Information Technology Essentials

Deloris Y. McBride

Information Processing Cycle• A computer is a set of electronic

devices that works with software to perform actions.

• IPC = Input – Processing – Storage – Output• Input = entering data to be processed

• Input devices include: Keyboard , mouse, flash drives, disk drives

• Data = raw facts, i.e a name, a telephone, zip code

• Information = a collection of raw facts or processed data i.e. A record, a check

IPC Continued

• Processing• Taking the data and information that were

entered and breaking it down to a language that the computer understands

• Micro processor – a computer chip i.e, Intel, Motorola

• Two main parts of the processor: Control Unit and the Arithmetic Logic Unit -

Processing

• The computer understands two numbers• 1 and O• Coding systems ASCII and EBCDIC

• Bit = binary digit which is smallest unit of data• 8 bits = 1 byte which can give a letter of the

alphabet or a number or a symbol• 0000 1111 = a character• 0000 1110

Processing

• Control Unit – fetching the data, converting the data into a code, de converting

• ALU – is responsible for the logical way in which data is processed.

• RAM – Random Access Memory• CPU = Central Processing Unit = Brain

of the Computer

Storage

• Saving documents, information, data, games, • Bit = 0 or 1• Byte = 8 bits which is a letter, number, or

symbol• Kilo Bytes = 1024 • Mega Byte = 1 million• Giga Byte = 1 billion• Tera Byte = 1 trillion• Pera Byte = 1 Zillion

http://www.kerryr.net/pioneers/ascii3.htm

Storage Devices

• CD R• CDRW• Flash drives• 3 ½ floppy• Hard Drive• External Hard drives

Output

• Information that has been processed• Hard copy - Comes a Printer

• Print out• Soft Copy - Monitor

• View on the Screen• Two types of Printers

• Laser• Ink Jet

Hardware

• Physical components of the computers• Monitor• Keyboard/mouse• CPU – Brain- Systems Unit• Printer• Storage Devices

Software

• Two main types of software• Operating Systems

• Windows 95, 98 Me, Vista, Windows 7• Purpose – to boot up, to install programs, to

manage files• Application Software

• Productivity software – to generates documents of all sorts

• Four Main types of application software• Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Databases,

Presentations• Word Processing Program - Microsoft Word• Spreadsheet Program – Microsoft Excel• Database program – Microsoft Access• Presentation software - PowerPoint

Homework

• First Section – Information Essentials• Read and answer Knowledge Check page

28• Windows 7 – Section 1

• Read and answer Knowledge Check page 15

Networks• Purpose• to share information or resources• Internet – the world’s largest network• all the LANS and WANS connecting• Two main sub types of networks• Local Area Network (LAN)• smaller geographical area• Wide Area Network (WAN)• large geographical area

Network components

• Clients – computer stations that are connected to the network

• Servers – data providers that are large and powerful computers than clients

• Client

• Client

• Client

• Client

Server

Network components

• Connectivity• cables such as UTP – unshielded

twisted pair cable• cat 5 cable for homes• cat 6 cable for business•

Network components

• Protocols• 802.11n is the current Wi-Fi standard• 150 Mbps can range 70 meters indoors

and 250 outdoors.• TCP/IP Transfer Control Protocol/Internet

Protocol defines the rules for sending and receiving data between networks. Each device on the network has an IP address (a series of numbers from 0 to 255 i.e. 192.168.0.1

Network components• HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol – defines the rules

for sending and receiving web pages• HTTPs (HyperText Transfer Protocol ) encrypts data

before sending it over the Web.• POP3 is the current version of Post Office Protocol for

receiving email. It is a store and forward system in which your email waits on the mail server until you pick up via an email application.

• SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) enables you to send email. The message is transferred to the recipient’s mail server on the Internet.

• FTP (File Transfer Protocol) provides an efficient, fast way to transfer files between computers.

Security Issues• Viruses• Worms• Trojan – malware that masquerades as a useful

program• Spyware• Adware• Protection software• McAfee, VirusScan, • Spyware detectors• included with Windows 7 and Vista

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Email Etiquette and Computer ethics• Ethics are the more principles that govern behavior.• Email Etiquette• be brief and to the point• don’t use all caps• remember attachment• Use spell check• reread what was written• double check address in the in box• watch your language• always enter something in the subject line••