Introduction to

Computers

Prepared by:
Rhonnel S. Paculanan
 Objectives
History of Computer

Define the term computer

Identify the components of a Describe the categories of

computer computers and their uses

Explain why a computer is a Identify the various types of

powerful tool computer users

Differentiate among the various

categories of software

p. 1.2
 Information Society

 is a term for a society in which the creation, distribution,

and manipulation of information has become the most
significant economic and cultural activity.

 may be contrasted with societies in which the economic

underpinning is primarily Industrial or Agrarian.

 The machine tools of the Information Society are computers

and telecommunications, rather than lathes or ploughs
 Information Society
• The shift from an industrial society to an information
society
• The computer revolution
• Computers are all around us

Computer Literacy – Aspect of Computer Literacy

• Awareness
• Knowledge
• Interaction
 Importance of Computer Literacy
Realities:
•The computer is now recognized as powerful and
positive force in the social, and economic progress of
nation;
•The growing use of computers in society is creating
new demands for students in preparation for life in
the Information Age.

•Cyber phobia
 Computers: Mind Tools

Computers have been called “mind tools” because

they enhance our ability to perform tasks that
require mental ability.
 History of Computers
•Abacus - started in china at around 500 BC.
- originally the mechanical counting device.
•Pascaline - 1642 by the Frenchman named Blaise Pascal
- The 1st mechanical counting device that used gear driven
wheels to do the addition and subtraction.
•Jacquard Weaving Loom - 1805 by Frenchman named Joseph Marie
Jacquard
- controlled by cards in which holes are strategically punched.
•Difference Engine - 1822-1833 by Charles Babbage
- capable of computing mathematical tables.
 Computer Development
 Mark I - 1st electromechanical computer sponsored by IBM developed
by Howard Aiken.
 ABC(Atanasoff Berry Computer) - 1942 by Dr. John Vincent Atanasoff
and Clifford Berry. 1st prototype electronic computer.
 ENIAC(Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator) – 1st functional
electronic digital computer developed by John Mauchly and J. Pesper
Eckert.
 UNIVAC(Universal Automatic Computer) - introduced in 1951 by John
Mauchly and J. Pesper Eckert. It is used by the US Bureau of Census to
tabulate census statistic. And also to predict the outcome of the 1952
presidential election in US. The 1st functional general purpose
computer.
 The Digital Revolution

Where can you find computers?

 Computers are everywhere

 What Is a Computer?

What is a computer?
 An electronic machine,
operating under the
control of instructions
stored in its own memory
• accepts data
• manipulates the data
according to specified
rules
• produces results
• stores the results for
future use
 What is a Computer?

What are hardware and software?

Hardware
The electric,
electronic, and Software
mechanical equipment
The series of
that makes up a
instructions that
computer
tells the hardware
how to perform
tasks
 What is a Computer?
Process
What is the Input Manipulate the
information Any data or
instructions you
input (data) to
produce output
processing enter into a (information)
computer
cycle?

Output
Communication Data that has
The capability of been processed
communicating
Storage into information
with other Area in a
computers computer that
can hold data
and information
for future use
 The Components of a
Computer
What are common computer hardware components?
PC camera system unit
speaker
printer
speaker

monitor

keyboard
modem
scanner
mouse

microphone
digital camera
 The Components of a
Computer
What is an input device?
 Any hardware component that allows a user to
enter data and instructions into a computer
microphone PC camera
keyboard

mouse
scanner

digital
camera
 The Components of a
Computer
What is an output device?
 Any hardware component that can convey
information to a user
monitor speakers

printer
 The Components of a
Computer
What is the system unit ?
 Sometimes called a CD-RW CD-ROM
chassis drive or DVD-
 A box-like case made from ROM
metal or plastic that Zip ®
drive
protects the internal disk
electronic components of drive floppy
the computer from disk
hard
damage drive
disk
 Circuitry in the system drive
unit usually is part of or is
connected to a circuit
board called the
motherboard
 The Components of a
Computer
What are internal components and external devices?

Internal
Component External Device
Resides inside the Also called a
system unit peripheral
Attaches to the
system unit
 The Components of a
Computer
What is storage?
 Holds data, instructions, and information for future use

Storage Device
Storage Medium • Records and
retrieves items to
• Physical material and from a storage
on which a medium
computer keeps
the data, • Devices often
function as source of
instructions and
input because they
information
transfer items from
storage into memory
 The Components of a
Computer
What are common storage devices or drives?

CD-ROM or
DVD-ROM
CD-RW drive drive

hard disk ZIP® drive

drive floppy
disk
drive

p. 1.7 Fig. 1-3

 Why Is a Computer So
Powerful?
What characteristics make a computer powerful?
Storage Speed
Enormous amounts of Billions of
Reliability operations can
data can be stored and
Dependable because be carried out
made available for in a single
processing anytime it is components have a
second
needed low failure rate so
they produce
consistent results
Accuracy
If data is entered correctly Communications
and program works properly,
Two connected
the results are error-free —
computers can share
garbage in, garbage out
stored data, instructions,
(GIGO) accuracy of output
and information
depends on accuracy of
p. 1.8

input
 Computer Software

What is a computer program?

 A series of instructions that tells the
hardware of a computer what to do

Allows you
Uses data in Displays Compares
to input data
memory in information values stored
and stores it
calculations on monitor in memory
in memory

Directs
computer to Prints a Stores
perform report information
alternative on disk
operations
 Computer Software

What is system software?

 Programs that control the operations of the
computer and its devices

Operating System
(OS) Utility program
Set of programs Type of system
containing instructions software that performs
that coordinate all the a specific task, usually
activities among related to managing a
computer hardware computer, its devices,
devices or its programs
 Computer Software

What is application software?

 Programs that perform specific tasks for users

Suite
Four popular software
applications bundled
Word together as a single unit
processing Presentation
software graphics
software

Spreadsheet Database
software software
 Categories of Computers

What are the categories of computers?

 Personal Computers

What is a personal computer?

 A computer that can perform all of its input,
processing, output, and storage activities by itself

Contains at least
Microprocessor
Two major
• One Input The single chip categories
device
that performs
• Desktop
• One output all the
device processing •
functions on a Notebook
• One storage personal
device
computer
• Memory
• A processor
 Personal Computers

What are the two most popular series of

personal computers?

The Apple Macintosh uses

the Macintosh operating
system (Mac OS)

p. 1.19 Fig. 1-21 & 22

The PC and compatibles use the
Windows operating system
 Personal Computers

What is a desktop computer?

 Designed so the
system unit, input
devices, output
devices, and any
other devices fit
entirely on or under a
desk or table
 Personal Computers

What are some desktop

computer variations?
 Tower model
• Tall and
narrow
system unit
that can sit
on the floor
vertically
 Personal Computers

What are some desktop

computer variations?
 All-in-onecomputer
• Less expensive
desktop that
combines he
monitor and system
unit
into a single
device
 Personal Computers

What are some desktop

computer variations?
 Workstation
• More expensive and powerful
desktop designed for work that
requires intense calculations
and graphics capabilities
 Stand-alone
• Can perform the information
processing cycle operations without
being connected to a network
 Personal Computers

What are some desktop

computer variations?
 Server
• Powerful desktop that
manages the
resources on a
network
 Clients or workstations
• Other computers on
network that access
the contents of the
storage area on the
servers
 Personal Computers

What is a notebook computer?

 Also called a laptop
 Portable, personal
computer small
enough to fit on your
lap
 Generally more
expensive than a
desktop computer
with equal
capabilities
 Handheld Computers

What is a handheld computer?

 Also called a
palmtop computer
 Small computer
that fits in your
hand
 Handheld Computers
How do you input data with a
handheld computer?

 Some have small

keyboards
 Others use a stylus
• A stylus looks like a
ballpoint pen, but
uses pressure,
instead of ink to write
 Some support voice
input
 Handheld Computers

What is a personal digital assistant (PDA)?

 One of the most
popular handheld
computers in use
today
 Provides personal
organizer functions
• Calendar
• Appointment book
• Address book
• Calculator
• Notepad
 Handheld Computers

What are Web-enabled handheld computers?

 Allow you to access the Internet wirelessly
Web-enabled
Web-enabled
cellular telephone
handheld
Web-enabled
computer
two-way pager
 Internet Appliances

What is an Internet appliance or information

appliance?
 Computer with
limited
functionality
whose main
purpose is to
connect to the
Internet from
home
 Mid-Range Servers

What is a mid-range
server?
 More powerful and
larger than a
workstation computer
 Supports up to 4,000
users
 Often connected via a
personal computer or
terminal
 Once known as a
minicomputer
 Mid-Range Servers

What is a terminal?

Sometimes called
dumb terminals
Device with a
• No processing
monitor and power
keyboard used • Cannot stand alone
to access a • Must be connected
server to a server to
operate

p. 1.25
 Mainframes

What is a mainframe?
 Large, expensive,
very powerful
computer
 Can handle
hundreds or
thousands of
connected users
simultaneously
 Stores tremendous
amounts of data,
instructions, and
information
 Supercomputers

What is a supercomputer?
 Fastest, most powerful computer
 Able to
process
more than 12
trillion
instructions
per second
 Elements of an
Information System
What is an 1. Hardware
1. Hardware
information system?

 For an information 2. Software

2. Software

system to provide
accurate, timely,
and useful
3. Data
3. Data
information, each
element must be 5. Procedures
present and all of
the elements must
work together

4b. People
4b. People (users)
(users) 4a.
4a. People
People (IT
(IT personnel)
personnel)
 What is a Computer?

Who is a user?
 Someone that
communicates
with a
computer
 Someone who
uses the
information it
generates

p. 1.4
 Examples of Computer Usage

What are five categories of computer users?

Mobile
Home Large Business

Small Office/Home Office

Power
 Examples of Computer Usage

What software is available for a home user?

finance and business

research
management
Web access
entertainment
 Examples of Computer Usage

How do computer companies accommodate

children?
 Many
manufacturers
design special
hardware for
children
 Examples of Computer Usage

What is the digital divide?

 Idea that you can
separate people of the
world into two distinct
groups
• Those who have
access to technology
with the ability to use
it
• Those who do not
have access to
technology or are
without the ability to
use it
 Examples of Computer Usage

What hardware and software is

available for a small office/home
office (SOHO) user?

 Desktop usage
 Local Area
Network (Lan)
 Productivity
software
 Specialty
software
 Web usage

spreadsheet
 Examples of Computer Usage

What new computer trends concern a

small office/home office (SOHO) user?
 E-mail
• Communicate with others
 E-commerce
• Conduct financial
business on the Web
 Web cam
• Allows a SOHO user to
show the world a live view
of some aspect of their
business
 Examples of Computer Usage

What is a mobile user?

 Travel to and from a
main office to conduct
business
 Hardware
• Notebook computers
• Handheld computers
• Web-enabled cellular
telephones
 Software
• Productivity
• Presentation
 Examples of Computer Usage

What are the needs of the

large business user?
 Network
• Local area network (LAN)
• Wide Area Network (WAN)
 Large business Web site
 Sales management
 Accounting
 Desktop publishing
 Information systems department
 Productivity software
 Scheduling
 Web access
 Examples of Computer Usage

What is a kiosk?
 A freestanding
computer
 Usually has
multimedia capability
and a touch screen
 Used by a large
business to provide
information to the
public
 Examples of Computer Usage

What is telecommuting?
 A work
arrangement in
which employees
work away from a
company’s
standard
workplace
 Often
communicate with
the office using
some
communications
technology
p. 1.34 Fig. 1-44
 Examples of Computer Usage

What are the needs of a power user?

 Requires the capabilities of a workstation or other
powerful computer
 Types of power users
• Engineers
• Architects
• Desktop publishers
• Graphic artists
 Typically work with
multimedia
• Combines text,
graphics, sound,
video, an other
media elements into
one application
 Computer User as a Web
Publisher
What is Web publishing?
 Making a Web page available on the Internet
 A few reasons to publish Web pages
• Provide family
information
• Provide information
about business
• Provide a resume
online
• Provide online
courses called
distance-learning
courses
 Computer User as a Web
Publisher
What are other ways to use the Web?
 Photo communities
• Allow you to create an online photo album
 Electronic storefronts
• Allow a small
business to advertise
and take orders
directly at a Web site
 Communicate with
others
• E-mail
• Chat rooms
• Instant messaging
What are data and information?

Data
Collection of raw
unprocessed
facts, figures,
and symbols

Information
Data that is
organized,
meaningful,
and useful
 Summary of Introduction
to Computers
 What is a computer?
 The components of a computer
 Why is a computer so powerful?
 Computer software
 Categories of computers  Handheld computers
 Personal computers  Internet appliances
 Mid-range servers
 Mainframes
 Supercomputers