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INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS
TOPIC 1
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Computer Literacy
What is computer literacy?
Knowledge and understanding
of computers and their uses
Computers are everywhere
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Information Processing Cycle
OUTPUT
STORAGE
COMMUNICATION
PROCESS
Information
INPUT
Data
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Information Processing Cycle
An understanding of a step-by-step process oftransforming data into information, orinformation processing cycle is fundamental tounderstand how computers work.
All computers follow the same basic operations: Input is whatever that is put into a computer
system.
Processing is the manipulation a computer do to
transform data into information. Processing is done bythe central processing unit (CPU), a device consistingof electronic circuitry that executes instructions toprocess data.
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Information Processing Cycle
Storage is of two typestemporary storage(primary storage, or main memory) andpermanent storage (secondary storage).
Primary storage, or memory, is the computer circuitrythat temporarily holds data waiting to be processed.This circuitry is inside the computer.
Secondary storage is the area in the computer wheredata or information is held permanentlye.g., a hard
disk or DVD. Output is whatever is output from (put out of) the
computer system, the result of processing.
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Information Processing Cycle
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Data vs. Information
Data consists of the raw facts and figures that areprocessed into information.
Information is data that has been summarized or
otherwise manipulated for use in decision-making.
Qualities of good information: Correct and verifiable data is correct and can be verified from
trusted source
Complete yet concise complete data, relevant to the user, and puttogether in a way that can be understood by the reader
Cost effective the cost of obtaining the information is offset bythe benefits gained from it
Current information that is not expired
Accessible able to access it instantly when needed
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Categories of Computer
Personal computer (desktop)
Mobile computers and mobile devices
Servers
Mainframes
Supercomputers
Game console Microcontrollers
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Categories of Computer:
Personal Computers
Personal Computers
Desktop PCs
Tower PCs
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Categories of Computers:
Mobile Computers And Mobile Devices
Notebooks also called laptops are light weight
portable computers with built in monitor, keyboard,
hard disk, battery and AC adapter.
Tablet PC is a special type of notebook computerthat the user can draw by pressing a digital pen on
the screen. E.g. iPad.
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Categories of Computers:
Mobile Computers And Mobile Devices
Personal digital assistants (PDA) handheld
computers or palmtops, combine personal
organisation tools with communication facility.
Smart phones internet enabled cell phone
that usually also provides PDA capabilities.
E.g. iPhone, Blackberry, Android phones.
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Categories of Computer:
Servers
Servers a central computer that holds
collections of data (databases) and programs
for connecting or supplying services to PCs,
and other devices, which are called clients.
Controls access to the hardware, software, and
other resources on a network.
Provides a centralized storage area for
programs, data and information
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Categories of Computer:
Servers
Servers can support from 2 to several
thousand connected computers at the same
time.
Clients are linked by a wired or wireless
network.
The entire network is called a client/server
network.
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Categories of Computer:
Servers
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Categories of Computer:
Mainframes
Mainframe water or air cooled computersthat cost $ 5000 - $ 5 million and vary in size.
Used by large organisations:
Banks
Airlines
Insurance companies
Colleges Processes millions of transactions
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Categories of Computer:
Mainframes
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Categories of Computer:
Mainframes
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Categories of Computer:
Supercomputers
Supercomputer high-speed machines with thousands of
processors that can perform more than several trillion
calculations per second
Priced at $ 1 million to more than $ 350 million
In general used for:
census count
forecasting weather
designing aircraft
modeling molecules
breaking encryption code
For business used for identifying sifting demographic marketing
information, and creating film animation.
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Categories of Computer:
Supercomputers
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Categories of Computer:
Game Console
A specialized desktop computer used to play videogames.
Three popular game consoles are Sony's PlayStation
3 (PS3), Nintendo's Wii and Microsoft's Xbox. Game software is available on CDs or DVDs, although
earlier game machines used cartridges containingread only memory (ROM) chips.
Video game consoles may require a TV for display.
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Categories of Computer:
Microcontrollers
Microcontrollers also called embedded
computers, are tiny, specialised
microprocessors installed in smart appliances
and automobiles.
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WHAT IS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY?
Computer Technology
The activity of designing and constructingand programming computers
+
Communication TechnologyConsist of electromagnetic devices and
system for communicating over long
distances.
Information Technology
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Example of IS/IT
Sales order processing
Accounting system
Inventory control system
Payroll system Human resource system
Airline reservation and travel bookings
Broadcast television
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Direction of Computer Development
Direction to computer development:
Miniaturization
Speed
Affordability
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What we have covered today:
Introduction to computers and
communication system
Categories of computers Direction of computer development
