Introduction to Computers

1. Introduction to Computers • The personal computer was far from reality in 1968. Computer users were limited to specially trained operators and engineers. • No one ever anticipated that today every office worker must work with computers and most people use computers in their everyday lives – both at home and at school. • It is important to learn about the parts of a computer, how a computer operates, and different tasks the computer can perform. • It is equally important to learn how the computer you are using today has evolved and how it can give you access to one of the greatest sources of information - the internet.

2. Brief History of computers Early 1800’s 1886 1944 _/___________________/______________/______________ Machines could be programmed. The operation was controlled by cards with holes punched in them. A punch card machine was developed that could be used with electricity IBM invented a 50-foot –long, 8-foot-high machine that was able to add, subtract, multiple, divide, and refer data tables using punched cards. http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/08/dayintech_0807

3. Brief History of computers 1945 1947 1948 _/____________________/____________________/______ A machine was created for the US Army that could do calculations a thousand times faster than earlier devices. It weighed about 30 tons and covered about 1,000 sq. feet of floor space. A method for storing programs electronically was developed. Before this, computers were wired to perform only certain tasks. To change a task, the computer would have to be required. The first machine to be called a computer was completed.

4. Brief History of computers 1951 1975 Today _/________________/________________________/_________ The first commercial computer was completed. Eight of them were sold. Steve Jobs started Apple Computer in his garage. Bill Gates established Microsoft. Today’s computer is a direct result of Apple and IBM in hardware and software development. Today’s computers have thousands of times more the capability and are sold at a fraction of the cost than those of the much larger computer system years ago.

5. What is a Computer? A computer is an electronic device that executes the instructions in a program. (An electronic device that does what it is told)

6. Some beginning terms • Hardware Physical parts of the computer. • Software` Programs (instructions) that tell the computer what to do. • Data individual facts, like first name, price, and quantity. • Information Data which has been massaged into a useful form, like a complete mailing address. • Default Original settings

7. What makes a computer powerful?

8. How a Computer system works • Data is entered into the computer • The computer processes the data and displays the desired information. • A software program – a detailed set od computer instructions that resides in the computer, tell the computer what to do. • There are two types of software • System program software – controls the way computer parts work together • Application program software – Tells the computer to perform a specific task.

9. Types of computers • Computers vary in type, size, speed and capability. • PC (personal computer) – The most common type of computer. Found in homes, offices and schools.

10. Types of computers • Supercomputer – The fastest type of computer. Used only by government agencies, education institutes and larger corporations. • Mainframe – Less powerful than supercomputers but capable of storing and processing large amounts of data. Used by universities, medical institutions and banks. • Smartphones, Tablets, Netbook,

11. Computer Memory • The memory of a computer is comprised of circuits that are contained in tiny computer chips. The number of memory locations is states in terms of bytes. • Byte – a unit of storage capable of holding a single character. A byte is equal to 8 bits. Large amounts of memory are indicated in terms of kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), and gigabytes (GB). • Every computer comes with certain amounts of physical memory, referred to as main memory of random access memory (RAM). • Read only memory (ROM) is computer memory on which data has been prerecorded. This data can only be read, it cannot be deleted. • ROM is different from RAM because it remains even when the computer is shut down. PCs contain ROM memory that stores critical programs, like those needed for system start-up.

12. Parts of a computer A computer is made up of hardware and software • Hardware is made of four main units: input devices, output devices, processing unit, storage devices. • Input Devices: Transports data into the computer. • Keyboard, mouse, touch pad, scanner, digital camera, microphone. • Output Devices: Allow the user to see or hear the information the computer compiles. • Printer, monitor, speakers.

13. Hardware continued • Processing Unit: CPU. Contains the computer chips and circuits that control and manipulate data to produce information. • Storage devices: Allows the instructions and data to be saved. • Hard drive – internal storage device • Floppy Disk – • CD-Rom – • Flash Drive -

14. software • Software is a set of instructions written by programmers in a machine language that tells the computer what to do, how to do it, and how to perform certain tasks based on input from the user. • The words software, program and application are used interchangeably.