Module 1
Important IT Concepts
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Module 1 : Important IT concepts
• Compu&ng Devices Components
• So2ware and OS Overview
• So2ware Applica&ons Overview
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Compute Devices’
Common Components
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Computing Devices - Examples
We use many compute devices in our daily life.
• Examples include:
Ø Mobile phones, Laptops (windows or Mac), IPads, Tablets, Desktop
PCs, Digital Cameras, IPTV SetTop boxes, and Servers among others.
Ø They have different use cases, but in principle they use common
components.
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Computing Devices Hardware Components –
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Central Processing Unit (The Brain).
Is involved in all opera:ons that run on the compute device
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Computing Devices Hardware Components –
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Used to run applications and hold data during processing.
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Computing Devices Hardware Components –
Storage
Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and Solid State Drives (SSD). Used to provide
persistent storage for OS, Data and Applications.
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Computing Devices Hardware Components –
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
Connects the compu:ng device to the outside world.
• Can be wireless (WLAN - WiFi) or wired (use Ethernet/LAN cables).
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Computing Devices Hardware Components –
Monitors
Used to read/view the desired data.
• Monitors can be built into the device or can be external to it.
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Computing Devices Hardware Components –
Graphic Processing Units (GPUs)
Graphic cards or GCPUs are used to accelerate video operations (gaming,
rendering) on the compute device.
• It can can be built-in or a card.
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Computing Devices Hardware Components
There are more components to a compute device (Fans, USB interfaces, Power
supply..etc); but not of importance for this context
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Compute Components - Units
•
•
•
CPU speed is measured in GHz
Ø For example : 1.6GHz, 2.33GHz
Memory and Storage are measured in Giga (Gigi) Bytes (GB / GiB) or Tera (TeBi) Bytes (TB / TiB)
Ø For example : SDD drive size 10 TB
Network Interface Card speed is measured in Mega bits/Second (Mbps) or Giga bits/second (Gbps)
Ø For example : 100 Gbps NIC card
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How Can We Use This Computing Hardware?
You Need Software To Run It
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Software & Operating Systems
Overview
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What is Software?
So2ware = Instruc&ons that tell a computer what to do
• It’s not hardware (like your phone or laptop)
• It's the invisible part that powers everything
🧠 Think: Apps, games, opera2ng systems, websites — all are so9ware
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Software
Types
–
Operating
System
(OS)
Software – Operating Systems
OS is the System Software:
• It manages hardware resources (CPU, RAM, disk)
• It is responsible for running the installed apps
• It handles files and permissions
• It provides a user interface (GUI or CLI)
• It keeps everything working together
• Examples: Windows, Linux, MacOS
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GUI or CLI – How to Communicate
with a Computer
• GUI (Graphical User Interface) = icons, windows, mouse.
• CLI (Command Line Interface) = type commands into a black screen.
• Both are tools to talk to the OS and Applications!
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Demo
CLI vs. GUI
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Windows vs Linux – The Differences
Feature
Windows
Linux
GUI or CLI
Mostly GUI
Mostly CLI
Cost of the OS
Paid
Free/Open source primarily
Popular Use
Desktops/Laptops
Servers
Flexibility
Limited control
Highly customizable
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Open-Source Software
Open-source software is software that anyone can look at, use, change,
and share — for free.
Linux Operating system is an example of open-source software
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Software Applications Overview
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Software Types - Applications
Application Software:
• Helps perform specific task(s)
• Examples: Chrome, Excel, Zoom, Whatsapp
📌 Apps run on top of system software
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Application Types
Desktop Applications
• Run on PC/Mac
• Examples: Power Point, Word, Excel
Web Applications
• Run in a browser
• Examples: Gmail, Canva
Mobile Applications
• Run on mobiles and tablets
• Examples: Google maps, Uber
Cloud Applications
• Run online in the cloud
• Examples: Google Docs, Zoom
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