Computer Basics

Computer Technology

The History of the

Computer
&
Then
Now

Computer Evolution

1642 Blaise Pascal mechanical adding machine

Computer Evolution

Early 1800s Jacquard

uses punch cards to
control the pattern of
the weaving loom.
1832 Charles Babbage invents the Difference
Engine

The Punch Card

1890 Herman Hollerith

invents a machine
using punch card to
tabulate info for the
Census. He starts the
company that would
later be IBM.

Evolution (continued)
1946 Mauchly and Eckert created the ENIAC
(Electronic Numerical Integrator And
Computer), first electronic computer is
unveiled at University of Pennsylvania (shown
on next slide)

ENIAC Computer

Miles of wiring
18,000 vacuum tubes
Thousands of resistors and switches
No monitor
3,000 blinking lights
Cost $486,000
100,000 additions per second
Weighed 30 tons
Filled a 30x50 foot room
Lights of Philadelphia would dim when it booted
up

1943

Base codes develop by Grace Hopper while

working on the Mark I programming project.
She invented the phrase bug an error in a
program that causes a program to
malfunction.

1950s

Vacuum Tubes were the components for the

electronic circuitry
Punch Cards main source of input
Speeds in milliseconds (thousands/sec)
100,000 additions/sec.
Used for scientific calculations
New computers were the rule, cost
effectiveness wasnt

1960s

Transistors were electronic circuitry (smaller,

faster, more reliable than vacuum tubes)
Speeds in microseconds (millionth/sec)
200,000 additions/sec.
Computers In Businesses: Emphasis on marketing
of computers to businesses
Data files stored on magnetic tape
Computer Scientists controlled operations

Late 60s Early 70s

Integrated circuit boards

New input methods such as plotters, scanners
Software became more important
Sophisticated operating systems
Improved programming languages
Storage capabilities expanded (disks)

1970s Integrated circuits and

silicone chips lead to smaller
microprocessors

Late 80s to Current

Improved circuitry several thousand transistors

placed on a tiny silicon chip.
Pentium chip named by Intel
Modems communication along telephone wires
Portable computers: laptops
Increased storage capabilities: gigabytes
Emphasis on information needed by the decision
maker.

The Information Processing Cycle

MAIN
MEMORY

INPUT

PROCESSING

AUXILIARY
STORAGE

OUTPUT

INPUT

INPUT DEVICES
(Hardware)

Keyboard
Mouse
Joystick
Trackball
Light pen
Image scanner

Touch tone telephone

Touch screens
Bar code scanner
Digitizer
Voice recognition
Auxiliary Storage Device

PROCESSING

PROCESSING

HARDWARE

Central Processing Unit: CPU

The Brains or Intelligence of the
computer. Controls input and output
The part of the computer that interprets
and executes instructions.

Silicon chip: integrated circuit board

Pentium: name give to a particular chip

What two numbers are used in

Binary Code?

0 and 1
They are each called a BIT
8 BITS make a BYTE
1 BYTE makes a letter or number
KILOBYTE = 1,024 bytes
MEGABYTE = 1,048,576 bytes
GIGABYTE = 1,024 megabytes
TERABYTE = 1,024 gigabytes

MEMORY

MEMORY

PROCESSING HARDWARE

ROM

RAM

READ ONLY MEMORY

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY

Small
Instructions are installed
permanently at the factory
Cannot be changed
These instructions check
the computers resources
and looks for Operating
System

Main Memory
Temporaryit is erased when
turned off.
It is where programs and data is
stored while being processed

OUTPUT DEVICES
(HARDWARE)

Useful information that leaves the system

Output Hardware includes:
Monitor: soft copy
Printers: hard copy

Flat Panel displays

Voice and music - speakers
Synthesizers
Plotters
OUTPUT

AUXILIARY STORAGE DEVICES

AUXILIARY
STORAGE

Network Drive (H: drive)

Hard Disk Drive (C:drive)
Floppy Disk Drive with 3
Floppy Disk (A:drive)
Smart card
CD Read/Write Drive
Zip Drive
Digital Audio Tape

Computer Hardware

Hardware

Includes the electronic and mechanical devices

that process the data; refers to the computer as
well as peripheral devices

System Unit

Case that holds the power supply, storage

devices and the circuit boards (including the
motherboard).

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

Where the processing in

a computer takes place,
often called the brain of
the computer.

Circuits

The path from one

component of a
computer to another
that data uses to travel.
Circuits run between

RAM and the

microprocessor
RAM and various storage
devices

Silicon Chip

Silicon is melted sand.

What the circuits are
embedded into to keep
them together.

Peripheral Devices

Devices connected by cable to the CPU.

Used to expand the computers input, output
and storage capabilities.

Input Devices

Units that gather

information and
transform that
information into a series
of electronic signals for
the computer.

Keyboard

An arrangement of
letters, numbers, and
special function keys
that act as the primary
input device to the
computer.

Mouse

An input device that

allows the user to
manipulate objects on
the screen by moving
the mouse along the
surface of the desk.

Sound Card

A circuit board that

gives the computer the
ability to accept audio
input, play sound files,
and produce audio
output through speakers
or headphones.

Modem

A device that sends and

receives data to and
from computers over
telephone lines.
Means (Modulate
Demodulate).

Output Devices

Devices that display, print or

transmit the results of
processing from the
computers memory.

Monitor

Display device that forms an image by

converting electronic signals from the
computer into points of colored light on the
screen.

Resolution

The density of the grid used to display or print

text and graphics; the greater the horizontal
and vertical density, the higher the resolution.
The amount of Pixels on the screen. The more
pixels the better the resolution.

Pixels

The smallest unit in a graphic image; computer

display devices use a matrix of pixels to display
text and graphics.
Basic unit of composition of an image on a TV
screen, Computer monitor, or similar display

Printer

Output device that

produces text or
graphical images on
paper.

Speakers

Output devices that receive signals from the

computers sound card to play music, narration,
or sound effects.

Storage Devices

Used to keep data when

the power to the
computer is turned off.
Different forms

Hard disk
Floppy or zip disks
CD-Writer

Formatted

Arrangement of data for storage or display.

All storage devices must be formatted.

Hard Disk

Rigid magnetic disk mounted for permanent

storage

Floppy Disk

Small portable magnetic disk enclosed in stiff

envelope

Compact Discs

CD-ROM

CD-R

Compact disk with read only memory

Compact disk which you can write to only one time.
It then becomes a read only disk.

CD-RW

Compact disk which you may rewrite to.

DVD

DVD ROM

DVD-R

Digital Video Disk which is read only.

Digital Video Disk which can be written to one
time. It then becomes read only.

DVD-RW

Digital Video Disk which can be rewritten to.

Flash or Jump Drives

External storage devices that can be used like a

external hard drive.
They have the capability to be saved to,
deleted from, and files can be renamed just like
with a normal hard drive.

Software Components

Software

A computer program that tells the computer

how to perform particular tasks.

Program

A series of commands and executable files that

produce results.

Operating System

Software that translates a computers

commands and allows application programs to
interact with the computers hardware
Examples:
Windows XP
Unix
OS 10 (MAC)

Application Software

Program that performs a specific function.

Examples
Microsoft Office
Adobe Photoshop
WordPerfect

Multitasking

Ability to do more than one thing at a time.

Computers can run several application software
programs and the operating system at the same
time.

Software Use

Icon

GUI (Graphical User Interface)

Image that represent executable files.

Graphics that aid in accomplishing tasks. Icons on
screen.

Menus

List or table of executable files

Types of Computers

Super Computer

Mainframe computer which is the largest,

fastest or most powerful at one given time.
A computer that was the fastest in the world at
the time it was constructed.
Can tackle tasks that would not be practical for
other computers

Typical uses
Breaking codes
Modeling weather systems

Mainframe

Large powerful computer often serving many

connected terminals.
Large expensive computer capable of
simultaneously processing data for hundreds or
thousands of users.
Used to store, manage, and process large
amounts of data that need to be reliable,
secure, and centralized.
Usually housed in a closet sized cabinet.

Server

A computer that processes request for HTML

and other documents that are components of
Web pages.
Purpose is to serve.
A computer that has the purpose of supplying
its users with data; usually through the use of a
LAN (Local Area Network).

Workstation

Desktop computer which is usually more powerful

than a Microcomputer.
Powerful desktop computer designed for specialized
tasks.
A microcomputer that fits on a desk and runs on
power from an electrical wall outlet.
The CPU can be housed in either a vertical or
horizontal case.
Has separate components (keyboard, mouse, etc.) that
are each plugged into the computer.

Desktop Microcomputer

Small computer based on a microprocessor.

A personal computer designed to meet the
needs of an individual; provides a variety of
applications.
Provides access to a wide variety of computing
applications, such as word processing, photo
editing, e-mail, and internet.

Laptop or Notebook

Portable, compact computer that runs on a wall

outlet or battery unit with all components in
one unit.
All components (keyboard, mouse, etc.) are in
one compact unit.
Usually more expensive than a comparable
desktop.
Sometimes called a notebook.

Handheld

Also called a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

A computer that fits into a pocket, runs on
batteries, and is used while holding in your
hand.
Typically used as an appointment book, address
book, calculator, and notepad.
Can be synchronized with a personal
microcomputer as a backup.

Networks

File Server

A computer dedicated to running applications and

storing data. May be shared with other
workstations

IP address

A unique address assigned to a computer so that it

may be located across the web.

Network
Two or more computers and other

devices that are connected, for

the purpose of sharing data and
programs.

Types of Networks

LAN Intranetwork

Local Area Network A method by which multiple

computers are connected. (CJH)

WAN InternetworkWide

Wide Area Network by which large geographical

areas can be connected. (Davis District)

Computer Performance
and Processing

Boot Process

Sequence of events that occurs between the time

you turn on a computer and the time that it
becomes ready to accept commands.
Purposes

Runs a diagnostic test to make sure everything is

working.
Loading the operating system, so the computer can carry
out basic operations.

6 events of the boot process:

Power up

Start boot program

Power-on self-test
Identify peripheral

devices
Load operation system
Check configuration and customization

Megahertz (mHz)

A measurement used to describe the speed of

the system clock.
A megahertz is equal to one million cycles (or
pulses) per second.
1.3 GHz means that the microprocessors clock
operates at a speed of 1.3 million cycles per
second.

Pentium

Name of the CPU.

Pentium is the 5th generation of the Intel
processor.

Other generations were called:

80-88
286
386
486

RAM vs. ROM

RAM

Random Access Memory

The ability of a storage devices
to go directly to a specific
storage location without
having to search sequentially
for a beginning location.
Very volatile

Cannot hold data when the

power is off.
Losses all data when power is
lost.

ROM

Read only memory

Drives can read data from
disks, but cannot store new
data on them.
One or more integrated
circuits that contain
permanent instructions that
the computer uses during the
boot process.

Binary Number System

A method for representing numbers using only

two digits 0 and 1.
Bit each 0 or 1.
Byte 8 bits
Also referred to as Base 2 Binary Code.

Memory Measurements

Bit

Byte

Approximately 1 million bytes (Exactly 1, 048,576 bytes)

Gigabyte

Approximately 1 thousand bytes

Megabyte

8 bits

Kilobyte

Each 0 or 1

Approximately 1 billion bytes

Terabyte

Approximately 1 trillion bytes

Basic Terms

Basic Terms

Computer

A device that accepts input, processes data, stores

data, and produces output, all according to a series
of stored instructions.

Basic Terms

Input

Output

Any information, data, sound, etc. that is created

and fed into the computer.
Useful information that leaves the system.

Data

Facts used by the computer. Refers to the symbols

that represent facts, objects or ideas.

Basic Terms

Processing

Memory

Manipulation of the data in many ways

Area of the computer that temporarily holds data
waiting to be processed, stored, or output.

Storage

Area of the computer that holds data on a

permanent basis when it is not immediately needed
for processing.

Basic Terms

File management

Folders

A method of organizing files and folders to make

data more easily accessible.
Location of physical media where data is stored

File

Individual document created and saved by the user.