INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY

UNIT CODE: BIT 110

FACILITATOR : LILIAN MUNYEKENYE OKELLO

Contact details: lilian.munyekenye@aiu.ac.ke
Mobile No. 0721425049
Mobile No. 0734425049
 Course description
• Basic concepts: Terminologies and definitions,
history and classification of computers.
• Hardware Components: Components of the system
unit, inputs and output devices, Storage devices.
• Software components: System Software: Operating
systems and Utility programs and device drivers.
 Course description
• Application Software: Introduction to basic
packages: word processor, spreadsheet and
database packages.
• Internet and WWW.
• Basic computer troubleshooting,
 Course description
• Assembly and disassembly of computer
systems,
• Computers and society: computer security,
safety, ethics, privacy.
• Computers careers and Certifications.
 Definition: Information
Communication Technology
DATA+ PROCESSING= INFORMATION
INPUT-PROCESS-OUTPUT=
Describes any technology that helps to
produce, manipulate, store,
communicate, and/or disseminate
information.
 THE FUNCTIONS OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
• Information Technology is made up of nine (9)
major functions, namely; Capture, Verifying,
Processing/Manipulation, Storage, Retrieval,
Data Update, Reproducing,
Transmit/Communication, and Generation
  
THE FUNCTIONS OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
1. Capture: The process of compiling detailed
records of activities. This could be by recording
of data from an event or occurrence, in some
form such as sales slips, personnel forms,
purchase orders, meters, course registration
forms, etc
 THE FUNCTIONS OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
2. Verifying: Is the operation for checking or
validating of data to ensure it was captured and
recorded correctly.
3. Processing/Manipulation: The process of
converting, analyzing, computing, and
synthesizing all forms of data or information.
Classifying, Arranging (Sorting), Calculating and
Summarizing.
 THE FUNCTIONS OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
4. Storage: This entails placing data onto some
storage media such as flash disk, etc where it
can be retrieved when needed.
5. Retrieval: this entails searching out and
gaining access to specific data elements from
the medium where it was stored for further
processing or for transmission to another user.
 THE FUNCTIONS OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
6. Data Update: This involves making
changes to the stored data. Such changes may
be to insert new records or modify some data
items of the existing record. However, this is
usually the exclusive preserve of a class of
authorized data users
 THE FUNCTIONS OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
7. Reproducing: This entails duplicating data
from one medium to another or into another
position in the same medium. Example a file
of data stored on a Flash disk may be
reproduced onto another DVD for further
processing or for security reasons.
 THE FUNCTIONS OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
8. Transmission/Communication: The computer
process of distributing information over a
communications network. This entails transfer of
data from one place to another e.g. data can be
transferred from a device to a user in form of a
report or a display on the screen of a computer
controlled terminal.
– Electronic Mail, or E-Mail
– Voice Messaging, or Voice Mail
 THE FUNCTIONS OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
9.Generation: The process of organizing
information into a useful form, whether as
numbers, text, sound, or visual image.
THE BENEFITS OF INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
 Impact of IT
• Better planning and decision making.
• Better control of business resources.
• Greater efficiency of business operation.
• Increased cultural diversity.
• Increased standards.
 Definition of a computer
Is an electronic device for the
storage and processing of data.
A computer is a programmed
machine that performs a high-
speed mathematical or logical
operations.
 COMPUTER

An electronic device that accepts data as

input, and transforms it under the influence
of a set of special instructions called
Programs, to produce the desired output
(referred to as Information).
 COMPUTER
A computer automatically accepts data &
instructions as input from an Input device, stores
them temporarily in its memory, then processes
that data according to the instructions given, and
finally transfers the processed data (Information)
to an Output device.
 Explanation
• A computer is described as an electronic
device because; it is made up of electronic
components and uses electric energy (such as
electricity) to operate.
• A computer has an internal memory, which
stores data & instructions temporarily awaiting
processing, and even holds the intermediate
result (information) before it is communicated
to the recipients through the Output devices.
 Explanation
• It works on the data using the instructions
issued, means that, the computer cannot do
any useful job on its own. It can only work as
per the set of instructions issued.
• A computer will accept data in one form and
produce it in another form. The data is
normally held within the computer as it is
being processed.
 Basic elements of a computer

Input Processing Output

Storage
Computer System
 Program:
• A computer Program is a set of related
instructions written in the language of the
computer & is used to make the computer
perform a specific task (or, to direct the
computer on what to do).
• A set of related instructions which specify how
the data is to be processed.
• A set of instructions used to guide a computer
through a process.
 DATA

•Data is a collection of raw facts, figures or

instructions that do not have much meaning to
the user.
•Data may be in form of numbers,
alphabets/letters or symbols, and can be
processed to produce information.
 TYPE OF DATA
There are two types/forms of data:
1. Digital (discrete) data:
•Digital data is discrete in nature. It must be
represented in form of numbers, alphabets or
symbols for it to be processed by a computer.
• 

– Digital data is obtained by counting. E.g. 1, 2, 3 …

 Analogue (continuous) data:
•  

• Analogue data is continuous in nature. It

must be represented in physical nature in
order to be processed by the computer.
• Analogue data is obtained by measurement.
E.g. Pressure, Temperature, Humidity,
Lengths or currents, etc
• The output is in form of smooth graphs from
which the data can be read.
 Digital signals
• A digital signal - a must for computer
processing - is described as using binary (0s
and 1s), and therefore, cannot take on any
fractional values.
 Analogue Signials
• An analog signal is a continuous wave
denoted by a sine wave (pictured below) and
may vary in signal strength (amplitude) or
frequency (time). The sine wave's amplitude
value can be seen as the higher and lower
points of the wave, while the frequency (time)
value is measured in the sine wave's physical
length from left to right.
Analogue signal
 Modulator and demodulator
• Modulation
Changing analogue data into digital data.
• Demodulation
Changing digital data into analogue data
 Data Processing
• It is the process of collecting all items of data together & converting them into information.
• Processing refers to the way the data is manipulated (or handled) to turn it into information.
• The processing may involve calculation, comparison or any other logic to produce the required
result. The processing of the data usually results in some meaningful information being
produced.
 Information
• Information is the data which has been
refined, summarized & manipulated in the
way you want it, or into a more meaningful
form for decision-making.
• The information must be accurate, timely,
complete and relevant.
 Comparison between Data and
Information.
Data Information
1. Unprocessed (raw) facts or 1. It is the end-product of
figures. data processing
  (processed data)
2. Not arranged. 2. Arranged into a
meaningful format.
3. Does not have much meaning 3. More meaningful to the
to the user. user.
4. Cannot be used for decision- 4. Can be used to make
making. decisions.
 Characteristics / Features of a
Computer.
• Speed
Computers operate at very high speeds, and
can perform very many functions within a very
short time. They can perform a much
complicated task much faster than a human
being.
• The speed of a computer is measured in
Fractions of seconds.
 Characteristics / Features of a
Computer.
Accuracy: Unlike human beings, computers are
very accurate, i.e., they never make mistakes.
•A computer can work for very long periods
without going wrong.
•Usually errors are committed by the users
entering the data to the computer, thus the
saying Garbage in Garbage Out (GIGO).
•
 Characteristics / Features of a
Computer.
 Reliability.
The computer can be relied upon to produce the
correct answer if it is given the correct instructions
& supplied with the correct data.
Consistency: Computers are usually consistent. This
means that, given the same data & the same
instructions, they will produce the same answer
every time that particular process is repeated.
 Characteristics / Features of a
Computer.
Storage: A computer is capable of storing large
amounts of data or instructions in a very small
space.
Diligence: Unlike human beings, a computer can
work continuously without getting tired or
bored. Even if it has to do a million calculations,
it will do the last one with the same speed and
accuracy as the first one.
 Characteristics / Features of a
Computer.
• Automation:
• A computer is an automatic device. This is
because, once given the instructions, it is
guided by these instructions and can carry on
its job automatically until it is complete.
• It can also perform a variety of jobs as long as
there is a well-defined procedure.
 Characteristics / Features of a
Computer.
Versatile:
A computer can be used in different places to
perform a large number of different jobs
depending on the instructions fed to it.
 Application of a computer
• Computers are applied in virtually all areas of
human life. The use of computers is primarily
to act as a tool to speed up process and
enhance accuracy and efficiency as well as
effectiveness.
 Application of a computer
Used to process control e.g. controlling of
rockets, robots.
Used in projections e.g. weather forecasting and
sales projection in company.
In homes and offices, we use computers for
typeset documents like letters, magazines and
cards.
Companies. Public offices use for accounting,
management of personnel., inventory control.
The core functions of a computer
It stores data and information.
It converts raw data into information.
Used for fast retrieval of information.
 Advantages of computers
They are fast
They are accurate
They are flexible
Can tackle a huge volume of data.
They output (information ) from the
computer.
The computers don’t get tired.
 Advantages of computers
Computers are automatic
Computers improve the flow of information.
Computers keep records, which is more
secure than manual.
Controls duplication of information.
Tool for entertainment.
 Disadvantages.
Computers are relatively expensive.
They depend on the instruction one gives it.
They breakdown calling for repair.
They depend on power.
Computer don’t have intelligence.
Information held in a computer may not
necessarily be secure.
 FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE
TYPE OF COMPUTER.
1. Type of processor (Central processing unit –
CPU)
•Microcomputers use microprocessors, which are
manufactured on a single chip, as their CPU.
•In larger computers such as supercomputers,
mainframe & minicomputers, the processing is
carried out by a number of separate, high-speed
components instead of a single processor.
 FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE
TYPE OF COMPUTER.
2.Processing speed.
•Every computer has a clock that drives its
operations.
•Larger computers have faster clocks and
therefore can process many instructions per
second compared to small computers, which
have slower clocks.
 FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE
TYPE OF COMPUTER.
4. Storage capacity of the Hard disk.
•The storage capacity is the amount of space
that is available for storing the instructions
required to manipulate data.
•Larger computers have higher storage
capacities than microcomputers.
 FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE
TYPE OF COMPUTER
5. Cost of the computer.
The cost of computers is directly related to the
size. Microcomputers are less costly compared
to minicomputers, mainframes or
Supercomputers.
 FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE
TYPE OF COMPUTER
6.Speed of Output devices.
•The speed of an output device is determined by
the amount of information that can be printed
in a specified amount of time.
•The speed of microcomputer output device is
less than that of the larger computers in that:
 FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE
TYPE OF COMPUTER
• For a microcomputer, the speed of its output
device is measured by the number of
characters printed per second (cps). For
larger computers, their output devices are
faster and their speeds are measured
depending on the number of lines or pages
printed per minute (lpm / ppm).
 FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE
TYPE OF COMPUTER
7. Number of users who can access the
computer at the same time.
•Most microcomputers can support only 1, 2 or
3 users at the same time. However, they can be
networked to share resources.
•Larger computers can support hundreds of
users at the same time.
 Assignment
• Write a brief history of computers