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COMPUTER PLATFORMS

COMPUTER PLATFORMS. COMH101 HNC / HND Programme 2003 - 2004. About the module…. HNC/HND Level 1 Module Provides a grounding of the basics of computing Computer Systems Operating Systems Networking Issues 12 weeks contact 11 weeks + 1 reading week 2 Assignments + 1 Very small test

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COMPUTER PLATFORMS

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  1. COMPUTER PLATFORMS COMH101 HNC / HND Programme 2003 - 2004 Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  2. About the module… • HNC/HND Level 1 Module • Provides a grounding of the basics of computing • Computer Systems • Operating Systems • Networking Issues • 12 weeks contact • 11 weeks + 1 reading week • 2 Assignments + 1 Very small test • More on this later! Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  3. About the lecturer… • Stuart Cunningham • Room B126 • s.cunningham@newi.ac.uk • Tel: 01978 293583 Notes and information found at: • www.newi.ac.uk/cunninghams/ • Scottish! • If I say something you don’t understand please ask! (Generally a good idea, not just because of the accent). Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  4. Scheme of work • Week 1 • About the module • Introduction to the computer system • Week 2 • The CPU • Von-Neumann model • Week 3 • Data formats • Terminology • Week 4 • Improving the PC Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  5. Scheme of work • Week 5 • Reading Week • Week 6 (Assignment 1 IN) • Fundamentals of computer networks • Week 7 • Network applications & performance • Week 8 • Planning networks • Week 9 • Operating Systems Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  6. Scheme of work • Week 10 • Managing the OS • User training & support issues • Week 11 • Computer and network security issues • Week 12 (Assignment 2 IN) • The end?! Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  7. COMPUTER PLATFORMS Introduction to the Computer System Week 1 Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  8. Computer Platforms • Introduction to the computer system: • About computers • Input / Output / Process • Hardware • Software • Communications Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  9. Computers • Computers are in widespread use today: • Business • Education • Home • Computers used for many things: • Office work • Science and Research • Games and Entertainment • Multimedia production • Data storage Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  10. INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT The Computer • The computer is a machine • ‘TOM’ – (Totally Obedient Moron) • Carries out instructions • Consists of electronic components • Performs three main tasks • Accepts INPUT • Performs a PROCESS on the input • Produces OUTPUT from the process Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  11. Computer System • Computer System consists of two main areas of functionality: • Hardware • Physical components to a computer system • Stuff you can touch and hold • Wires, transistors, keyboard, printer etc. • Software • Instructions given to the hardware • Programs or applications to run on the hardware • Usually stored on a hardware media • E.g.- Windows, Dreamweaver, MS Office, etc. Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  12. Hardware • Essential Hardware Components • Input • Keyboard, mouse • Processing • Central Processing Unit (CPU) • E.g.- Intel Pentium n, AMDAthlon • Output • Monitor, printer • Memory • Temporary data storage, with fast retrieval • E.g.- RAM (Random Access memory) • Permanent storage • A form of media to store data for a long term • E.g.- Hard disk drive • E.g.- ROM (Read Only Memory) Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  13. Hardware • Employing RAM and backing store • RAM = Random Access Memory • Sometimes called ‘main memory’ • Used for temporary storage • Contents are erased when power is off • Very fast access to data • Any byte can be accessed randomly • Backing store • Permanent place to keep important data • Commonly a hard disk drive • Allows reading and writing of data • Could also be a ROM (Read Only Memory) chip • Once written to can only be read in future Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  14. RAM INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT Backing Store Hardware • Employing RAM and backing store Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  15. Hardware • Peripheral Hardware Components • Input • Scanner, microphone, light pen • Processing • Graphics card, sound card • Output • Speakers, plotter, digital projector • Memory • Extra RAM, VRAM • Permanent storage • Zip drives, memory sticks, floppy disks • Other Devices • Modem, NIC, DVD-R, DV-Camera Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  16. Software • Essential Software • Operating System (OS) • Many different types • Graphical user Interface (GUI) / WIMP • E.g.- MS Windows, MacOS, NeXT • Command line Interface (CLI) • E.g.- DOS, UNIX • Low Level systems • E.g.- BIOS (Basic Input Output System) • Application Software • Used to do anything ‘useful’ • Communications • Office / Business • Processing Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  17. Software • Operating Systems • Acts as an interface between the user and the capabilities (hardware & software) of the computer • Need the OS to run other applications • Need OS to control hardware • Organises files and directories • Is the ‘front end’ of the computer • The environment the user interacts with • Responds to commands issued by the user Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  18. Software • Operating Systems • Command Line Interface (CLI) Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  19. Software • Operating Systems • Graphical User Interface (GUI) Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  20. Software • Different Types of OS: • Real-time • Commands are carried out straight away • Multi-threading • Can carry out parts of one program at the same time • Multitasking • Can run more than one program at the same time • Multiprocessing • Allows more than one CPU to be used to execute a program • Multi-user • Allows many users to share a CPU Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  21. Software • Application Software • Word processing • Spreadsheets • Databases • Web browsing • Email client • Internet hosting • Desktop Publishing (DTP) • Integrated Development Environment • Games (?) Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  22. Types of Computer • Personal Computer (PC) • Single-user computer • Standalone • Supercomputer • Very fast computer which can carries out huge amounts of instructions per second • Mainframe • A powerful computer which can be used by lots of users at the same time Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

  23. Computer Platforms • What you know now (hopefully): • More about this module • More about your lecturer (and more importantly, where to find his module notes) • What a computer is • Input -> Process -> Output • About basic computer hardware • About computer software • Operating Systems (OS) • Application Software • Types of computer Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

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