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Intro to Computers

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Title: Intro to Computers


1
Intro to Computers
  • Technology Applications
  • North Ridge Middle School
  • Use the information in this presentation to fill
    out the worksheet you are given.

2
What is a Computer?
  • A computer is a machine that
  • receives input (data)
  • performs processing
  • produces output (information)
  • Without any one of these the computer would be
    worthless

3
Examples of Input, Processing Output
Input
Processing
Output
4
Disks, Disk Drives and Permanent Storage
  • No work on the computer is stored permanently
    unless it is saved from the computers memory to
    a diskette, hard drive or some other storage
    device.
  • Disk drives are identified by letter
  • The diskette drive is letter A
  • The hard drive is usually letter C

5
Personal Computer Hardware
  • Hardware refers to the pieces of equipment that
    make up the computer system.
  • Examples of computer hardware components
    Drives, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Printer, Bus
    expansion slots cards, CPU and Memory Chips,
    Speakers

6
Personal Computer Hardware
7
Hardware
  • The motherboard is the largest circuit board in
    the PC. It contains millions of electronic
    circuits on a chip of silicon.
  • The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is a chip on
    the Motherboard that performs mathematical
    calculations and logic functions. The CPU is
    often called the brain of the computer

8
Hardware (continued)
  • RAM (Random Access Memory) is temporary memory
    where programs and data are while they are being
    used.
  • When a document is opened it is loaded into RAM.
  • When you save a document the CPU copies the
    document that is in RAM to permanent storage.
  • When the power is turned off the information in
    RAM is lost.
  • The storage capacity of RAM is measured in
    megabytes.

9
Hardware (continued)
  • Some hardware components are primarily input
    devices and some are primarily output devices.
  • The following is a list of 10 common hardware
    components and whether they are input devices,
    output devices or both.

10
Input and Output Devices
  • Monitor an output device that displays input and
    the results of processing.
  • Mouse an input device that controls a pointer on
    the monitor. You can click the mouse to give the
    computer input.
  • Keyboard an input device with letters, numbers,
    symbols and special keys used to input data and
    type text.

11
Input and Output Devices (contd)
  • Hard disk (Hard drive) permanent storage device
    usually installed in the system unit. It can be
    used to receive input and produce output.
  • Diskette Drive a drive that can read a removable
    disk. It can be used to receive input and
    produce output.
  • CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory) a disk
    that can be used to input data into the computer

12
Input and Output Devices (contd)
  • CD-RW (Compact Disk Read/Write) a disk that
    can be used to input data (read) or output or
    store data (write).
  • Modem (Modulate/Demodulate) a piece of hardware
    that converts an incoming signal so the computer
    can read it (input) and converts an outgoing
    signal so it can be sent over phone lines
    (output).

13
Input and Output Devices (contd)
  • Printers one of most common output devices.
    Produces paper copy (hard copy) of output.
  • Scanners input device which lets you create
    digital files from pictures, drawings or text.

14
Types of Printers
  • Laser printers which use copier-like technology
    to spread patterns of toner and make it stick to
    the paper with heat.
  • Inkjet printers that spray ink onto paper to
    produce the output.
  • Plotters printers that use needles to draw on
    paper. They are frequently used by engineers to
    produce schematic drawings.

15
Controlling Windows
  • Via the Keyboard used to enter data and to
    issue commands to the computer.
  • Keys on the Keyboard
  • Function Keys the twelve keys located across the
    top of the keyboard that are labeled F1-F12. They
    perform specific tasks depending on the software
    you are using.
  • Escape Key used to back out or interrupt a task.

16
Controlling Windows
  • Via the Mouse a small, hand-held device that is
    used to control the pointer on the screen.
  • There are Seven Main Mouse Actions
  • Point
  • Click
  • Right-click
  • Double-click
  • Drag
  • Right-drag
  • Scroll

17
Bits and Bytes
  • Personal computers operate through a number of
    on/of switches called binary digits or bits.
  • Everything that a computer does is accomplished
    by switches that are either turned on or off.
  • A string of 8 bits is equal to one byte. Each
    byte is translated by the computer into a letter
    or action.
  • A 0 represents a switch that is turned off and a
    1 represents a switch that is turned on.

18
File Size and Storage Capacity
  • Computers work with digital information
    everything is converted to 0s and 1s
  • Each 0 or 1 is a bit
  • A byte is the most common measurement of storage.
  • 1 byte 8 bits
  • 1 kilobyte 1 thousand bytes
  • 1 megabyte 1 million bytes
  • 1 gigabyte 1 billion bytes
  • 1 terabyte 1 trillion bytes

19
Processor Speed
  • The speed of a computer is measured in gigahertz
    or megahertz.
  • Megahertz millions of cycles per second
  • Gigahertz billions of cycles per second

20
Software
  • Software refers to the instructions that allow a
    computer to run. There are two categories of
    software
  • Operating System allows the computer to boot
    controls and manages the computer by translating
    instructions into a language the computer can
    understand. In our lab we have Windows XP
  • Application Software software that allows you
    to perform specific tasks such as write a letter,
    play a game or create a spreadsheet.

21
Types of Computer
  • Supercomputer (largest in size)
  • Mainframe
  • Minicomputer
  • Microcomputer (Personal Computer)
  • PC
  • Laptop
  • Handheld

22
Supercomputer
  • Used primarily by military and scientific
    agencies weather forecasting, simulations (wind
    tunnel, nuclear detonation)
  • Used when there is a need for high speed and
    intensive calculation

23
Supercomputer
24
Supercomputer
25
Mainframe
  • Used primarily by businesses credit card
    companies, bank accounts, insurance, airline
    reservations)
  • Used when the computations are simpler but there
    are huge amounts of data. (simpler calculations
    but more of them)

26
Mainframe
27
Minicomputer
  • Used by more than one person at a time
  • Now called midrange systems, workstations and
    servers
  • Being replaced by microcomputers and LANs (Local
    Area Networks)

28
Minicomputer
29
Microcomputer
  • Most commonly used Microcomputer is a Personal
    Computer or Desktop Computer.
  • Usually single user machines
  • Other Microcomputers include video game
    consoles, laptop computers, and many types of
    handheld devices may all be considered examples
    of microcomputers

30
Microcomputers Handheld Devices
  • Handheld devices are pocket-sized computing
    devices that are rapidly gaining popularity as
    the access to information in every walk of life
    becomes more and more mission critical. Along
    with mobile computing devices such as laptops and
    smartphones, PDAs represent the new frontier of
    computing as desktop computers find less and less
    favour among every day users.The following are
    typical handhelds
  • Smartphone
  • Personal digital assistant
  • Mobile phone
  • Handheld game console

31
Handheld Devices
Nokia Smartphone
Mobile or Cell Phones
Tungsten PDA
Handheld Game Console
32
Computer Careers
  • Computers require specially trained personnel to
    keep them running efficiently. The following are
    some computer related careers
  • Application Programmers people who ensure that
    the programs an organization needs are created,
    maintained and improved.

33
Computer Careers (contd)
  • Network Administrator people who specialize in
    making sure that a companys network operates
    efficiently.
  • Help Desk Professionals people who are trained
    to provide help to users of applications.
  • Web site designers and programmers people who
    decide what Web pages should look like and write
    the code to create them.
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