LESSON 1: The system unit is a case that contains

electronic components of the computer that

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS
COMPUTER LITERACY
Computer literacy, also known as digital literacy,
involves having a current knowledge and
understanding of computers and their uses.
A computer is an electronic device, operating
under the control of instructions stored in its
own memory, that can accept data, process the
data according to specified rules, produce
results, and store the results for future use.
Data is a collection of unprocessed items, which
can include text, numbers, images, audio, and
video.
are used to process data. The circuitry of the
system unit usually is part of or is connected to
a circuit board called the motherboard.
Two main components of Motherboard:
• Processor, also called the CPU (central
processing unit), is the electronic
component that interprets and carries out
the basic instructions that operate the
computer.
• Memory consists of electronic components
that store instructions waiting to be
executed and data needed by those
instructions.
4. Storage Devices

Information conveys meaning and is useful to Storage holds data, instructions, and
people. information for future use.

For example, computers can store hundreds

or millions of customer names and addresses.
COMPONENTS OF THE COMPUTER
A storage device records (writes) and/or
A computer contains many electric, electronic,
retrieves (reads) items to and from storage
and mechanical components known as
media.
hardware.
5. Communications Devices
1. Input Devices
A communications device is a hardware
An input device is any hardware component
component that enables a computer to send
that allows you to enter data and instructions
(transmit) and receive data, instructions, and
into a computer. Five widely used input devices
information to and from one or more
are the keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner,
computers or mobile devices.
and Web cam.
A widely used communications device is a
2. Output Devices
modem.
An output device is any hardware component
that conveys information to one or more
people. Three commonly used output devices ADVANTAGES OF USING COMPUTER:
are a printer, a monitor, and speakers.
The benefits from using computers are possible
3. System Unit because computers have the advantages of
 • speed,
• reliability,
• consistency,
• storage, and
• communications.
DISADVANTAGES OF USING COMPUTER:
The Some disadvantages of computers relate to
the
• violation of privacy,
• public safety,
• the impact on the labor force,
• health risks, and
• the impact on the environment
NETWORKS AND THE INTERNET
• A network is a collection of computers and
devices connected together, often
wirelessly, via communications devices
and transmission media.
• The Internet is a worldwide collection of
networks that connects millions of
businesses, government agencies,
educational institutions, and individuals.
• The Internet is the largest computer
network, connecting millions of
computers and devices around the world.
COMPUTER SOFTWARE
• A Software, also called a program, is a series
of related instructions, organized for a
common purpose, that tells the computer
what task(s) to perform and how to
perform them.
• The two categories of software are system
software and application software.
• System software consists of the programs
that control or maintain the operations of
the computer and its devices.
 System
software consists of the programs
that control or maintain the
operations of the computer and its
devices.
 Operating
system is a set of programs that
coordinates all the activities among
computer hardware devices.
• Application software consists of
programs designed to make
users more productive and/or
assist them with personal tasks.
• A widely used type of
application software
related to
communications is a
Web browser.
CATEGORIES OF COMPUTER
 • Server controls access to the hardware,
software, and other resources on a
• A personal computer is a computer that can
network and provides a centralized
perform all of its input, processing,
storage area for programs, data, and
output, and storage activities by itself.
information
• Two types of personal computers are
• Mainframe is a large, expensive, powerful
desktop computers and notebook
computer that can handle hundreds or
computers.
thousands of connected users
Desktop computer is designed so simultaneously. Mainframes store huge
that the system unit, input amounts of data, instructions, and
devices, output devices, and any information.
other devices fit entirely on or
• Supercomputer is the fastest, most
under a desk or table.
powerful computer — and the most
Notebook computer, also called a expensive. The fastest supercomputers
laptop computer, is a portable, are capable of processing more than one
personal computer often quadrillion instructions in a single second.
designed to fit on your lap.
• Embedded computer is a special-purpose
• Mobile computer is a personal computer computer that functions as a component
you can carry from place to place. in a larger product. A variety of everyday
Similarly, a mobile device is a computing products contain embedded computers:
device small enough to hold in your hand.
• Consumer electronics
• Mobile devices, which are small enough to
• Home automation devices
carry in a pocket, usually store programs
and data permanently on memory inside • Automobiles
the system unit or on small storage media
• Process controllers and robotics
such as memory cards.
• Computer devices and office
• Game console is a mobile computing device
machines
designed for single player or multiplayer
video games. Standard game consoles use
a handheld controller(s) as an input
device(s); a television screen as an output
device; and hard disks, optical discs,
and/or memory cards for storage.

• Three popular models are Microsoft’s

Xbox 360, Nintendo’s Wii
(pronounced wee), and Sony’s
PlayStation 3.
LESSON 2: a satellite dish that communicates with a
satellite modem.
THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

Internet, also called the Net, is a worldwide

collection of networks that links millions of WORLD WIDE WEB
businesses, government agencies, educational
World Wide Web (WWW), or Web, a widely
institutions, and individuals. The Internet is a
used service on the Internet, consists of a
widely used research tool, providing society
worldwide collection of electronic documents.
with access to global information and instant
communications. Web page is a electronic document on the
Web, can contain text, graphics,
CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET
animation, audio, and video.
Examples of broadband Internet service include
Web site is a collection of related Web
the following:
pages and associated items, such as
• Cable Internet service provides high-speed documents and pictures, stored on a Web
Internet access through the cable server.
television network via a cable modem.
Web server is a computer that delivers
• DSL (digital subscriber line) provides high- requested Web pages to your computer.
speed Internet connections using regular
 Types of Web Sites:
telephone lines.
Portal,
• Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) uses fiber-optic
cable to provide high-speed Internet News,
access to home and business users.
Informational,
• Fixed wireless provides high-speed Internet
Business/marketing,
connections using a dish-shaped antenna
on your house or business to Blog,
communicate with a tower location via
Wiki,
radio signals.
Online social network,
• Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) network uses radio
signals to provide high-speed Internet Educational,
connections to wireless computers and
devices. Entertainment,

• Cellular radio network offers high-speed Advocacy,

Internet connections to devices with Web application,
built-in compatible technology or
computers with wireless modems. Content aggregator, and

• Satellite Internet service provides high- Personal

speed Internet connections via satellite to
Multimedia on the Web
• Multimedia refers to any application that
combines text with graphics, animation,
audio, video, and/or virtual reality.
Graphic, or graphical image, is a digital
representation of non-text
information such as a drawing, chart,
or photo. Common graphics on the
web are JPEG and GIF.
Animation is the appearance of motion
created by displaying a series of still
images in sequence.
Audio pertains to music, speech, or any
other sound.
Video consists of images displayed in
motion. Popular video format is
Adobe Flash.
Virtual reality (VR) is the use of
computers to simulate a real or
imagined environment that appears
as a three-dimensional (3-D) space.
• Plug-in, or add-on, is a program that
extends the capability of a browser.
• Web publishing is the development and
maintenance of Web pages.
• E-commerce, short for electronic
commerce, is a business transaction that
occurs over an electronic network such as
the Internet. Three types of e-commerce
are:
Business-to-consumer,
Consumer-to-consumer, and
Business-to-business.
OTHER INTERNET SERVICES
These are other Internet services: e-mail,
mailing lists, instant messaging, chat rooms,
VoIP (Voice over IP), FTP (File Transfer
Protocol), and newsgroups and message
boards.
E-mail (short for electronic mail) is the
transmission of messages and files via a
computer network.
Mailing list, also called an e-mail list or
distribution list, is a group of e-mail
names and addresses given a single
name.
Instant messaging (IM) is a real-time
Internet communications service that
notifies you when one or more people
are online and then allows you to
exchange messages or files or join a
private chat room with them.
Chat room is a location on an Internet
server that permits users to chat with
each other. Anyone in the chat room
can participate in the conversation,
which usually is specific to a particular
topic.
VoIP (Voice over IP, or Internet Protocol),
also called Internet telephony, enables
 users to speak to other users over the
Internet (instead of the public switched
telephone network).

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is an Internet

standard that permits the process of file
uploading and downloading with other
computers on the Internet.

Newsgroup is an online area in which

users have written discussions about a
particular subject. A popular Web-
based type of discussion group that
does not require a newsreader is a
message board.

Netiquette:

Netiquette, which is short for Internet etiquette,

is the code of acceptable behaviors users should
follow while on the Internet; that is, it is the
conduct expected of individuals while online.
Netiquette includes rules for all aspects of the
Internet, including the World Wide Web, e-mail,
instant messaging, chat rooms, FTP, and
newsgroups and message boards.