INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS 1

BPC 101AA

The Pearson Custom Program for CIS, BPC101AA, Introduction to Computers I, Phoenix College; Copyright 2011 by Pearson Learning Solutions

IDENTIFYING TYPES OF COMPUTERS

CHAPTER 1

LESSON ONE:

IDENTIFYING CATEGORIES OF COMPUTERS

CATEGORIES BASED ON SIZE AND USE

Relative Size and Capacity Smartphone/Personal Digital Assistant

(PDA) Handheld/ultra portable/pocket computer Laptop/notebook/portable

computer/netbook Tablet computer Personal/desktop computer Mainframe computer Supercomputer

Computer’s User Personal/Desktop Computers

Operated by one person who can customize the functions to match personal preferences

Business Computers These computers require

standardization as well as specially trained administrators and maintenance technicians

Where the Computer is Used Desktop Computers

Sits on, next to, or under an individual user’s desk and is too large to carry around

Laptop Computers Are portable, fit on your lap or in a briefcase, and

have batteries Handheld Computers

Are portable, fit into a pocket or purse, and are too small for a traditional keyboard

Smartphones Cellular telephones that have a limited keypad and

can be used anywhere

Intended Use Handheld Computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), and Smartphones

Handheld computers that manage appointments, tasks, lists of phone numbers, and e-mail

Tablet Computers A notebook computer with a screen that lies flat and can be used with

or without a keyboard with input and navigation performed using a mouse or fingertip. Order forms may be displayed and filled out using a pen, as if they were paper forms.

Workstation Desktop computers that have more capability for specific tasks, such

as animating movies Mainframe Computer

Large computer systems to process large amounts of information Supercomputer

Computers that can evaluate complex interactions and formulas quickly, such as in the design of an airplane

Servers Servers are powerful computers that run special software

to serve specific purposes Network Server – Computers in an organization that are

connected to form a network that is coordinated by specialized software running on a personal computer or workstation

Web Server – A computer that runs specialized sortware to support Web pages

File Server – Computers that keep information on databases that are powerful enough to organize records such as billing, sales, accounting, and customer information

CATEGORIES BASED ON OPERATING SYSTEM AND MANUFACTURER

Operating System – The fundamental programming that controls the way computers interact with their various parts and with its users

Manufacturers – IBM and SUN are two manufacturers of organization computers that also provide operating systems

MAC Operating System A personal computer from Apple

Corporation uses a version of the Mac operating system named after one of its most popular lines, the Macintosh

Windows Operating System The operating system developed by IBM

Corporation was too large for the personal computer business, which began in the late 1970’s. They contracted with the Microsoft Corporation, which developed Windows. Windows is found on a large majority of personal computers from many manufacturers.

Linux This operating system runs on

organization and personal computers. The programming code for Linux is not owned by a particular company and is available free of charge.

OTHER TYPES OF COMPUTING DEVICES

Appliances A computer that is dedicated to one

function Computer game boxes Web browsers that work with a

television, calculators, and bar code scanners

Media Players Music or video players E-books

Computer Game Systems Dedicated devices that use an

operating system designed for gaming. The game controllers are designed to be used on a computer or on a television set.

Microprocessors Devices that contain a

microprocessing unit with a limited amount of memory that is dedicated to a single task Calculators Digital clocks Radios Engine ignition controller in your car

LESSON TWO:

IDENTIFYING BASIC COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER

(input, processing, storage, and output)

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

Also known as CPU or microprocessor

Made up of millions of microscopic parts connected together to form integrated circuits (Ics) or microchips

Role of the CPU A computer manipulates data according

to a set of instructions, resulting in the creation of information – data that is organized in a useful and meaningful manner – this is called processing

A set of specific instructions that a computer can follow to accomplish a task is called an algorithm, written by programmers.

How the Speed of the CPU is Measured Word Size – The amount of data that is processed in one

operation A processor works with binary numbers that consist of zeros

and ones. Each digit of the number is called a bit (b). Early processors worked with 8 bits at a time (an eight-bit

word length). This was called a byte (B). Clock Speed – A circuit on a computer chip that emits pulses. The

processor performs an action with each pulse of the clock. Measured in hertz, with one pulse per second equaling 1 hertz First personal computers operated at 5 megahertz – 5 million pulses

per second. Current processors work with clock speeds measured in gigahertz or

billions of pulses per second. The faster the clock speed, the more actions the processor will

perform each second.

MEMORY AND STORAGE Primary storage or memory - The

capability of storing data and instructions while processing data

Secondary storage – The ability to store the results of the processed data for later retrieval.

Memory Read-Only Memory (ROM)

Memory that contains the instructions used by the computer when it starts up and communicates with its internal components

Programmed at the factory and is non-volatile – it does not need constant power to function.

Random Access Memory (RAM) Memory that is used to store programs and data while the computer

is working The processor retrieves data from memory, processes it, and returns

it to memory The time it takes to read or write data to RAM is measured in

nanoseconds – billionths of a second RAM capacity is rated in megabytes or gigabytes A byte of memory can store enough data to identify one character of

text A megabyte of RAM can store over a million characters of text A gigabyte can store over a billion characters of text

Secondary Storage Any device on which information can be stored for later

retrieval and that does not require constant power Magnetic Media – Coatings of magnetic material on a disk

that can record and store data by magnetizing small spots on the disk in one direction or the other. Computer’s main hard drive or external hard drive

Optical Media – Data can be recorded in the form of small pits in a reflective surface on a disc. Compact discs (CDs) or digital video discs (DVDs)

Flash Memory – Can be plugged into USB ports on computers or into card slots in digital cameras.

INPUT and OUTPUT DEVICES

Input – transferring instructions or data into the computer Keyboard, mouse, bar code readers,

magnetic card swipes Output – reporting the results of the

processing to the user Monitor, printer, dashboard warning

lights