Computer Basics and Operating Systems introductory presentation prepared by Ms. Devery Rodgers, M.Ed. National University

Hardware and Software Hardware refers to objects that you can actually touch, like disks, disk drives, display screens, keyboards, printers, boards, and chips. In contrast, software is untouchable. Software exists as ideas, concepts, and symbols, but it has no substance. Books provide a useful analogy. The pages and the ink are the hardware, while the words, sentences, paragraphs, and the overall meaning are the software. A computer without software is like a book full of blank pages -- you need software to make the computer useful just as you need words to make a book meaningful.

Bits and Bytes Computers don’t speak English. Their language is binary. Binary language consists of combinations of 1's and 0's that represent characters of other languages (in our case, the English language). We refer to these 1's and 0's because it’s easier than visualizing positive and negative current flows or open and closed circuits which is what actually happens inside computers. A combination of eight bits represents one character in our language. One character in our language (eight bits) is referred to as a byte. (For example: is a byte that represents an uppercase A; each 1 or 0 is a bit.)

Computer Memory Kilobytes, Megabytes, and Gigabytes If you understand that a byte is one character in binary language, you’ve got it made because: 1000 bytes = 1 K (1,000 characters = 1 kilobyte) 1,000,000 bytes = 1 meg (MB) (1,000,000 characters = 1 megabyte) 1,000,000,000 bytes = 1 gig (GB) (1,000,000,000 characters = 1 gigabyte) 1,000,000,000,000 bytes = 1 tera (TB) (1,000,000,000,000 characters = 1 terabyte)

The Apple II was the first true "personal computer.“ It was factory built, in-expensive and easy to learn and use. Provided with the most extensive set of software and low cost floppy disks, the Apple II was also the first personal computer capable of color graphics and easy modem operation. Development of the Visicalc spreadsheet program created a business tool that made adoption of Apple II a regular part of business. Radio Shack's TRS-80 selling for about $500 complete with video monitor and BASIC took the personal computer market by storm. It used a Z-80 processor cassette recorder for program and data storage. Later models incorporated disk drives and more memory. The Model III, housed in one case, became the most popular personal computer in schools and homes, rivaling the Apple II. Radio Shack also built other types of personal computers including the first practical laptop, the Model 100. Apple vs. IBM

IBMs and Macintoshes

Parts of a Computer System Input Devices Output Devices Processing Components Storage Devices

Input and Output Devices Whatever goes into the computer is input. Input can take a variety of forms, from commands you enter from the keyboard to data from another computer or device. A device that feeds data into a computer, such as a keyboard or mouse, is called an input device. Anything that comes out of a computer is output. Output can be meaningful information or gibberish, and it can appear in a variety of forms -- as binary numbers, as characters, as pictures, and as printed pages. Output devices include display screens, loudspeakers, and printers. external modem internal modem

Input Devices digital camera digitizing tablet HMD (head-mounted display) IrDA (infared data) joystick keyboard light pen lip stick/puff stick microphone mouse pointing stick scanner stylus tablet touchpad Trackball webcam

Output Devices display screens/monitors printers speakers

Storage Devices Internal and External Memory Internal ROM (Read-Only Memory) Basic Instructions Cannot be erased RAM (Random-access Memory) Working Memory Erased when turned off External 5.25-inch disks used with first PCs used before hard disk drives 3.5-inch disks popular floppies zip disks 1 year in, 1 year out CD-R present rage Memory Sticks USB port dream

Any Questions?

Which of these is an output device? speakers bits Zip disk

What category does a modem fall under? Platform Storage Device Input Device

Which is an example of software? Hard disk printer Windows XP

Which storage device holds the most data? CD-R 3.5-inch floppy Hard Drive

Which of these is an input device? keyboard printer floppy disk

Which would be an example of hardware? Macintosh mouse Windows 2000

Which platform was created first? Macintosh IBM Apple

Which byte term holds the most data? gigabyte terrabyte kilobyte

Nope, try again.

Whoopee-zow-wee! Correct answer!