Introduction to Computers

1
Introduction to Computers

• Lesson 1A

2
Definition of a Computer

• A computer is an electronic device used to
  process data, converting the data into
  information that is useful to people

3
Computers Consist of Four Parts

• Hardware
• Software
• Users
• Data

Click to Enlarge
4
Hardware

• Mechanical devices that make up the computer

5
Hardware
6
Processing

• The procedure that transforms raw data into
  useful information is called processing
• The processor and memory perform this
  transformation

7
Processor

• The computers brain, which organizes and carries
  out instructions from either the user or the
  software

8
Motherboard

• Rigid rectangular card containing the circuitry
  that connects the processor to the other hardware

9
Circuit board

• Motherboard is an example of a circuit board
• Attached to the motherboard are many smaller
  circuit boards that house many internal devices

10
Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• Refers to a computers processor

11
Memory

• When you launch a program, it is loaded into and
  run from memory

12
Random Access Memory (RAM)

• Determines a computers speed and power

13
Memory Measurements

• Kilobyte (KB)
• Megabyte (MB)
• Gigabyte (GB)
• Terabyte (TB)

14
Input Devices

• Accept data and instructions from the user or
  from another computer system

15
Most Common Input Devices

• Keyboard
• Mouse

16
Output Devices

• Return processed data to the user or to another
  computer system

17
Most Common Output Devices

• Monitor
• Printer

18
Storage

• Holds data permanently

19
Storage Terms

• Magnetic disk
• Read/write heads
• Disk drive
• Hard disk or hard drive
• Diskette drive
• Diskettes or floppy disks

20
Storage Terms Continued

• CD-ROM drive
• Compact disks (CDs)
• Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM)
• CD-Recordable (CD-R)
• CD-ReWritable (CD-RW)
• Digital Video Disk (DVD)

21
Software

• A set of electronic instructions consisting of
  complex codes, or programs, that make the
  computer perform tasks

22
Examples of Software

• System software
• Application software

23
Five Computer Categories

• Supercomputers
• Mainframe computers
• Minicomputers
• Workstations
• Microcomputers, or personal computers

24
The Internet Started Out As ARPANET

• In 1969, the Advanced Research Projects Agency
  (ARPA) of the U.S. Department of Defense created
  the Internet when it connected the computers at
  universities and defense contractors. This system
  was called ARPANET.

25
The Internet Today

• The Internet today is a cooperative community of
  over 100 million computer users connected
  worldwide.

26
World Wide Web

• Accessed through the Internet, the World Wide Web
  lets users view specially formatted documents

27
Web Browsers

• A Web browser is computer software that lets you
  navigate the Web
• First you connect to the Internet, then you
  launch the browser, then you view Web pages

28
URLs

• Every Web page has a unique address, called a
  uniform resource locator, or URL (pronounced as
  spelled U-R-L)

29
Hyperlinks

• A hyperlink is a part of the Web page that is
  linked to a URL

30
Web Search Tools

• Directories
• Search Engines
• Metasearch engines
• Site-specific search tools

31
Lesson 1A

• Introduction to Computers and the Internet

32
Review Questions

• What are the four parts of the computer?
• What is a circuit board? What is an example of
  one?
• What are two examples of software?
• What is a URL?

33
The Four Parts of a Computer
34
Examples of Hardware

• Processor
• Memory
• Input and output devices
• Storage

Click to Enlarge