CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
TO
COMPUTERS

The Digital Revolution

Where can you find
computers?

Computers are everywhere

The Digital Revolution

What is computer literacy?

If you are computer literate, you have knowledge and understanding of

computers and their uses

What Is a Computer?
What is a computer?

An electronic machine,
operating under the
control of instructions
stored in its own memory

accepts data
manipulates the data

according to specified
rules
produces results
stores the results for
future use
Next

What is a Computer?

What are data and information?

Data
Collection of raw
unprocessed
facts, figures,
and symbols

Information
Next

Data that is
organized,
meaningful,
and useful

What is a Computer?
Who is a user?

Next

Someone that
communicates with a
computer

Someone who uses the

information it generates

Examples of Computer
Usage
What
is the
digital divide?
Idea that
you can

Next

separate people of
the world into two
distinct groups
Those who have
access to
technology with
the ability to use it
Those who do not
have access to
technology or are
without the ability
to use it

What is a Computer?
What are hardware and software?
Hardware
The electric,
electronic, and
mechanical equipment
that makes up a
computer

Next

Software
The series of
instructions that
tells the hardware
how to perform
tasks

What is a Computer?
What is the
information
processing
cycle?

Process

Input
Any data or
instructions you
enter into a
computer

Manipulate the
input (data) to
produce output
(information)

Output
Communication
The capability of
communicating
with other
computers
Next

Storage
Area in a
computer that
can hold data
and information
for future use

Data that has

been processed
into information

Advantages and Disadvantages

of a Computer
Computers
can
enlarge
man's
brainpower because of the following
advantages and properties which had
lead to the human or superhuman
images created about it.

1. Ability to Perform Certain Logic

Operations. Computers are symbol
manipulators. It can manipulate in
logical ways letter, numbers, words,
sentences, mathematical expressions
and other symbols to which people
have given meaning. It is able to
perform a simple comparison and
then, depending on the result, follow
one of two or more predetermined
branches or courses of action. This
simple ability to compare is an

2. Ability to Provide New Time

Dimensions. The computer works one
step at a time; it adds and subtracts
numbers; it multiplies and divides
numbers; and it can be programmed to
perform
other
mathematical
operations. What is significant is the
speed with which the computer can
perform them. The computer is so fast
that is saves a tremendous amount of
time.

3. Ability to Store and Retrieve

Information. The computer stores in
internal
storage
both
facts
and
instructions.
The
ease
with
which
instructions can be changed gives the
computer great flexibility . The access
time required for information to be
recalled from internal storage and be
available for use is measured in
microseconds or more precise units. Few
machines that are used by man have this
stored program ability.

4. Ability to control error. It has

been estimated that a person would
make one error in every 500- 1000
operations with a desk calculator. A
computer can perform hundreds of
thousands of arithmetic operations
every second and can run error less for
hours and days at a time.

5. Ability to Check Itself. Computers

have the ability to check its own work.
By a method known as parity checking,
computers check on data when they
enter storage, when they are moved
internally, and when they leave in the
form of output. The parity check
performed by the computer involves
the examination of each character's
code to determine whether bits have
been added or lost by mistake

Limitations or Disadvantages:
1.
2.

3.

4.

5.

Cannot replace a human brain.

Works only on stored procedures
and cannot think on its own.
Not all complex calculations can be
solves through computers.
A computer cannot generate
information on its own.
A computer cannot correct wrong
instruction.

The Components of a Computer

What are common computer hardware components?
speaker

PC camera

system unit

printer
speaker
monitor
keyboard
modem

scanner

mouse

Next

microphone

digital camera

The Components of a Computer

What is an input device?

Any hardware component that allows a user to enter data and instructions into a
computer

microphone

PC camera
keyboard

scanner

Next

mouse

digital
camera

The Components of a Computer

What is an output device?

Any hardware component that can convey information to a user

monitor

printer

Next

speakers

The Components of a Computer

What is the system unit ?
Sometimes called a chassis
A box-like case made from metal
or plastic that protects the
internal electronic components of
the computer from damage
Circuitry in the system unit
usually is part of or is connected
to a circuit board called the
motherboard

Next

The Components of a Computer

What is storage?

Holds data, instructions, and information for future use

Storage Device
Storage Medium

Physical material

Next

on which a
computer keeps
the data,
instructions and
information

Records and
retrieves items to
and from a storage
medium

Devices often
function as source of
input because they
transfer items from
storage into memory

Why Is a Computer So Powerful?

What characteristics make a computer
powerful?
Storage
Enormous amounts of
data can be stored and
made available for
processing anytime it is
needed

Reliability

Dependable because
components have a
low failure rate so
they produce
consistent results

Accuracy

Next

If data is entered correctly

and program works properly,
the results are error-free
garbage in, garbage out
(GIGO) accuracy of output
depends on accuracy of
input

Speed

Billions of
operations can
be carried out
in a single
second

Communications
Two connected
computers can share
stored data, instructions,
and information

Categories of Computers

What are the categories of computers?

Personal Computers
What is a personal computer?

A computer that can perform all of its input,

processing, output, and storage activities by itself
Contains at least

One Input
device

One output
device

One storage
device
Next

Memory
A processor

Microprocessor
The single chip
that performs
all the
processing
functions on a
personal
computer

Two major
categories

Desktop

Notebook

Personal Computers
What are the two most popular series of
personal computers?

The Apple Macintosh uses

the Macintosh operating
system (Mac OS)
Next

The PC and compatibles use

the Windows operating
system

Personal Computers

What is a desktop computer?

Next

Designed so the
system unit, input
devices, output
devices, and any
other devices fit
entirely on or
under a desk or
table

Personal Computers

Next

What are some

desktop computer
variations?
Tower model
Tall and
narrow
system unit
that can sit
on the floor
vertically

Personal Computers
What are some
desktop computer

All-in-one
variations?
computer
Less expensive
desktop that
combines the
monitor and
system unit
into a single
device

Next

Personal Computers
What are some
desktop computer
Workstation
variations?
More expensive and powerful

Next

desktop designed for work that

requires intense calculations
and graphics capabilities
Stand-alone
Can perform the information
processing cycle operations
without being connected to a
network

Personal Computers
What are some
desktop computer
variations?
Server
Powerful desktop that
manages the
resources on a
network
Clients or workstations
Other computers on
network that access
the contents of the
storage area on the
servers

Next

Personal Computers

Also called a
What is a notebook computer?
laptop
Portable,
personal
computer small
enough to fit on
your lap
Generally more
expensive than a
desktop
computer with
Next equal
capabilities

Handheld Computers
What is a handheld computer?
Also called a
palmtop computer
Small computer that
fits in your hand

Next

Handheld Computers
How do you input data with
a handheld computer?

Some have small

keyboards

Others use a stylus

A stylus looks like a
ballpoint pen, but
uses pressure,
instead of ink to write
Some support voice
input

Next

Handheld
One
of the most Computers
popular
What
is a personal digital assistant
handheld
(PDA)?
computers in use
today
Provides
personal
organizer
functions
Calendar
Appointment
book
Address book
Next
Calculator
Notepad

Internet Appliances
What is an Internet appliance or
information appliance?

Next

Computer
with limited
functionality
whose main
purpose is to
connect to
the Internet
from home

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

Supercomputers
What is a supercomputer?

Next

Fastest, most powerful computer

Able to
process
more than 12
trillion
instructions
per second

Supercomputer
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.
With weights that exceed 100 tons, these
computers can store more than 20,000
times the data and information of an
average desktop computer. Applications
requiring complex, sophisticated
mathematical calculations use
supercomputers. Large-scale simulations

Examples of Computer
Usage

What are five categories of computer users?

Home

Mobile

Large Business

Small Office/Home Office

Power

Next

Examples of Computer
Usage

What software is available for a home user?

research
Web access

Next

finance and business

management
entertainment

Examples of Computer
Usage
How do computer companies
accommodate children?

Next

Many manufacturers design special

hardware for children

Computer Software

What is a computer program?

A series of instructions that tells the hardware of a computer what to do

Allows you
to input data
and stores it
in memory

Next

Uses data in
memory in
calculations

Directs
computer to
perform
alternative
operations

Displays
information
on monitor

Compares
values stored
in memory

Prints a
report

Stores
information
on disk

Computer Software
What is software installation?

Next

Some programs can be

loaded directly from
purchased media,
others must be
installed
Install means part or
all of the instructions
are copied from the
purchased media onto
the computer's hard
disk before the
program can be used

Computer Software
What is system software?

Next

Programs that control the operations of the computer and its devices

Operating System
(OS)

Utility program

Set of programs
containing instructions
that coordinate all the
activities among
computer hardware
devices

Type of system
software that performs
a specific task, usually
related to managing a
computer, its devices,
or its programs

Computer Software
What is the user interface?

Next

Determines how you

interact with
software
Used to control how
you enter data and
instructions
Used to control how
information displays
on the screen

Computer Software
What is a graphical user interface
(GUI)?

Allows you to interact with the software using visual images such as icons

An icon is a
small image
that represents
a program, an
instruction, or
some other
object

Next

icons

icons

Computer Software
What is application software?

Programs that perform specific tasks for users

Suite

Word
processing
software

Collection of popular
individual software
applications bundled
together as a single unit

Spreadsheet
software
Next

Database
software

Presentation
graphics
software