ICDL - Module 1

Basic Concepts of Information Technology

Dr.Yasser Abubbakr M. Alobe 1

Section 1
General Concepts

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Types of Computer

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Lesson 1 – Types of Computer

Computer
 A computer is an electronic device used to process data,
converting data into information that is useful to people.

 A computer is a machine that is used to store and process data

electronically.

 A computer is an electronic device which is used to store,

retrieve and process data according to a set of instructions
(program) given to it.

Input Output

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Lesson 1 – Types of Computer

Types of Computers
 Computers are of following types:
 Personal Computer
 Laptop computer
 Handheld Devices
 PDA

 Mobile Phones & Smart phones

 Multimedia Players

 Networked computer
 Server

 Mainframe computer

 Micro computer

 Super-computer 5
Lesson 1 - Types of Computers

 Personal Computer
 In General, the term Personal Computer PC is used for any
small computer.

 Standard PC comprises a Casing/Box, a monitor, a keyboard

and a mouse.

 PC is cheap and easy to use.

 PC is normally used by students, families and in small

businesses.

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Lesson 1 - Types of Computers

 Laptop Computer
 A laptop is a small computer which can be easily carried in a
small bag/case.

 In laptop, batteries are used for power.

 Laptop has keyboard and a touchpad.

 It is expensive than PC.

 Laptop is almost equal in speed of a PC.

 It is normally used by business people.

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 Lesson 1 - Types of Computers

 Handheld Devices
 Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
 It is a small computer which can be placed on the palm of
hand.
 It has touch screen where we can use finger or digital pen.

 It can be used as a phone, Media Player, for internet.

 It is also used by businessmen.

 Mobile phones & Smart Phones

 These are advanced phones with latest functions.

 We can use them as a phone and as a computer to use

some software.

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Lesson 1 - Types of Computers

 Multimedia Players

 These players can play and view many types of media files
e.g. video, music and photos.

 Example is Apple iPod

 We can connect these players to internet or other network.

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Lesson 1 - Types of Computers

 Network Computers

 A network is a collection or group of computers connected with

each other via cables or wireless.

 A network is used to share resources and information.

 Network is used in large organisations, schools, hotels and

offices.

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Server
 Purpose is to “serve.”
 A computer that has the
purpose of supplying its
users with data; usually
through the use of a LAN
(local area network).

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Lesson 1 - Types of Computers

 Mainframe Computers
 These are very big, powerful and very high speed computers.

 They can do multiple tasks at high speed.

 These are used by large organisations such an banks to

control the entire business operation.

 These are very expensive.

 They are placed in a big room.

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Microcomputer
 A personal computer;
designed to meet the
computer needs of an
individual.
 Provides access to a
wide variety of computing
applications, such as
word processing, photo
editing, e-mail, and
internet.

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Supercomputer
 A computer that was the fastest in the
world at the time it was constructed.
 Can tackle tasks that would not be
practical for other computers.
 Typical uses
 Breaking codes
 Modeling weather systems

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Main Parts of a PC

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Lesson 2 – Main Parts of a PC

Main Parts of a PC
 Keyboard

 Monitor

 Mouse

 Case/Box
 CPU
 HDD
 Floppy disk drive
 CD-ROM Drive

 Speakers

 Modem

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Lesson 2 – Main Parts of a PC

Keyboard
 It is used to enter information in the computer.

 Its like a board having Keys (buttons)

Mouse
 It is used to operate or control the computer.

 When mouse is moved then a cursor is moved on the computer

screen.

 With mouse we can select menu options,

drag & drop and point & click.

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Lesson 2 – Main Parts of a PC

Monitor / VDU (Video Display Unit)

 It is used to view information or results from the computer.

 Monitors are of many sizes and qualities.
 LCDs are new shapes of monitors.

System Unit/Case/Box
 It is a plastic or metal box.

 Box has many other parts of the computer like CPU, Motherboard,
Hard disk, CD-ROM.

 Box may be Tower-top or Desk-top.

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Lesson 2 – Main Parts of a PC

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

 Hard disk is inside the computer box.

 It is used to store data and programs.

 Hard disk may be external or internal.

Floppy Disk Drive (FDD)

 Floppy disk is used to transfer the data from one computer to
other computer.

 New computers don’t have Floppy drives. Now we have Memory

sticks/Flash drive.

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Lesson 2 – Main Parts of a PC

CD-ROM Drive (CD-ROM)

 In CD-ROM, a CD is used to read information.

 CD may contain computer software, data or music.

 We can also write data/information on Writeable CDs.

Speakers
 Speakers are used to play music or any audio.

 There are many types of speakers.

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Lesson 2 – Main Parts of a PC

Modem
 Modem is used to connect to internet via a telephone line.

 Modem can be internal or external.

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Starting the Computer

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Lesson 3 – Starting the Computer

Basic checks when starting the computer

 Computer should not already switched on.

 Connect all the cables and power cable.
 There should not any CD or Floppy in the Computer.
 Press power button on computer Box. If its not working then check all
the cables.
 If computer is starting then wait for sometime so that computer
should start-up properly.
 You will see some information and then operation system (Windows)
will start.

 After starting up completely, computer is ready to use.

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 Hardware
Hardware

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Lesson 4 – Hardware

 Hardware
 The term hardware refers to the
physical components of the
computer such as the system unit,
mouse, keyboard, monitor etc.

 Software
 The software is the instructions that
makes the computer work.

 Software is held either on your

computers hard disk, CD-ROM, DVD
or on a floppy disk and is loaded
from the disk into the computers
RAM (Random Access Memory), as
and when required.
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Lesson 4 – Hardware

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

 ICT is a term which refers to the storage, processing or transferring
of information and communication using electronic means.

 We can apply this term to fax or telephone communication and

other forms of multi-media.

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Section 2
Hardware

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Central Processing Unit

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Lesson 6 – Central Processing Unit

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

 CPU is the main part of the computer that performs all the work.

 CPU is also called brain of the computer.

 It performs processing, communication and all calculations of data.

 CPU is normally an Intel Pentium ..

 It tells how fast your computer will run and its speed is measured in
MHz or GHz.

 A 600 MHz Pentium is much faster than a 400 MHz Pentium CPU.
 CPU performs all the calculations within the computer.

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Input Devices

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Lesson 7 – Input Devices

Input Devices
An Input Device is a device that is used to enter information into a PC
by typing, selecting, importing or downloading.

Some input devices are as follows:

 Keyboard
 Mouse
 Touchpad
 Trackballs
 Scanner
 Joysticks
 Graphic Tablet
 Digital cameras and Webcam
 Microphone 31
Lesson 7 – Input Devices

 Keyboard

 Mouse

 Touchpad
 It senses the movement of the fingertip and moves the mouse
pointer (cursor) on the computer screen.
 It is used in laptops.

 Trackball
 Its like mouse having a ball on the upper side.
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Lesson 7 – Input Devices

 Joysticks
 It is used to play games more quickly and efficiently.

 Graphic Tablet
 It is touch sensitive pad. A Stylus (digital pen) is used for
drawing or writing.

 Scanner
 Scanner is used to convert any printed material to digital form
and to import into the computer.
 We can convert any printed text to a soft copy with a special
computer software.

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Lesson 7 – Input Devices

 Webcam
 It is a small camera which is used to show live images over the
internet.

 Digital Cameras
 These cameras can store images in digital form on a memory card
and transfer to computer.

 Microphone
 Microphone is used to convert speech into text by using special
software.

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Output Devices

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Lesson 8 – Output Devices

Output Devices
An output Device is any device that is used to show information or
results of a PC.

Some Output devices are as follows:

 Monitors

 Speakers

 Speech Synthesiser

 Printers

 Touch screens

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Lesson 8 – Output Devices

Output Devices

 Monitors / Computer Screen

 This is the most common output device.
 Picture quality of monitor is called Resolution.

 Speakers
 Speakers are used to take any audio output or result from the
computer.

 Speech Synthesiser
 These are special software used to translate any written text into
an audio speech.
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Lesson 8 – Output Devices

 Printers
 Printers are used to print paper copies of the text, pictures or any
other data.
 We have Colour printers and Black & White Printers
 Dot matrix printers, Inkjet printers, Laser printers.

Touch screens
 These are special monitors which are used not only to display
information but also to take any input. These are used in ATM
machines.

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 Lesson 8 – Output Devices

Input and Output Ports

A port is a place where we can connect any external device to computer.

Some types are as follows:

 Serial Port
 This port connects devices like projector .

 Parallel Port
 This port connects devices like printers and transfers data in
multiple streams.

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 Lesson 8 – Output Devices

 USB Port
 This is most common port and widely used to connect many
devices.

 This is without pin.

 FireWire Port
 It is used to connect digital cameras because it transfers data at a
high speed.

 Network Port
 This port is used to connect the PC to other PCs in a network.

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Accessibility

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Lesson 9 – Accessibility

Accessibility

Accessibility refers to how much easy a system is by disable people.

There are many devices which are helpful for disable people.

 Voice Recognition Software

 These software can translate speech/voice into text.

 Screen Reader
 These software is helpful for blind people.

 Screen Magnifier
 For low vision people, this software is used.

 On-screen keyboard
 With this software, disable people can type data using a pointing
device or joystick.

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End

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