Information Technology Basics

OverviewThis module will discuss the basics of Information Technology as they relate to the computer technician. It covers different computer types and software applications. A brief overview of theInternet is also included. The student will identify the basic features of the Windows operatingsystem and the elements of the Windows desktop.Additionally, the student will learn several vocabulary words that are important to the technician.The student will also examine the methods used in number conversions, including binary todecimal and decimal to binary. Explanations and introductions to analog, digital, and algorithmsare included.Safety is the first priority when working with computers. This module will detail safety proceduresthat pertain to the labs used throughout this course and in the workplace. 1.1 Getting Started in IT1.1.1 Computer systems and programsA computer system is shown in Figure . A computer system consists of hardware and softwarecomponents. Hardware is the physical equipment such as the case, floppy disk drives,keyboards, monitors, cables, speakers, and printers. The term software describes the programsthat are used to operate the computer system. Computer software, also called programs,instructs the computer on how to operate. These operations may include identifying, accessing,and processing information. Essentially, a program is a sequence of instructions that describehow data will be processed. Programs vary widely depending on the type of information that willbe accessed or generated. For example, instructions for balancing a checkbook are very differentfrom instructions for simulating a virtual reality world on the Internet.The two types of software are operating systems and applications.Application software accepts input from the user and then manipulates it to achieve a result. Thisresult is known as the output. Applications are programs designed to perform a specific functionfor the user or for another application program. Examples of applications include wordprocessors, database programs, spreadsheets, Web browsers, Web development tools, andgraphic design tools. Computer applications are detailed later in this module. Refer to Figures , ,and for examples of common application software.An operating system (OS) is a program that manages all the other programs in a computer. It alsoprovides the operating environment for applications that are used to access resources on thecomputer. Operating systems perform basic tasks like recognizing input from the keyboard or mouse, sending output to the video screen or printer, keeping track of files on the drives, andcontrolling peripherals such as printers and modems. The Disk Operating System (DOS),Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Linux, Mac OS X, DEC VMS, and IBM OS/400 are allexamples of operating systems.Operating systems are platform-specific, meaning they are designed for specific types of computers. For example, the Windows operating system is designed for an IBM-compatiblepersonal computer (PC). The Mac OS will only work with Macintosh computers. PC andMacintosh are called platforms. A platform is the computer system on which different programscan be used.

Firmware is a program that is embedded in a silicon chip rather than stored on a floppy disk. Anychange to either the hardware or software can cause firmware to become outdated. This can leadto device failure, system failure, or data loss. When this happens to older firmware, the onlysolution is to replace it. Current firmware is flashable, meaning that the contents can beupgraded, or flashed. This subject is covered in more depth in a later module. 1.1 Getting Started in IT1.1.2 Computer typesTwo types of computers are detailed in this section. The first is the mainframe, which hasprovided computing power for major corporations for more than 40 years. The second is thepersonal computer, which has had more impact on people and business than any other device inhistory.MainframesMainframes are powerful machines that allow companies to automate manual tasks, shortenmarketing time for new products, use financial models that enhance profitability, and so on. Themainframe model consists of centralized computers that are usually housed in secure, climate-controlled computer rooms. End users interface with the computers through dumb terminals.These terminals are low-cost devices that usually consist of a monitor, keyboard, and acommunication port to communicate with the mainframe. Initially, terminals were hard wireddirectly to communication ports on the mainframe and the communications were asynchronous.An illustration of a mainframe computer is shown in Figure . NOTE:Asynchronous means without respect to time. In terms of data transmission, asynchronousmeans that no clock or timing source is needed to keep both the sender and the receiver synchronized. Without the use of a clock, the sender must signal the start and stop of eachcharacter so the receiver will know when to expect data.A mainframe environment consists of a single computer or group of computers that can becentrally managed and maintained. This configuration has the additional advantage of being moresecure for two reasons. First, the computer is stored in a secure room. Second, the ability of theend user to introduce viruses into the system is decreased. Virus protection and eradication costscompanies hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars annually.At its peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the mainframe and minicomputer market wasdominated by IBM and Digital Equipment Corporation. The minicomputer was a smaller and lessexpensive line of mainframes. However, these high-powered machines came with high price tags.The cost of entry into the mainframe market was typically several hundred thousand to severalmillion U.S. dollars. The minicomputer began to bring similar capabilities at a lower price, but theminicomputer configurations often cost more than ten thousand U.S. dollars.Mainframes continue to be prominent in corporate computing. It is estimated that 24 million dumbterminals are currently in use worldwide. In addition, 15 million PCs are currently deployed tofunction primarily as mainframe terminal emulators. These dumb terminals are AmericanStandard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) character based devices. These are oftenreferred to as green screens because many display green characters.

The term "mainframe" used to refer to the cabinet that housed the CPU. Today it refers to a largecomputer system.There are several advantages of mainframes:Scalability, the ability to add more users as the need arisesCentralized managementCentralized backupLow cost desktop devices (dumb terminals)High level of securityThere are several disadvantages of mainframes:Character-based applicationsLack of vendor operating system standards and interoperability in multivendor environmentsExpensive maintenance, initial equipment, and set-up costPotential for a single point of failure in non fault-tolerant configurationsPotential for a bottleneck in timesharing systemsPCsA personal computer (PC) is a standalone device. This means that it is independent of all other computers as shown in Figure . With the advent of the PC, the graphical user interface (GUI)gained wide introduction to users.A GUI, pronounced goo-ee, employs a graphics display to represent procedures and programsthat can be executed by the computer. An example is the Windows desktop. These programsroutinely use small pictures, called icons, to represent different programs. The advantage of usinga GUI is that the user does not have to remember complicated commands to execute a program.The GUIs first appeared in Xerox and Apple computers. Along with GUI, thousands of Windowsbased applications were also introduced.As PC technology has improved, the power of the PC has risen to the point that it can performenterprise-level functions.There are several advantages of PC computing:Standardized hardwareStandardized, highly interoperable operating systemsGUI interfaceLow cost devices and low cost of entry, when compared to mainframesDistributed computingUser flexibilityHigh-productivity applicationsThere are several disadvantages of PC computing:High cost for desktop computers, which average five times the cost of a dumb terminal accordingto some industry estimatesNo centralized backupNo centralized managementPhysical, data access, and virus security risks can be greater High management and maintenance costs, which are generally cheaper than for mainframes1.1 Getting Started in IT