








Server
Program
Client
Network
CPU
Operating System
bit, byte, kilobyte,
megabyte …
Memory
Storage










Expansion Slots
MHz
Application Software
Upload
FTP
IT
Network Drive
World Wide Web
Internet
etc.
Introduction to Information Technology
Is this really all that important to
know ?
1
Introduction to Information Technology
Will there be computers in your
place of work?
2
Introduction to Information Technology
Will you have to communicate with
those you work with?
3
Becoming Computer Savvy
Understand general computer terms.
 Have a better sense of computers when
buying.
 Know how to fix ordinary problems
 Efficiently use the Internet
 Know how to learn new and different
programs
Introduction to Information Technology

4
Using Information
Technology
Chapter 1
Introduction to Information Technology
Your Digital World
What is a computer?
A programmable machine
 A machine that accepts input (raw
data), processes that input, and
produces output (information).
Introduction to Information Technology

6
What is a network?
Two or more computers connected
together using communications
equipment.
Introduction to Information Technology

7





Being “online” – using a computer to access information
from another computer through the use of a network.
The Internet
World Wide Web
E-mail
Information technology (“infotech”):


IT - Technology that helps in the production, processing, storing,
communication and dissemination of information.
The E-World (E-business, E-commerce, E-government,
E-learning, E-pinions, E-tailing, E-waste)
Introduction to Information Technology
Then along came …
8



Cyberspace
 encompasses the whole wired and wireless world
of communications.
 Term created by William Gibson – author
 Not a commonly used term in the field of
Computer Science.
Internet
 A global network of networks (tangible)
 Do not confuse with WWW.
World Wide Web
 Most common use of the Internet
 Encompasses information that can be viewed
through a web browser (web pages).
 Do not confuse with the Internet.
Introduction to Information Technology
The Internet, the World Wide Web, & the
“Plumbing of Cyberspace”
9
1.2 The “All-Purpose Machine”:
The Varieties of Computers
1. Supercomputers
3. Workstations
4. Microcomputers
5. Microcontrollers
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Mainframes
10





Fastest computer
Can cost one million to 350
million dollars
looks like rows of refrigeratorsize boxes
Consists of thousands of
processors and can carry out
several trillion calculations per
second.
Used for computer simulations

tracking hurricanes, biological
contamination, or
understanding ocean currents.
Introduction to Information Technology
Supercomputers
11





Small mainframes (midsize computers or
minicomputers).
5,000 to 5 million dollars
Used in large
organizations – banks,
airlines, insurance
companies, colleges.
Processes billions of
instructions per second.
Often used with a
terminal.
Introduction to Information Technology
Mainframes
12


usually used for complex
scientific, mathematical,
and engineering
calculations and for
computer-aided design
Example: designing
airplanes, special effects
in movies
Introduction to Information Technology
Workstations
13
Microcomputer


$500 - $5000
Personal Computer (PC)
PC
 Desktop PC
 Laptop / Notebook
 Personal digital assistants
(PDAs), also called
handheld computers or
palmtops

Mac
 While
a Mac is a PC, most
people relate the term, PC,
with systems that run the
Windows operating system.
Introduction to Information Technology
 Tower
14
Personal Digital Assistant
Laptop computer
Introduction to Information Technology
Other types of microcomputers.
15


tiny, specialized
microprocessors
installed in “smart”
appliances and
automobiles
also called embedded
computers
Introduction to Information Technology
Microcontrollers
16
Servers
The
word “server” refers to how a computer is
Clients
- PCs, workstations, & other devices
attached to a server
Server
+ Clients linked together form a
client/server network
Introduction to Information Technology
used.
Server - a central computer that holds collections
of data & programs for clients
17
How Computers Work
The purpose of a computer is to process
data into information.
 Data (Input)
 The
raw facts and figures that are processed into
information

Information (Output)
 Data
that has been summarized or otherwise
manipulated for use in decision making
Introduction to Information Technology

18


Hardware
 All the machinery and equipment in a
computer system
 Tangible
Software
 All the instructions that tell the computer
how to perform a task
 Intangible
Introduction to Information Technology
Computers consist of hardware and
software.
19
1.
Input
2.
Processing
3.
Storage
4.
Output
5.
Communications
Introduction to Information Technology
All computers follow the same five
basic operations.
20
Keyboard
Mouse
Introduction to Information Technology
Input
21
Processing
- Manipulating data into information
Case or system cabinet
 the
box that houses
the processor chip
(CPU – Central Processing Unit)
 memory chips (RAM)
 motherboard with power supply
 secondary storage devices
 video card
 Etc. …..

Introduction to Information Technology

22

Motherboard - the main
circuit board in the
computer.

Everything else attaches
to the motherboard
through connections
called ports.

Expansion slots - “plugs”
on the motherboard for
expanding the PC’s
capabilities via additional
circuit boards.
Introduction to Information Technology
Motherboard
23
Processing


Back
Processor chip
A tiny piece of silicon that contains millions of miniature
electronic circuits.
Introduction to Information Technology
Front
24
Storage
Primary storage
 Computer
circuitry that temporarily holds data
waiting to be processed and after it has been
processed
 Also called:
Memory or primary memory
 RAM – Random Access Memory
 Temporary storage

Introduction to Information Technology

25
Memory chips
Introduction to Information Technology
RAM
26
Secondary storage
 The

Storage
Introduction to Information Technology
area in the computer where data or
information is held permanently
 Also simply called:
27
Storage capacity is measured in:

1 byte - 1 character is represented using 1 byte.



1 kilobyte - 1,024 characters.
= 210 bytes (approx. 103 bytes)
1 megabyte - 1,048,576 characters.
= 220 bytes (approx. 106 bytes)
1 gigabyte - more than 1 billion characters.
= 230 bytes (approx. 109 bytes)

1 terabyte - more than 1 trillion characters.
= 240 bytes (approx. 1012 bytes)
Introduction to Information Technology
= 8 bits (a bit is a 0 or a 1)
28
Zip disk
Introduction to Information Technology
Storage
Floppy disk
29
Hard-disk drive
Introduction to Information Technology
Storage
30
CD drive
Introduction to Information Technology
Storage
31
Flash Memory Sticks
Introduction to Information Technology
Storage
32
Speakers
Introduction to Information Technology
Output
33
Sound card
Introduction to Information Technology
Speaker output requires a sound
card.
34
Monitor
Introduction to Information Technology
Output
35
Introduction to Information Technology
A video card controls the video
display of your monitor.
36
Printer
Introduction to Information Technology
Output
37
Introduction to Information Technology
Communications
38
Introduction to Information Technology
Put all the hardware together and…
39

System software

Helps the computer
perform essential
operating tasks and
enables the
application software
to run
Introduction to Information Technology
You still need the software!
40

Application software

Enables you to
perform specific
tasks--solve
problems, perform
work, or entertain
yourself
Introduction to Information Technology
You still need the software!
41
Introduction to Information Technology
The slides that follow will not
be covered in class.
42
1.4 Where Is Information
Technology Headed?

Miniaturization

Speed
Then (1946)

Affordability
Now
Introduction to Information Technology
Three Directions of Computer
Development
43

Connectivity

Interactivity

Multimedia
Introduction to Information Technology
Three Directions of
Communications Development
44

Convergence

Portability

Personalization
Introduction to Information Technology
When Computers &
Communications Combine:
Convergence, Portability, &
Personalization
45

Speed and scale

Unpredictability

Complexity
Introduction to Information Technology
“E” Also Stands for Ethics
46

Learn to deal with information overload

Have a strategy to memorize information:
reduce dependence on technology

Learn how to make your “multitasking”
efficient
Introduction to Information Technology
Onward: Handling Information in
the Era of Pervasive Computing
47
Onward: Handling Information in
the Era of Pervasive Computing
Be aware that “smart mobs” could also be
dumb mobs: Know when technology is
being used against you.
Introduction to Information Technology

48

What are the two key components of information
technology?

Computers and communications
Introduction to Information Technology
Concept Check
49

What are the two key aspects of cyberspace?

The Internet and the World Wide Web
Introduction to Information Technology
Concept Check
50

What are the five sizes of computers from
largest to smallest?

Supercomputer, mainframe, workstation,
microcomputer, microcontroller
Introduction to Information Technology
Concept Check
51

What is a LAN?

A local area network is a connected group of
desktop PCs and other devices such as printers,
normally located in an office or building.
Introduction to Information Technology
Concept Check
52

Which size of computer is also called an
“embedded computer?”

Microcontroller
Introduction to Information Technology
Concept Check
53

What is the term for a computer used to hold
collections of data and programs for connecting
PCs, workstations, and other devices?

Server
Introduction to Information Technology
Concept Check
54
Concept Check
What are the five basic operations that
computers have in common?

Input, processing, storage, output, and
communications
Introduction to Information Technology

55
Concept Check
Which type of storage is composed of computer
circuitry that temporarily holds data waiting to be
processed?

Primary storage (memory)
Introduction to Information Technology

56

What computer device consists of electronic
circuitry that executes instructions to process
data?

CPU (Central Processing Unit)
Introduction to Information Technology
Concept Check
57

Are RAM chips used for primary or secondary
storage?

Primary - they’re also called memory chips.
Introduction to Information Technology
Concept Check
58

What is the name of the main circuit board in the
computer, to which everything else is attached
via connections called ports?

Motherboard
Introduction to Information Technology
Concept Check
59

How many characters can be represented by a
byte? A kilobyte?

A byte represents a single character; 1, 024
characters make a kilobyte
Introduction to Information Technology
Concept Check
60

What is the name for the unit of storage capacity
representing one billion characters?

One gigabyte
Introduction to Information Technology
Concept Check
61

What is the name for any component or piece of
equipment that expands a computer’s input,
storage, and/or output capabilities? A zip-disk
drive is an example of this type of component.

Peripheral device
Introduction to Information Technology
Concept Check
62

What type of software includes the operating
system and the master control program that runs
the computer?

System software
Introduction to Information Technology
Concept Check
63