Introduction to Information and
Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts
Including History
Lecture a
This material (Comp4_Unit1a) was developed by Oregon Health and Science University, funded by the Department of Health and Human
Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology under Award Number IU24OC000015.
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Learning Objectives
• Define what a computer is (Lecture a)
• Describe different types of computers, including PCs,
mobile devices and embedded computers (Lecture a)
• Define the common elements of computer systems
(Lecture a)
• Describe the various hardware and software options for
typical desktop, laptop and server systems for home and
business use with a focus on healthcare systems
(Lectures b and c)
• Explain the development of computers and the Internet,
including healthcare systems, up until the present time.
(Lecture d and e)
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
2
Computer Definition
• According to Webster's Dictionary:
one that computes; specifically :
a programmable, usually electronic, device that
can store, retrieve, and process data
• Originally term applied to people
Man doing computations (EPA, 1973)
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
3
Types of Computers
Personal Computers
• Desktop computer
• Laptop/Notebook/Net
book
• Tablets/iPad
• Smartphones
MSI laptop computer
(CC BY-SA 3.0. Kristoferb, 2010)
First Generation iPad
(Fleishman, 2010)
Android Smartphone
(CC BY-SA 3.0. unnamed, nd.)
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
4
Types of Computers
Large Scale Computers
• Mainframe
• Server
• Supercomputer
IBM 704 Mainframe (Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory, nd.)
Columbia Supercomputer (Trower, NASA)
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
5
Types of Computers
Embedded Computers
Dishwasher (Paes, nd.)
MRI Laboratory of Functional and
Molecular Imaging (NINDS, NIH, nd.)
(top) A portable DVD player by Philips (EvanAmos, 2010)
(bottom) ABS Brakes (Dean, 2007))
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
6
Computer Components
• Hardware
• Software
Graphic workstation (public domain, nd.)
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
7
Computer Hardware
Input Devices
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Keyboard
Touch Screen
Mouse
Microphones
Camera
Stylus
Scanners
(top) Keyboard (Mrsi, 2010)
(bottom left) PDA (public domain, nd.)
(bottom right) Computer mouse (public domain, nd.)
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
8
Computer Hardware
Output Devices
•
•
•
•
Monitors
Projectors
Printers
Sound Output
Output devices: printer and monitor (public
domain, nd.)
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
9
Computer Hardware
Motherboard
• A motherboard
is a circuit board
• Contains
– Processor
– Memory
– Connectors
– Expansion
slots
Labeled diagram of Acer E360 Socket 939 motherboard (Moxfyre, 2008)
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
10
Computer Hardware
Processor
• The processor or Central Processing
Unit (CPU) is the "brain" of the
computer
• Controls all functions of the computer
• Its processing speed is measured in
hertz (Hz)
– Current systems run at GHz speeds
(billion machine cycles per second)
– Not the only determinant of overall
computer speed
• Modern systems have multiple
processors or cores
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
Intel 80486DX CPU
(Dunn, 2005)
11
Computer Hardware
Memory
• Two types
– Read Only Memory (ROM): permanent
– Random Access Memory (RAM): volatile
• RAM is where programs are stored as they
run
– Known as primary storage
– Can be multiple levels of RAM
RAM Memory Modules
(Cyberdex, 2006)
• Too little memory can slow down computer
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
12
Computer Hardware
Secondary Storage
• Secondary storage is
permanent, off chip
storage
• Hard drives: internal and
external
• Slower than memory
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
Internal view of hard drive
(Garczewski, 2004)
13
Computer Hardware
Other Storage
• Removable storage
– Floppy disks
– Optical disks
– USB Flash drive
(top) DVD
(left) Sandisk-brand USB thumb drive, SanDisk Cruzer
Micro, 4GB (Evan-Amos, 2011)
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
14
Computer Hardware
Connectors and Ports
• Ports are way
to connect
peripheral
devices to
your computer
• Universal
serial bus
(USB) port is
very fast
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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USB plug type A (A. Frank, 2005)
• Other ports
– Video
– Audio
– Firewire
– Ethernet
– Modem
Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
15
Computer Software
Operating System
• The operating system (OS) coordinates
hardware and software
• Computers cannot run without an OS
• Allows users to interact with the computer
• Manages tasks in the CPU, memory, storage,
peripheral devices, programs, etc.
• Examples
– Microsoft Windows
– Mac OS
– Linux
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
16
Computer Software
Application Software
• Application software are the programs you
run
• Includes
–
–
–
–
–
Word processors
EMR
Spreadsheets
Browsers
Video Games
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
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OpenOffice Word Processor (Hribar, 2011)
Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
17
More Components
• Networks
– Allow computer to connect to others and to Internet
– Hardware: network ports, connections, routers
– Software: OS and NOS
• Databases
– Collection of data easily stored and retrieved
– Hardware: server (computer and storage)
– Software: DBMS
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
18
Computer Software and Hardware
• Software is the interface between the user
and the computer
• Without meaningful, easy to use
applications, people wouldn't use
computers
• If the hardware is slow, people won't use
the applications
• Important to get a good balance
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
19
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Summary – Lecture a
• Computers are electronic devices that
input, calculate and output data
• Computers range from PCs to large
mainframes and supercomputers
• Computers are also found in most
electronic devices today
• Composed of hardware and software
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
20
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
References – Lecture a
References
• Definition of computer from Webster’s Dictionary online: http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/computer c. 2011.
• Evans A, Martin K, Poatsey MA. Chapter 1: Why Computers Matter to You. In:
Technology in Action: Complete. 7th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall; 2010.
• Evans A, Martin K, Poatsey MA. Chapter 2: Looking at Computers: Understanding
the Parts. In: Technology in Action: Complete. 7th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall;
2010.
• Parsons JJ, Oja D. Chapter 1: Computers and Digital Basics. In: New Perspectives
on Computer Concepts 2011: Comprehensive. 13th ed. Boston: Course Technology;
2010.
• Shelley GB, Vermaat ME. Chapter 1: Introduction to Computers. In: Discovering
Computers 2011: Introductory. 1st ed. Boston: Course Technology; 2010.
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
21
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
References – Lecture a (continued)
Images (continued)
Slide 3: Environmental Protection Agency. (1973, July). ARC - Archival Research Catalog. Retrieved November 2011,
from The National Archives website:
http://arcweb.archives.gov/arc/action/ExternalIdSearch?id=552357&jScript=true
Slide 4: Android Smartphone: Unamed102. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Android_home.png. Retrieved November
2011, from Wikimedia Commons website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/. This file is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 License.
Slide 4: Laptop: Kristoferb (talk). (2010, June 14). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MSI_Laptop_computer.jpg. Retrieved
November 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons
Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.
Slide 4: First generation iPad: copyright Glenn Fleishman, Seattle, WA. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IPad02.jpg. Retrieved November, 2011from Wikimedia Commons website: http://commons.wikimedia.org/ . This file
is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
Slide 5: The Columbia Supercomputer at NASA's Advanced Supercomputing Facility at Ames Research Center:
Trower, NASA, nd.). http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Columbia_Supercomputer__NASA_Advanced_Supercomputing_Facility.jpg . Retrieved November 2011, from Wikimedia Commons
website: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/. This file is in the public domain because it was created by NASA.
Slide 5: An IBM 704 mainframe. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. (n.d.).
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ibm704.gif. Retrieved November 2011, from Wikimedia Commons
website: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/. The copyright holder of this file, Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory, allows anyone to use it for any purpose, provided that the copyright holder is properly attributed.
Redistribution, derivative work, commercial use, and all other use is permitted.
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
22
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
References – Lecture a (continued)
Images (continued)
Slide 6: A portable DVD player by Philips: Evan-Amos. (2010, September 3). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Philipsportable-dvd-player.jpg Retrieved November 2011, from Wikimedia Commons website:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ . Public domain image.
Slide 6: ABS brakes: © by Jeff Dean. (2007, May 4). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Absbrakes.jpg Retrieved
November 2011, from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki. The copyright
holder of this file allows anyone to use it for any purpose, provided that the copyright holder is properly
attributed.
Slide 6: Paes, C. (n.d.). http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dishwasher_open_for_loading.jpg. Retrieved November
2011, from Wikimedia Commons website: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki. The copyright holder of this work
allows anyone to use it for any purpose including unrestricted redistribution, commercial use, and modification.
Slide 6: MRI: NINDS. (n.d.). http://www.lfmi.ninds.nih.gov/img117arrive.php. Retrieved November 2011, from
Wikimedia Commons website: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki.
Slide 7: Graphic workstation: Public Domain. (n.d.).
http://www.wpclipart.com/computer/PCs/graphic_workstation.png.html. Retrieved November 2011, from
WPClipart website: http://www.wpclipart.com/.
Slide 8: Computer Keyboard: Mrsi , I. (2010, August 23).
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Computer_keyboard_US.svg . Retrieved November 2011, from
Wikimedia Commons website: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki . Public domain.
Slide 8: PDA: (n.d.). http://www.clker.com/cliparts/9/0/8/5/1194983833382818263cleanpalm_teudimundo_01.svg.hi.png.
Retrieved November 2011, from Clker.com website: http://www.clker.com/. Public domain:
http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ .
Slide 8: Computer Mouse: Public domain (nd.). Retrieved November 2011from http://www.openclipart.org/detail/3038.
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
23
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
References – Lecture a (continued)
Images (continued)
Slide 9: Output devices: printer and monitor: Public domain (nd.). Retrieved November 2011 from
http://www.openclipart.org/detail/27207.
Slide 10: Labeled diagram of Acer E360 Socket 939 motherboard. Moxfyre. (2008, September 23).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Acer_E360_Socket_939_motherboard_by_Foxconn.svg . Retrieved November
2011, from Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org .
Slide 11: Intel 80486DX CPU. Photograph © Andrew Dunn (2005, November 9 ). Website:
http://www.andrewdunnphoto.com/ . http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Intel_80486DX2_bottom.jpg .
Retrieved November 2011 from Wikimedia Commons website: http://commons.wikimedia.org/.
Slide 12: RAM memory modules. Cyberdex (2006).
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Memory_module_DDRAM_20-03-2006.jpg. Retrieved November 2011
from Wikimedia Commons website: http://commons.wikimedia.org/ . Public domain image.
Slide 13: Internal view of hard drive. Łukasz Garczewski (2004).
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hdd_od_srodka.jpg. Retrieved November 2011 from Wikimedia
Commons website: http://commons.wikimedia.org/. Public domain image.
Slide 14: A Sandisk-brand USB thumb drive, SanDisk Cruzer Micro, 4GB. Evan-Amos (2011).
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SanDisk_Cruzer_Micro.png. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons
website: http://commons.wikimedia.org/. Public domain image.
Slide 14: DVD: WPClipart (nd.). http://www.wpclipart.com/computer/disks/CD/CD_DVD_small_bright.png.html.
Retrieved November 2011 from WPClipart website: http://www.wpclipart.com. Public domain image.
Slide 15: USB plug type A: A. Frank (2005, February). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USB_TypeA_Plug.JPG .
Retrieved November 2011 from Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org. This file is
licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Slide 17: OpenOffice Word Processor screenshot. M. Hribar (2011).
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Information and Computer Science
Basic Computing Concepts Including History
Lecture a
24