Northern Philippines College for Maritime, Science and Technology

Lingsat, City of San Fernando, La Union

Syllabus
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
st
1 Semester SY: 2008 2009

Word Processing (Microsoft Word)

Midterm

Prerequisite: None
I.
II.
III.

Computer Ergonomics
Binary System

Course Code: Comp 1

Course Title: Introduction to computer
Course Description:
This course is intended to provide students with computer literacy who are
beginning to learn and understand highly technical field o computers.
Provide students with basic concepts on program application such as Word
Processing, Spreadsheets, Slide Presentation and basic troubleshooting of computers.
The topics presented are primarily designed to equip the students with adequate
knowledge necessary to understanding and appreciation of computers as data processing
tools. It also helps the students to familiarize themselves in the proper use of the computers
and computer ergonomics as well as its programs and system application. It also introduces
students to binary systems and Logic gates.
It also provides ideas regarding effects of computers to health.

Vision:
We envision the Northern Philippines College for Maritime, Science and Technology to be the
center of education excellence in producing graduates whose skills and competitiveness as at
par with local and international standards.
V.
Mission:
Inspired by this vision we endeavor to hold out students to become quality professionals and
workers in this respective fields of specialization whose knowledge and skills, and values will
make them standout in the extremely competitive and local global market.
VII.
Credit Units: 3 Units (3 hrs Lecture)
VIII.
Course Contents:
IV.

Binary

Decimal

Octal

Hexadecimal

Binary Conversions

Word Processing (Microsoft Excel)

Finals
Logic gates
o
AND

Prelim
Computer
o
Definition of Computer

OR

NOT

Logic Gates Manipulation

Types of Computer

History of Computer

Diagrams

Parts of a computer

Truth Table

How computer works?

Uses of Computer

Advantages of computer

Disadvantages of a computer

Basic Troubleshooting Techniques

Effects of Computer to Health

Computer Ethics
Word Processing (Microsoft PowerPoint)
IX. Instructional Methodologies
Lectures and Class Discussion
Reading and Written Assignment
X. Evaluation Techniques:

Paper & pencil test

Oral Participation
Student work products/ projects
XI. Course Requirements:
Prelim, Midterm, Final Exam
Quizzes, Seatwork
Assignments
Project

Prepared by:

Mr. Romeo E. Balcita

Instructor
Noted by:

Mrs. Marie Cris S. Almoite

Dean, College of Computer Education

Approved by:

Dr.Rogelio Espiritu
Vice President for Academic Affairs

sharing models which allowed large expensive systems to be used by many people, usually at

Computer

the same time, or large data processing systems which required a full-time staff to operate
efficiently.
While early PC owners usually had to write their own programs to do anything useful with

The NASA Columbia Supercomputer

the machines, today's users have access to a wide range of commercial and non-commercial

A computer is a machine that manipulates

data according to a list of instructions.

software which is easily installed.

The ability to store and execute lists of

instructions called programs makes computers
extremely versatile and distinguishes them
from calculators.

. History of Computer
The history of computers, beginning nearly 5000 years ago, is an interesting
combination of re-invention, research, and innovation.
In 3000 B.C., the abacus was invented in China and shortly thereafter came into wide use
around the world. This simple adding device is considered by some to be the first precursor to
computers, if not the real thing. Much later, in 1622 A.D., the slide rule was invented by William
Oughtred and another giant step was taken toward the information age.

Personal computer

Charles Babbage, considered by many to be the "Father of the Computer," began creating a
device referred to as the "Difference Engine" in 1822. When funding was pulled in 1842,
Babbage designed, but was never able to build, the "Analytical Engine," a machine that shared

A personal computer (PC) is any computer

whose

many aspects of modern computers, including subroutines, an input device, etc.).

original sales price, size, and capabilities

make

Babbages failure to build the Analytical Engine did not, fortunately, lead to its demise

it useful for individuals, and which is

altogether. In 1930 scientists built the first Analytical Engine and seven years later Alan Turing

intended to be operated directly by an end user, with no intervening computer operator.

developed the idea of a machine that could execute algorithms. Development of computers
continued through the early and mid-1900s and in 1943 the U.S. Army funded the development

Today a PC may be a desktop computer, a laptop computer or a tablet computer. The most
common operating systems are Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, while the most

of ENIAC, the prototype for modern computers. MIT built the "Whirlwind" for the U.S. Air Force
in 1955 and invented RAM in the process.
Finally, in 1971, microchips and floppy disks came into existence and a fledgling company

common microprocessors are x86-compatible CPUs, ARM architecture CPUs and

called Intel developed the 4004, which was dubbed by them a "computer on a chip." Ten years

PowerPC CPUs. Software applications for personal computers include word processing,

later, IBM debuted a machine referred to as a "PC" which used a DOS operating system owned

spreadsheets, databases, games, and a myriad of personal productivity and special-purpose

(but not developed) by Microsoft. 1984 found Apple Computers developing the Graphical User

software. Modern personal computers often have high-speed or dial-up connections to the

Interface (GUI), a mainstay in modern computing and the concept upon which Microsofts

Internet, allowing access to the World Wide Web and a wide range of other resources.

Windows operating system is based.

Computer development in the 21st century includes a 1 gigabyte processor and machines that

A PC may be a home computer, or may be found in an office, often connected to a local

area network. The distinguishing characteristics are that the computer is primarily used,
interactively, by one person at a time. This is in contrast to the batch processing or time-

fit in the hand carrying out billions of commands per second.

As the age of the Internet and technology progress, the developments should be even more
impressive.

operate the laptop, such as parallel and serial ports, graphics card, sound channel, etc., are

Types

built in to a single unit. Most laptops contain batteries to facilitate operation without a readily
available electrical outlet. In the interest of saving power, weight and space, they usually
share RAM with the video channel, slowing their performance compared to an equivalent

Desktop Computer

desktop machine.
Dell OptiPlex desktop computer
Prior to the wide spread of PCs a computer that
could fit on a desk was considered remarkably
small. Today the phrase usually indicates a
particular style of computer case. Desktop
computers come in a variety of styles ranging from
large vertical tower cases to small form factor
models that can be tucked behind an LCD monitor.
In this sense, the term 'desktop' refers specifically
to a horizontally-oriented case, usually intended to
have the display screen placed on top to save space

on the desk top. Most modern desktop computers have separate screens and keyboards.

One main drawback of the laptop is that, due to the size and configuration of components,
relatively little can be done to upgrade the overall computer from its original design. Some
devices can be attached externally through ports (including via USB), however internal
upgrades are not recommended or in some cases impossible, making the desktop PC more
modular.
A subtype of notebooks, called subnotebooks, are computers with most of the features of a
standard laptop computer but smaller. They are larger than hand-held computers, and usually
run full versions of desktop/laptop operating systems. Ultra-Mobile PCs (UMPC) are usually
considered subnotebooks, or more specifically, subnotebook Tablet PCs (see below).
Netbooks are sometimes considered in this category, though they are sometimes separated in
a category of their own (see below).
Desktop replacements, meanwhile, are large laptops meant to replace a desktop computer

Nettop

while keeping the mobility of a laptop.

A subtype of desktops, called nettops, was introduced by Intel in February 2008 to describe

Netbook

low-cost, lean-function, desktop computers. A similar subtype of laptops (or notebooks) are
the netbooks (see below).

Black ASUS Eee PC in proportions comparison with

tissues

Laptop
A modern mid-range HP Laptop.
A laptop computer or simply laptop, also called a
notebook computer or sometimes a notebook, is a
small personal computer designed for mobility.
Usually all of the interface hardware needed to

Netbook PCs are small portable computers in a

"clamshell" design, that are designed specifically for
wireless communication and access to the Internet. They
are generally much lighter and cheaper than
subnotebooks, and have a smaller display, between 7" and 9", with a screen resolution
between 800x600 and 1024x768. The operating systems and applications on them are usually
specially modified so they can be comfortably used with a smaller sized screen, and the OS is

often based on Linux, although some Netbooks also use Windows XP. Some Netbooks

among others. Current UMPCs typically feature the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005,

make use of their built in high speed Wireless connectivity to offload some of their

Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, or Linux operating system and low-voltage Intel

applications software to Internet servers, through the principle of Cloud computing, as most

Pentium or VIA C7-M processors in the 1 GHz range.

Netbooks have small solid state storage systems instead of hard-disks. Storage capacities
are usually in the 4 to 16 GB range. One of the first examples of such a system was the

Home Theater PC

original EEE PC.

Tablet PC

Antec Fusion V2 home theater PC with keyboard

on top.
HP Compaq tablet PC with
A home theater PC (HTPC) is a convergence device

rotating/removable keyboard.

that combines the functions of a personal computer

A tablet PC is a notebook or slate-shaped

and a digital video recorder. It is connected to a

mobile computer, first introduced by Pen

television or a television-sized computer display and is often used as a digital photo, music,

computing in the early 90s with their PenGo

video player, TV receiver and digital video recorder. Home theater PCs are also referred to as

Tablet Computer and popularized by

media center systems or media servers. The general goal in a HTPC is usually to combine

Microsoft. Its touchscreen or graphics

many or all components of a home theater setup into one box. They can be purchased pre-

tablet/screen hybrid technology allows the

configured with the required hardware and software needed to add television programming to

user to operate the computer with a stylus or

the PC, or can be cobbled together out of discrete components as is commonly done with

digital pen, or a fingertip, instead of a

Windows Media Center, GB-PVR, SageTV, Famulent or LinuxMCE.

keyboard or mouse. The form factor offers a more mobile way to interact with a computer.
Tablet PCs are often used where normal notebooks are impractical or unwieldy, or do not

Pocket PC

provide the needed functionality.

An O2 pocket PC

Ultra-Mobile PC
A pocket PC is a hardware specification for a handheld-sized
Samsung Q1 Ultra-Mobile PC.
The ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) is a
specification for a small form
factor tablet PC. It was developed
as a joint development exercise by
Microsoft, Intel, and Samsung,

computer (personal digital assistant) that runs the Microsoft

Windows Mobile operating system. It may have the capability to
run an alternative operating system like NetBSD or Linux. It has
many of the capabilities of modern desktop PCs.
Currently there are tens of thousands of applications for handhelds
adhering to the Microsoft Pocket PC specification, many of which
are freeware. Some of these devices also include mobile phone features. Microsoft compliant

Pocket PCs can also be used with many other add-ons like GPS receivers, barcode readers,

Desktop - A PC that is not designed for portability. The expectation with desktop

RFID readers, and cameras. In 2007, with the release of Windows Mobile 6, Microsoft

systems are that you will set the computer up in a permanent location. Most

dropped the name Pocket PC in favor of a new naming scheme. Devices without an

desktops offer more power, storage and versatility for less cost than their portable

integrated phone are called Windows Mobile Classic instead of Pocket PC. Devices with an

brethren.

integrated phone and a touch screen are called Windows Mobile Professional.

Laptop - Also called notebooks, laptops are portable computers that integrate the
display, keyboard, a pointing device or trackball, processor, memory and hard drive
all in a battery-operated package slightly larger than an average hardcover book.

What are the different types of

Palmtop - More commonly known as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), palmtops

are tightly integrated computers that often use flash memory instead of a hard drive
for storage. These computers usually do not have keyboards but rely on touchscreen

computers?

technology for user input. Palmtops are typically smaller than a paperback novel,
very lightweight with a reasonable battery life. A slightly larger and heavier version
of the palmtop is the handheld computer.

TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

memory and enhanced capabilities for performing a special group of task, such as

An employee of NEC shows off its new

3D Graphics or game development.

desktop computer 'Valuestar N' which takes up

less space than an A4 sized laptop.

Workstation - A desktop computer that has a more powerful processor, additional

Server - A computer that has been optimized to provide services to other computers
over a network. Servers usually have powerful processors, lots of memory and large

There are a lot of terms used to describe

computers. Most of these words imply the size,

hard drives.

Mainframe - In the early days of computing, mainframes were huge computers

expected use or capability of the computer.

that could fill an entire room or even a whole floor! As the size of computers has

While the term computer can apply to virtually

diminished while the power has increased, the term mainframe has fallen out of use

any device that has a microprocessor in it, most

in favor of enterprise server. You'll still hear the term used, particularly in large

people think of a computer as a device that

companies to describe the huge machines processing millions of transactions every

receives input from the user through a mouse or

day.

keyboard, processes it in some fashion and displays the result on a screen.

microcomputers (PCs) and mainframes (enterprise servers). Minicomputers are

PC - The personal computer (PC) defines a computer designed for general use by
a single person. While a Mac is a PC, most people relate the term with systems
that run the Windows operating system. PCs were first known as
microcomputers because they were a complete computer but built on a smaller
scale than the huge systems in use by most businesses.

Minicomputer - Another term rarely used anymore, minicomputers fall in between

normally referred to as mid-range servers now.

Supercomputer - This type of computer usually costs hundreds of thousands or

even millions of dollars. Although some supercomputers are single computer
systems, most are comprised of multiple high performance computers working in

parallel as a single system. The best known supercomputers are built by Cray

motherboard

Supercomputers.

memory card

hard disk

calendar/scheduler) are integrated into watches, cell phones, visors and even

video card

clothing!

visual display unit (monitor)

optical disc (usually DVD-ROM or DVD Writer)

keyboard and pointing device

Wearable - The latest trend in computing is wearable computers. Essentially,

common computer applications (e-mail, database, multimedia,

Hardware

These components can usually be put together with little knowledge to build a computer. The
An exploded view of a modern personal computer and peripherals:

motherboard is a main part of a computer that connects all devices together. The memory

1.

Scanner

card(s), graphics card and processor are mounted directly onto the motherboard (the processor

2.

CPU (Microprocessor)

in a socket and the memory and graphics cards in expansion slots). The mass storage is

3.

Primary storage (RAM)

connected to it with cables and can be installed in the computer case or in a separate case.

4.

Expansion cards (graphics cards, etc)

This is the same for the keyboard and mouse, except that they are external and connect to the

5.

Power supply

I/O panel on the back of the computer. The monitor is also connected to the I/O panel, either

6.

Optical disc drive

through an onboard port on the motherboard, or a port on the graphics card.

7.

Secondary storage (Hard disk)

8.

Motherboard

Several functions (implemented by chipsets) can be integrated into the motherboard, typically

9.

Speakers

USB and network, but also graphics and sound. Even if these are present, a separate card can

10. Monitor

be added if what is available isn't sufficient. The graphics and sound card can have a break

11. System software

out box to keep the analog parts away from the electromagnetic radiation inside the computer

12. Application software

case. For really large amounts of data, a tape drive can be used or (extra) hard disks can be

13. Keyboard

put together in an external case.

14. Mouse
15. External hard disk

The hardware capabilities of personal computers can sometimes be extended by the addition

16. Printer

of expansion cards connected via an expansion bus. Some standard peripheral buses often
used for adding expansion cards in personal computers as of 2005 are PCI, AGP (a high-

A typical hardware setup of a desktop computer consists of:

speed PCI bus dedicated to graphics adapters), and PCI Express. Most personal computers as
of 2005 have multiple physical PCI expansion slots. Many also include an AGP bus and

computer case with power supply

central processing unit (processor)

expansion slot or a PCI Express bus and one or more expansion slots, but few PCs contain
both buses.

The central processing unit, or CPU, is that part of a computer which executes software

Computer case

program instructions. In older computers this circuitry was formerly on several printed circuit
boards, but in PCs is a single integrated circuit. Nearly all PCs contain a type of CPU known
as a microprocessor. The microprocessor often plugs into the motherboard using one of many
A stripped ATX case lying on its

different types of sockets. IBM PC compatible computers use an x86-compatible processor,

side.

usually made by Intel, AMD, VIA Technologies or Transmeta. Apple Macintosh computers
were initially built with the Motorola 680x0 family of processors, then switched to the

A computer case is the enclosure

PowerPC series (a RISC architecture jointly developed by Apple Computer, IBM and

that contains the main

Motorola), but as of 2006, Apple switched again, this time to x86-compatible processors by

components of a computer. Cases

Intel. Modern CPUs are equipped with a fan attached via heat sink.

are usually constructed from

steel, aluminium, or plastic,
although other materials such as
wood, plexiglas or fans[10] have
also been used in case designs. Cases can come in many different sizes, or form factors.
The size and shape of a computer case is usually determined by the form factor of the
motherboard that it is designed to accommodate, since this is the largest and most central
component of most computers. Consequently, personal computer form factors typically
specify only the internal dimensions and layout of the case. Form factors for rack-mounted
and blade servers may include precise external dimensions as well, since these cases must
themselves fit in specific enclosures.

Motherboard
Asus motherboard
The motherboard, also referred to
as systemboard or mainboard, is
the primary circuit board within a
personal computer. Many other
components connect directly or

Currently, the most popular form factor for desktop computers is ATX, although microATX
and small form factors have become very popular for a variety of uses. Companies like
Shuttle Inc. and AOpen have popularized small cases, for which FlexATX is the most
common motherboard size.

indirectly to the motherboard.

Motherboards usually contain one
or more CPUs, supporting
circuitry - usually integrated
circuits (ICs) - providing the
interface between the CPU

Central processing unit

memory and input/output peripheral circuits, main memory, and facilities for initial setup of
the computer immediately after power-on (often called boot firmware or, in IBM PC
compatible computers, a BIOS). In many portable and embedded personal computers, the
AMD Athlon 64 CPU.

motherboard houses nearly all of the PC's core components. Often a motherboard will also
contain one or more peripheral buses and physical connectors for expansion purposes.

Sometimes a secondary daughter board is connected to the motherboard to provide further

expandability or to satisfy space constraints.

flash memory has dropped in cost, the prevailing form of mass storage in personal computers

Main memory

is still the electromechanical hard disk.

The disk drives use a sealed head/disk assembly (HDA) which was first introduced by IBM's
"Winchester" disk system. The use of a sealed assembly allowed the use of positive air
pressure to drive out particles from the surface of the disk, which improves reliability.
If the mass storage controller provides for expandability, a PC may also be upgraded by the
addition of extra hard disk or optical disc drives. For example, DVD-ROMs, CD-ROMs, and
various optical disc recorders may all be added by the user to certain PCs. Standard internal

1GB DDR SDRAM 400 module

storage device interfaces are ATA, Serial ATA, SCSI, and CF+ type II in 2005.

A PC's main memory is fast storage that is directly accessible by the CPU, and is used to
store the currently executing program and immediately needed data. PCs use

Video card

semiconductor random access memory (RAM) of various kinds such as DRAM or SRAM
as their primary storage. Which exact kind depends on cost/performance issues at any

ATI Radeon video

particular time. Main memory is much faster than mass storage devices like hard disks or

card

optical discs, but is usually volatile, meaning it does not retain its contents (instructions or
data) in the absence of power, and is much more expensive for a given capacity than is

The video card -

most mass storage. Main memory is generally not suitable for long-term or archival data

otherwise called a

storage.

graphics card,
graphics adapter

Hard disk

or video adapter processes and

A Western Digital 250 GB hard

renders the

disk drive.
Mass storage devices store
programs and data even when
the power is off; they do
require power to perform read
and write functions during
usage. Although semiconductor

graphics output
from the computer to the computer display, also called the visual display unit (VDU), and is
an essential part of the modern computer. On older models, and today on budget models,
graphics circuitry tended to be integrated with the motherboard but, for modern flexible
machines, they are supplied in PCI, AGP, or PCI Express format.
When the IBM PC was introduced, most existing business-oriented personal computers used
text-only display adapters and had no graphics capability. Home computers at that time had

graphics compatible with television signals, but with low resolution by modern standards

functions can be achieved by pressing multiple keys at once or in succession, such as inputing

owing to the limited memory available to the eight-bit processors available at the time.

characters with accents or opening a task manager. Programs use keyboard shotcuts very
differently and all use different keyboard shortcuts for different program specific operations,

Visual display unit

such as refreshing a web page in a web browser or selecting all text in a word processor.
An LG flat-panel LCD monitor.

Pointing devices

A visual display unit (also called monitor)

Apple Mighty Mouse that detects the

is a piece of electrical equipment, usually

location of your finger, when clicking,

separate from the computer case, which

with Capacitive sensors.

displays viewable images generated by a

computer without producing a permanent

A Mouse on a computer is a small,

record. The word "monitor" is used in other

slidable device that users hold and slide

contexts; in particular in television

around to point at, click, and sometimes

broadcasting, where a television picture is

drag objects on screen in a graphical user

displayed to a high standard. A computer

interface using a pointer on screen.

display device is usually either a cathode ray tube or some form of flat panel such as a TFT

Almost all Personal Computers have

LCD. The monitor comprises the display device, circuitry to generate a picture from

mice. It may be plugged into a computer's rear mouse socket, or as a USB device, or, more

electronic signals sent by the computer, and an enclosure or case. Within the computer,

recently, may be connected wirelessly via a USB antenna or Bluetooth antenna. In the past,

either as an integral part or a plugged-in interface, there is circuitry to convert internal data

they had a single button that users could press down on the device to "click" on whatever the

to a format compatible with a monitor. The images from monitors originally contained only

pointer on the screen was hovering over. Now, however, many Mice have two or three

text, but as Graphical user interfaces emerged and became common, they began to display

buttons; a "right click" function button on the mouse, which performs a secondary action on a

more images and multimedia content.

selected object, and a scroll wheel, which users can rotate the wheel using their fingers to
"scroll" up or down. The scroll wheel can also be pressed down, and therefore be used as a

Keyboards

third button. Different programs make use of these functions differently, and may scroll
horizontally by default with the scroll wheel, open different menus with different buttons,

In computing, a keyboard is an arrangement of buttons that each correspond to a function,

among others.

letter, or number. They are the primary devices of inputing text. In most cases, they contain
an aray of keys specifically organized with the corresponding letters, numbers, and

Mice traditionally detected movement and communicated with the computer with an internal

functions printed or engraved on the button. They are generally designed around an

"mouse ball"; and use optical encoders to detect rotation of the ball and tell the computer

operators language, and many different versions for different languages exist. In English,

where the mouse has moved. However, these systems were subject to low durability and

the most common layout is the QWERTY layout, which was originally used in typewriters.

accuracy. Modern mice use optical technology to directly trace movement of the surface

They have evolved over time, and have been modified for use in computers with the

under the mouse and are much more accurate and durable. They work on a wider variety of

addition of function keys, number keys, arrow keys, and OS specific keys. Often, specific

surfaces and can even operate on walls, ceilings or other non-horizontal surfaces.

card from the mobile device, instead of communicating with the mobile device through a
USB interface.

Other components
Mass storage
All computers require either fixed or removable storage for their operating system,
programs and user generated material.
Formerly the 5 1/4 inch and 3 1/2 inch floppy drive were the principal forms of removable
storage for backup of user files and distribution of software.
As memory sizes increased, the capacity of the floppy did not keep pace; the Zip drive and
other higher-capacity removable media were introduced but never became as prevalent as
the floppy drive.
By the late 1990s the optical drive, in CD and later DVD and Blu-ray Disc, became the
main method for software distribution, and writeable media provided backup and file
interchange. Floppy drives have become uncommon in desktop personal computers since
about 2000, and were dropped from many laptop systems even earlier. [11]
Early home computers used compact audio cassettes for file storage; these were at the time
a very low cost storage solution, but were displaced by floppy disk drives when
manfacturing costs dropped, by the mid 1980s.
A second generation of tape recorders was provided when Videocassette recorders were

A USB flash drive today performs much of the data transfer and backup functions formerly
done with floppy drives, Zip disks and other devices. Main-stream current operating systems
for personal computers provide standard support for flash drives, allowing interchange even
between computers using different processors and operating systems. The compact size and
lack of moving parts or dirt-sensitive media, combined with low cost for high capacity, have
made flash drives a popular and useful accessory for any personal computer user.
The operating system (e.g.: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Linux or many others) can be
located on any removable storage, but typically it is on one of the hard disks. A Live CD is
also possible, but it is very slow and is usually used for installation of the OS,
demonstrations, or problem solving. Flash-based memory is currently expensive (as of mid2008) but is starting to appear in laptop computers because of its low weight and low energy
consumption, compared to hard disk storage.
Computer communications

Internal modem card

Modem

Network adapter card

Router

Common peripherals and adapter cards

pressed into service as backup media for larger disk drives. All these systems were less

Headset

reliable and slower than purpose-built magnetic tape drives. Such tape drives were

Joystick

uncommon in consumer-type personal computers but were a necessity in business or

Microphone

Printer

Interchange of data such as photographs from digital cameras is greatly expedited by

Scanner

installation of a card reader, which often is compatible with several forms of flash memory.

Sound adapter card as a separate card rather than located on the motherboard

It is usually faster and more convenient to move large amounts of data by removing the

Speakers

industrial use.

Webcam

continuously provide a wide range of new products for use in personal computers, targeted at

Software

both the expert and the non-expert user.

Operating system

KDE 4 running on a Linux

distribution.
An operating system (OS)
manages computer resources
and provides programmers
with an interface used to
access those resources. An
operating system processes
system data and user input,
and responds by allocating and managing tasks and internal system resources as a service to
A screenshot of the OpenOffice.org Writer software

users and programs of the system. An operating system performs basic tasks such as
controlling and allocating memory, prioritizing system requests, controlling input and output

Computer software is a general term used to describe a collection of computer programs,

devices, facilitating computer networking and managing files.

procedures and documentation that perform some tasks on a computer system. [12] The term
includes application software such as word processors which perform productive tasks for

Common contemporary desktop OSes are Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and

users, system software such as operating systems, which interface with hardware to provide

PC-BSD. Mac, Linux, and Windows all have server and personal variants. With the exception

the necessary services for application software, and middleware which controls and co-

of Microsoft Windows, the designs of each of the aforementioned OSs were inspired by, or

ordinates distributed systems.

directly inherited from, the Unix operating system. Unix was developed at Bell Labs
beginning in the late 1960s and spawned the development of numerous free and proprietary

Software applications for word processing, Internet browsing, Internet faxing, e-mail and

operating systems.

other digital messaging, multimedia playback, computer game play and computer
programming are common. The user of a modern personal computer may have significant

Operating systems that can be found on mobile devices include Palm OS, Windows Mobile,

knowledge of the operating environment and application programs, but is not necessarily

Familiar Linux, The ngstrm Distribution and Darwin (iPhone OS).

interested in programming nor even able to write programs for the computer. Therefore,
most software written primarily for personal computers tends to be designed with
simplicity of use, or "user-friendliness" in mind. However, the software industry

Microsoft Windows

Mac OS X

Microsoft Windows is the

name of several families of

Mac OS X desktop

software operating systems

by Microsoft. Microsoft first

Mac OS X is a line of

introduced an operating

graphical operating

environment named

systems developed,

Windows in November 1985

marketed, and sold by

as an add-on to MS-DOS in

Apple Inc., the latest of

response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces (GUIs).[13][14] The most recent

which is pre-loaded on

client version of Windows is Windows Vista. The current server version of Windows is

all currently shipping

Windows Server 2008.

under Macintosh series of personal computers. Mac OS X is the successor to the original Mac
OS, which had been Apple's primary operating system since 1984. Unlike its predecessors,

Linux

Mac OS X is a Unix-based operating system[18] built on technology developed at NeXT from

the second half of the 1980s until early 1997, when Apple purchased the company.

A KDE Linux desktop

The server edition, Mac OS X Server, is architecturally very similar to its desktop counterpart
but usually runs on Apple's line of Macintosh server hardware. It includes workgroup

Linux is a family of Unix-like computer operating systems. Linux is one of the most

management and administration software tools that provide simplified access to key network

prominent examples of free software and open source development: typically all

services, including a mail transfer agent, a Samba server, an LDAP server, a domain name

underlying source code can be freely modified, used, and redistributed by anyone. [15] The

server, and others.

name "Linux" comes from the Linux kernel, started in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. The
system's utilities and libraries usually come from the GNU operating system, announced in
1983 by Richard Stallman. The GNU contribution is the basis for the alternative name
GNU/Linux.[16]
Predominantly known for its use in servers, Linux is supported by corporations such as
Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Novell, Oracle Corporation, Red Hat, and Sun Microsystems.
It is used as an operating system for a wide variety of computer hardware, including
desktop computers, supercomputers,[17] video game systems, such as the PlayStation 3,
several arcade games, and embedded devices such as mobile phones, routers, and stage
lighting systems.

End-user development tailors systems to meet the user's specific needs. User-written software

Applications

include spreadsheet templates, word processor macros, scientific simulations, graphics and
animation scripts. Even email filters are a kind of user software. Users create this software
themselves and often overlook how important it is.

GIMP raster graphics editor

Application software
employs the capabilities
of a computer directly
and thoroughly to a task
that the user wishes to
perform. This should be
contrasted with system
software which is
involved in integrating
a computer's various
capabilities, but
typically does not directly apply them in the performance of tasks that benefit the user. In
this context the term application refers to both the application software and its
implementation. A simple, if imperfect analogy in the world of hardware would be the
relationship of an electric light bulb (an application) to an electric power generation plant
(a system). The power plant merely generates electricity, not itself of any real use until
harnessed to an application like the electric light that performs a service that benefits the
user.
Typical examples of software applications are word processors, spreadsheets, and media
players. Multiple applications bundled together as a package are sometimes referred to as
an application suite. Microsoft Office and OpenOffice.org, which bundle together a word
processor, a spreadsheet, and several other discrete applications, are typical examples. The
separate applications in a suite usually have a user interface that has some commonality
making it easier for the user to learn and use each application. And often they may have
some capability to interact with each other in ways beneficial to the user. For example, a
spreadsheet might be able to be embedded in a word processor document even though it
had been created in the separate spreadsheet application.

Lifetime
Most personal computers are standardized to the point that purchased software is expected to
run with little or no customization for the particular computer. Many PCs are also userupgradeable, especially desktop and workstation class computers. Devices such as main
memory, mass storage, even the motherboard and central processing unit may be easily
replaced by an end user. This upgradeability is, however, not indefinite due to rapid changes
in the personal computer industry. A PC that was considered top-of-the-line five or six years
prior may be impractical to upgrade due to changes in industry standards. Such a computer
usually must be totally replaced once it is no longer suitable for its purpose. This upgrade and
replacement cycle is partially related to new releases of the primary mass-market operating
system, which tends to drive the acquisition of new hardware and render obsolete previously
serviceable hardware (planned obsolescence).

cards (sound, colour, video) etc... Together they are often referred to as a personal
Parts of a Computer

computer or PC.
Central Processing Unit - Though the term relates to a specific chip or the processor a CPU's
performance is determined by the the rest of
the computer's circuitry and chips.
Currently the Pentium chip or processor,
made by Intel, is the most common CPU
though there are many other companies that
produce processors for personal computers.
Examples are the CPU made by Motorola and AMD.
With faster processors the clock speed becomes more important. Compared to some of the
first computers which operated at below 30 megahertz (MHz) the Pentium chips began at 75
MHz in the late 1990's. Speeds now exceed 3000+ MHz or 3 gigahertz (GHz) and different chip
manufacturers use different measuring standards (check your local computer store for the
latest speed). It depends on the circuit board that the chip is housed in, or the
motherboard, as to whether you are able to upgrade to a faster chip. The motherboard
contains the circuitry and connections that allow the various component to communicate
with each other.
Though there were many computers using many different processors previous to this I call the
80286 processor the advent of home computers as these were the processors that made
computers available for the average person. Using a processor before the 286 involved

Your "computer" is a collection of devices that function as a unit. The most basic collection includes a

learning a proprietary system and software. Most new software are being developed for the

Computer CPU, a Monitor, a Keyboard, and a Mouse. The Computer CPU is normally a rectangular

newest and fastest processors so it can be difficult to use an older computer system.

box that sits on your desktop (called a "Desktop Case") or next to your knee under the desk (called a
"Tower Case"). The computer's CPU is actually a small electronic device inside the case but the term

Keyboard - The keyboard is used to type information into the computer or input information.

is often used to refer to the whole collection of electronics inside the box.

There are many different keyboard layouts and sizes with the most common for Latin based
languages being the QWERTY layout (named for the first 6 keys). The standard keyboard has

Hardware

101 keys. Notebooks have embedded keys accessible by special keys or by pressing key
combinations (CTRL or Command and P for example). Ergonomically designed keyboards are

The hardware are the parts of computer itself including the Central Processing Unit (CPU)

designed to make typing easier.

and related microchips and micro-circuitry, keyboards, monitors, case and drives
(floppy, hard, CD, DVD, optical, tape, etc...). Other extra parts called peripheral

Some of the keys have a special use. There are referred to as command keys. The 3 most

components or devices include mouse, printers, modems, scanners, digital cameras and

common are the Control or CTRL, Alternate or Alt and the Shift keys though there can be

more (the Windows key for example or the Command key). Each key on a standard

message on the screen, usually through a dialog box. Monitors come in many types and sizes

keyboard has one or two characters. Press the key to get the lower character and hold

from the simple monochrome (one colour) screen to full colour screens.

Shift to get the upper.

Most desktop computers use a monitor with a cathode tube and most notebooks use a liquid
Removable Storage and/or Disk Drives - All disks need a drive to get information off - or

crystal display (LCD) monitor.

read - and put information on the disk - or write. Each drive is designed for a specific type
of disk whether it is a CD, DVD, hard disk or floppy. Often the term 'disk' and 'drive' are

To get the full benefit of today's software with full colour graphics and animation, computers

used to describe the same thing but it helps to understand that the disk is the storage

need a color monitor with a display or graphics card.

device which contains computer files - or software - and the drive is the mechanism that
runs the disk.

Printers - The printer takes the information on your screen and transfers it to paper or a
hard copy. There are many different types of printers with various levels of quality. The

USB Flash drives or thumb drives work slightly differently as they use memory cards to

three basic types of printer are; dot matrix, inkjet, and laser.

store information on. Digital cameras also use Flash memory cards to store information, in
this case photographs.

Dot matrix printers work like a typewriter transferring ink from a ribbon to paper
with a series or 'matrix' of tiny pins.

Mouse - Most modern computers today are run using a mouse controlled pointer. Generally
if the mouse has two buttons the left one is used to select objects and text and the right
one is used to access menus. If the mouse has one button (Mac for
instance) it controls all the activity and a mouse with a third button

Ink jet printers work like dot matrix printers but fires a stream of ink from a
cartridge directly onto the paper.

Laser printers use the same technology as a photocopier using heat to transfer
toner onto paper.

can be used by specific software programs.

One type of mouse has a round ball under the bottom of the mouse

Modem - A modem is used to translate information transferred through telephone lines or

that rolls and turns two wheels which control the direction of the

cable.

pointer on the screen. Another type of mouse uses an optical system

to track the movement of the mouse.

The term stands for modulate and demodulate which changes the signal from digital, which
computers use, to analog, which telephones use and then back again. A high speed

Note: It is important to clean the mouse periodically, particularly if it becomes sluggish. A

connection also requires a modem but because the information is transferred digitally it isn't

ball type mouse has a small circular panel that can be opened, allowing you to remove the

required to change the signal from digital to analog but is used to create the connection

ball. Lint can be removed carefully with a tooth pick or tweezers and the ball can be

between your computer and the computer you are connecting with.

washed with mild detergent. A build up will accumulate on the small wheels in the mouse.
Use a small instrument or finger nail to scrape it off taking care not to scratch the wheels.

Modems are measured by the speed that the information is transferred. The measuring tool is

Track balls can be cleaned much like a mouse and touch-pad can be wiped with a clean,

called the baud rate. Originally modems worked at speeds below 2400 baud but today analog

damp cloth. An optical mouse can accumulate material from the surface that it is in

speeds of 56,000 are common. Cable, wireless or digital subscriber lines (DSL) modems can

contact with which can be removed with a finger nail or small instrument.

transfer information much faster with rates of 300,000 baud and up.

Monitors - The monitor shows information on the screen when you type. This is called

Modems also use Error Correction which corrects for transmission errors by constantly

outputting information. When the computer needs more information it will display a

checking whether the information was received properly or not and Compression which

allows for faster data transfer rates. Information is transferred in packets. Each packet is

Sound cards allow computers to produce sound like music and voice. The older sound cards

checked for errors and is re-sent if there is an error.

were 8 bit then 16 bit then 32 bit. Though the human ear can't distinguish the fine difference
between sounds produced by the more powerful sound card they allow for more complex

Anyone who has used the Internet has noticed that at times the information travels at

music and music production.

different speeds. Depending on the amount of information that is being transferred the
information will arrive at it's destination at different times. The amount of information

Colour cards allow computers to produce colour (with a colour monitor of course). The first

that can travel through a line is limited. This limit is called bandwidth.

colour cards were 2 bit which produced 4 colours [CGA]. It was amazing what could be done
with those 4 colours. Next came 4 bit allowing for 16 [EGA and VGA ] colours. Then came 16

There are many more variables involved in communication technology using computers,

bit allowing for 1064 colours and then 24 bit which allows for almost 17 million colours and

much of which is covered in the section on the Internet.

now 32 bit is standard allowing monitors to display almost a billion separate colours.

Scanners- Scanners allow you to transfer pictures and photographs to your computer. A

Video cards allow computers to display video and animation. Some video cards allow

scanner 'scans' the image from the top to the bottom, one line at a time and transfers it to

computers to display television as well as capture frames from video. A video card with a

the computer as a series of bits or a bitmap. You can then take that image and use it in a

digital video camera allows computers users to produce live video. A high speed or network

paint program, send it out as a fax or print it. With optional Optical Character Recognition

connection is needed for effective video transmission.

(OCR) software you can convert printed documents such as newspaper articles to text that
can be used in your word processor. Most scanners use TWAIN software that makes the

Network cards allow computers to connect together to communicate with each other.

scanner accessable by other software applications.

Network cards have connections for cable, thin wire or wireless networks. For more
information see the section on Networks.

Digital cameras allow you to take digital photographs. The images are stored on a memory
chip or disk that can be transferred to your computer. Some cameras can also capture

Cables connect internal components to the Motherboard, which is a board with series of

sound and video.

electronic path ways and connections allowing the CPU to communicate with the other
components of the computer.

Case - The case houses the microchips and circuitry that run the computer. Desktop models
usually sit under the monitor and tower models beside. They come in many sizes, including

Memory - Memory can be very confusing but is usually one of the easiest pieces of hardware

desktop, mini, midi, and full tower. There is usually room inside to expand or add

to add to your computer. It is common to confuse chip memory with disk storage. An

components at a later time. By removing the cover off the case you may find plate

example of the difference between memory and storage would be the difference between a

covered, empty slots that allow you to add cards. There are various types of slots including

table where the actual work is done (memory) and a filing cabinet where the finished product

IDE, ASI, USB, PCI and Firewire slots.

is stored (disk). To add a bit more confusion, the computer's hard disk can be used as
temporary memory when the program needs more than the chips can provide.

Notebook computers may have room to expand depending on the type of computer. Most
Notebooks also have connections or ports that allows expansion or connection to exterior,

Random Access Memory or RAM is the memory that the computer uses to temporarily store

peripheral devices such as monitor, portable hard-drives or other devices.

the information as it is being processed. The more information being processed the more RAM
the computer needs.

Cards - Cards are components added to computers to increase their capability. When
adding a peripheral device make sure that your computer has a slot of the type needed by
the device.

One of the first home computers used 64 kilobytes of RAM memory (Commodore 64).

license which allows anyone to use the Open Source software free of charge as long as the

Today's modern computers need a minimum of 64 Mb (recommended 128 Mb or more) to

license is maintained. If you can't find the application that you need software development

run Windows or OS 10 with modern software.

companies can custom design software for you.

RAM memory chips come in many different sizes and speeds and can usually be expanded.

The largest software companies offer packages of software or suites that include many of the

Older computers came with 512 Kb of memory which could be expanded to a maximum of

programs that the average person or business needs. Software packages or suites contain

640 Kb. In most modern computers the memory can be expanded by adding or replacing

programs that work together and share information, making it easier to combine that

the memory chips depending on the processor you have and the type of memory your

information in versatile ways. For example when writing a letter you can get the mailing

computer uses. Memory chips range in size from 1 Mb to 4 Gb. As computer technology

address from an address book, include a letterhead from a graphics program and included a

changes the type of memory changes as well making old memory chips obsolete. Check

financial chart from a spreadsheet and combine this collection of information in the body of

your computer manual to find out what kind of memory your computer uses before

the letter.

purchasing new memory chips.

The three basic types of software are; commercial, shareware and open source software.
Software

Some software is also released into the public domain without a license.

The software is the information that the computer uses to get the job done. Software

Commercial software comes prepackaged and is available from software stores and through

needs to be accessed before it can be used. There are many terms used for process of

the Internet.

accessing software including running, executing, starting up, opening, and others.
Shareware is software developed by individual and small companies that cannot afford to
Computer programs allow users to complete tasks. A program can also be referred to as an

market their software world wide or by a company that wants to release a demonstration

application and the two words are used interchangeably.

version of their commercial product. You will have an evaluation period in which you can
decide whether to purchase the product or not. Shareware software often is disabled in some

Examples of software programs or applications would be the Operating System (DOS,

way and has a notice attached to explain the legal requirements for using the product.

Windows 9x/Millenium/XP, O/S2, UNIX, MacOS 9.x/10.x and various others),

Wordprocessor (typing letters), Spreadsheet (financial info), Database (inventory control

Open Source software is created by generous programmers and released into the public

and address book), Graphics program, Internet Browser, Email and many others.

domain for public use. There is usually a copyright notice that must remain with the software
product. Open Source software is not public domain in that the company or individual that

As well any document that you create, graphic you design, sound you compose, file you

develops the software retains ownership of the program but the software can be used freely.

make, letter you write, email you send or anything that you create on your computer is

Many popular Open Source applications are being developed and upgraded regularly by

referred to as software. All software is stored in files.

individuals and companies that believe in the Open Source concept.

Software is stored on a disk or tape whether that disk is a floppy, hard

Operating Systems

disk, CD, tape or one of the dozens of other storage devices available.
All computers need some sort of Operating System (OS). The majority of modern home
There are millions of different pieces of software available for almost

computers use some form of Microsoft's operating systems. The original Microsoft operating

every conceivable need. Software is available commercially through stores and mail order

system was called DOS (Disk Operating System) though most computers use Windows.

and also available on the Internet. Software is also available through an Open Source

Windows comes in various versions beginning with version 3.x then 95, 98, ME and currently

XP. A few computers use IBM's O/S2. Apple's Mac use their own operating system beginning

Without a GUI the user controls the computer using the keys on the keyboard. This is referred

with OS 1 though most modern Macs use version 8.x or 9.x. Apple's latest version is OS

to as a Command Line Interface (CLI)

10.1.x. In the past large companies and institutions would have an operating system design
exclusively for them but as the commercial operating systems become more sophisticated

Disk and Storage

the benefits of this practice is becoming less apparent. Some computer professionals,
Internet Service Providers (ISP) and mainframe computer users use an operating system

Disks are used to store information. All information on computers are stored in files. The size

such as UNIX (or a variant such as Linux), Windows NT or 2000 (Win2k) or one of the other

of a file is measured in bytes.

network or server based operating systems.

A byte is approximately one character (letter 'a', number '1', symbol '?' etc....).
There are many smaller operating systems out there. The problem is that software is
currently being developed only for the main operating systems and only the newest

A byte is made up of 8 bits. A bit is simply an on or an off signal which passes through the

versions of these OS. Many older computers with unique operating systems have lots of

computers circuitry. Every piece of software can be broken down into a series of on or off

software already developed for them but there is very little new software being developed

signals or it's Binary Code.

for the older computers. The older proprietary operating systems are less likely to offer
technical support than the more modern operating systems.
The operating system controls the input and output or directs the flow of information to
and from the CPU. Much of this is done automatically by the system but it is possible to

About a thousand bytes is a kilobyte (Kb).

About a million bytes is a megabyte (Mb).

About a billion bytes is a gigabyte (Gb).

modify and control your system if you need to.

When you turn your computer on it first needs to load the operating system sometimes
referred to a booting up. Basically the computer starts from scratch every time you turn
the power on.
It checks all its components and will usually display a message if there is a problem.
Loading the system is usually automatic.
Once the system is loaded the user can start the application or program that they are going
to use.
Most computer users will run Microsoft Windows, Mac OS or Linux as their operating
system. These OS are Graphic User Interface (GUI) which allows the user to control or run
the computer using a Mouse and Icons. The user simply moves the mouse on a flat surface,
rolls the trackball, or moves their hand over the touchpad to control a pointer. They then
choose the option they want by pressing a button or touching the pad.

* Editor's Note: I say 'about' because everything in computers must be divisible by 8 so a

kilobyte is actually 1,024 bytes. The reason for this goes beyond the scope of an introductory
level document but as it can cause some confusion I thought it should be mentioned.
Disk are a common way of transporting information such as bringing files home from work or
sharing files. Floppy disks have become less useful as file sizes increase and Compact disks
(CDs) and Digital Video Devices (DVDs) are becoming more popular. Most software is sold on a
CD. Internal Hard disks are the most common storage device.
Compact disks or CDs can store large amounts of information. One disk will store 650 Mb or
about 70 or 80 minutes of music. One type is a CD-ROM which stand for Compact Disk Read
Only Memory. Another type is a CD-RW which stands for Compact Disk - Read/Write. CD
drives can copy information or burn information on to a blank CD. Common Read Only CD
blanks can only be written to once though more expensive Read/Write CD's can be used over
and over again.

DVD disks can store 4.5 Gb on standard disk, 8 Gb on a dual layer disk and 16 Gb on a blueray disk. DVD recorders allow you to store large files, such as movies, on a single disk.
Hard disks store the majority of information on today's modern computer. My first hard
disk stored 52 Mb, 12 more than my colleague's 40 Mb. Today the standard hard disk stores
30 Gb or more (this number is constantly increasing). Like a floppy disk information can be
stored and deleted as necessary. As files get larger the speed that hard disks can read and
write become more important.
Flash drive or thumb drives range from 512 Mb to 8 Gb.
Floppy disk or diskette comes in two basic sizes; 5.25 inch and 3.5 inch. Both have a low
and high density versions though 3.5 inch high density disks are the most common though
many modern computers are being sold without floppy disk drives.

Disk size

Approximate printed

Amount of storage

8.5 x 11 inch pages

3.5 high density 1.44 Mb

720 pages

CD

650 Mb

a small library

DVD

4.5 Gb

a feature length movie

DVD dual layer

8 Gb

a long feature length movie with extras

There are many other storage devices including tapes, Panasonic's LS120 3.5 inch
diskettes, Iomega's Zip & Jazz disks, VCR tape and many others. Innovation in storage
technology is currently advancing rapidly.
Information is stored in an electromagnetic form much like a cassette or video tape.
Note: Keep disks away from strong electric or magnetic fields including x-rays. Be aware of
high electromagnetic areas in the room such as televisions, speakers, high tension wires,
etc... Use disks only at room temperature and keep them out of direct sunlight. If possible
avoid passing electromagnetic storage devices through airport x-rays. In theory information
stored on a disk will last indefinitely but the physical storage device will wear out with
usage and time so be sure to back up (copy) your important files to a second disk..

How computer works?


Computer Uses
Uses of computer & related resources. The influence of computers is universal.

and self-confidence and encourages students to take responsibility for their learning

the development of computers has been largely the work of scientists, it is natural
that a large body of computer applications serves the scientist. To solve scientific
problems researchers must deal with the language of science: mathematics. To
understand more deeply complex natural phenomena, scientists must use complex

Learners can test out of or skim over materials already mastered and concentrate
efforts in mastering areas containing new information and/or skills

Computers are used in applications ranging from running a farm, diagnosing a

disease, and designing to constructing and launching a space vehicle. Because

Successfully completing online or computer-based courses builds self-knowledge

Disadvantages of online or computer-based learning

Learners with low motivation or bad study habits may fall behind

Without the routine structures of a traditional class, students may get lost or
confused about course activities and deadlines

mathematical relationships and volumes of data too impossible to manage without

the aid of computers. Many scientific computer programs serve the entire

Students may feel isolated from the instructor and classmates

population. The links included herein relate to computers and their uses.

Instructor may not always be available when students are studying or need help

Slow Internet connections or older computers may make accessing course materials

Advantages of online or computer-based learning

Class work can be scheduled around work and family

Reduces travel time and travel costs for off-campus students

Students may have the option to select learning materials that meets their level of

frustrating

Managing computer files and online learning software can sometimes seem
complex for students with beginner-level computer skills

Hands-on or lab work is difficult to simulate in a virtual classroom

knowledge and interest

Students can study anywhere they have access to a computer and Internet
connection

Self-paced learning modules allow students to work at their own pace

Flexibility to join discussions in the bulletin board threaded discussion areas at

any hour, or visit with classmates and instructors remotely in chat rooms

Instructors and students both report eLearning fosters more interaction among
students and instructors than in large lecture courses

eLearning can accommodate different learning styles and facilitate learning

through a variety of activities

Develops knowledge of the Internet and computers skills that will help learners
throughout their lives and careers

Flowchart of PC Repair

Time away from the computer during the work day is crucial! This gives the body a chance

Midterms

to stretch and gives the eyes a chance to rest. Breaks should be scheduled and followed with
great discipline. Computers, even more so than television, have a mesmerizing effect on the
user so that it is easy to work right through breaks without noticing.

Computer effects: Health and Safety

There are many other issues to be discussed around computer health and safety but it is
Health and Safety is crucial to the effective operation of a computer. Stress is widely

important to understand that there are problems and solutions to those problems that the

accepted as a common and possibly the most dangerous aspect of using a computer.

user, administrator and manager must address.

It is possible to use a computer safely if a few simple rules are maintained.

Musculoskeletal problems can occur when improper office equipment is used. Chairs
should be adjustable so that legs are at a right angle. The back should have good support
for the spine and lower back. The seat should swivel and be made from fabric that is
porous.
Eye strain can be caused by staring at a fix object for extended periods of time (like a
computer). People who use glasses may have to get their prescriptions changed and people
who use bifocals can find that the line interferes with the screen and trifocals triple the
problem. Regular users of computers may develop focusing problems. Temporary colour
distortion has also been reported.
A safe working environment is crucial. Ventilation is an integral part of the new
technological workplace. Though standards are set by the manufacturer of computer
equipment the modern office has many different pieces of equipment. All electronic
equipment emit some level of electromagnetic field which, on it's own, most likely isn't a
concern but when combined with other equipment can create hazardous working
environments. Pregnant women should take extra care when working around
electromagnetic fields. Like any piece of equipment, computers should have scheduled
maintenance.
Stress is caused by many things including poor or inadequate training, monitoring, fear of
new technology, lack of control over work, physical problems, hardware problems causing
delays, poor layout of work space and the myriad of other problems that people
experience that combine to create stressful situations.