Intro. to Computer Applications
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Instructor: Blase B. Cindric
Mount Union College
Spring Semester, 2002
MWF 12:00 noon - 12:50 pm
KHIC 112
What is a Computer System?
• System
– a group of related components working
together to solve some problem
• Computer System
– a system with a computer acting as a major
component
Components of all Computer
Systems
• Hardware
– actual machines that make up the computer
• Software
– also called programs or applications
– instructions for the hardware to follow
• Data
– raw material to be processed by system
Components of all Computer
Systems
• Personnel
– Users
– Support Staff (programmers, help desk, etc.)
– Management
• Documentation
– instructions for personnel to follow
– users manuals, help screens, etc.
Computers are General-Purpose
Problem Solving Devices
• Software determines the specific problem to
be solved
• Different programs cause the machine to act
as a different device
• Data and keystrokes have various meanings
in different programs
– trend: uniform user-interface structure (menus,
hot keys, etc.)
Typical Microcomputer
Applications
• Word Processing
– computer acts as a text manipulating device
(fancy typewriter)
• Spreadsheet
– computer as pencil, paper and calculator
• Database Management
– computer as electronic filing cabinet
Typical Microcomputer
Applications
• Data Communications
– computer as communications agent
– Local-Area Networks
– The Internet (e-mail, World-Wide Web, etc.)
• Presentation Graphics
– computer as multi-media slide-show projector
• Software Development
– programming language
– how new software is created
Essential Aspects of Computing
Process
• Input
– data moves from outside world into computer hardware
• Processing
– computer converts raw input data into results
• Output
– results of processing sent back to outside world
• Storage
– data and results stored in computer-readable format
Hardware Devices
• Input Devices
– Keyboard, Mouse, Microphone, Scanner, ….
• Processing Devices
– CPU, Memory chips
• Output Devices
– Screen, Printers, Speaker, Robot Arm, ….
• Storage Devices
– disks, CD-ROM, CD-RW, ….
Programming Languages
• Input Commands
• Processing Commands
– add, multiply, etc.
• Output Commands
• Storage Commands
– save, open, retrieve, etc.
Intro. to Computer Applications
•
•
•
•
•
Instructor: Blase B. Cindric
Mount Union College
Spring Semester, 2002
MWF 12:00 noon - 12:50 pm
KHIC 112