Chapter 1

Basic Introduction to Computers

Discovering
Computers 2012
Your Interactive Guide
to the Digital World

ObjectivesOverview

Explainwhycomputer
literacyisvitalto
successintodaysworld

Definetheterm,
computer,anddescribe
therelationship
betweendataand
information

Describethefive
componentsofa
computer

Discusstheadvantages
anddisadvantagesthat
usersexperiencewhen
workingwith
computers

Definetheterm,
network,andidentify
benefitsofsharing
resourcesonanetwork

Discusstheusesofthe
InternetandWorld
WideWeb

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

SeePage3
forDetailedObjectives

ObjectivesOverview

Distinguishbetweensystem
softwareandapplication
software

Differentiateamongtypes,
sizes,andfunctionsof
computersineachcategory

Explainhowhomeusers,
smalloffice/homeoffice
users,mobileusers,power
users,andenterpriseusers
eachinteractwith
computers

SeePage3
forDetailedObjectives

Describetheroleofeach
elementinaninformation
system

Discusshowsocietyuses
computersineducation,
finance,government,health
care,science,publishing,
travel,andmanufacturing

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

AWorldofComputers
Computersareeverywhere

Pages4 5
Figure11

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

WhatIsaComputer?
Acomputer isanelectronicdevice,operating
underthecontrolofinstructionsstoredinitsown
memory
Collects
data
(input)

Processing

Produces
information
(output)

InformationProcessingCycle
Page6

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

WhatIsaComputer?

Page6
Figure12

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

TheComponentsofaComputer
Acomputercontainsmanyelectric,electronic,and
mechanicalcomponentsknownashardware
InputDevice
OutputDevice

Allowsyoutoenterdataandinstructionsintoacomputer

Hardwarecomponentthatconveysinformationtooneormorepeople

SystemUnit

Casethatcontainstheelectroniccomponentsofthecomputerthat
areusedtoprocessdata

StorageDevice

Records(writes)and/orretrieves(reads)itemstoandfromstorage
media

Communications
Device

Enablesacomputertosendandreceivedata,instructions,and
informationtoandfromoneormorecomputersormobiledevices

Pages6 8

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

TheComponentsofaComputer

Page7
Figure13

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

AdvantagesandDisadvantages
ofUsingComputers

Pages9 10

Advantagesof
UsingComputers

Disadvantagesof
UsingComputers

Speed

HealthRisks

Reliability

ViolationofPrivacy

Consistency

PublicSafety

Storage

ImpactonLaborForce

Communications

ImpactonEnvironment

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

AdvantagesandDisadvantages
ofUsingComputers
Greencomputing involvesreducingtheelectricity
consumedandenvironmentalwastegeneratedwhen
usingacomputer
Strategiesinclude:

Page10

Recycling
Regulatingmanufacturingprocesses
Extendingthelifeofcomputers
Immediatelydonatingorproperlydisposingofreplacedcomputers

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

10

NetworksandtheInternet
Anetwork isa
collectionofcomputers
anddevicesconnected
together,often
wirelessly,via
communications
devicesand
transmissionmedia

Pages10 11
Figure16

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

11

NetworksandtheInternet
TheInternetisaworldwidecollectionofnetworksthat
connectsmillionsofbusinesses,governmentagencies,
educationalinstitutions,andindividuals

Page11
Figure17

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

12

NetworksandtheInternet
PeopleusetheInternetforavarietyofreasons:

Communicate

Researchand
AccessInformation

Entertainment

Pages12 13
Figure18

DownloadVideos

Shop

BankandInvest

ShareInformation

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

OnlineTrading

WebApplication

13

NetworksandtheInternet
AsocialnetworkingWebsite encourages
memberstosharetheirinterests,ideas,stories,
photos,music,andvideoswithotherregistered
users

Page14
Figure19

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

14

ComputerSoftware
Software,alsocalledaprogram,tellsthe
computerwhattaskstoperformandhowto
performthem
SystemSoftware
Operatingsystem
Utilityprogram

ApplicationSoftware

Pages15 16
Figures110 111

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

15

ComputerSoftware
Installing istheprocessofsettingupsoftwareto
workwiththecomputer,printer,andother
hardware

Pages16 17
Figure112

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

16

ComputerSoftware
Aprogrammerdevelops
softwareorwritesthe
instructionsthatdirect
thecomputerto
processdatainto
information

Page18
Figure113

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

17

CategoriesofComputers
Personalcomputers
Mobilecomputersandmobiledevices
Gameconsoles
Servers
Mainframes
Supercomputers
Embeddedcomputers
Page19

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

18

PersonalComputers
Apersonalcomputer canperformallofitsinput,
processing,output,andstorageactivitiesbyitself
TwopopulararchitecturesarethePCandthe
Apple
Desktopcomputer

Pages19 20
Figures115 116

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

19

MobileComputersandMobileDevices

Mobile
Computer

Pages20 23

Mobile
Device
Personalcomputeryou
cancarryfromplaceto
place

Computingdevicesmall
enoughtoholdinyour
hand

Examplesinclude
notebookcomputers,
laptopcomputers,
netbooks,ultrathins,
andTabletPCs

Examplesincludesmart
phonesandPDAs,e
bookreaders,handheld
computers,portable
mediaplayers,and
digitalcameras

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

20

MobileComputersandMobileDevices
Notebookcomputer
TabletPC
SmartphonesandPDAs
Ebookreader
Pages20 22
Figures117 120

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

21

MobileComputersandMobileDevices

Handheldcomputer
Portablemediaplayer
Digitalcamera
Pages22 23
Figures121 123

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

22

GameConsoles
Agameconsole isa
mobilecomputing
devicedesignedfor
singleplayeror
multiplayervideo
games

Page24
Figure124

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

23

Servers
Aserver controlsaccess
tothehardware,
software,andother
resourcesonanetwork
Providesacentralized
storageareafor
programs,data,and
information

Page25
Figure125

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

24

Mainframes
Amainframe isalarge,
expensive,powerful
computerthatcan
handlehundredsor
thousandsofconnected
userssimultaneously

Page25
Figure126

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

25

Supercomputers
Asupercomputer isthefastest,mostpowerful
computer
Fastestsupercomputersarecapableofprocessing
morethanonequadrillioninstructionsinasingle
second

Page25
Figure127

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

26

EmbeddedComputers
Anembeddedcomputer isaspecialpurpose
computerthatfunctionsasacomponentina
largerproduct
Consumer
Electronics
Mobileanddigital
telephones
Digitaltelevisions
Cameras
Videorecorders
DVDplayersand
recorders
Answering
machines

Page26

HomeAutomation
Devices

Automobiles

Thermostats
Sprinklingsystems
Security
monitoringsystems
Appliances
Lights

Antilockbrakes
Enginecontrol
modules
Airbagcontroller
Cruisecontrol

ProcessControllers
andRobotics
Remotemonitoring
systems
Powermonitors
Machine
controllers
Medicaldevices

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

ComputerDevices
andOfficeMachines
Keyboards
Printers
Faxes
Copiers

27

EmbeddedComputers

Page26
Figure128

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

28

ElementsofanInformationSystem

Hardware

Software

People

Page27

Data

Procedures

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

29

ElementsofanInformationSystem

Page27
Figure129

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

30

ExamplesofComputerUsage

HomeUser
Personalfinancial
management
Webaccess
Communications
Entertainment

Pages28 31
Figures130 132

SmallOffice/Home
OfficeUser
Lookupinformation
Sendandreceiveemail
messages
Maketelephonecalls

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

MobileUser
Connecttoothercomputers
onanetworkortheInternet
Transferinformation
Playvideogames
Listentomusic
Watchmovies

31

ExamplesofComputerUsage

Pages31 32
Figures133 134

PowerUser

EnterpriseUser

Workwithmultimedia
Useindustryspecific
software

Communicateamong
employees
Processhighvolumes
oftransactions
Blog

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

32

ComputerApplicationsinSociety

Education
Finance
Government
HealthCare
Pages34 36
Figures136 139

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

33

ComputerApplicationsinSociety

Science
Publishing
Travel
Manufacturing
Pages36 38
Figures140 143

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

34

Video:ComputerHistoryinaBarn

CLICKTOSTART
DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

35

Summary

Page39

Basiccomputer
concepts

Componentsofa
computer

Networks,theInternet,
andcomputersoftware

Manydifferent
categoriesof
computers,computer
users,andcomputer
applicationsinsociety

DiscoveringComputers2012:Chapter1

36

Chapter 1
Basic Introduction to Computers

Discovering
Computers 2012
Your Interactive Guide
to the Digital World

Chapter1Complete