ENGLISH FOR

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

An Introduction to the Computer

By Pham Ngoc Thai Hoa
Classroom Rules

Be on time

No use of mobile phone in class

Actively join in all activities of the class

Cooperate with your teacher and your friends
COURSE SYLLABUS

Topic-based course:

Kinds of computers

The processor

The hard drive

Peripheral devices

Operating system

Programming languages

Application software

LANs and WANs

Internet

Expert system
ASSESSMENT

Attendance: 5%

Preparation: 5%

Participation: 5%

Writing Assignment: 25%

Oral Presentation: 20%

Final Test: 40%
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF IT
Decoding IT terms:
1. tAaavr
2. VAAJ
3. beodA
4. eooslnn
5. tooebnk
6. terawfos
7. oocfeabk
IDENTIFY A SUITABLE PICTURE
UNIT 1 – INTRODUCTION
Discussion

Work in groups of 3:

Do you have a
computer?

What do you use
your computer for?

Find a suitable
definition for a
computer
What is a computer?
Study Listen to
Producing music
Sounds

Reading
Playing
Games

Drawing
&
Designing
Calculating
ORIGINAL NAME OF COMPUTER

A typical computer operation back when computers were people.

PRESENT DEFINITION FOR
COMPUTER

A computer is an electronic device that –

Receives the data that we feed into it.

Stores the data inside it.

Processes the data according to our instructions.
(Source: Illustrated Computer Encyclopedia)
TYPES OF COMPUTER

Supercomputer Mainframe Workstation

Desktop Computer Laptop Console Cellphone

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SUPERCOMPUTER –
MAINFRAME - WORKSTATION

Supercomputer:

Thousands of CPU

Very high-speed

For sophisticated science purposes (weather forecast,
nuclear research, etc.)

Mainframe:

Smaller

For enterprise purposes

Workstation:

For designers
Match the possible users
to each type of devices:

1. Student using a computer for A. Mainframe

entertainment for travelling B. Supercomputer
2. Large company processing
payroll data C. Workstation
3. Travelling salesperson giving D. Entertainment
marketing presentations console
4. Large scientific organization E. Mobilephone
processing work on nuclear F. Laptop
research (Notebook)
5. Graphic designer
G. Desktop
6. Secretary doing general office
work
PERSONAL COMPUTER

A very popular and useful computer meant for
personal use at home.
FUNCTIONS OF A COMPUTER

Storing information in its memory

Perform speedy arithmetic operation as
instructed

Addition / subtraction / multiplication / division /
exponentiation

Making decisions

If A < B / If A = B / If A > B
COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
COMPUTER

HARDWARE FIRMWARE SOFTWARE

Main Peripheral
CPU Application System
Memory Devices
HARDWARE – FIRMWARE - SOFTWARE

Hardware: Physical
components

Firmware:
Permanent software
held in ROM (eg:
BIOS in PC).

Software: Programs
and instruction sets
that operate the
computer.
COMPUTER HARDWARE

HARDWARE
(Physical Components)

Main Peripheral
CPU
Memory Devices

ALU CU ROM RAM INPUT OUTPUT

COMMUNICATION STORAGE
DEVICE DEVICE
CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)

Definition: The ‘brain’ of the computer that

processes instructions and manages the flow
of information through a computer system.

Consist of ALU & CU

ALU (Arithmetic Logical Unit)

CU (Control Unit)

Major manufacturers: Intel, AMD

MEMORY

ROM
(Read-only Memory)

Holds the instructions
& settings required to
start up the computer.

RAM
(Random Access Memory)

Holds the program
instructions & data
that is being used by
the computer.
RAM

The memory that the computer uses to temporarily store
the information as it is being processed.

The more information being processed the more RAM
capacity the computer needs.

RAM memory chips come in many different sizes and
speeds and can usually be expanded by adding or
replacing the memory chips depending on the processor
you have and the type of memory your computer uses.

Major Manufacturers: Kingston, Kingmax, Samsung
PERIPHERALS

Any device attached to a computer in order to
expand its functionality.

Input devices

Output devices

Storage devices

Communication devices
INPUT & OUTPUT

INPUT PROCESSING OUTPUT

Input

Data that we put in the computer.

Instructions that we give in regard to the data.

Processing

Process the data based on instructions

Changing it into useful information as required

Output

Useful information that computer produces after processing
data based on our instructions
INPUT DEVICES
INPUT: KEYBOARD
INPUT: MOUSE

Function

Left button: select

Right button: access menus

Trackball: scroll
OUTPUT
OUTPUT: MONITOR

Cathode Ray Tube
Liquid Crystal
Technology Display Technology
OUTPUT: MONITOR

Function: shows information on the
screen when you type (outputting
information).

When the computer needs more
information it will display a
message on the screen, usually
through a dialog box.

To get full colour graphics and
animation, computers need a color
monitor with a display or graphics
card.
STORAGE DEVICES
COMMUNICATION DEVICE: MODEM

A modulator/demodulator (Điều biến/Giải điều biến) used

for converting digital signals, which computers
use (0 & 1) to analogue signals, which telephones
use & vice versa to allow a computer to be
connected to the ordinary telephone system.
SOFTWARE

System software
Application Software

A program / set of
A computer program
programs that is used designed for a
to control the basic particular purpose.
functions of a
Eg: word processor
computer systems.

Eg: operating system
APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Commercial software: comes prepackaged and is
available from software stores and through the Internet.

Shareware: is software developed by individual and small
companies that cannot afford to market their software
world wide or by a company that wants to release a
demonstration version of their commercial product.

Open source software: created by generous
programmers and released into the public domain for
public use. There is usually a copyright notice that must
remain with the software product.
DISCUSSION: MATCHING
1. RAM A. Controls the cursor
2. Processor B. Inputs data through keys like a
3. Mouse typewriter
4. Flash memory C. Displays the output from a computer on
key a screen
D. Reads DVD-ROMs
5. Monitor
E. Reads & writes to electronic chips on a
6. Keyboard
card
7. DVD-ROM
F. Holds instructions which are needed to
drive start up the computer
8. ROM G. Holds data read or written to it by the
processor
H. Controls all the operations in a computer
 HOW TO READ A COMPUTER AD.

Intel Pentium 4 processor (3GHz,
800Mhz FSB)

Minitower chassis

1GB dual channel DDR2 SDRAM

200GB Serial ATA hard drive (7,200
r.p.m.)

128Mb PCI-Express video card

Integrated audio

48x CD-RW drive

19” TFT flat panel XGA (1024x768)
monitor

Microsoft Windows XP Professional
REFERENCES

Oxford English for Information Technology,
Second Edition, OUP

Dreamland’s Illustrated Computer
Encyclopedia, Dreamland Publications

http://www.grassrootsdesign.com/

http://www.echip.com.vn

http://www.pcworld.com.vn