Chapter 1: Computer Basics

Chapter 1: Computer Basics Learning Objectives: Understand the purpose and elements of information systems Recognize the different types of computers Distinguish the main software types Identify the components of a computer system Understand how computers communicate

Understanding Information Systems Information system: An interconnected environment for managing and processing data using a computer Parts of an information system: People Hardware Software Procedures Data

Parts of an information system People: The first step in planning an information system is to analyze the requirements of the people it’s critical to understand what the people hope to get out of it. Do they need certain information? Do they need for the computer to activate a device that performs a task? Hardware: the physical parts of the computer system. The hardware includes circuit boards with silicon chips and transistors input devices like the keyboard and mouse output devices like printers and monitors

Parts of an information system Software: a program that tells the hardware what to do. Operating system (like Windows or Mac OS) Applications (like a word processing or accounting program) Data: Computer programs operate upon the data they receive. Procedures: The software doesn’t run itself (usually). People must interact with the computer to tell it what software to run. An information system involves these five components

Computer Types Personal Computers: A computer designed to be used by only one person at a time. Personal computers fall into several categories that are differentiated from one another by their sizes Desktop PC Notebook PC Tablet PC Smartphone

Personal Computers Desktop PC A computer designed to be set up at a desk and not often moved, with input and output devices separate from the system unit. System unit, separate monitor, keyboard, mouse System unit : The main part of the computer, containing the essential components Desktop PC Tablet PC: Slate design, touch screen, no separate keyboard, mouse, or monitor, designed for easy portability A tablet computer is a touch sensitive slate

Personal Computers Notebook PC: A portable PC where the screen and keyboard fold up against one another for storage and transport; also known as a laptop built-in screen, keyboard, and pointing device pointing device An input device such as a mouse or touchpad that enables users to move an onscreen pointer to select content and issue commands. Netbook A smaller version of notebook PC designed primarily for accessing the Internet. A notebook PC has a built-in monitor, keyboard, pointing device (touchpad) Smartphone: A mobile phone that can run computer applications and has Internet access capability touch-sensitive screen, provide voice calls, text messaging, Internet access and global positioning system (GPS) Global Positioning System (GPS) A device that determines your current position by communicating with an orbiting satellite and provides maps and driving directions A smartphone combines capabilities of cell phone a small touch-sensitive tablet screen

Computer Types Server Mainframe Supercomputer Multi-User Computers: designed to serve groups of people, from a small office to a huge international enterprise Server Mainframe Supercomputer IBM Blue Gene/P supercomputer A mainframe , a powerful business computer system

Multi-User Computers Server Mainframe Supercomputer Serves and supports a network Managing files, printers, or email for multiple users Provides centrally accessible storage space Shares printers Does not directly provide processing power to clients Server Farm A group of servers located in the same physical area Mainframe Collects large amounts of business data Provides processing support to terminals Supercomputer Largest and most powerful type of computer available Used in research and academics.

Software Types Basic Input Output System (BIOS) Operating System (OS) Software that initializes and tests the system at startup. Stored on read-only chip on motherboard Operating System (OS) Provides user interface that humans use to communicate commands and receive feedback Runs application Controls and manages file storage Communication with hardware The windows 7 interface

Software Types Utilities Application Software Software that performs some useful service to the operating system, such as optimizing or correcting the file storage system, backing up files, or ensuring security or privacy Application Software Software that helps a human perform a useful task for work or play Productivity tools, graphics, games, multimedia Productivity Software: Software that helps a human perform one or more business or personal enrichment tasks such as Microsoft Office Microsoft Office: A productivity suite of applications commonly used in businesses for word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation, and email Suite A group of applications designed to complement each other’s capabilities and work together closely, often with a consistent interface between the applications. MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PP) sharing a common interface

Information Processing Cycle Information Processing Cycle The four-step process that data moves through as it is processed by a computer The information processing cycle

Information Processing Cycle Input: Components that help humans put data into the computer. Examples include a keyboard, mouse, and touch screen Processing: Components that move and process the data inside the computer. The motherboard and its processor and memory chips fall into this category Output: Components that provide the results of the processing to humans. The monitor is the primary output device; other examples include printers and speakers Storage: Components that store software and data until it is needed. Storage components include hard drives, USB flash drives, and DVDs

Desktop Components Components of a typical desktop computer system

How Data is Represented Computers combine eight binary digits (bits) to make a byte

Common Quantities of Bytes Term Number of Bytes Kilobyte (KB) 1024 (approximately one thousand Megabyte (MB) 1,048,576 (approximately one million) Gigabyte (GB) 1,073,741,824 (approximately one billion) Terabyte (TB) 1,099,411,627,776 (approximately one trillion) Petabyte (PB) 1,125,899,906,842,6624 (approximately one quadrillion)

Information Processing Input Devices Provides a way to get data into the computer Keyboard, pointing devices, digital cameras, scanners, bar code readers Processing Devices Motherboard large circuit board inside a computer that controls the operations of all other components Processor chip in the computer that performs math calculations, processing data. Also called the Central Processing Unit (CPU). Memory (RAM) temporary electronic storage that holds the values of data bits using transistors. Bus conductive pathway built into a circuit board, used to move data. Chipset controller chip on a circuit board A motherboard containing CPU, chipset, memory

Information Processing Output Devices Monitor, printer Storage Devices Hard drive sealed metal box that stores computer data using either mechanical or solid-state technology USB flash drive, CD, DVD

Ethernet Networking Network: two or more computers connected to share data and resources Ethernet Networking current dominant standard for local area networking devices Wired Ethernet Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11) connecting computers and other devices wirelessly Network Adapter hardware component that enables a computer to connect to a network Most computers have an Ethernet port

Ethernet Networking Types of Networks Router connection box for Ethernet networks that physically joins the devices in the network (wired) or provides wireless connectivity (wireless), and enables a connection to an outside network such as the Internet. Broadband A fast, always-on network connection Types of Networks Client/server Peer to Peer

Other Ways Computers Communicate Bluetooth Short-range personal networking Device connectivity Internet World’s largest network Internet Service Provider company that maintains a direct connection to the Internet and leases access to it to individuals and companies.

Key Terms application software information system pointing device backbone Internet processor BIOS Internet service provider (ISP) productivity software bit router Bluetooth keyboard server broadband mainframe server farm buses memory smartphone byte Microsoft Office software chipset monitor Software as a Service client/server motherboard suite desktop PC netbook supercomputer Ethernet network switch fiber optic cable network adapter system unit global positioning system (GPS) notebook PC tablet PC operating system (OS) Transmission Control Protocol/Internet hard drive hardware peer-to-peer Protocol (TCP/IP) information processing cycle personal computer (PC) utility software Wi-Fi

Summary What are the five parts of an information system? What is the difference between a server and a mainframe? What distinguishes an operating system from an application? What are the four parts of the information processing cycle? What is Wi-Fi and what equipment does it require?