Introduction to Computers and Technology

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Introduction to Computers and Technology
Aug. 30, 2007 Instructor Andy Wu
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Textbooks

• You must buy the textbooks!
• You should purchase the textbooks only from two
  sources
• UNT bookstore
• Online http//www.coursedirect.com/school/index.c
  fm?schoolunt1423945352
• Otherwise you wont get the bundled software (and
  the good price either)!
• Dont buy them from Amazon, Alibris, eBay, etc

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Software

• The books are bundled with the software
  applications.
• They are sufficient for doing all the
  assignments.
• You can also find the software titles in the lab.
• The versions of the applications we will use are
• PowerPoint 2003
• Visual Basic 2005
• FrontPage 2003
• Excel 2003
• They run on Windows platforms.

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Schedule (weeks 1 6)
Schedule
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What We Will Cover Today

• Computers in our business and personal lives
• Milestones in computer evolution
• Computer and its primary operations
• Major components of a personal computer
• Differences between system software and
  application software
• Networks and the Internet
• Five basic types of computers
• Societal impact of computers

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Computers in our lives
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Is That Right?

• There is no reason anyone would want a computer
  in their home.
• Ken Olson
• President, Chairman, and founder of Digital
  Equipment Corp. (DEC), 1977

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Why Learn About Computers?

• Computers are so prominent in our society and
  will become even more so in the future.
• Knowing something about computers can help you
  buy the right one for your needs, help you get
  the most efficient use out of it, and give you a
  higher level of comfort and confidence along the
  way.
• Basic computer literacyknowing about and
  understanding computers and their usesis an
  essential skill today for everyone.

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How are Computers Used Today?

• At home home computer use has increased
  dramatically over the last few years.
• In education commonly used as a student-based
  learning tool and instructor presentation tool.
• In the workplace used by all types of employees
  in all types of businesses.
• On the go people use all types of computers in
  day-to-day life.

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Computer Use at Home

• Reference many households today have access to
  the Internet at home to retrieve news and other
  useful information.

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Computer Use at Home

• Education and entertainment for children and
  adults alike, computers and the Internet offer a
  host of educational and entertainment activities.

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Computer Use at Home

• Communications many people exchange e-mail and
  instant messages from home on a regular basis.

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Computer Use at Home

• Smart appliances regular appliances with
  computer technology built in are becoming more
  common.

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Computer Use in Education

• Classrooms and computer labs - most students
  today have access to computers at school.

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Computer Use in Education

• Presentations students and teachers often use
  computers and projection equipment for classroom
  presentations.

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Computer Use in Education

• Distance learning students today can take
  classes from home or wherever they happen to be.

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Computer Use in the Workplace

• Decision making many individuals today use a
  computer at work to help them evaluate
  alternatives and make on-the-job decisions.

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Computer Use in the Workplace

• Communications handheld and wearable computers
  can be used by employees who need to record data
  or access data while out in the field.

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Computer Use in the Workplace

• Productivity many individuals today use a
  computer at work to perform on-the-job tasks.

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Gazing into the IT Crystal Ball

• I have traveled the length and breadth of this
  country and talked with the best people, and I
  can assure you that data processing is a fad that
  wont last out the year.
• The editor in charge of business books for
  Prentice Hall, 1957.

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Computer Use While On the Go

• Portable computers Many people carry portable
  computers with them at all times or when they
  travel to remain in touch with others and
  Internet resources.

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Computer Use While On the Go

• GPS applications Devices with GPS capabilities
  can be used for navigational purposes.

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Computer Use While On the Go

• Self-service kiosks Computerized kiosks are
  found in a wide variety of locations today, such
  as hotels, retail stores, airports, and other
  locations.

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Computer Use While On the Go

• Hotels, coffeehouses, and Internet cafés Free
  or fee-based Internet access is available at many
  hotels and coffeehouses.

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Evolution of computers
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Computers Then and Now

• Precomputers and Early Computers

• Began before approximately 1945.
• Included the abacus, slide rule, mechanical
  calculator, and Holleriths Punch Card Tabulating
  Machine and Sorter.

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Computers Then and Now

• First-Generation Computers

• Approximately 1946-1957.
• Computers were powered by vacuum tubes.
• Included ENIAC and UNIVAC.

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ENIAC
US Army Photo
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Gazing into the IT Crystal Ball

• Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with
  18,000 vacuum tubes and weights 30 tons,
  computers in the future may have only 1,000
  vacuum tubes and weight only 1.5 tons.
• Popular Mechanics, March 1949

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Computers Then and Now

• Second-Generation Computers

• Approximately 1958-1963.
• Computers used transistors instead of vacuum
  tubes.
• Included mainframe computers.

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Computers Then and Now

• Third-Generation Computers

• Approximately 1964-1970.
• Computers used integrated circuits.
• Included mainframe and minicomputers.

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Computers Then and Now

• Fourth-Generation Computers

• Approximately 1971-present.
• Computers used microprocessors.
• Personal computers were introduced.

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Gazing into the IT Crystal Ball

• But what is it good for?
• IBM executive Robert Lloyd speaking in 1968
  about a microprocessor

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Computers Then and Now

• Fifth-Generation Computers

• From now and into the future.
• Computers may be based on artificial intelligence
  and use voice recognition as the primary
  interface.
• Computers may take a different physical form,
  such as an optical computer.

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What is a computer?
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What Is a Computer?

• A programmable electronic device that
• Accepts data (input)
• Performs operations on the data (processing)
• Presents the results (output)
• Stores the data and results, as needed (storage)
• Communications is sometimes considered the fifth
  primary computer operation.

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The Information Processing Cycle
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Hardware and software
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Hardware

• Hardware all of the physical parts of the
  computer, such as the keyboard, screen, and
  printer.
• Hardware can be internal or external.
• Input device any piece of equipment that is
  used to input data into the computer.
• The main processing device for a computer is the
  central processing unit (CPU).

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Hardware

• Output device accepts processed data from the
  computer and presents it to the user.
• Storage devices a variety of drives and storage
  media used to store data.
• Communications devices, such as modems and
  network adapters, allow users to communicate
  electronically with others.

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Typical Computer Hardware
Figure 1-7
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Software

• Software the programs or instructions used to
  tell the hardware in a computer system what to
  do.
• System software the collection off software
  that allows a computer to operate.
• The main system software program is the operating
  system.
• Common operating systems are Microsoft Windows,
  Mac OS, and Linux.

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Microsoft Windows Operating System
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Other Operating Systems
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Software

• Application software programs designed to allow
  people to perform specific tasks using a
  computer.
• Can be stand-alone programs or software suites
  (collections of related software).
• Can be purchased on CD or DVD, or downloaded from
  the Internet.

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Examples of Application Software

• Word-processing programs
• Spreadsheet programs
• Multimedia programs

Figure 1-10
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Examples of Application Software

• Games
• Web browsers
• E-mail programs

Figure 1-10
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Software

• Programming language a set of rules used to
  write computer programs.
• Markup languages indicate where text, images,
  hyperlinks, and other elements on a Web page
  should be displayed and how they should look.
• Scripting languages enable Web developers to
  include small sets of instructions, or scripts,
  within the pages HTML code.

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Example of a Programming Language
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Example of a Markup Language
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Computer Networks and the Internet

• A computer network ties a group of computers
  together so that users can share hardware,
  software, and data, as well as electronically
  communicate with each other.

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Computer Networks and the Internet

• The Internet is the largest and most well-known
  computer network in the world.
• Networks access each other on the Internet via
  the main backbone infrastructure.
• People connect to the Internet via Internet
  service providers (ISPs), which are continually
  connected to the Internet.

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Computer Networks and the Internet

• Common Internet activities include
• Exchanging e-mail
• Viewing Web pages
• Web pages are part of the World Wide Web and are
  viewed with a Web browser.

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Common Internet Activities
Figure 1-14
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Types of computers
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Basic Types of Computers

• Mobile devices
• Personal computers (PCs)
• Midrange servers
• Mainframe computers
• Supercomputers

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Mobile Devices

• Mobile devices small devices with some type of
  built-in computing or Internet capability.
• Typically based on cellular phones (smart
  phones).
• Can be used to access Web page data and exchange
  e-mail.

Figure 1-15
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Personal Computers (PCs)

• Personal computers (PCs) designed to be used by
  one person at a time.
• Widely used in homes, schools, and businesses
  can be connected to networks.
• Can be desktop PCs, portable PCs, or thin clients.

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Personal Computers (PCs)

• Desktop PCs
• The complete system unit fits on or next to a
  desk.
• Can use
• Desktop case
• Tower case
• All-in-one case

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Personal Computers (PCs)

• Portable PCs
• Are smaller than typical desktop PCs and are
  designed to be easily carried around.
• Can be
• Notebook computers
• Tablet PCs
• Handheld computers

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Examples of Portable PCs
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Personal Computers (PCs)

• Thin clients
• Designed to be used in conjunction with a company
  network.
• Typically use a network server for storage and
  processing.
• Also called network computers (NCs)

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Personal Computers (PCs)

• Internet appliances
• A type of network computer designed for accessing
  the Internet
• Can be in the form of
• Stand-alone device
• Set-top box
• Digital media receiver

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Midrange Servers

• Midrange server a medium-sized computer used to
  host programs and data for a small network.
• Users connect to theserver using a PC,thin
  client, or dumbterminal.

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Mainframe Computers

• Mainframe computer the standard choice for
  organizations.
• Larger, more expensive, and more powerful than
  midrange servers.
• Usually operate 24 hours a day and accommodate
  thousands of users.
• Typically runs multiple programs at one time.

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Supercomputers

• Supercomputer the most powerful and most
  expensive type of computer available.
• Generally runs one program at a time, as fast as
  possible.
• Used for scientific research, military
  applications, weather forecasting, and other
  high-performanceapplications.

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Social implications of computers
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Benefits of a Computer-Oriented Society

• Ability to design and test buildings before
  construction and other virtual applications.
• Earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment of
  diseases.
• Ability to shop, pay bills, research products,
  take online courses, and locate information 24
  hours a day.
• Faster communications and financial transactions.

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Risks of a Computer-Oriented Society

• Stress and health concerns.
• Personal security and privacy issues.
• Fear of Big Brother situations.
• These and more are discussed in Chapters 4
  through 8 of the text.

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Summary

• Computers in Your Life
• What Is a Computer?
• Basic Types of Computers
• Computers, Technology, and Society

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Next lecture

• Power Point bring your PP book