ALEXIS NARANDAN

BSED-ENGLISH
COMPSC3 - Data – text, numbers, sound, images, - Are becoming more powerful and
video easier to use.
UNDERSTANDING COMPUTERS
- Information – output Classifying Computers
• Computers are considered one of the - People – users of the computer Two Categories of Computers:
most important of the 20th century. The Processing Cycle of a Computer • Special Purpose – used to control
• Their widespread use affects us - Inputs Data devices, such as radar detection or a
individually and as a society. - Processes Data microwave oven.
A Brief History of the Computer - Stores data and information • General Purpose – five categories
• The first computers were developed - Outputs Information based on size, function, cost, and
in the late 1940s and early 1950s Are Computers Intelligent? performance.
• In 1971, Dr. Ted Hoff developed the • As complex as some computers may General-Purpose Computers
microprocessor. be, they all essentially perform two • Desktop – personal computer in
• Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak built operations: which all components fit on or under
the first Apple computer in 1976. - Arithmetic operations such as a desk.
What is a Computer? addition, subtraction, multiplication, • Mobile – personal computers, such
• A computer is an electronic device and division as notebook computers and tablet
that: - Logical Operations, such as PCs.
- Receives data comparing two values and taking • Mild-range server – used by medium-
- Processes the data it receives some action based on the result of sized companies; generally supports
- Stores the data in memory or on the comparison. hundreds of users.
some storage device, such as a disk - Greater than, less than, or equal to. • Mainframes – large, very expensive
or CD. What Makes a Computer so Powerful? machines that can support
- Outputs information on a device, • Although computers perform only thousands of users; used by large
such as a monitor or printer. basic operations, they: corporations.
What is a Computer System? - Perform those functions very quickly • Supercomputers – used for
• A computer system includes - Produce accurate and reliable results specialized operations requiring
hardware, software, data, - Store large amounts of data mathematical operations.
information, and people. - Provide versatility through various Types of Personal Computers
- Hardware – the machine including applications - Desktop Computer
the wires, transistors, and so on. - Share resources with other - Notebook
- Software – instructions or programs computers - Handheld
that control the computer
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Computer Software department, it is called a local area - Take data from the outside world and
• Two basic types network. sent it to the Central Processing Unit
- Application – performs specific tasks Other Types of Networks for processing.
for users (ex. Word processing) - Intranet – this is a network that may - Data can be collected and entered
- System – software that controls the be set up for employees of business into a computer in a range of ways.
computer’s operating system. (ex. of a business or students at a Output Devices
Microsoft windows) university that is not accessible to - A piece of hardware that is used to
Electronic Communications users outside of those institutions. output data that has been previously
- Electronic communication is the - Extranet – this is typically is an entered into a computer or similar
technology that allows computers to intranet that allows certain users, processing device.
talk to each other and to other such as suppliers or customers, to - In computing terms, an output device
devices. access the internal network. is a piece of hardware that obeys a
• Four components The Internet computer command to do something
- Sender – the computer sending a - Evolved from a government research in the real world.
message project that is enabled the military Storage Devices
- Receiver – the computer receiving and scientists around the world to - It will store data, even when the
the message share information. power to the computer is switched
- Channel – the media that carries the - Largest network in the world off. When the power is switch on
message Technology for Everyday Life again, the data can be retrieved.
- Protocol – the rules that govern the - Electronic security systems - Non-volatile devices
processing of a message between - Games - Ex. USB pen drives, hard disks, CDs,
computers - Government research operations DVDs, SD and micro SD cards, blu-
Network Systems - Computerized appliances ray disks and magnetic tape.
- A network consists of multiple INPUT, OUTPUT, STORAGE DEVICES The CPU
computers connected to each other Purpose – all computers have the same four - It outputs the data using output
to share data and resources. basic building blocks. devices, perhaps to a monitor or
- Data and software programs usually • Input Devices speakers, or saves it for later using a
stored on a central computer called • CPU storage device.
a server. • Output Devices Input Devices
- When network computers are • Storage Devices • Keyboard – use to input
located in the same general area, Input Devices alphanumeric and special
such as the same building or a characters.
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• Mouse – use to control mouse • Speaker/Headset – produce audio
pointer on a computer screen. output that can be heard by the
• Biometrics – use to identify and listener.
authenticate a person. • Printer – to accept typed text and
• Graphic Tablet – use to hand-draw graphic images from a computer and
images, animation and graphics. transfer it to paper.
• Digital Pen – converts handwritten • Flash Drive – to provide storage.
analog information creating using • Hard Drive – to operate as a storage
“pen and paper” into digital data. device for data.
• Camera – capture images or records • Floppy Disk – used in computers for
moving images. data transfer, storage and backup of
• Touchpad – use to control mouse small amounts of data.
pointer on a computer screen. • SD Card – to provide high-capacity
• Touchscreen – allows the user to memory in a small size. Used in
interact with a computer by using many small portable devices such as
their fingers or stylus. digital video camcorders, digital
• Microphone – translates sound cameras, handheld computers, audio
vibrations in the air into electronic players and mobile phones.
signals. Use for voice recording. • MicroSD card – used for storing
• Scanner – capture images from information. Used in mobile phones
photographic print, posters, and other mobile devices.
magazine pages, and similar sources • Optical Disk (CD,DVD, Bluray) –
for computer editing and display. used to store data for various users.
• Monitor – display text and graphics
produced by computer programs and
to provide a visual interface for
computer users.
• Projector – take images generated by
a computer and reproduce them by
projection onto a screen, wall, or
another surface.