Introductory Concepts

1
Introductory Concepts

• CIS 100 Introduction to Computers
• Mr. A. Craig Dixon
• Spring 2006

2
What is a computer?

• A general definition
• A person or device that calculates
• Includes pre-electricity devices like the abacus
  and Babbages difference engine
• A modern definition
• An electronic device that takes data as input and
  creates information as output

3
Data vs. Information

• Data raw facts and figures, unprocessed actions
• Information data that is organized, meaningful
  and / or useful
• Metadata data whose sole purpose is to describe
  or clarify other data.

Metadata helps turn data into information.
4
Data vs. Information
An example

• 783159246
• 783-15-9246
• SSN 783-15-9246
• John Does social security number is 783-15-9246.

5
Functions of a Computer

• Accept input
• Process data
• Produce output
• Store and retrieve data

6
Components of a Computer

• Hardware devices that can be physically
  manipulated by the user
• Examples keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer
• Software instructions (programs) to be executed
  by the computer
• Examples Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word,
  Norton Anti-virus

7
Types of hardware

• Internals
• Peripherals
• Media

8
Internal hardware

• Typically not manipulated by the user
• Handles data processing
• Tasks are usually subdivided
• Processor does the bulk of the processing
• Math co-processor handles math operations
• Video card performs display-related
  calculations
• Sound card passes data to sound devices
• Most hardware, both internal and external, is
  connected to the motherboard, which is itself
  internal hardware.

9
Peripheral hardware

• Connected to the system unit via wires or
  infrared signals
• May be manipulated by the user
• Divided into two categories
• Input devices
• Output devices

10
Input devices

• Convert analog data from the user (keystrokes,
  mouse movements, voice, etc.) into a form the
  computer can understand
• Includes keyboard, mouse, scanner, camera, and
  microphone

11
Output devices

• Convert data from the computer to a form that can
  be understood by the user.
• Includes monitor, printer, and speakers

12
Hardware Summarized
Hardware
External
Internal
Input
Output
Hardware
Motherboard, video card, sound card, etc.
Keyboard, mouse, camera, microphone, etc.
Printer, speakers, monitor, etc.
13
Types of Software

• Application software
• Utilities
• System software
• Malware

14
Application software

• Allows the user to manipulate data and create
  information
• Most software is application software
• Examples Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and
  PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, games, etc.

15
Utilities

• Manipulate data based on parameters specified by
  the user
• Often perform maintenance tasks or file format
  conversions
• May be included as part of a larger application
• Examples Norton Anti-virus, WinZip, Nero, Disk
  Defragmenter, Ad-Aware

16
System software

• Consists of BIOS, operating system, and drivers
• BIOS Basic Input / Output System executed
  first on boot-up
• Operating system Allows the computer to respond
  to user commands
• Examples Microsoft Windows, MacOS, Linux, OS/2,
  Solaris
• Drivers Tells the computer how to utilize
  certain pieces of hardware
• Some devices that require drivers Mice, sound
  cards, video cards, printers

17
Plug-and-Play Drivers

• Beginning with Windows 95, the Windows operating
  system shipped with a set of standard hardware
  drivers called plug-and-play drivers.
• Hardware manufacturers created their products to
  use these standard drivers rather than shipping
  proprietary drivers with their products.
• Windows can detect plug-and-play hardware as soon
  as it is connected to the computer, even on the
  fly.
• Since the plug-and-play drivers are already
  present, the user can begin using the hardware
  immediately.

18
Malware

• Software intended to cause annoyance or damage
• Often installed covertly along with an
  application
• Examples Viruses, worms, Trojan horses, adware,
  and spyware

19
Media

• Hardware on which data is stored
• May be inside the system unit, connect directly
  to the system unit, or require a disk drive to be
  read
• Includes floppy disks, Zip disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs,
  flash memory, RAM, ROM, hard disks, and tape
  backups
• Floppy disks, Zip disks, and tape backups are
  magnetic media (data is stored on a thin layer of
  rust.)
• Hard disks, CD-ROMs and DVDs are optical media
  (read by a laser)
• RAM and ROM connect directly to the motherboard
  inside the system unit

20
Measuring storage capacity

• All forms of media have a maximum capacity,
  measured in bytes. Metric prefixes are used to
  denote large numbers of bytes.
• Kilobyte (KB) 1024 bytes
• Megabyte (MB) 1,000,000 bytes
• Gigabyte (GB) 1,000,000,000 bytes
• Terabyte (TB) 1,000,000,000,000 bytes

21
Breakdown of Media