ACC 123: IT Application Tools in Business

Student Activity Sheet #3

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________ Date: ______________

Lesson title: All-purpose Machine: Computers Materials:

Lesson Objectives: FLM Student Activity Sheets
1. To explain the "All-Purpose Machine": The Varieties of Computers
2. To learn the types of computers References:
Using Information Technology by
Williams and Sawyer, McGraw-Hill
Education

"There are no boundaries or borders in the digital age." - Karim Rashid

A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW
1) Introduction
When the alarm clock blasts you awake, you get out of bed and head for the kitchen, where you
check the electric kettle to heat some water. After using your electronic toothbrush and showering
and dressing, you stick bread in the oven toaster and then pick up the TV remote and click on
the TV to catch the weather forecast. Later, after putting dishes in the dishwasher, you go out
and wait for a jeepney or a bus and head towards campus. Pausing on the road at a traffic light,
you turn on your phone to listen to some music.

You haven't yet touched a computer, but you've already dealt with at least eight computers—as
you probably guessed from the italicized words. So, what are the various types of computers?
Let's take a look!

Activity 1: What I Know Chart (10 min)

What do you know about the Types of Computers? Try answering the questions below by writing
your ideas under the What I Know column. You may use keywords or phrases that you think are
related to the questions.

What I Know Questions: What I Learned (Activity 4)

What are the various types of

computers?

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 ACC 123: IT Application Tools in Business
Student Activity Sheet #3

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________ Date: ______________

B. MAIN LESSON
Activity 2: Content Notes (40 min)

The "All-Purpose Machine"

As you have already read from the Lesson Preview, all those familiar appliances mentioned rely on tiny
"computers on chips" called microprocessors. Maybe, then, the name "computer" is inadequate. As
computer pioneer John von Neumann has said, the device should not be called the computer but rather
the "all-purpose machine." It is not, after all, just a machine for doing calculations. The most striking
thing about it is that it can be put to any number of uses.

What are the five sizes of computers?

Computers come in various shapes and sizes, classified according to their processing power:
supercomputers, mainframe computers, workstations, microcomputers, and microcontrollers.

Supercomputers
These are the most expensive and fastest computers available.
"Supers," as they are called, have been used for tasks requiring
the processing of enormous volumes of data, such as doing the
U.S. census count, forecasting weather, designing aircraft,
modeling molecules, and breaking encryption codes. These are
arguably the most powerful in terms of speed and accuracy.
They are types of computers used in solving complicated
mathematical computations. They are capable of executing
trillions of instructions per second.

Mainframe computers
Mainframe computers are sizeable-sized computer types. They are equally powerful
but fall short in terms of the computation ability in supercomputers. They are like big
file servers, enabling multiple users from nearby and remote locations to access
resources simultaneously. Also known as big iron, these systems can handle
massive amounts of data going in and out simultaneously. This makes them popular
with businesses. They are also resilient as they are capable of operating for over ten
years without failing. Users can access the mainframe using terminals or personal
computers. This can happen within the same building or via a vast area network
(WAN). Mainframes process billions of instructions per second.

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 ACC 123: IT Application Tools in Business
Student Activity Sheet #3

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________ Date: ______________

Workstations
In the early 1980s, workstations are expensive, powerful personal computers
usually used for complex scientific, mathematical, and engineering calculations
and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. By providing
many capabilities comparable to midsize mainframes, workstations are used to
develop prescription drugs and create movie special effects. Workstations have
caught the public's eye mainly for their graphics capabilities, which are used to breathe three-dimensional
life into movies such as WALL•E, Harry Potter, and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The powers of low-end
workstations overlap those of high-end desktop microcomputers.

Microcomputers/Personal Computers (PCs)

Microcomputers are the smallest, least expensive, and the most used types of computers. They have a
short memory, less processing power, and are more commonly known as personal computers or merely
PCs. They are either stand-alone machines or connected to a computer network, such as a local area
network. A local area network (LAN) connects, usually by special cable, a group of desktop PCs and
other devices, such as printers, in an office or a building.

Microcomputers are of several types: desktop PCs, tower PCs, notebooks (laptops), netbooks, mobile
internet devices (MIDs), and personal digital assistants—handheld computers or palmtops.

Desktop PCs are older Tower PCs are microcomputers

microcomputers whose case or
main housing sits on a desk,
with a keyboard in front and
monitor (screen) often on top.
Notebook computers, also
called laptop computers, are
lightweight, portable computers
A built-in monitor, keyboard,
hard-disk drive, CD/DVD drive,
battery, and AC adapter can
be plugged into an electrical
outlet.
MOBILE INTERNET DEVICES (MIDs) Smaller
than notebook computers but more extensive
and more potent than PDAs, mobile internet
devices (MIDs) are for consumers and business
professionals. Fully internet integrated, they are
highly compatible with desktop microcomputers
whose case sits as a "tower," often
on the floor beside a desk, thus
freeing up desk surface space.
Some desktop computers no longer
have a boxy housing; most of the
computer components are built into
the back of the flat-panel display
screen.
A reasonably recent category,
netbooks are low-cost,
lightweight computers with tiny
dimensions and functions
designed for basic tasks, such
as web searching, email, and
word processing.
PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANTS Personal
digital assistants (PDAs), also called handheld
computers or palmtops, combine personal
organization tools—schedule planners, address
books, to-do lists, ability cases send an email,
and faxes. Some PDAs have touch-sensitive

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 ACC 123: IT Application Tools in Business
Student Activity Sheet #3

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________ Date: ______________

and laptops. The initial screens. Some also

models focus on data connect to desktop
communication, not voice computers for sending or
communication. receiving information.

Microcontrollers
Microcontrollers, also called embedded computers, are the
tiny, specialized microprocessors installed in "smart"
appliances and automobiles. These microcontrollers enable
microwave ovens, for example, to store data about how long
to cook your potatoes and at what power setting.
Microcontrollers have been used to develop a new universe
of experimental electronic appliances. For example, they are
behind single-function products such as digital cameras,
MP3 and MP4 players, and organizers, which have been
developed into hybrid forms such as gadgets that store
photos and videos as well as music. They also help run
remote web servers embedded in clothing, jewelry, and
household appliances such as refrigerators. Also,
microcontrollers are used in blood pressure monitors, airbag sensors, gas and chemical sensors for water
and air, and vibration sensors.

What are servers? How do servers work, and what do they do?

The word server describes not the size of a

computer but rather the particular way a
computer is used. Nevertheless, because
servers have become crucial to
telecommunications, especially with the rise of
the internet and the web, they deserve mention
here.

A server, or network server, is a central

computer that holds data collections
(databases) and programs for connecting or
supplying services to PCs, workstations, and
other devices called clients. A wired or
wireless network links these clients. The entire
network is called a client/server network. In small organizations, servers can store files, provide printing
stations, and transmit email. In large organizations, servers may also house enormous libraries of
financial, sales, and product information.

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 ACC 123: IT Application Tools in Business
Student Activity Sheet #3

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________ Date: ______________

Activity 3: Skill Building (20 min)

Direction: Complete the crossword puzzle below using the clues provided.

DOWN
1 these are handheld computers that will fit in your palm of your hand
3 "embedded" inside some other device (often a consumer product) so that they can control the
features or actions of the product
4 is a personal computer that foregoes some functionality to remain lightweight and small
ACROSS
2 they are larger and have more processing power than some other classes of computers:
minicomputers, servers, workstations, and personal computers
5 A personal computer designed for regular use at a single location on or near a desk or table due
to its size and power requirements
6 is a computer or device on a network that manages network resources
7 a small, relatively inexpensive computer with a microprocessor as its central processing unit (CPU)

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 ACC 123: IT Application Tools in Business
Student Activity Sheet #3

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________ Date: ______________

8 is a device that can perform the majority of the functions of a desktop or laptop but is too mobile
9 a high-performance computer system that is designed for a single user and has advanced
graphics capabilities, large storage capacity, and a powerful microprocessor
10 is a computer with a high level of performance as compared to a general-purpose computer

Activity 4: What I know Chart, Part 2. (10 min)

Direction: Go back to activity one and fill out the third box.

Activity 5: Check for Understanding and Keys to Correction

Independent Practice (20 min)

Direction: Write TRUE if the statement is correct, otherwise write FALSE.

1. Mainframe computers process faster than microcomputers.

2. A microcomputer is used to view tiny objects.
3. Supercomputers are exceptionally inexpensive.
4. In small organizations, servers can store files, provide printing stations, and transmit
email.
5. In large organizations, servers may also house enormous libraries of financial, sales,
and product information.
6. Microcomputers are the smallest, least inexpensive, and the most used types of
computers.
7. Supercomputers are capable of executing trillions of instructions per second.
8. Mainframes process billions of instructions per second.
9. Servers store information.
10. Computers are becoming more prominent, slower, and more expensive.

C. LESSON WRAP-UP
1) Activity 6: Thinking about Learning (5 min)
A.Work Tracker
You are done with this session! Let's track your progress. Shade the session number you just completed.

B.Think about your Learning

1.Please read the learning targets for the day again. Were you able to achieve those learning targets? If
yes, what helped you achieve them? If no, what is the reason for not achieving them?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
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 ACC 123: IT Application Tools in Business
Student Activity Sheet #3

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________ Date: ______________

2.What question(s) do you have as we end this lesson?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

KEY TO CORRECTIONS:
Activity 3:
DOWN ACROSS
1 palmtops 2 mainframe
3 microcontroller 5 desktop
4 notebooks 6 server
7 microcomputer
8 netbooks
9 workstations
10 supercomputer

Activity 5:
1.TRUE
2.FALSE - Microcomputers are the smallest, least expensive, and the most used types of computers.
3.FALSE - Super Computers are expensive.
4.TRUE
5.TRUE
6.TRUE
7.TRUE
8.TRUE
9.TRUE
10.FALSE – Computers are becoming smaller and portable.

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