1. Unit 1 Computer Basics Section A

2. Chapter 1, Slide 2Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 2 A computer can: Accept input Process data Store data Produce output Utilize a series of stored instructions to direct the performance of these tasks Use of stored instructions differentiates a computer from numerous other devices

3. Chapter 1, Slide 3Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 3 Data is anything that represents facts, ideas, or information about various kinds of things Examples of data: Text in a newspaper A file containing a photograph A file containing music The current temperature A list of your friend's birthdays

4. Chapter 1, Slide 4Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 4 Data is frequently not useful in its raw form A DVD has data but not in a form we can use A list of dates is data but lack meaning and context Information is data that has meaning because it has been translated or given context A movie shown on your TV is information DVD player & TV convert data to a form we can use A list of dates with the heading “My Friend’s Birthdays” is information The heading provides meaning to the data

5. Chapter 1, Slide 5Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 5 Calculator (numbers and operations) Car (speed and direction) Thermostat (temperature) Elevator (button "calls" to a floor) VCR (audio and video signals)

6. Chapter 1, Slide 6Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 6 A computer typically accepts input from: Keyboard (text input) Mouse (move pointer, click to select) A computer can also accept input from: Microphone (sound) Digital camera (pictures, images) Scanner (pictures, images) CD or DVD (programs, data, music, movies) The Internet (any sort of data)

7. Chapter 1, Slide 7Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 7 Many devices process data A car processes input from the steering wheel A thermostat reacts to changes in temperature A DVD player reads and processes data on a disk Most “processing” is of a mechanical sort Most devices process input in one particular way Inherent in design and very difficult to change What would it take to change your car’s steering mechanism to a joy stick type of approach?

8. Chapter 1, Slide 8Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 8 Computers process data electronically in a central processing unit or CPU central processing unitCPU Instructions that determine how data should be processed are contained in a stored program The CPU simply executes the instructions found in the stored program Want to change how your data is processed? Just change the instructions in the stored program This concept allows for tremendous flexibility

9. Chapter 1, Slide 9Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 9 Computers perform a wide variety of tasks Research a topic on the internet (web browsing) Organize findings into a paper (word processing) Listen to music (media player) Discuss findings with a friend (instant messenger) Very different tasks performed by the same device Each task utilizes a different stored program Device reacts very differently for different programs Stored program concept makes computers unique

10. Chapter 1, Slide 10Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 10 CPU executes instructions found in a program Consider someone trying to complete a task What if they needed written instructions to complete any sort of task? What if they still needed those instructions even though they’d done those same tasks 100 times? Would you consider them “smart”? Where are the real “brains” of a computer?

11. Chapter 1, Slide 11Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 11 Output must be information, not just data Therefore, output must be in a form we can use What devices format data in a way we can use? Monitor Printer Speakers

12. Chapter 1, Slide 12Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 12 Computers store vast quantities of data Most other devices store little to no data Computers use 2 different means to store data MemoryMemory used to temporarily store data and instructions currently being processed Workspace for current tasks, like your desktop Data in memory is lost if no power StorageStorage retains data on a semi-permanent basis Large amount of data for long-term, like your file cabinet Data in storage retained, even without power

13. Chapter 1, Slide 13Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 13 Your car? A calculator? Your cell phone? A thermostat? A DVD player? An XBox game system?

14. Chapter 1, Slide 14Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 14 Personal computers include: Desktop Notebook Tablet User can write on the screen Turns the display into an input device

15. Chapter 1, Slide 15Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 15 Personal electronic devices are computers too: MP3MP3 players – play music and videos PDAPDA – personal digital assistant Send and receive e-mail To do lists, contacts, expenses Browse the world wide web Cell phones The iPhone combines a cell phone, MP3, and PDAiPhone The BlackBerry combines a cell phone and PDABlackBerry Trend is to combine different types of devices

16. Chapter 1, Slide 16Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 16 Mainframe computer A computer designed for many users with the ability to serve a large number of dumb terminals A dumb terminal is an input/output device consisting of a display, keyboard, and possibly a mouse, but no processor or storage devices

17. Chapter 1, Slide 17Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 17 Supercomputer Incredibly fast Solves highly complex problems involving thousands of variables Used to: model weather systems, especially hurricanes Code-breaking Complex simulations such as nuclear explosions Supercomputers often combine the power of thousands of processors and storage devices

18. Chapter 1, Slide 18Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 18 A personal computer nearly always consists of: System unit Display device (monitor) Keyboard Mouse Hard disk drive (main storage device) CD and/or DVD drive Network port – network or fast internet connection Sound card and speakers

19. Chapter 1, Slide 19Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 19 CD and/or DVD drive may allow you to write data as well as read it You can also add peripheral devices such as:peripheral devices Floppy drive – floppy disks rarely used these days Printer – a requirement for many Scanner – input device to digitize images Often found in multi-function print devices Digital camera Joystick – used in many computer games

20. Chapter 1, Slide 20Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 20 HardwareHardware consists of physical components If you can touch it, it’s hardware SoftwareSoftware is the stored instructions or programs your computer relies on to tell it what to do Two main types of software: System softwareSystem software - controls all the activities and functions of the computer Application softwareApplication software – performs a specific task needed by a user

21. Chapter 1, Slide 21Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 21 A house has many electrical devices people use such as lights and televisions (applications) These devices use the electrical system supplied by the builder (system software) People use the shower (application) The shower needs the plumbing system (system software) to supply water People use the plumbing and electrical systems indirectly when they use certain devices In computers, system software provides commonly needed services to application software

22. Chapter 1, Slide 22Starting Out with Visual Basic 3 rd EditionIntroduction to ComputersUnit 1A – Computer BasicsSlide 22 Relies on two factors that determine platform: Processor Operating system – the primary component of system software Application software is always for a given platform Windows apps won’t run on a Linux OS and vice-versa Mac apps won’t run on a Windows OS and vice-versa Windows applications won’t run on a mainframe Both processor and OS are different in that case