Computer Applications In

Business
Module 1 : Part 1
What is a computer?
Classification of the types of
computers


Desktop computers
(PC)
Workstations
Notebook
computers
Tablet computers
Handheld computers
Smart phones



Network
servers
Mainframe
Computers




Classification of computers
Classification of
Computers
Micro Mini Mainframe Super
Desktop Laptop Hand-held
Information Processing Cycle
Processing
Storage
Output
Input
Hardware Input / Output devices
Input Devices
Input Devices
Input devices, such as keyboards or scanners, are
hardware components that capture, collect, and
transmit data and programs to the computer in a
form that computer can understand.
Input devices transmit the input to the computer in a
series of electronic pulses representing bits, or digits,
of the binary code.

Types of Input
Data
raw facts that a computer receives and processes to produce
information
Programs
instructions that direct the computer operations
Commands
key words that direct the computer to perform certain activities
User Responses
data a user enters to respond to a question or message.
A. Keyboard
The most commonly used input devices.
Contains alphanumeric, cursors and function keys.
Function key
Numeric keypad
Function Keys, labeled from F1 to F12, allow user to quickly
access commands and functions, such as saving a document
or calling up a programs Help feature.

Cursor-control Keys govern the movement of the cursor on
the screen. They include Up Arrow, Down Arrow, Left Arrow
and Right Arrow key on the keyboard.

Special Purpose Keys are used in conjunction with other keys
to enter commands into a computer. Control (Ctrl), Alternate
(Alt) and Shift keys are example of special purpose keys.
Toggle Keys are keys that, when pressed, activates a
certain mode or condition, and when pressed again,
deactivates the condition. The Num Lock key, Cap Lock
key and the Scroll Lock key are examples of toggle keys.
(For example, pressing the Cap Lock key will cause all the
alphanumeric characters to appear in capitals without
holding down the Shift key.)

Numeric Keypad, located in the far right portion of the
keyboard, is used for entering numbers quickly and for
performing the same operations as a calculator.


Not all keyboards have the same layout. Most keyboards have adopted the
so-called QWERTY layout for the alphanumeric keys.
Types of Keyboard
104-key keyboard
Natural keyboard
Keyboard for the Mac
B. Pointing Devices
Many people use pointing devices instead
of keyboards whenever possible.
Pointing devices minimize the amount of
typing (and the number of errors).
Mouse
Palm-sized pointing devices
a ball on the bottom senses its movement
various actions can be preformed by moving the
pointer and then pressing one of the buttons on
top of the mouse.
Types of Mouse
Cordless wheel mouse 3-button mouse
Wheel mouse for notebooks
iMouse for iMac
Trackball
Up-side down mouse
user rotates the ball itself while clicking
nearby buttons
TrackPoint Touchpad
The mouse is not practical for people using a notebook
computer in a small space. Track Point or Touch pad is
therefore used instead to control the pointer.

Touch-Sensitive Screens
Touch screens enable the user to select an option
by pressing a specific part of the screen.
Touch screens are commonly used in grocery
stores, fast-food restaurants, and information
kiosks.
A touch screen kit solution
Joysticks
Use the movement of a vertical stem to
direct the pointer.
C. Pen Input Devices
Input data with hand written characters,
select items by pressing the pen against
the screen, and use gestures, which are
special symbols, to issue commands.
Light Pen
Used to select processing
options or to draw on the
screen
The tip of a light pen contains a highly sensitive photoelectric
cell. When the light pen is pointed close to the screen, the
photoelectric cell detects the light emitted from the exact spot
the pen is touching. This accuracy makes light pens very popular
among engineers and draftsmen who use computer-aided
design (CAD) software to create blueprints and drawings of
products or construction projects.
Chinese Handwriting Recognition
Device
Used for inputting and recognizing Chinese
handwriting
Nowadays, sophisticated Chinese
handwriting recognition system also
contains voice recognition function.
D. Scanning Devices
Image Scanner
Electronically capture an entire image &
convert it into digital form that can be
processed by a computer
Image
Scan Edit
Bar Code Reader
Bar code consists of a set of vertical lines and
spaces of different widths
Universal Product Code (UPC) is very common

An example of a bar code
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
(MICR)
Use a special ink that can be magnetized during
processing
MICR is used by the banking industry as a means of
processing checks it receives in every day.
Magnetic Ink Character
Optical Character Recognition
OCR software can be installed
in a computer to perform
character recognition.
a system of producing machine-readable code on
a data source item and reading that code by
means of optical scanning devices.
Optical Mark Recognition
Optical marks are the filled-in shape, usually ovals
or rectangles, on scan sheets.
The data collected on the scan sheets are
translated into binary form by an optical mark
reader (OMR)
Use lead pencil to mark on scan sheet Feed the scan sheets into the OMR
Smart Card
A smart card, often the size of a credit card,
contains a built-in microprocessor and
memory that identify the card (and its owner)
and assists in financial and other
transactions.
Its primary advantage is increased security:
the information can only be read by an
authorized user with appropriated password.
E. Multimedia Input Devices
Voice Input Devices
A voice input device has two functions:
First, it can simply record and play back the
voice input by the user.
Secondly, it can record a human voice, then
with appropriate voice recognition software,
convert the voice input to ASCII characters.
Digital Camera
Record images in a form that can be stored by a
computer.
Some digital cameras resemble traditional
cameras and are portable. Some are connected
directly to a computer.
View Cam
Digital camera
Video digitizers
Video digitizers can capture input from
virtually any type of video device, such as
VCRs, televisions, and camcorders.
Audio digitizers can digitize music or voice
from a microphone.
Any computer component capable of
conveying information to a user
Display devices
Printers
Speakers

Output Devices
CRT Monitor






Cheapest
Large
Bulky size
Noisy
Heavy
Generate a lot of heat
LCD Monitor






Expensive than CRT
Flatter
Less bulky
Highly quality display
Lighter
Consumes less
electricity
Monitors
Flat-panel displays
Gas plasma
Large displays of up to
42 of viewable area
Gas glows that produce
pixels that form an
image
Higher display quality
More expensive

Display Devices
Printers
An output device that
produces text and
graphics on a physical
medium such as paper
or transparency film
Hard copy (printout)
vs. softcopy (monitor)
Portrait vs. landscape
Printing requirements
vary
Dot-matrix
Line
Impact
Ink-jet
Laser
Thermal
Portable
Plotters
and
Large Format
Non-impact
Printers
Impact Printers
Impact Printers
Dot matrix printers
Small dots form characters
Continuous form paper
More pins on print head means higher quality
Speed measured in characters per second (cps)
Non Impact Printers
Non-impact Printers
No mechanism strikes the paper
Much quieter than impact printers
Ink-jet printers
Spray tiny drops of ink onto the paper
Both black-and-white and colour
Resolution measured in dots per inch
(dpi)
Speed measured in pages per minute
(ppm)
Nozzles spray ink
Thermal printers
Pushes electrically heated pins against heat-
sensitive paper
Thermal transfer printer
Print head heats and melts the ink of the ink ribbon
to print the dot-composed character on normal
paper
Non Impact Printers contd
Audio Output
Audio output devices
Produce music, speech, or other sounds
Speakers
Low-quality sound
For high quality sound
Stereo speakers and woofer
Sound card
Headsets
Other Output Devices
Multifunction Devices
Can print, scan, copy, and fax
Less space
Lower cost than separate units
For example, OfficeJet by Hewlett-Packard is a
colour printer, scanner and photocopier all in
one device