1. Intro to Computers
Computer Apps 1

2. 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?

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

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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)

10. 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.

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

12. 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)

13. 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.