Computer Literacy

Prof. Alejandro Ruiz

National College
Bayamon PR
Computer Literacy
The Vocabulary of computing is all around
you. Before the advent of computers,
memory was the mental ability to recall
previous experiences; storage was an area
where you kept out-of season clothing;
communication was the act of exchanging
opinions and information through writing,
speaking, or signs. In today’s world, these
words and countless others have taken on
new meanings as part of the common
terminology used to describe computers and
their use.
Computer
• When you hear the word computer
initially you may think of the computers
we have in this class.
• Take into consideration than in the
course of a couple of days, you may
encounter many other computers; like
cordless telephones, VCR’s, Handheld
Video Games, cameras, stereo
systems.
Computer

• Computers help you with your banking

(ATMs)
• Keeps tracks of purchases and
calculates transactions in stores
• Cars are equipped with computers to
operate electrical systems such as
temperature control and anti-theft
system.
Computer: Definition

• Computer:

– Is an electronic machine operating under

the control of instructions stored in its own
memory, that can accept data (input),
manipulate the data according to specified
rules (process), produce results (output),
and store the results for future use.
Data vs. Information:
Definition
• Data:
– Is a collection of unorganized facts, which
can include words, numbers, images, and
sounds.
– Computers manipulate and process data to
create information.
• Information
– Is data that is organized, has meaning, and
is useful. Examples are reports,
newsletters, receipt, pictures, invoice,
check…
Input / Output

• Input: data entered into a computer.

• Output: processed results.

• A computer processes input to produce

output.
Information Processing Cycle
• Storage: area on a computer where
information can be stored for future
uses.

• Information Processing Cycle

– Input
– Process
– Output
– Storage
User: Definition

User:
A person that communicates with a
computer or uses the information it
generates.
Hardware / Software

• Hardware:
– The electric, electronic, and mechanical
equipment that makes up a computer.

• Software:
– Series of instructions that tells the
hardware how to perform tasks.
– Without software, hardware is useless.
Computer Components

• Hardware components work together

with software to perform calculations,
organize data, and communicate with
other computers.
• These hardware components include
input devices, output devices, a system
unit, storage devices, and
communication devices.
Computer Components
Anadir Pag 1.5
Computer Components
Input Devices: Definition

• Input Devices:
– Allows a user to enter data and commands
into the memory of a computer.
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Microphone
• Camera
Output Devices: Definition

• Output Device:
– Used to convey the information generated
by a computer to a user.
• Printer
• Monitor
• Speakers
System Unit

• Box-like case made from metal or

plastic that houses the computer
electronic circuitry.

• The circuity in the system unit usually is

part of or is connected to a circuit board
called motherboard.
 Two main components of the
Motherboard
• (CPU) Central Procecssing Unit or
procesor:
– Is the electronic device that interprets and
carries out the instructions that operate the
computer.
• Memory:
– Series of electronic elements that
temporarily holds data and instructions
while they are being processed by the
CPU.
Processor and Memory

• Both are Chips.

– Chip is an electronic device that contains

many microscopic pathways designed to
carry electrical current.
Peripheral Device

• Peripheral Device

– Any external device that attaches to the

system unit.
Storage Device

• Storage holds data, instructions, and

information for future use.

• Storage differs from memory in that it

can hold these items permanently ,
whereas memory holds these items
only temporarily while they are being
processed.
Storage Device

• Is used to record and retrieve data,

instructions, and information to and
from a storage medium.
– Floppy Disk Drive
– Hard Disk Drive
– CD-ROM Drive
– DVD-ROM Drive
Storage medium

• Storage Medium:

– Is the physical material on which data,

instructions and information is stored.
• Floppy Disks
• Hard Drive Disks
• CD-DVD ROM Disks
Communications Devices

• Enable computer users to communicate

and to exchange items such as data,
instructions, and information with
another computer.
• Comunication devices transmit these
items over transmission media such as
cables, telephone lines, other means.
– Modems
– Network (NIC) Cards
Why is a Computer so Powerful?

A computer’s power is derived from its

capability of performing the information
processing cycle operations
(input/process/output/storage) with
amazing speed, reliability, accuracy,
capacity of storing huge amounts of
data, and ability to communicate with
other computers.
 Why is a computer powerful?

• Speed
• Reliability
• Accuracy
• Storage
• Communications
Computer Software

• Software = Computer Programs

• Instructions that tells the hardware what
to do.
• Execute a program = begin performing
a program.
• Installing software in order to run
program.
System Software

• Consists of programs that control the

operations of the computers and its
devices.
• Serves as the interphase between a
user and the hardware
– Operating Systems
– Utility Programs
Operating Systems

• Contains instructions that coordinate all

of the activities of hardware devices.

• Also contains instructions that allow you

to run application software.

• Windows XP utilizado en el 80% de las

maquinas del mundo al 2005.
Utility Programs

• Type of system software that performs

a specific task, usually related to
managing a computer, devices and
programs.

– Uninstaller Program
– Games
User Interfase

• Part of the software with which you interact.

The user interface controls how data and
Instructions are entered and how information
is presented on the screen.

• Many of today’s software programs have

(GUI) Graphical User Interfase, which allows
the user to interact with the software using
visual images such as icons.
Application Software

• Programs designed to perform specific

tasks for users.
– Word Processing Software
– Spreadsheet Software
– Database Software
– Presentation Graphics Software
– Games
– Electronic mail, accounting, project
management
Software
• Packaged Software: Designed to meet the need
of a wide variety of users, not just a single user
or company.
• Custom Software: Programs developed at the
user’s request to perform specific functions.
• Shareware: software that is distributed freely for
a trial period.
• Freeware: Software that is provided at no cost to
a user, individual or company.
• Public-domain software: free software that has
been donated for public use and has no
copyright restrictions.
Software Development
• Computer Programmers:
– People who write software programs.
– Write the necessary instructions to direct
computer processing data into information.
– Instructions in the correct sequence.
– Systems Analyst- manages the
development of a program, working with
both the user and the programmer to
determine and design the desired output of
a program.
 Programming Languages

• DOS
• C
• C++
• COBOL
• Visual Basic
• HTML
• Java
Networks and Internet
• Network: Collection of computers and devices
connected together via communications
media and devices such as cables telephone
lines, modems, or other means.
• Sometimes a network may be wireless: which
means uses no physical lines or wires.
• When your computer is connected to a
network, you are said to be online.
• Computers are networked together so users
can share resources, such as hardware
devices, software programs, data and
information. Sharing resources save time
and money.
LAN, WAN, MAN
Internet
• World’s largest network
• Worldwide collection of networks that links
together millions of computers by means of
modems, telephone lines, wireless
technology, and other communications
devices.
– Sending emails
– Accessing a wealth of information
– Shopping
– Conferencing
– Accesing of sources of entertainment and leisure
(ISP) Internet Service
Provider

• An organization that supplies

connections to the Internet for a
monthly fee.
– (AOL) American Online
– Onelink PR
– Liberty Cable Vision
– Coquinet
– Caribenet
– Ayustar
Internet

• WWW = World Wide Web

– Billions of web pages
– Web Browsers read and display the pages
• IE
• Fire Fox
• Netscape
• Opera
Computer Category

• Four mayor categories:

– PC, Minicomputers, Mainframe,
Supercomputers
(PC) Personal Computer

• Computer that can perform all of its

input, processing, output, and storage
activities by itself; that is, it contains at
least one input device, one output
device, one storage device, memory
and procesor.
PCs
Major categories of PCs:

– Desktop Computers: designed so the system unit, input

devices, output devices, and other devices fit entirely under
a desk.
• Tower
• Horizontal
• All-in-one
• Workstation
• Stand-alone
• Server
– Portable Computers: personal computer that is small enough
to carry.
• Laptops
• Noteboks
• (PDA) Personal Digital Assistant
Minicomputers

• More powerful and larger than a

workstation computer.
• Can support up to 4,000 connceted
users at the same time.
• It is accessed frequently via terminal,
which is a device with a monitor and
keyboard (dumb terminals – because
info is stored on the microcomputer
(server)).
Mainframes

• Mainframe:
– Is a large, expensive, very powerful
computer that can handle hundreds of
thousands of connected users
simultaneously. Also acts as server.
 Super Computers
• Super Computer:
– Is the fastest, most powerful computer and
also the most expensive.
– Capable of processing 64 billion
instructions in a single second.
– Weather forecasting, nuclear energy
research, petroleum exploration.
Computer Users
 Review

• Why is computer literacy important?

• What is a computer?
• What are the components of a computer?
• Why is a Computer a Powerful tool?
• What are the Categories of Computer
Software?
• What is the purpose of a Network?
• How is the Internet Used?
• What are the categories of computers?
• How are computers used?
Why is Computer Literacy
Important?

• To be succesful in todays worls, it is

crucial to have knowledge and
understanding of computers and their
uses.

• This knowledge is called Computer

Literacy.
What is a computer?

• A computer is an electronic machine,

operating under the control of instructions
stored under the control of instructions stored
in its own memory, that can accept data
(input), manipulate data (process), produce
results (output), and store the results for
future use (storage).

• Data / Information:
– Information is processed data
– Data is raw
What are the components of a
Computer?

• Hardware
– Input device
– Output device
– System unit
– CPU
– Memory
– Storage Devices
– Communications Devices
Why is a computer a powerful
tool?

A computers’ power can be derived

from its capability of performing the
information processing cycle operations
with speed, reliability, accuracy,
capacity to store huge amounts of data,
instructions, and its ability to
communicate information with other
computers.
What are the categories of
Computer Software?

• Software is the series of instructions

that tells the hardware of a computer
what to do.
– System Software:
• Operating System
• Utility Programs
– Application Software: specific tasks like
word processing, spreadsheets,
databases, presentations, ect.
What is the purpose of a
Network?

• A network is a collection of computers

and devices connceted together via
communications media. Computers are
networked so users can share
resources such as hardware devices,
software programs, data and
information.
How is the Internet Used?
• The world’s largest network is the
Internet, which is a worldwide collection
of networks that links together millions
of computers.

• The Internet is used to:

– Send messages
– Obtain info
– Shopping
– Entertainment and leisure
What are the categories of
computers?

• PCs
– Desktop
– Portable Computer

• Minicomputers

• Mainframe

• Supercomputers
How are Computers Used?

• Home Users: entertainment, communications,

research and education, web access,
shopping, finance, word processing and
spreadsheets.
• Small Business Users: utilize productivity
software as well as communications software.
• Large Business users: automated systems.
• Power Users: design plans, produce
publications, graphic art, multimedia.