Basic Computer Terms
Unit 1—Part A
Computer Technology
(S1 Obj 1-2 and Obj 2-3)
Why Study Basic Terms?
• For some people, the computer aisles at an
electronics store can be quite a mystery!
• Prepare for the State Skills Test
• Use computers in your future with ease and
confidence
What is a Computer?
• An electronic device that you can use to
manipulate, store, retrieve and process data.
Information Processing Cycle
Hardware
• The physical, touchable parts of the computer.
Software
• A term that is used in contrast to hardware;
everything in the computer that is not
hardware is software.
• Software allows you to:
– Process words
– Calculate numbers
– Send an e-mail
– Browse the Internet
– And many more…
Input
• A collection of raw data from the outside
world that is put into the computer.
• Example: The payroll clerk collects workers'
timecards so she knows how many hours each
person worked and then types the hours from
the timecards into a spreadsheet.
Input Devices
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Keyboard
Mouse
Scanner
Digital Camera
Bar code reader
Graphic tablets
And many more…
Processing
• Manipulating data
– Bold, italicize, underline, double space in a word
processor
– Enter formulas and calculate totals in a
spreadsheet
– Edit a picture
Storage
• The place where data is held when it is not needed for
processing
• Storage Devices are computer components capable of
storing digital data
• Examples of Storage Devices:
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Floppy Disk (almost obsolete)
Hard Drive
CD, DVD
Flash Drive
Output
• The results of processed data
• Examples of output:
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A printed paper
A presentation
Audio
Video
• Data is entered through various forms (input) into a
computer, the data is manipulated (processing), and
then information is presented to a human (output).
Output Devices
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Monitor
Speakers
Printer
Headphones
Peripherals
• AKA—Peripheral Devices
• Any hardware device connected to the
computer that expands the computer’s input,
output and storage capabilities
Input and Output Devices
• As you continue, you will
review several different
input and output devices.
• You need to be able to
identify each device, tell
if it is an input or output
device and indicate what
the devices are used for.
Keyboard
• The most commonly used input device
• It is made up of :
– Alphabetic Keys
– Numeric Keys
– Function Keys
– Command Keys
• Connected to the computer through a
USB connection or wirelessly
Mouse
• A hand-operated input device that controls
the cursor on the screen as you move it
around on a desktop
• Older = ball style mouse
• Newer = “optical” technology
• Turn over your mouse. Do you see a red light?
If you do, then you are using an optical
mouse.
Touchpad
• An input device used to move the cursor on a
laptop computer
• As you slide your finger over the surface,
sensors underneath detect the movement,
direction and speed
• Useful when carrying a mouse is not practical
Trackball
• A pointing device that works like a mouse turned
upside down; the ball in on top of the device
• Advantages:
• TrackBall is stationary so it does not require much
space.
• You can place a trackball on any type of surface,
including your lap.
Joystick
• Joysticks are input devices, similar to a mouse,
that allow you to move the cursor in any
direction
• Joysticks were originally used by pilots as part
of an airplane's controls. Technology
developed to let gamers experience a more
realistic game environment
Microphone
• A microphone is used to input sound
• The sound is detected by the microphone and
an electronic signal is transmitted to the
computer
• Special hardware is used to convert the analog
data (sound) into digital data so it an be
stored and manipulated on the computer.
Scanner
• Scanners are used to convert images or text
on paper into a digital image format (.bmp, .gif, .jpeg)
• Scanners with optical character recognition
can convert text on paper into text that can be
edited in a word processor
Web Cam
• Web cam is short for ‘web camera’
• It is an input device that captures a video or
image of the scene in front of it
• Some are built into the computer (i.e. Laptop),
others are connected via USB cable
• Used for chatting online, security and tourism
(i.e. view your favorite animal at the zoo
online)
Graphics Tablet
• Graphics tables are used by graphics designers
and illustrators to input data
• Create accurate drawings on a screen that
could not be produced with a mouse or stylus
• Usually consists of a tablet that you draw on
and a pen that has pressure sensitive tips
allowing the artist to draw heavier and lighter
lines
Biometric Devices
• AKA—Access Control Devices
• Uses a body feature of a person seeking access to identify
and authorize that person
– Fingerprint scanner
– Iris scan
– Access card (can be scanned like a credit card or contain a radio
frequency transmitter used to identify the card holder)
• Britain and Germany have included a microchip in their
passport. The microchip contains electronic data unique to
each user
Monitor
• Most commonly used output device
• The picture on a monitor is made up of tiny
colored dots called pixels
• The quality and detail of the picture depends
on the number of pixels that the monitor can
display
Ink Jet Printer
• An output device that produces a hard copy by
spraying ink on paper
• Relatively cheap to buy
• Can print it both black and white or color
• Limitations:
– Slow
– Not designed for high-volume printing
– Ink cartridges are expensive
Laser Jet Printer
• A output device that prints similar to a photo
copy machine
• Uses powdered ink called ‘toner’ to fuse onto
the paper by heat and pressure
• Black and white versions are relatively cheap
to purchase
• Capable of quick high-volume printing
Speakers
• Most computers have a small internal speaker
that produces beeping sounds when you make
an error
• Computers can be fitted with a sound card
which enables sound (audio) to be output
through external speakers
Digital Camera
• An input device that takes photographs and
stores them as digital files on a computer
Projector
• A device which connects to a computer and is
used to project the output from the computer
onto a wall or screen.
Touch Screen
• The only device that serves as both
an input and output device
• You view the options available to you
on the screen (output) and then use
your finger to touch the option you
have chosen (input)
Plotter
• A large document printer which is able to
draw high quality images on very large pieces
of paper (example: 3 feet wide by 10 feet
long)
• Used by:
– Engineers
– Architects
– Map makers
The End