Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8 th edition Unit A: Computer and Internet Basics

Objectives Define computers Explore how computers work Categorize computers Examine personal computers Introduce software Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 2

Objectives (continued) Introduce the Internet and the Web Understand basics Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 3

Defining Computers Computer  An electronic device that: Accepts input Processes data Stores data Produces output  Uses instructions in stored programs Personal computer (PC) Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 4

Defining Computers (continued) Computer system includes:  Hardware Electronic and mechanical parts of the computer  Peripheral devices Hardware that can be added to a computer system to expand what a computer can do  Software Computer program that tells the computer how to perform tasks Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 5

6 Figure A-1: A basic computer system

Defining Computers (continued) Input devices: keyboard, mouse, etc. Output devices: monitor, printer, speakers, etc. Digitization  Converting text, numbers, sound, photos, and video into data that can be processed by digital devices Digital convergence  Blending several technologies into a single product Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 7

Exploring How Computers Work Turning on a computer  May need to enter user ID and password Computer program, or program  Instructions that tell a computer how to carry out processing tasks Central processing unit (CPU)  Main processor in a computer Memory: temporarily holds data Storage: holds data on a permanent basis Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 8

Exploring How Computers Work (continued) File: named collection of data that exists on a storage medium Storage medium: hard disk, CD, DVD, flash drive, etc. Turning off a computer  Microsoft Windows computer: use Start button  Apple Macintosh computer: use Apple icon Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 9

10 Figure A-4: Start button in different versions of Windows

Categorizing Computers Personal computers include:  Desktop computers  Portable computers Notebook computers (sometimes called laptop computers) Netbooks Tablet computers Handheld computer  A personal digital assistant (PDA) with enhanced features Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 11

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 12 Figure A-5: Examples of personal desktop computers

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 13 Figure A-6: Examples of portable personal computers

Categorizing Computers (continued) Workstations  Powerful desktop computers designed for specialized tasks Mainframe computer  Large, expensive computer which can process data for thousands of users Supercomputer The term server has several meanings  Can refer to hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 14

Examining Personal Computers Basic parts of a desktop personal computer system  System unit  Display device: monitor  Keyboard  Mouse  Storage devices Hard disk drive USB flash drive Optical drives Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 15

Examining Personal Computers (continued) Basic parts of a desktop personal computer system (continued)  Sound system  Printer  Network and Internet access Modem  Web cam Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 16

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 17 Figure A-9: Typical desktop computer system with examples of peripherals

Examining Personal Computers (continued) Portable computers  Come with built-in flat-panel monitor, keyboard, and speakers  Other devices can be connected Computer network  Two or more computers and other devices connected for sharing data and programs  LAN (local area network) Internet: the largest network in the world Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 18

Introducing Software Operating system (OS)  Master controller for all activities that take place within a computer system  Classified as system software Computer platform  PC platform (also called Windows platform) Windows operating system  Mac platform Macintosh OS  Linux OS Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 19

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 20 Figure A-10: Popular operating systems

Introducing Software (continued) Graphical user interface (GUI)  Displays on-screen graphical controls Application software  Computer programs that help you use the computer to carry out tasks  Examples: Adobe Reader, Microsoft Word, or Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 Sharing files depends on system compatibility Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 21

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 22 Figure A-11: Popular elements of a GUI

Introducing the Internet and the Web Use the Internet to communicate with others  Electronic mail (also called )  Chat group  Instant messaging (IM)  Internet telephony Also called Voice Over IP (VoIP)  Blog Web (short for World Wide Web)  Collection of Web pages, interconnected through the use of hypertext or links Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 23

Introducing the Internet and the Web (continued) A browser is used to view Web pages Web site: a group of Web pages  Home page Search site: to find information on the Web  Search engine URL (Uniform Resource Locator)  Every Web page has a unique address HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)  Communications standard used to transport Web pages over the Internet Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 24

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 25 Figure A-14: Viewing a Web page

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 26 Figure A-15: Parts of a URL

Understanding Basics account  Need an provider Such as Internet service provider, university, Gmail, Hotmail, etc.  address An message has several parts  Recipient’s address  Address of additional recipients  Message subject and body  File attachments Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 27

Understanding Basics (continued) is based on store-and-forward technology attachment  Any file that travels with an message Netiquette (Internet etiquette)  Guidelines for maintaining civilized, effective communications online and in s Emoticons  Symbols that can be added to a message to help convey an emotion Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 28

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 29 Figure A-16: Parts of an address

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 30 Figure A-17: Parts of an message

Talking Points: Who Is Reading Your ? Think of your as a postcard rather than a letter  FBI has scanning technology  Many U.S. businesses monitor employee  Your may be forwarded to others  providers store backups of your and can gather data from them  Court decisions seem to state that messages on an organization’s system are the property of the organization Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 31

Summary This chapter introduced:  Computer terms and concepts  Basic parts of a computer system  Different kinds of personal computers  Various types of software  The Internet, the World Wide Web, and e- mail  Ways to preserve your privacy when using Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 32