Course Code:

GEL221 (Living in IT Era)

Description:

● This course introduces how generations of

computers evolved and how each evolution
affects the individual and society. This includes
the topics on the history of computers,
technology and society, cyberworld, IT ethics,
and immerging technologies.
Course Outcomes:
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
CO1: write a report on the impact of IT in “new normal”
setup of education in the students’ respective field.
CO2: analyze selected cybercrime cases in the Philippines
with reference to the approved cyber law.
CO3: create an infographic/infomercial that shows the
advantages and responsible use of technology in the “new
normal”.
Brief History of the
Computer
 Objectives:
a. At the end of the topic, you will be able to:
b. discuss the different generations in the evolution of computer
c. design a timeline of the evolution of computer
appreciate how the computers improve through time
INTRODUCTION
● Computer in the past were invented primarily to compute which
means it has to perform basic mathematical operations. However,
computers back then are quite mechanical that requires to take
much time doing even the simplest computation.
● Now, computers have changed significantly to respond to the ever-
growing need for computing across different fields. In fact, several
innovations have opened more doors for areas where computers
can be of great help.
● In this lesson, students will learn about the evolution of computer.
Also, they will have a sound understanding of how computing has
changed over the course of time.
DISCUSSION
Evolution of Computers

The computer we are all familiar today will

not be what it is if it had not undergone a
wonderful evolution. The evolution of
computers can be described by the
technology being used in the
development.
BASIC COMPUTER PARTS
The very first thing you need to know about computers is
the parts and what they do. There are probably hundreds of
different devices and hardware components, but here are a
few of the raw basics:

Monitor

Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT)

Once upon a time, computer monitors are big, bulky,
and can be used as training weights. CRT monitors are
obsolete and rarely used now.
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD):

The technology that took over CRT. LCD displays are

thin and use a lot less energy… Not surprising why
these got popular.

System Unit: 

Houses the hearts and brains of the computer.

Laptops, tablets, smartphones, and all-in-one
computers don’t have this “separate unit”, as it is all
integrated into one device.
 Keyboard:
A keyboard is an input device and is the most basic
way for the user to communicate with a computer. 

A mouse is a small hardware input device used by

hand.
Speakers are used to connect to a computer to
generate sound

A flash drive is a small and portable storage device

that connects to computers and other devices using a
USB Type-A plug
external hard drive is a portable storage device that
can be attached to a computer through a USB 

A memory card is an electronic data storage device

used for storing digital information,
A modem is a hardware networking device that
converts data to a signal so it can be easily sent and
received over a phone line, cable,

The router is a piece of network hardware that

connects a local network to the internet.
A printer is a hardware output device that is used to
generate hard copy and print any document.

Sometimes referred to as earphones, headphones are

a hardware output device that plug into a computer line
out or speakers port.
The motherboard The heart and “main circuit board”
of the computer, to which all the components are
connected to....

The computer case is also known as a tower, box,

system unit, base unit, enclosure, housing, chassis,
and cabinet
 Central Processing Unit is considered as the
brain of the computer

RAM (Random Access Memory) is the hardware in a

computing device where the operating system (OS),
application programs and data in current use are kept
Graphics Card Also does processing like a CPU. But it
specializes in graphics, images, and videos.

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU):

Graphics processing unit, a specialized processor
originally designed to accelerate graphics rendering
 BITS & BYTES
When it comes to memory and storage space in computers, we quantify it in bits
and bytes.

• Computers can only understand 1 or 0, we call this the “binary number

system”.
• A single “1 or 0” is called a “bit”.
• 8 bits make up 1 byte.
• 1000 bytes make up 1 kilobyte, 1000 kilobytes make up 1 megabyte, 1000
megabytes make up 1 gigabyte, 1000 gigabytes make up 1 terabyte, and
1000 terabytes make up 1 petabyte.
 OPERATING SYSTEMS
What the is an operating system? Simply put, a computer is just
a collection of hardware components, devices, and an “empty
shell”. The operating system is a piece of software that acts as a
platform which you install applications upon – It handles all the
coordination between the hardware, so you don’t have to worry
about it. A few popular operating systems are:
• Windows
• Mac OSX
• Linux
• Android
• iOS
 
SHORTCUT KEYS

Stop fumbling through the menus, shortcut keys can help you to
navigate a lot faster. Here are a few common ones that you have to
know.
BASIC SYSTEM CONTROLS
When it comes to system settings, beginners tend to freak out instantly. Yes, things
can go wrong if you mess with the wrong things, but you still need to learn how to
control your own system. How about starting with how to manage/uninstall the apps
that you don’t use?
BASIC TROUBLESHOOTING

So what do we do when computers act strange or stop responding? There is this simple golden rule of
troubleshooting ever since the ancient days –
• Try to stop the application that is causing trouble.
• Force shut down and restart the computer if it is totally unresponsive.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS

If force closing the application did not work, press

and hold the power button on your computer for at
least 4 seconds. That will immediately power off
the computer.

As you switch on the PC again, it may complain

something about “not shutting down properly”. If
everything returns to normal afterward, then that is
good. But if it is still acting strange, you will need to
get some professional help.
BASIC MAINTENANCE

Computers are pretty much fuss-free these days, but

they are not exactly maintenance-free. It is still good to
do some routine maintenance on both the software
and hardware once in a while:

• Clean the dust off the fans, allow good ventilation,

and for the sake of your own health as well.
• Clean the gunk off the keyboard and mouse… They
are magnets for dust, dirt, food bits, and even your
own skin/broken fingernails.
• Free up some space, and uninstall apps that you
don’t use anymore.
• Update the OS, anti-virus, and apps.
BASIC NETWORKING Yes, there is no need to become a networking
wizard, but it is good to know some of the
basics. At least understand some of the
networking devices and what they do.

• Modem: Short for modulator-demodulator,

this device connects you to the Internet.
• Firewall: A device that protects your private
(home) network, always good to have but not
mandatory.
• Wireless Router: This is the one that creates
your private network, where you connect your
devices to share the Internet connection.
• Repeater/Wireless Booster: If you live in a
large house, there will be “dead corners”
where the range of the wireless router cannot
reach. A repeater or booster is as the name
implies, it is used to boost the range of the
wireless router.