Unit 1 — Computer Basics Lesson 1 — Understanding Computers and Computer Literacy

Unit 1 — Computer Basics

Lesson 1 — Understanding Computers and Computer Literacy

Lesson 1 – Understanding Computers and Computer Literacy2

Objectives

Define the term computer. Describe a computer system. Explain the importance of computer literacy. Discuss the history of computers. Identify how computers and technology are

used in our daily lives.


Objectives (continued)

List the categories of computers and their uses.

Describe communications. Define networks, intranets, and extranets. Discuss the use of the Internet and the World

Wide Web.


What Is a Computer?

A computer is an electronic device that– Receives data.– Processes the data it receives.– Stores the data in memory or on some storage

device such as a disk or CD.– Outputs information on a device such as a monitor

or printer.


The Processing Cycle of a Computer

This figure shows the typical processing cycle of a computer. Once it receives a set of data, the computer processes it and produces a result at the end of the cycle.


What Does a Computer Do?

As complex as some computers may be, they all essentially perform only two operations:– Arithmetic operations, such as addition,

subtraction, and so on.– Logical operations, such as comparing two values

and taking some action based on the result of the comparison.


What Makes a Computer So Powerful?

Although computers only perform the basic operations discussed on the last slide, they– Perform those functions very quickly.– Produce accurate and reliable results.– Store large amounts of data.– Provide versatility through various applications.– Share resources with other computers.– Are becoming more powerful and easier to use.


How Are Computers Used?

Computers have changed everyone’s lives and are used every day for– Education: Online instruction and degree

programs.– At Home: Appliances and home security

systems.– Business: Computers are used to track

inventory, print invoices, track payments, and do just about anything a business needs to do.


Categories of Computers

There are several types of computers suited for a variety of uses, including

– Desktop computers: All components fit on or under a desk.– Notebook: Smaller and more portable than a desktop; commonly

called a laptop.– Handheld or palmtop: Used primarily for calendars and address

books.– Mid-range server: Used by medium-sized companies and generally

supports hundreds of users.– Mainframes: Large, very expensive machines that can support

thousands of users; used by large corporations.– Supercomputers: Used for specialized operations requiring

mathematical operations.


Types of Personal Computers

Desktop Computer Notebook Handheld


What Is Electronic Communication?

Electronic communication is the technology that allows computers to talk to each other and other devices.

It has made the Internet, e-mail, online shopping, and other processes possible.

There are four components of electronic communication:– Sender: The computer sending a message.– Receiver: The computer receiving the message.– Channel: The media that carries the message.– Protocol: The rules that govern the processing of a message

between computers.


Electronic Communication Components

Computer A sends a message to Computer B.

The message travels via the channel, following the rules defined by the protocol being used so that each computer can understand the message.


Network Systems

A network consists of multiple computers connected to each other to share data and resources.

Data and software programs are usually stored on a central computer called a server.

When the network computers are located in the same general area, such as the same building or a department, it is called a local area network.


A Typical Network Layout

In a typical network layout, the client or user computers are connected to a hub, which is also connected to the server.

Client or user computers

Data and programs are stored on the server. All clients can access data and pro-grams through the server and can access the printer attached to the server.

Hub


The Internet

The Internet evolved from a government research project that enabled the military and scientists around the world to share information.

Today it is the largest network in the world. It is used daily by millions of computer users. It has become a critical and valuable business

tool used by businesses of all sizes.


Other Types of Networks

In addition to the networks already discussed, there are also some other types in common use today:– Wide area network: This is a local area network spread over a

wider region such as a city, state, or country.– Intranet: This is a network set up for employees of a business

or students at a university that is not accessible to users outside of those institutions.

– Extranet: This is typically an intranet that allows certain users, such as suppliers or customers, to access the internal network.


Summary

A computer is an electronic device that receives data, processes data, and stores data to produce a result.

The first computers were used by the military and government installations.

The first personal computer was sold in 1977. Computers can be found in almost every aspect of

our lives.


Summary (continued)

There are different types of computers including microcomputers, notebook computers, personal digital assistants, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and supercomputers.

Computers are classified by size, speed, and application.


Summary (continued)

A computer system consists of the following components:– Hardware: Tangible physical equipment.– Software: The intangible set of instructions that tells

the computer what to do. This set of instructions is called a software program.

– Data: The information entered into a computer to be processed.

– People: The users who enter the data and use the output.


Summary (continued)

Electronic communication is the transmission of text, numeric, voice, or video data from one machine to another. The four components of electronic communication are as follows:

– Sender: The computer that is sending the message.– Receiver: The computer receiving the message.– Channel: The media that carries or transports the message.

This could be telephone wire, coaxial cable, microwave signal, or fiber optic.

– Protocol: The rules that govern the orderly transfer of the data sent.


Summary (continued)

A local area network connects multiple computers within a building. It allows the sharing of data and resources.

The Internet was originally developed so information could be shared by government researchers around the world.

In the future, computers will be more powerful and less expensive.

Documents

Unit 1 — Computer Basics Lesson 1 — Understanding Computers and Computer Literacy