11th Edition
TODAY AND TOMORROW
1

CHAPTER
Chapter 1
Introduction to the World
of Computers
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
1
Learning Objectives





Chapter 1
Explain
.
List some important milestones in computer
evolution.
Identify the major parts of a personal
computer, including input, processing, output,
storage, and communications hardware.
Define software and understand how it is
used to instruct the computer what to do.
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
2
Learning Objectives, Cont’d




Chapter 1
List the five basic types of computers, giving at least
one example of each type of computer and stating what
that computer might be used for.
Explain what a network, the Internet, and the World
Wide Web are, as well as how computers, people, and
Web pages are identified on the Internet.
Describe how to access a Web page.
Discuss the societal impact of computers, including
some benefits and risks related to their prominence in
our society.
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
3
Overview

Chapter 1
This chapter covers:

What computers do and how they work

Computer terminology

Different categories of computers

An overview of networks and the Internet

Societal impacts of computers
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
4
Computers in Your Life
Chapter 1

Why learn about computers?
Basic computer literacy—knowing about and
understanding computers and their uses—is an
essential skill today for everyone

Computers in the home
Look up information, exchange e-mail, shop,
download music and movies, research products, pay
bills and manage bank accounts, check news and
weather, store and organize digital photos, play
games, plan vacations, work at home, and more
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
5
Chapter 1
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
6
Computers in Your Life, Cont’d

Chapter 1
Computers in education: K-12 schools, from straight
drill-and-practice programs to using the computer as
an overall student-based learning tool. Colleges and
universities, classrooms, computer labs, dorms,
libraries
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
7
Computers in Your Life, Cont’d

Chapter 1
Computers in the workplace: Multinational corporation
CEOs, check-out clerks, traveling salespeople, police
officers, insurance adjusters, doctors and nurses, auto
mechanics
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
8
Computers in Your Life, Cont’d

Chapter 1
Computers on the go:
portable PCs, Wi-Fi
hotspots, Internet cafes,
ATM machines, gym ID
cards, gas or parking
smart cards, portable
GPS, kiosks
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
9
What Is a Computer and What Does
It Do?
Computer: programmable, electronic device that
accepts data, performs operations, presents the
results, and can store the data or results
Chapter 1

Input—entering data into the computer

Processing—performing operations on the data

Output—presenting the results

Storage—saving data, programs, or output for future
use
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
10
What Is a Computer and What Does
It Do? Cont’d
Chapter 1
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
11
Data vs. Information
Chapter 1

Data = raw, unorganized facts
 Can be in the form of text, graphics, audio, or
video

Information = data that has been processed into a
meaningful form
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
12
Computers Then and Now
Chapter 1

The computer as we know it is a fairly recent
invention

The history of computers is often referred to in terms
of generations, from pre-computers and early
computers (before 1945) to fifth generation
computers (now and the future)

Each new generation is characterized by a major
technological development
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
13
Computers Then and Now
Chapter 1
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
14
Hardware

Chapter 1
The physical parts of a computer are collectively
referred to as hardware

Internal hardware: located inside the main box
(system unit) of the computer

External hardware: located outside the system unit
and plug into connectors called ports located on
the exterior of the system unit
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
15
Hardware, Cont’d
Chapter 1

Input devices: used to input data into the computer
(keyboard, mouse, scanner, electronic pen, etc.)

Processing devices: perform calculations and
comparisons needed for processing. The main
processing device is the central processing unit
(CPU)

Output devices: present the results to the user
(printer, monitor, speakers, etc.)
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
16
Hardware, Cont’d
Chapter 1

Storage devices: used to save data, programs or
output; store data on storage media (floppy disks,
CDs, DVDs, hard drives, flash memory cards, USB
flash memory disks, etc.)

Communication devices: allow the user to
communicate with others and access remote
information (modem, network adapters, etc.)
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
17
Chapter 1
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
18
Software
Chapter 1

The programs or instructions used to tell the
computer hardware what to do

System software: allows a computer to operate

Operating system: the main system software program
 Boots the computer and launches programs etc. at
the user’s direction
 Windows, Mac OS, Linux, etc.
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
19
Chapter 1
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
20
Software

Chapter 1
Application software: performs specific tasks or
applications
 Creating letters, budgets, etc.
 Managing inventory and customer databases
 Scheduling appointments
 Viewing Web pages
 Sending and receiving e-mail
 Designing homes
 Playing games
 And much, much more
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
21
Chapter 1
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
22
Computer Users and Professionals
Chapter 1

Computer users (end users): people who use a
computer to obtain information

Programmers: computer professionals whose job
responsibility is to write the programs that computers
use
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
23
Computers to Fit Every Need

Chapter 1
Five basic categories

Mobile devices

Personal computers

Midrange servers

Mainframe computers

Supercomputers
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
24
Mobile Devices




Chapter 1
Very small device with some type of
built-in computing or Internet
capability
Typically based on cellular phones
Smart phones can be used to access
the Web and e-mail, take photos,
play games, access calendars, and
address books
Smart watches can download
information from the Internet, store
data, play music files, etc.
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
25
Personal Computers





Chapter 1
Small computer system designed to be used by one
person at a time; small enough to fit on a desktop,
inside a briefcase
Also called a microcomputer
PC-compatible: evolved from the original IBM PC;
typically runs the Windows operating system
Macintosh: type of personal computer manufactured
by Apple, uses the Mac OS operating system
Can be desktop, notebook, tablet, or handheld
computers
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
26
Desktop PCs
Chapter 1

Desktop PC: the complete computer system
fits on or next to a desk; case styles include:

Tower

Desktop

All-in-one
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
27
Portable PCs

Chapter 1
Portable PC: designed to be carried around

Notebook computers (laptops)

Tablet PCs (either slate or convertible)

Handheld computers (pocket computers):
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
28
Chapter 1
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
29
Portable PCs, Cont’d

Chapter 1
Handheld PCs
 Typically battery powered
 Sometimes referred to as
personal digital assistants or
PDAs
 Have increasing functionality
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
30
Portable PCs, Cont’d

Chapter 1
Cradles and
docking
stations can be
used with
portable PCs
to easily
connect other
hardware,
transfer or
synchronize
data, etc.
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
31
Personal Computers, Cont’d
Chapter 1

Thin client or network computer (NC): PC
designed to access a network for processing and
data storage

Internet appliance: specialized network computer
designed for Internet access and/or e-mail exchange
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
32
Midrange Servers
Chapter 1

Minicomputer or
midrange computer:
medium-sized
computer used to host
programs and data for
a small network

May consist of a
collection of individual
circuit boards called
blades (blade servers)
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
33
Mainframe Computers



Chapter 1
Standard choice for large
organizations, hospitals,
universities, large businesses,
banks, government offices
Larger, more expensive, and
more powerful than midrange
servers; usually operate 24
hours a day
Also called high-end
servers or enterprise-class
servers
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
34
Supercomputers



Chapter 1
Fastest, most expensive, most powerful type of
computer
Space exploration, missile guidance, satellites,
weather forecast, oil exploration, scientific research,
complex Web sites, decision support systems, 3D
applications
Commonly built by connecting hundreds of smaller
computers, supercomputing cluster
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
35
Supercomputers, Cont’d
Chapter 1
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
36
Computer Networks and the Internet
Chapter 1

Computer network: collection of hardware and other
devices that are connected together so that users can
share hardware, software, and data, as well as
communicate with each other

Network servers: manage resources on a network

Clients: computers on a network that access resources
through the network server

Computer networks exist in many sizes and types
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
37
Chapter 1
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
38
What Are the Internet and the World
Wide Web?




Chapter 1
Internet: largest and most well-known computer
network in the world
Individuals connect to the Internet using an Internet
service provider (ISP)
Most common Internet activities: e-mail and
accessing the World Wide Web (WWW)
“Internet” refers to the physical structure of that
network, the World Wide Web is one resource (a vast
collection of Web pages) available through the
Internet
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
39
Accessing a Network or the Internet
Chapter 1

Need a modem or network adapter to physically
connect your computer to the network

Software (often built into the operating system) allows
you to log on to the network and access resources

Many networks and Internet connections require a
user ID and password to log on to the network
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
40
Accessing a Network or the Internet,
Cont’d

Chapter 1
Internet addresses are used to access resources on
the Internet
 IP address—numeric address that identifies
computers (207.46.138.20)
 Domain name—text-based address that idenfies
computers (microsoft.com)
 Uniform resource locator (URL)—identifies Web
pages (http://www.pbskids.org)
 E-mail address—identifies people for e-mail
exchange (jsmith@thomson.com)
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
41
Accessing a Network or the Internet,
Cont’d
Chapter 1
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
42
Surfing the Web

Chapter 1
Web browser
 Used to view Web pages
 A universal tool for exploring and using the
Internet
 Can view information, download files, view videos,
exchange e-mail, etc. via Web pages
 Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Firefox,
Opera, etc.
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
43
Surfing the Web, Cont’d

To view Web pages



Chapter 1
Can type a URL in the Address bar and press
Enter to display the corresponding Web page
Can click a hyperlink to display the page
corresponding to that hyperlink (point to a
hyperlink to see the corresponding URL on the
status bar)
Can select a page from the browser Favorites or
History list)
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
44
Surfing the Web, Cont’d
Chapter 1
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
45
Searching the Web
Chapter 1

Internet search: use when you know generally what
you want but do not know the URL

Search sites: help you locate what you are looking for
on the Internet; Google is one of the most popular
sites

Reference sites: use to look up addresses, telephone
numbers, ZIP codes, maps, etc.
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
46
Searching the Web, Cont’d
Chapter 1
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
47
E-Mail
Chapter 1

Electronic messages sent from one user to another
over the Internet or other network

Can use an e-mail program such as Netscape Mail,
Microsoft Outlook Express, Microsoft Outlook to send
and receive e-mail

Can use Web-based e-mail to send and receive email via a Web site; e-mail messages stay on the
mail server and are viewed using a Web browser
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
48
Chapter 1
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
49
Computers and Society
Chapter 1

The vast improvements in technology over the past
decade have had a distinct impact on daily life, both
at home and at work

There are numerous benefits of a computer-oriented
society, including making many tasks in our lives go
much faster

Risks include health, security, ethical, and privacy
concerns
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
50
Computers and Society, Cont’d

Other concerns are:

Chapter 1
Differences in online communications (don’t be too
casual and use good netiquette)

The anonymity factor (people can be somewhat
anonymous on the Internet)

Information integrity (not all information on the
Internet is accurate)
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
51
Summary
Chapter 1

Computers in Your Life

What Is a Computer and What Does It Do?

Computers to Fit Every Need

Computer Networks and the Internet

Computers and Society
Understanding Computers, 11th Edition
52