INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS

TOPIC 1
 Definition of Computers
• A programmable multiuse machine that
accepts data and processes, or manipulates it
into information we can use.
• Electronic device operating under the control
of instructions stored in its own memory

Output
Accept data Process data
Information
 Computer Literacy
• What is computer literacy?
– Knowledge and understanding
of computers and their uses
– Computers are everywhere
Information Processing Cycle

COMMUNICATION

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Data Information

STORAGE
 Information Processing Cycle
• An understanding of a step-by-step process of
transforming data into information, or information
processing cycle is fundamental to understand how
computers work.
• All computers follow the same basic operations:
– Input is whatever that is put into a computer system.
– Processing is the manipulation a computer do to transform
data into information. Processing is done by the central
processing unit (CPU), a device consisting of electronic
circuitry that executes instructions to process data.
 Information Processing Cycle
– Storage is of two types—temporary storage
(primary storage, or main memory) and permanent
storage (secondary storage).
• Primary storage, or memory, is the computer circuitry
that temporarily holds data waiting to be processed. This
circuitry is inside the computer.
• Secondary storage is the area in the computer where
data or information is held permanently—e.g., a hard
disk or DVD.
– Output is whatever is output from (put out of) the
computer system, the result of processing.
Information Processing Cycle
 Data vs. Information
– Data consists of the raw facts and figures that are
processed into information.
– Information is data that has been summarized or
otherwise manipulated for use in decision-
making.
– Qualities of good information:
• Correct and verifiable – data is correct and can be verified from
trusted source
• Complete yet concise – complete data, relevant to the user, and
put together in a way that can be understood by the reader
• Cost effective – the cost of obtaining the information is offset by
the benefits gained from it
• Current – information that is not expired
• Accessible – able to access it instantly when needed
 Categories of Computer
• Personal computer (desktop)
• Mobile computers and mobile devices
• Servers
• Mainframes
• Supercomputers
• Game console
• Microcontrollers
 Categories of Computer:
Personal Computers
• Personal Computers
– Desktop PCs
– Tower PCs
 Categories of Computers:
Mobile Computers And Mobile Devices
• Notebooks – also called laptops are light weight
portable computers with built in monitor, keyboard,
hard disk, battery and AC adapter.
• Tablet PC – is a special type of notebook computer
that the user can draw by pressing a digital pen on
the screen. E.g. iPad.
 Categories of Computers:
Mobile Computers And Mobile Devices
• Personal digital assistants (PDA) – handheld
computers or palmtops, combine personal
organisation tools with communication facility.
• Smart phones – internet enabled cell phone
that usually also provides PDA capabilities. E.g.
iPhone, Blackberry, Android phones.
 Categories of Computer:
Servers
• Servers – a central computer that holds
collections of data (databases) and programs
for connecting or supplying services to PCs,
and other devices, which are called clients.
• Controls access to the hardware, software, and
other resources on a network.
• Provides a centralized storage area for
programs, data and information
 Categories of Computer:
Servers
• Servers can support from 2 to several
thousand connected computers at the same
time.
• Clients are linked by a wired or wireless
network.
• The entire network is called a client/server
network.
Categories of Computer:
Servers
 Categories of Computer:
Mainframes
• Mainframe – water or air cooled computers
that cost $ 5000 - $ 5 million and vary in size.
• Used by large organisations:
– Banks
– Airlines
– Insurance companies
– Colleges
• Processes millions of transactions
Categories of Computer:
Mainframes
Categories of Computer:
Mainframes
 Categories of Computer:
Supercomputers
• Supercomputer – high-speed machines with thousands of
processors that can perform more than several trillion
calculations per second
• Priced at $ 1 million to more than $ 350 million
• In general used for:
– census count
– forecasting weather
– designing aircraft
– modeling molecules
– breaking encryption code
• For business used for identifying sifting demographic marketing
information, and creating film animation.
Categories of Computer:
Supercomputers
 Categories of Computer:
Game Console
• A specialized desktop computer used to play video
games.
• Three popular game consoles are Sony's PlayStation
3 (PS3), Nintendo's Wii and Microsoft's Xbox.
• Game software is available on CDs or DVDs, although
earlier game machines used cartridges containing
read only memory (ROM) chips.
• Video game consoles may require a TV for display.
 Categories of Computer:
Microcontrollers
• Microcontrollers – also called embedded
computers, are tiny, specialised
microprocessors installed in ‘smart’ appliances
and automobiles.
 Information Technology
WHAT IS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY?
Computer Technology
The activity of designing and constructing
and programming computers
+
Communication Technology
Consist of electromagnetic devices and
system for communicating over long
distances.
 Example of IS/IT
• Sales order processing
• Accounting system
• Inventory control system
• Payroll system
• Human resource system
• Airline reservation and travel bookings
• Broadcast television
 Direction of Computer Development

• Direction to computer development:

– Miniaturization
– Speed
– Affordability
 What we have covered today:

• Introduction to computers and

communication system
• Categories of computers
• Direction of computer development