Fundamentals of Computing

&
E-Commerce
M.Atif Bajwa
Week 1
 Introduction

• Information system (IS):

– Information systems are combinations of hardware,
software, and telecommunications networks that
people build and use to collect, create, and distribute
useful data, typically in organizational settings.
• Information system (IS):
– A set of interrelated components that collect,
manipulate, and distribute data and information and
provide feedback to meet an objective

2
 Information Concepts

• Information:
– One of an organization’s most valuable resources
– Often confused with the term data
– Which is complete in every sense
– No Question can be raised

3
 What is an Information System?

• Information system (IS) is a set of interrelated

elements that:
– Collect (input)
– Manipulate (process)
– Store
– Disseminate (output) data and information
– Provide a corrective reaction (feedback mechanism)
to meet an objective

4
What is an Information System?
(continued)

5
 Input, Processing, Output, Feedback

• Input:
– Activity of gathering and capturing raw data
• Processing:
– Converting data into useful outputs
• Output:
– Production of useful information, usually in the form
of documents and reports
• Feedback:
– Information from the system that is used to make
changes to input or processing activities
6
• Computer is an electronic device that is designed to
convert Data to Information or perform calculations

• Computer is derived from the Latin term ‘computare’,

this means to calculate

• Computer System will include the computer along

with any software and peripheral devices that are
necessary to make the computer function.
• Analog Computer uses the physical quantities
(Length, Speed, Temperature etc.) and convert it into
digits
• Speedometer
• Weight machine
• Thermometer
• Digital Computer uses only two digits 0 and 1for data
representation
• IBM PC
• Laptops
• Notebooks
• Computer systems have four parts

– Hardware

– Software

– Data

– User
• Hardware

– Mechanical devices in the computer

– Anything that can be touched

• Software

– Tell the computer what to do

– Also called a program

– Thousands of programs exist

• Data

– Pieces of information

– Computer organize and present data

• Users

– People operating the computer

– Most important part

– Tell the computer what to do

• Computer is an electronic device composed of hardware

• Hardware categorized into four types

– Processing Device

– Input Output Devices

– Memory Devices

– Storage Devices
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)

– Brains of the computer

– Carries out instructions

– Manipulate the data

– Most computers have several processors

– Processors made of silicon and copper

– ALU and CU are the part of CPU

• Motherboard

– The main component of the CPU

– Backbone of the Computer

– Integrates all Hardware components

– Allows all parts of your computer to communicate

• Stores data or programs

• Random Access Memory (RAM)

• Volatile Stores current data

• Volatile

• RAM results in a faster system

• Read Only Memory (ROM)

• Permanent storage of programs

• Non-Volatile
• Allows the user to interact with PC

• Input devices accept data

– Keyboard, mouse, scanner etc.

• Output devices delivers output

– Monitor, printer, speaker etc.

• Some devices are both input and output

– Touch screens
• Allows the user to store data permanently for future use

• Different from RAM

• Magnetic storage

– Floppy and Hard Disk

– Uses a magnet to access data

• Optical storage

– CD and DVD drives

– Uses a laser to access data

• Steps followed to process data

– Input

– Processing

– Output

– Storage
• Computers had a great impact on our society

• Computers are used in filed of life such as

– Business

– Education

– Entertainment

– Communication

– Security
• Software
• Set of instructions that tells a computer what to
do or how to perform a task or
• Mean all the software on a computer, including
the applications and the operating system.
• Types of Software’s
• System Software
• Application Software
• Application software
• Developed to solve a specific problem
• To provide audio, video, multimedia etc.
• Types
• Custom-built software: Software developed for a
particular user not commercially
• Packaged Software: Software's that are
developed for sale to the software
developer's/users for their use.
• Business Software
• Graphics and multimedia software
• Software of homes Personal and educational use
• Application software for communication
• Application software on the web