CXC Information Technology

Unit 1
Fundamentals of Hardware and Software
1. State the functions of the basic components of all
computers and list eamples where applicable. Control Unit!
"#U! main memory$immediate access storage! bac%ing
store$dis% storage! peripheral de&ices.
C'U
The Central 'rocessing Unit (C'U) is the microchip brain of the
computer. It contains the "rithmetic #ogic Unit ("#U) and the
Control Unit. It is connected to the *ain *emory.
1
Main
Memory
Arithmetic
and Logic
Unit
Control Unit Input Output
Backing
Storage
Control Unit is in charge of the C'U. The control unit eecutes
the instructions of the program. The control unit only
understands &ery simple instructions call machine code.
"rithmetic #ogic Unit ("#U) wor%s under the direction of the
C'U and performs arithmetic and logic operations.
*ain *emory! sometimes %nown as immediate access storage or
primary storage! stores the program currently being eecuted by
the C'U and the data needed by the program. +ata in main
memory is lost when the computer is turned off.
,ac%ing Store! sometimes %nown as the dis% dri&e or secondary
storage! stores programs and data not being used. +ata stored on
secondary storage de&ices is not lost when the computer is
turned off.
'eripheral de&ices are de&ices eternally connected to the
computer such as the mouse! %eyboard! printer and scanner.
-. .plain the functions and uses of primary storage de&ices
and media. ,istable de&ices! '/0*! .'/0*! /"*! /0*!
byte! %ilobyte! bit! megabyte! gigabyte! terabyte! word!
wordsi1e! address! location and address content.
,istable23 " bistable circuit or flip3flop is a simple electronic
circuit that remains in one of two stable states until it recei&es a
pulse (logic 1 signal) through one of its inputs! upon which it
switches! or 4flips5! o&er to the other state. ,ecause it is a two3
state de&ice! it can be used to store binary digits and is widely
used in the integrated circuits used to build computers.
2
/0* (/ead30nly *emory)23 memory de&ice in the form of an
integrated circuit (chip)! fre6uently used in microcomputers.
/0* chips are loaded with data and programs during
manufacture. They can be read but not written to by the
computer. Howe&er! the contents of the chips are not lost when
the power is switched off. /0* is used to form a computer7s
permanent store of &ital information! or of programs that must
be readily a&ailable but protected from accidental or deliberate
change by a user. For eample! a programmable calculator will
contain /0* to hold the instructions for performing the
standard mathematical functions such as sin ! cos and tan which
ne&er change.
'/0* ('rogrammable /ead30nly *emory)23 " memory de&ice in
the form of an integrated circuit (chip) that can be programmed
after manufacture to hold information permanently. '/0* chips
are empty of information when manufactured but can be
programmed once.
.'/0* (.rasable 'rogrammable /ead30nly *emory)23 Computer
memory de&ice in the form of an integrated circuit (chip) that
can record data and retain it indefinitely. The data can be erased
by eposure to ultra&iolet light! and new data recorded. .'/0*
can be programmed many times.
3
Teaching "cti&ity2
" coin as an eample of a bistable de&ice.
"s% all the students to stand. 8ow as% them to choose heads
or tails! heads raise their hands. Flip a coin! those students
who guessed wrong sit down. /epeat until only one student
remains who wins the coin.
/"* (/andom3"ccess *emory)23 " memory de&ice in the form of
a collection of integrated circuits (chips)! fre6uently used as the
*ain *emory in computers. /"* chips can be both read from and
written to by the computer! but their contents are lost when the
power is switched off. *any modern commercial programs re6uire
a great deal of /"* to wor% efficiently. The 9: megabytes (*,)
of /"* with which most computers are sold with may not be
enough2 9: *, is a minimum recommendation! and 1-; or -<9 *,!
if you can afford it.
,it23 ,inary +igit. The smallest unit of data storage holds 1 or =.
,yte23 Usually ; bits. ,ytes are a useful unit because 1 byte can
store 1 character.
>ord and wordsi1e23 " word is usually : ,ytes or ?- bits. It is
con&enient for a computer to use a word to hold numbers. This is
where the term ?-3bit machine comes from.
@ilobyte23 Some people thin% this is a 1=== but in the world of
computers a %ilobyte is 1=-: bytes. This is because 1=-: is -
1=
or
-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-. Thin% about a %ilobyte as 1=-:
characters or 1= pages of a typical boo%.
4
Teaching "cti&ity2
'oint to a boo%. Is this /0*! '/0* or .'/0*. (/0*)
'oint to the blac%board. Is this /0*! '/0* or .'/0*.
(.'/0*)
'oint to an eercise boo%. Is this /0*! '/0* or .'/0*.
('/0*)
*egabyte23 1=-: @ilobytes or 1!=:;!<B9 bytes or -
-=
. That is
enough storage to hold 1== boo%s full of characters.
Cigabyte23 1=-: *egabytes or 1!=B?!B:1!;-: bytes or -
?=
. That is
a room full of boo%s.
Terabyte23 1=-: Cigabytes or 1!=DD!<11!9-B!BB9 or -
:=
. ThatEs a
whole lot of boo%s.
#ocation! "ddress and Content.

Teaching "cti&ity2
If boo%s are a&ailable as% each student to wor% out the
capacity of a boo% by counting the number of characters on a
page and multiplying by the number of pages.
Create a pile of boo%s that contain 1.::*bytes and contrast
this with a floppy.
Teacher "cti&ity2
Ci&e an eample of the contents of somewhere e.g.
FThe contents of my bedroom is a bed.E
"s% students to gi&e the contents of their bedroom.

Ci&e an eample of the location of a bedroom e.g.
F*y bedroom is on the first floor at the bac% of the house.E
"s% students to describe the location of their bedroom.
Ci&e an eample of the address of a bedroom e.g.
F,edroom number -! -< Camp Street! Ceorgetown! Cuyana
"s% students to gi&e the address of their bedroom.

#ocation23 each word is located in memory. These are %nown as
memory locations.
"ddress23 e&ery memory location has an address so that it can be
accessed.
"ddress content23 the contents of the memory location at the
gi&en address.
?. State and compare the characteristics and uses of
secondary storage de&ices and media. *agnetic tape! floppy
dis%! micro3floppy dis%! hard dis% (fied head! mo&ing head!
echangeable)! optical dis%s! *agneto optical dis%s! C+!
+G+.
Hard +is% dri&e 23 *agnetic! capacity ranges from :=*b to 1==Es
of Cb but 1= to ?= Ciga bytes is common. *ost hard dis% dri&es
are mo&ing head and fied into the system unit.
HI' +ri&es 23 *agnetic! 1==*b or -<=*b capacity!
remo&able$echangeable. .pensi&e alternati&e to floppy dis%s.
Floppy +is% dri&e 23 *agnetic! 1.::*b capacity!
remo&able$echangeable. Slower and more unreliable than a hard
dis% dri&e but con&enient for mo&ing data from one computer to
another. >atch out for &irusesI
*icro3floppy dis%23 " mini floppy dis% sometimes found on laptop
and palm top computers.
C+3/0* (Compact +is% /ead 0nly *emory) 23 0ptical! 9<=*b
capacity.
!
C+3/ (Compact +is% /ecordable) 23 "llows you to record your own
C+3/0*Es

C+3/> (Compact +is% /e>ritable) 23 Uses a special Compact +is%
that is reusable! but note that not all C+3/0* dri&es can read
these special /e>ritable C+Es.
+G+ (+igital Gersatile +is%) 23 0ptical! capacities &ary but :.B Cb
and ;.< Cb are common.
Some de&ices use a combination of *agnetic and 0ptical
techni6ues to store data these are *agneto3optical dis%s.
Common ,ac%up +e&ices
" ,ac%up is a copy of all the important files on your system in
case your hard dis% dri&e fails.
Tape +ri&e or Tape Streamer 23 *agnetic! se6uential de&ice with
&ery high storage capacities up to 1==Es of Cigabytes. Similar to a
music cassette or &ideo tape. Common ma%es of tape include +"T!
+#T! H' and .X",JT..
C+3/ and C+3/> are sometimes used as bac%up de&ices.
"
Teaching "cti&ity2
"s% students to loo% at the FHow *ultimedia Computers >or%E
C+ focus on the hard dis% dri&e and C+3/0*.
Teaching Tip
Ha&e a C+! C+3/! C+3/> and a tape to pass round. " music
tape could be used if a +"T$+#T$.abyte tape is not a&ailable
:. .plain the terms associated with bac%ing storage de&ices
and media. /ead$write heads! sectors! trac%s! buffers!
cylinders! access time! se6uential access! direct access.
'latter 23 Hard dis% dri&es contain a number of platters or dis%s
of magneti1able material.
.ach platter on a hard dis% is di&ided into trac%s and sectors.
Trac% 23 If a read$write head remains still as the platter spins
the read$write head passes o&er a single trac% on the platter.
The trac%s are concentric circles on the platter.
Sector 23 .ach trac% is di&ided into many sectors.
Cylinder 23 >hen the read$write heads remain still trac%s on each
platter can be accessed. This is a cylinder.
#
The speed of a hard dis% dri&e depends on two main factors see%
time and latency.
See% time is the time it ta%es to mo&e the read$write head to
the correct trac%.
$
Teaching "cti&ity2
Ha&e an old dis% dri&e a&ailable that details the number of
sectors! trac%! platters and as% students to wor% out the
capacity.
#atency is the time that the read$write head has to wait for the
correct sector to come round. #atency depends on how fast the
dis% is rotating.
"ccess time K See% time L #atency time.
" typical dis% dri&e has

19 heads! which means ; platters.
9!-<? Trac%s.
9? Sectors per trac%.
<1- ,ytes per sector! which means
<1-A9?A9!-<?A19 K ?!--B!1:;!-;; bytes
or approimately ? Ciga bytes.
+is% dri&es are direct access de&ices! sectors can be accessed in
any order.
*agnetic tapes usually ha&e ; trac%s allowing 1 byte to be stored
across the tape. Tape dri&es are serial or se6uential de&ices!
bytes are accessed in order from the beginning to the end of the
tape.
,uffer23 +is% dri&es ha&e memory of their own. This allows the
dis% dri&e to accept data from the C'U faster than it can write it
to the dis%. Thin% of the buffer as a waiting area for data
between the C'U and the dis% dri&e.
<. State the characteristics and uses of input de&ices and
media. 0ptical mar% reader (0*/)! character readers (0C/!
*IC/)! mouse! Moystic%! light3pen! touch terminals! &oice
data entry (G+.)! &oice response unit! pads and tablets!
1%
point of sales ('0S)! bar code! %eyboard! %ey to dis%!
scanners.
*ar% Sensing and 0ptical Character /ecognition 23 In mar%
sensing! mar%s are made in pencil on a specially designed form.
The position of the mar% is detected and con&erted into
meaningful data.
For eample.
" form could ha&e the following 6uestion2
Jes 8o
+o you li%e fishN O P O P
The person simply has to put a line through Jes or 8o to mar%
down their answer. " mar% sense reader reads the answers
directly into the computer. There is no %eying in of data. *ar%
sensing is often used for multiple choice tests.
0ptical Character /ecognition (0C/) 23 Similar to a mar% sense
reader as it scans data into the computer directly. Howe&er! it is
not the position if the mar% that gi&es the data to the computer.
It is the shape of the mar% that tells the computer what the
characters and numbers are. 0C/ can be used to scan whole pages
of tet into a computer at once.
*agnetic In% Character /ecognition (*IC/) 23 Used on ban%
che6ues. They ha&e 1: different letters! including the digits = to
D. The letters are printed using magnetic in% along the bottom of
the che6ue! which can be read directly by the computer. >hen a
customer buys something using a che6ue! they fill in all the
information 3 such as the name of the shop! the price of the
goods and the customerEs signature. This information is then put
on the che6ue in magnetic in%. The completed che6ue is then
11
ta%en to the ban% that uses a *IC/ reader. The che6ue is then
read into the computer.
+ata is not &erified! and che6ues can easily be damaged. Howe&er!
input can be &ery fast 3 -=== che6ues can be read in a minute and
is difficult to forge.
*ouse 23 *ice can ha&e two! or three buttons. *ice are used with
a >I*' (>indows! Icons! *enus! 'ointers) en&ironment.
Qoystic% 23 Used mainly for games. >hen the Moystic% is mo&ed!
the computer responds to these changes and mo&es the pointer
on the screen accordingly.
,ar Codes and #ight 'ens 23 ,ar codes are read by the computer
using a light pen or a laser scanner. They can be found in many
supermar%ets. The bar code is read by the pen or scanner. This
information is used to identify the item 3 such as a can of co%e.
*ost items now ha&e a bar code on them. The information is
scanned at the till which is connected to the computer. This is
called a 'oint of Sale terminal ('0S terminal).
" bar code contains2 the country where the product came from!
the company! the product! and a chec% digit. 0nce scanned! the
information can be put onto the receipt showing full details of
the item.
12
Teaching Tip
Ha&e a ban% che6ue a&ailable to pass round for the students to
loo% at.
.'0S allows detailed information to be held within the system. It
helps with stoc% %eeping! re3ordering and mar%eting. Tills can be
operated 6uic%er so fewer staff are needed. Indi&idual price tags
are not needed! but this can ma%e things harder for the customer
who wants to compare indi&idual prices.
Touch Screens 23 " touch screen operates by touching the screen
to select an option. They are commonly used for public
information. For eample! "irports ha&e a touch screen
information ser&ice point that pro&ides information about flights!
tourist sights etc.
Goice +ata .ntry (G+.) 23 This is a useful! but unde&eloped
method for input. .&erybody can tal% but not e&eryone type at
high speed. >e use a microphone for input! and spea%ers for
output.
Craphics 'ad 23 +rawing using the mouse or trac%er ball is
possible! but different to using a pen on paper. " Craphics pad
allows you to use a pen! which is much more natural. The surface
of the graphics pad is a thin membrane surface that registers
the penEs mo&ements.
@eyboard 23 The most common de&ice for data input.
@ey to dis% 23 Historically computers were epensi&e so data was
not typed directly into the computer as we do today. @ey to dis%
systems were used to input the data onto a dis% which would then
be read by the main computer.
13
Scanner 23 Scanners are used to input tet! diagrams and pictures
into the computer. Tet can now be recogni1ed using 0C/
software! so the tet scanned in can be con&erted to tet ready
for use by a word processor. +iagrams and pictures! when scanned
into the computer! can be used by graphics or photo editing
software.
*agnetic Stripe Cards 23 " magnetic stripe is a small strip of
magnetic tape sealed onto the surface of a plastic card. ,an%s!
credit card companies! and telephone companies use them. The
strip contains information such as the customerEs credit limit (if
it were a credit card) or the amount of units left on the card (if
it were a telephone card).
Sensors 23 There are many types of sensors that are used to
measure things li%e heat! or wind speed. Sensors could be used to
monitor the temperature in a furnace.
14
Teaching "cti&ity2
Input de&ices poster in word processing or +T'. Students wor%
is small groups to produce a 1 page poster of input de&ices. Use
of scanner and digital camera! if a&ailable! should be
encouraged. 'ictures of &arious input de&ices must be a&ailable.
Computer +es%top .ncyclopaedia is a good source. If possible
print and display the best posters.
Teaching "cti&ity
If a scanner or digital camera is a&ailable allow students to
eperiment scanning in pictures and tet. Students should use
the images to produce an article for the school maga1ine.
9. Compare the characteristics and functions of output
de&ices and media. Gisual display unit (G+U)R resolution!
printers! character! line! page! impact! non3impact! plotters!
&oice! microfilm! permanent (hard copy)! temporary copy
(soft copy)! speed! print 6uality! storage capacity! human
readable! machine readable.
*onitors or G+U (Gisual +isplay Unit) 23 *ost information can be
displayed on the monitor.
" monitor can be high! medium! or low resolution. /esolution is
measured in piels. " piel is a &ery small area of the screen. It
can be thought of as a &ery small dot. These dots are used to
ma%e up a picture 3 similar to the dots which ma%e up the pictures
in newspapers.
High resolution can display 1=-: by B9; piels! or more. They are
used for &ery detailed graphics wor%. The screen can be large and
is often epensi&e.
*edium resolution can display ;== by 9== piels.
#ow resolution can display 9:= by :;= piels3 similar 6uality to a
tele&ision set.
1
Teaching Tip
Set up three identical monitors with different resolution
settings. "s% the students which they thin% is the FbestE
setting.
'rinters
Character printers! now &ery old! print one character at a time
li%e a typewriter.
#ine printers! again old technology! form a complete line before
printing. Chain printers are an eample.
'age printers! modern printers that print a whole page at a time.
Can be laser or in%Met printers.
In% Qet 'rinter 23 8on impact printers where in% is s6uirted out
onto the paper to form the output.
In% Qet printers are cheap to buy! but can be epensi&e to run 3
the in% needs replacing regularly! and the no11les which s6uirt
the in% can become bloc%ed. Howe&er! they produce &ery good
6uality print! and can use colours.
#aser 'rinter 23 'age printer. #aser printers can print a wide
&ariety of characters and graphics. Colour printers are also
a&ailable. Suality is ecellent.
#aser printers are &ery popular. They are fleible! &ery fast! and
6uiet. Howe&er! they are epensi&e.
1!
Teaching "cti&ity2
"s% students to draw a circle in 'aint. Use the Hoom feature
to edit at the piel le&el.
Impact and non3impact. "n impact printer wor%s by impacting the
shape of the character through a ribbon onto the paper. +ot
*atri printers are impact printers. #etters are formed by a
grid! or matri of B by < dots. They use a print head which has a
grid of pins which are used to form letters when pressed against
an in% ribbon. +ot matri printers are cheap and reliable. They
are used in small offices! and schools.
Hard copy. 'rinted output from the computer is called hard copy.
Hard copy is usually human readable.
Soft copy. 0utput displayed on a screen.
0ther output de&ices include23
Goice synthesis 23 0ften used at airports for routine
announcements of flights in different languages.
*icrofilm 23 8ow old technology.
1"
Teaching "cti&ity2
If printers are a&ailable set up a race between a dotmatri!
laser and in%Met. Use a spreadsheet to produce a bar chart of
pie chart comparing the speed of the printers.
Teaching "cti&ity2
"s% students to loo% at the FHow *ultimedia Computers >or%E
C+ focus on the laser printer.
B. +escribe how data are stored and manipulated within the
computer. ,inary number! binary addition! "SCII! discrete
and continuous data! parity! con&ersion of decimal to binary
and binary to decimal. /epresentation of integers (positi&e
and negati&e)R sign and magnitudeR twoEs complementR
charactersR ,C+ representation.
The binary number system is a system of 1Es and =Es
To con&ert from binary to decimal use the se6uence
1-; 9: ?- 19 ; : - 1
To con&ert from binary to decimal write down the binary number
under the se6uence lined up to the right
..g. 1==1=
1-; 9: ?- 19 ; : - 1
1 = = 1 =
and add up 1A19 L =A; L =A: L 1A- L =A1
19 L = L = L - L = K 1;
1#
Teaching "cti&ity2
Ha&ing students do con&ersion on the board wor%s well and gi&es
them confidence.
Con&erting from decimal to binary is easy too
..g. Con&ert ;D to ,inary
>rite down the se6uence
1-; 9: ?- 19 ; : - 1
Is the number (;D) bigger than or e6ual to 1-;N 8o so write a =
under the 1-; in the se6uence.
Is the number (;D) bigger than or e6ual to 9:N Jes so write a 1
under the 9: in the se6uence and ta%e 9: off ;D lea&ing -<.
Is the remaining number (-<) bigger than or e6ual to ?-N 8o so
write a = under the ?- in the se6uence.
Is the remaining number (-<) bigger than 19N Jes so write a 1
under the 19 in the se6uence and ta%e 19 off -< lea&ing D.
Is the remaining number (D) bigger than or e6ual to ;N Jes so
write a 1 under the ; in the se6uence and ta%e ; off D lea&ing 1.
Is the remaining number (1) bigger than or e6ual to :N 8o so
write a = under the : in the se6uence.
Is the remaining number (1) bigger than or e6ual to -N 8o so
write a = under the - in the se6uence.
Is the remaining number (1) bigger than or e6ual to 1N Jes so
write a 1 under the 1 in the se6uence and ta%e 1 off 1 lea&ing =
So we ha&e
1-; 9: ?- 19 ; : - 1
1 = 1 1 = = 1
1$
How is 8umerical +ata Stored in the Computer
,C+ 23 ,inary Coded +ecimal is the simplest way of storing data in
a computer. .ach digit is gi&en a binary code
decimal = is ====
decimal 1 is ===1
decimal - is ==1=
II II
II II
decimal D is 1==1
- :
so the number -: would be stored as ==1= =1==.
This isnEt &ery useful so sign and magnitude representation was
de&eloped.
Sign and *agnitude 23 The first ,IT of the number is the sign the
remaining bit are the binary number so 23
====111= is decimal 1:
1===111= is decimal T1:
Sign and magnitude wor%s well until we want to add numbers with
different signs together.
This is not easy so the really cle&er computer boffins in&ented
twoEs complement.
TwoEs Complement 23 " really cle&er system for storing numeric
data so that numbers with different signs can easily be added.
2%
Here is how it wor%s
For any binary number the negati&e of that number is
represented by re&ersing the bits (1Es complement) and adding 1
(-Es complement)
.ample
+ecimal 1- is ====11==
So to find how decimal T1- will be stored re&erse the digits to
get
1111==11 (1Es complement)
and add 1
1111=1== (-Es complement)
The really cle&er thing about twoEs complement is that it ma%es
maths easy for the computer.
B T ? is the same as B L (3?)
00000111 is decimal B
11111101 is decimal T?
add them together
00000100 which is :
21
Teaching Tip
Co through some eamples on the board where the students
suggest the numbers.
Characters are held in the computer using binary numbers
according to the "SCII ("merican Standard Code for
Information Interchange)
In "SCII
F"E is 9< or 1=====1 in binary
The net letter
F,E is 99 or 1====1=
and
FCE is 9B or 1====11
so
FHE is D= or 1=11=1=
FUE is 1-< or 11111=1
'arity
>hen binary data is transmitted! for eample o&er the Internet!
errors can occur. 'arity chec%ing allows these errors to be
detected and repaired. Consider sending the bloc% of binary
numbers
1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1
0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0
0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1
0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1
1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1
'arity can be 0dd or .&en. In 0dd parity the number of 1Es in
each row and in each column must be odd. To achie&e this one
etra row and one etra column is added to the data. If the
number of 1Es in a row is e&en the etra data bit will be a 1 ma%ing
the total for the row odd. If the number of 1Es in a row is odd the
22
etra bit will be a = %eeping the total for the row odd. The same
procedure is applied to the columns.
&arity
1 1 % % % 1 % 1 1
% % 1 1 1 % 1 % 1
% 1 % 1 % % % 1 %
% 1 1 1 1 % 1 1 1
1 % 1 % 1 1 1 % %
1 % % % 1 % 1 % %
1 % 1 % % % 1 % %
1 1 % 1 % 1 % 1 %
% 1 1 1 1 % % 1 &arity
If the original data is corrupt in one bit the parity is wrong on
one row and one column so the incorrect bit can be detected and
automatically replaced.
&arity
1 1 % % % 1 % 1 1
% % 1 1 1 % 1 % 1
% 1 % 1 % % % 1 %
% 1 1 1 '%( % 1 1 1 ! e)en
1 % 1 % 1 1 1 % %
1 % % % 1 % 1 % %
1 % 1 % % % 1 % %
1 1 % 1 % 1 % 1 %
% 1 1 1 1 % % 1 &arity
4 e)en
23
Teaching "cti&ity2
>or% through an eample on the board then choose a student
to lea&e the room. Change a single digit. The student must chec%
the parity to find and correct the data corruption.
;. +istinguish between systems and applications programs.
0perating system functions! batch processing systems! on
line systems! dis% formatting! file management! data
transfer! resource management!
Computers do only one thing. They obey instruction. " set of
instructions is called a program.
Hardware is the physical components of the computer.
Software is the programs.
There are two main types of software23
System Software are the programs that run the computer.
The operating system is the part of the system software.
>ith out an operating system the computer is useless.
>indows D; is a common operating system.
The operating system manages the hardware
resources of the computer such as the memory! dis%
dri&es! monitor and printer.
The operating system allows the user to manage their
files by pro&iding files and folders.
It pro&ides an interface between the user and the
computer.
24
Teaching "cti&ity2
>or%sheet 1 0perating System.
There are - types of operating systems 23
a. 0n #ine Systems allow you to sit at the computer and
wor%.
b. ,atch 'rocessing System allows you prepare your
program away from the computer and submit it the
computer operator to be run.
"pplication Software are the programs that are used to do
the wor%. *S >ord! .cel! Corel+raw are all application
software. It is important to choose the right application for
the Mob.
Use
>ord processing for tet manipulation.
Spreadsheet for automatic calculation.
+atabase for storing and manipulating data.
+es% Top 'ublishing for page layout
D. +iscuss the difference between generalised and specialised
application pac%ages. "pplication programs! custom written
software! general3purpose softwareR specialised software
pac%age! customisation of general3purpose software.
"pplication Software are the programs that are used to do the
wor%. *S >ord! .cel! Corel+raw are all application software. It
is important to choose the right application for the Mob. There
are - types of application software 23
2
Ceneral 'urpose applications can be used for different Mobs. "
word processing pac%age can be used to write letters! reports!
stories or ad&erts. It is possible to customise general3purpose
applications using templates. For eample a company might create
a letter head template document that includes the companyEs
address and logo to be used for all letters.
Speciali1ed applications can only be used for one Mob. " payroll
pac%age can only be used to calculate payroll.
Software programs can either be 23
,ought 0ff The Shelf from companies li%e *icrosoft or Corel.
This is usually general3purpose applications.
or
Custom written software where the company writes the program
for itself using a programming language li%e 'ascal or Sbasic.

1=. +istinguish between types of user interface. Command
dri&en! menu dri&en! H.#' facilities! pull3down and pop3up
menus! icons. Hardware2 touch screens! pi&oted monitors!
antiglare screen.
Command line and Tet based system. Interaction with the
computer is with lines of tet. Jou type in a command and the
computer responds.
2!
Teaching "cti&ity2
Set up a simple S,"SIC program! such as the currency
echange program! and allow student try out the program.
"n eample of a tet based system
Craphical User Interface (CUI). Uses pictures and a pointing
de&ice as the means of interacting with the computer. >indows
D; is an eample of a CUI.
" CUI usually includes >I*'.
>indows! Icons! *enus! 'ointer
"ll good interfaces ha&e help facilities to assist you! loo% for a
help menu in a CUI or type FH.#'E in on the command line.
Hardware is also part of the Human Computer Interface and
consideration might be gi&en to touch screens! pi&oted monitors
2"
>elcome to the .change ,ureau
1) .uro
-) Qapanese yen
?) "merican dollars
:) /ussian roubles
'lease select a currency for con&ersion
1! -! ? or : V
Teaching "cti&ity2
FHelpE races. "s% the students to answer prepared 6uestions
using help and 6uic%ly as possible. For eample F>hat tool is
used to playbac% animation files.E Chec%out your 6uestions on
the systems to be used beforehand because help facilities may
&ary.

that can be adMusted for easy &iewing and antiglare screens which
can reduce reflections from the monitor.
11. +escribe and apply appropriate file management
techni6ues. +irectories! naming of files! labelling of
dis%ettes! storage of files on dis%ettes! user bac%3upR user
chec% point.
File.
" collection of data or a program stored in the computers
eternal storage! on the hard dis% dri&e.
Files are used to contain word processing documents!
spreadsheets! databases! pictures and presentations. They also
contain programs such as *S3'aint! Corel+raw or *S3>ord.
" computer may ha&e many thousands of files so it is important
that files always ha&e meaningful names. F/egister ?,E is a good
filename! F*y StuffE is not.
To %eep all these files in order the operating system uses
directories or folders.
+irectory or Folder
" directory or folder! they are same! is a container in which to
store files that belong together. For eample all the files for
>indows D; are stored in a folder called >indows. Users
normally %eep their files in a folder called *y+ocuments.
To help organise files further the operating system allows a
folder to contain other folders. Jou might create folders to
contain your .nglish essays and another to contain your maths
homewor%.
2#
+is%ettes are useful to students for storing small numbers of
files and folders. +is%ettes should be clearly labelled identifying
the contents of the dis%ette.
,ac%3ups. " floppy dis%ette! C+3/ecordable! C+3/e>ritable or
magnetic tape can be used as a bac%up de&ice. " bac%up is a copy
of important files %ept in different location. Users should ma%e
copies of all their important files regularly! perhaps once or twice
a wee%. *any people %eep se&eral copies e.g. a copy of last wee%Es
files on one floppy and a copy of the files from a wee% before
that on another.
1-. Use the appropriate operating system functions to
Create a directory$folder.
'roduce a directory listing of files.
'repare a dis%ette to store data.
Copy single files from one dis%ette to another.
Create a bac%up copy of a dis%ette.
+elete unwanted files.
2$
Teaching "cti&ity2
>or%sheet - Floppy dis%s.
Teaching "cti&ity2
>or%sheet ? Files *anagement.
1?. /ecognise and use the terms commonly associated with
data communication. 'oint3to3point and broadcast
transmission computer networ%! modem! bandwidth! simple!
duple! half duple protocol! local area networ%! wide area
networ%! up3load! down3load! e3mail! bulletin board! data
transfer mode! &oice band.
#ocal "rea 8etwor%s (#"8) 23 >here the computers to be
connected are 6uite close to one another then a #"8 may be used.
/esources li%e printers! plotters etc. may be shared. #ocal "rea
8etwor%s are useful when connecting computers inside the same
building. Small business in particular uses them to share
resources! scanners! plotters and laser printers.
>ide "rea 8etwor% (>"8) 23 >hen computers are
geographically separate then a >"8 is appropriate. >ide "rea
8etwor%s are useful for organisations that ha&e department or
branches in different buildings or locations.
It isn7t always the case that data can be transmitted o&er a
committed networ%. For remote sites the transmission of data
may be o&er the public telephone networ%.
*odem 23 The main item needed to communicate o&er the
telephone networ% is the modem. ,ecause computers use digital
ones and 1eros these must be con&erted to sound for use on a
telephone. This is %nown as "dulation and is done with a
modulator. "t the other end the sound has to be con&erted bac%
to digital ones and 1eros that is Wodulation and is done with a
demodulator. Hence *0+.* (*0dulator +.*odulator). Card
*odem$Internal *odem is internal to the computer and the
telephone cable is connected directly to the computer. The speed
3%
of communication is commonly called the bandwidth. For a modern
modem the bandwidth is <9 %bps (%ilo bits per second).
'rotocol 23 " protocol is the rules that computers agree to use
when communicating with each other. They are li%e languagesR to
successfully communicate computers must use the same protocol.
'oint3to3'oint Communication 23 Used when two computers are
communicating with each other o&er a networ%.
,roadcast Communication 23 Sometimes one computer needs to
communicate the same message to many computers on the
networ%. The message is broadcast to all computers on the
networ%.
Simple 23 Transmission is in one direction only. Shops may use
this to transmit to the head office sales figures.
Half duple 23 Transmission is bi directional but only one direction
at a time.
Full duple 23 Transmission is either way at anytime.
+own3load 23 +own3loading refers to the process of copying data
from a remote computer. For eample you down3load a >orld
>ide >eb page in order for you to &iew it.
31
Teaching "cti&ity2
If you ha&e a networ% allow the students to FchatE.
Up3load 23 Up3load is far less common and refers to the process
of copying data to a remote computer.
.lectronic *ail (e3mail) 23 *essages sent electronically from
computer to computer o&er a networ%.
,ulletin ,oards 23 #i%e a regular bulletin board but stores and
displays electronic messages rather than paper messages.
Goice ,and 23 8etwor%s can be used to transmit all types of data
including images and speech. >hen a networ% is used to transmit
speech! e.g. Internet phone calls! this is the &oice band.
1:. +etect and rectify low3le&el problems with the
computer hardware. #oose interfacing cables! improperly
adMusted monitor controls! changing ribbons$cartridges.
Trouble Shooting 'rocedures for all .6uipment.
There are some problems that can occur with any electrical or
electronic e6uipment. In general these problems can be easily
chec%ed for and rectified.
Chec% the power supply soc%et. 'lug in a de&ice that you %now is
wor%ing such as a lamp.
Chec% the plug connections and fuse. It is important that the
correct &alue fuse is installed and that the earth is connected.
Chec% all other connections. *any computer connection cables are
fitted with clips or screws that ensure the cable is correctly
seated. " &isual inspection of the soc%ets should also be made.
Connectors are either male or female! male soc%ets ha&e pins and
32
female soc%ets ha&e holes. The pins in a soc%et can easily be
bro%en but it is important to note that some cable connections do
not re6uire all the pins and it may loo% as if pins are missing. The
most common fault on cable connections is that one or more pins
become bent and no longer fit into the holes.
*a%e sure that e&erything is turned on.
If these simple measures fail to sol&e the problem further
in&estigation is re6uired! as a component failure may ha&e
occurred.
The monitor is not a users ser&iceable component. Gery high
&oltages are generated in the monitor and are stored e&en after
the monitor is turned off. There are! howe&er! some chec%s that
can be made without opening the monitor.
Chec% the power. *ost monitors ha&e a light to indicate they are
turned on.
Chec% the brightness is turned up. This is common fault the
brightness accidentally gets turned down until nothing is
displayed on the screen.
*odern monitors ha&e an energy sa&ing feature. The screen
automatically shuts down if the picture remains constant for a
period of time. It automatically reacti&ates when the picture
changes. .nergy sa&ing mode is usually indicated by the green
power on light changing to red. This is sometimes %nown as
standby mode.
33
'rinters come in all shapes and si1es but they ha&e common
problems.
The simplest printer error is that the printer is offline. This
means it is not ready to recei&e instructions from the computer.
" pause or online button and associated light indicate if the
printer is online or offline.
0ne or more co&ers are open. "s a safety measure printers will
not operate until all the co&ers are closed.
'aper Mams. *any printers now automatically detect paper Mams.
Some e&en go as far to indicate where the paper is Mammed.
0ften the Mam can be easily remo&ed. If this is not possible refer
to the manual! which will ha&e a section on clearing paper Mams.
34
Teaching "cti&ity2
Set up some problems for small groups of students to diagnose.
'roblems that might be introduced.
8o power to soc%et (switch off).
'rinter not turned on.
*onitor not plugged into system unit.
*ouse poorly connected.
*onitor brightness turned down.
8o ribbon in printer.
*onitor connected to another computer.
@eyboard connected to another computer.