Basic Computer Terms Unit 1—Part A

Computer Technology (S1 Obj 1-2 and Obj 2-3)

Why Study Basic Terms? • For some people, the computer aisles at an

electronics store can be quite a mystery!

• Prepare for the State Skills Test

• Use computers in your future with ease and confidence

What is a Computer?

• An electronic device that you can use to manipulate, store, retrieve and process data.

Information Processing Cycle

Hardware

• The physical, touchable parts of the computer.

Software • A term that is used in contrast to hardware;

everything in the computer that is not hardware is software.

• Software allows you to: – Process words

– Calculate numbers

– Send an e-mail

– Browse the Internet

– And many more…

Input

• A collection of raw data from the outside world that is put into the computer.

• Example: The payroll clerk collects workers' timecards so she knows how many hours each person worked and then types the hours from the timecards into a spreadsheet.

Input Devices • Keyboard

• Mouse

• Scanner

• Digital Camera

• Bar code reader

• Graphic tablets

• And many more…

Processing • Manipulating data

– Bold, italicize, underline, double space in a word processor

– Enter formulas and calculate totals in a spreadsheet

– Edit a picture

Storage • The place where data is held when it is not needed for

processing

• Storage Devices are computer components capable of storing digital data

• Examples of Storage Devices: – Floppy Disk (almost obsolete) – Hard Drive – CD, DVD – Flash Drive

Output

• The results of processed data • Examples of output:

– A printed paper – A presentation – Audio – Video

• Data is entered through various forms (input) into a computer, the data is manipulated (processing), and then information is presented to a human (output).

Output Devices • Monitor

• Speakers

• Printer

• Headphones

Peripherals • AKA—Peripheral Devices

• Any hardware device connected to the computer that expands the computer’s input, output and storage capabilities

Input and Output Devices • As you continue, you will

review several different input and output devices.

• You need to be able to identify each device, tell if it is an input or output device and indicate what the devices are used for.

Keyboard

• The most commonly used input device

• It is made up of :

– Alphabetic Keys

– Numeric Keys

– Function Keys

– Command Keys

• Connected to the computer through a USB connection or wirelessly

Mouse

• A hand-operated input device that controls the cursor on the screen as you move it around on a desktop

• Older = ball style mouse

• Newer = “optical” technology

• Turn over your mouse. Do you see a red light? If you do, then you are using an optical mouse.

Touchpad

• An input device used to move the cursor on a laptop computer

• As you slide your finger over the surface, sensors underneath detect the movement, direction and speed

• Useful when carrying a mouse is not practical

Trackball

• A pointing device that works like a mouse turned upside down; the ball in on top of the device

• Advantages:

• TrackBall is stationary so it does not require much space.

• You can place a trackball on any type of surface, including your lap.

Joystick

• Joysticks are input devices, similar to a mouse, that allow you to move the cursor in any direction

• Joysticks were originally used by pilots as part of an airplane's controls. Technology developed to let gamers experience a more realistic game environment

Microphone

• A microphone is used to input sound

• The sound is detected by the microphone and an electronic signal is transmitted to the computer

• Special hardware is used to convert the analog data (sound) into digital data so it an be stored and manipulated on the computer.

Scanner

• Scanners are used to convert images or text on paper into a digital image format (.bmp, .gif, .jpeg)

• Scanners with optical character recognition can convert text on paper into text that can be edited in a word processor

Web Cam

• Web cam is short for ‘web camera’

• It is an input device that captures a video or image of the scene in front of it

• Some are built into the computer (i.e. Laptop), others are connected via USB cable

• Used for chatting online, security and tourism (i.e. view your favorite animal at the zoo online)

Graphics Tablet

• Graphics tables are used by graphics designers and illustrators to input data

• Create accurate drawings on a screen that could not be produced with a mouse or stylus

• Usually consists of a tablet that you draw on and a pen that has pressure sensitive tips allowing the artist to draw heavier and lighter lines

Biometric Devices • AKA—Access Control Devices • Uses a body feature of a person seeking access to identify

and authorize that person – Fingerprint scanner – Iris scan – Access card (can be scanned like a credit card or contain a radio

frequency transmitter used to identify the card holder)

• Britain and Germany have included a microchip in their passport. The microchip contains electronic data unique to each user

Monitor • Most commonly used output device

• The picture on a monitor is made up of tiny colored dots called pixels

• The quality and detail of the picture depends on the number of pixels that the monitor can display

Ink Jet Printer

• An output device that produces a hard copy by spraying ink on paper

• Relatively cheap to buy

• Can print it both black and white or color

• Limitations: – Slow

– Not designed for high-volume printing

– Ink cartridges are expensive

Laser Jet Printer

• A output device that prints similar to a photo copy machine

• Uses powdered ink called ‘toner’ to fuse onto the paper by heat and pressure

• Black and white versions are relatively cheap to purchase

• Capable of quick high-volume printing

Speakers • Most computers have a small internal speaker

that produces beeping sounds when you make an error

• Computers can be fitted with a sound card which enables sound (audio) to be output through external speakers

Digital Camera

• An input device that takes photographs and stores them as digital files on a computer

Projector

• A device which connects to a computer and is used to project the output from the computer onto a wall or screen.

Touch Screen

• The only device that serves as both an input and output device

• You view the options available to you on the screen (output) and then use your finger to touch the option you have chosen (input)

Plotter • A large document printer which is able to

draw high quality images on very large pieces of paper (example: 3 feet wide by 10 feet long)

• Used by:

– Engineers

– Architects

– Map makers

Enrichment Video (as time permits)

The End