ICDL/ECDL

Information Technology

Lesson 1

Overview
In this lesson on Information Technology you will be
introduced to what IT is, what IT encompasses with
respect to computer hardware, software, and the
associated services and personnel

Objectives
By the time this lesson is completed, you will be able
to:

1. Explain the meaning and purpose of IT

2. Identify the major components of hardware, software,

and services is IT

3. List and explain the five major components of a

computer system

4. Describe in detail the hardware associated with input,

processing, output, memory, and control

Information Technology

Meaning of “Information Technology (IT)”: A general term

which includes all of the computer system hardware,
software, and services associated with computer operation.

Definitions:

Hardware: the objects that are what you see after turning off
the
power switch
 Software: the instructions that tell the computer what to do
with
the supplied data

Services: the activities provided by the IT specialists which

are
crucial to the entire operation

Copyright © Norman T. Bell, 2007

Types of Computers
Two Major Categories of Computers

1. Mainframe Computers—large, powerful, very expensive

2. Microcomputers—small, powerful, inexpensive

Three Major Categories of Microcomputers

1. Desktop Computers

2. Laptop or Notebook Computers

3. Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)

Major Uses of the Major Categories of Microcomputers

1. Desktop: all types of applications available

2. Laptop: all types of applications available for use on the road

3. PDA: fewer applications, use while away from desktop/laptop

The Block Diagram of the Computer System

Control

Input Processing Output

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 Memory

Input Devices

Keyboard Scanners (flatbed and 35mm

slide)
Trackball, Mouse, Touch Pad Modem; Network plug-in
Internal Drives (hard and 3.5” floppy)
CD/DVD
External Hard Drive, Thumb Drive Camera/Microphone for Internet

Printer with Camera Card Reader Slots Touch Screen

(Possible)______________

Processing

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Calculate (+ and -) Controls components

Controls operational logic Speed

(Megahertz=1,000,000

Contains RAM for calculations operations per

second)

Output Devices

Monitor (2nd monitor, digital projector)

Modem, Network Plug-In
Printer with Card Slots Speaker System

Internal Drives (hard and 3.5” floppy)

CD/DVD Recorder

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External Hard Drive Thumb Drive

Memory Devices

Read-Only Memory (ROM): Memory that permanently retains

operating system info

Random Access Memory (RAM): Memory that temporarily stores

data; volatile, in that the data disappear when the system is
powered-down

Measurement of Memory: bit (0 or 1), byte (8 bits), kilobyte (210 or

1024 bytes),
megabyte (1024 Kbytes or approx. 1 million bytes); gigabyte
(1024 megabytes, or
approx. 1 billion bytes; terabyte (1 million megabytes, or approx.
1 trillion bytes)

Control

Control

Input Processing Output

Memory

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Operating Systems—Windows XP (Mac: OS; MSDOS; Linux)
Applications Programs—Microsoft Office (PageMaker, Photoshop)
Specialized Programs on ROM—Plug-in games

Review of Key IT Terms

ITInformation Technology
Input Putting information into the computer
Processing Doing something with the information put into the
computer
Output Getting information out of the computer
Memory Storing and retrieving information in the computer
Control Directing input, processing, memory, and output
Monitor A visual display of information stored in memory
CPU The central processing unit
Applications Programs developed to produce products (Word,
Photoshop)
System Software The programs that perform system operations
(save, print, etc.)
Byte 8 bits (a string of eight zeros and/or ones)
CD-ROM Compact Disk-Read Only Memory
Diskette A storage device holding 1.2 megabytes of data
Digital Discrete, as opposed to analogous
Analog Analogous, representing relative size
e-Commerce Business conducted on the Internet
e-Mail Mail sent and received via the Internet
Freeware Computer software which is free to the user
Bit A zero or a one
Touchscreen A special display that outputs video and inputs
location of touch

Review of Key IT Terms, continued

Mouse A means by which any area of the screen can be
reached
Trackball An alternative to the mouse

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 Touchpad Another alternative to the mouse, mostly on
notebook computers
Modem A means by which data can be sent and received
via the telephone
Megahertz A measure of speed; approximately a million
cycles per second
Gigahertz Another measure of speed; approximately a trillion
cycles per second
Kilobyte A measure of quantity; 210 = 1024
Megabyte A measure of quantity; 1024 Kbytes, approx. 1
million bytes
Hardware The physical parts of the computer and
peripherals
PDA A hand-held computer

Summary
In this lesson you have considered the following topics:

1. Explanation of the meaning and purpose of IT

2. Identification of the major components of hardware,
software, and services in IT
3. A listing and explanation of the five major components
of a computer system
4. A description in detail of the hardware associated with
input, processing, output, memory, and control
5. Definitions of terms associated with IT

Quick Quiz
Directions: Using the system explained by your instructor, answer the
following questions related to Information Technology.

1. Which of the following are included as part of the concept,

Information Technology?
a. Hardware c. Personnel
b. Software d. All of the above responses

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Measu
remen
t of
Memor 2. Which of the following peripherals functions as both an input and
output device?
a. mouse c. trackball
b. touch screen d. touchpad

3. What you see after turning off the computer’s main power switch
is termed
a. hardware c. software
b. systems applications d. user applications

4. That computer component which tells the computer what to do

with supplied data is called
a. firmware c. software
b. directions d. all of the above

5. The smallest of the various types of general purpose computers

is called the
a. calculator c. programmable calculator
b. memory-based calculator d. PDA

6. Which of the following would be classified as input devices?

a. touchpad c. trackball
b. touch screen d. all of the above

7. A flat-bed scanner is classified as a/n ____________ device

a. processing c. control
b. memory d. input

8. Which of the following are both input and output devices?

a. 3.5” floppy drive c. DVD player
b. CD player d. all of the above

9. The device which is used to modulate and de-modulate signals is

called a/n
a. modem c. de-modulator
b. modulator d. converter

10.Which of the following is a task of the central processing unit?

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 a. calculations c. control logic
b. control components d. all of the above

11. A central processing unit, the heart of the computer, is

approximately how large?
a. 1 foot by 1 foot c. less than 4” square
b. 8” by 12” d. no more than .25” square

12. The speed of the CPU is measured in

a. cycles/minute c. cycles/hour
b. operations/second d. all of the above

13. In terms of output devices, which of the following is probably

the most used?
a. monitor c. printer
b. CD-writer d. tape recorder

14. ROM stands for _______________ memory

a. random operational c. read-only
b. read-once d. recursive operational

15. Which of the following is true of RAM?

a. It is permanent c. It is highly volatile
b. It is extremely expensive d. all of the above

16. Which of the following is a good definition of a “bit”?

a. a zero or a one c. one-eighth of a byte
b. a binary digit d. all of the above

17. Memory is measured in bytes. What is the definition of a byte?

a. eight zeros or ones c. 1/10,000 of a terabyte
b. 2 bits
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d. 10 bits

18. A kilobyte is
a. exactly 1024 bytes c. 25 bits
b. one million bits d. exactly 1024 bits

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 19. A terabyte is one million megabytes or approximately
____________ bytes.
a. one thousand c. ten million
b. one hundred thousand d. one trillion

20. Windows XP is an example of a/n

a. MS Office application c. Operating System
b. Off-line storage system d. all of the above
21. Which of the following would be classified as an application
program?
a. Word c. Photoshop
b. PowerPoint d. all of the above

22. The type of monitor that can serve not only as an output device
but also as an input device is called a/n
a. touchscreen c. touchpad
b. trackscreen d. input/output video display

23. Which of the following can be read from a CD-ROM?

a. word processing files c. digital pictures
b. digital movies d. all of the above

24. The CPU is the central processing unit. With a desktop computer,
CPU also may refer to the
a. box, either metal or plastic, that contains the CPU and
peripherals
b. control-program unit
c.. monitor, the visual output display
d. main memory (both RAM and ROM)

25. Which of the following can function as an output device?

a. mouse c. trackball
b. CD-ROM reader d. monitor

Activity 1-1
Directions: In this first activity you will be exploring the Information
Technology employment opportunities. You will first have the

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opportunity to read about such opportunities by means of a search
on the Internet. You will see in this activity what the actual
employment opportunities are and what are the needed skills for
those desiring such employment.

1. Study the following excerpts from the classified ads,

announcements of job opening which are all in the area of
information technology. What are some of the major conclusions
you can draw from announcements such as these?
Results of an Internet search related to jobs in the IT field.

Note that the Category is Information Technology and 39,319 job

postings were found. These jobs are listed in the “Newest jobs first”
order, and the names of the companies and locations are indicated.
Further exploration of this website produces the Job
Title/Description, Company, Location, and Date Found categories for
each of the opportunities listed.

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 Continued exploration of any of these job postings will provide
information concerning the details of the job and the required
background.

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Scrolling further down the required experience/knowledge is listed.

Note that in this class, you will be studying Windows XP, one of the
requirements.

What are some of the major conclusions you can draw from
announcements such as these?
Estas páginas de internet son de gran ayuda a la hora de buscar
empleo. A través de ellas encontramos más rápidamente la
disponibilidad de empleos, los requisitos y su demanda. En la
categoría de Información Tecnológica puedo concluir que hay una gran
necesidad de emplear personas con la capacidad y conocimientos
necesarios en el ámbito tecnológico.

These pages of internet are of great aid in the seeking

employment. Through them we can find more quickly the availability
of employments, the requirements and their demand. In the Category
of Information Technological I can to conclude that there is a great
need to employ persons with the capacity and necessary knowledge in
the technological environment.

Activity 1-2

Be on the lookout for job listings in the area of Information Technology.

Such listing may be found in newspapers, magazines related to
Information Technology, and on the Internet. Be prepared for the next
class session to share your findings concerning preparation for
employment in the IT field.

Asignación # 1: Wilmarie Arroyo Ortiz

Sección : 066

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