Welna van Eeden
veedeiw@gmail.com
Learning objectives
Learning about computer hardware and software:
• Computer types
• Computer applications
• Input
• Processing
• Output
• Storage
Computer basics
What is a computer?
• Device that accepts input, processes data, stores data,
and produces output
• Consists of input, storage, and output devices
• Typical computer system comprises hardware and
software
Computer basics
Computer types
•
Desktop computer: computer that is designed to stay
in a single location
Casing (tower), monitor, mouse, and keyboard
•
Laptop / Netbook computers
Personal computers/portable computers that you can
take with you and use in different environments
Screen, keyboard, and a glide/track pad
Computer basics
Computer types (cont.)
•
Tablet computer
Portable computer that uses a touchscreen as its
primary input device
• i-Pad
Tablet computer developed by Apple
• Smart phone
Mobile phone with advanced functionality
Computer basics
Hardware
Physical parts of a computer and related devices :
- External hardware devices include monitors,
keyboards, mouse, printers, and scanners
- Internal hardware devices include motherboards*,
hard drives, and RAM*
Computer basics
* Definitions
Motherboard
Main circuit board of computer - makes everything in your
computer work together
RAM (Random Access Memory)
Main memory. Volatile memory that is erased when power is
turned off
Place in a computer where the operating system, application
programs, and data in current use are kept so that they can be
quickly reached by the computer's processor
Computer basics
Software
Collection of computer programs and related data that
provide the instructions for telling a computer what to
do and how to do it
Computer software : designed to help the user to
perform singular or multiple related specific tasks, e.g.
application software*
Programming software : program or application that
software developers use to create, debug, maintain, or
otherwise support other programs and applications
Computer basics
*Application software
• Word processing
• Spread sheets
• Slide presentations
• e-mail
• Browser
• Security
Computer basics
Word processing
• Creation, input, editing, and production of
documents and texts by means of
computer systems (programs)
• Create, edit, format, save, print
Computer basics
Spread sheets
•
Documents that store data in a grid of horizontal
rows and vertical columns.
•
Rows: labelled using numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.),
columns are labelled with letters (A, B, C, etc).
•
Individual row/column locations, such as C3 or
B12, are referred to as cells
•
Performs simple or complex calculations on the
numbers you enter in rows and columns
Computer basics
Slide presentations
•
Sequence of slides containing text and graphics
•
Information turned into visual form
Computer basics
Software suites
•
Collection of computer programs, usually
application software and programming software
of related functionality, often sharing a more-orless common user interface*
Computer basics
User interface
User interface : Allows the user to interact with the
software or hardware system – to controls a software
application or hardware device
Nearly all software programs have a graphical user
interface (menu bar, toolbar, windows)
Computer basics
E-mail
• Method of exchanging digital messages from an
author to one or more recipients
• E- mail client: program that has to be on your
computer to download and manage e-mails
• Web-based e-mail account: E-mail is managed
entirely through web pages
Computer basics
Browser
• Internet browser: program that allows you
navigate the World Wide Web, view html pages
• Interprets HTML code including text, images,
hypertext links, Javascript
• Displays web pages, keeps track of where
you've been, and remembers the places you
want to return to
Computer basics
Security
•
Security software: utility programs
- Anti-virus: protective software designed
to defend your computer against malicious software
- Fire-wall: hardware or software that slows the
invasion of a computer system by blocking viruses
and hackers
- Anti-spam: examines incoming e-mail and
sends known or suspected bad messages to a special
folder, spam or junk
Computer basics
Input
•
Feeding data into the computer - communication
between user and computer
Input device
• Piece of computer hardware equipment used to
provide data and control signals to the computer
(information processing system)
Computer basics
Input devices
• Keyboard
• Pointing devices
• Data automation
Computer basics
Keyboards
•
Set of typewriter-like keys with a number of new
keys added
•
Laid out in different patterns, the most common
being the QWERTY layout
• Keys:
Alpha-numeric keys -- letters and numbers
Punctuation keys e.g. comma, period, semicolon
Special keys e.g. function keys, control keys, arrow
keys, Caps Lock key
Computer basics
Pointing devices
Devices used to move the cursor on the screen
Cursor
Special symbol, usually a solid rectangle that shows
where the next character will be displayed on the
screen
Cursor needs to be moved to type in different areas of
the screen
Computer basics
Pointing devices
•
Mouse
Cursor on the screen follows the movement of the mouse
Click or double-click buttons on mouse to perform tasks
•
Glide pad
Touch sensitive pad for controlling cursor
Cursor follows the finger movement on the pad
•
Touch screen
User selects options by touching the screen
Computer basics
Data automation
Use of electronic or mechanical equipment and
techniques to automatically record, communicate, and
process data and to present the data
• Scanner
Creates a digital image of what it scanned
• Bar-code scanner
Hand-held device that can read barcodes
• Credit card reader
Reads the magnetic numbers in the magnetic strip
on the card when swiped
Computer basics
Processing
Manipulating of data within the computer
• Digital computers: information stored as a string
of zeros or ones - off or on
• CPU (Central Processing Unit) – “brain” of a computer
: processes everything from basic instructions to
complex functions
Computer basics
Output
Data that has been processed into useful form, now
called Information
Hard copy
Printed copy of information from a computer
Soft copy
Electronic copy of data, such as a file viewed on a
computer or transmitted as an e-mail attachment
Computer basics
Output devices
Monitor
Converts electrical signals from the computer into
points of coloured light on the screen to form an image
Printer
Converts computer output into printed images. Most
common types of printers: inkjet and laser printers.
Computer basics
Storage
Media and methods used to keep information available for
later use
• Magnetic discs – hard drive
Storage medium in desktop and laptop computers, servers
and mainframes
•
Optical disc – CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray
Electronic data storage medium that can be written to
and read using a low-powered laser beam
Computer basics
Storage (cont.)
Media and methods used to keep information available for
later use
• USB drive – flash drive
Small, portable flash memory card that plugs into a
computer
• External, portable hard drive
High-capacity data storage device located outside of the
computer
Computer basics
Operating system
• Software that communicates with computer
hardware on the most basic level
• Without an operating system, no software programs
can run
• Accepts keyboard or mouse inputs and displays the
results of the actions
• Allows the user to run applications, or communicate
with other computers via networked connections
• Serves as the user interface
Computer basics
Jan’s illustrated computer literacy
http://www.jegsworks.com/Lessons/lessonintro.htm
The Tech terms computer dictionary
http://www.techterms.com/list/1
University of the West Indies – Library tutorials
http://www.mainlib.uwi.tt/findinfo/tutorials/module1/i
ntro.htm
Computer basics