Catanduanes State University

COLLEGE OF INFORMATION AND

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Virac, Catanduanes

LEARNING MATERIALS AND COMPILATION OF

LECTURES/ACTIVITIES

GEC3
LIVING IN THE I.T. ERA
 D ISC LA IM ER

This learning material is used in compliance with the flexible teaching-learning

approach, espoused by CHED in response to the pandemic that has globally affected

educational institutions. Authors and publishers of the contents are well acknowledged. Such

as, the college and its faculty do not claim ownership of all sourced information. This learning

material is solely for instructional purposes and not for commercialization. Moreover, copying

and/or sharing part/s if this learning material in all forms (such as, but not limited to social

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College of Information and Communications Technolog

 C HA PTER 1 : AN OVERVIEW OF INF OR MAT ION
TECHN OL OGY

LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Understand the basic concepts of computer and mobile devices;
2. Differentiate the web from the Internet,
3. and describe the relationship among web, webpages, websites, and web servers;
4. Understand network technologies and identify reasons individuals and businesses use
networks;
5. Discuss how society uses technology in education, government, finance, retail, entertainment,
health care, science, travel, publishing, and manufacturing and;
6. Identify technology used by home users, small/home office users, mobile users, power users,
and enterprise users.

KEY TERMS
1. Computer
2. Laptop
3. Tablets
4. Desktop
5. Server
6. Mobile device
7. Smartphone
8. Digital Camera
9. Portable Media Player
10. E-book reader
11. Wearable device
12. Game console
13. The Web
14. Internet
15. Webpage
16. Browser
17. Search engine
18. Online social network
19. Communication device
20. Network

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 L ESSON 1: C OM PUT ER
1.1 What is a Computer?
A computer is an electronic device that manipulates
information, or data. It has the ability to store, retrieve, and
process data. You may already know that you can use a
computer to type documents, send email, play games,
and browse the Web. You can also use it to edit or create
spreadsheets, presentations, and even videos.

1.2 What does a Computer Do?

For a computer to perform useful work, the computer has to receive
instructions and data from the outside world. The computer receives data
and instructions during the INPUT stage of the information cycle. Applying
instructions to data takes place during the PROCESSING stage. To avoid
having to re-enter/reprocess data and instructions, computers can save
information in a temporary holding place called the memory. Saving
information on a computer occurs during the STORAGE phase, to which it
is followed by the expected result of the user in the OUTPUT stage.
The Information Processing Cycle

1.3 HARDWARE vs. SOFTWARE

Before we talk about different types of computers, let's talk about two things all computers have in
common: hardware and software.

Hardware is any part of your computer that has a physical

structure, such as the keyboard or mouse. It also includes all
of the computer's internal parts, which you can see in the image
below.

Software is any set of instructions that tells the

hardware what to do and how to do it. Examples of software
include web browsers, games, and word processors.

Everything you do on your computer will rely on both hardware and software. For example, right now
you may be viewing this lesson in a web browser (software) and using your mouse (hardware) to click
from page to page. As you learn about different types of computers, ask yourself about the differences
in their hardware. As you progress through this tutorial, you'll see that different types of computers also
often use different types of software.

1.4 What are the Different Types of Computers?

When most people hear the word computer, they think of a personal computer such as
a desktop or laptop. However, computers come in many shapes and sizes, and they perform many

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different functions in our daily lives. When you withdraw cash from an ATM, scan groceries at the store,
or use a calculator, you're using a type of computer.

Desktop Computers

Many people use desktop computers at work, home, and school.

Desktop computers are designed to be in a stationary location, more
precisely, placed on a desk, where all of its components fit on or under
a desk or table. They're typically made up of a few different parts,
including the computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. On
many desktops, the screen is housed in a display device (or simply
display) that is separate from a tower, which is a case that contains the
processing circuitry.

Another type of desktop called an all-in-one does not contain a

tower and instead uses the same case to house the display and the
processing circuitry. Some desktops and all-in-ones have displays
that support touch.

All-in-One Desktop

Laptops

The second type of computer you may be familiar with is

a laptop computer, commonly called a laptop. Laptops are
battery-powered computers that are more portable than
desktops, allowing you to use them almost anywhere.

Also called a netbook computer, laptops are thin, lightweight

mobile computers with a screen in its lid and a keyboard in its
base. Designed to fit on your lap and for easy transport, most
laptops weight up to 7 pounds (varying by manufacturer and specifications). A laptop that is less than
one inch thick and weighs about three pounds or less sometimes is referred to as an ultrathin laptop.
Most laptops can operate on batteries or a power supply or both.

Tablets

Tablet computers—or tablets—are handheld computers that

are even more portable than laptops. Instead of a keyboard and
mouse, tablets use a touch-sensitive screen for typing and
navigation. The iPad is an example of a tablet.

Tablets are usually smaller than a laptop but larger than a

phone. They are thin, lighter-weight mobile computer that has a
touch screen. A popular style or tablet is the slate, which does
not contain a physical keyboard. Like laptops, tablets run on batteries or a power supply or both;
however, batteries in a tablet typically last longer than those in laptops.

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Servers

A server is a computer that serves up information to other computers

on a network. For example, whenever you use the Internet, you're
looking at something that's stored on a server. Many businesses
also use local file servers to store and share files internally.

Services provided by servers include storing content and controlling

access to hardware, software, and other resource on a network. A
server can support from two to several thousand connected
computers and device at the same time. Smaller applications, such
as at home, sometimes use a high-end desktop as a server. Larger corporate, government, and web
applications use powerful expensive servers to support their daily operations.

A network is a collection of computers and devices connected together, often wirelessly.

Mobile and Game Devices

A mobile device is a computing device small enough to hold in your

hand. Because of their reduced size, the screens on mobile
devices are small – often between 3 and 5 inches. Some mobile
devices are Internet capable, meaning that they can connect to the
Internet wirelessly. You often can exchange information between
the Internet and a mobile device or between a computer or network
and a mobile device. Popular types of mobile devices are
smartphones, digital cameras, portable and digital media players,
e-book readers, and wearable devices.

Smartphones

A smartphone is an Internet-capable phone that usually also

includes a calendar, an address book, a calculator, a notepad,
games, and several other apps (which are programs on the
smartphone). Other apps are available through an app store that
typically is associated with the phone.

Smartphones typically communicate wirelessly with other devices

or computers. With most smartphone models, you also can listen to music, take photos, and record
videos.

Many smartphones have touch screens. Instead of or in

addition to a touch screen, some smartphones have a
keyboard that slides in and out from behind the phone.
Others have built-in mini keyboards or keypads that
contain both numbers and letters. Some are called a
phablet because they combine the features of a smartph
one with a tablet.

Instead of calling someone’s phone to talk, you can send

messages to others by pressing images on an onscreen keyboard on the phone, keys on the phone’s
mini keyboard, or buttons on the buttons on the phone’s keypad. Four popular types of messages that
you can send with smartphones include voice messages, text messages, picture messages, and video
messages.

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 a
a) A voice mail message is short
audio recording sent to or from
a smartphone or other mobile
device.
b) A text message is a short note,
typically fewer than 300 b c d
characters, sent to or from a
smartphone or other mobile
device.
c) A picture message is a photo or
other image, sometimes along
with sound and text, sent to or
from a smartphone or other
mobile device.
d) A video message is a short
video clip, usually about 30
seconds, sent to or from a
smartphone or other mobile
device.

Digital Cameras

A digital camera is a device that allows you to take photos and store
the photographed images digitally. A smart digital camera also can
communicate wirelessly with other devices and include apps similar to
those on a smartphone. Many mobile computers and devices, such as
tables and smartphones, include at least one integrated digital camera.

Digital cameras typically allow you to review, and sometimes modify,

images while they are in the camera. You also can transfer images from
a digital camera to a computer or device, so that you can review, modify,
share, organize, or print the images. Digital cameras often can connect to or communicate wirelessly
with a computer, a Smart TV, a printer, or the Internet, enabling you to access the photos on the camera
without using a cable. Some also can record videos. Many digital cameras also have built-in GPS, giving
them the capability to record the exact location where a photo was taken and store these details with
the photo.

Portable and Digital Media Players

A portable media player is a mobile device on which you can

store, organize, and play or view digital media. Digital media
includes music, photos, and videos. Thus, portable media
players enable you to listen to music, view photos, and watch
videos, movies, and television shows. With most, you transfer
the digital media from a computer or the web, if the device is
Internet capable, to the portable media player. Some enable
you to play the media while it streams, that is, while it transfers
to the player.

Portable media players usually require a set of earbuds, which are small speakers that rest inside each
car canal. Some portable media player models have a touch screen, while others have a pad that you
operate with a thumb or finger, so that you can navigate through digital media, adjust volume, and
customize settings. Some portable media players, also offer a calendar, address book, games, and
other apps.

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 Portable media players are a mobile type of digital media player. A
digital media player or streaming media player is a device, typically
used in a home, that streams digital media from a computer or
network to a television, projector, or some other entertainment
device.

E-Book Readers

An e-book reader (short for electronic book reader), or

e-reader, is a mobile device that is used primarily for
reading e-books. An e-book, or digital book, is an
electronic version of a printed book, readable on
computers and other digital devices. In addition to
books, you typically can purchase and read other forms
of digital media such as newspapers and magazines.

Most e-book reader models have a touch screen, and

some are Internet capable. These devices usually are
smaller than tablets but larger than smartphones.

Wearable Devices

A wearable device or wearable is a small, mobile computing consumer device designed to be worn.
These devices often communicate with a mobile device or computer.

Wearable devices include activity trackers, smartwatches, and

smartglasses. Activity trackers monitor heart rate, measure pulse,
count steps, and track sleep patterns. In addition to keeping time,
a smartwatch can communicate with a smartphone to make and
answer phone calls, read and send messages, access the web,
play music, work with apps, such as fitness trackers and GPS, and
more. With smartglasses, a user looks into an eyeglass-type device
to view information or take photos and videos that are projected to
a miniature screen in the user’s field of vision.

Game Devices

A game console is a mobile computing device designed for

a single-player or multiplayer video games. Gamers often
connect the game console to a television so that they can
view their gameplay on the television’s screen. Many game
console models are Internet capable and also allow you to
listen to music and watch movies or view photos. Typically
weighing between three and eleven pounds, the compact
size of game consoles makes them easy to use at home, in
the car, in a hotel, or any location that has an electrical outlet
and a television screen.

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A handheld game device is small enough to fit in one hand, making it more portable than the game
console. Because of their reduced size, the screens are small – similar in size to some smartphone
screens. Some handheld game device models are Internet capable and also can communicate
wirelessly with other similar devices for multiplayer gaming.

Supplementary Resources:
Goodwill Community Foundation, Inc. (n.d.). Computer Basics: Buttons and Ports on a Computer.
GCFGlobal.Org. https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/computerbasics/buttons-and-ports-on-a-
computer/1/

A. (2021, January 24). Information Processing Cycle | Meaning, Steps and Examples. Planning Tank:
Urban, Regional & Rural Planning for Everyone. https://planningtank.com/computer-
applications/information-processing-
cycle#:%7E:text=The%20information%20processing%20cycle%20is,integral%20part%20of%
20information%20processing.

Computer History Museum. (2021). Computers | Timeline of Computer History | Computer History
Museum. CHM. https://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/computers/