Lesson 1A
A Peter Norton Series
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Introduction to Computers
Definition of a Computer
A computer is an electronic device used
to process data, converting the data into
information that is useful to people
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Computers Consist of Four
Parts
Hardware
Software
Users
Data
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Hardware
Mechanical devices that make up the
computer
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Hardware
Processing
The procedure that transforms raw data into
useful information is called processing
The processor and memory perform this
transformation
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Processor
The computer’s brain, which organizes
and carries out instructions from either
the user or the software
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Motherboard
Rigid rectangular card containing the
circuitry that connects the processor to
the other hardware
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Circuit board
Motherboard is an example of a circuit
board
Attached to the motherboard are many
smaller circuit boards that house many
internal devices
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Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Refers to a computer’s processor
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Memory
When you launch a program, it is
loaded into and run from memory
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Random Access Memory (RAM)
Determines a computer’s speed and
power
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Memory Measurements
Kilobyte (KB)
Megabyte (MB)
Gigabyte (GB)
Terabyte (TB)
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Input Devices
Accept data and instructions from the
user or from another computer system
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Most Common Input Devices
Keyboard
Mouse
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Output Devices
Return processed data to the user or to
another computer system
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Most Common Output Devices
Monitor
Printer
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Storage
Holds data permanently
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Storage Terms
Magnetic disk
Read/write heads
Disk drive
Hard disk or hard drive
Diskette drive
Diskettes or floppy disks
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Storage Terms Continued
CD-ROM drive
Compact disks (CDs)
Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory (CD-
ROM)
CD-Recordable (CD-R)
CD-ReWritable (CD-RW)
Digital Video Disk (DVD)
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Software
A set of electronic instructions
consisting of complex codes, or
programs, that make the computer
perform tasks
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Examples of Software
System software
Application software
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Five Computer Categories
Supercomputers
Mainframe computers
Minicomputers
Workstations
Microcomputers, or personal computers
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The Internet Started Out As
ARPANET
In 1969, the Advanced Research Projects Agency
(ARPA) of the U.S. Department of Defense created
the Internet when it connected the computers at
universities and defense contractors. This system
was called ARPANET.
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The Internet Today
The Internet today is a cooperative community of over
100 million computer users connected worldwide.
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World Wide Web
Accessed through the Internet, the
World Wide Web lets users view
specially formatted documents
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Web Browsers
A Web browser is computer software that lets
you navigate the Web
First you connect to the Internet, then you
launch the browser, then you view Web
pages
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URL’s
Every Web page has a unique address,
called a uniform resource locator, or
URL (pronounced as spelled: U-R-L)
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Hyperlinks
A hyperlink is a part of the Web page
that is linked to a URL
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Web Search Tools
Directories
Search Engines
Metasearch engines
Site-specific search tools
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Lesson 1A
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Review Questions
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Introduction to Computers
and the Internet
