Computer Basics

1
Computer Basics

• What you need to know to begin...

2
The Computer System

• Hardware
• Peripheral devices
• Software

3
Hardware

• Anything you can touch on the computer
• Peripheral devices
• Monitor
• Printer
• Scanner
• Keyboard

4
Input Device

• A peripheral device used to gather and translate
  input into a form that the computer can process
• Examples
• Mouse
• Keyboard
• Trackball

5
Output Device

• Is a peripheral device that displays, prints, or
  transmits the results of processing from the
  computer memory.
• Examples include..
• Monitor
• Printer

6
Monitors

• Screen size is measurement in inches from one
  corner of the screen diagonally across to the
  opposite corner.
• Displays on the monitor are made up of pixels, or
  small dots.

• The more dots your screen displays the higher the
  resolution.
• Dot pitch is a measurement of clarity the smaller
  the dot pitch the crisper the image

7
Printers

• Dot matrix
• creates characters and graphics by printing a
  fine pattern of dots
• Color ink-jet
• creates characters and graphics by spraying ink
  onto the paper

• Laser
• uses the same technology as a photocopier to
  produce professional quality text and graphics.
• Color laser printers
• works by reprinting each page for each primary
  color, very time consuming

8
Functions of a Computer

• Input
• Processing
• Storage
• Output

Input, process, store, and output
9
Input

• Whatever is put into a computer system. Input
  can be supplies by a person or by another
  computer.
• Data is input into a computer

• Input examples are..
• Words and symbols in a document
• Numbers for calculations
• Pictures and sounds from a microphone

10
Processing

• Computers manipulate data in many ways, and we
  call this manipulation PROCESSING.
• Processing is the systematic series of actions a
  computer uses to manipulate data.
• Computers process data in a device called the
  Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Data processing includes
• Performing calculations, modifying documents

11
Storage

• A computer must store data so that it is
  available for processing
• Most computers have more than one location for
  storing data.
• Memory is an area that holds data waiting to be
  processed
• Storage is the area where data can be left on a
  permanent basis while it is not needed for
  processing.

12
Output

• Output is the results produced by the computer
• Examples include
• Reports
• Documents
• Music
• Graphs
• Pictures

13
Computer Software

• A computer needs a set of instructions, called
  SOFTWARE or a COMPUTER PROGRAM, which tells the
  computer how to perform a particular task.
• Application Software
• Operating Software

14
Operating Software

• Runs the computer
• Examples include..
• Windows 95, 98, NT
• Mac OS

15
Application Software

• Runs programs or applications.
• Examples include..
• Microsoft Word
• Excel
• Claris Works
• Photoshop
• Games