Computer Basics

Computer
An electronic device that has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data, and can be programmed with instructions that it remembers.

Hardware
The physical equipment that makes up a computer system

Input

Storage

Processing Output

Input Devices:
Any hardware component that allows a user to enter information into a computer. Keyboard (most common) Pointing Devices Scanners Multimedia
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Pointing devices:
Mousemechanical or optical; PS/2 or USB connection Touch padtypically found on laptops

Pen inputpen-like device touches surface of screen to digitally input data

Touch screentouching the screen with your finger digitally inputs data
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Scanners
Bar code reader - reads universal product codes (UPC) Optical mark reader (OMR) - reads bubble sheets marked with pencil Optical character reader (OCR) - reads handwritten or typed text Page scanner - digitally captures an image or text Fingerprint scanner - provides identification of a person based on the unique patterns and ridges in a fingerprint
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Multimedia
Microphone Video cassette recorder Electronic music keyboard Digital video camera Digital still camera

Processing Devices
The main circuit board of a computer is the motherboard. The central processing unit is located on the motherboard. The CPU is the circuitry that processes information the brain of the computer.

System Clock
The speed of the processor is controlled by the system clock. The system clock controls the timing of ALL computer operations; measured in hertz (Hz)one cycle per second. Current technology is at gigahertz (GHz) capacitya billion cycles per second.
It takes about one-tenth of a second to blink your eye; a computer can perform some operations 10 million times in the time it takes you to blink your eye.

The most popular brand processors on the market are Intel and AMD.
(Open the Internet and search to see if this information is still correct for a computer processor. Write down the information you find)

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Storage:
There are two categories of storage (memory)

Primary Memory Secondary Storage

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Primary Memory
RAM: Random Access Memory
Temporary memory available to the user; measured in gigabytes a computer purchased today should come with a minimum of 2 GB of RAM VRAM: Video RAMspecial memory set aside for graphics and video; located on the video card Permanent memory that cannot be changed.
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ROM: Read Only Memory

Secondary Storage
The media on which data, instructions, and information are kept Three types: magnetic, flash, and optical

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Magnetic Storage
Storage device that encodes data as microscopic magnetized needles on the disk's surface
Hard disk Greatest storage capacity of any storage medium; fastest access time; measured in gigabytes or terabytes Floppy disk, tape

Flash Storage
A type of constantly-powered memory that can be erased and reprogrammed in a single action or flash. Described as solid-state memory because there are no mechanical (moving) parts.
Also known as a flash drive, pen drive, keychain drive, thumb drive, jump drive. Storage cards for digital cameras use flash memory.

Optical Storage
Storage device that records data by burning microscopic holes in the surface of the disk with a laser.
Compact disks (CD) Digital video disks (DVD) Blu-ray disks (BD)

Compact Disk
CD-ROM650MB capacity; stores information permanently; cannot be changed (read only memory) CD-R650-700 MB capacity; record

information one time, then permanent CD-RW700 MB capacity; can record

and erase multiple times (rewriteable)

Digital Video Disk

DVD-ROM17GB; permanent storage, cannot be added to or erased DVD-R, DVD+R, DVDR 4.7 GB; recordable one time, then permanent DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVDRW 4.7 GB; recordable and erasable (rewriteable)
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Blu-ray Disk
High capacity optical disk that has a storage capacity of 25GB on single layer. Has recordable and rewritable disks just like CDs and DVDs.

Output devices:
Any hardware component that can convey information to the user

Display devices Printers Communication

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Display devices:
Monitor

Projectors
High definition television (HDTV)

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Monitor
Output device that displays information 19-20 flat panel is typical size Size is measured diagonally like a TV
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Projection device:
Device that can project the computers image to a television or big screen
When purchasing a projector, always consider the size of the room and the amount of natural light in the room

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High Definition TV:

Television that displays a digital signal (like the computer) rather than analog signal (regular TV)
By February 2009, all television broadcasts will be digital; depending on your service and TV, you may have to purchase additional equipment in order to receive a signal

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Printers:
Ink Jettypically for home use Lasertypically for business use

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Ink Jet
Print qualitygood
High-end ink jet printers are excellent quality

Printer costrelatively inexpensive

Ink costinexpensive but cartridge doesnt last very long
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Laser
Print qualitybest available Printer costmoderate to expensive Toner costexpensive to purchase but have a long life Speedbest available Coloravailable but more expensive
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Basic Printer Characteristics:

Quality measured in dpi: dots per inch

Speed measured in ppm: pages per minute

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Communication Devices
Device used to connect to another computer
Modemdevice used to connect computers via phone line Network interface card (NIC)device used to connect to a network; recommended for college computers Wireless cardtransfer of information between two or more points that are physically not connected; especially recommended for laptops Graphics Cardprovides the visual image; also known as the video card; contains the VRAM Sound Cardfacilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer
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Communication Devices-contd
Speakersprojects audio Graphics Cardprovides the visual image; also
known as the video card; contains the VRAM

USB ports(Universal Serial Bus)-- industry

standard that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used for connection/communication between computers and electronic devices

IEEE port (firewire)for connecting digital video camera or external drives Chassisdesktop, tower, slim, etc.
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Software
The instructions that allow the user to communicate with the computer; also called programs Three categories:
Operating system (OS) Applications Utility
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Operating System (OS) Software

Required software that controls the computer and allows the user to interact with the computer; installed at the factory.
Microsoft Windows Unix Linux Mac OS (Apple)

What operating system software is on the schools computers?

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Networks
System that transmits any combination of voice, video and/or data between users. Includes:

network operating system in the client and server machines the cables connecting them all supporting hardware in between-such as bridges, routers, switches, antennas, and towers

Types of Networks
Local Area Network (LAN) Computer network that spans a relatively small area Most LANs are confined to a single building or group of buildings Wide Area Network (WAN)

Span over a larger area

Hub
Common connection point for devices in a network Commonly used to connect segments of a LAN

Contain multiple ports.

Protocol

agreed-upon format for transmitting data between two devices computer or device must support the right protocols in order to communicate with other computers. protocol determines the following:
the type of error checking to be used data compression method, if any how the sending device will indicate that it has finished sending a message how the receiving device will indicate that it has received a message

Logging In & Password

Logging In enables you to gain entrance into the network. To log in you will need a username and password. A password is a keyword used to access information on a network, website, etc. Upon logging in for the first time you are strongly encouraged to change your password.

Computer Systems
Standalone PC
not permanently connected to a LAN or WAN

Network PC
connected to a LAN or WAN

Application Software
Software designed for the end user to accomplish a particular task or job

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Word Processing Spreadsheet Presentation Database Painting

Drawing Digital Imaging Desktop Publishing Web Design Games

Utility Software
Software designed to help manage and tune the hardware, operating system or application software Example: Anti-virus software searches a disk drive for viruses and removes the virus
Virus: a program designed to disrupt or destroy the normal operation of a computer
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