Unit 1 Introduction to Computers

1. Computer Concepts
2. Computer categories
3. Operating Systems
4. The Internet and the WWW

WUC 121 Basic Computing and The Internet

1.1History
Computer
of Computer
Concepts
A computer is a complex piece of machinery made up of many
parts, each of which can be considered a separate invention

Ancient History
Computer started 2000 years
ago, in Babylonia
Old abacus
An early aid of mathematical
computations  memory of the
human performing the calculation

Modern abacus
1.1 Computer Concepts
Blaise Pascal (1623 – 1662)

In 1642, the French mathematician and philosopher Blaise

Pascal invented a calculating device that would come to be
called the "Adding Machine".

History of Computer
 1.1 Computer Concepts
In 1823 Charles Babbage, a mathematics professor at
Cambridge University, introduced the Different Engine
the largest and most sophisticated mechanical
calculator of his time.
construction is exceedingly difficult, and failed
but improved precision of Britain’s machine-tool
industry
Different Engine
Babbage turned his attention to the Analytical Engine
a general-purpose programmable computing machine
had all the same basic parts that modern computer
systems have
considered to be the first true computer system
even though it only ever existed on paper Analytical Engine
History of Computer
 1.1 Computer Concepts
Genera- Year Descriptions
tion
1st 1940 - Vacuum Tubes – for circuitry and magnetic
1956 drums for memory  machine language to
perform operations
2nd 1956 - Transistors – replaced vacuum tubes, it is a
1963 device composed of semiconductor material that
amplifies a signal or opens or closes a circuit

3rd 1964 - Integrated Circuits - with transistors, resistors,

1971 and capacitors were etched onto a piece of
silicon, called semiconductors, increased the
speed and efficiency of computers

4th 1971 – Microprocessors – widely used and most the

now wanted chips.
5th now & Artificial Intelligence – making computer to
beyond behave like humans
1.1 Computer Concepts
A computer originated from the word “compute” the fundamental
usage for its creation. It is a machine that performs four basic
operations: input, processing, output and storage

Computer Defined
1.1 Computer Concepts
Where Computers are Used? Areas
 Teaching and testing aid
Education  Learning by doing
 Computer-based instruction
 Cars
 Run rapid transit systems
Transportation  Load containerships
 Track railroad cars
 Monitor air traffic
 Perform jobs that are dangerous for humans
Robotics  Factory work
 Forecast weather
 Manage parks
Government  Process immigrants
 Social Security benefits
 Taxes

Where Computers are Used?

1.1 Computer Concepts

Computers Capabilities
1.1 Computer Concepts
A computer system is a collection of related components that have been
designed to work together  components broken down to:

Hardware & Software

1.1 Computer Concepts

• Data
• a raw material for data processing
• relates to fact, event & transactions

• Information
• data that has been processed in such a way as to meaningful to
the person who receives it
• It is anything that is communicated

Data & Information

1.1 Computer Concepts
Input data

Information
Data in out

Display
Information

Information Processing Cycle

 1.2 Computer Categories
 Computer for Individual
 Microcomputer (Personal
Computer)
 Desktop
 Notebook
 Laptop
 Subnotebooks
 Tablet PC
 Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)
 All-in one computers
 Network Computers
 Internet Appliance
 Professional Workstations

Computer Classifications
1.2 Computer Categories

 Computer for Organization

 Servers
 Minicomputers
 Mainframes
 Supercomputers

Computer Classifications
 1.2 Computer Categories
 Hybrid Computer
 The hybrid computer is a digital computer
that accepts analogue signals, converts them
to digital and processes them in digital form

 Embedded Computer
 It is a specialised computer system
 used to control, monitor or assist
the operation of equipment, machinery,
or larger systems
Specific-purpose Computer
 1.3 Operating Systems
 It is essentially a set of program designed to work
with a specific type of computer, such as a personal
computer or a Macintosh.

 Its most important role lies in coordinating the

various functions of the computer’s hardware.

 This system performs six basic functions:

Definition of Operating System

 1.3 Operating Systems
 Load: to transfer something from a storage 2. Power-on
Self-test is
device completed

1. BIOS is
 Booting: process of loading the operating system loaded 3. Operating
System is
to memory loaded

 cold boot: start a computer that is not already on

 warm boot: restart a computer that is already on

4. System
 Kernel: is the central part of the operating system 6. Users are
configuration
is
authenticated accomplished
that starts applications, manages devices and 5. System
Utilities are
memory, and performs other essential functions loaded

The six steps involved in starting the computer

Starting the Computer

1.3 Operating Systems
Elements Descriptions

Kernel Represents the OS's basic functions  management of memory,

processes, files, main inputs/outputs and communication functionalities.

Shell allowing communication with the OS via a control language, letting the
user control the peripherals without knowing the characteristics of the
hardware used, management of physical addresses, etc.

File System Allowing files to be recorded in a tree structure.

Components of OS
1.3 Operating Systems
 Managing Application

 Managing Memory

 Handling Input & Output

 Providing User Interface

 Menu-driven user interfaces

 Command-line interfaces

Role of an OS

1.3 Operating Systems
Microsoft Windows
• Windows 7
 Faster
 The Centre of your digital
life
 Improved Navigation
 Better Compatibility
 A touch of class
 Browsing Internet
 Secure
• Windows XP
• 1st OS that uses the same
underlying code for all three
versions (consumer, corporate
& server)
• Windows NT
• Security, Remote
Administration, Directory
Services, Web Server
Types of OS

1.3 Operating Systems
Microsoft Windows

• Windows 7
 Faster, The Centre of your
digital life, Improved
Navigation, Better
Compatibility, A touch of class,
Browsing Internet, Secure
• Windows XP
• 1st OS that uses the same
underlying code for all three
versions (consumer, corporate
& server)

• Windows CE • Windows NT
 Different OS & kernel • Security, Remote
Administration, Directory
 Real-time OS
Services, Web Server
 Designed for the PDAs

Types of OS

1.3 Operating Systems
Macintosh
• Apple Incorporation (formerly
known as Apple Computer, Inc)
introduced the graphical user
interface operating system to the
world
• LINUX
• it is powerful and it is free
• NOS
• computers on network to share
resources such as hard disks and
printers
• MS-DOS
• non-graphical line-oriented
command-driven operating
system, with a relatively simple
interface but not a user friendly
interface
• UNIX
• It is a powerful computer OS
which was developed at AT&T
Bell Laboratories. It is very
popular among the scientific,
engineering and academic
communities
Types of OS
1.3 Operating Systems

Four Major Types of OS

1.3 Operating Systems
 The control panel in the Windows operating system provides one stop
centre for all computer management activities

 The Microsoft Windows GUI which allows to view and manipulate

basic system settings and controls via applets such as
 adding hardware, adding and removing software, controlling user
accounts and changing accessibility options

Control Panel
 1.3 Operating Systems
 It is an application that
provides detailed
information about your
files, folders and drives

Windows Explorer
 1.3 Operating Systems
 The registry database is stored
in a hierarchical structure
 Registry comprises four to six
sub-tresses of keys called hives

Registry
1.3 Operating Systems
 1 CPU is involved, but it switches from 1 program to another so quickly
that it gives the appearance of executing all of the programs at the
same time

 Pre-emptive multitasking creates times-shared environment in which running

programs receive a recurring slice of time from the CPU

 Non pre-emptive multitasking in which an application gives up control to the CPU to

another application only at certain points

 Cooperative multitasking is a type of multitasking in which the process currently

controlling the CPU must offer control to other processes

Multitasking
 1.3 Operating Systems
 Introduced in 2009

 It has a better ways to find and manage files such as Jump List and improve taskbar
previews to help you speed through everyday tasks.
 designed for faster and more reliable performance

 features like HomeGroup, Windows Media Centre and Windows Touch make new
things possible

Introduction to Windows 7
1.3 Operating Systems
 Backup Utilities
 Antivirus
 Firewall
 Intrusion Detection
 Screen Saver
 Scanning & Defragmenting Disks
 File Compression

OS Utilities
1.4 The Internet & WWW
 A global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard
Internet protocol suite, TCP/IP
 Acts as a carrier for several different services, each with its own distinct
features and purposes

 Most commonly use Internet services are:

Internet Definition
1.4 The Internet & WWW
 Early years we connect Internet by using telephone line & 56Kbps modem 
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
 ISP maintains bank of modems to process incoming dial-up requests from
customer
 Dial-up connection, our computer uses its modem to dial a telephone
number given to use by the ISP
 There is high-speed broadband connections beside dial-up connection

Type of services for Internet Connection

1.4 The Internet & WWW
 Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
 It is a telephone service that simultaneously transmits voice, data and control signalling over a
single telephone line
 operates on standard telephone lines but requires a special modem and phone service

 Digital Subscriber Line

 uses more advanced digital signal processing and algorithms to compress more signals through the
telephone lines
 provides simultaneous data, voice, and fax transmissions on the same line
 are others types such as Asynchronous DSL (ADSL), Synchronous DSL (SDSL), High-data-rate DSL
(HDSL) and Very High-data-rate (VDSL)

Type of services for Internet Connection

1.4 The Internet & WWW
 Cable Modem Service
 many cable television companies use a portion of their network’s bandwidth to offer Internet
access through existing cable television connections
 need to use a special cable modem to connect  transmit data over coaxial cable; transmits
data as much as 100 times faster than telephone line
 Wireless WAN (WWAN)
 provides 2-way data communications between the customer and the Internet
 an individual or organisation contracts with an ISP for a satellite server, an earth-based
communications station is installed and this station is called very small aperture terminal
(VSAT)

Type of services for Internet Connection

1.4 The Internet & WWW
 Wireless Connections
 WLAN are very common, and are based on a technology  Wi-Fi
 does not connect directly to an ISP but can be used to connect to another
LAN or device through which Internet access is achieved
 WAP acts as a wireless hub or switch on a WLAN
 To connect to the Internet, the wireless access point is connected to a wired
LAN like any other device, and then computers with wireless NICs can access
the LAN

Type of services for Internet Connection

1.4 The Internet & WWW
One of the most used Internet service would be the electronic mail or e-mail. It
is a system for exchanging messages through a computer network

Electronic Mail (E-mail)

1.4 The Internet & WWW
E-mail Address
set up an e-mail account by creating a unique user name for ourselves, which identifies your postal
mailbox on the Internet

Listserv Systems
the first software program to automate the administration of e-mail list

Desktop E-mail client

a stand-alone application designed specifically for e-mail since they have a better focus and features
 Microsoft Outlook Express

Web-based E-mail Service

provide access to e-mail by logging onto a web based program with an address and password, and
then displaying a screen in HTML that looks like an e-mail program with mailboxes and folders,
reply and forward button  Gmail, Yahoo! Mail etc

Electronic Mail (E-mail)

1.4 The Internet & WWW
Created in 1989 at the European Particle Physics Lab in Geneva, Switzerland

Method for incorporating footnotes, figures and cross-references into online documents

The WWW, commonly known as Web, is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via
the Internet

How the Web works

Web page is written in a coded in HTML, PHP or any other language

Web browser gets this information & formats into the display which we usually see when we visit a
webpage

Web browsers communicate with Web servers primarily using HTTP to fetch webpages

HTTP allows Web browsers to submit information to Web servers as well as fetch Web pages from them

The World Wide Web

1.4 The Internet & WWW
Below are the lists of browsers that are available for us to use
Logo Browser Name and Developer Platform
 Internet Explorer Windows
 Microsoft Corporation
 Firefox (also called Mozilla Firefox) Windows, Macintosh,
 Mozilla Corporation Unix/Linux

 Chrome Windows, Macintosh,

 Google Unix/Linux

 Safari Windows, Macintosh

 Apple Incorporation

 Opera Windows, Macintosh,

 Opera Software ASA Unix/Linux

 Netscape Navigator Windows, Macintosh,

 Netscape Communications Unix/Linux
Corporation
 Camino Macintosh
 The Camino Project

 SeaMonkey Windows, Macintosh,

 Mozilla Foundation Unix/Linux

 iCab Macintosh
 Alexander Clauss

Web Browsers
1.4 The Internet & WWW
URL

Web pages are located by means of a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) which is treated
as an address, beginning with http. Below is an example of how URL looks:
To find specific Web pages about an
This site is on the part of overview of WOU, your browser follows
the Internet known as the URL’s path to a folder named
the World Wide Web “about” then to subfolder names
“overview”

This address is for an This site is run by an

Internet server that uses the education agency – the
hypertext transfer protocol Wawasan Open University

The World Wide Web

1.4 The Internet & WWW
Plug-In Applications Description Web Address
 It is a product of Apple, Inc.
 It is capable of delivering multimedia such as movies,
audio, MIDI soundtracks, 3D animation, and virtual
QuickTime www.apple.com
reality.
 It is available to Macintosh and Windows 3.x/95/NT.
 This package contains plug-in and helper applications.
 It is a live and on-demand RealAudio and RealVideo
player which functions without download delays.
RealPlayer  It is provided by RealNetworks, Inc. and is available for www.realaudio.com
Macintosh, UNIX, and Windows 3.1/95/NT as both a
plug-in and helper application.
 It provides dynamic interactive multimedia, 3-D graphics
Shockwave www.adobe.com
and streaming audio
 For animation, games, and other non-static content, the
Flash format delivers the dynamic visuals from many
websites.
Flash Player www.adobe.com
 With widespread available across many platforms, the
Flash video format has gained popularity for embedding
audio and video content. To access
 Acrobat Reader allows you to access PDF files on the
web.
Acrobat Reader www.adobe.com
 It is provided by Adobe Systems, Inc. and is available
for Macintosh, Unix, and Windows 3.x/95/NT.

The World Wide Web

1.4 The Internet & WWW
Plug-In Applications Description Web Address
 It delivers high-quality interactive sound from websites.
 It is provided by Headspace, Inc. and is available for
Beatnik Netscape Navigator and Communicator on both www.headspace.com
Macintosh PowerPC and Windows 95/NT.

 It enables the execution of the same program across

multiple platforms without changes to the code.
Java  Many websites embed small Java applications such as www.java.com
games or utilities into web pages.

 This plug-in is useful for displaying Windows Media

content, which includes a variety of audio and visual
formats.
Windows Media Player  This program is a standard component of the Windows www.microsoft .com
operating system.
 This plug-in is available for playing content through
your Firefox browser
 It enables high definition video, high resolution
Silverlight interactive multimedia, and streaming audio and video www.microsoft.com

The World Wide Web