Introduction to computer

Getting Started
The basics

Prepared by: Ms. Maritess Jagunos

Learning Objectives
After this lecture, students will be able to:
Understand the basic concepts of hardware software and IT. Distinguish between various types of computer. Describe the main parts of a personal computer (PC)

Computers Everywhere
Affect every aspect of our lives. Process the data which makes a modern society function. Embedded in a huge range of devices. Microcomputers bring computing directly to almost everyone. Opening up new ways of communication. Breaking down political and national boundaries.

Information Systems
A computer is part of an information system hardware software data people procedures

Hardware and Software

Hardware
The physical components associated with a computer or other system. CPU Peripheral Devices

Software
The programs which control the operation of a computer, together with the associated documentation. Divided into system and application software. A program is a set of instructions that tell the computer how to process data to produce the required results.

Data and Information

What is data?
Data is unorganised facts, numbers, letters and symbols represented in a formalised manner suitable for communication, interpretation and processing by humans or computers.

What is information?
Information is data which has been assigned a commonly understood meaning.

Data
Ex.

AB34652 22025 46723 45890 98345

??

Information
Ex. Number of Products Sold in November in All Sales Areas Product AB34652 South 22025 North 46723 East 45890 West 98345

People
Those who use the information provided by the hardware and software. (end-users) Those who supply the raw data for processing. Those who write programs. (programmers) Those who support the running of the system. (computing officers, support engineers)

Procedures
The rules or guidelines for the running of the information system and its components. System manuals Program manuals

What is a System?
A system is an organised set of related components established to perform a certain task.

The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again.

What is a Computer?
An electronic device that can perform the following tasks:
Respond predictably to input Store the set of instructions needed to process the input Process the input according to these instructions Store the results of processing Output information

Components of a Computing System

Input

Processing

Storage

Output

Four Hardware Components

Input device sends data to the central processing unit

Central processing unit (CPU) holds data and programs temporarily and executes computer instructions

Secondary storage device stores data and programs

Output device makes processed data (information) available

Example of Input device:

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. Bar code reader Cassette drive CD-ROM Digital camera Disk drive Full-page scanner Joy stick Key board Light pen Microphone mouse l. laser pointer m. scanner n. touch screen o. touch tablet p. trackball

Ex. of processing device:

a. central processing unit (CPU)  is to process instructions, manage the flow of information through the computer system, and perform calculations. It is the heart of the computer and communicates with the output, input and storage devices to perform tasks that are important to the functioning of the computer.  Brain of the computer.

Ex. of storage device:

Primary storage:
is a component in your computer that stores information for a short period of time.

a. RAM (Random Access Memory)

 also known as main memory or system memory, is a term commonly used to describe the memory within a computer

b. Cache  a special high-speed storage mechanism. It can be either a reserved

section of main memory or an independent high-speed storage device.

 Secondary Storage:
refers to non-volatile data storage which is not directly accessible by the CPU and only accessible via primary storage devices using I/O (Input/Output) channels or device drivers. Typical examples of Secondary Storage are: a. hard disks b. floppy disks c. optical storage devices ( such as CD , DVD drives) d. magnetic tape data storage devices e. RAM drives, f. flash memory (such as USB flash drives),

Ex. of output device:

speakers Headphones Screen (Monitor) Printer

Types of Computer - 1
a. Supercomputers
Special high-capacity computers used by very large organisations that need massive computing power for number-crunching. Users: NASA, Meteorological Office. .

Types of Computer - 2
b. Mainframe
Large-scale computers executing millions of instructions per second. Used to process very large volumes of data; multi-user; require special accommodation and facilities. Users: insurance companies, banks, airlines

Types of Computer - 3
c. Minicomputer
A desk-sized computer. Costs less than a mainframe but is powerful enough to do many jobs which only mainframes could do in the past. Less demanding in accommodation than mainframes. Users: medium-sized organisations or departments of large companies.

Types of Computer - 4
d. Microcomputer (Personal Computer)
A small computer with a central processing unit based on a microprocessor. The least powerful but most widely used type of computer. It can be designed to be used on a desk-top or carried. Users: anyone requiring modest computing facilities.

Types of Microcomputer - 1
a. Desktop
A personal computer with a limited range of facilities standing permanently on a desk. Most have a cheap but heavy television-style monitor. Used in offices, universities, homes etc.

Types of Microcomputer - 2
b. Laptop (Notebook) Computer
A portable personal computer with the facilities of a desktop personal computer but generally with lower processor speeds. They use expensive flat panel screens

Types of Microcomputer - 3
c. Personal Digital Assistant
A small hand-held computer used as an electronic personal organiser. It can input data using a pen, recognise hand-writing, run personal organisational tools and has communications capabilities.

Types of Computer - 5
e. Network Computer
A small desktop computer with a processor but minimal memory and no secondary storage. Designed as a very cheap device to be linked to the Internet or a company intranet with the network server handling more of the work. Users: failed in the market because of cheaper PCs.

Parallel port

Parts of motherboard:

USB Mouse & keyboard Power supply plug in

PCI slot ISA slot

CPU slot CPU Chip

RAM slots

CMOS Battery AGP slot

Floppy Controller IDE controller

Parts of motherboard:

2. USB (Universal serial bus): USB is the General-purpose connection for PC. You can find USB versions of many different devices, such as mice, keyboards, scanners, cameras, and even printers. a USB connector's distinctive rectangular shape makes it easily recognizable. 3. Parallel port: Most printers use a special connector called a parallel port. Parallel port carry data on more than one wire, as opposed to the serial port, which uses only one wire. 4. CPU Chip : The central processing unit, also called the microprocessor performs all the calculations that take place inside a pc. 5. RAM slots: Random-Access Memory (RAM) stores programs and data currently being used by the CPU. 6. Floppy controller: The floppy drive connects to the computer via a 34-pin ribbon cable, which in turn connects to the motherboard. A floppy controller is one that is used to control the floppy drive. 7. IDE controller (Integrated Drive Electronics): responsible for controlling the hard drive. 8. PCI slot: Intel introduced the Peripheral component interconnect bus protocol. The PCI bus is used to connect I/O devices to the main logic of the computer.

Parts of motherboard:
9. ISA slot: (Industry Standard Architecture) It is the standard architecture of the Expansion bus. Motherboard may contain some slots to connect ISA compatible cards. 10. CMOS Battery (Complementary metaloxidesemiconductor): To provide CMOS with the power when the computer is turned off all motherboards comes with a battery. These batteries mount on the motherboard in one of three ways: the obsolete external battery, the most common onboard battery, and built-in battery. 11. AGP slot (Advanced Graphics Port): If you have a modern motherboard, you will almost certainly notice a single connector that looks like a PCI slot, but is slightly shorter and usually brown. You also probably have a video card inserted into this slot. 12. CPU slot: To install the CPU, just slide it straight down into the slot. Special notches in the slot make it impossible to install them incorrectly. So remember if it does not go easily, it is probably not correct. Be sure to plug in the CPU fan's power. 13. Power supply plug in: The Power supply, as its name implies, provides the necessary electrical power to make the pc operate. the power supply takes standard 110-V AC power and converts into 12-Volt, 5-Volt, and 3.3-Volt DC power.

Personal Computer
hard disk secondary storage monitor output system unit process

printer output

disk drive secondary storage keyboard input

mouse input

Question:
Why do we need to take care in our personal computer?