Course Code: INTE 111

Course Name: Introduction to Technology

Lecture No 1: Introduction to Information

Technology

Cleophas Mochoge
 Devotional Meditation

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and
instruction.
 Lecture Outline
1. Definition
2. Data and Information
3. Information Systems
4. Characteristics of Computer
5. History of Computers
6. Classification of Computers
 Definition

1. Information Technology- It refers to anything related to

computing technology, such as networking, hardware, software,
the Internet, or the people that work with these technologies.

2. In particular, IT deals with the use of electronic computers and

computer software to convert, store, protect, process, transmit,
and retrieve information
 Data and Information
1. Data- Data is raw collection of values stored in the computer
that carry no meaning to the user. They include
– Numbers (e.g. 1, 3.142, 0, 1001)
– Text (e.g. word, go home,!*~)`)
– Graphics (e.g. drawings, graphs, pictures, images,)
– Video (pictures in motion)
– Audio (sound)

2. Information Processed data is called information. That is,

when data has been sorted, formatted, arranged in an order,
summed, averaged etc for inferences and conclusions to be
made.
 Analog Data
1. Data and information is stored either as analog or digital type.
2. Analogue data is data that is continues in nature
3. Time, length, mass, temperature and electric current or music
on a cassette tape are examples of analogue data.
4. Computers that manage analogue data are called analogue
computers.
 Digital Data
1. Digital data are discrete values that assume precise values only.
Number of objects (people, trees and cars) is discrete.
2. Electronic machines (e.g. watches and electronic key pads or knops)
present values digitally.
3. Computers by default accept and process data digitally through
millions of tiny electrical circuits.
4. This makes of data to be presented in an on and off (1 and 0) state
 Information Systems (IS)
Information systems are systems that help users obtain certain
type of value from the information.
• They can be put into five categories
1. Office automation systems are used to automate routine
office tasks such as creation of documents, billing etc. The
systems can built from off-the-shelf applications, standard
productivity software that most users are familiar with.
 IS Cont..

2.Transactions processing systems are used to handle the

processing and tracking of transactions. A transaction is an
event that can occur as series of steps such as taking and
fulfilling an order for a customer, manufacturing sector.
 IS Cont..
3.Decision support systems are systems that collect various
types of business data and are used to generate special reports
that help managers make decisions. It may use data from a
company’s transactions processing system and from external
sources such as stock market reports, information about
competitors etc.
 IS Cont..
4.

4. Management information systems (MIS) are systems designed for

use by different types of managers at different levels e.g senior, mid or
low-level managers.
5. Expert Systems are specialized IS that perform tasks normally done
people e.g decision making. They can approve bank loans, make
large-scale purchasing decisions and assist with medical diagnosis.
 Characteristics of a Computer
All computers have certain common characteristics irrespective of their
type and sizes. They can be programmed to do complex, tedious and
monotonous tasks. Computers are what they are because of the
following characteristics

1. Word length (Capacity)-A digital computer operates on binary digits 0s

and 1s. It can understand information only in terms of 0s and 1s. a
binary digit is called a bit.
 Characteristics of a Computer
The number of bits that a computer can process at a time in parallel is
called its word length. Commonly used word lengths are 8, 16, 32 or 64
bits. World length is the measure of the computing power of a computer.

2. Speed
Computers can calculate at very high speeds. A microcomputer, for example,
can execute millions of instructions per second over and over again without
any mistake. As the power of a computer increases, the speed also increases
 Characteristics of a Computer

3. Storage
Computers have their main memory and auxiliary memory systems. A computer
can store a large amount of data. With more and more auxiliary storage devices,
which are capable of storing huge amounts of data, the storage capacity of a
computer is virtually unlimited.

4. Accuracy
The accuracy of a computer is very high. Errors in hardware can occur, but error
detecting and correcting techniques will prevent false results. In most cases, the
errors are due to the human factors rather than the technological.
 Characteristics of a Computer

5. Versatility
Computers are versatile machines. They can perform activities ranging from simple calculations
to performing complex CAD modeling and simulation to navigating missiles and satellites. In
other words, they are capable of performing almost any task, provided the task can be reduced
to a series of logical steps.

6. Automation
The level of automation achieved in a computer is phenomenal. Once a task is initiated,
computers can proceed on its own till its completion. Computers are capable of these levels of
automation, provided they are programmed correctly.
.
 Characteristics of a Computer

7. Diligence
Diligence means being constant and earnest in effort and application. Human beings suffer
from weaknesses like tiredness, lack of concentration, etc. Human beings have feelings, they
become sad, dressed, bored, and negligent and it will reflect on the work they do.

8. No intelligence Quotient (IQ) – a computer cannot make its own decisions and has to be
instructed on what to do.

.
 Where Computers are used

Computers are virtually used in all day-to-day human activities.

The fundamental application is the keeping and updating of
records. The following are just but few selected areas where
computers have proved useful.

1. In supermarkets for stock control and barcode reading to price

items.
2. In hospitals for live support machines.
3. In hotels and travelling agents for bookings and reservation.
 Where Computers are used
4. In banks for facilitating monetary transactions.
5. In industry for control and monitoring manufacturing processes.
6. In police stations for matching fingerprints.
7. At homes for entertainments.
8. Health Care-Medical automation offer assistance in areas of
automatic diagnosis, electro-cardiogram screening and monitoring.
 Brief Computer History
The term computer originate from computing which translates to
counting or calculations. This then implies that the history of
computer development could be dated as back as when human
beings started computing inventions.
There are five major developments
The stages, referred to as computer generations, are such that the
succeeding stage is actually an improvement from the previous
one.
 First Generation computers
1946-1956(The Vacuum Tube Years)
characteristics
1. They are very large in size
2. Produce a lot of heat
3. They used magnetic drums to store
4. They used punched cards as their input state
5. Breakdown chances were so high.
6. Speed was 40,000 operation/second, for data processing.
 Second Generation computers

1957-1963(The Era of the Transistor)

Characteristics
1. It was more reliable compared to the first generation computers
2. They are small in size than first generation computers
3. The internal memory was in form of magnetic tape.
4. Data processing speed was 200,000 operation per second.
 Third Generation computers

1957-1963(The Era of the Transistor)

Characteristics
1. They used magnetic tapes for output.
2. Their processing speed was about 1million operation per
second.
3. They had higher internal storage capacity
4. It had multitasking capability.
 Fourth Generation computers

COMPUTERS1972-2010s(The Microprocessor)
Characteristics
1. They are small in size e.g. laptops.
2. They have higher level of multitasking.
3. It has a higher processing speed.
4. It has a higher internal storage capacity.
5. They are made by specific companies e.g. Toshiba, HP,
Compaq.
 Fifth Generation computers

COMPUTERS 2010s-present(The Microprocessor)

Characteristics
1. They are predicted to human capacity.
2. Their key feature will be artificial intelligence i.e perform tasks
that requires them to think.
3. They will accept voice as input and output.
4. The input will also be from a remote device.
 Types of Computers
Here, computers are classified according to its physical size, functionality and
purpose
Classification According to Size and power

1. Super Computers
•the largest and most powerful
•They are very large, expensive, powerful and processes billions of instructions
per second
•Are usually maintained in special environments
•Used for operations that involve enormous amounts of data e.g. in world wide
weather forecasting and in military operations
Examples include Cray and Fujitsu.
 Types of Computers
Classification According to Size and power
2. Mainframe Computers
Are large, powerful and process millions of instructions per
second
Are servers support several users simultaneously at different
workstations
Used by large corporations and government agencies, which
have enormous and complex, data to be processed e.g.
airlines, banks and oil companies.
 Types of Computers

Classification According to Size and power

3. Minicomputers
•Are general-purpose computers that support up to 100 users
•Large, less expensive and powerful next to mainframe in the
hierarchy
•Basic functional components like input/output (I/O) are separate
from the CPU
•Used in medium to small size organizations as servers
 Types of Computers

Classification According to Size and power

4. Microcomputers
•Smaller in size and hardware components are in one box called
the system unit
•Come in different sizes and shapes, hence referred as personal
computers (PCs)
•They include the laptop, desktop and the palmtop
 Types of Computers
Classification According to Functionality & Data they Use
a. Digital Computers-Are computers that process data digitally.
Most computers are digital
b. Analog computers-Are Computers that process analog data.
Most of them are used in worldwide weather forecasting
stations.

c. Hybrid Computers-It is a combination of computers using all

quantities of both analog and digital computers. In such computers,
some calculations are done in the analog portion of the computer
and others done on the digital portion of the same computer.
 Classification According to
Purpose
a. General Purpose are computers that are used to perform any
purpose as long as they are installed with the right software. They
perform tasks such as processing documents, calculations,
accounting, data and information management etc

b. Special purpose computers are the computers designed for

specific purpose and for a particular task e.g. robots, mobile
computers/hand held computers, cell phones/smart phones (PDA-
personal assistant) for communications, smart watches (an internet
enabled watch that automatically adjusts to time zone changes and
store personal information)
 Review Quizzes
1.The second generation of computers used
(a) Vacuum tubes (b) Capacitors (c) Transistors
(d) Integrated circuits

The third generation of computers used

(a) Vacuum tubes (b) Capacitors (c) Transistors
(d) Integrated circuits
 Review Quizzes

3.Which one of the following types of computers is

commonly used in offices
(a) Supercomputers (b) Mainframe (c) Mini
computer (d) Micro computer

4.Computers have continued to decrease in size but

the processing power has increased. True or false?