Introduction to Computers
Computer Applications
What is a Computer?
An electronic machine that can
 Receive data
 Process data
 Produce results
 Store the results for future use
Vocabulary
Data - a collection of raw unprocessed
facts, figures and symbols
Information - data that is organized
Input - any data the user enters into the
computer
Output - data that has been processed
into information (comes out)
Storage - area that can hold data for
future use
Input, Output, or Storage?
Speaker
Monitor
Keyboard
Hard disk drive
Microphone
Digital Camera
Printer
Scanner
PDA/Smartphone
Types of Computers
Personal Computers
(microcomputer or desktop
computer)
first in 1977
Notebook computers
Handheld computers (iPad, tablet)
Mainframes
Supercomputers
Internet Appliances (Net Books)
Computer System/Information System
Hardware
Equipment that can be touched
Keyboard, mouse, monitor
Software
Programs that give computer
directions
Word, Windows, PowerPoint
Data
Information that goes into the
computer—text, graphics, numbers
User
Hardware Components of a Computer
System Unit
(processing,
memory and
storage) Also
called a
chassis or
CPU
Monitor
Keyboard
Types of Software
System
Application
• Programs that
• Controls the
perform specific
operation of the
tasks for users
computer and
its devices (OS)
• Interface
Utility
between the
• Fix computer
user and the
problems
computer
• Virus protection
Ways to Store Information
 Floppy Disk (1.44 MB)
 Zip (100-750MB)
 CD-RW (700 MB)
 CD-R (700 MB)
 DVD (4.7-17 GB)
 Hard Disk (40 GB )
 Thumb/Flash Drive (256 MB )
Data Communications
 Computers transmitting data
from one to another
Sender
Computer sending message
Receiver
Computer getting message
Channel
Way the message is carried
(phone line, cable…)
Protocol
Rules or language of the transfer
(http://)
Networks
Collection of computers
connected to share
information and resources
LAN - Local Area Networks
Our room or Our school district
WAN – Wide Area Network
Internet
Internet
ARPANET (Predecessor of the
Internet)
Developed by government
Largest network in the world
Terms to know:
E-mail
Electronic Mail
Intranet
Private for a company or
organization’s internal use
Extranets
applications that allow select
outsiders to use an Intranet
Application Software File Extensions
Word processing (Word) .doc
2007 .docx
Spreadsheet (Excel) .xls
2007 .xlsx
Database (Access) .mdb
2007 .accdb
Presentation graphics
(PowerPoint) .ppt
2007 .pptx
The End
Elements
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