omputer
omponents
Exit
• software –electronic instructions
used to run the computer, also
known as programs.
• hardware –equipment which
makes up the computer system
such as the monitor, CPU, or
printer.
Exit
ata Cycle
Exit
Input-putting information
into the computer
Processing-organizing
information
Storage-holds information
until it is needed
Output-allows user to
view or hear information
Input Devices
Equipment used to put information into
the computer. • Mouse
•
•
•
•
Keyboard
Scanners
Digital Camera
Microphone
Exit
Input Devices
•keyboard- used to enter text
•mouse- allows users interact with the
computer using clicks and drags.
•microphone –allows users to record
sound and voice data.
Exit
Processing
Puts your information in a usable form.
CPU-Central Processing Unit
Exit
Processor
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)processes and organizes data entered
into the computer. It is referred to as the
“brains” of the computer.
• Tower – the enclosure that contains the
main components of the computer such
as the motherboard, hard drive and
power supply.
Exit
Storage
Devices used to store information until
it is needed.
•Hard Drive
•DVDs
•CD Rom
•Flash Drive
Exit
Storage Devices
• hard drive –a storage device built into the
CPU. The drive letter is usually C:
• Jump drive–a portable storage device
capable of storing hundreds of floppy
disks. The drive letter is usually F:
• CD – (compact disc) a round shiny disk
used to store large amounts of data such
as music, text or pictures. The drive letter
is usually D:
• DVD- (digital versatile disc) contains fulllength motion pictures
Exit
Output Devices
Equipment used to take information
from the computer. • Printer
• Monitor
• Speakers
Exit
Output Devices
• printer –an output device which
puts data onto paper. The
printout is known as a hard copy
• speakers –an output device
which allows users to listen to
sound.
• monitor –a television like output
device that allows the user to
view data on the screen.
Exit
Information Data Flow
Exit
easurements
Exit
ASCII
• ASCII stands for American Standard Code
for Information Interchange.
• Information inside a computer is written in
binary code using 1’s and 0’s.
• It takes eight 0’s and 1’s to make a
character. Each 0 and 1 takes one bit of
memory.
• Eight bits make One byte the amount of
memory needed to store one character.
(A character is any letter, number, symbol or space.)
Exit
Bytes
• kilobyte – approximately a thousand bytes
(1,024 bytes)
• megabyte – approximately a million bytes
(1,048,576 bytes)
• gigabyte – approximately a billion bytes
(1,073,741,824 bytes)
• terabyte – approximately a trillion bytes
(1,099,511,627,776 bytes)
Exit
Two Types of Memory
• RAM-(Random Access Memory) temporary
memory used to run software. The amount of
memory, determines how fast your programs
will operate. If you do not save the data, it will
disappear when you turn off the computer.
Exit
• ROM-(Read Only Memory) a permanent
type of memory that does not lose
information, even when the power is
turned off. Once data is programmed into
the ROM chip, its contents cannot be
altered. For example, information for
starting up your computer is stored in
ROM.
Exit
Printer Quality
• dpi – (dots per inch) printer quality is
measured by the number of dots which
make-up the image. The higher the dpi
the more clear the image.
Exit
Types Of Printers
• Dot matrix-tiny dots on the paper.
– slow and loud and very low quality
• Laser jet-sprays ink directly on the paper.
– ink is still wet and can smear, medium quality
• Laser-a laser beam and mirror is used to
create image. Toner is applied and dried.
– costly to operate, very fast and produce high
quality prints.
Exit
3 functions of a Computer
Even though we think of computers as being
“smart” they really only have three main
functions.
Exit
3 functions of a Computer
etch is responsible for retrieving data
from the computer’s memory.
ecode’s job is to read the data and
determine what is to be done.
xecute carries out the job, and then the
cycle repeats.
A computer carries out these three
functions millions of times each second.
Exit
The Cold Boot Process
When you first turn on the computer, nothing much seems to happen for a few
seconds. In fact your computer is performing a set of operations that will check
that all the components are working correctly. This operation is called the
Power On Self Test or POST. It is the first part of the boot process.
As the POST is doing its job, you will see and hear indications that something
is happening… you might see the keyboard lights flash on for a second, you
might hear floppy disk drive activity, you may see activity on the monitor. This is
because all the system components are being tested, including the CPU, the
RAM, and all other components.
If there are any errors or faults found during the POST, you might see error
messages on the computer display and hear beeps from the speakers.
If no problems are encountered during the POST, then the Operating System is
loaded into memory and the boot process can continue until all systems are
operating correctly.
Exit
The Cold Boot Process
1.
2.
3.
4.
Checks available RAM
Checks for and tests hardware
Checks for viruses
Loads the Operating System
Exit
The Operating System (copy what is in pink)
After the start up process is completed the
operating system is loaded. The operating system
is the master program that runs the computer
doing housekeeping tasks, such as input and
output between the computer and peripherals, and
accepting and interpreting information from the
keyboard. DOS and Windows are examples of
popular operating systems. It translates your
instructions into actions.
Exit
User Interface
• Windows Vista is the operating system used in
this lab. Windows is a GUI environment.
• GUI-graphical user interface allows users to
click pictures called 'icons' to communicate
with the computer.
• Icon-a little picture on your screen that you can
click on with your mouse. An icon can
represent a file, program, peripheral, or tool.
• Peripheral-any external device that plugs into
your computer, such as a printer, modem,
scanner, or tape drive.
Exit