2013 COUMPUTER FOR DUMMIES Varun WINDFEILDS 10/15/2013 1|Page TABLE OF CONTENTS What is a computer?.................................................................................................................. 4 What is hardware?..................................................................................................................... 6 What are the main hardware components of a computer? : ...................................................... 8 What is an operating system? ................................................................................................. 10 What is software? :.................................................................................................................. 12 Software are ............................................................................................................................ 12 samples of software: ............................................................................................................... 14 common user interface elements and describe their functions: .............................................. 16 A common user interface adopts any users identification which staff members who wants to use the program can chose its own password and that the same password can be used with all others applications on the network. ........................................................................................ 16 What is a peripheral? .............................................................................................................. 18 What peripherals are commonly used, and what are they used for? ....................................... 20 What is a network? What are the difference between a network and a stand-alone environment?........................................................................................................................... 22 Revolutions in Computing Timeline ....................................................................................... 24 Bibliography: .......................................................................................................................... 43 2|Page 3|Page WHAT IS A COMPUTER? : A computer is a system/programmable machine of many parts that work together. It is an electronic device to store and process data. Most computers are electronic and digital. 4|Page 5|Page WHAT IS HARDWARE? Hardware is a machine/wired object that is a physical component of a computer, a device that can be physically connected to a computer. 6|Page 7|Page WHAT ARE THE MAIN HARDWARE COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER? : A mouse, a keyboard, a system unit, and a monitor. Other types of hardware are a speaker, a modem, and a printer. A mouse has 2 buttons, a primary button (the left button of the mouse) and the secondary button which is the right button on the mouse. There is also another part of the mouse which many have. It’s a wheel between the 2 buttons that you can scroll in the monitor. When you want to click to certain area on the monitor, you press and release the primary button. When you move the mouse with your hand, a pointer on the screen moves in the same way. The keyboard allows you to type letters on the monitor. There are 3 parts of the keyboard. The function keys which are at the top of the row and are used for specific reasons. The numeric pad, which is on the right side of the keyboard which you can type numbers quickly. The last part of the keyboard is called the navigation keys; these keys are the up, down, right and up arrows on the keyboard which is used to move the position on a document or webpage. 8|Page 9|Page WHAT IS AN OPERATING SYSTEM? What is its purpose? : A operating system is a system in the computer that supports or has the main functions of a computer. Such as Intel Core i7, Windows 7, Windows 8, IOS, Mac OS X 10 operating systems. Intel Core i7. 10 | P a g e 11 | P a g e WHAT IS SOFTWARE? : Software are the programs and other operating information used by a computer. Anything that can copy data to a mass storage device is software. Software is a number of instructions which is coded by programmers in any special programming language. 12 | P a g e 13 | P a g e SAMPLES OF SOFTWARE: Some samples of software and commonly used software are Google Chrome, Skype, Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, and Internet Explorer. Google Chrome is the fastest internet browser used on the computer which is made by Google. Skype is the best calling service that allows you to video call, instant message, send files, share screens, etc. Microsoft Word is a software for writing work like resumes, letters, etc. Adobe Photoshop is used for editing pictures for posting on the internet, printing, etc. 14 | P a g e 15 | P a g e COMMON USER INTERFACE ELEMENTS AND DESCRIBE THEIR FUNCTIONS: A common user interface adopts any users identification which staff members who wants to use the program can chose its own password and that the same password can be used with all others applications on the network. 16 | P a g e 17 | P a g e WHAT IS A PERIPHERAL? : A peripheral is a device that is an input, output, or storage. An input device is a device used to interact with or to send data to the computer such as microphones, webcams, mouse’s, keyboards. An output device lets you supply to the user from the computer. A storage device stores data processed by the computer such as a USB drive, a hard drive and flash drives. A peripheral device is a device that is connected to the computer. 18 | P a g e 19 | P a g e WHAT PERIPHERALS ARE COMMONLY USED, AND WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR? : Common peripherals are a mouse, which is used for moving the cursor on the screen to a desired place. A keyboard, is a device that you can type and write something on the screen. A USB, that is a device that you can send files and import files to any computer you want which is useful for sharing stored data. 20 | P a g e 21 | P a g e WHAT IS A NETWORK? WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NETWORK AND A STAND-ALONE ENVIRONMENT? : A network is a number of computers that are connected and linked together that share information and data. There are 5 types of network. Local area network (LAN), which is that the computers are close to each other and that are in the same building. A Wide area network (WAN), is when the computers are far apart and connected by telephone line or radio waves. 22 | P a g e 23 | P a g e REVOLUTIONS IN COMPUTING TIMELINE Abacus Antikythra mechanism Year What is it? Why is it important? Interesting fact 300 B.c it is one of the first counting devices created to help people count until number were invented it is important because there was no numbers and people needed a way to count especially the in the starting only merchants used the abacus to help them count it is an instrument kinda of like a mechanical analog computer that is used to calculate the movements of stars and planets in it’s important because at that time they didn’t have a compass so they negatived by the stars it is the most complicated ancient device discovered 87 B.C lost arou nd 76 B.C merchants . astronomy John Napier, Calculation Tables 16th cent ury it was the worlds first calculator created in england because back when he created the table people were not good at math so this helped them a lot it’s called napier’s bones Joseph-Marie Jacquard, Punchcard controlled loom 1804 it is a machine that weaves complicated designs fast john marie invention is one the first examples of computer programing and also because it can create a lot of complicated patterns easily marie was a worker in a factor and in her spare time worked on the machine Charles Babbage, Difference Engine 1821 it is a device that calculates and tabulate it is important because it is the first complete design of an automatic calculating engine baddage created 4 different versions of difference engine each better than the other polynomial functions 24 | P a g e 25 | P a g e Samuel Morse, Telegraph 1837 it is a device that is used for long distance communication by using electrical signals over a wire it is important because it revolutionized long distance communication the telegraph samuel morse build is much more simple to use than what most of the other inventors built Sir Charles Wheatstone, paper tapes 1857 it is an improved version of the telegraph system it was important because it was the first telegraph made available to the public. wheatstone also created an invention called the microphone Stoles, Glidden and Soule, typewriter 1867 it is a device that is used to type something on a piece of paper it was important because it set the model for modern day keyboards and it was faster for newspapers to type then write it the typewriters took of in sales starting 1880’s and right after it was built. Herman Hollerith, Tabulating Machine 1890 it is a device that is used to calculate census data more efficiently than hand methods it is important because it saved the taxpayers of that time a lot of money. and because he founded the company that later became ibm hollerith design denominated the computing industry for almost 100 years Colossus 1943 colossus was the world’s first computer it was important because it an important system that was used during world war 2 to decrypt messages out of the ten colossus computers after the war eight were destroyed for computer security reasons. Bell Labs, the Transistor 1947 transistor is a device that is used to amplify a signal from a electronic device it is important because it started a new generation of modern electronic devices it was first introduced in 1907 but didn’t get known until bell released it in 1947 Texas Instruments and Fairchild Semiconductor, Integrated Circuit 1961 it was used to increase the number of components on a device and decrease the size it was a important invention for modern technological development it was also known as microchip 26 | P a g e 27 | P a g e IBM 360 1964 it was the first mainframe computer system family that could do a complete range of both commercial and scientific ti was important because it started a new era of computer compatibility for the first time the IBM 360 replaced the five computers on the product line at that with a very compatible family of computers. Word Processor invented 1979 word processor is the use of computer generator text data that you can create, edit, store, retrieve or print an document on it is important because it was the first commercially successful word processing software the first word processor was called wordstar it got knocked out of the market because of poor performance of wordstar 2000 ARPANET 1969 it was a software that was made during cold war to help the military it was important because it protected important information from other countries it was the grandfather of internet Intel, 1K RAM CHIP (the 4004) 1971 it is the the first microprocessor it had everything that made the computer run on a small chip it was important because ever thing that was important is on one chip. it had the power to do the work of twelve chips Jonathan Titus, Mark 8 1974 mark 8 is a microcomputer based on the first 8 bit microprocessor (intel 8008) it was important because it inspired the the revolution of new computer era there was another microcomputer that came before the mark 8 (scecbi-8) but wasn’t that popular BBN, Telenet 1973 bbn telenet is a company that was formed Bolt Beranek & Newman bbn telenet was the first to find out the commercial potential of packet switching the telenet inc did not make much money as they thought it would. Paul Allen and Bill Gates invent BASIC 1975 basic (stands for beginner's all Purpose symbolic instruction code) it is important because there partnership will grow to be the biggest corporations in u.s gates and allen have been buddies for a long time before they created micro-soft USENET 1980 it was a world wide internet discussion system it is important because it has a big cultural importance in the network world and has popularized many words such as FAQ and spam even though it’s old people still use usenet 28 | P a g e 29 | P a g e TCP/IP 1978 tcp/ip stands for transmission control protocol/internet protocol is used by the internet for transmitting data it is important because without tcp/ip computers would not be able to communicate with each other tcp/ip tcp depends on ip to function Apple Macintosh 1983 1984 apple macintosh is the first commercially successful that used graphical user interface it is important because it revolutionized how computers are used now before macintosh the computer were all text based Microsoft Windows 1.0 1985 windows 1.0 is software that allows you to click your way through screens without pressing your command on MSDOS it is important because it is a software that is now used in every computer in the world the windows 1.0 was initially sold for 100 dollars The Internet 1995 the internet is a global system that is interconnected to other computer networks which use the same communication protocols the internet is important because it revolutionized the computers and the communications world like nothing has ever did before in our history the grandfather of internet is ARPAnet and the father of internet is NSFnet Apple iPod 2001 ipod is a device that lets you have songs on a portable device ipod is important because it started a new era of portable technology the ipod even though it released in 2001 it didn’t start selling until 2004 because of the price and mac only compatibility 30 | P a g e Apple iPhone 2007 iphone is a touch screen smartphone that not only can you call but you could also use other the apple iphone is important because it created a new era of smartphone apple used about a 1000 employees to confidential work on the iphone applications such as internet 31 | P a g e 32 | P a g e Amazon Kindle 2007 kindle is a device that lets you shop for download, browse and read eBooks, newspapers, etc.. it is important because it created a new way of reading other than hard copy books the kindle software is not only in the kindle device but also in others like Microsoft and ios Apple iPad 2010 the apple ipad is a line of tablet computers that were designed and produced by apple it is important because it is bringing forward a new generation of mini computers apple’s first tablet computer was newton message pad 100 which was created in 1993 Android 2003 android is an open source software operating system that is created primarily for touchscreen devices smartphones or tablets it is important because like apple IOS android is something that is revolutionizing the touch screen devices android was originally backed up by Google until it got bought by Google in 2005 3D Printing 1983 is the making of a three dimensional solid object of any shape by a digital model it is important because it could replace regular household objects and revolutionize the printing world in 2012 3D printing was worth 2.2 billion worldwide was up by 29% since 2011 33 | P a g e 34 | P a g e Leap Motion Controller 2010 leap motion is a motion controller that senses your hands and fingers and fellows it’s every move so you could do almost everything without touching it is important because it could change how we use technology in the future the leap motion uses 3d modeling to work and do what it does The Cloud 1960 is the used to store or share data processing tasks and online access to computer services or resources it is important because it is faster and easier to use than traditional means some people say the roots of cloud date back to 1950’s 35 | P a g e 36 | P a g e Evaluating a website http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/04/dayintech_0404 April 4, 1975: Bill Gates, Paul Allen Form a Little Partnership The author of this website is Randy Alfred. The website is owned by a company and I know that because of the .com in the website URL. This website is good because it also has a way to contact the author to ask questions about if you need to and it is not like a comment box but he personally answers you by email. The information on this website is also pretty new because it was updated on April 4 0f 2008. I could not tell if the site is well maintained or not but the links on the page are not broken and very good. Overall I liked the website because it was easy to read and navigate and I also think it’s pretty well organized to so I would recommend this website and also might use in the future as well 37 | P a g e 38 | P a g e Index computer, 3 E electronic, 3 F files, 11 H Hardware, 4 K keyboard, 10 M Microsoft Word, 7 monitor, 4 mouse, 10 P peripheral device, 10 U USB, 10 39 | P a g e 40 | P a g e Glossary applications: is a special use or purpose to which something is put like technology having Numerous applications to help the user astronomy : is an expression that has the sum of two or more terms each which is the product of constant and variable raised to an integral power compatibility: is being capable of running on another computer without any change or being capable of connecting to another device without need help from software or equipment merchants .: a person who buys or sells stuff for profit ( dealer, trader) polynomial portable device is a device that you can carry around with you and use when ever or where ever you like 41 | P a g e 42 | P a g e BIBLIOGRAPHY: "Parts of a Computer." 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