Computers and CommunicationComputers and Communication

Computers and CommunicationComputers and Communication

Computer Technology is responsible for Computer Technology is responsible for causing great leaps forward in causing great leaps forward in communication technology. communication technology.

Computers are all around us and come in Computers are all around us and come in sizes from a single chip to a whole room sizes from a single chip to a whole room full of equipment. full of equipment.

Computer applications include online Computer applications include online communication, word processing, desktop communication, word processing, desktop publishing and computer aided design. publishing and computer aided design.

From Micros to SupercomputersFrom Micros to Supercomputers

Computers surround us even though we don’t Computers surround us even though we don’t always know that they are there. always know that they are there.

To better understand the sizes and To better understand the sizes and capabilities, computers are put into capabilities, computers are put into categories. categories.

These categories are microprocessors, These categories are microprocessors, microcomputers, minicomputers, mainframes microcomputers, minicomputers, mainframes and supercomputers. and supercomputers.

MicroprocessorsMicroprocessors

Integrated Circuits that Integrated Circuits that perform and control perform and control arithmetic functions. arithmetic functions.

Embedded in appliances like Embedded in appliances like ovens and washing ovens and washing machines. machines.

Used for single applications Used for single applications like controlling the time of like controlling the time of an on-off cycle. an on-off cycle.

MicrocomputersMicrocomputers

Have microprocessor chips Have microprocessor chips at their heart. at their heart.

Personal computers found Personal computers found in homes and offices. in homes and offices.

Have a collection of Have a collection of integrated circuits with one integrated circuits with one microprocessor chip. microprocessor chip.

Microcomputers memories Microcomputers memories can be very small or very can be very small or very large. large.

Mainframe ComputersMainframe Computers Large computers used by large Large computers used by large

companies, government companies, government agencies and universities for agencies and universities for their administrative work. their administrative work.

Could include making payroll Could include making payroll cheques, records of cheques, records of employees, tracking orders, employees, tracking orders, warehouse inventory etc.warehouse inventory etc.

Mainframes can perform Mainframes can perform millions of instructions per millions of instructions per second and often have billions second and often have billions of bytes of memory attached of bytes of memory attached to them. to them.

SupercomputersSupercomputers

Fastest and Largest Fastest and Largest ComputersComputers

Often used for Often used for research, analyzing research, analyzing satellite data or other satellite data or other very large problems.very large problems.

Can perform several Can perform several billions operations at billions operations at one time. one time.

Very expensive to Very expensive to purchase and operate. purchase and operate.

Information ExchangeInformation Exchange

In order for the In order for the information that a information that a computer produces computer produces to be useful, it has to to be useful, it has to be exchanged with be exchanged with people or other people or other machines outside the machines outside the computer. computer.

This exchange is This exchange is called input/output. called input/output.

InputInput Input is to provide information to a Input is to provide information to a

computer. computer. The device you are most familiar The device you are most familiar

with is the keyboard. with is the keyboard. People can issue instructions or People can issue instructions or

provide raw data using the keyboard. provide raw data using the keyboard. Other forms of input include a Other forms of input include a

mouse, floppy disk, CD-Rom, mouse, floppy disk, CD-Rom, Scanners etc. Scanners etc.

Disks or CD’s can contain a program Disks or CD’s can contain a program or data which the computer will load or data which the computer will load into its main memory. into its main memory.

Computer OutputComputer Output

Output can come in many formsOutput can come in many forms Most common is the monitor or Most common is the monitor or

CRT screen (Cathode Ray Tube) CRT screen (Cathode Ray Tube) which Converts electronic which Converts electronic signals to visual images.signals to visual images.

Printers records the computers Printers records the computers output on paper. Called a hard output on paper. Called a hard copy. copy.

Plotters use one or more pens Plotters use one or more pens whose position is controlled by a whose position is controlled by a computer to create drawings on computer to create drawings on paperpaper

Data CommunicationsData Communications

Output of computers can be Output of computers can be sent to other computers using sent to other computers using a modem. a modem.

This kind of information This kind of information exchange is called data exchange is called data communications. communications.

Modems send computer data Modems send computer data over standard telephone lines over standard telephone lines using sequences of tones to using sequences of tones to represent the bits of represent the bits of information to be sent. information to be sent.

Online CommunicationOnline Communication You can have access to a You can have access to a

lot of information by lot of information by dialing a telephone dialing a telephone number that connects your number that connects your home computer to a home computer to a mainframe computer. mainframe computer.

This is referred to as being This is referred to as being online, or surfing the net. online, or surfing the net.

The internet can provide The internet can provide news, weather, sports, news, weather, sports, banking, travel services banking, travel services and home shopping. and home shopping.

Electronic MailElectronic Mail

Instead of sending letters through the mail, Instead of sending letters through the mail, you can use a computer to send electronic you can use a computer to send electronic messages. messages.

In large companies, e-mail is a popular way In large companies, e-mail is a popular way to provide communication among their to provide communication among their employees. employees.

Word ProcessingWord Processing

Word processing software has Word processing software has made the job of typists easier. made the job of typists easier.

Has features that Has features that “Typewriters” do not. “Typewriters” do not.

Text can be checked for proper Text can be checked for proper spelling, paragraphs can be spelling, paragraphs can be moved from one place to moved from one place to another, columns and lines can another, columns and lines can be rearranged.be rearranged.

Computer-Aided DesignComputer-Aided Design Computers are changing the Computers are changing the

way people do technical way people do technical drawing. drawing.

With Computer-Aided design With Computer-Aided design (CAD) systems, drafters can (CAD) systems, drafters can create, change and store more create, change and store more complex drawings than ever complex drawings than ever before. before.

Computer Aided Drafting has Computer Aided Drafting has become one of the most become one of the most important tools used by important tools used by engineers, drafters and engineers, drafters and designers. designers.

Desktop PublishingDesktop Publishing

Computers are now able to Computers are now able to produce whole pages with produce whole pages with words, headlines and words, headlines and illustrations. illustrations.

Using special software, Using special software, desktop publishing lets desktop publishing lets you arrange copy and you arrange copy and graphics on a computer graphics on a computer screen just as you would screen just as you would like it to appear on paper. like it to appear on paper.

All Purpose ToolAll Purpose Tool

Computer software provides the computer Computer software provides the computer with specific instructions which direct it to with specific instructions which direct it to do certain tasks. do certain tasks.

Since computer programs can be changed to Since computer programs can be changed to suit a particular application, a computer can suit a particular application, a computer can be thought of a general purpose tool. be thought of a general purpose tool.