Introductory Concepts CIS 100: Introduction to Computers Mr. A. Craig Dixon Spring 2006.

Introductory Concepts

CIS 100: Introduction to Computers

Mr. A. Craig Dixon

Spring 2006

Introductory Concepts 2

What is a computer?

A general definition• A person or device that calculates

Includes pre-electricity devices like the abacus and Babbage’s difference engine

A modern definition• An electronic device that takes data as

input and creates information as output


Data vs. Information

• Data – raw facts and figures, unprocessed actions

• Information – data that is organized, meaningful and / or useful

• Metadata – data whose sole purpose is to describe or clarify other data.

Metadata helps turn data into information.


Data vs. Information

783159246

783-15-9246

SSN: 783-15-9246

John Doe’s social security number is 783-15-9246.

An example:


Functions of a Computer

• Accept input• Process data• Produce output• Store and retrieve data


Components of a Computer

• Hardware – devices that can be physically manipulated by the userExamples: keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer

• Software – instructions (programs) to be executed by the computerExamples: Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, Norton Anti-virus


Types of hardware

• Internals • Peripherals• Media


Internal hardware

• Typically not manipulated by the user• Handles data processing

• Tasks are usually subdivided• Processor – does the bulk of the processing• Math co-processor – handles math operations• Video card – performs display-related calculations• Sound card – passes data to sound devices

• Most hardware, both internal and external, is connected to the motherboard, which is itself internal hardware.


Peripheral hardware

• Connected to the system unit via wires or infrared signals

• May be manipulated by the user• Divided into two categories

• Input devices• Output devices


Input devices

• Convert analog data from the user (keystrokes, mouse movements, voice, etc.) into a form the computer can understand

• Includes keyboard, mouse, scanner, camera, and microphone


Output devices

• Convert data from the computer to a form that can be understood by the user.

• Includes monitor, printer, and speakers


Hardware Summarized

Hardware

Internal External

Input OutputHardware

Motherboard, video card,

sound card, etc.

Keyboard, mouse, camera,microphone, etc.

Printer, speakers,monitor, etc.


Types of Software

• Application software• Utilities• System software• Malware


Application software

• Allows the user to manipulate data and create information

• Most software is application softwareExamples: Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, games, etc.


Utilities

• Manipulate data based on parameters specified by the user

• Often perform maintenance tasks or file format conversions

• May be included as part of a larger application

Examples: Norton Anti-virus, WinZip, Nero, Disk Defragmenter, Ad-Aware


System software• Consists of BIOS, operating system, and drivers

• BIOS – Basic Input / Output System; executed first on boot-up

• Operating system – Allows the computer to respond to user commandsExamples: Microsoft Windows, MacOS, Linux, OS/2, Solaris

• Drivers – Tells the computer how to utilize certain pieces of hardwareSome devices that require drivers: Mice, sound cards, video cards, printers


Plug-and-Play Drivers

• Beginning with Windows 95, the Windows operating system shipped with a set of standard hardware drivers called plug-and-play drivers.

• Hardware manufacturers created their products to use these standard drivers rather than shipping proprietary drivers with their products.

• Windows can detect plug-and-play hardware as soon as it is connected to the computer, even on the fly.

• Since the plug-and-play drivers are already present, the user can begin using the hardware immediately.


Malware

• Software intended to cause annoyance or damage

• Often installed covertly along with an application

Examples: Viruses, worms, Trojan horses, adware, and spyware


Media• Hardware on which data is stored• May be inside the system unit, connect directly to

the system unit, or require a disk drive to be read• Includes floppy disks, Zip disks, CD-ROMs,

DVDs, flash memory, RAM, ROM, hard disks, and tape backups• Floppy disks, Zip disks, and tape backups are

magnetic media (data is stored on a thin layer of rust.)• Hard disks, CD-ROMs and DVDs are optical media

(read by a laser)• RAM and ROM connect directly to the motherboard

inside the system unit


Measuring storage capacity

All forms of media have a maximum capacity, measured in bytes. Metric prefixes are used to denote large numbers of bytes.

• Kilobyte (KB) = 1024 bytes• Megabyte (MB) = ~1,000,000 bytes• Gigabyte (GB) = ~1,000,000,000 bytes• Terabyte (TB) = ~1,000,000,000,000 bytes


Breakdown of Media

Media Capacity Speed

RAM 32MB – 2 GB Very fast Self-contained

Hard disk 40 GB – 200 GB Fast Self-contained

CDs 650 MB – 1 GB Moderate Requires drive

DVDs 4.7 GB – 17 GB Moderate Requires drive

Flash 16 MB – 2 GB Moderate Either

Zip disk 100 MB – 250 MB Slow Requires drive

Floppy 1.44 MB Slow Requires drive

Introductory Concepts CIS 100: Introduction to Computers Mr. A. Craig Dixon Spring 2006.

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