Computer
Confluence 7/e
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 1
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Basics
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 2
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Objectives
Describe the basic parts of a PC and how they work together
Explain the relationship between hardware and software
Use a keyboard and mouse to enter and edit text
Explain how files are organized within a PC
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 3
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Objectives (continued)
Explain how the Internet extends the functionality of a PC
Describe some of the risks of Internet use and how to
minimize them
Use a Windows PC or Macintosh to explore the Computer
Confluence CD-ROM
Use a Windows PC or Macintosh to explore the Computer
Confluence Web site
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 4
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Human Dreams and Dream Machines
Steve Roberts hit the road on Winnebiko
A recumbent bike equipped with a laptop and solar panel
Each day, he connected to the CompuServe network
using pay phones he transmits magazine articles and book
chapters
Years later Roberts was exploring America on BEHEMOTH
(Big Electronic Human-Energized Machine . . . Only Too Heavy),
$1 million bike with seven networked computers and wireless
communication capability
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 5
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Human Dreams and Dream Machines
A 1995 visit to the Computer Clubhouse (a non-profit
educational center at the Museum of Science in Cambridge, MA)
changed Vaughn Rogers’ life path
Rogers went on to study visual communication and animation at
Katherine Gibbs College to work in computer animation and
video
his drawing talent is enhanced with computer technology;
working as an assistant manager at the Computer Clubhouse, he
helps others learn to use computers to pursue their passions
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 6
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Human Dreams and Dream Machines
Patricia Walsh lost her sight at 14 but not sight of her dreams
Her PC could talk using text-to-speech software, but it had nothing to
say about scientific graphs and charts
Fortunately, Walsh met John Gardner, a blind physics professor
at Oregon State University
Gardner was developing tools to make math and science accessible to
visually impaired people:
Tiger Tactile Graphics and Braille Embosser printed equations,
formulas, and graphs as raised patterns that could be read by
touch
Using this technology, Walsh could once again “see” the figures that
were critical to her studies in the e-mails from her professors
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 7
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
PC Basics
PC Hardware Basics
Built around a tiny microprocessor that controls the
workings of the system
This central processing unit, or CPU, is usually housed in a box
Serves as command central for the entire computer system
The CPU is the brains of the computer
Controls the operation of the core computer components
Peripheral devices (peripherals): external devices
connected via cables to the system unit
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 8
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
PC Basics
System unit includes built-in memory( RAM) and a hard disk
CPU uses memory for instant access to information
Hard disk serves as a longer-term storage device
Stores large quantities of information
A permanent fixture in the system unit
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 9
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
PC Basics
Removable media: disks that can be separated from their
drives
Most popular types are 5-1/4 inch optical disks
Look like common audio CDs
A typical PC system unit includes some other kind of optical drive
CD-ROM drive enables the computer to read audio CDs and CD-ROMs
CD-RW drive can read CDs and also write, or burn, information onto CD
media
A DVD drive can read (and sometimes burn) DVD movies and high-
capacity data DVDs as well as audio and data CDs
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 10
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
PC Basics
Diskette drive (also known as a floppy disk drive) enables the
computer to store small amounts of information on pocket-
sized, plastic-covered magnetic diskettes
Internal drives: included in the system unit
External drives: attached to the system unit via cables
A PC system might include:
An external hard disk for additional storage
A USB keychain flash memory device for accessing small amounts of
storage
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 11
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
PC Basics
Portable storage that can be shuttled easily between multiple
PCs
DVD/CD-RW drive for reading and writing CDs and DVDs
Other system unit components, such as:
video display card
sound card
network interface card
modem,
communicate with external devices, with other computers,
and with networks
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 12
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
PC Basics
CD-ROM drive Monitor
diskette drive
Mouse
Keyboard
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 13
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Using a Keyboard
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 14
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Entering, Editing, and Formatting Text
Work on a word processing document using standard PC
techniques and tools:
As you type, your text is displayed on screen and stored in RAM
Screen appearance is the same as the printed version – WYSIWYG
Tools:
Clipboard – stores text from Cut or Copy of text
Find and Replace – for making repetitive changes
Formatting:
Change the way the words look on the page
Adjust the size and shape of the text to achieve a certain look
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 15
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Using a Mouse
Clicking the mouse
Dragging the mouse
Other mouse operations
Double click
Right click
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 16
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
PC Software Basics
CPU is controlled by software—instructions that tell
it what to do
System software: takes care of behind-the scenes
details
Includes the operating system (OS)
The operating system determines what your screen display looks
like as you work and how you tell the computer what you want it to
do
Most PCs today use some version of the Microsoft Windows
operating system;
Macintosh computers use some version of Apple’s Mac OS
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 17
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
PC Software Basics
Application programs (applications): software tools that
enable you to use a computer for specific purposes
Document: a file created by an application, regardless of
whether it has actually been printed
Applications and documents are two different types of files
File: a named collection of data stored on a computer disk or some
other storage medium
Applications contain instructions that can be executed by the computer
Sometimes called executable files
Documents contain passive data rather than instructions
Sometimes called data files
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 18
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
File Management Basics
In Windows and the Mac OS, a file is represented by a name and
an icon
Extension—a string of (usually) three characters
Follows a period (.) at the end of the file name
Gives more information about the file’s origin or use
Files can be organized into collections using folders (directories)
Operating system allows you to:
create folders,
give them meaningful names,
and store documents and other files inside them
Folders can be organized hierarchically—a folder can contain other folders,
which in turn can contain still more folders
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 19
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
File Management Basics
Modern operating systems include Search and Find
commands that can help find files no matter where they might
be stored on a system
Search for file names, or for words or phrases inside a document
A wide range of multimedia activities are supported
These are the largest files: videos, songs, or images
Reducing file size is key to managing storage – the process is called
Compression
Back-up of information ensures that crucial data is not lost
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 20
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
File Management Basics
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 21
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
PC Network Basics
Computers can be connected to a network
Direct connection: a cable connects computer to another computer or
device close by
Remote access connection: used when computer isn’t physically close
to the network
Using a modem, a remote computer can connect to a network through an
ordinary phone line
Network can be connected to other networks
Connected through cables, wireless radio transmissions, or other means
The Internet: an elaborate network of interconnected networks
Dramatically changing the way people work
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 22
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
PC Network Basics
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 23
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Internet Basics
Using the Internet, you can:
Study material designed to supplement this book, including late-breaking
news, interactive study aids, and multimedia simulations that can’t be
printed on paper
Send a message to people, around town or around the world, and receive
replies almost as quickly as the recipients can read the messages and
type their responses
Explore vast libraries of research material, ranging from classic scholarly
works to contemporary reference works, and get medical, legal, or
technical advice from a wide variety of experts
Listen to live radio broadcasts from around the world
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 24
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Internet Basics
Participate in discussions or play games with people all over the globe who
share your interests
Download free software or music clips from servers all over the world onto
your computer
Order a custom-built computer, car, or condominium
Track hourly changes in the stock markets and buy and sell stocks based on
those changes
Take a course for college credit from a school thousands of miles away
Publish your own writings, drawings, photos, and multimedia works so that
Internet users all over the world can view them
Start your own business and have a worldwide clientele
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 25
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
World Wide Web Basics
The World Wide Web (WWW) makes the Internet
accessible to people all over the planet
Includes a wealth of multimedia content accessible through simple
point-and-click programs called Web browsers
Made up of millions of interlinked documents called Web pages
A collection of related pages stored on the same computer is called a
Web site
Each Web page has a unique address
Referred to as a URL (uniform resource locator)
For example, the URL for this book’s home page is
http://www.computerconfluence.com
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 26
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
World Wide Web Basics
At the heart of the Web is the concept of hypertext
Using a Web browser, you can jump from one Web page to another by
clicking hyperlinks (often called just links)—words, pictures, or menu
items that act as buttons
Browsers have Back and Forward buttons
Most browsers include tools called bookmarks or favorites for
keeping personal lists of memorable sites
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 27
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Web Search Basics
Search engines are used to locate information on the Web
Built around a database that catalogs Web locations based on content
Some search engines use researchers to organize and evaluate Web sites
Other search engines use software to search the Web and catalog
information automatically
Directory or subject tree: a hierarchical catalog of Web sites
compiled by researchers
Used to repeatedly narrow a search
The search engine at Yahoo! is probably the best-known example of this
technique: http://www.yahoo.com/
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 28
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
E-mail Basics
When you sign up for an e-mail account, you receive:
A user name (sometimes called a login name or alias)
A storage area for messages (usually called a mailbox)
Sign up for accounts through your school, your
company, or a private Internet service provider (ISP)
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 29
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
E-mail Basics
Any user can send a mail message to anyone else, regardless of
whether the recipient is currently logged in —connected to the
network
The message will be waiting in the recipient’s inbox the next time he or
she launches his or her e-mail program and logs in
An e-mail message can be addressed to one person or hundreds of people
Most e-mail messages are plain text, without the kinds of formatting and
graphic images found in printed documents
E-mail messages can carry documents, pictures, multimedia files, and
other computer files as attachments
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 30
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Internet Security Basics
Despite its wonders, the Internet can be a dangerous place
Once you connect a computer to a network or the Internet,
you dramatically increase the risk that your system will be
compromised in some way
The most common form of Internet-based security risk is
probably spam, or junk mail
Most e-mail programs now include spam filters
Viruses are a more sinister e-mail problem
Another problem on the Internet is password theft
A wider but related issue concerns identity (ID) theft
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 31
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Lesson Summary
PCs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they’re
all made up of two things—the physical parts of the
computer, called hardware, and the software
instructions that tell the hardware what to do
A computer’s operating system software takes care of
details of the computer’s operation; application
software provides specific tools for computer users
PCs can be networked to other computers using
cables, radio waves, or other means; a computer can
also connect to a network through standard phone
lines using a modem
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 32
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Lesson Summary (continued)
The Internet is a global network of computer
networks used for education, commerce, and
communication
The most popular Internet activities are exploring the
World Wide Web and communicating with
electronic mail
A Web browser is a PC application that provides
easy access to the World Wide Web
Search engines serve as indices for the Web, locating
pages with subject matter that matches keywords
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 33
Computer Confluence 7/e
Chapter 0
Lesson Summary (continued)
Electronic mail is the most popular Internet application and
enables almost instant communication among Internet users;
some e-mail systems can be accessed through Web browsers
The Internet is not without risks; Internet users must be
prepared to deal with unsolicited (and often unsavory) e-mail,
computer viruses, identity theft, and other risks
© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide 34
