BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY
TODAY
Chapter Two
How ICT Works
1
FOCUS QUESTION
• How does information and communication
technology work?
2
Anatomy of a Computer
• A computer is only capable of doing what
the user tells it to do.
• The four functions of computers are
–
–
–
–
1. input
2. processing
3. output
4. storage
• A computer must have
– 1. hardware
– 2. software
3
Functions—Input
• A computer collects data or instructions
from the user via
– keyboard
– mouse or touchpad
– stylus
– touching a screen
– microphone
4
Functions—Storage
• The computer saves data or instructions in
its memory for use during processing.
5
Functions—Processing
• The computer interprets the data entered.
• The computer adds, multiplies, divides,
finds, or manipulates data.
• The computer then creates processed
information that the user can understand.
6
Functions—Output
• The computer displays or produces
processed information for the user via
– something that you see (screen)
– something that you hear (ding)
– something that you command the printer to
print
7
Work
• Go to site and do:
– Humans as Computers
– Review it worksheet
8
• Bits, Bytes, and Binary Numbers
• Bits and bytes are small pieces of
computerized data that communicate
commands to a computer’s CPU:
• A bit is either a 1 or a 0 (binary digits).
• A byte contains eight bits.
• Each letter in the English language is
represented by
one byte.
9
What is Hardware?
• “Hardware” is any part of a computer that
you can touch.
• There are two kinds of hardware:
– 1. internal
– 2. external
10
Internal Hardware
• Power enters computer through power
cord.
• Electricity travels through motherboard,
where all components are attached.
• Electricity travels to the central processing
unit (CPU), also called the microprocessor.
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How Does My Computer Work?
The “brain” of a computer is the central processing unit
(CPU). When the CPU receives and carries out an instruction,
it has completed one cycle.
Computer’s speed = number of cycles completed in one
second
Cycles are measured in:
Megahertz (MHz) = millions of cycles per second
Gigahertz (GHz) = billions of cycles per second
12
How CPUs Work
• The CPU is the brain of the computer.
• The CPU performs four tasks:
–
–
–
–
1. fetch
2. decode
3. execute
4. store
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14
Internal Hardware
(continued)
• The cache holds instructions that are
accessed frequently.
• There are two kinds of cache:
– 1. internal or L1 – first place that the CPU
looks
– 2. external or L2 – second place that the
CPU looks
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Internal Hardware
(continued)
• Expansion slots can hold expansion cards
such as a sound card or modem.
• Bus is a series of conductor wires that
transport data between internal hardware.
– Wider bus widths result in more data being
transported at faster speeds.
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Internal Hardware
(continued)
• Drive bays hold disk drives such as hard
drive and DVD drive.
• Memory chips are also attached to the
motherboard.
– ROM – Read Only Memory
• also called the system BIOS
• houses information such as instructions for start-up
• store data even when the computer is turned off
– RAM – Random Access Memory
• temporary
• works when you start up and use computer software
• only stores information when the computer is on
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Computer Storage
• The type of storage device used depends
on
– the type of information being stored
– how much information being stored
• Examples of storage options include
– hard drive
– floppy disk
– CD-R or CD-RW
– DVD+/-R or DVD+/-RW
– online storage
– external hard drive
– USB Flash drive
18
Work
• Complete worksheets - Identify Hardware
Basics and Keyboard Keys
• Go to website - under chapter 2 - REVIEW
IT sheet - you will have to make your own
tables in the word processor
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