Lesson 1A

Introduction to Computers
 Definition of a Computer

A computer is an electronic device used

to process data, converting the data into

information that is useful to people

home
Computers Consist of Four
Parts
Hardware
Software
Users
Data

Click to
Enlarge

home
 Hardware

Mechanical devices that make up the

computer

home
Hardware
 Processing

The procedure that transforms raw data into

useful information is called processing

The processor and memory perform this

transformation

home
 Processor

The computer’s brain, which organizes

and carries out instructions from either

the user or the software

home
 Motherboard

Rigid rectangular card containing the

circuitry that connects the processor to

the other hardware

home
 Circuit board
Motherboard is an example of a circuit
board
Attached to the motherboard are many
smaller circuit boards that house many
internal devices

home
Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Refers to a computer’s processor

home
 Memory

When you launch a program, it is

loaded into and run from memory

home
Random Access Memory (RAM)

Determines a computer’s speed and

power

home
 Memory Measurements
Kilobyte (KB)
Megabyte (MB)
Gigabyte (GB)
Terabyte (TB)

home
 Input Devices

Accept data and instructions from the

user or from another computer system

home
Most Common Input Devices
Keyboard
Mouse

home
 Output Devices

Return processed data to the user or to

another computer system

home
Most Common Output Devices
Monitor
Printer

home
 Storage

Holds data permanently

home
 Storage Terms
Magnetic disk
Read/write heads
Disk drive
Hard disk or hard drive
Diskette drive
Diskettes or floppy disks

home
 Storage Terms Continued
CD-ROM drive
Compact disks (CDs)
Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory (CD-
ROM)
CD-Recordable (CD-R)
CD-ReWritable (CD-RW)
Digital Video Disk (DVD)

home
 Software

A set of electronic instructions

consisting of complex codes, or

programs, that make the computer

perform tasks

home
 Examples of Software
System software
Application software

home
Five Computer Categories
Supercomputers
Mainframe computers
Minicomputers
Workstations
Microcomputers, or personal computers

home
The Internet Started Out As
ARPANET
In 1969, the Advanced Research Projects Agency

(ARPA) of the U.S. Department of Defense created

the Internet when it connected the computers at

universities and defense contractors. This system

was called ARPANET.

home
 The Internet Today
The Internet today is a cooperative community of over

100 million computer users connected worldwide.

home
 World Wide Web

Accessed through the Internet, the

World Wide Web lets users view

specially formatted documents

home
 Web Browsers

A Web browser is computer software that lets

you navigate the Web

First you connect to the Internet, then you

launch the browser, then you view Web

pages

home
 URL’s

Every Web page has a unique address,

called a uniform resource locator, or

URL (pronounced as spelled: U-R-L)

home
 Hyperlinks

A hyperlink is a part of the Web page

that is linked to a URL

home
 Web Search Tools
Directories
Search Engines
Metasearch engines
Site-specific search tools

home
Lesson 1A

Introduction to Computers
and the Internet