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Essential Computing Concepts

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Memory

Central processing unit(CPU)

Input

Auxiliary Storage

Auxiliary StorageAuxiliary

Storage

Output

Any Computer System

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The PC Today

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Inside the PC

On

Off

A bit or binary digit has one of two values, zero or one

A byte is the smallest addressable unit of memory (8 bits)

ASCII provides for 256(or 28) characters 01000001 – A 01000010 – B etc.

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Intel trademarked its chip as the Pentium Pentium II, Pentium III, Pentium IV Clock speed (MHz or GHz) differentiates

chips The central processing unit (cpu) or

“brain” of the PC

The Microprocessor

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Memory

Transient (erased when power turned off) Consider a UPS (uninterrupted power supply)

Measured in bytes 1 Kilobyte = 210 characters (~1,000 bytes) 1 Megabyte = 220 characters (~1,000,000 bytes) 1 Gigabyte = 230 characters (~1,000,000,000 bytes)

Need 256Mb or 512Mb of RAM Keep multiple programs & data files in memory Graphic-intensive programs demand a lot of memory

The Original PC had 16Kb of memory

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Auxiliary Storage

Floppy Disk No longer standard

Hard (fixed) disk 30 Gb and higher

Removable storage CD-ROM CD-R/CD-RW DVD/DVD-R/DVD-RW Zip disks Tape

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Input Devices

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The Monitor Resolution is expressed in

picture elements or pixels; (800 x 600 or 1024 x 768)

The higher the resolution, the more you can see at one time.

Larger monitors enable you to you run at higher resolutions; e.g., 19” to run 1024 x 768 comfortably

A graphics card speeds processing

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Lower Resolution (800 x 600)

Displays 20 rows and 8 columns

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Higher Resolution (1024 x 768)

Displays 28 rows and 12 columns

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The Printer Ink Jet

Today’s entry level Laser

Top-of-the line Four-in-one functionality

Printer, scanner, fax, copier

Network printer

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Software System Software – Microsoft Windows

Windows XP Home Edition Windows XP Professional Edition What Windows does not have - File Compression,

Antivirus, Graphical FTP Application Software – Microsoft Office

Core applications – Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint

Personal Information Manager – Outlook Other applications – FrontPage and Publisher New to Office 2003 - OneNote and InfoPath

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Disk and File Management A file is a set of instructions or data

Program file: Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel Data File: Document or workbook

Copy, move, rename or delete a file A folder allows us to organize our files

May contain files and/or other folders

A back up strategy is critical What (data), When (whenever it changes), Where

(off site), How (Windows Explorer), and Who (you)

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Windows Explorer

Homework is the active folder

- Sign indicate object is expanded

Milestones in Communication is

selected file

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Maintaining Your SystemWindows update takes place

automatically

Double click to install a printer Double click to add

new user

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A computer virus is an actively infectious program that can erase data and/or alter the way your computer works

Worms and Trojan horses are other types of infectious programs, but all are bad

Computer viruses are spread through email, and/or infected floppy disks

Windows does not include an antivirus program; i.e., you must buy it separately and update it frequently

Antivirus Software

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File Transfer Protocol Graphical FTP is not part of Windows

Selected file to FTP Click to upload

Where you will FTP the file

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File Compression Use WinZip (or

compatible) program to create a compressed file or archive

Create a self-extracting file from the archive that does not require supporting software

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Introduction to Networks

Most people work in a network environment Home network Local Area Network (LAN) Wide Area Network (WAN)

The physical structure includes: interface cards, cables, hubs, switches, and routers

Protect your password!

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From LAN to WAN

(a) Home Network

(b) Local Area Network

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From LAN to WAN (continued)

(c) Wide Area Network

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The Internet and World Wide Web

The Internet Network of networks Began in 1969 as a

government project Original network had 4

computers; No central authority and

thus impossible to know the exact size

The World Wide Web A subset of the Internet

consisting of computers that store hypertext documents

Invented by Tim Berners Lee who wanted to share notes with colleagues at the European Particle Physics Laboratory (CERN) in Switzerland

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A message travels the Internet

All that matters is the beginning and ending address

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Acronyms Abound HTTP – HyperText Transfer Protocol is used to

transmit Web documents HTTPS – Secure protocol for confidential

transactions HTML – The language in which all Web

documents are displayed TCP/IP – A suite of protocols that allows

multiple platforms to communicate ISP – Internet Service Provider

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The Exploring Office Web Site

Web address (or URL)

Internet Explorer is the browser

HTTP protocol

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E-Mail (Electronic Mail) E-mail is simply a means of sending

messages via computer There should be no expectation of privacy Every e-mail address is unique and consists

of two parts, a username and a host computer; e.g. johndoe@anyschool.edu

You can obtain an account at school, pay for an account through an ISP such as AOL, or get free email accounts at sites like www.hotmail.com or www.yahoo.com

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The Mail Folders

Inbox – new messages as well as messages that have been read

Outbox – messages not yet sent Sent items – messages that have been sent

(moved here from outbox) Deleted items – messages deleted from any

folder Custom folders – additional folders created

by the user

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Additional E-mail Capabilities Address Book

Contains the e-mail addresses of frequent contacts

Enables you to enter an alias (e.g., “Bob” instead of the complete address)

Distribution List A set of e-mail addresses stored under one

name Ideal for your professor to e-mail the class

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Parts of the E-mail Message

Recipients

Message text

Subject

Attachment