-

CST 111
Use of Library,
Study Skills and Information
Communication Technology I
By
MRS. MARION ADEBIYI
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER
AND INFORMATION
SCIENCES, COVENANT
UNIVERSITY, OTA

LECTURERS
Dr.

Omoregbe, N. A
Mrs. Adebiyi M. O.
Mr Eweoya I.
Mr. Ajieh C.
Miss. Marcus V.

COURSE CONTENT
Identification

of PC parts and
peripheral
devices:
functions,
applications, and how to use them.
Safety precautions. Procedure for
booting a PC. Filing system:
directory, sub-directory, file, path,
and how to locate them. Word
processing: principle of operation,
application, demonstration and
practical hand-on exercises in
word processing using a popular

COURSE CONTENT Contd

Internet:

services
available,
principle of operation, application,
demonstration
and
hand-on
practical exercises on e-mail and
www using popular browsers.

Recommended Textbook

FUNDAMENTALS

OF
COMPUTER APPLICATION by
Ayo C.K, Omoregbe N.A, Osamor
V.C & Adebiyi M. O

The Computer System

A

computer system is an electronic

device that is capable of accepting
data
(Input),
processing
the
data(Process) based on a set of
instructions provided (program) to
produce information (output) that is
used for decision making and
stored for future use. Basically, a
computer performs four basic
functions:
Accepts data (Input)
Processes data (Processing)

Components of Computer
The

computer is made up of two

major components. Namely;
The Hardware and
The Software.
The

Computer hardware is the

physical parts that you can see, feel
or touch.

Computer Hardware
Hardware

refers to the physical

components of a computer.

This

is the basic level on which the

computer operates.

We

can classify hardware into one

of five categories: input devices,
output devices, system unit,
memory and storage devices.

Computer Hardware Contd

Some Parts of a Computer

Computer Hardware Contd

Input devices
These are devices through which data
and instructions are fed into the
system.
Examples
are: keyboard, monitor,
mouse,
magnetic
disk/tape,
microphone and joystick.
Output devices
These are devices through which
computer results are communicated
to the operator. They include: printer,

Input Devices
Keyboards/Mouse
Sensors
Trackball
Touchpad
Webcam
Light

pen
Scanner
Digitizer
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Input Devices

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Output Devices
Video

and Sound Card

Monitor (Flat-panel/Cathode ray
tube)
Speakers
Printers
Plotters
Voice/Video Output Devices
(Teleconferencing/Videoconferenc
e)
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Output Devices

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Computer Hardware Contd

System unit
The system unit houses the following
components:
Motherboard
Processor (CPU)
Memory (RAM)
BIOS
CMOS Battery
Power supply. Etc

Processing and Memory

hardware
Case

and Power Supply

Processor chip - CPU
Memory chip RAM
Motherboard System board

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Computer Hardware Contd

Memory
This refers to the primary or internal memory of
the computer otherwise called random access
memory (RAM). Ram is volatile in nature, that
is, the contents are lost if there is power
outage, hence it is called dynamic memory. The
larger the primary memory a system has the
better its performance particularly in terms of
speed.
The various types are:
Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM)
This is the most common types of memory on
modern PCs which is relatively cheap. The
various types are:
a. Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM)

Storage Devices
Floppy

drive and Zip Drive

Hard drive
CD/DVD(Digital Video Disk)

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Storage Devices

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Computer Hardware Contd

Static Random Access Memory
(SRAM)
This type of memory requires no
constant signal refresh like the
DRAM.
The chips are somehow complex
and expensive but faster than
DRAM.
It provides cache for the CPU thus
enhancing better performance.

Computer Hardware Contd

Video Random Access Memory
(VRAM)
This memory is particularly used to
enhance the performance of highend
applications.
Graphical
applications need certain amount of
this to store images between the
CPU and the monitor.

Computer Hardware Contd

The

hardware can also be divided into

the CPU and Peripheral devices.
The CPU is made up of the Memory
unit, the Control unit and the Arithmetic
and Logic unit, while the peripheral
devices consist of all other hardware
components besides the CPU.
The
Peripheral devices are the
components of the computer that are
connected to the CPU, that is a
collection of all input, output and
storage units.
Examples include
Mouse, Printer, Keyboard, CDROM

Computer Software

software is a set of instructions the

computer hardware needs to be able to
work. Without software, the computer
cannot process any information.
The software refers to the instructions
(programs) that tells the computer what
to do, that is the intangible part; you are
unable to physically touch software.
The

computer
software
can
categorized into the following:
System software
Application software

be

System Software

System

software is a set of instructions or

basic routine function that controls the
activities of the entire computer system.
System software consists of operating
systems, language translators and
utilities.
Operating system is the most
important piece of software for the
computer.
It is the primary program
working with the hardware to manage all
of the basic tasks which you need the
computer to perform.
An operating
system must be present before any other

The

System Software Contd

Language translators are
programs that translate programs
written in other languages to the
machine language (the computer
hardwares language). Examples
are compilers, assemblers and
interpreters.
Utility or service programs are
supplied
by
the
computer
manufacturers
for
performing
some specific tasks. Examples
The

Application Software
Application

software is a set of
programs that runs on top of the
operating system.
They are
designed to accomplish some
specific tasks or application.
The
list
below
shows
six
categories of software and some of
the specific applications we have
available.
Word processing Word perfect,

Application Software Contd

E-mail GroupWise, Eudora, etc.
Communication

Netscape,
Telnet,
Microsoft
Internet
explorer, etc.
Database
dBASE, Paradox,
Microsoft Access, Foxpro, etc.
Graphics
Adobe Pagemaker,
Harvard graphics, CorelDraw, etc.
Presentations Microsoft Power
Point, Novell Presentation, Lotus
Freelance etc.

User Software
These

are user-specific software

targeted at solving specific problems
or meeting specific needs of a user.
They are customized systems that
perform specific routines for a
particular user.
Examples
include;
Inventory
systems,
Payroll
software,
Personnel management systems,
Human
resource
management
systems,
Billing
systems
and
Examination Result processing

Storage Measurement: Memory Capacity of

Bits : The termComputer
bit is a short form of

binary digit. A bit is the smallest

possible unit of data. To represent
anything meaningful the computer
needs groups of bits.
Bytes: A group of eight bits is called a
byte. It is the next larger unit of data
representation within a computer
system. With one byte, the computer
can represent up to 256 different values
because it is possible to count from 0 to
255 with 8 binary digits. The byte is an
important unit because it can be
adequately used to represent any
character on the keyboard, including all
the letters (uppercase and lowercase),
number, punctuation marks, and other

 Megabyte:
A

-Cont-

megabyte, abbreviated M or MB and

sometimes called meg is used to
refer to about 1 million bytes of data.
Gigabytes:
A gigabyte, G or GB, often pronounced
gig-a-bite, is used to refer to about 1
billion bytes of data.
Terabyte:
A terabyte, T or TB, is used to refer to
about 1 trillion bytes, or 1000
gigabytes of data.
Petabyte:
This is a new measurement which
accommodates the hug storage

TYPES/SIZES/GENERATION OF
COMPUTERS
Types

Analogue, Digital
Sizes Mainframe, Mini, Micro,
Supper Computers
Generation 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
40s, 50s, 60s 70s, 80, 90s

Microcomputers
Also

called personal computers

(PCs), can fit next to a desktop or
can be carried around
They are either stand-alone
machine or are connected to a
computer network, such as a local
area network.
A local area network (LAN)
connects usually by special cable,
a group of desktop PCs and other

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Microcomputers
Microcomputers,

also called
personal computers (PCs) can fit
next to a desk or on a desktop or
can be carried around. They are
either standalone machines or are
connected to a computer network,
such as a local area network

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Types of Microcomputers
Microcomputers

are of several

types:
Desktops Pcs, tower Pcs,
notebooks(laptops), and personal
digital assistants-handheld
computers or palmtops.

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Personal Digital Assistants

Microcomputers
Desktop

Pc-Microcomputers
whose case or main housing sits
on a desk, with keyboard in front
and monitor (screen) often on top.
Tower PCs are microcomputers
whose case sits as a tower often
on the flow beside a desktop, thus
freeing up desk surface space.
Notebook computers, also called
laptops computers, are lightweight

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Mainframe Computers
The only type of computer available
until the late 1960s, mainframe are
water or air cooled computers
that vary in size from small to
medium to large, depending on
their use. Small mainframe are
often called midsize computers;
they used to be called
microcomputers, although today
the term is seldom use. They are
used by large organizations such as
banks, airlines, hospitals,
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Workstations
Introduced in the early 1980s,
workstations are expensive,
powerful personal computers
usually used for complex scientific,
mathematical, and engineering
calculations and for computer
aided design and computer aided
manufacturing
Providing many capabilities
comparable to midsize
mainframes, workstations are used
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Servers
The

word server describes not a

size of computer but rather a
particular way in which a
computer is used.
Are now very popular because of
the internet and the web

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A server, or network server, is a

central computer that holds
collections of data (database) and
programs for connecting, or
supplying services to PCs,
workstations, and other devices,
which are called clients.
These clients are linked by a wired
or wireless network. The entire
network is called a client/server

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Information Technology
Information

Technology (IT) is a
general term that describes any
technology that helps to produce,
manipulate, store, communicate,
and / or disseminate information.
It merges computing with highspeed communications links
carrying data, sound, and video.
Examples-Personal computers,
telephones, appliances, handheld

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Communication Devices
A

regular modem uses a phone

line and can transfer data in a
speed up to 56,000 bps (bits
per second).
A DSL (digital subscriber line)
also uses a phone line and can
transfer data in a speed 20
times faster than a regular
modem.
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Communication Devices
A

cable modem uses the TV cable

line maintained by the cable
company. A cable modem is as fast
as a DSL.
Network interface card (NIC) is a
device to connect a computer to a
local area network (LAN).
The LAN is commonly used in
business, universities, and
government organizations. A

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Communication Hardware
Routers

Directs communicating
messages
Bridges An interface used to
connect the same types of
networks
Gateway An interface permitting
communication between dissimilar
network
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Peer-to-Peer Network

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Client Server Network

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Transmission Media

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Programs
Computer programs, known as software,
are instructions to the computer.
You tell a computer what to do through
programs. Without programs, a computer
is an empty machine. Computers do not
understand human languages, so you need
to use computer languages to
communicate with them.
Programs are written using programming
languages.

Programming Languages
Machine Language Assembly Language
High-Level Language

Machine language is a set of primitive

instructions built into every computer.
The instructions are in the form of
binary code, so you have to enter
binary codes for various instructions.
Program with native machine
language is a tedious process.
Moreover the programs are highly
difficult to read and modify. For
example, to add two numbers, you
might write an instruction in binary
like this:

Programming Languages
Machine Language Assembly Language
High-Level Language

Assembly languages were developed to

make programming easy. Since the
computer cannot understand assembly
language, however, a program called
assembler is used to convert assembly
language programs into machine code. For
example, to add two numbers, you might
write an instruction in assembly code like
this:
ADDF3 R1, R2, R3
Assembly Source File

A DDF3 R1, R2, R3

Machine Code File

Assembler

1101101010011010

Programming Languages
Machine Language Assembly Language
High-Level Language

The high-level languages are English-like

and easy to learn and program. For
example, the following is a high-level
language statement that computes the
area of a circle with radius 5:
area = 5 * 5 * 3.1415;

Popular High-Level Languages

COBOL

(COmmon Business Oriented

Language)
FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslation)
BASIC (Beginner All-purpose Symbolic
Instructional Code)
Pascal (named for Blaise Pascal)
Ada (named for Ada Lovelace)
C (whose developer designed B first)
Visual Basic (Basic-like visual language
developed by Microsoft)
Delphi (Pascal-like visual language developed
by Borland)