C/IL 102 Computer and Information Literacy
Spring 1998
CHAPTER 1
AN OVERVIEW OF USING COMPUTERS
COMPUTER AND INFORMATION LITERACY
 Computer literacy
 Knowing how to use a computer
 Information literacy
 Knowing how to find, analyze and use information
WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
 An electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory unit, that
can accept data (input), process data arithmetically and logically, produce results (output) from the
processing, and store results for future use.
WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER?
 Hardware
 Input devices
 System unit
 Output devices
 Storage devices
 Communications devices
 Peripheral devices
WHAT DOES A COMPUTER DO?
 Information processing cycle
 Input  process  output  storage  input
 Data
 Information
 Computer users (End users)
WHY IS A COMPUTER SO POWERFUL?
 Speed
 Reliability
 Accuracy
 Storage
 Communications
CONNECTIVITY
 Connect a computer to other computers
 Network
 Internet
 World Wide Web (WWW)
CATEGORIES OF COMPUTERS
 Personal computers
 Servers
 Minicomputers
 Mainframe computers
 Supercomputers
TYPES OF PERSONAL COMPUTERS
 Hand-held
 Palmtop
 Pen
 Personal digital assistant (PDA)
 Notebook
 Subnotebook
 Laptop
C/IL 102 Computer and Information Literacy
 Desktop
 Tower
 Workstation
 Network computer
 Laptop
 Desktop
 Tower
 Workstation
 Network computer
COMPUTER SOFTWARE
 Computer programs
 Instructions that specify the sequence of computer operations
 System software
 Operating system – MS Windows 95
 Application software
 Software packages
WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF AN INFORMATION SYSTEM?
 Software
 Hardware
 Data
 Users
 Procedures
 Personnel
Spring 1998