Business Computing Skills

(BA120IU)

Lecture 2: Computer Hardware & Software

Lecturer: Dr. Huynh Vo Trung Dung
School of Electrical Engineering
International University

1
v Define the common terminologies in a computer system

v Know the needed components and how to connect to the

Internet

v Basic knowledge of hardware and software

2
1. Basic Computing Concepts

2. Networking Principles

3. Computer Hardware

4. Computer Software

3
Basic Computing
Concepts

4
WHAT IS A COMPUTER ?

v DEFINITION? A computer is an electronic

device that manipulates information, or “
data”. It has the ability to store,
retrieve, and process data.

v USAGE? You can use a computer to

type documents, send email, and surf
the Internet. You can also use it to
handle spreadsheets, accounting,
financing, database management,
presentations, play games, and more.

5
 COMPUTER SIMPLIFIED

All types of computers consist of two bas

ic parts:

Hardware is any part of your computer

that has a physical structure, such as the
computer monitor or keyboard.

Software is any set of instructions that

tells the hardware what to do. It is what
guides the hardware and tells it how to a
ccomplish each task. Some examples of Inside a Computer - Part of the
software are web browsers, games, and Computer Motherboard
word processors.

The first electronic computer, the Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer
(ENIAC), was developed in 1946. It measured 18 feet by 80 feet and weighed 30 tons. 6
 TYPES OF COMPUTER

v Desktop Computers
- The term desktop actually refers to the casing, or
the tower. Once you add a monitor, mouse, and a
keyboard, you have what is typically known as a
desktop computer.
- Most desktop computers are easy to upgrade and
expand, or add new parts.
- Cost reduction.
- The term desktop computer originated when the
computer case was wide and flat, and was design
ed specifically to fit on your desktop with the mo
nitor on top.

7
 TYPES OF COMPUTER…

v Laptop Computers
- Battery or AC-powered personal computers.
- Can be easily carried and used in a variety of
locations.
- Difficult to expand or upgrade. While the desktop
computer case is relatively easy to open and
access internal components, the small laptop
case makes this more difficult in comparison.
- A laptop computer is sometimes called a
notebook computer because of its size.

8
TYPES OF COMPUTER…
Others
o Workstations are similar to desktop computers, but are more powerful and are usually connect
ed to a network.
o Servers are specialized computers that store and deliver, or “serve up”, information to other
computers on a network (file/database/web/… servers).
o Main-frames computers are powerful computers used mainly by large organizations for critical
applications, typically bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics,
enterprise resource planning, and financial transaction processing.
o Supercomputer is a computer that is at the frontline of current processing capacity,
particularly speed of calculation.

9
OPERATING SYSTEMS
DEFINE?
- The most important software that runs on a computer (Software is any set of instruction
s that performs some task on a computer.)

PURPOSE?
- Performs many essential tasks for your computer.
- Controls the memory needed for computer processes, manages disk space, controls
peripheral devices, and allows you to communicate with the computer without knowing
exactly how a computer works.
- Without an operating system, a computer is useless.

ILLUSTRATION: Booting process

TYPES:

10
11
12

12
13

13
BASIC PARTS OF A COMPUTER
- All of the basic parts of a desktop computer are considered hardware.
- Inside the computer case: main board + RAM + CPU + SDD + Power supply
unit [+VGA/Sound/… Cards]
- and monitor, keyboard, mouse, and power cord, Optical/Blu-ray disks are
considered as peripherals

14
 CPU
CPU/Processor (Central Processing Unit)
- The brain of the computer, or the computer's engine.
- Carry out commands. Whenever you press a key, click the
mouse, or start an application, you're sending instructions
to the CPU.
- The processor determines how fast a computer can
execute instructions.
- A processor’s speed is measured in megahertz (MHZ), or
millions of instructions per second, and gigahertz (GHZ), or
billions of instructions per second.
- The power of the processor is measured in bits. The more
bits a processor can handle, the more data it can handle,
and therefore, the more powerful the processor.

15
 RAM
- RAM (Random Access Memory) is the system’s short-term memor
y. Data is temporarily stored here until you save your work to the
hard disk. RAM is used by the system to store data that is
processed by a computer’s CPU.
- The computer’s work takes place in RAM. This is where programs
run when you are using Word to create a letter, or Excel to produce
a company spreadsheet.
- The more RAM you have, the more things your computer can do at
the same time, and the faster your computer performs certain tasks.
RAM is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB).
Note: A bit is the smallest unit of data in computer processing. A byte is a
group of eight bits. A megabyte is about one million bytes. A gigabyte is 1,0
24 megabytes.
Example: A printed page of single-spaced text contains about 3,000
characters. One MB holds about 400 pages of single-spaced text.

16
BASIC PARTS OF A COMPUTER…
v PS/2 Port: These ports are called PS/2 ports
and are used for the mouse and keyboard.
v Ethernet Port: This port looks a lot like the
modem or telephone port but it is wider.
v Audio In/Audio Out: Every computer has a
bank of audio ports where you can connect
various devices, including speakers,
microphones, headsets, and more.
v VGA Port: Your monitor is connected to this
port.
v USB Port: The Universal Serial Bus let you
attach a variety of devices such as mice,
printers, keyboards, web cameras, USB/flash
drives, and digital cameras to your computer
quickly. Ex: USB Type C???

17
18

Networking principles
18
 COMPUTER NETWORK
DEFINE: A network is a group of two or more computer system
s linked together. There are many types of computer networks, in
cluding:
• Local-Area Networks (LANs): The computers are geographically
close together (that is, in the same building).
• Wide-Area Networks (WANs): The computers are farther apart
and are connected by telephone lines or radio waves.
• Campus-Area Networks (CANs): The computers are within a
limited geographic area, such as a campus or military base.
• Metropolitan-Area Networks (MANs): A data network designed
for a town or a city.
• Home-Area Networks (HANs): A network contained within a user'
s home that connects a person's digital devices.
• Computers on a network are sometimes called nodes.
19
 INTERNET
A global network connecting millions of com
puters. More than 100 countries are linked into
exchanges of data, news and opinions.
Unlike online services, which are centrally
controlled, the Internet is decentralized by
design. Each Internet computer, called a host,
is independent.
Its operators can choose which Internet
services to use and which local services to
make available to the global Internet
community.
There are a variety of ways to access the
Internet. It is also possible to gain access throu
gh a commercial Internet Service Provider (ISP)
The Internet is not synonymous with World
Wide Web.

20
 • REQUIREMENTS: An Internet Service Provider (ISP), a modem, and an Internet browser.

• TYPES OF INTERNET ACCESS:

HOW TO – Dial-up access: usually the least expensive way to access the Internet; however, slowest. A phone line and PC
modem are required. Can't use the phone and computer at the same time.
CONNECT TO – DSL, or Digital Subscriber Line, provides high-speed, Internet access through a phone line. Can talk on the
telephone and access the Internet at the same time. A DSL modem and an Ethernet card are required for
INTERNET? installation. A splitter may also be required to filter the DSL signal from the low frequency voice signal.

– Cable access: is provided through local TV cable. Like DSL access, it is considered broadband, high-speed
Internet access.

– Satellite access: used in locations where there is no broadband cable or DSL Internet available, most expensive.
Satellite access is available across the world and can provide you with a broadband connection.

– Mobile access: via cellular network (GSM/CDMA): very portable but higher cost than DSL. 21
 REQUIRED HARDWARE

Modem
• a device or program that enables a computer to transmit data over, for example, telephone or cable lines. Computer information is
stored digitally, whereas information transmitted over telephone lines is transmitted in the form of analog waves. A modem converts
between these two forms.
• The type of Internet access will determine what type of modem: Dial-up access uses a telephone modem, which may come installed on
your computer, DSL service uses a DSL modem, Cable access uses a cable modem, and Satellite service uses a satellite adapter.
Network Card
• A network card is a piece of hardware that allows computers to communicate over a computer network. Most newer computers have a
network card built into the motherboard.
Router
• A router is a hardware device that allows you to use several computers on a single Internet connection from your ISP.
• With a router, all the computers in your home can connect to the Internet and all you pay for is one account with an ISP and one IP
address. Additionally, cable, DSL, and satellite users can use a router as a hardware firewall.

22
23
24
HARDWARE BASICS

25
COMPUTER HARDWARE FUNCTIONS

Input
l Keyboards, mouse, optical scanners
l Convert data into electronic form

Processing
l Central Processing Unit (CPU)
l Arithmetic-logic unit performs the arithmetic functions
l Control unit

Output
l Video display units, printers, etc.
l Convert electronic information into human-intelligible
form

26
COMPUTER HARDWARE FUNCTIONS

Storage
l Primary Storage Unit or memory

l Secondary Storage

l Magnetic disks and Optical disks

Control
l Control unit of the CPU

l Controls the other components of the computer

27
Computer System Components

System unit

28
 Central
Processing
Unit
v Central processing unit (CPU) (or microprocessor) - the
actual hardware that interprets and executes the program
(software) instructions and coordinates how all the other
hardware devices work together

• Control unit - interprets software instructions and

literally tells the other hardware devices what to do,
based on the software instructions

• Arithmetic-logic unit (ALU) - performs all arithmetic

operations (for example, addition and subtraction)
and all logic operations (such as sorting and
comparing numbers)
29
 Hardware Components in Action
l Instruction phase
l Step 1: Fetch instruction
l Access the primary memory by the control
unit, computer program is a sequence of
instructions.
l Step 2: Decode instruction
l The instruction is decoded Q the central
processor can understand what is to be done.

l Execution phase
l Step 3: Execute the instruction
l The ALU does what is instructed to do

l Step 4: Store the results in memory

l Step 5: Write back : write the results of the
instruction back to memory

30
Primary Storage

l Primary storage - the computer’s main memory,

which consists of the random access memory (RAM),
cache memory, and the read-only memory (ROM)
that is directly accessible to the CPU

31
Random Access Memory (RAM)
l Random access memory (RAM) - the computer’s primary working
memory, in which program instructions and data are stored so that they
can be accessed directly by the CPU via the processor’s high-speed
external data bus

l Volatility: do not retain its contents when the power is switched off

l Save work frequently

32
 Read Only Memory (ROM)

l The portion of a computer’s primary

storage that does not lose its
contents when one switches off the
power à Permanent storage

l Can be read but cannot be

overwritten

l Store start-up program frequently

used programs burnt into chips
during manufacturing (called
firmware)

33
34
Flash Drive – USB Stick

l New type of permanent storage

lA special type of rewritable ROM
that is compact and portable
l Uses semiconductor memory
Ø Also called jump drives, USB
flash drives, thumb drives, USB
disk etc.
Ø Memory card, memory stick

35
 Input Devices
l Input device - equipment used to
capture information and commands

l Manual input devices

l Joystick
l Keyboard
l Microphone

l Automated input devices

l Bar code scanner
l Digital camera
l Magnetic ink character reader

36
 Pointing Devices

l Touchpad – Small rectangular touch-

sensitive surface
Ø Moves the cursor in the direction of
finger moves on the pad.

l Touch Screen – use computer by

touching screen
Ø Video display screen that emits a grid of
infrared beams, sound waves, or a slight
electric current.

Ø Grid is broken when the screen is

touched.

37
Automated Input Devices
• Optical data readers: read text or graphic and store as an digital
image.

ü Optical character recognition: read and convert to text

ü Point-of-sale (POS) devices: terminal used in retail operations
to enter sales information into computer system.
• Bar code scanner: point of sales, inventory
• Magnetic strip: Can hold about kilobytes of information.
ü Smartcard: that embed a microprocessor chip and several
kilobytes of memory (like credit card, debit card)

38
39
Automated Input Devices
• Digital cameras: captures still images or video as a series of 0s and 1s
• Automatic teller machine (ATM) devices: special I/O devices, a terminal of
most bank customers

• Radio-frequency identification (RFID): library, uses active or passive tags

in the form of chips or smart label that can store unique identifier and relay
this information to electronic readers.

39
Output Technologies
l Video displays
l Cathode ray tube (CRT) like a television
l Most desktop PC screens
l Liquid crystal displays (LCDs)
l Laptop and PDAs, some PCs

l Printed Output
l Inkjet printer
l Spray ink on page
l Laser printer
l Electrostatic process like photocopying machine

l Voice response systems

40
Computer Storage Fundamentals
l Binary representation

l Data are processed and stored in computer system through the presence or
absence of signals

l Either ON or OFF

l ON = number 1

l OFF = number 0

41
Bit and Byte
l Bit (short for binary digit)

l Smallest element of data

l Either zero or one

l Byte

l Group of eight bits which operate as a single

unit

l Represents one character or number

42
Representing characters in bytes
(using coding scheme)

43
Computers use binary system to calculate

44
 Communication Devices

l Communication device: equipment used

to send information and receive it from
one location to another
Ø Dial-up access
Ø Cable

Ø Digital subscriber line

Ø Wireless

Ø Satellite

45
46
Computer Software
47
48
Types of Softwares

48
 Software types

Application software
Performs information processing
tasks for end users

System software
Manages and supports operations
of computer systems and networks

49
Application software

General purpose
– Programs that perform common information p
rocessing jobs for end users
– e.g., word processing, spreadsheet, etc.
– also called productivity packages
Application-specific
– Programs that support specific applications of
end users
– e.g., electronic commerce, customer relationsh
ip management, etc.

50
 Software classifications
• Classify based on how it was developed
• Custom software
– Software applications that are developed within an organization for
use by that organization
• COTS software
– Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS)
– Software developed with the intention of selling the software in
multiple copies
• Why would you choose Custom over COTS?
• Why would you choose COTS over Custom?

51
52
Software: for sale/free/rent
• Commercial software
– Proprietary software or package software
– Copyright: exclusive legal right
– Software license: the right to use
– You don’t buy software: you buy a license to use the software
under the terms of the licensing agreement
– Licensed to protect the vendor’s property right
• Public-domain software
– Not protected by copyright
– E.g., open-source software
52
Software: for sale, for free or for rent ?

• Shareware
– Distributed free of charge but requires users to make a monetary
contribution to continue using it
• Freeware
– Copyright software that is distributed free of charge
• Rental-ware
– The users lease software
• Pirated software # counterfeit software

53
54
Software Suites

• Software suites integrate software packages

– Advantages
• Cost less than buying individual packages

• All have a similar GUI

• Work together well

– Disadvantages
• Features not used by all users

• Take a lot of disk space

54
Software Suites

55
 Web Browsers
• Software applications that support navigation through the point-and-click
resources of the Web

• Surfing the web

• Becoming a universal software platform for Internet-based applications

• Microsoft Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome or

Mozilla

56
 E-mail, Instant Messaging and Weblogs
• E-mail

– Software to communicate by sending and receiving messages and attachments via the Internet, intranet or
extranet

• Instant messaging (IM)

– Receive electronic messages instantly

• Weblog or blog

– A personal website in dated log format

– Updated with new information about a subject or range of subjects

57
 Word processing and Desktop publishing

• Word processing
– Create, edit, revise and print documents
– E.g., Microsoft Word, Lotus WordPro and Corel
WordPerfect
• Desktop Publishing
– Produce printed materials that look professionally
published
– E.g., Adobe PageMaker, Microsoft Publisher and
QuarkXPress

58
 Electronic Spreadsheets and Presentation Graphics

• Electronic Spreadsheets
– Worksheet of rows and columns
– Used for calculations and charts
– E.g., Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Excel, Corel QuatroPro
• Presentation Graphics
– Convert numeric data into graphics displays
– Prepare multimedia presentations including graphic
s, photos, animation, and video clips
– E.g., Microsoft PowerPoint, Lotus Freelance, Corel
Presentations

59
Programming Languages

60
 Object-Oriented Languages (5th Language)

• Combine data elements and the

procedures that will be performed
upon them into Objects

• E.g., an object could be data about

a bank account and the procedures
performed on it such as interest
calculations

61
Object-Oriented Languages
• Most widely used software development languages today

• Easier to use and more efficient for graphics-oriented user interfaces

• Reusable: can use an object from one application in another application

• E.g., Visual Basic, C++, Java….

62