COMPUTER APPLICATIO

NS

Mrs.Marti

n

Introduction to Computers

WHAT IS A COMPUTER?

An electronic, programmable device that:

Accepts data in the form of Input

Manipulates that data by Processing

Produces results in the form of Output

Stores for future use through Storagedevices

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Four basic operations:

1. Input2. Processing3. Output4. Storage

INFORMATION PROCESSING CYCLE

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DATA VS. INFORMATION

Computers perform operations comprising the information

processing cycle to manipulate data into information and store for future

use.

Data is a collection of facts, or unprocessed items.

Information is the portion of those facts that conveys meaning and is useful to the user.4Slide

HARDWARE VS. SOFTWARE

Hardware-the physical components that make up a computer system. Six primary components include:

Software-detailed set of instructions that tells a computer exactly what to do. {aka Computer Program}Booting is the process that loads the operating

system into RAM (Random Access Memory).

Input Devices Output Devices

Processor Storage devices

Memory Communication

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INPUT DEVICESAllow you to enter data, programs, commands, and

user responses into a computer.

Keyboard-contains keys you press to enter data.

Mouse-pointing device that controls the pointer.

Microphone-a device that converts sound waves into electrical energy to be broadcast, recorded or amplified.

Scanner-light-sensing device that reads printed text and graphics and translates the results into digital form.

 Digital Camera-records photographic images, sound and/or video in digital form.6Slide

INPUT DEVICES CONT’D

Graphics/Digitizing Tablet-uses a stylus to sketch drawings or images on surface.

Stylus-resembling a pen, uses pressure to input data.

Touchpad-controls pointer movements by sliding your fingertip on the pad.

Touch Screens –LCD display capable of sensing multiple points of contact. 

Game Controllers-consist of game pads, joysticks, gloves, steering wheels, trackballs, etc. 7Slide

SYSTEM UNITCase that contains electronic components of the

computer used to process data. The Motherboard is the main circuit board and includes the processor,

memory and expansion slots.

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SYSTEM UNIT-BREAKDOWN

Processor, aka Central Processing Unit (CPU)-is the brain of the computer that interprets and executes the instructions that operate a computer. Control Unit-interprets the instructions Arithmetic/Logic Unit-performs the logical and

arithmetic processes.

Memory, aka Random Access Memory(RAM)- consists of the electronic components that temporarily store instructions waiting to be executed by the processor.

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The amount of memory in computers is measured in bytes.

Terabyte (TB)- one trillion memory locations

Gigabyte (GB)-one billion memory locations

Megabyte (MB)-one million memory locations

Kilobyte (K)-one thousand memory locations

Byte-one memory location

DATA HIERARCHY

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OUTPUT DEVICES

Make information resulting from processing available for use.

Printers-produce a hard copy also called a printout and classified as either Impact or Nonimpact.

Monitors-produce a soft copy that visually conveys text, graphics, and video information.

Speakers-converts electrical signals into sounds loud enough to be heard at a distance.

Projectors-an optical instrument that projects an enlarged image onto a screen.

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IMPACTOUTPUT DEVICES-PRINTERS

Impact Printers-print by striking an inked ribbon against the paper.

Dot-Matrix Printer-produces printed images when tiny pins strikean inked ribbon on continuous form paper.

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Ink-jet Printers (DeskJet or Photo Printers)-produce images by using a nozzle that sprays tiny drops of ink onto a page.

Laser Printers-high-speed, highest- quality printers that form images to be printed from a beam of light focused on a photoconductor drum similar to a copying machine.

NONIMPACTOUTPUT DEVICES-PRINTERS

Nonimpact Printers-form characters by means other than striking a ribbon against paper.

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OUTPUT DEVICES-MONITORS

Monitors are composed of individual picture elements called Pixels that form parts of a character or graphic shape on the screen.

Flat Panel Monitors-take up much less desk space. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)-Monitors use

a liquid display crystal, similar to a digital watch, to produce images on the screen.

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)-display graphics through technology used in most televisions.

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STORAGE DEVICES

Used to store instructions, data, and information when they are not being

used in memory.

Four basic types of storage media include:Magnetic DisksOptical DiscsTapeMiniature Mobile Storage Media

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Hard Disk-contains one or more inflexible, circular platters that magnetically store data, instructions, and information.

Floppy Disks (Diskette)-inexpensive portable storage medium.

3.5” only stores 1.44 MB

STORAGE DEVICES-MAGNETIC DISKS

Use magnetic particles to store items such as data, instructions, and information on a disk’s surface.

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FORMATTING A DISK

Track-a narrow recording band that forms a full circle on the surface of a disk.

Sector-pie-shaped storage section, which breaks the tracks into small arcs storing up to 512 bytes of data.

Process of preparing a disk to be read from or written on by dividing the disk into tracks and

sectors.

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STORAGE DEVICES-OPTICAL DISCS

Flat, round, portable storage medium that reads and records data using laser technology.

CD-ROM & DVD-ROM (Read-Only Memory)-can read but not write on (record) or erase.

CD-R & DVD-R (Recordable)-record on each part only one time but cannot erase.

CD-RW & DVD-RW (Rewritable)-erasable optical discs you can write on multiple times.

DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs) are the highest capacity optical discs capable of storing 4.7-17

GB.18Slide

OPTICAL DISC FORMATS

Optical Disc ReadWrit

eEras

e

CD-ROM CD-R CD-RW DVD-ROM DVD-R DVD-RW

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STORAGE DEVICES-TAPE

Magnetically coated ribbon of plastic housed in a tape cartridge capable of

storing large amounts of data at a low cost. Primarily used for long-term storage and

Backup.

A Backup is a duplicateof a file, program, or disk that you can use incase the original is lost,damaged, or destroyed.

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STORAGE DEVICES-MINIATURE MOBILE STORAGE DEVICES

Flash Memory Cards-solid-state media that consist entirely of electronics and contain no moving parts.

USB Flash Drive-flash memory storage device that plugs into a USB port on a computer or mobile device.

Smart Card-stores data on a thin microprocessor embedded in the card.

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COMPUTER APPLICATIO

NS

Mrs.Marti

n

YourIntroduction

to Computers…