaged software, mass-produced
 Custom software, performs functions specific to a
business or industry
 Web-based software, hosted by a Web site
 Open source software, provided for use, modification,
and redistribution
 Shareware, copyrighted software that is distributed
free for trial period
 Freeware, copyrighted software provided at no cost
 Public-domain software, freeware with no copyright
restrictions

31. Communications Devices
 is a hardware component that enables a computer to
send and receive data, instructions, and information to
and from one or more computers
 Transmission media
 Network through wire or wireless
– Telephone lines, cables, cellular radio networks & satellites
Used to share
Resources
Hardware
devices Software
programs Saves
Data time
Information and
money

32. Networks and the Internet
A network is a collection of computers and devices
connected together, often wirelessly, via
communications devices and transmission media
 Local area network (LAN)
 Wide area network(WAN)

33. Networks and the Internet
The world’s largest network is the Internet, which is a
worldwide collection of networks that connects millions of
businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and
individuals
 Internet service provider (ISP)
 Online service provider (OSP)
 Wireless Internet service provider (WISP)

34. Networks and the Internet
• The World Wide Web contains billions of
documents called Web pages
 Web page
 Web site
 Web browser
 Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
 Hypertext transfer protocol

35. Networks and the Internet
Why do users access the Internet?
1. Communications
2. Research and Information
3. Shopping
4. Banking and Investing
5. Classes
6. Entertainment
7. Download Music
8. Share Information

36. Networks and the Internet
• When you conduct business activities online, you
are participating in electronic commerce, also
known as e-commerce
– Business to consumer (B2C)
– Consumer to consumer (C2C)
– Business to business (B2B)

37. Advantages and Disadvantages
of Using Computers
What are the advantages of using computers?
Speed Reliability Consistency
Storage Communications
Next

38. Advantages and Disadvantages
of Using Computers
What are the disadvantages of using computers?
Violation of
Public Safety
Privacy
Impact on Impact on
Health Risks
Labor Force Environment

39. Categories of Computers
What are the categories of computers?
Personal Computers
(desktop)
Mobile Computers and
Mobile Devices
Game Consoles
Servers
Mainframes
Supercomputers
Embedded Computers

40. Servers
What types of servers are there?
A server controls access to network
resources and provides centralized
storage
Mainframe Very powerful,
expensive computer that supports
thousands of connected users
Supercomputer The fastest, most
powerful, most expensive
computer. Used for applications
requiring complex mathematical
calculations

41. Elements of an Information System
What are information system elements?
 Hardware
 Software
 Data
 People
 Procedures

42. Examples of Computer Usage
What software is available for a home user?
 Personal finance
management
 Web access
 Communications
 Entertainment

43. Examples of Computer Usage
What software is available for a small
office/home office (SOHO) user?
 Productivity
software
 Specialty
software
 Web usage
 E-mail

44. Examples of Computer Usage
What is available for
a mobile user?
 Hardware
 Notebook computers
 Tablet PCs
 Internet-enabled PDAs
 Smart phones
 Software
 Word processing
 Spreadsheet
 Presentation graphics
software

45. Examples of Computer Usage
What are the needs of a power user?
 Speed and large amounts of storage
 Types of power users
 Engineers
 Scientists
 Architects
 Desktop publishers
 Graphic artists

46. Examples of Computer Usage
What are the needs of the large business user?
 Payroll
 Inventory
 E-commerce
 Desktop
publishing

47. Computer Applications in Society
What are some examples
of computer applications
in society?
 Education
 Finance
 Government
 Health Care
 Science
 Publishing
 Travel
 Manufacturing