CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION

Computer literacy, also known as digital literacy, involves having a current knowledge and under
standing of computers and their uses. Because the requirements that determine computer literacy
change as technology changes, you must keep up with these changes to remain computer literate.

What Is a Computer? A computer is an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions
stored in its own memory, that can accept data, process the data according to specified rules, produce
results, and store the results for future use.

Data is a collection of unprocessed items, which can include text, numbers, images, audio, and video.

Information conveys meaning and is useful to people.

INFORMATION PROCESSING CYCLE

Computers process data (input) into information (output). Computers carry out processes using
instructions, which are the steps that tell the computer how to perform a particular task. A collection of
related instructions organized for a common purpose is referred to as software. A computer often holds
data, information, and instructions in storage for future use. Some people refer to the series of input,
process, output, and storage activities as the information processing cycle. Recently, communications
also has become an essential element of the information processing cycle.

The Components of a Computer

A computer contains many electric, electronic, and mechanical components known as hardware. These
components include input devices, output devices, a system unit, storage devices, and communications
devices.

An input device is any hardware component that allows you to enter data and instructions into a
computer. Five widely used input devices are the keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, and Web cam

An output device is any hardware compo nent that conveys information to one or more people. Three
commonly used output devices are a printer, a monitor, and speakers.

System Unit

The system unit is a case that contains electronic components of the computer that are used to process
data (Figure 1-3 on the previous page). The circuitry of the system unit usually is part of or is connected
to a circuit board called the motherboard. Two main components on the motherboard are the processor
and memory. The processor, also called the CPU (central processing unit), is the electronic component
that interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate the computer. Memory consists of
electronic components that store instructions waiting to be executed and data needed by those
instructions. Most memory keeps data and instructions temporarily, which means its contents are
erased when the computer is shut off. Storage Devices Storage holds data, instructions, and information
for future use. For example, computers can store hundreds or millions of customer names and
addresses. Storage holds these items permanently.

A computer keeps data, instructions, and information on storage media. Examples of storage media are
USB flash drives, hard disks, optical discs, and memory cards.

A storage device records (writes) and/or retrieves (reads) items to and from storage media. Storage
devices often function as a source of input because they transfer items from storage to memory.

A USB flash drive is a portable storage device that is small and lightweight enough to be transported on
a keychain or in a pocket The average USB flash drive can hold about 4 billion characters.
A hard disk provides much greater storage capacity than a USB flash drive. The average hard disk can
hold more than 320 billion characters. Hard disks are enclosed in an airtight, sealed case. Although some
are portable, most are housed inside the system unit.

Portable hard disks are either external or removable. An external hard disk is a separate, freestanding
unit, whereas you insert and remove a removable hard disk from the computer or a device connected to
the computer.

An optical disc is a flat, round, portable metal disc with a plastic coating. CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs
are three types of optical discs. A CD can hold from 650 million to 1 billion characters. Some DVDs can
store two full-length movies or 17 billion characters. Blu-ray Discs can store about 46 hours of standard
video, or 100 billion characters.

Communication device is a hardware component that enables a computer to send (transmit) and
receive data, instructions, and information to and from one or more computers or mobile devices. A
widely used communications device is a modem.

ADVANTAGES OF USING COMPUTERS

The benefits from using computers are possible because computers have the advantages of speed,
reliability, consistency, storage, and communications.

• Speed: When data, instructions, and information flow along electronic circuits in a computer, they
travel at incredibly fast speeds. Many computers process billions or trillions of operations in a single
second.

• Reliability: The electronic components in modern computers are dependable and reliable because they
rarely break or fail.

• Consistency: Given the same input and processes, a computer will produce the same results —
consistently. Computers generate error-free results, provided the input is correct and the instructions
work.

• Storage: Computers store enormous amounts of data and make this data available for processing
anytime it is needed.

• Communications: Most computers today can communicate with other computers, often wirelessly.
Computers allow users to communicate with one another.

DISADVANTAGES OF USING COMPUTERS

Some disadvantages of computers relate to the violation of privacy, public safety, the impact on the
labor force, health risks, and the impact on the environment.

• Violation of Privacy: In many instances, where personal and confidential records stored on computers
were not protected properly, individuals have found their privacy violated and identities stolen.

• Public Safety: Adults, teens, and children around the world are using computers to share publicly their
photos, videos, journals, music, and other personal information. Some of these unsuspecting, innocent
computer users have fallen victim to crimes committed by dangerous strangers.

• Impact on Labor Force: Although computers have improved productivity and created an entire
industry with hundreds of thousands of new jobs, the skills of millions of employees have been replaced
by computers. Thus, it is crucial that workers keep their education up-to-date. A separate impact on the
labor force is that some companies are outsourcing jobs to foreign countries instead of keeping their
homeland labor force employed.

• Health Risks: Prolonged or improper computer use can lead to health injuries or disorders. Computer
users can protect themselves from health risks through proper workplace design, good posture while at
the computer, and appropriately spaced work breaks. Two behavioral health risks are computer
addiction and technology overload. Computer addiction occurs when someone becomes obsessed with
using a computer. Individuals suffering from technology overload feel distressed when deprived of
computers and mobile devices.

• Impact on Environment: Computer manufacturing processes and computer waste are depleting
natural resources and polluting the environment. Green computing involves reducing the electricity
consumed and environmental waste generated when using a computer. Strategies that support green
computing include recycling, regulating manufacturing processes, extending the life of computers, and
immediately donating or properly disposing of replaced computers.
NETWORKS AND THE INTERNET

A network is a collection of computers and devices connected together, often wirelessly, via
communications devices and transmission media. When a computer connects to a network, it is online.
Networks allow computers to share resources, such as hardware, software, data, and information.
Sharing resources saves time and money. The Internet is a worldwide collection of networks that
connects millions of businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and individuals.

The Web, short for World Wide Web, is one of the more popular services on the Internet. The Web
contains billions of documents called Web pages. A Web page can contain text, graphics, animation,
audio, and video.

Web site is a collection of related Web pages. Some Web sites allow users to access music and videos
that can be downloaded, or transferred to storage media in a computer or portable media player. Once
downloaded, you can listen to the music through speakers, headphones, or earbuds, or view the videos
on a display device.

Anyone can create a Web page and then make it available, or publish it, on the Internet for others to
see. Millions of people worldwide join online communities, each called a social networking.

Web site or online social network, that encourage members to share their interests, ideas, stories,
photos, music, and videos with other registered users. Hundreds of thousands of people today also use
blogs to publish their thoughts on the Web.

A blog is an informal Web site consisting of timestamped articles in a diary or journal format, usually
listed in reverse chronological order.

Podcasts are a popular way people verbally share information on the Web.

A microblog, such as Twitter, allows users to publish short messages, usually between 100 and 200
characters, for others to read.

A podcast is recorded audio stored on a Web site that can be downloaded to a computer or a portable
media player such as an iPod.

A Web application is a Web site that allows users to access and interact with software from any
computer or device that is connected to the Internet. Examples of software available as Web
applications include those that allow you to send and receive e-mail messages, prepare your taxes,
organize digital photos, create documents, and play games.

Web sites such as social networking Web sites, blogs, and Web applications are categorized as Web 2.0
sites. The term Web 2.0 refers to Web sites that provide a means for users to share personal
information (such as social networking Web sites), allow users to modify the Web site contents (such as
some blogs), and/or have software built into the site for users to access (such as Web applications).

COMPUTER SOFTWARE

Software, also called a program, is a series of related instructions, organized for a common purpose,
that tells the computer what task(s) to perform and how to perform them.

Software today often has a graphical user interface. With a graphical user interface (GUI pronounced
gooey), you interact with the software using text, graphics, and visual images such as icons.
An icon is a miniature image that represents a program, an instruction, or some other object. You can
use the mouse to select icons that perform operations such as starting a program.

The two categories of software are:

1. System software
2. Application software

System software consists of the programs that control or maintain the operations of the computer and
its devices. System software serves as the interface between the user, the application software, and the
computer’s hardware.

Two types of system software are:

1. operating system
2. utility programs

Operating System is a set of programs that coordinates all the activities among computer hardware
devices. It provides a means for users to communicate with the computer and other software. Many of
today’s computers use Microsoft’s Windows, the latest version of which is shown in Figure 1-8, or Mac
OS, Apple’s operating system.

Utility Program allows a user to perform maintenance-type tasks usually related to managing a
computer, its devices, or its programs. For example, you can use a utility program to transfer digital
photos to an optical disc.

Application software consists of programs designed to make users more productive and/or assist them
with personal tasks. A widely used type of application software related to communications is a Web
browser, which allows users with an Internet connection to access and view Web pages or access
programs. Other popular application software includes word processing software, spreadsheet software,
database software, and presentation software.

INSTALLING AND RUNNING PROGRAMS

Installing is the process of setting up software to work with the computer, printer, and other hardware.
When you buy a computer, it usually has some software preinstalled on its hard disk. This enables you to
use the computer the first time you turn it on. To begin installing additional software from an optical
disc, insert the program disc in an optical disc drive. To install downloaded software, the Web site
typically provides instructions for how to install the program on your hard disk.

Once installed, you can run the program. When you instruct the computer to run an installed program,
the computer loads it, which means the program is copied from storage to memory. Once in memory,
the computer can carry out, or execute, the instructions in the program so that you can use the
program.

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

A programmer, sometimes called a developer, is someone who develops software or writes the
instructions that direct the computer to process data into information.

Programmers use a programming language or program development tool to create computer programs.
Popular programming languages include C++, Visual C#, Visual Basic, JavaScript, and Java. Figure 1-11
shows a simple Visual Basic program.

CATEGORIES OF COMPUTERS

Industry experts typically classify computers in seven categories:

1. Personal computers (desktop)

2. Mobile computers and mobile devices
3. Game consoles
 4. Servers
5. Mainframes
6. Supercomputers
7. Embedded computers.

A computer’s size, speed, processing power, and price determine the category it best fits. Due to
rapidly changing technology, however, the distinction among categories is not always clear cut. This
trend of computers and devices with technologies that overlap, called convergence, leads to
computer manufacturers continually releasing newer models that include similar functionality and
features. For example, newer cell phones often include media player, camera, and Web browsing
capabilities. As devices converge, users need fewer devices for the functionality that they require.
When consumers replace outdated computers and devices, they should dispose of them properly.

A personal computer is a computer that can perform all of its input, processing, output, and storage
activities by itself. A personal computer contains a processor, memory, and one or more input, output,
and storage devices. Personal computers also often contain a communications device.

Two popular architectures of personal computers are: the PC and the Apple.

The term, PC-compatible, refers to any personal computer based on the original IBM personal computer
design. Companies such as Dell and Toshiba sell PC-compatible computers. PC and PC-compatible
computers usually use a Windows operating system. Apple computers usually use a Macintosh
operating system (Mac OS).

Two types of personal computers are: desktop computers and notebook computers.

A desktop computer is designed so that the system unit, input devices, output devices, and any other
devices fit entirely on or under a desk or table. In some models, the monitor sits on top of the system
unit, which is placed on the desk. The more popular style of system unit is the tall and narrow tower,
which can sit on the floor vertically.

A mobile computer is a personal computer you can carry from place to place. Similarly, a mobile device
is a computing device small enough to hold in your hand. The most popular type of mobile computer is
the notebook computer.

Notebook Computers

A notebook computer, also called a laptop computer, is a portable, personal computer often designed to
fit on your lap. Notebook computers are thin and lightweight, yet can be as powerful as the average
desktop computer.

A netbook, which is a type of notebook computer, is smaller, lighter, and often not as powerful as a
traditional notebook computer. Most netbooks cost less than traditional notebook computers, usually
only a few hundred dollars. Some notebook computers have touch screens, allowing you to interact with
the device by touching the screen, usually with the tip of a finger. On a typical notebook computer,

Tablet PCs Resembling a letter-sized slate, the Tablet PC, or tablet computer, is a special type of
notebook computer you can interact with by touching the screen with your finger or a digital pen.

One design of Tablet PC, called a convertible tablet, has an attached keyboard.

Another design, which does not include a keyboard, is called a slate tablet and provides other means for
typing. Tablet PCs are useful especially for taking notes in locations where the standard notebook
computer is not practical.

Mobile devices, which are small enough to carry in a pocket, usually store programs and data
permanently on memory inside the system unit or on small storage media such as memory cards. You
often can connect a mobile device to a personal computer to exchange information. Some mobile
devices are Internet-enabled, meaning they can connect to the Internet wirelessly. Because of their
reduced size, the screens on handheld computers are small. optical disc drive keyboard display hinge.

The iPad is a widely used slate tablet.

Popular types of mobile devices are: smart phones and PDAs, e-book readers, handheld computers,
portable media players, and digital cameras.

Smart Phones and PDAs Offering the convenience of one-handed operation, a smart phone is an
Internet-enabled phone that usually also provides personal information management functions such as
a calendar, an appointment book, an address book, a calculator, and a notepad. In addition to basic
phone capabilities, a smart phone allows you to send and receive e-mail messages and access the Web
— usually for an additional fee. Many models also function as a portable media player and include built-
in digital cameras so that you can share photos or videos. Many smart phones also offer a variety of
application software such as word processing, spreadsheet, and games.

Types of messages users send with smart phones:

1. text messages
2. instant messages
3. picture messages
4. video messages.

• A text message is a short note, typically fewer than 300 characters, sent to or from a smart phone
or other mobile device.

• An instant message is a real-time Internet communication, where you exchange messages with
other connected users.

• A picture message is a photo or other image, sometimes along with sound and text, sent to or
from a smart phone or other mobile device. A phone that can send picture messages often is called
a camera phone.

• A video message is a short video clip, usually about 30 seconds, sent to or from a smart phone or
other mobile device. A phone that can send video messages often is called a video phone.

A PDA (personal digital assistant), which often looks like a smart phone, provides personal information
management functions such as a calendar, an appointment book, an address book, a calculator, and a
notepad.

A PDA differs from a smart phone in that it usually does not provide phone capabilities and may not be
Internet-enabled, support voice input, have a built-in camera, or function as a portable media pla

An e-book reader (short for electronic book reader), or e-reader, is a handheld device that is used
primarily for reading e-books (Figure 1-18). An e-book, or digital book, is an electronic version of a
printed book, readable on computers and other digital devices. Most e-book readers have a touch
screen and are Internet-enabled. Handheld Computers.

A handheld computer, sometimes referred to as an Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC), is a computer small

enough to fit in one hand. Industry-specific handheld computers serve mobile employees, such as parcel
delivery people, whose jobs require them to move from place to place.

A portable media player is a mobile device on which you can store, organize, and play digital media
(Figure 1-19). For example, you can listen to music; watch videos, movies, and television shows; and
view photos on the device’s screen. With most, you download the digital media from a computer to the
portable media player or to media that you insert in the device.

Portable media players usually include a set of earbuds, which are small speakers that rest inside each
ear canal. Some portable media players have a touch screen; others have a touch-sensitive pad that you
operate with a thumb or finger, to navigate through digital media, adjust volume, and customize
settings.

A digital camera is a device that allows users to take pictures and store the photographed images
digitally, instead of on traditional film. Although digital cameras usually have some amount of internal
storage to hold images, most users store images on small storage media such as memory cards.

A game console is a mobile computing device designed for single player or multiplayer video games
(Figure 1-21).
Standard game consoles use a handheld controller(s) as an input device(s); a television screen as an
output device; and hard disks, optical discs, and/or memory cards for storage. The compact size and
light weight of game consoles make them easy to use at home, in the car, in a hotel, or any location that
has an electrical outlet.

Three popular models are : Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Nintendo’s Wii (pronounced wee), and Sony’s
PlayStation 3.

A handheld game console is small enough to fit in one hand. With the handheld game console, the
controls, screen, and speakers are built into the device. Some models use cartridges to store games;
others use a memory card or a miniature optical disc. Many handheld game consoles can communicate.

A server controls access to the hardware, software, and other resources on a network and provides a
centralized storage area for programs, data, and information.

Servers support from two to several thousand connected computers at the same time. People use
personal computers or terminals to access data, information, and programs on a server. A terminal is a
device with a monitor, keyboard, and memory.

A mainframe is a large, expensive, powerful computer that can handle hundreds or thousands of
connected users simultaneously.

Mainframes store huge amounts of data, instructions, and information. Most major corporations use
mainframes for business activities. With mainframes, enterprises are able to bill millions of customers,
prepare payroll for thousands of employees, and manage thousands of items in inventory. One study
reported that mainframes process more than 83 percent of transactions around the world. Servers and
other mainframes can access data and information from a mainframe. People also can access programs
on the mainframe using terminals or personal computers.

A supercomputer is the fastest, most powerful computer — and the most expensive. The fastest
supercomputers are capable of processing more than one quadrillion instructions in a single second.
Applications requiring complex, sophisticated mathematical calculations use super computers. Large-
scale simulations and applications in medicine, aerospace, automotive design, online banking, weather
forecasting, nuclear energy research, and petroleum exploration use a supercomputer.

An embedded computer is a special-purpose computer that functions as a component in a larger

product.

A variety of everyday products contain embedded computers:

• Consumer electronics

• Home automation devices

• Automobiles

• Process controllers and robotics

• Computer devices and office machines

Embedded computers perform various functions, depending on the requirements of the product in
which they reside. Embedded computers in printers, for example, monitor the amount of paper in the
tray, check the ink or toner level, signal if a paper jam has occurred, and so on.

CATEGORIES OF COMPUTER USERS:

1. home user
2. small office/home office (SOHO) user
3. mobile user
4. power user
5. enterprise user

Home User
In an increasing number of homes, the computer is a basic necessity. Each family member, or home
user, spends time on the computer for different reasons. These include personal financial management,
Web access, communications, and entertainment.

Small Office/Home Office User

Computers assist small business and home office users in managing their resources effectively. A small
office/home office (SOHO) includes any company with fewer than 50 employees, as well as the self-
employed who work from home. Small offices include local law practices, accounting firms, travel
agencies, and florists.

SOHO users typically use a desktop computer. Many also use smart phones. SOHO users access the
Internet — often wirelessly — to look up information such as addresses, directions, postal codes, flights
and package shipping rates or to send and receive e-mail messages, or make telephone calls. Many have
entered the e-commerce arena and conduct business on the Web. Their Web sites advertise products
and services and may provide a means for taking orders.

SOHO users often work with basic business software such as word processing and spreadsheet programs
that assist with document preparation and finances.

Mobile users who work on a mobile computer or device while away from a main office, home office, or
school.

Some examples of mobile users are sales representatives, real estate agents, insurance agents, meter
readers, package delivery people, journalists, and students.

Power user requires the capabilities of a powerful desktop computer, called a work station.

Examples of power users include engineers, scientists, architects, desktop publishers, and graphic
artists. Power users typically work with multi media, combining text, graphics, audio, and video into one
application. These users need computers with extremely fast processors because of the nature of their
work.

The power user’s workstation contains industry-specific software. For example, engineers and architects
use software to draft and design floor plans, mechanical assemblies, or vehicles. A desktop publisher
uses software to prepare marketing literature. A graphic artist uses software to create sophisticated
drawings. This software usually is expensive because of its specialized design.

Power users exist in all types of businesses. Some also work at home. Their computers typically have
network connections and Internet access. Enterprise User An enterprise has hundreds or thousands of
employees or customers that work in or do business.

Each employee or customer who uses a computer in the enterprise is an enterprise user.

Enterprise computing refers to the huge network of computers that meets their diverse computing
needs. The network facilitates communications among employees at all locations. Users access the
network through desktop computers, mobile computers, and mobile devices.

Enterprises use computers and the computer network to process high volumes of transactions in a
single day.

Some enterprises use blogs to open communications among employees and/or customers.

Enterprises typically have e-commerce Web sites, allowing customers and vendors to conduct business
online.

The Web site showcases products, services, and other company information. Customers, vendors, and
other interested parties can access this information on the Web.

Enterprise users work with word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software. They
also may use calendar programs to post their schedules on the network. And, they might use smart
phones or other mobile devices to maintain contact information.
Telecommuting is a work arrangement in which employees work away from a company’s standard
workplace and often communicate with the office through the computer.
COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN SOCIETY

1. Education

Education is the process of acquiring know ledge. In the traditional model, people learn from other
people such as parents, teachers, and employers. Many forms of printed mat erial such as books and
manuals are used as learning tools. Today, educators also are turning to computers to assist with
education (Figure 1-31). Many schools and companies equip labs and classrooms with computers.
Some schools require students to have a mobile computer or mobile device to access the school’s
network or Internet wirelessly. Students use software to assist with learning or to complete
assignments. To promote education by computer, many vendors offer substantial student discounts
on software.

2. Finance

Many people and companies use computers to help manage their finances. Some use finance
software to balance checkbooks, pay bills, track personal income and expenses, manage
investments, and evaluate financial plans. This software usually includes a variety of online services.
For example, computer users can track investments and do online banking. With online banking,
users access account balances, pay bills, and copy monthly transactions from the bank’s computer
right into their computers (Figure 1-32). Investors often use online investing to buy and sell stocks
and bonds — without using a broker. With online investing, the transaction fee for each trade
usually is much less than when trading through a broker.

3. Government

A government provides society with direction by making and administering policies. To provide
citizens with up-to-date information, most government offices have Web sites. People access
government Web sites to file taxes, apply for permits and licenses, pay parking tickets, buy stamps,
report crimes, apply for financial aid, and renew vehicle registrations and driver’s licenses.

4. Health Care

Nearly every area of health care uses computers. Whether you are visiting a family doctor for a
regular checkup, having lab work or an outpatient test, or being rushed in for emergency surgery,
the medical staff around you will be using computers for various purposes:

• Doctors use the Web and medical software to assist with researching and diagnosing health
conditions.

• Doctors use e-mail to correspond with patients.

• Pharmacists use computers to file insurance claims.

• Robots deliver medication to nurse stations in hospitals.

 Hospitals and doctors use computers and mobile devices to maintain and access patient records.

• Computers and computerized devices assist doctors, nurses, and technicians with medical tests.

• Computers monitor patients’ vital signs in hospital rooms and at home.

• Surgeons implant computerized devices, such as pacemakers, that allow patients to live longer.

• Surgeons use computer-controlled devices to provide them with greater precision during
operations, such as for laser eye surgery and robot-assisted heart surgery.

Two forms of long-distance health care are telemedicine and tele surgery.

Through telemedicine, health-care professionals in separate locations conduct live conferences on

the computer. For example, a doctor at one location can have a conference with a doctor at another
location to discuss a bone X-ray. Live images of each doctor, along with the X-ray, are displayed on
each doctor’s computer.
With telesurgery, a surgeon performs an operation on a patient who is not located in the same
physical room as the surgeon.

Telesurgery enables surgeons to direct robots to perform an operation via computers connected to
a high-speed network. Science All branches of science, from biology to astronomy to meteorology,
use computers to assist them with collecting, analyzing, and modeling data. Breakthroughs in
surgery, medicine, and treatments often result from scientists’ use of computers. Tiny computers
now imitate functions of the central nervous system, retina of the eye, and cochlea of the ear. A
cochlear implant allows a deaf person to listen. Electrodes implanted in the brain stop tremors
associated with Parkinson’s disease. Cameras small enough to swallow — sometimes called a
camera pill — take pictures inside your body to detect polyps, cancer, and other abnormalities.

5. Publishing

Publishing is the process of making works available to the public. These works include books,
magazines, newspapers, music, film, and video. Special software assists graphic designers in
developing pages that include text, graphics, and photos; artists in composing and enhancing songs;
film makers in creating and editing film; and journalists and mobile users in capturing and modifying
video clips.

6. Travel

Many vehicles manufactured today include some type of onboard navigation system. Some mobile
users prefer to carry specialized handheld navigation devices.

7. Manufacturing

Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) refers to the use of computers to assist with manufacturing
processes such as fabrication and assembly. Often, robots carry out processes in a CAM
environment. CAM is used by a variety of industries, including oil drilling, power generation, food
production, and automobile manufacturing. Automobile plants, for example, have an entire line of
industrial robots that assemble a car