Chapter 1

Introduction to IT
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Objectives
• Explain the importance of computer literacy
• Define the term computer
• Identify the components of a computer
• Explain why a computer is a powerful tool
• Differentiate among the various types of software
• Explain the purpose of a network
• Discuss the uses of the Internet and the world wide web
• Describe the categories of computers and their uses
• Identify the various types of computer users

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Where Do You Find
Computers?
• Computers are today found everywhere
• Offices
• Schools
• Banks
• Hospitals
• Factories
• Etc.

• Computer Literacy
• Knowledge and understanding of computers and their uses

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What Is a Computer?
• How is a computer defined?
• Electronic machine operating under the control of instructions
stored in its own memory
• Accepts data
• Manipulates data
• Produces results
• Stores results

• Data
• Raw facts, figures, and symbols

• Information 4
• Data that is organized, meaningful, and useful
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• Who is a user?
• Person who communicates with a computer or uses the
information it generates

• What are hardware and software?

• Hardware: Electronic and mechanical equipment
• Software: Instructions that tell hardware how to perform tasks

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What are common computer
hardware components

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• Input Device
• Hardware used to enter data and instructions

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• Output device
• Hardware that conveys information to a user

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• System Unit
• Box-like device containing electronic components connected to
motherboard
• Also called a chassis

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• two main components on the motherboard
• Central Processing Unit (CPU):
• Also called a processor
• Carries out instructions that tell computer what to do
• Memory
• Temporary holding place for data and instructions

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Other Components
• Chip
• Device with microscopic pathways that carry electrical currents
• Attaches to motherboard – e.g. memory chip, processor chip
packaging

• Storage
• Holds data, instructions, and information for future use
• Storage medium vs. storage device
• Storage Medium
• Physical material on which data, instructions, and information are
stored
• Storage Device
• Records and retrieves items to and from a storage medium 12
Common Storage Devices or
Drives

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• Hard Disk
• Provides much greater storage capacity
• Compact Disc - Portable storage media
• e.g.
• CD-ROM
• CD-RW
• DVD-ROM
• DVD+RW
• Miniature storage media
• Portable, thin, credit card size memory
• Used in digital cameras and handheld computers
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• Communications Device
• Establishes a connection between two computers using cable,
telephone lines, satellites, or wireless medium
• An example is a modem

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Information Processing Cycle

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What makes a computer
powerful?
• Speed
• Storage size
• Memory (RAM) size
• Reliability

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Computer Software
• A computer program is a series of instructions that tells the
computer what to do

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User Interface
• Controls how a user enters data and commands and how
information displays

• Graphical User Interface (GUI)

• uses visual images such as icons
• Icon represents program, instruction, or some other object

• Command Line Interface (CLI)

• Uses a text based environment to enter data and instructions and
to display information to the user.

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System Software
• Programs that control the operations of the computer and its
devices
• E.g. Operating System (OS) and Utility programs

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Application Software
• Programs that perform specific tasks for users

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 Shareware,
Freeware, Public-domain Software

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Application Service Provider
(ASP)
• Third-party company that manages and distributes software
and services on the Internet

• You can run the programs from the Internet

• Both free and paid ASPs are available

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Networks and the Internet
• What is a network?
• Collection of computers and devices connected together
• Characterized by:
• Communications device e.g. modem
• Communications Media e.g. cables, telephone lines, or satellites

• Reasons to network:
• Share resources
• Hardware devices
• Software programs
• Data
• Information 24
• Save time and money
• Local Area Network (LAN)
• Network that connects computers in a limited geographic area
• Wide Area Network (WAN)
• Network that covers large geographical area
• Internet
• Worldwide collection of networks that links millions of computers
together
• Why do users access the Internet?
• E-mail
• Information
• Shopping
• Meeting people 25
• Entertainment
• How do users connect to the Internet?
• Internet Service Provider (ISP): Provides access to the Internet
• Online Service Provider (OSP): Provides access to the Internet
and specialized services (AOL and MSN)

• World Wide Web (WWW)

• Billions of documents, called Web pages, linked together on
computers throughout the world
• Web site: Collection of related Web pages
• Web page: Contains text, graphics, sound, or video and links to
other Web pages
• Web browser: Program used to access and view Web pages 26
Categories of Computers
Category Physical Size Number of Simultaneously
Connected Users
Personal Computer Fits on a desk or on your Usually one or many
(desktop or lap networked
notebook)
Hand Held Fits in your hand Usually one
Computer
Mid-range server Small cabinet Two to thousands
Mainframe Partial room to a full Hundreds to thousands
room of equipment
Super Computer Full room of equipment Hundreds to thousands

Two most popular series of personal computers:

• PC and compatibles that use the Windows operating system 27
• Apple Macintosh that uses the Macintosh operating system (Mac OS)
• Notebook Computer:
• Portable, small enough to fit on your lap
• Also called a laptop
• Generally more expensive than a desktop computer

• Handheld Computer
• Small computer that fits in your hand
• Also called a palmtop or pocket computer

• How do you input data with a handheld computer?

• Keyboard
• Stylus
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• Speech recognition
• Handwriting Recognition
• Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
• Provides personal organizer functions including:
• Calendar
• Appointment book
• Address book
• Calculator
• Notepad

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Information System Elements?
• Hardware
• Software
• Data
• People
• Procedures

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Categories of Computer Users
• Home: communications, web access, personal finance
management, entertainment
• Small Office/Home Office User: Local Area Network (LAN),
Productivity software, Specialty software, web usage, email, e-
commerce
• Mobile User:
• Hardware - notebook computers, handheld computers, web-
enabled cellular telephones
• Software – Productivity, Presentation
• Large Business Users: network, sales management,
accounting, desktop publishing, productivity software,
scheduling, web access, telecommuting
• Power Users:
• Needs of a power user- Speed and large amounts of storage 31
• Types of power users: engineers, architects, desktop publishers,
graphic artists
Computer User as a Web Publisher
• Why do users publish Web pages?
• Family information
• Resume online
• Photo communities

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Questions

1) Define a computer
2) Distinguish between data and information
3) Explain what you understand by the term computer literacy
4) Distinguish between hardware and software
5) Outline five types of application software
6) You are planning to purchase a laptop computer for your
personal use. What factors will you consider as you do the
purchase?

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END

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