Discovering Computers

Fundamentals,
2012 Edition
Your Interactive Guide
to the Digital World

Objectives Overview

Explain why
computer literacy
is vital to success
in today's world

Describe the five

components of a
computer

Discuss the uses of

the Internet and
World Wide Web

See Page 1
for Detailed Objectives

Discuss the
advantages and
disadvantages that
users experience
when working with
computers

Distinguish
between system
software and
application
software

Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2012

Edition Chapter 1

Objectives Overview
Explain how home
users, small
Differentiate among
office/home office
types, sizes, and
users, mobile users,
functions of computers
power users, and
in each category
enterprise users each
interact with
computers
Discuss how society
uses computers in
education, finance,
government, health
care, science,
publishing, travel, and
manufacturing
See Page 1
for Detailed Objectives

Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2012

Edition Chapter 1

A World of Computers
Computers are everywhere:

knowledge and
understanding of computers and their uses, or
computer literacy is vital to success.

Pages 2 - 3
Figure 1-1

Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2012

Edition Chapter 1

What Is a Computer?
A computer is an electronic device,
operating under the control of
instructions stored in its own memory
Collects
data
(input)

Processin
g

Produces
informat
ion
(output)

Information Processing Cycle

Pages 3 - 4

Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2012

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What Is a Computer?

Page 4
Figure 1-2

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The Components of a
Computer
A computer contains many electric, electronic,
and mechanical components known as
hardware
Input
Device Allows you to enter data and instructions into a computer
Output
Device
System Unit
Storage
Device
Communicati
ons Device
Pages 4 - 7

Hardware component that conveys information to one or

more people
Case that contains the electronic components of the
computer that are used to process data
Holds data, instructions, and information for future use
Enables a computer to send and receive data, instructions,
and information to and from one or more computers or
mobile devices
Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2012
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Input Devices include:

Mouse, keyboard, microphones,
cameras, and scanners
GIGO = Garbage In, Garbage Out (a
computers output is only as good as its
input.)
Scanners convert printed materials to a
form the computer can use.

Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2012

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The Components of a
Computer

Page 5
Figure 1-3

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Edition Chapter 1

Advantages and Disadvantages

of Using Computers

Page 7

Advantages of
Using Computers

Disadvantages of
Using Computers

Speed

Violation of Privacy

Reliability

Public Safety

Consistency

Impact on Labor
Force

Storage

Health Risks

Communications

Impact on
Environment

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Advantages and Disadvantages

of Using Computers
Green computing involves reducing the
electricity consumed and environmental
waste generated when using a computer
Strategies include:

Page 7

Recycling
Regulating manufacturing processes
Extending the life of computers
Immediately donating or properly disposing of replaced
computers

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Networks and the Internet

A network is a collection of computers and
devices connected together, often wirelessly,
via communications devices and transmission
media
The Internet is a worldwide collection of
networks that connects millions of businesses,
government agencies, educational
institutions, and individuals

Page 8

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Networks and the Internet

Page 8
Figure 1-6

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Networks and the Internet

People use the Internet for a variety of
reasons:

Communicate

Research and
Access
Information

Entertainmen
t

Pages 8 - 9
Figure 1-7

Share
Information

Shop

Bank and
Invest

Download
Videos

Discovering Computers Fundamentals, 2012

Edition Chapter 1

Online
Trading

Web
Application

14

Networks and the Internet

A social networking Web site
encourages members to share their
interests, ideas, stories, photos, music,
and videos with other registered users
Also called an online social network

Page 10

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Computer Software
Software, also called a program, tells
the computer what tasks to perform and
how to perform them
System Software
Operating system
Utility program

Application Software
Pages 11 - 12
Figures 1-8 1-9

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Computer Software
Installing is the process of setting up
software to work with the computer,
printer, and other hardware

Pages 12 - 13
Figure 1-10

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Computer Software
A programmer develops software or
writes the instructions that direct the
computer to process data into
information

Page 13
Figure 1-11

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Categories of Computers
Personal computers
Mobile computers and mobile devices
Game consoles
Servers
Mainframes
Supercomputers
Embedded computers
Pages 14 - 15

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Personal Computers
We interact with computers through their user
interface which controls how we enter instructions
and how information is displayed on the screen.
A personal computer can perform all of its input,
processing, output, and storage activities by itself
Two popular architectures are the PC and the Apple
Desktop computer

Pages 15 - 16
Figures 1-13 - 1-14

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Mobile Computers and Mobile

Devices
Mobile
Compu
ter

Pages 16 - 18

Mobile
Device
Personal computer
you can carry from
place to place

Computing device
small enough to
hold in your hand

Examples include
notebook
computers,
laptop
computers,
netbooks, and
Tablet PCs

Examples include
smart phones and
PDAs, e-book
readers,
handheld
computers,
portable media
players, and
digital cameras

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Mobile Computers and Mobile

Devices
Notebook
computer
Tablet PC
Smart phones and
PDAs
E-book reader
Pages 16 - 17
Figures 1-15 1-18

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Mobile Computers and Mobile

Devices

Handheld
computer
Portable media
player
Digital camera
Pages 17 - 18
Figures 1-19 1-20

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Game Consoles
A game console is a mobile computing
device designed for single-player or
multiplayer video games

Page 18
Figure 1-21

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Servers
A server controls access to the
hardware, software, and other resources
on a network
Provides a centralized storage area for
programs, data, and information. Servers
have more power, more storage space, and
expanded communications capabilities.

Page 19
Figure 1-22

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Mainframes
A mainframe is a large, expensive,
powerful computer that can handle
hundreds or thousands of connected
users simultaneously

Page 19
Figure 1-23

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Supercomputers
A supercomputer is the fastest, most
powerful computer
Fastest supercomputers are capable of
processing more than one quadrillion
instructions in a single second

Page 19
Figure 1-24

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Embedded Computers
An embedded computer is a specialpurpose computer that functions as a
component in a larger product
Consumer Electronics
Home Automation Devices
Automobiles
Process Controllers and
Robotics
Computer Devices and
Office Machines
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Embedded Computers

Page 20
Figure 1-25

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Examples of Computer Usage

Home User
Personal financial
management
Web access
Communications
Entertainment

Pages 20 23
Figures 1-26 1-28

Small
Office/Home
Office User
Look up information
Send and receive email messages
Make telephone calls

Mobile User
Connect to other
computers on a
network or the
Internet
Transfer information
Play video games
Listen to music
Watch movies

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Examples of Computer Usage

Power User
Work with
multimedia
Use industryspecific software

Pages 23 24
Figures 1-29 1-30

Enterprise
User
Communicate
among
employees
Process high
volumes of
transactions
Blog

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Computer Applications in
Society

Education
Finance
Government
Health Care
Pages 24 - 26
Figures 1-31 1-34

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Computer Applications in
Society

Science
Publishing
Travel
Manufacturing
Pages 26 - 27
Figures 1-35 1-38

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Video: Computer History in a

Barn

CLICK TO START
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Summary
Basic computer
concepts

Page 28

Components of a
computer

Many different
categories of
Networks, the
computers,
Internet, and
computer users,
computer software
and computer
applications in
society
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Discovering Computers
Fundamentals,
2012 Edition
Your Interactive Guide
to the Digital World

Chapter 1 Complete