Basic Computer Concepts

IT Fundamentals
Lesson 1
Objectives

State the basic computer concepts.

Exhibit competence and cooperation in
executing basic windows operations.
Demonstrate the basic windows operations.
Basic Computer Concepts

Considered one of the most important

inventions of the 20th century, computers have
become prevalent throughout our society.
Computers are found everywherefrom cell phones
with embedded cameras to computerized
components in automobiles to our ATM machines.
Computers help us learn about health and medicine,
space and time, and matter and energy, to name just
a few topics.
The ways in which a computer can be used are
as limitless as a person's imagination.
Computers and Computer
Systems
A computer is an electronic device that receives
data (input), processes data, stores data, and
produces a result (output).
The instructions and/or programs that control
the computer are called software
The physical parts of the system are called

hardware
A computer processes and produces .
data
information
Data

datum (singular)
Raw facts and symbols
Representations of meaningful objects and
events

Information
The summarization of data
Data processed to increase knowledge of the
person using the data
Information
A Brief History of the Computer

In 4000-1200 BCE, inhabitants of the first

known civilization in Sumer keep records of
commercial transactions on clay tablets.
Abacus is invented
in Babylonia in 3000 BCE.

The first mechanical adding machine invented

by Blais Pascal in 1642.
In 1801, a linked sequence of punched cards
controls the weaving patterns in Jacquards
loom
A Brief History of the Computer

In 1833, Babbages difference engine

(automatic calculator).
The worlds first
computer programmer was
Augusta Ada King, Countess of
Lovelace. Her notes
were published in 1843.
Computers were developed in the late 1940s
and early 1950s, and were designed initially for
military and governmental uses.
A Brief History of the Computer

In 1946, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and

Computer (ENIAC) is considered the first
programmable electronic computer in United
States.
The microprocessor was developed in 1971 by
Dr. Ted Hoff, who at that time worked for Intel.
Using the microprocessor technology, Steve
Jobs and Steve Wozniak built the first Apple
(Apple I) computer in 1976.
In 1980, Bill Gates worked with IBM to develop
the disc operating system for the IBM PC.
A Brief History of the Computer
Generations of Computer
Generation
First Generation (1942 1955)
Second Generation (1955
1964)
Third Generation (1964 1975)
Characteristics
Based on vacuum tubes
Examples include ENIAC and
Universal Automatic Computer
(UNIVAC)
Used transistors
Examples include IBM 7094
series, IBM 1400 series, CDC
164
Used integrated circuits (ICs)
A single IC chip is consisted of
thousands of transistors
A Brief History of the Computer
Generations of Computer
Generation Characteristics
Fourth Generation (1975 Started with the invention of
Present) microprocessor
Intel produced the first
microprocessor which is the Intel
4004
Fifth Generation (Present Based on Artificial Intelligence
Beyond) Computer can understand
spoken words and imitate
human reasoning
First Generation of Computer
Second Generation of Computer
Third Generation of Computer
Fourth Generation of Computer
Fifth Generation of Computer
Parts of the Computer

System unit contains the computers circuitry

Microprocessor Memory
Parts of the Computer

Storage devices

Hard disk
DVD drive

USB flash disk

Parts of the Computer

Input devices
Keyboard and mouse
Output devices
Monitor
Printer
Speaker
Classifying Computers

Supercomputers
Mainframe computers
Workstations
Microcomputers
Microcontrollers
Servers
Supercomputers

High-capacity machines with thousands of

processors that can perform more than several
trillion calculations per second.
Most expensive and fastest computer
Sample tasks: forecasting weather, designing
aircraft, modeling molecules and breaking
encryption codes
Tianhe-2 as of 2013, this is the fastest
computer in the world with 33.86 petaflops
(quadrillions of calculations per second); this
was developed by China's National University
of Defense Technology
Tianhe-2
Mainframe Computers

Water- or air-cooled computers that vary in size

from small, to medium, to large, depending on
their use.
These are used by banks, airlines, and
insurance companies for processing millions of
transactions.
Workstations

Expensive, powerful personal computers

usually used for complex, scientific,
mathematical, and engineering calculations
and for computer-aided design and
computer-aided manufacturing.
Microcomputers

Also called personal computers (PCs)

Stand-alone machines or are connected to a
computer network
Tower PCs, Notebooks, Personal Digital
Assistants (PDAs)
Tower PCs

Microcomputers whose case sits as a tower

Notebooks

Also called laptop computers.

Light-weight portable computers with built-in
monitor, keyboard, hard-disk drive, battery, and
AC adapter that can be plugged into an
electrical outlet.
Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)

Also handheld computers or palmtops.

Combine personal organization tools-schedule,
planners, address books, to-do lists-with the
ability in some cases to send email and faxes.
Microcontrollers

Also called embedded computers.

Tiny, specialized microprocessors installed in
smart appliances and automobiles.
Server

Or network server.
A central computer that
holds collections of data (databases) and
programs for connecting or supplying services
to PCs, workstations, and other devices, which
are called clients.
The clients are linked by a wired or wireless
network.
The entire network is called a client/server
network.
Server