Overview of Computer

Concept
Chapter 1

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 Information Age

• Evolving more rapidly than Industrial Age

• Will continue into the current century

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 A Computer in Your Future
• Where used?
– Bank withdrawal
– Supermarket
– Drive the car

• Do I need a Personal Computer?

– Half of Americans have one at home
– Many more use at work

• Will I use a computer in my future career?

– Almost every job will involve use of a computer
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 The Nature of Computers

Characteristics Results
• Speed • Productivity
• Reliability • Decision making
• Storage capability • Cost reduction

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WHERE COMPUTERS ARE
USED
Graphics

Graphs and charts

Animated graphics

Visual walk-through

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 WHERE COMPUTERS ARE
USED
Education
• Teaching and
testing aid
• Learning by doing
• Computer-based
instruction

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 WHERE COMPUTERS ARE
USED
Retailing

• Bar codes for pricing

and inventory
• Shipping

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 WHERE COMPUTERS ARE
USED
Government
• Forecast weather
• Manage parks
• Process immigrants
• Social Security benefits
• Taxes
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 WHERE COMPUTERS ARE
USED
The Home
• Educational tool
• Record keeping
• Letter writing
• Budgeting
• Drawing and editing
pictures
• Newsletters
• Connecting with others
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 WHERE COMPUTERS ARE
USED
Health and Medicine

• Monitor patients

• Electronic imaging

• Diagnose illnesses

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 Computers are all around!

• Grocery store
• School
• Library
• Bank
• Mail

We interact with computers everyday!

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Computer System

People

Software

Hardware

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 People
• Computer programmer – person who
writes programs

• Users or End-users – make use of the

computer’s capabilities

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 Software

• Programs

• Set of instructions that directs the

hardware to do a required task
and produce the desired results

14
 Hardware
Basic Components of a
Computer

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 Computer
• A machine that can be programmed to
accept data (input), process it into useful
information (output), and store it away (in
secondary storage device) for safekeeping
or later reuse

• Process is directed by software but

performed by the hardware

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 Function of Computer System
Data handling

I Input
P Process
O Output
S Storage

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 Input devices

• Accept data or commands and convert

them to electronic form
• Getting data into the computer
– Typing on a keyboard
– Pointing with a mouse
– Scanning with a wand reader or bar-code
reader
– Terminal
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 Output devices
• Convert from electronic form to some other
form
• May display the processed results
• Usable information
Monitor or screen Printer
• Text • Black and white
• Numbers • Color
• Symbols
• Art
• Photographs
• Video
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 The Processor

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• Converts data to useful information
• Interpret and execute instructions
• Communicate with input, output and
storage

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 Two Types of Storage

• Secondary storage
long-term storage

• Primary storage or memory

temporary storage

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Memory / Primary Storage
• Temporary storage
• Holds input to be processed
• Holds results of processing
• Contains the programs to control the
computer and manipulate input into
output
• Volatile
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 Secondary Storage

• Long-term storage
• Non-volatile

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Secondary Storage Examples
• Magnetic disks – read and written by
magnetic disk drive
– Hard disk
– Diskette
• Optical disks – read and written by optical disk
drives
– CD-ROM
– DVD-ROM
• Magnetic tape – read and written by magnetic
tape drives
– Primarily used for back-up

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 Network
• Definition
– A system that uses communications equipment
to connect computers and their resources.

• Types
– Local area network (LAN) – connects computers
in close proximity
– Metropolitan are network (MAN) – connect
computers between buildings in the same
geographic area
– Wide are network (WAN) – connects computers
over great distances
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 Internet
• Collection of networks
• No ownership
• No central source for services available
• No comprehensive index of what information
is available

Connects Everyone!
Individuals Libraries
Businesses Research labs
Organizations Government
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 Getting Connected

• User’s computer must connect to a server

• Server must communicate using TCP/IP
• The user can purchase access to a server
from an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

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Internet – What Can You Do?
• WWW – World Wide Web
• FTP – File Transfer Protocol
• E-mail

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 World Wide Web
• Browser – program that allows the user
to move around and explore the
Internet
• Use the mouse to point and click on
text and graphics
• Web page

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Classifications of Computers
• Use the computer that fits your needs
• Based upon
– Size
– Speed
– Cost
– Portability
– Number of simultaneous users supported
– Available software
– Typical use
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 Personal Computers
• Other names
– PC
– Microcomputer
– Home computer
• Categories
– Low-end functional
– Fully powered
– Workstations
• Desktop Models
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 Notebook Computers
• Portable
– Lightweight
– Fits in a briefcase
– Battery operated

• Laptop
– Larger
– Heavier

• More expensive that desktop models

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 Handheld Computers
• Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
– Scheduling
– Addresses
– Handwritten input
– May offer wireless e-mail and fax

• Pocket
– More power than PDA
– Runs basic productivity software

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 Other Types of Computers
Mainframes
– High speed
– More expensive
– Used to process large amounts of data quickly
– Support multiple users
– Does server tasks

Supercomputers
– Fastest speed
– Most expensive

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