Chapter 1
Introduction to Information Technology
Introduction to Information Technology
Using Information
Technology
1
Introduction to Information
Technology
Mind Tools for Your Future
1.1 Infotech Becomes Commonplace: Cellphones, EMail, the Internet, & the E-World
1.3 Understanding Your Computer: What If You
Custom-Ordered Your Own PC?
1.4 Where is Information Technology Headed?
Introduction to Information Technology
1.2 The “All-Purpose Machine”: The Varieties of
Computers
2
“Say goodbye to the personal computing
era. Just on the horizon is the era that
comes next--the personal information era.”
--Kevin Maney, Technology Journalist
– Information overload
– Less use of our brains for memorizing
– A surge in multi-tasking activity
Introduction to Information Technology
•Pervasive computing trends:
3
•Information technology (“infotech”):
– Computers - programmable multiuse machines that
convert data into information
– Communications - electromagnetic devices and
systems for communicating over long distances
Introduction to Information Technology
1.1 Infotech Becomes
Commonplace:
Cellphones, E-Mail, the
Internet, & the E-World
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The Telephone Grows Up
• Internet phones are
cell phones plus:
• Email
• Web services
• Video
Introduction to Information Technology
• Approximately 1
billion people using
cellphones
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“You’ve Got Mail!” E-Mail’s Mass
Impact
• Network communications
system connecting
two or more
computers
Introduction to Information Technology
• E-mail (“electronic
mail”) • messages transmitted
over a network
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• Cyberspace
encompasses the
whole wired and
wireless world of
communications:
• The Internet - the
“mother of all
networks”
• The World Wide Web
- multimedia part of
Net
Introduction to Information Technology
The Internet, the World Wide Web,
& the “Plumbing of Cyberspace”
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The E-World & Welcome to It
• E-business
• E-commerce
• E-learning
• E-pinions
• E-tailing
• E-waste
Introduction to Information Technology
• E-government
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The Varieties of Computers
All Computers, Great & Small: The
Categories of Machines
2. Mainframes
3. Workstations
4. Microcomputers
IBM ASCI White
5. Microcontrollers
Introduction to Information Technology
1. Supercomputers
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All Computers, Great & Small: The
Categories of Machines
2. Mainframes
3. Workstations
4. Microcomputers
5. Microcontrollers
VP2400 mainframe
Introduction to Information Technology
1. Supercomputers
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All Computers, Great & Small: The
Categories of Machines
2. Mainframes
3. Workstations
4. Microcomputers
Sun Microsystems workstation
5. Microcontrollers
Introduction to Information Technology
1. Supercomputers
11
All Computers, Great & Small: The
Categories of Machines
2. Mainframes
3. Workstations
4. Microcomputers
Sony tower PC
5. Microcontrollers
Introduction to Information Technology
1. Supercomputers
12
All Computers, Great & Small: The
Categories of Machines
2. Mainframes
3. Workstations
4. Microcomputers
5. Microcontrollers
Picture of desktop
Introduction to Information Technology
1. Supercomputers
13
All Computers, Great & Small: The
Categories of Machines
2. Mainframes
3. Workstations
4. Microcomputers
5. Microcontrollers
Laptop computer
Introduction to Information Technology
1. Supercomputers
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All Computers, Great & Small: The
Categories of Machines
2. Mainframes
3. Workstations
4. Microcomputers
5. Microcontrollers
Personal Digital Assistant
Introduction to Information Technology
1. Supercomputers
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All Computers, Great & Small: The
Categories of Machines
2. Mainframes
3. Workstations
4. Microcomputers
5. Microcontrollers
Introduction to Information Technology
1. Supercomputers
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Servers
• Clients - PCs, workstations, & other devices
• Server + Clients linked together = Client/Server
network
Introduction to Information Technology
• Server - a central computer that holds
collections of data & programs for clients
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Data
• The raw facts and
figures that are
processed into
information
Information
• Data that has been
summarized or
otherwise
manipulated for use in
decision making
Introduction to Information Technology
1.3 Understanding Your Computer: What
If You Custom-Ordered Your Own PC?
How Computers Work - Concept #1
The purpose of a computer is to process
data into information.
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• Hardware
• Software
• All the machinery
and equipment in a
computer system
• All the instructions
that tell the computer
how to perform a task
Introduction to Information Technology
How Computers Work - Concept #2
Computers consist of hardware and
software.
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How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same five
basic operations.
1. Input
3. Storage
Keyboard
4. Output
5. Communications
Mouse
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Processing
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How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same four
basic operations
1. Input
3. Storage
4. Output
5. Communications
Case or system cabinet
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Processing
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How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same four
basic operations
1. Input
3. Storage
4. Output
5. Communications
Processor chip
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Processing
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How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same four
basic operations
1. Input
3. Storage
4. Output
Memory chips
5. Communication
s
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Processing
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How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same four
basic operations
1. Input
3. Storage
4. Output
5. Communications
Motherboard
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Processing
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How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same four
basic operations
1. Input
• Primary storage
(memory)
3. Storage
4. Output
5. Communications
• Computer circuitry that
temporarily holds data
waiting to be processed
• Secondary storage
(storage)
•
• The area in the computer
where data or information
is held permanently
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Processing
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1. Input
• Byte - 1 character of data
2. Processing
• Kilobyte - 1000
characters
3. Storage
• Megabyte - 1,000,000
characters
4. Output
5. Communications
• Gigabyte - 1 billion
characters
• Terabyte - 1 trillion
characters
Introduction to Information Technology
How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same four
basic operations
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How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same four
basic operations
1. Input
3. Storage
Floppy disk
4. Output
5. Communications
Zip disk
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Processing
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How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same four
basic operations
1. Input
3. Storage
4. Output
5. Communications
Hard-disk drive
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Processing
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How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same four
basic operations
1. Input
3. Storage
4. Output
5. Communications
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Processing
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How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same four
basic operations
1. Input
3. Storage
4. Output
5. Communications
Sound card
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Processing
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How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same four
basic operations
1. Input
3. Storage
4. Output
5. Communications
Speakers
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Processing
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How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same four
basic operations
1. Input
3. Storage
4. Output
5. Communications
Video card
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Processing
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How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same four
basic operations
1. Input
3. Storage
4. Output
5. Communications
Monitor
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Processing
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How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same four
basic operations
1. Input
3. Storage
4. Output
5. Communications
Printer
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Processing
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How Computers Work - Concept #3
All computers follow the same four
basic operations
1. Input
3. Storage
4. Output
5. Communications
Modem
Introduction to Information Technology
2. Processing
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Introduction to Information Technology
Put all the hardware together and…
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You still need the software!
• Helps the computer
perform essential
operating tasks and
enables the
application software
to run
• and…
Introduction to Information Technology
• System software
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You still need the software!
• Enables you to
perform specific
tasks--solve
problems, perform
work, or entertain
yourself
Introduction to Information Technology
• Application software
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1.4 Where Is Information Technology
Headed?
Three Directions of Computer Development
• Speed
• Affordability
Then (1946)
Now
Introduction to Information Technology
• Miniaturization
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Three Directions of
Communications Development
• Connectivity
• Multimedia
Auto PC
Introduction to Information Technology
• Interactivity
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When Computers & Communications
Combine:
Convergence, Portability, & Personalization
• Portability
• Personalization
Introduction to Information Technology
• Convergence
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“E” Also Stands for Ethics
• Speed and scale
• Complexity
Introduction to Information Technology
• Unpredictability
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