Discovering Computers Fundamentals

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Chapter 1

• Discovering Computers Fundamentals
• First Silent Presentation of the Semester

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Reminder

• Always read main page at website (starting
  message)
• Always read appropriate MODULES under learning
  modules
• Go to multi-media section for supplements
  (lectures)
• Check the assignment status link under learning
  modules for reminder of due dates.

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Due Dates

• There are many assignments for this class
  (reading chapters, checking out websites, etc).
  Only some of these assignments will actually be
  due.
• Dont just focus on the assignments that are due.
• Do all the assignments

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What are these supplements (lectures)?

• They are silent PowerPoint Presentations.
• You can view the presentation on the web or
  download to your PC.
• You also have the choice of printing the
  information out in an outline format.
• These are NOT to take the place of reading the
  textbook. They are to help you focus on whats
  important in the chapters and to help clear up
  some of the more complicated topics.

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Multi-Media button

• In the multi-media section there will be several
  things available to help you with the the course.
• There might be a message that you can listen to
  or print the text version or do both.
• There might be a silent presentation (this is an
  example of one).
• There will always be a printable outline format
  of the slide presentation for future reference,
  if you so desire.

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Ok, lets get started with the textbooks.
(Discovering Computers Fundamentals)

• Note that I will reference the Discovering
  Computers Fundamentals book as DCF.
• Chapter1 is basically a brief overview of the
  entire book.
• Its a great chapter to get started with.

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Lets start with Chapter 1

• Note that I will reference the Discovering
  Computers Fundamentals book as DCF.
• Chapter1 is basically a brief overview of the
  entire book.
• Its a great chapter to get started with.
• Almost all terms in this chapter are discusses in
  later chapters in more detail. Focus on basics in
  this chapter!

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What is a computer?

• Look at the definition in the book, but its
  basically a machine that takes something you
  give to it (input), does something with it
  (processes it), spits out an answer (outputs) and
  it might let you save it (stores it).
• A calculator is a computer. It takes input (the
  calculation you give it), it processes it
  (calculates it), outputs it (spits out answer)
  and some let you save it for later.

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Hardware vs. Software

• Hardware is the physical components of the
  computer if you can snap it in, screw it, or
  smash it with a hammer its hardware ?
• Software is the instructions to the computer that
  make the hardware do something. Another term for
  this is a program.
• Think of a toy robot. It is made of hardware, but
  without the instructions (software) it wont do
  anything. A computer needs both!

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Software

• Software is a set of instructions someone gives
  to the computer so that it can complete a
  specific task.
• Software is divided into two major categories
  application software and system software

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Analogy (application vs. system)

• Think of books in a library or book store. They
  are divided into categories. You dont just look
  for books, you look for fiction vs. non-fiction.
  Under the non-fiction category you can choose
  from travel, cooking, etc Under fiction category
  you have science fiction, romance, etc
• Software is also divided into groups so that you
  can find/categorize them more easily.

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System vs. Application Software

• System software is any software/program (set of
  instructions) that has the task of keeping your
  computer running controlling your computer
  (Windows XP)
• Application software is any software that has the
  task of doing something specifically for you
  (games, taxes, word processing).
• These categories are further broken down in later
  chapters.

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Some Quick Terms

• Computer Literacy
• Computer
• Information Processing Cycle
• Hardware vs. Software
• Input vs. input device
• Output vs. output device
• Storage devices (cd, floppy, zip, dvd, etc)

• System Unit
• CPU vs. memory
• Program (i.e., software)
• Executing a program
• System software vs. application software
• Operating System
• User Interface

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More Quick Terms

• Peripheral Device
• Packaged software vs. custom software vs.
  shareware vs. freeware vs. public domain
• Network
• Internet

• Four categories of computers (just know order
  of size smallest to largest dont worry about
  other details.
• Server vs. client
• What is a desktop?
• What is a laptop?
• What is a PDA?

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The End