Understand Computer
Fundamentals
What Is A Computer?

An electronic device that receives,
processes, and store data, and produces
a result (output).

Classified by size, speed and application
Uses hardware and software

What Is A Computer?

An electronic device that receives,
processes, and store data, and produces
a result (output).

Classified by size, speed and application
Uses hardware and software

Types of Personal Computers

Desktop computer:

Laptop computer:
designed to be used on a desktop.
designed to be small enough and light enough
to be used on your lap.

Notebook/Tablet computer:
but still small enough to be portable.
designed to be used on a desktop
Hardware vs. Software

Has to be one or the other (not both)
Everything has to fall into a category

What is the difference?

Hardware

The tangible, physical equipment that can be
seen and touched such as:
“the equipment of the computer
that you can see and touch”
PARTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM
Monitor
Speaker
Keyboard
Computer Case
(Processor inside)
CD-ROM/DVD
Drive
Mouse
Printer
Floppy Disk
Drive
The Parts A of Computer

CPU (Central Processing
Unit)

The “brains” of the computer
housed on a tiny silicon chip
inside the computer case.
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Floppy Disk Drive
CD-ROM/DVD Drive
Monitor
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Keyboard
Mouse
Speakers
Printer
Scanner
Hardware
Let’s view some hardware!
Computer Parts Video
Input vs. Output
Input: Information goes into the computer
though it
Output: Information comes out of the
computer to it
Input Devices

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Keyboard
Mouse/Trackball
Joystick
Light Pen
Pointing Stick
Touchpad
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Touch Screen
Bar Code Reader
Scanner
Microphone
Graphics Tablet
Digital Cameras
Output Devices

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Monitor: screen that displays information
such as text, numbers, and
Printer: gives you information pictures.
•
•
•
Softcopy
from the computer in printed form.
Hardcopy
Speakers: allow you to hear voice, music,
and other sounds from your computer.
Processing Device

Central Processing Unit (CPU)
– known as the heart or “brain”
of the computer and is
responsible for processing the
information that has been
entered into the computer
Storage Devices

Internal Storage:
Allows you to store
information inside of the
computer
Hard Drive:
Allows the fastest access
to information
RAM (Random Access
Memory) – temporary
ROM (Read Only Memory) long-term memory

External Storage:
Allows you to use devices to
store information outside
of the computer
Floppy Disks
CD-ROMs (Compact Disc
Read Only Memory)
CD-RW (Compact Disc
(Read and Write)
DVDs (Digital Video Disc)
USB/Jump Drives
Storage Devices

Hard Disk Drive: used to
store data inside of the
computer.
• Magnetic platter that
holds a large amount
of information in a
form the computer can
understand.
•
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Floppy Disk: flat circles
of iron oxide-coated
plastic enclosed in a
hard plastic case.
• Most are 3 ½ inches and
have a capacity to hold
1.44 MB or more of data.
CD ROM Drive: a compact
disk that reads only
memory.
CD-RW: a device that
allows you to read and
write to a compact disk
Which Storage Device Holds
The Most Information?
FLOPPY DISKS
CD-ROM DISC
1.44 MB
640 MB
HARD DRIVES
DVD DISC
17 GB
80 and above GB
Storage Capacity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Floppy Disk
Zip Disk
CD
DVD
Jump Drive*** (could be smaller)
Hard Drive
Input vs. Output vs.
Storage vs. Processing

Mouse

Scanner

“Jump Drive”/USB Drive

Floppy Disk

Intel Processor
Microphone
Speaker
CD

Hard Drive
Printer
Keyboard
Zip Drive
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Software

The intangible set of instructions that tells the
computer what to do; known as programs or
software programs.
Types of Software

Operating System Software
• Sets the rules for how computer hardware
and application software work together,
controls the operation of the computer.
• Example:

Windows XP
Application Software
• Lets you accomplish specific tasks based on
your needs.
• Examples:
MS Word, Excel, Access, Explorer
Operating System
Software Tasks

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Boots (starts up) the computer
Formats disks
Creates folders
Saves and retrieves files
Moves and copies files
Every Computer Has ONE Operating System
Software!
Types of Application
Software

Word Processing
• Program that allows you to create, edit, and print text
documents
•
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Spreadsheet
• Numbered Rows and Lettered Columns
• Intersection of a row and column is a cell
•

Report, flyer, memo
Grade book, financial info
Database
•
•
Lets you set up an electronic filing system
Enter text and numbers
•
Find, search, and print info in different ways
•
Address book, Card Catalog
Operating or Application?
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Microsoft XP
Microsoft Word
Explorer
Microsoft 2000
MicroType
MAC OS
Novell (what you log into when you first get here)
The Information Cycle
What Happens During The
IPOS Cycle?

INPUT –

when information is entered into the computer; the
computer receives information
PROCESSING –
when the computer processes the information that has
been entered

OUTPUT –
when information leaves the computer

STORAGE –
when information is stored to be used later.
Computer Terms
What Is A Computer?


An electronic device that receives data,
processes data, stores data, and
produces a result (output).
A collection of electronic circuits, which
can be on or off (open or closed).
• These two states of the circuit are represented
by two digits, 0 and 1.
• Called the binary system
Types of Computers

Supercomputer: most powerful
• Used to do things like predict hurricanes and
navigate satellites
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Mainframes and minicomputers: used by
business and government to process large
amounts of information
Personal computers: smaller and less
powerful than the other types of computers
Additional Types of
Computers

PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants): a handheld
device that is often used in conjunction with a
desktop or other PC.
•
May have a special keyboard, some use
a pen or stylus for entering data
- Data can be transferred to a desktop or laptop computer
Data Communications

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The technology that enables computers to
communicate
The transmission of text, numeric, voice or video
data from one machine to another.
Popular examples:
•
Internet, electronic messages (e-mail), faxes, and electronic
or online banking
Four components:
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•
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Sender: the computer that is sending the message.
Receiver: the computer receiving the message.
Channel: the media that carries or transports the message.
(telephone wire, coaxial cable, microwave signal, or fiber
optic)
Protocol: the rules that govern the orderly transfer of the
data sent.
Data Communications

Network: when computers are connected to other
computers
•
•
They can share information and sometimes hardware
(printers)
Local Area Networks (LAN): computers connected together
in a relatively close location such as in the same building or
department.
•
•
The data and software for these computers are stored on a
central computer called the file server.
Wide Area Networks (WAN): when local area networks are
expanded to include several local area networks within a
city, state, region, territory, country, continent, or the world.
System Components

Central Processing Unit (CPU): the microprocessor,
the brains of the computer.
•
•
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Housed on a tiny silicon chip
CPU has two primary sections:
•
•
Arithmetic/logic unit
Control unit
Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU): performs arithmetic
computations and logical operations; by combining
these two operations the ALU can execute complex
tasks.
Control Unit: is the “boss” and coordinates all of the
CPU’s activities.
•
Uses programming instructions, it controls the flow of
information through the processor by controlling what
happens inside the processor.
System Components
Memory: found on the motherboard; short term and
long term.
• Random Access Memory (RAM):
memory on the
motherboard that is short term.
• When the computer is turned off or if there is loss of power,
what ever is stored in RAM disappears.
• The computer can read from and write to RAM.
• Read-Only Memory (ROM):
that is long term.
memory on the motherboard
• This memory is nonvolatile and your computer can only
read from a ROM chip.
• The instructions remain on the chip regardless if the power
is turned on or off.
System Components

Basic Controllers: on the motherboard, a
device that controls the transfer of data from
the computer to a peripheral device and vice
versa.
• Examples: keyboards, mouse, monitors, and printers.
• Generally stored on one single chip.

Serial and Parallel Ports: used to connect
our peripheral devices to the computer;
usually one serial and one parallel port on a
computer.
• Serial devices transmit data one bit at a time.
•
A modem may be connected to this port.
•
A printer may be connected to this port.
• Parallel devices transfer several bits at a time.
System Components

Universal Serial Bus (USB): a new standard that
supports data transfer rates of up to 12 million
bits per second.
•
•
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A single USB port can be used to connect up to 127
peripheral devices
Expected to replace serial and parallel ports in the
near future.
Expansion Slots: an opening on the
motherboard where a circuit board or expansion
board can be inserted.
•
Examples: Additional Memory, video cards, modem
cards, and sound cards.
Data Representation


ASCII (American Standard Code for
Information Interchange): the most popular
and widely used standardized coding system
Byte: eight bits or combinations of ones and
zeros represent a character.
• MB-Megabyte or roughly 1 million bytes
• GB-Gigabyte or roughly one billion bytes
Three Types of Printers

Dot Matrix
•
Gives a printed image in a
pattern (matrix) of tiny ink
dots.
•
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Less expensive and not as
clear
Inkjet Printer
•
Better quality of printed
document
•
Machine uses an ink
cartridge and a printing
element to print a finer
image on the paper.

Laser
• Best quality of
printed documents
• Laser beam
• More expensive
• Quick
Systems Software

A group of programs that coordinate and control the
resources and operations of a computer system.
•

Operating System (OS): provide an interface
between the user or application program and the
computer hardware.
•
•
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Enables all components of the computer system to
communicate.
Win 95/98/2000
Mac System 6/7
GUI (graphical user interface): graphical symbols
(icons) represent files, disks, programs, and other
objects.
Systems Software – DOS
Prompt/GUI
Things To Note

Hardware vs. Software (including types of Hardware and
Software)
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Input vas Output
Types of Storage
System Components
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)
• Control Unit:
• Memory:
• Random Access Memory (RAM): Short Term
• Read-Only Memory (ROM): Long Term
• Serial/Parallel Ports/USB: used to connect our peripheral devices
Pick A Part & Define (26 Total)
Desktop
Data
Laptop
Mainframes/Minicomputers
Network
USB
PC case
CPU
Memory
Expansion Slots
Byte
Hardware
Web TV
Software
Computer
PDAs
ALU
Serial and Parallel Ports
LAN/WAN
Motherboard
Control Unit
RAM
ASCII
Notebook
Supercomputer
ROM