Chapter 1

Introduction to
Computers
Chapter 1 Objectives
Recognize the importance of
computer literacy
Distinguish between system software
and application software
Define the term, computer
Describe the categories of computers
Identify the components
of a computer
Identify the elements of
an information system
Discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of using computers
Describe the various types
of computer users
Recognize the purpose of a network
Discuss various computer
applications in society
Discuss the uses of the Internet and
World Wide Web

Next
 A World of Computers

What is computer literacy?

➢ Knowledge and understanding
of computers and their uses
➢ Computers are everywhere

p. 4-5 Fig. 1-1 Next

 What Is a Computer?

How is a computer defined?

➢ Electronic device operating under the control of
instructions stored in its own memory

Processes data into

Accepts data information
Raw facts, figures, and
Data that is organized,
symbols
meaningful, and useful

Produces and stores results

p. 6 Next
 What Is a Computer?
What is the information processing cycle?
➢ Input
➢ Process
➢ Output
➢ Storage
➢ Communication

p. 6 Fig. 1-2 Next

 The Components of a Computer
What is an input device?
➢ Hardware used
to enter data
and instructions

Click to view Web Link,

click Chapter 1, Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click Input Devices
below Chapter 1
p. 7 Fig. 1-3 Next
 The Components of a Computer
What is an output device?
➢ Hardware that
conveys
information
to one or more
people

Click to view Web Link,

click Chapter 1, Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click Output Devices
below Chapter 1
p. 7 - 8 Fig. 1-3 Next
 The Components of a Computer
What is the system unit?
➢ Case that contains
the electronic
components of the
computer that are
used to process data

p. 7 - 8 Fig. 1-3 Next

 The Components of a Computer
What are two main components on the motherboard?

Processor
Also called a Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The electronic component that interprets and carries
out the basic instructions that operate the computer

Memory
Consists of electronic components that store
instructions waiting to be executed and data needed by
those instructions

p. 8 Next
 The Components of a Computer
What is storage?
➢ Holds data, instructions, and information
for future use

Storage media
Physical material on which data, instructions,
and information are stored

Storage device
Records and retrieves items to and from
storage media

p. 8 Next
 The Components of a Computer
What is a USB flash drive?

➢Portable storage device

➢Small and lightweight enough
to be transported on a keychain
or in a pocket
➢The average USB flash drive
can hold about 500 million
characters

p. 8 Next
 The Components of a Computer
What is a hard disk?
➢ Provides greater storage
capacity than a
USB flash drive

➢ Most are housed inside

the system unit

p. 8 Fig. 1-4 Next

 The Components of a Computer
What is a compact disc?
➢ Flat, round, portable metal disc
▪ CD-ROM
▪ DVD-ROM

p. 9 Fig. 1-5 Next

 The Components of a Computer
What is a communications device?

Hardware component that

enables a computer to
send and receive data, instructions,
and information

Occurs over cables, telephone

lines, cellular radio networks,
satellites, and other
transmission media
Click to view Web Link,
click Chapter 1, Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click Communications
Devices below Chapter 1
p. 9 Next
 Advantages and Disadvantages
of Using Computers
What are the advantages of using computers?

Speed Reliability Consistency

Storage Communications

p. 10 Next
 Advantages and Disadvantages
of Using Computers
What are the disadvantages of using computers?

Violation of
Public Safety
Privacy

Impact on Impact on
Health Risks
Labor Force Environment

p. 10 - 11 Next
 Networks and the Internet
What is a network?
➢ Collection of computers and devices connected together

Used to share

Resources
Hardware
devices Software
programs Saves
Data time
Information and
money

p. 11 Next
 Networks and the Internet
What is a server?
➢ A server controls
access to resources
on a network
➢ Clients, or
workstations,
request resources
from the server

p. 11 Fig. 1-6 Next

 Networks and the Internet
What is the Internet?
➢ Worldwide collection of networks that connects
millions of businesses, government agencies, educational
institutions, and individuals

Click to view Web Link,

click Chapter 1, Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click Internet
below Chapter 1
p. 12 Fig. 1-7 Next
 Networks and the Internet
Why do users access the Internet?
1. Communications
2. Information
3. Shopping
4. Banking and Investing
5. Classes
6. Entertainment
7. Download Music
8. Share Information

p. 12 - 13 Fig. 1-8 Next

 Networks and the Internet
What is the Web?
➢ Billions of documents, called Web pages, available to
anyone connected to the Internet
You can share A podcast is
A Web site is information on a social recorded audio
a collection of networking Web site or stored on a Web site
related Web pages a photo sharing that can be
community downloaded

A Web page contains

A blog consists of time-
text, graphics, audio,
stamped articles in
video, and links to
Click to view a journal format
Web Link, other Web pages
click Chapter 1,
Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click Social Networking Web
Sites below Chapter 1
p. 12 - 14 Next
 Computer Software

What is software?

Consists of a series
of instructions that
Also called a
tells the computer
program
what to do and
how to do it

p. 15 Next
 Computer Software

What is a graphical user interface (GUI)?

➢ Allows you to
interact with the
software using text,
graphics, and visual
images such as
icons
➢ Controls how you
enter data and
instructions and
how the screen
displays
information
p. 15 Fig. 1-10 Next
 Computer Software

What is system software?

➢ Programs that control or maintain the operations of
the computer and its devices

Operating System (OS)

is a set of programs
that coordinates all
activities among
computer hardware Utility Programs allow the user to
devices perform maintenance-type tasks
usually related to managing a
computer, its devices or its programs

p. 15-16 Next
Computer Software

Video: Try a Free Operating System

CLICK TO START

Next
 Computer Software

What is application software?

➢ Programs designed to make
users more productive

Word
Spreadsheet
Processing

Presentation
Database
Graphics

Click to view Web Link,

click Chapter 1, Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click Application Software
below Chapter 1
p. 16 Fig. 1-11 Next
 Computer Software

How do you install and run programs?

Step 1: INSTALL
When you insert a greeting
card program disc
in the CD drive for the first
time, the computer
begins the procedure of
installing the greeting
card program on the hard
disk.

Step 3: USE Step 2: RUN

The greeting card program Once installed, you can
executes. Using this program, instruct the computer to run
you can create custom greeting the greeting card program.
cards. The computer transfers
instructions from the hard
disk to memory.

p. 17 Fig. 1-12 Next

 Computer Software
JavaScript
What is a programmer?
➢ Someone who develops
application or system
software
▪ Programmer writes
the instructions to
direct the computer to
process data into
information

Web application
p. 18 Fig. 1-13 Next
 Categories of Computers

What are the categories of computers?

Personal Computers
(desktop)
Mobile Computers and
Mobile Devices

Game Consoles

Servers

Mainframes

Supercomputers

Embedded Computers
p. 19 Next
 Personal Computers

What are the two most popular styles of personal

computers?
➢ PC and compatibles ➢ Apple Macintosh
use the Windows usually uses the
operating system Macintosh operating
system (Mac OS X)

Click to view Web Link,

click Chapter 1, Click
Web Link from left
navigation, then click Personal
Computers below Chapter 1
p. 19 Figs. 1-15–1-16 Next
 Personal Computers
What is a desktop computer?
➢ Designed so all of the components fit entirely on
or under a desk or table

p. 19-20 Fig. 1-15 Next

 Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices
What is a notebook computer?
➢ Portable, small enough
to fit on your lap
➢ Also called a laptop
computer
➢ Usually more expensive
than a desktop computer
with equal capabilities

p. 20 Fig. 1-17 Next

 Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices
What is a Tablet PC?
➢ Resembles a letter-sized slate
➢ Allows you to write on the
screen using a digital pen
➢ Especially useful for taking
notes

p. 21 Fig. 1-18 Next

 Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices

What are mobile devices?

Small enough to
carry in a pocket
Internet-enabled
telephone is a
“smart phone”

p. 21 - 22 Next
 Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices
What is a handheld computer?

Used
Small by mobile
enough to fit employees such as
in one meter readers and
hand delivery people

p. 21 Fig. 1-19 Next

 Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices
What is a personal digital assistant (PDA)?
➢ Provides personal organizer functions
▪ Calendar
▪ Appointment book
▪ Address book
▪ Calculator
▪ Notepad

p. 21 Fig. 1-20 Next

 Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices
What are smart phones?

A smart phone is
an Internet-enabled
telephone that usually
provides PDA capabilities

Click to view Web Link,

click Chapter 1, Click
Web Link from left
navigation, then click Smart
Phones below Chapter 1

p. 22 Fig. 1-21 Next

 Game Consoles
What are game consoles?
Mobile computing device designed for
single-player or multiplayer video games

p. 22 Fig. 1-22 Next

 Servers
What types of servers are there?
A server controls access to network
resources and provides centralized
storage
Mainframe Very powerful,
expensive computer that supports
thousands of connected users
Supercomputer The fastest, most
powerful, most expensive
computer. Used for applications
requiring complex mathematical
calculations

p. 23 Figs. 1-23 – 1-25 Next

 Embedded Computers
What is an embedded computer?
➢ A special-purpose computer that functions as a
component in a larger product

p. 24 Fig. 1-26 Next

 Elements of an Information System
What are information system elements?
➢ Hardware
➢ Software
➢ Data
➢ People
➢ Procedures

p. 25 Fig. 1-27 Next

 Examples of Computer Usage
What software is available for a home user?
➢ Personal finance
management
➢ Web access
➢ Communications
➢ Entertainment

Click to view Web Link, click

Chapter 1, Click Web Link from
left navigation, then click
Women in Technology below
Chapter 1

Click to view Web Link, click

Chapter 1, Click Web Link from
left navigation, then click
Minorities in Technology below
Chapter 1 Next
p. 26 Fig. 1-28
 Examples of Computer Usage
What software is available for a small
office/home office (SOHO) user?
➢ Productivity
software
➢ Specialty
software
➢ Web usage
➢ E-mail

p. 28 Fig. 1-30 Next

 Examples of Computer Usage

What is available for

a mobile user?
➢ Hardware
▪ Notebook computers
▪ Tablet PCs
▪ Internet-enabled PDAs
▪ Smart phones
➢ Software
▪ Word processing
▪ Spreadsheet
▪ Presentation graphics
software

p. 29 Fig. 1-31 Next

 Examples of Computer Usage

What are the needs of a power user?

➢ Speed and large amounts of storage
➢ Types of power users
▪ Engineers
▪ Scientists
▪ Architects
▪ Desktop publishers
▪ Graphic artists

p. 29 Fig. 1-32 Next

 Examples of Computer Usage

What are the needs of the large business user?

➢ Payroll
➢ Inventory
➢ E-commerce
➢ Desktop
publishing

p. 30 Figs. 1-33 Next

 Computer Applications in Society

What are some examples

of computer applications
in society?
➢ Education
➢ Finance
➢ Government
➢ Health Care
➢ Science
➢ Publishing
➢ Travel
➢ Manufacturing
Click to view Web Link, click
Chapter 1, Click Web Link from
left navigation, then click
Handheld Navigation Devices
below Chapter 1
p. 32-36 Figs. 1-36–1-43 Next
Summary of Introduction to Computers

Basic computer concepts The uses of the Internet

The term, computer Computer software

The components of a computer Categories of computers

The advantages and disadvantages of Types of computer users

using computers

The purpose of a network Computer applications in society

Chapter 1 Complete