Computer Basics

Only the basics, the details come later!

• This presentation discusses a variety of terms and topics, all of which

will be discussed in much greater detail in later chapters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o

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No one knows it all and we never stop
learning!
• James Goldman, Purdue University
– “You will never know all there is know about computer technology.
– Be honest with yourself concerning what you don’t know.”
• Anonymous
– “The only ones that think they know it all, are the ones that know
very little.”

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Terms and Acronyms

• To learn Information
Technology (IT) is to learn
the language of acronyms
and terms…

• WYSISYG (pronounced
WHIZ-zee-wig)
“What You See Is What You
Get”
GUI: Graphical User Interface

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What is a computer?

• A computer is a electromechanical device which can be

programmed to change (process) information from one
form to another.
– Do exactly as they are told.
– Digital devices: Understand only two different states
(OFF and ON)
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The Human Clock: www.humanclock.com

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5:04 pm

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5:05 pm

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5:06 pm

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5:07 pm

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Computers are everywhere

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Traditional Types of Computers

• General purpose computers

–Mainframe
–Minicomputer
–Microcomputer (Personal Computer)

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Traditional Types of Computers

• Mainframe
Computers

• First computers, introduced in 1950s

• Used by large businesses
• Typically supported 100 to 500 users
• Very expensive
• Used for very large processing tasks
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Traditional Types of Computers

• Minicomputers

• Typically supported 10 to 100 users

• Smaller and less expensive than mainframes
• The real difference is relative in terms of price, power,
marketing.
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Traditional Types of Computers

• Microcomputers
(Personal
Computer or PC)

• Small, self-contained computers

with their own CPUs
• Used by home and business
users
• Uses a microprocessor, a CPU
(Central Processing Unit) on a
single chip.
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Portable Computer

• What are these types of

portable computers (a type
of personal computer)?
• Desktop computers
• Laptop computers
• Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
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Networked computer

• Networked computer = Computers connected to other computers or

peripheral devices (printers, etc.) to share information.
• What is the difference between these two networked devices?

Intelligent terminal (computer) Dumb terminal

• No CPU (uses server’s)
• No Operating system (uses
server’s)
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• Input and Output only 17
Embedded Computers

• Embedded computers – Computers found in consumer

goods in order to enhance their function.

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Special Purpose Computers

• Special purpose or dedicated computers – A device with a

specific purpose such as game system or information
kiosk.

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Hardware versus Software

• Hardware = The
physical components
that make up a
computer system.
– More in a
moment…
• Much more on all of
these items in later
presentations!

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Hardware versus Software

• Software = The
programs (instructions)
that tell the computer
what to do.
– System Software
– Application Software
– Stored on a storage
media such as hard
disk, CD-ROM, floppy
disk, tape, etc.
– More later…

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Hardware Components

• This is just an overview, more later…

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Hardware Components
INPUT SYSTEM UNIT OUTPUT

PERMANENT
STORAGE
Know these!

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The Processor

Let’s open the box!

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 The Processor
circuit board = a board with
integrated circuits
(microchips)
• system board or
motherboard
• interface boards or expansion
boards
system board or motherboard
= a single circuit board with
the components which make
up the computer’s processor
for a microcomputer, including
the:
• CPU (Central Processing
Unit)
• Memory
– RAM
– ROM or ROM BIOS
• Rickexpansion slots
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The Processor: The CPU

CPU (Central Processing Unit) = A complex collection of electronic

circuits on one or more integrated circuits (chips) which:
1. executes the instructions in a software program
2. communicates with other parts of the computer system, especially
RAM and input devices

The CPU is the computer!

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Input and Output Devices

INPUT SYSTEM UNIT OUTPUT

PERMANENT
STORAGE

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Input Devices

• Enter information
into a computer
• Examples:
– Mouse
– Keyboard
– Trackball
– Touchpad
– Light pen
– Joystick
– Digital camera
– Microphone
– Bar code reader
– Scanner
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Output Devices

• Send information out from a PC

• Examples:
– Speakers
– Monitors
• Visual Display Unit (VDU), Cathode Ray Tube (CRT),
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Light-Emitting Diode
(LED)
– Printers
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 System Unit - Revisited

INPUT SYSTEM UNIT OUTPUT

PERMANENT
STORAGE

System Unit:
• CPU (Central Processing Unit)
• Memory
– RAM
– ROM or ROM BIOS
• expansion slots
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RAM (Random Access Memory)

RAM (Random Access Memory) = integrated circuits (chips) used to

temporarily store software (programs, instructions) and data
• “primary” storage for the CPU
• electronic switches, storing ON’s and OFF’s

Temporarily stores for the CPU:

• Software
– operating system software
– application software
• Data
– data (documents, spreadsheets, etc.)
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Inserting RAM

RAM is TEMPORARY memory

RAM is volatile
• stores ON and OFF bits (software and data) electrically
• when power goes off, everything in RAM is lost
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RAM: Speed

Why does the CPU use RAM?

• The CPU is very FAST!
• The CPU needs the instructions (software) and data as quickly as
possible
• If the CPU has to wait, so does the user

Why doesn’t the CPU use permanent storage like disk drives?
• Too slow
• EXAMPLE: Spellchecker
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RAM: Capacity

The amount of RAM determines:

• what software and data the user can work on
• how much software and data the user can work with
• Most computers have at least 256 MB (Megabytes, 256 million bytes)

“out of memory” error message from the Operating System

The more complex and sophisticated the software, the more instructions
that software contains, which means larger software files.
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ROM (Read Only Memory)

ROM (Read Only Memory) = integrated circuits (microchips) that are used
to permanently store start-up (boot) instructions and other critical
information
Read Only = information which:
• Cannot be changed
• Cannot be removed
• Cannot be appended (added to)
• Fixed by manufacturer
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ROM (Read Only Memory)

ROM is sometimes known as ROM BIOS (Basic Input Output System

software)

ROM permanently contains:

• start-up (boot) instructions
• instructions to do “low level” processing of input and output devices,
such as the communications with the keyboard and the monitor

Firmware = software program which is stored permanently on a

microchip, such as the software on the ROM chip
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Looking at your computer

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 Storage Devices

INPUT SYSTEM UNIT OUTPUT

PERMANENT
STORAGE

• Storage Devices:
– Floppy disks
– CD-ROMs
– Hard disks
– Zip disks
– Tape drives

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Floppy disks

• Store up to 1.44 MB of data

• Usually 3.5" square disks
• Removable

Write-Protect tab
(Open means “write
enabled”)

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Hard disks
• Fixed permanently in a hard disk
drive inside a system unit
• Used to store the operating
system, applications, and data
• Can not buy more expansion
(easily)

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CD-ROMs

• Read-only memory devices

(but CD-R and CD-RW
discs are recordable)
• Store up to 650 MB of data
• Portable and can be used
on any computer that has a
CD-ROM drive
• CD-R (CD Recordable)
• CD-RW (CD Rewritable)

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Flash sticks or memory

• Storage
• Digital Player
• Voice Recorder

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Zip disks

• Store up to 250 MB of data

• Used for backing up files or
transporting large files

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Tape drives

• Work like a tape recorder

• Vary in capacity and
access speed
• Relatively expensive
• Generally used to back up
data
• Good for “archiving”
information
• Types
– Cartridge (slowest)
– DAT (Digital Audio
Tape)

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Computer Performance

• CPU speed (and type)

• Amount of RAM (and
speed)
• Hard disk capacity

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Computer Performance

• CPU Speed
– Governed by a clock
– Measured in millions of
cycles per second, or
megahertz (MHz)
• 700 MHz means 700
million operations per
second
– Measured in billions of
cycles per second, or
megahertz (GHz)
• 1.133 MHz means 1
billion, 133 million
operations per second

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Software

• System Software
• Application Software

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Application Software

• Performs specific tasks:

– Word processing
– Calculations
– Information storage and
retrieval
– Accounting
• Cannot function without the
OS (Operating System)
• Written for a specific
operating system and
computer hardware.

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Operating System Software

• Loads automatically when

you switch on a computer
• Main roles:
– Controls hardware and
software
– Permits you to manage
files
– Acts as intermediary
between user and
applications

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Operating System Software

Software which manages the overall operation of the

computer system including:
• hardware (CPU, RAM, I/O)
• security
• system interface
• application interface

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GUI – Graphical User Interface

Windows 3.1

Windows
95/98/XP

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GUI – Graphical User Interface

MAC OS

UNIX/LINUX with
X-Windows

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CLI – Command Line Interface

• No GUI
• MS DOS
• ? Windows 97 ?

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Putting it altogether!

• Booting up the computer

• Creating and saving a word processing document
• Shutting down the computer

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CPU

RAM
256
ROM MB

Hard Disk Drive

Operating System Software
“The kernel”
Application Software
MS Word
User data (information)

0
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 Computer Basics

CS 1 Introduction to Computers and Computer

Technology
Rick Graziani
Fall 2007
• Universal serial bus – USB
• RAM – Random Access memory
• RoM- read only memory

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