Chapter 1:

An Introduction to
Computers
 Learning Objectives
1. Explain why it is essential to learn about computers
today and discuss several ways computers are integrated
into our business and personal lives.
2. Define a computer and describe its primary operations.
3. List some important milestones in computer evolution.
4. Identify the major parts of a personal computer,
including input, processing, output, storage, and
communications hardware.
5. Define software and understand how it is used to
instruct the computer what to do.

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 Learning Objectives
6. List the six basic types of computers, giving at least
one example of each type of computer and stating
what that computer might be used for.
7. Explain what a network, the Internet, and the World
Wide Web are, as well as how computers, people,
and Web pages are identified on the Internet.
8. Describe how to access a Web page and navigate
through a Web site.
9. Discuss the societal impact of computers, including
some benefits and risks related to their prominence
in our society.

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 Overview

• This chapter covers:

– What computers are, how they work, and how
they are used
– Computer terminology
– An overview of the history of computers
– The basic types of computers in use today
– An overview of networks and the Internet
– Societal impacts of computers

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 Computers in Your Life

• Why learn about computers?

– Pervasive computing
• Also known as ubiquitous computing
• Computers have become an integral part of our lives

– Basic computer literacy

• Knowing about and understanding computers and their
uses is an essential skill today for everyone

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 Computers in Your Life

• Before 1980
– Computers were large, expensive
– Very few people had access to them
– Computers were mostly used for high-volume
processing tasks
• Microcomputers in the early 80s
– Inexpensive personal computers
– Computer use increased dramatically

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 Computers in Your Life

• Today
– More than 80% of US households include a computer, and
most use computers at work
– Electronic devices are converging into single units with
multiple capabilities
• Computer is no longer an isolated productivity tool
• Check e-mail on living room television
• View internet content on mobile phone or other mobile
device
– Computer literacy
• Knowing about and understanding computers and their
uses is an essential skill for everyone

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 Computers in Your Life

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 Computers in the Home

• Computers used for a variety of tasks:

– Looking up information and news
– Exchanging e-mail
– Shopping and paying bills
– Watching TV and videos
– Downloading music and movies
– Organizing digital photographs
– Playing games
– Making vacation plans

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 Computers in the Home

• Wireless networking
– Computers can be used in nearly any location
• Smart appliances
– Traditional appliances with built-in computer or
communication technology
• Smart homes
– Household tasks are monitored and controlled by a main
computer in the house

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 Computers in the Home

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 Computers in Education

• Youth today can be called the computing generation

• Most students today have access to computers at school
– Some schools integrate e-books into the curriculum
• Colleges and universities are even more integrated
– Wireless hotspots allow usage of personal laptops to connect to
the college network
– Some colleges require a computer for enrollment
• Distance learning
– Students participate from locations other than the traditional
classroom setting using computers and Internet access

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 Computers in Education

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 Computers on the Job

• Computers have become a universal on-the-job tool

for decision-making, productivity, and
communication
– Used by all types of employees
– Used for access control and other security measures
– Use by service professionals is growing
– Used extensively by the military
– Employees in all lines of work need to continually refresh
their computer skills

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 Computers on the Job

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 Computers on the Go

• Computers are encountered in nearly every aspect of

daily life
– Consumer kiosks
– ATM transactions
– POS systems at retail stores
– Self-checkout systems
– Consumer authentication systems
– Portable computers or mobile devices
– GPS systems
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 Computers on the Go

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 What Is a Computer and What Does It Do?

• Computer
– A programmable, electronic device that accepts data,
performs operations on that data, presents the results,
and stores the data or results as needed.
– Computers follow instructions, called programs, which
determine the tasks the computer will perform
• Basic operations
– Input: Entering data into the computer
– Processing: Performing operations on the data
– Output: Presenting the results
– Storage: Saving data, programs, or output for future use
– Communications: Sending or receiving data via a network
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 What Is a Computer and What Does It Do?

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 Data vs. Information

• Data
– Raw, unorganized facts
– Can be in the form of text, graphics, audio, or video
• Information
– Data that has been processed into a meaningful
form
• Information processing
– Converting data into information

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 Computers Then and Now

• The computer as we know it is a fairly recent

invention
• The history of computers is often referred to
in terms of generations
• Each new generation is characterized by a
major technological development
• Precomputers and early computers
(before 1946)
– Abacus, slide rule, mechanical calculator
– Punch Card Tabulating Machine and Sorter
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 Computers Then and Now

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 Computers Then and Now

• First-generation computers (1946-1957)

– Enormous and powered by vacuum tubes
– Used a great deal of electricity and generated a lot
of heat
– ENIAC and UNIVAC
• Second-generation computers (1958-1963)
– Used transistors
– Computers were smaller, more powerful, cheaper,
more energy-efficient, and more reliable
– Punch cards and magnetic tape were used to
input and store data
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 Computers Then and Now

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 Computers Then and Now
• Third-generation computers (1964-1970)
– Used integrated circuits (ICs)
– Keyboards and monitors introduced
• Fourth-generation computers (1971-present)
– Use microprocessors
– IBM PC, Apple Macintosh
– Use keyboards, mice, monitors, and printers
– Use magnetic disks, flash memory, and optical disks for
storage
– Computer networks, wireless technologies, Internet
introduced
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 Computers Then and Now

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 Computers Then and Now

• Fifth-generation (now and the future)

– Infancy stage
– No precise classification
– May be based on artificial intelligence (AI)
– Will likely use voice and touch input
– May be based on optical computers and utilize
nanotechnology

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 Hardware

• Hardware: The physical parts of a computer

– Internal hardware
• Located inside the main box (system unit) of the
computer
– External hardware
• Located outside the system unit
• Connect to the computer via a wired or wireless
connection
– Hardware devices are associated with all five
computer operations
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 Hardware
• Input devices
– Used to input data into the computer
– Keyboards, mice, scanners, cameras, microphones,
joysticks, touch pads, touch screens, fingerprint readers,
etc.
• Processing devices
– Perform calculations and control computer’s operation
– Central processing unit (CPU) and memory
• Output devices
– Present results to the user
– Monitors, printers, speakers, projectors, etc.
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 Hardware

• Storage devices
– Used to store data on or access data from storage media
– Hard drives, CD/DVD discs and drives, USB flash drives, etc.
• Communications devices
– Allow users to communicate with others and to
electronically access remote information
– Modems, network adapters, etc.

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 Hardware

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 Software
• Software
– The programs or instructions used to tell the computer
hardware what to do
• System software
– Operating system starts up the computer and controls its
operation
• Without OS, computer cannot function
• Boots the computer and launches programs at the user’s
direction
• Most use a GUI to interact with the user via windows, icons,
menus, buttons, etc.
• Windows, Mac OS, Linux, etc.

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 System Software

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 Software
• Application software
– Performs specific tasks or applications
• Creating letters, budgets, etc.
• Managing inventory and customer databases
• Editing photographs
• Scheduling appointments
• Viewing Web pages
• Sending and receiving e-mail
• Recording/playing CDs and DVDs
• Designing homes
• Playing games
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 Application Software

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 Application Software

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 Computer Users and Professionals

• Computer users (end users)

– People who use a computer to obtain information
• Computer professionals include:
– Programmers
• Write programs computers use
– Systems analysts
• Design computer systems
– Computer operations personnel
• Manage day-to-day computer operations
– Security specialists
• Secure computers and networks against hackers
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 Quick Quiz

1. Which of the following was not a first generation computer?

a. IBM PC
b. UNIVAC
c. ENIAC
2. True or False: A window displayed when the computer needs
more information from the user is called a dialog box.
3. Speakers are an example of a(n) _____________ device.

Answers:
1) a; 2) True; 3) output
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 Computers to Fit Every Need

• Six basic categories of computers:

– Embedded computers
– Mobile devices
– Personal computers
– Midrange servers
– Mainframe computers
– Supercomputers

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 Embedded Computers

• Embedded computer
– A little computer embedded into a product and designed
to perform specific tasks or functions for that product
– Cannot be used as general-purpose computers
– Often embedded into:
• Household appliances
• Thermostats
• Sewing machines
• DVD players and televisions
• Answering machines
• Cars
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 Mobile Devices

• Mobile device
– A very small device with some type of built-in computing
or Internet capability
– Often based on a mobile phone
– Typically have small screens and keyboards
– Examples:
• Smartphones
• Handheld gaming devices
• Portable digital media players
• Mobile tablets

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 Personal Computers (PCs)
• Personal computer (also called a microcomputer)
– Small computer designed to be used by one person at a
time
– Available in different sizes and shapes
• Desktop computers
– Fit on or next to a desk
– Can use tower case, desktop case, or all-in-one
– Can be PC-compatible
or Macintosh
– Not designed to be
portable
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 Personal Computers (PCs)

• Portable Computers
– Designed to be carried around easily
– Fully functional computers
– Notebook (laptop) computers
• Typically use a clamshell design
– Tablet Computers
• Usually use a digital pen/stylus or touch screen
• Can be slate (one-piece) or convertible (as notebook) tablets

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 Personal Computers (PCs)
– Netbooks
• Smaller, lighter, and less expensive than conventional
notebooks
• Longer battery life
• Good for students and business travelers

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 Personal Computers (PCs)

• Thin client or network

computer (NC)
– Device designed to access a
network for processing and
data storage
– Lower cost, increased security
and easier maintenance
– Limited or no local storage
– Not able to function as a
computer if network is down

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 Personal Computers (PCs)
• Internet appliance
– Specialized network computer designed for Internet access
and/or e-mail exchange
– Some designed to be used in the home
– Can be built into another product such as a refrigerator or
telephone console
– Can be a stand-alone device or Internet-enabled gaming
consoles

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 Midrange Servers

• Midrange server
– A medium-sized computer used to host
programs and data for a small network
– Users connect via a network with a
computer, thin client, or dumb terminal
– Sometimes referred to as a
minicomputer
– Some midrange servers consist of a
collection of individual compact,
modular servers called blades;
– Each blade contains the hardware
necessary to provide the complete
processing power of one computer.
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 Mainframe Computers
• Mainframe computer
– Powerful computer used by many large organizations to
manage large amounts of centralized data
– Standard choice for hospitals, universities, large
businesses, banks, government offices
– Located in climate-controlled data centers and connected
to the rest of the company computers via a network
– Larger, more expensive, and more powerful than midrange
servers
– Usually operate 24 hours a day
– Also called high-end servers or enterprise-class servers
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 Mainframe Computers

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 Supercomputers

• Supercomputer
– Fastest, most expensive, most powerful type of computer
– Generally run one program at a time, as fast as possible
– Commonly built by connecting hundreds of smaller
computers, supercomputing cluster
– Used for space exploration, missile guidance, satellites,
weather forecast, oil exploration, scientific research,
complex Web sites, decision support systems, 3D
applications, etc.

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 Supercomputers

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 Quick Quiz

1. A tablet PC is an example of a(n) _____________.

a. Desktop computer
b. Portable PC
c. Internet appliance
2. True or False: The terms mainframe computer and
supercomputer are interchangeable; both refer to the
largest, most powerful computers.
3. A smartphone is an example of a(n) _____________.

Answers:
1) b; 2) False; 3) mobile device
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 Computer Networks and the Internet

• Computer network
– A collection of hardware and other devices that are
connected together
– Users can share hardware, software, and data
– Users can communicate with each other

• Network servers
– Manage resources on a network

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 Computer Networks and the Internet

• Computer networks exist in many sizes and types

– Home networks

– School and small business networks

– Large corporate

– Public wireless networks

– The Internet

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 Computer Networks and the Internet

Example of a
computer network

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 What are the Internet and the
World Wide Web?
• Internet
– The largest and most well-known computer network in the
world
– Individuals connect to the Internet using an Internet
service provider (ISP)
• World Wide Web
– One resource (a vast collection of Web pages) available
through the Internet
– Web sites contain Web pages stored on Web servers
– Web pages viewed using a Web browser (Internet Explorer,
Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, etc.)
– A wide variety of information is available through the Web
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© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 What are the Internet and the
World Wide Web?

Some
Common
Web
Activities

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© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Accessing a Network or the Internet

• Need a modem or network adapter to connect

• Some networks require a username and password
• Internet connections can be:
– Direct (always-on) connections
– Dial-up connections
• Internet addresses are used to access resources on
the Internet
– IP (Internet Protocol) address
– Numeric address that identifies computers (207.46.197.32)
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© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Accessing a Network or the
Internet
– IP addresses and domain names
• Text-based address that identifies computers
(microsoft.com)

– Uniform resource locators (URLs)

• Identify Web pages (http://twitter.com/jobs/index.html)

– E-mail addresses
• Identifies people for e-mail exchange ([email protected])

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© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)

A Web page URL

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© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Surfing the Web

• Web browser
– Used to display Web pages
• Browser starting page or home page
– The first page displayed when the browser is opened
• To navigate to a Web page, you can:
– Type a URL in the Address bar
– Click a hyperlink – graphics or text linked to other Web
pages
– Select a Favorite/Bookmark or page from the History list
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© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Surfing the Web

Surfing the Web

with Internet
Explorer

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© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Searching the Web

• Search site: The Google

search site
– Web page that helps you find
Web pages containing the
information you are seeking
– Typically search using keywords

• Reference Sites
– Look up addresses, telephone
numbers, ZIP codes, maps, etc.

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© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 E-Mail

• Electronic mail (e-mail)

– Electronic messages exchanged between computers on a
network
– One of the most widely used Internet applications
– Can contain photos, attached files, etc.
– Can be conventional e-mail program, Web-based (Web mail),
or mobile-based
Conventional Web-based
Microsoft Outlook Gmail
Microsoft Mail Hotmail
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© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 E-Mail

How e-mail
works

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© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Quick Quiz

1. Index.html is an example of a(n) _____________.

a. URL
b. IP address
c. Web page filename
2. True or False: All information published to Web pages is
accurate.
3. In the e-mail address [email protected], abc.com is the
_____________.

Answers:
1) c; 2) False; 3) domain name
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© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Summary
• Computers in Your Life

• What is a Computer and What Does It Do?

• Computers to Fit Every Need

• Computer Networks and the Internet

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© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.