Intro to Computers Computer Apps 1

What is a computer? Electronic device operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory unit, that can accept data (input), manipulate the data according to specific rules (process), produce information (output) from the processing, and store the results for future use. What does this mean?

What do computers do? Four general operations: Input Process Output Storage

Data All computer processing requires data. Data is a collection of raw facts, figures, and symbols given to a computer during the input operation. Data can be: Numbers Words Images Video Sound

Information Data is useless until it is organized Computers manipulate data to create information Information is data that is organized, meaningful, and useful. During output: information is put into some form (printed report or saved in computer storage)

How does a computer know what to do? Computers have instructions. These instructions are called programs or software. Computers operate one program instruction after another until the job is complete.

Computer Components There are 6 primary components of a computer. Input devices The processor (control unit and arithmetic/logic unit) Memory Output devices Storage devices Communication devices

Input Devices An input device is any hardware component that lets you enter data, programs, commands, and user responses into a computer. Two main input devices? Keyboard Mouse

Processor aka: Central Processing Unit (CPU) Interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer Made up of two parts Control unit (interprets instructions) Arithmetic/logic unit (performs the logical and arithmetic processes)

Memory aka: random access memory (RAM) Electronic components that store instructions waiting to be executed. Memory is usually measured in kilobytes (KB) or megabytes (MB). 1KB= 1,000 memory locations/ 1MB= 1,000,000 memory locations. A memory location or byte, usually stores one character.

Output Devices An output device makes information available for use. Two main output devices? Printer Monitor

Storage Devices Storage devices are used to store instructions, data, and information when they are not being used in memory. Examples? Disks (floppy, CD, DVD) Flash Drives Hard Drives (Internal and External)

Communication Devices A communication device is a hardware component that enables a computer to send and receive data instructions, and information to and from one or more computers. Main type of communication device: Computer Software We will talk about different types of computer software tomorrow.