Chapter 1: Introduction to Computers

The Digital Revolution

Where can you find computers? o Computers are everywhere What is computer literacy? o Knowledge and understanding of computers and their uses How is a computer defined? o Electronic machine operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory Accepts data Manipulates data Produces results Stores results What are data and information? o Data Raw facts, figures, and symbols o Information Data that is organized, meaningful, and useful Who is a user? o Person who communicates with a computer or uses the information it generates What are hardware and software? o Hardware Electronic and mechanical equipment o Software Instructions that tell hardware how to perform tasks What is the information processing cycle? o Input o Process o Output o Storage o Communication What are common computer hardware components? o Printer o Speaker o PC camera o Monitor o System unit o Scanner o Keyboard o Modem o Microphone o Mouse o Digital Camera What is an input device? o Hardware used to enter data and instructions Microphone Keyboard PC camera Scanner 1

What Is a Computer?

The Components of a Computer

Digital camera Mouse What is an output device? o Hardware that conveys information to a user Printer Monitor Speakers What is the system unit? o Box-like device containing electronic components connected to motherboard o Also called a chassis CD-RW drive Zip drive Hard disk drive (inside case) CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive Floppy disk drive What are two main components on the motherboard? o 1. Central Processing Unit (CPU) Also called a processor or processor chip Carries out instructions that tell computer what to do On PCs called a microprocessor chip o 2. Memory Temporary holding place for data and instructions o Internal reside inside the system unit What is a chip? o Device with microscopic pathways that carry electrical currents o Attaches to motherboard Memory chip o Processor chip packaging What is storage? o Holds data, instructions, and information for future use o Storage Medium Physical material on which data, instructions, and information are stored o Storage Device Records and retrieves items to and from a storage medium What are common storage devices or drives? o CD-RW drive o Hard disk Drive o CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive o ZIP drive o Floppy disk drive What is a floppy disk? o Thin, circular, flexible disk enclosed in rigid plastic o A Zip disk is a higher capacity disk What is a hard disk? o Provides much greater storage capacity than a floppy disk Self-contained hard disk Removable hard disk What is a compact disc? o Portable storage media CD-ROM CD-RW

DVD-ROM Can hold a full-length movie DVD+RW What is miniature storage media? o Portable, thin, credit card size memory o Used in digital cameras and handheld computers What is a communications device? o Establishes a connection between two computers using cable, telephone lines, and satellites o One type is a modem

Why Is a Computer So Powerful?

What makes a computer powerful? o Storage o Reliability o Speed o Accuracy o Communications What is a computer program? o A series of instructions that tells the computer what to do What happens when you run a program from a CD-ROM? o Usually must install part or all on the hard disk Step 1: Insert the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive Step 2: Instruct the computer to run the program Step 2a: Setup program installs to hard drive Step 3: The program executes What is system software? o Programs that control the operations of the computer and its devices o Operating System (OS) o Utility Programs What is the user interface? o Controls how you enter data and commands and how information displays What is a graphical user interface (GUI)? o Uses visual images such as icons Icon represents program, instruction, or some other object What is application software? o Programs that perform specific tasks for users o Software Suite Popular software applications bundled together as a single unit o Office XP Word Processing - documents Spreadsheet calculates numbers arranged in rows and columns Database organizes and retrieves, manipulates and displays data Presentation graphics What are shareware, freeware, public-domain software? o Shareware Copyrighted software distributed free for trial period Send payment to developer on honor system o Freeware Software provided at no cost 3

Computer Software

Copyrighted Cannot resell it as your own o Public-Domain Software Freeware donated for public use No copyright restrictions What is an application service provider (ASP)? o Third-party company that manages and distributes software and services on the Internet Who designs and writes software? o Systems analyst o Programmer o Packaged software purchased off the shelf

Networks and the Internet

What is a network? o Collection of computers and devices connected together o Communications Device Modem o Communications Media Cables Telephone lines Cellular radio Satellites What are the reasons to network? o To share resources Hardware devices Software programs Data Information o To save time and money What is a local area network (LAN)? o Network that connects computers in a limited geographic area o Components Server Controls access to software, printer and storage Client Referred to as workstations Accesses storage on the server o Difference Server is more powerful Has more storage space What is a wide area network (WAN)? o Network that covers large geographical area What is the Internet? o Worldwide collection of networks that links millions of computers together Why do users access the Internet? o E-mail o Information o Shopping o Meeting people o Entertainment How do users connect to the Internet? 4

o Internet Service Provider (ISP) Provides access to the Internet o Online Service Provider (OSP) Provides access to the Internet and specialized services (AOL and MSN) What is the World Wide Web (WWW)? o Billions of documents, called Web pages, linked together on computers throughout the world o Web site Collection of related Web pages o Web page Contains text, graphics, sound, or video and links to other Web pages Link built-in connection to another Web document o Web browser Program used to access and view Web pages How do you connect to Internet and display a Web page? o 1: Use computer to make a local telephone call to an online service provider o 2: Use browser such as Internet Explorer to display a Web page o 3: Enter the address of the Web site o 4: The Web browser locates the Web site and displays the Web page What are the categories of computers? o Personal computer o Handheld computer o Internet appliance o Mid-range server o Mainframe o Supercomputer Can execute 12 trillion instructions per second Used for complex mathematical calculations What are the two most popular series of personal computers? o PC and compatibles use the Windows operating system Follow the specifications of the original IBM personal computer o Apple Macintosh uses the Macintosh operating system (Mac OS) What is a notebook computer? o Portable, small enough to fit on your lap o Also called a laptop o Generally more expensive than a desktop computer What is a handheld computer? o Small computer that fits in your hand o Also called a palmtop or pocket computer How do you input data with a handheld computer? o Keyboard o Stylus o Speech recognition o Handwriting recognition o What is a personal digital assistant (PDA)? o Provides personal organizer functions Calendar 5

Categories of Computers

Personal Computers

Handheld Computers

Appointment book Address book Calculator Notepad What are Web-enabled handheld computers? o Allow wireless Internet access Web-enabled two-way pager Web-enabled cellular telephone Web-enabled handheld computer

Internet Appliances

What is an Internet appliance? o Computer whose main purpose is to connect to Internet from home o Web TV is one example What are information system elements? o Hardware o Software o Data o People o Procedures What are five categories of computer users? o Home o Mobile o Large Business o Small Office/Home Office o Power What software is available for a home user? o Communications o Personal finance management o Web access o Entertainment What software is available for a small office/home office (SOHO) user? o Local area network (LAN) o Productivity software o Specialty software o Web usage o E-mail o E-commerce What is available for a mobile user? o Hardware Notebook computers Handheld computers Web-enabled cellular telephones o Software Productivity Presentation What are the needs of the large business user? o Network o Sales management o Accounting 6

Elements of an Information System

Examples of Computer Usage

o Desktop publishing o Information Systems or Information Technology department o Productivity software o Scheduling o Web access o Telecommuting What are the needs of a power user? o Speed and large amounts of storage o Types of power users Engineers Architects Desktop publishers Graphic artists Why do users publish Web pages? o Family information o Resume online o Electronic storefront o Photo communities

Computer User as a Web Publisher