Discovering Computers

Fundamentals,
2010 Edition
Living in a Digital World
A World of Computers

• Computers are everywhere

Pages 2 - 3 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 2

Figure 1-1 Chapter 1
The Components of a Computer

• A computer contains many electric, electronic, and

mechanical components known as hardware
Input Device • Allows you to enter data and instructions into a computer

Output Device • Hardware component that conveys information to one or more people

• Case that contains the electronic components of the computer that

System Unit are used to process data

Storage Device • Holds data, instructions, and information for future use

Communications • Enables a computer to send and receive data, instructions, and

Device information to and from one or more computers or mobile devices

Pages 4 - 7 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 3

Chapter 1
Advantages and Disadvantages
of Using Computers
Advantages of Disadvantages of
Using Computers Using Computers

Speed Violation of Privacy

Reliability Public Safety

Consistency Impact on Labor Force

Storage Health Risks

Communications Impact on Environment

Page 7 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 4

Chapter 1
Networks and the Internet

• A network is a collection of computers and devices

connected together, often wirelessly and via
communications devices.
• The Internet is a worldwide collection of networks that
connects millions of businesses, government agencies,
educational institutions, and individuals.

Page 8 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 5

Chapter 1
Networks and the Internet

Page 8 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 6

Figure 1-6 Chapter 1
Networks and the Internet

• People use the Internet for a variety of reasons:

Communicate Research and Shop Bank and Invest Online Trading

Access Information

Entertainment Download Music Share Videos Web Application

Pages 8 - 9 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 7

Figure 1-7 Chapter 1
Networks and the Internet

• A social networking Web site encourages

members to share their interests, ideas, stories,
photos, music, and videos with other registered
users
– Also called an online social network

Page 10 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 8

Chapter 1
Categories of Computers
Personal computers

Mobile computers and mobile devices

Game consoles

Servers

Mainframes

Supercomputers

Embedded computers

Pages 14 - 15 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 9

Chapter 1
Personal Computers

• A personal computer can perform all of its input,

processing, output, and storage activities by itself

– Desktop computer

Pages 15 - 16 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 10

Figures 1-13 - 1-14 Chapter 1
Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices

Mobile Mobile
Computer Device
Personal computer you Computing device
can carry from place to small enough to hold in
place your hand

Examples include
Examples include smart phones, PDAs,
notebook computers, handheld computers,
laptop computers, and portable media
Tablet PCs players, and digital
cameras

Pages 16 - 18 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 11

Chapter 1
Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices

Notebook computer

Tablet PC

Smart phone

PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)

Pages 16 - 17 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 12
Figures 1-15 – 1-18 Chapter 1
Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices

Handheld computer

Portable media player

Digital camera

Pages 17 - 18 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 13

Figures 1-19 – 1-20 Chapter 1
Laptops

• Portable computers designed to be carried from

place to place. All of its components are
contained inside a panel that functions also as the
keyboard, with an attached screen that can be
folded over. Because of their size and
convenience, these are some of the most popular
computers for everyday use.

Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 14

Chapter 1
Notebooks

• Much smaller laptops.

Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 15

Chapter 1
Tablet PC

• A flat, keyboard-less screen (though some of them

come with keyboard attachments) that utilizes
touch-screen functionality for navigation and use.

Page 18 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 16

Figure 1-21 Chapter 1
Smartphones

• The iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy are examples

of powerful smartphones that are also mobile
computers.
• A smart phone is an Internet-enabled telephone
that usually provides PDA capabilities

Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 17

Chapter 1
PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)
• Nearly all PDAs have the ability to connect to the Internet. A PDA has an
electronic visual display, enabling it to include a web browser, all models also
have audio capabilities enabling use as a portable media player, and also
enabling most of them to be used as mobile phones. Most PDAs can access the
Internet via Wi-Fi Most PDAs employ touchscreen technology.
 Provides personal organizer functions
 Calendar
 Appointment book
 Address book
 Calculator
 Notepad
 Stylus is used as pointing device
(or finger)

Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 18

Chapter 1
Handheld game console

• Mobile computing device designed for single-

player or multiplayer video games
• Just like regular consoles, these are tiny
computers that let people play games on the go.

Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 19

Chapter 1
Portable media players

• Also known as MP3 players.

Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 20

Chapter 1
Digital Camera

• A digital camera or digicam is a camera that

encodes digital images and videos digitally and
stores them for later reproduction. Most cameras
sold today are digital and digital cameras are
incorporated into many devices ranging from
PDAs and Mobile Phones (called camera phones)
to vehicles.

Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 21

Chapter 1
Game Consoles

• A game console is a mobile computing device

designed for single-player or multiplayer video
games

Page 18 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 22

Figure 1-21 Chapter 1
Servers
• A server controls access to the hardware,
software, and other resources on a network
– A server is a computer dedicated to providing services
that provides a centralized storage area for programs,
data, and information.

Page 19 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 23

Figure 1-22 Chapter 1
Mainframes

• A mainframe is a large, expensive, powerful

computer that can handle hundreds or thousands
of connected users simultaneously. A mainframe
is a type of computer hardware.

Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 24

Chapter 1
Supercomputers
• A supercomputer is the fastest, most powerful
computer
– Fastest supercomputers are capable of processing more than one quadrillion
instructions in a single second. Performance of a supercomputer is
measured in floating-point operations per second (FLOPS) instead of million
instructions per second (MIPS). There are supercomputers which can
perform up to quadrillions of FLOPS. FLOPS used in the fields of scientific
calculations.

Page 19 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 25

Figure 1-24 Chapter 1
Supercomputers
A supercomputer is able to solve complex
problems in science, engineering, the
environment, industry, finance, and national
security from the atomic to the cosmic level.

Page 19 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 26

Figure 1-24 Chapter 1
Embedded Computers

• An embedded computer is a special-purpose

computer that functions as a component in a
larger product
Consumer Electronics

Home Automation Devices

Automobiles

Robotics

Computer Devices and Office

Machines
Page 19 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 27
Chapter 1
Embedded Computers

Page 20 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 28

Figure 1-25 Chapter 1
Examples of Computer Usage

Home User Small Office/Home Mobile User

• Personal financial management Office User • Connect to other computers on
• Web access • Look up information a network or the Internet
• Communications • Send and receive e-mail • Transfer information
• Entertainment messages • Play video games
• Make telephone calls • Listen to music
• Watch movies

Click to view Web Link,

click Chapter 1, Click Web
Link from left navigation,
then click Minorities in
Technology below Chapter 1
Pages 20 – 23 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 29
Figures 1-26 – 1-28 Chapter 1
Examples of Computer Usage

Power User Enterprise User

• Work with multimedia • Communicate among
• Use industry-specific employees
software • Process high volumes
of transactions
• Blog

Pages 23 – 24 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 30

Figures 1-29 – 1-30 Chapter 1
Computer Applications in Society

Education
Finance
Government
Health Care
Pages 24 -26 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 31
Figures 1-31 – 1-34 Chapter 1
Computer Applications in Society

Science
Publishing
Travel
Manufacturing
Pages 26-27 Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2010 Edition 32
Figures 1-35 – 1-38 Chapter 1
Discovering Computers
Fundamentals,
2010 Edition
Living in a Digital World

Chapter 1 Complete