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Business Computing Level 5 L22142 Unit 1 Computer Introduction College: Monaghan Institute FETAC Further Education and Training Awards Council

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Page 1: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Business Computing Level 5 L22142 Unit 1 Computer Introduction College Monaghan Institute

FETAC Further Education and Training Awards Council

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

1 Monaghan Institute

Unit 1 ndash Computer Introduction

Specific Learning Objectives Page

111 Define the terms hardware and software

112 Evaluate the main components of a computer processing system

ie input output processing and backing store

113 Distinguish between the various types of computer

Mainframe

Mini

Micro (desktop notebook palmtop)

114 Evaluate the use of various input devices with reference to specific

application eg

Keyboard

Mouse

Touch sensitive screen

Microphone (voice data entry)

Scanner

Smart Cards

Sensors eg alarms climate control

115 Evaluate the use of various output devices with reference to specific

applications eg

Printers (impact and non-impact)

Plotters

Monitors

Disks (magnetic and optical)

Speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business

equipment eg fax telephone photocopier

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and

outline their advantages and disadvantages

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

2 Monaghan Institute

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated

media and outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router

hub server etc

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

Providing the user interface

Scheduling resources amongst users

Reporting errors to the user

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Controlling operations of peripheral devices

Running required software

Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

3 Monaghan Institute

Definition ndash What is a computer

The simplest definition of a computer is lsquoA computer is a machine for processing datarsquo or lsquoA

computer is a general-purpose machine that processes data according to a set of

instructions that are stored internally either temporarily or permanentlyrsquo

111 Define the terms hardware and software

Hardware is the general term used to describe all the electronic and mechanical elements

of the computer Hardware is basically something that has size and shape and can be seen

and touched For example computer screen printer disk drive mouse cables etc

Software is the general term used to describe the various programs used on a computer

Software is something that has no size and it cannot be touched but a computer cannot do

anything without software Software is generally supported on a CD Software is

continually being updated and developed Updates can be introduced to correct faults and

add new improvements to software Software can be broken down into

Systems Software ndash operating system to control the computers operation For

example Windows 7 Windows XP or Vista An operating system turns an

assortment of electronic parts into a compu ter that we can use to do things It acts

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

4 Monaghan Institute

as an interface between the different hardware devices and the user When the

computer boots up it is the operating system that we see first

Applications Software ndash software which is used to perform specific tasks For

example Word Excel Access and Internet Explorer

112 Evaluate the main components of a computer processing system

ie input output processing and backing store

A computer component is a computer part or hardware These can be divided into two

groups the components inside the tower and the components we can see

Main Components of a Computer Processing System ndash Inside the Tower

a Hard Drive

b CPU Central Processing Unit

c Motherboard

d PSU Power Supply Unit

e RAM Random Access Memory

f Modem

g Video Card

h Network Card

1) Hard Drive

Like the filing cabinet inside your computer This stores all of your

programs and files its size is measured in GB (the more GB the

more you can store) The average size today is upward of

120GB

2) CPU Central Processing Unit

The CPU stands Central Processing Unit - the brain of the computer

This is one of the smallest yet most expensive parts of a PC When

people talk about the speed of a computer they are talking about the

speed of the CPU The CPU interprets the instructions you give the

computer and then carries out the task The speed of a CPU is measured in Mhz and Ghz

(the more Mhz the faster the PC) and the bigger your CPU the faster a computer can work

Manufactures include Intel AMD and IBM

3) Motherboard

This is the main board on the computer All the components slot in or

connect to the motherboard it is a very complicated and intricate

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

5

4) PSU Power Supply Unit

This is where the mains power plugs into the computer It is located at the back of the

computer next to the fan which keeps it cool The PSU has lots of cables connected to it

which can plug into the components on the PC including the CD ROM Hard Drive Fan and

Motherboard

5) RAM Random Access Memory

RAM - stands for Random Access Memory This is a temporary type of

memory used while you are working on your computer (where your work is

saved before you actually save it) It is the memory a computer needs to

run software When you load or run software it goes into RAM If you

type something it also goes into RAM before being saved on the hard disk

When you turn your computer off all the data in RAM is lost The

performance of RAM is measured in MB the more MB of RAM a PC has

the better it can cope with big tasks like having lots of applications open at once if you have

a small amount of RAM the PC will crash and become very slow RAM can be easily added

to a computer to improve its performance

6) Modem

This is what is used to connect a computer to the internet it connects though a phone line

The performance of a modem is measured in KB The speed of modems is limited by

phone lines (that is why we now have broadband)

7) Video Card

A video card sends the picture signals from the

motherboard to the monitor The video card is

inserted into the mother board like the RAM It

interprets what needs to be displayed and passes

the message on to the monitor You can get

powerful 3D cards for games some video cards are

so fast they have to have their own fans

Performance of video cards is measured in MB (the

more lsquoMBrsquo the faster the picture appears) Average

size today is about 64mb

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

6

8) Network Card

Network cards (network interface controller) are used to

connect computers to a computer network all the computers

in the college have a network card so they can talk to each

other The speed of a network card is measured in MB per

second

From MEMORY ndash name 8 of the main components which are found inside the

tower of a computer and state briefly what they do

1) ____________________ ________________________________________________

2) ____________________ ________________________________________________

3) ____________________ ________________________________________________

4) ____________________ ________________________________________________

5) ____________________ ________________________________________________

6) ____________________ ________________________________________________

7) ____________________ ________________________________________________

8) ____________________ ________________________________________________

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

Main Components of a Computer Processing System ndash We can See

Input and Output

a Input Devices

Any device that is used to enter data into a computer system is called an input device

the following are 9 different types of input device match the numbers with the images

1 Keyboard

2 Mouse

3 Graphics Tablet

4 Microphone

5 Digital Camera

6 Scanner

7 TouchPad

8 TrackerBall

9 Joystick

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

b Output Devices

An output device is any device that is used to present data in a usable form from a

computer system is called an OUTPUT device The output may be permanent (on paper) or

may be temporary (on screen) There are many different types of OUTPUT device each

one designed to provide an efficient way of retrieving the DATA

Match the following descriptions with the name of the output device

a) Laser Printer

b) Data Projector

c) Headphones

d) Speakers

e) Inkjet Printer

f) Monitor VDU

Visual Display Unit ndash used for displaying the picture outputted from the graphics

card

Used to output noise from the computer also consider buzzers and alarms eg

burglar alarm

This printer has a print head which fires small jets of ink at the paper Head

consists of a line of jets similar to the dot matrix 600 dpi (data pixels per inch) 3

colours are magenta cyan and yellow

This printer works like a photocopier A laser beam scans the document and

then the toner is fused to the paper to form an image

Uses light bulbs to project an image which is sent from the computer to the wall

of the classroom

Just like speakers but the noise does not distract others in the same room

113 Distinguish between the various types of computer

a Mainframe

Mainframe computers are used by very large corporations and have large computing

power and storage space Modern mainframes tend to be about the size of a large

storage cabinet These computers would be stored in a special room with a large

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

8

number of terminals connected to them These computers are very powerful and

process data very quickly Main frames are very expensive and are therefore only used

by large corporations

b Mini

Mini computers have a similar arrangement to mainframe computers but are smaller ndash

typically the size of a small filing cabinet These would be used in situations where the

large power and storage of a mainframe was not required This type of computer is not

nearly as expensive as a mainframe but still retains a lot of the mainframe features

Mini computers are typically found in sizable companies

c Micro (desktop notebook palmtop)

Micro computers are by far the most common type of computer They are commonly

referred to as a PC (Personal Computer) The modern micro computer is as powerful as

a mainframe was a number of years ago they are relatively cheap and have a vast

number of programs available for them They are fast and have large storage and are

used in a wide variety of businesses there is a PC in most homes today

Dumb Terminals

Mainframe Computer

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

9

114 Evaluate the use of various input devices with reference to specific

application eg

a Keyboard

Keyboards are one of the two basic components used for data entry Keyboards use the

Qwerty typing layout similar to typewriters Keyboards usually also have a number

keypad to the right which can be used to enter numeric data

b Mouse

c Touch sensitive screen

d Microphone (voice data entry)

e Scanner

In computing an image scannermdashoften abbreviated to

just scannermdashis a device that optically scans images printed

text handwriting or an object and converts it to a digital

image Common examples found in offices are variations of

the desktop (or flatbed) scanner where the document is placed

on a glass window for scanning

f Smart Cards

A smart card chip card or integrated

circuit card (ICC) is any pocket-sized

card with embedded integrated circuits

A smart card or microprocessor cards

contain volatile memory and

microprocessor components The card

is made of plastic

Keyboard demonstration notes Write at least one keyboard shortcut

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

10

g Sensors eg alarms climate control

A sensor also called detector is a device that

measures a physical quantity and converts it into

a signal which can be read by an observer or by

an instrument Sensors are used in everyday

objects such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons

(tactile sensor) and lamps which dim or brighten

by touching the base There are also innumerable

applications for sensors of which most people are never aware Applications include cars

machines aerospace medicine manufacturing and robotics A sensor is a device which

receives and responds to a signal

Sensors are used in alarms and in climate control to detect changes and computers can

react according to the changes appropriately for eg Fire alarm burglar alarm air

conditioning and a refrigerator

115 Evaluate the use of various output devices with reference to specific

applications eg

a Printers (impact and non-impact)

An impact printer forms characters and graphics on a piece of paper by striking a

mechanism against an ink ribbon that physically contacts the paper Impact printers are

noisy and they do not print very good quality work Impact printers use a print head

containing a number of metal pins which strike an inked ribbon placed between the print

head and the paper

Nonimpact printers form characters and graphics on a piece of paper without actually

striking the paper Some of these printers use heat and pressure to create images and

some spray ink Nonimpact printers are much quieter than impact printers because they do

not strike the paper Three types of nonimpact printers that are used most often are ink-jet

printers laser printers and thermal printers The term nonimpact is important primarily in

that it distinguishes quiet printers from noisy (impact) printers

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

11

Impact Printers Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

1 Multiple copying depth- more than one page can be printed at the same time

2 No toner cartridge therefore cleaner

Disadvantage

1 They make so much noise that nobody wants them near

2 If tractor driven the perforated edge is a hassle

3 Separating the sheet forms

4 No printing on back

5 No collating

b Plotters

A plotter is a device that draws pictures on paper based on commands from a computer

Plotters differ from printers in that they draw lines using a pen they work by moving

a pen across the surface of a piece of paper As a result they can produce continuous

lines Which means that plotters are restricted to line art whereas other printers can

only simulate lines by printing a closely spaced series of dots Multicolour plotters use

different-coloured pens to draw different colons

They are often slow because of the mechanical movement of the pens and incapable of

efficiently creating a solid region of colour In general plotters are considerably more

expensive than printers They are used in engineering applications where precision is

mandatory

c Monitors

A monitor or display (visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for computers

The monitor comprises the display device circuitry and an enclosure The display

device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-

LCD) thin panel while older monitors use a cathode ray tube about as deep as the

screen size

Originally computer monitors were used for data processing while television receivers

were used for entertainment From the 1980s onwards computers (and their monitors)

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

12

have been used for both data processing and entertainment while televisions have

implemented some computer functionality

d Disks (magnetic optical and memory cards)

The normal method of storing programs and information on a computer is on a magnetic

disk or optical disk Later we will discuss the most common types of storage in SLO

118

Magnetic Disk

The data in this device is stored on a magnetic tape in the same way as an audio tape

ie sequentially In order to retrieve data from the tape it is necessary to go to the exact

point on the tape where the piece of data is stored The technology associated with tape

storage has developed and write speeds up to 15 Mbps However read speed is greatly

affected by the time taken to find the required data Therefore this type of storage

device is usually only used for archival storage

Optical Disk

Normally referred to as CDs and consist of an optical surface on to which the data is

burned using a laser beam The data is read from the disc using a laser The DVD is a

variation of the CD Discs are now available that may be reused and these are referred

to as rewritable RW discs CDs normally hold about 650 MB

Memory Cards

This is a small memory device that is used in a variety of digital equipment such as PDAs

digital cameras laptops and USBs etc It is simply an amount of RAM which may be

plugged in and out of the unit it is used in These devices are also referred to as flash

cards or memory sticks Readwrite speed is usually less than 20 Mbps

e Speakers

Computer speakers or multimedia speakers are

speakers external to a computer which disable the

lower fidelity built-in speaker and omit sound They

often have a low-power internal amplifier Computer

speakers range widely in quality and in price The

computer speakers typically packaged with computer

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

13

systems are small plastic and have mediocre sound quality Some computer speakers

have equalization features such as bass and treble controls Speakers can come in a va

rity of different formats ndash buzzers bells and speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business equipment

eg fax telephone photocopier

Fax (short for facsimile) sometimes called telecopying

is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material

(both text and images) normally to a telephone number

connected to a printer or other output device The original

document is scanned with a fax machine which

processes the contents as a single fixed graphic image

converting it into a bitmap The information is then transmitted as electrical signals

through the telephone system The receiving fax machine reconverts the coded image

printing a paper copy

Telephone

The telephone is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound most

commonly the human voice Telephones are a point-to-point communication system

whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to

each other It is one of the most common appliances in the developed world and has

long been considered indispensable to businesses households and governments The

word telephone has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around

the world

All telephones have a microphone to speak into an earphone which reproduces the

voice of the other person a ringer which makes a sound to alert the owner when a call is

coming in and a keypad

Photocopier

A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual

images quickly and cheaply Most current photocopiers use a technology called

xerography a dry process using heat

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 2: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

1 Monaghan Institute

Unit 1 ndash Computer Introduction

Specific Learning Objectives Page

111 Define the terms hardware and software

112 Evaluate the main components of a computer processing system

ie input output processing and backing store

113 Distinguish between the various types of computer

Mainframe

Mini

Micro (desktop notebook palmtop)

114 Evaluate the use of various input devices with reference to specific

application eg

Keyboard

Mouse

Touch sensitive screen

Microphone (voice data entry)

Scanner

Smart Cards

Sensors eg alarms climate control

115 Evaluate the use of various output devices with reference to specific

applications eg

Printers (impact and non-impact)

Plotters

Monitors

Disks (magnetic and optical)

Speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business

equipment eg fax telephone photocopier

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and

outline their advantages and disadvantages

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

2 Monaghan Institute

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated

media and outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router

hub server etc

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

Providing the user interface

Scheduling resources amongst users

Reporting errors to the user

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Controlling operations of peripheral devices

Running required software

Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

3 Monaghan Institute

Definition ndash What is a computer

The simplest definition of a computer is lsquoA computer is a machine for processing datarsquo or lsquoA

computer is a general-purpose machine that processes data according to a set of

instructions that are stored internally either temporarily or permanentlyrsquo

111 Define the terms hardware and software

Hardware is the general term used to describe all the electronic and mechanical elements

of the computer Hardware is basically something that has size and shape and can be seen

and touched For example computer screen printer disk drive mouse cables etc

Software is the general term used to describe the various programs used on a computer

Software is something that has no size and it cannot be touched but a computer cannot do

anything without software Software is generally supported on a CD Software is

continually being updated and developed Updates can be introduced to correct faults and

add new improvements to software Software can be broken down into

Systems Software ndash operating system to control the computers operation For

example Windows 7 Windows XP or Vista An operating system turns an

assortment of electronic parts into a compu ter that we can use to do things It acts

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

4 Monaghan Institute

as an interface between the different hardware devices and the user When the

computer boots up it is the operating system that we see first

Applications Software ndash software which is used to perform specific tasks For

example Word Excel Access and Internet Explorer

112 Evaluate the main components of a computer processing system

ie input output processing and backing store

A computer component is a computer part or hardware These can be divided into two

groups the components inside the tower and the components we can see

Main Components of a Computer Processing System ndash Inside the Tower

a Hard Drive

b CPU Central Processing Unit

c Motherboard

d PSU Power Supply Unit

e RAM Random Access Memory

f Modem

g Video Card

h Network Card

1) Hard Drive

Like the filing cabinet inside your computer This stores all of your

programs and files its size is measured in GB (the more GB the

more you can store) The average size today is upward of

120GB

2) CPU Central Processing Unit

The CPU stands Central Processing Unit - the brain of the computer

This is one of the smallest yet most expensive parts of a PC When

people talk about the speed of a computer they are talking about the

speed of the CPU The CPU interprets the instructions you give the

computer and then carries out the task The speed of a CPU is measured in Mhz and Ghz

(the more Mhz the faster the PC) and the bigger your CPU the faster a computer can work

Manufactures include Intel AMD and IBM

3) Motherboard

This is the main board on the computer All the components slot in or

connect to the motherboard it is a very complicated and intricate

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

5

4) PSU Power Supply Unit

This is where the mains power plugs into the computer It is located at the back of the

computer next to the fan which keeps it cool The PSU has lots of cables connected to it

which can plug into the components on the PC including the CD ROM Hard Drive Fan and

Motherboard

5) RAM Random Access Memory

RAM - stands for Random Access Memory This is a temporary type of

memory used while you are working on your computer (where your work is

saved before you actually save it) It is the memory a computer needs to

run software When you load or run software it goes into RAM If you

type something it also goes into RAM before being saved on the hard disk

When you turn your computer off all the data in RAM is lost The

performance of RAM is measured in MB the more MB of RAM a PC has

the better it can cope with big tasks like having lots of applications open at once if you have

a small amount of RAM the PC will crash and become very slow RAM can be easily added

to a computer to improve its performance

6) Modem

This is what is used to connect a computer to the internet it connects though a phone line

The performance of a modem is measured in KB The speed of modems is limited by

phone lines (that is why we now have broadband)

7) Video Card

A video card sends the picture signals from the

motherboard to the monitor The video card is

inserted into the mother board like the RAM It

interprets what needs to be displayed and passes

the message on to the monitor You can get

powerful 3D cards for games some video cards are

so fast they have to have their own fans

Performance of video cards is measured in MB (the

more lsquoMBrsquo the faster the picture appears) Average

size today is about 64mb

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

6

8) Network Card

Network cards (network interface controller) are used to

connect computers to a computer network all the computers

in the college have a network card so they can talk to each

other The speed of a network card is measured in MB per

second

From MEMORY ndash name 8 of the main components which are found inside the

tower of a computer and state briefly what they do

1) ____________________ ________________________________________________

2) ____________________ ________________________________________________

3) ____________________ ________________________________________________

4) ____________________ ________________________________________________

5) ____________________ ________________________________________________

6) ____________________ ________________________________________________

7) ____________________ ________________________________________________

8) ____________________ ________________________________________________

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

Main Components of a Computer Processing System ndash We can See

Input and Output

a Input Devices

Any device that is used to enter data into a computer system is called an input device

the following are 9 different types of input device match the numbers with the images

1 Keyboard

2 Mouse

3 Graphics Tablet

4 Microphone

5 Digital Camera

6 Scanner

7 TouchPad

8 TrackerBall

9 Joystick

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

b Output Devices

An output device is any device that is used to present data in a usable form from a

computer system is called an OUTPUT device The output may be permanent (on paper) or

may be temporary (on screen) There are many different types of OUTPUT device each

one designed to provide an efficient way of retrieving the DATA

Match the following descriptions with the name of the output device

a) Laser Printer

b) Data Projector

c) Headphones

d) Speakers

e) Inkjet Printer

f) Monitor VDU

Visual Display Unit ndash used for displaying the picture outputted from the graphics

card

Used to output noise from the computer also consider buzzers and alarms eg

burglar alarm

This printer has a print head which fires small jets of ink at the paper Head

consists of a line of jets similar to the dot matrix 600 dpi (data pixels per inch) 3

colours are magenta cyan and yellow

This printer works like a photocopier A laser beam scans the document and

then the toner is fused to the paper to form an image

Uses light bulbs to project an image which is sent from the computer to the wall

of the classroom

Just like speakers but the noise does not distract others in the same room

113 Distinguish between the various types of computer

a Mainframe

Mainframe computers are used by very large corporations and have large computing

power and storage space Modern mainframes tend to be about the size of a large

storage cabinet These computers would be stored in a special room with a large

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

8

number of terminals connected to them These computers are very powerful and

process data very quickly Main frames are very expensive and are therefore only used

by large corporations

b Mini

Mini computers have a similar arrangement to mainframe computers but are smaller ndash

typically the size of a small filing cabinet These would be used in situations where the

large power and storage of a mainframe was not required This type of computer is not

nearly as expensive as a mainframe but still retains a lot of the mainframe features

Mini computers are typically found in sizable companies

c Micro (desktop notebook palmtop)

Micro computers are by far the most common type of computer They are commonly

referred to as a PC (Personal Computer) The modern micro computer is as powerful as

a mainframe was a number of years ago they are relatively cheap and have a vast

number of programs available for them They are fast and have large storage and are

used in a wide variety of businesses there is a PC in most homes today

Dumb Terminals

Mainframe Computer

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

9

114 Evaluate the use of various input devices with reference to specific

application eg

a Keyboard

Keyboards are one of the two basic components used for data entry Keyboards use the

Qwerty typing layout similar to typewriters Keyboards usually also have a number

keypad to the right which can be used to enter numeric data

b Mouse

c Touch sensitive screen

d Microphone (voice data entry)

e Scanner

In computing an image scannermdashoften abbreviated to

just scannermdashis a device that optically scans images printed

text handwriting or an object and converts it to a digital

image Common examples found in offices are variations of

the desktop (or flatbed) scanner where the document is placed

on a glass window for scanning

f Smart Cards

A smart card chip card or integrated

circuit card (ICC) is any pocket-sized

card with embedded integrated circuits

A smart card or microprocessor cards

contain volatile memory and

microprocessor components The card

is made of plastic

Keyboard demonstration notes Write at least one keyboard shortcut

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

10

g Sensors eg alarms climate control

A sensor also called detector is a device that

measures a physical quantity and converts it into

a signal which can be read by an observer or by

an instrument Sensors are used in everyday

objects such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons

(tactile sensor) and lamps which dim or brighten

by touching the base There are also innumerable

applications for sensors of which most people are never aware Applications include cars

machines aerospace medicine manufacturing and robotics A sensor is a device which

receives and responds to a signal

Sensors are used in alarms and in climate control to detect changes and computers can

react according to the changes appropriately for eg Fire alarm burglar alarm air

conditioning and a refrigerator

115 Evaluate the use of various output devices with reference to specific

applications eg

a Printers (impact and non-impact)

An impact printer forms characters and graphics on a piece of paper by striking a

mechanism against an ink ribbon that physically contacts the paper Impact printers are

noisy and they do not print very good quality work Impact printers use a print head

containing a number of metal pins which strike an inked ribbon placed between the print

head and the paper

Nonimpact printers form characters and graphics on a piece of paper without actually

striking the paper Some of these printers use heat and pressure to create images and

some spray ink Nonimpact printers are much quieter than impact printers because they do

not strike the paper Three types of nonimpact printers that are used most often are ink-jet

printers laser printers and thermal printers The term nonimpact is important primarily in

that it distinguishes quiet printers from noisy (impact) printers

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

11

Impact Printers Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

1 Multiple copying depth- more than one page can be printed at the same time

2 No toner cartridge therefore cleaner

Disadvantage

1 They make so much noise that nobody wants them near

2 If tractor driven the perforated edge is a hassle

3 Separating the sheet forms

4 No printing on back

5 No collating

b Plotters

A plotter is a device that draws pictures on paper based on commands from a computer

Plotters differ from printers in that they draw lines using a pen they work by moving

a pen across the surface of a piece of paper As a result they can produce continuous

lines Which means that plotters are restricted to line art whereas other printers can

only simulate lines by printing a closely spaced series of dots Multicolour plotters use

different-coloured pens to draw different colons

They are often slow because of the mechanical movement of the pens and incapable of

efficiently creating a solid region of colour In general plotters are considerably more

expensive than printers They are used in engineering applications where precision is

mandatory

c Monitors

A monitor or display (visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for computers

The monitor comprises the display device circuitry and an enclosure The display

device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-

LCD) thin panel while older monitors use a cathode ray tube about as deep as the

screen size

Originally computer monitors were used for data processing while television receivers

were used for entertainment From the 1980s onwards computers (and their monitors)

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

12

have been used for both data processing and entertainment while televisions have

implemented some computer functionality

d Disks (magnetic optical and memory cards)

The normal method of storing programs and information on a computer is on a magnetic

disk or optical disk Later we will discuss the most common types of storage in SLO

118

Magnetic Disk

The data in this device is stored on a magnetic tape in the same way as an audio tape

ie sequentially In order to retrieve data from the tape it is necessary to go to the exact

point on the tape where the piece of data is stored The technology associated with tape

storage has developed and write speeds up to 15 Mbps However read speed is greatly

affected by the time taken to find the required data Therefore this type of storage

device is usually only used for archival storage

Optical Disk

Normally referred to as CDs and consist of an optical surface on to which the data is

burned using a laser beam The data is read from the disc using a laser The DVD is a

variation of the CD Discs are now available that may be reused and these are referred

to as rewritable RW discs CDs normally hold about 650 MB

Memory Cards

This is a small memory device that is used in a variety of digital equipment such as PDAs

digital cameras laptops and USBs etc It is simply an amount of RAM which may be

plugged in and out of the unit it is used in These devices are also referred to as flash

cards or memory sticks Readwrite speed is usually less than 20 Mbps

e Speakers

Computer speakers or multimedia speakers are

speakers external to a computer which disable the

lower fidelity built-in speaker and omit sound They

often have a low-power internal amplifier Computer

speakers range widely in quality and in price The

computer speakers typically packaged with computer

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

13

systems are small plastic and have mediocre sound quality Some computer speakers

have equalization features such as bass and treble controls Speakers can come in a va

rity of different formats ndash buzzers bells and speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business equipment

eg fax telephone photocopier

Fax (short for facsimile) sometimes called telecopying

is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material

(both text and images) normally to a telephone number

connected to a printer or other output device The original

document is scanned with a fax machine which

processes the contents as a single fixed graphic image

converting it into a bitmap The information is then transmitted as electrical signals

through the telephone system The receiving fax machine reconverts the coded image

printing a paper copy

Telephone

The telephone is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound most

commonly the human voice Telephones are a point-to-point communication system

whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to

each other It is one of the most common appliances in the developed world and has

long been considered indispensable to businesses households and governments The

word telephone has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around

the world

All telephones have a microphone to speak into an earphone which reproduces the

voice of the other person a ringer which makes a sound to alert the owner when a call is

coming in and a keypad

Photocopier

A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual

images quickly and cheaply Most current photocopiers use a technology called

xerography a dry process using heat

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 3: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

2 Monaghan Institute

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated

media and outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router

hub server etc

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

Providing the user interface

Scheduling resources amongst users

Reporting errors to the user

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Controlling operations of peripheral devices

Running required software

Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

3 Monaghan Institute

Definition ndash What is a computer

The simplest definition of a computer is lsquoA computer is a machine for processing datarsquo or lsquoA

computer is a general-purpose machine that processes data according to a set of

instructions that are stored internally either temporarily or permanentlyrsquo

111 Define the terms hardware and software

Hardware is the general term used to describe all the electronic and mechanical elements

of the computer Hardware is basically something that has size and shape and can be seen

and touched For example computer screen printer disk drive mouse cables etc

Software is the general term used to describe the various programs used on a computer

Software is something that has no size and it cannot be touched but a computer cannot do

anything without software Software is generally supported on a CD Software is

continually being updated and developed Updates can be introduced to correct faults and

add new improvements to software Software can be broken down into

Systems Software ndash operating system to control the computers operation For

example Windows 7 Windows XP or Vista An operating system turns an

assortment of electronic parts into a compu ter that we can use to do things It acts

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

4 Monaghan Institute

as an interface between the different hardware devices and the user When the

computer boots up it is the operating system that we see first

Applications Software ndash software which is used to perform specific tasks For

example Word Excel Access and Internet Explorer

112 Evaluate the main components of a computer processing system

ie input output processing and backing store

A computer component is a computer part or hardware These can be divided into two

groups the components inside the tower and the components we can see

Main Components of a Computer Processing System ndash Inside the Tower

a Hard Drive

b CPU Central Processing Unit

c Motherboard

d PSU Power Supply Unit

e RAM Random Access Memory

f Modem

g Video Card

h Network Card

1) Hard Drive

Like the filing cabinet inside your computer This stores all of your

programs and files its size is measured in GB (the more GB the

more you can store) The average size today is upward of

120GB

2) CPU Central Processing Unit

The CPU stands Central Processing Unit - the brain of the computer

This is one of the smallest yet most expensive parts of a PC When

people talk about the speed of a computer they are talking about the

speed of the CPU The CPU interprets the instructions you give the

computer and then carries out the task The speed of a CPU is measured in Mhz and Ghz

(the more Mhz the faster the PC) and the bigger your CPU the faster a computer can work

Manufactures include Intel AMD and IBM

3) Motherboard

This is the main board on the computer All the components slot in or

connect to the motherboard it is a very complicated and intricate

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

5

4) PSU Power Supply Unit

This is where the mains power plugs into the computer It is located at the back of the

computer next to the fan which keeps it cool The PSU has lots of cables connected to it

which can plug into the components on the PC including the CD ROM Hard Drive Fan and

Motherboard

5) RAM Random Access Memory

RAM - stands for Random Access Memory This is a temporary type of

memory used while you are working on your computer (where your work is

saved before you actually save it) It is the memory a computer needs to

run software When you load or run software it goes into RAM If you

type something it also goes into RAM before being saved on the hard disk

When you turn your computer off all the data in RAM is lost The

performance of RAM is measured in MB the more MB of RAM a PC has

the better it can cope with big tasks like having lots of applications open at once if you have

a small amount of RAM the PC will crash and become very slow RAM can be easily added

to a computer to improve its performance

6) Modem

This is what is used to connect a computer to the internet it connects though a phone line

The performance of a modem is measured in KB The speed of modems is limited by

phone lines (that is why we now have broadband)

7) Video Card

A video card sends the picture signals from the

motherboard to the monitor The video card is

inserted into the mother board like the RAM It

interprets what needs to be displayed and passes

the message on to the monitor You can get

powerful 3D cards for games some video cards are

so fast they have to have their own fans

Performance of video cards is measured in MB (the

more lsquoMBrsquo the faster the picture appears) Average

size today is about 64mb

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

6

8) Network Card

Network cards (network interface controller) are used to

connect computers to a computer network all the computers

in the college have a network card so they can talk to each

other The speed of a network card is measured in MB per

second

From MEMORY ndash name 8 of the main components which are found inside the

tower of a computer and state briefly what they do

1) ____________________ ________________________________________________

2) ____________________ ________________________________________________

3) ____________________ ________________________________________________

4) ____________________ ________________________________________________

5) ____________________ ________________________________________________

6) ____________________ ________________________________________________

7) ____________________ ________________________________________________

8) ____________________ ________________________________________________

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

Main Components of a Computer Processing System ndash We can See

Input and Output

a Input Devices

Any device that is used to enter data into a computer system is called an input device

the following are 9 different types of input device match the numbers with the images

1 Keyboard

2 Mouse

3 Graphics Tablet

4 Microphone

5 Digital Camera

6 Scanner

7 TouchPad

8 TrackerBall

9 Joystick

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

b Output Devices

An output device is any device that is used to present data in a usable form from a

computer system is called an OUTPUT device The output may be permanent (on paper) or

may be temporary (on screen) There are many different types of OUTPUT device each

one designed to provide an efficient way of retrieving the DATA

Match the following descriptions with the name of the output device

a) Laser Printer

b) Data Projector

c) Headphones

d) Speakers

e) Inkjet Printer

f) Monitor VDU

Visual Display Unit ndash used for displaying the picture outputted from the graphics

card

Used to output noise from the computer also consider buzzers and alarms eg

burglar alarm

This printer has a print head which fires small jets of ink at the paper Head

consists of a line of jets similar to the dot matrix 600 dpi (data pixels per inch) 3

colours are magenta cyan and yellow

This printer works like a photocopier A laser beam scans the document and

then the toner is fused to the paper to form an image

Uses light bulbs to project an image which is sent from the computer to the wall

of the classroom

Just like speakers but the noise does not distract others in the same room

113 Distinguish between the various types of computer

a Mainframe

Mainframe computers are used by very large corporations and have large computing

power and storage space Modern mainframes tend to be about the size of a large

storage cabinet These computers would be stored in a special room with a large

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

8

number of terminals connected to them These computers are very powerful and

process data very quickly Main frames are very expensive and are therefore only used

by large corporations

b Mini

Mini computers have a similar arrangement to mainframe computers but are smaller ndash

typically the size of a small filing cabinet These would be used in situations where the

large power and storage of a mainframe was not required This type of computer is not

nearly as expensive as a mainframe but still retains a lot of the mainframe features

Mini computers are typically found in sizable companies

c Micro (desktop notebook palmtop)

Micro computers are by far the most common type of computer They are commonly

referred to as a PC (Personal Computer) The modern micro computer is as powerful as

a mainframe was a number of years ago they are relatively cheap and have a vast

number of programs available for them They are fast and have large storage and are

used in a wide variety of businesses there is a PC in most homes today

Dumb Terminals

Mainframe Computer

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

9

114 Evaluate the use of various input devices with reference to specific

application eg

a Keyboard

Keyboards are one of the two basic components used for data entry Keyboards use the

Qwerty typing layout similar to typewriters Keyboards usually also have a number

keypad to the right which can be used to enter numeric data

b Mouse

c Touch sensitive screen

d Microphone (voice data entry)

e Scanner

In computing an image scannermdashoften abbreviated to

just scannermdashis a device that optically scans images printed

text handwriting or an object and converts it to a digital

image Common examples found in offices are variations of

the desktop (or flatbed) scanner where the document is placed

on a glass window for scanning

f Smart Cards

A smart card chip card or integrated

circuit card (ICC) is any pocket-sized

card with embedded integrated circuits

A smart card or microprocessor cards

contain volatile memory and

microprocessor components The card

is made of plastic

Keyboard demonstration notes Write at least one keyboard shortcut

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

10

g Sensors eg alarms climate control

A sensor also called detector is a device that

measures a physical quantity and converts it into

a signal which can be read by an observer or by

an instrument Sensors are used in everyday

objects such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons

(tactile sensor) and lamps which dim or brighten

by touching the base There are also innumerable

applications for sensors of which most people are never aware Applications include cars

machines aerospace medicine manufacturing and robotics A sensor is a device which

receives and responds to a signal

Sensors are used in alarms and in climate control to detect changes and computers can

react according to the changes appropriately for eg Fire alarm burglar alarm air

conditioning and a refrigerator

115 Evaluate the use of various output devices with reference to specific

applications eg

a Printers (impact and non-impact)

An impact printer forms characters and graphics on a piece of paper by striking a

mechanism against an ink ribbon that physically contacts the paper Impact printers are

noisy and they do not print very good quality work Impact printers use a print head

containing a number of metal pins which strike an inked ribbon placed between the print

head and the paper

Nonimpact printers form characters and graphics on a piece of paper without actually

striking the paper Some of these printers use heat and pressure to create images and

some spray ink Nonimpact printers are much quieter than impact printers because they do

not strike the paper Three types of nonimpact printers that are used most often are ink-jet

printers laser printers and thermal printers The term nonimpact is important primarily in

that it distinguishes quiet printers from noisy (impact) printers

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

11

Impact Printers Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

1 Multiple copying depth- more than one page can be printed at the same time

2 No toner cartridge therefore cleaner

Disadvantage

1 They make so much noise that nobody wants them near

2 If tractor driven the perforated edge is a hassle

3 Separating the sheet forms

4 No printing on back

5 No collating

b Plotters

A plotter is a device that draws pictures on paper based on commands from a computer

Plotters differ from printers in that they draw lines using a pen they work by moving

a pen across the surface of a piece of paper As a result they can produce continuous

lines Which means that plotters are restricted to line art whereas other printers can

only simulate lines by printing a closely spaced series of dots Multicolour plotters use

different-coloured pens to draw different colons

They are often slow because of the mechanical movement of the pens and incapable of

efficiently creating a solid region of colour In general plotters are considerably more

expensive than printers They are used in engineering applications where precision is

mandatory

c Monitors

A monitor or display (visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for computers

The monitor comprises the display device circuitry and an enclosure The display

device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-

LCD) thin panel while older monitors use a cathode ray tube about as deep as the

screen size

Originally computer monitors were used for data processing while television receivers

were used for entertainment From the 1980s onwards computers (and their monitors)

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

12

have been used for both data processing and entertainment while televisions have

implemented some computer functionality

d Disks (magnetic optical and memory cards)

The normal method of storing programs and information on a computer is on a magnetic

disk or optical disk Later we will discuss the most common types of storage in SLO

118

Magnetic Disk

The data in this device is stored on a magnetic tape in the same way as an audio tape

ie sequentially In order to retrieve data from the tape it is necessary to go to the exact

point on the tape where the piece of data is stored The technology associated with tape

storage has developed and write speeds up to 15 Mbps However read speed is greatly

affected by the time taken to find the required data Therefore this type of storage

device is usually only used for archival storage

Optical Disk

Normally referred to as CDs and consist of an optical surface on to which the data is

burned using a laser beam The data is read from the disc using a laser The DVD is a

variation of the CD Discs are now available that may be reused and these are referred

to as rewritable RW discs CDs normally hold about 650 MB

Memory Cards

This is a small memory device that is used in a variety of digital equipment such as PDAs

digital cameras laptops and USBs etc It is simply an amount of RAM which may be

plugged in and out of the unit it is used in These devices are also referred to as flash

cards or memory sticks Readwrite speed is usually less than 20 Mbps

e Speakers

Computer speakers or multimedia speakers are

speakers external to a computer which disable the

lower fidelity built-in speaker and omit sound They

often have a low-power internal amplifier Computer

speakers range widely in quality and in price The

computer speakers typically packaged with computer

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

13

systems are small plastic and have mediocre sound quality Some computer speakers

have equalization features such as bass and treble controls Speakers can come in a va

rity of different formats ndash buzzers bells and speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business equipment

eg fax telephone photocopier

Fax (short for facsimile) sometimes called telecopying

is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material

(both text and images) normally to a telephone number

connected to a printer or other output device The original

document is scanned with a fax machine which

processes the contents as a single fixed graphic image

converting it into a bitmap The information is then transmitted as electrical signals

through the telephone system The receiving fax machine reconverts the coded image

printing a paper copy

Telephone

The telephone is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound most

commonly the human voice Telephones are a point-to-point communication system

whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to

each other It is one of the most common appliances in the developed world and has

long been considered indispensable to businesses households and governments The

word telephone has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around

the world

All telephones have a microphone to speak into an earphone which reproduces the

voice of the other person a ringer which makes a sound to alert the owner when a call is

coming in and a keypad

Photocopier

A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual

images quickly and cheaply Most current photocopiers use a technology called

xerography a dry process using heat

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 4: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

3 Monaghan Institute

Definition ndash What is a computer

The simplest definition of a computer is lsquoA computer is a machine for processing datarsquo or lsquoA

computer is a general-purpose machine that processes data according to a set of

instructions that are stored internally either temporarily or permanentlyrsquo

111 Define the terms hardware and software

Hardware is the general term used to describe all the electronic and mechanical elements

of the computer Hardware is basically something that has size and shape and can be seen

and touched For example computer screen printer disk drive mouse cables etc

Software is the general term used to describe the various programs used on a computer

Software is something that has no size and it cannot be touched but a computer cannot do

anything without software Software is generally supported on a CD Software is

continually being updated and developed Updates can be introduced to correct faults and

add new improvements to software Software can be broken down into

Systems Software ndash operating system to control the computers operation For

example Windows 7 Windows XP or Vista An operating system turns an

assortment of electronic parts into a compu ter that we can use to do things It acts

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

4 Monaghan Institute

as an interface between the different hardware devices and the user When the

computer boots up it is the operating system that we see first

Applications Software ndash software which is used to perform specific tasks For

example Word Excel Access and Internet Explorer

112 Evaluate the main components of a computer processing system

ie input output processing and backing store

A computer component is a computer part or hardware These can be divided into two

groups the components inside the tower and the components we can see

Main Components of a Computer Processing System ndash Inside the Tower

a Hard Drive

b CPU Central Processing Unit

c Motherboard

d PSU Power Supply Unit

e RAM Random Access Memory

f Modem

g Video Card

h Network Card

1) Hard Drive

Like the filing cabinet inside your computer This stores all of your

programs and files its size is measured in GB (the more GB the

more you can store) The average size today is upward of

120GB

2) CPU Central Processing Unit

The CPU stands Central Processing Unit - the brain of the computer

This is one of the smallest yet most expensive parts of a PC When

people talk about the speed of a computer they are talking about the

speed of the CPU The CPU interprets the instructions you give the

computer and then carries out the task The speed of a CPU is measured in Mhz and Ghz

(the more Mhz the faster the PC) and the bigger your CPU the faster a computer can work

Manufactures include Intel AMD and IBM

3) Motherboard

This is the main board on the computer All the components slot in or

connect to the motherboard it is a very complicated and intricate

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

5

4) PSU Power Supply Unit

This is where the mains power plugs into the computer It is located at the back of the

computer next to the fan which keeps it cool The PSU has lots of cables connected to it

which can plug into the components on the PC including the CD ROM Hard Drive Fan and

Motherboard

5) RAM Random Access Memory

RAM - stands for Random Access Memory This is a temporary type of

memory used while you are working on your computer (where your work is

saved before you actually save it) It is the memory a computer needs to

run software When you load or run software it goes into RAM If you

type something it also goes into RAM before being saved on the hard disk

When you turn your computer off all the data in RAM is lost The

performance of RAM is measured in MB the more MB of RAM a PC has

the better it can cope with big tasks like having lots of applications open at once if you have

a small amount of RAM the PC will crash and become very slow RAM can be easily added

to a computer to improve its performance

6) Modem

This is what is used to connect a computer to the internet it connects though a phone line

The performance of a modem is measured in KB The speed of modems is limited by

phone lines (that is why we now have broadband)

7) Video Card

A video card sends the picture signals from the

motherboard to the monitor The video card is

inserted into the mother board like the RAM It

interprets what needs to be displayed and passes

the message on to the monitor You can get

powerful 3D cards for games some video cards are

so fast they have to have their own fans

Performance of video cards is measured in MB (the

more lsquoMBrsquo the faster the picture appears) Average

size today is about 64mb

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

6

8) Network Card

Network cards (network interface controller) are used to

connect computers to a computer network all the computers

in the college have a network card so they can talk to each

other The speed of a network card is measured in MB per

second

From MEMORY ndash name 8 of the main components which are found inside the

tower of a computer and state briefly what they do

1) ____________________ ________________________________________________

2) ____________________ ________________________________________________

3) ____________________ ________________________________________________

4) ____________________ ________________________________________________

5) ____________________ ________________________________________________

6) ____________________ ________________________________________________

7) ____________________ ________________________________________________

8) ____________________ ________________________________________________

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

Main Components of a Computer Processing System ndash We can See

Input and Output

a Input Devices

Any device that is used to enter data into a computer system is called an input device

the following are 9 different types of input device match the numbers with the images

1 Keyboard

2 Mouse

3 Graphics Tablet

4 Microphone

5 Digital Camera

6 Scanner

7 TouchPad

8 TrackerBall

9 Joystick

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

b Output Devices

An output device is any device that is used to present data in a usable form from a

computer system is called an OUTPUT device The output may be permanent (on paper) or

may be temporary (on screen) There are many different types of OUTPUT device each

one designed to provide an efficient way of retrieving the DATA

Match the following descriptions with the name of the output device

a) Laser Printer

b) Data Projector

c) Headphones

d) Speakers

e) Inkjet Printer

f) Monitor VDU

Visual Display Unit ndash used for displaying the picture outputted from the graphics

card

Used to output noise from the computer also consider buzzers and alarms eg

burglar alarm

This printer has a print head which fires small jets of ink at the paper Head

consists of a line of jets similar to the dot matrix 600 dpi (data pixels per inch) 3

colours are magenta cyan and yellow

This printer works like a photocopier A laser beam scans the document and

then the toner is fused to the paper to form an image

Uses light bulbs to project an image which is sent from the computer to the wall

of the classroom

Just like speakers but the noise does not distract others in the same room

113 Distinguish between the various types of computer

a Mainframe

Mainframe computers are used by very large corporations and have large computing

power and storage space Modern mainframes tend to be about the size of a large

storage cabinet These computers would be stored in a special room with a large

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

8

number of terminals connected to them These computers are very powerful and

process data very quickly Main frames are very expensive and are therefore only used

by large corporations

b Mini

Mini computers have a similar arrangement to mainframe computers but are smaller ndash

typically the size of a small filing cabinet These would be used in situations where the

large power and storage of a mainframe was not required This type of computer is not

nearly as expensive as a mainframe but still retains a lot of the mainframe features

Mini computers are typically found in sizable companies

c Micro (desktop notebook palmtop)

Micro computers are by far the most common type of computer They are commonly

referred to as a PC (Personal Computer) The modern micro computer is as powerful as

a mainframe was a number of years ago they are relatively cheap and have a vast

number of programs available for them They are fast and have large storage and are

used in a wide variety of businesses there is a PC in most homes today

Dumb Terminals

Mainframe Computer

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

9

114 Evaluate the use of various input devices with reference to specific

application eg

a Keyboard

Keyboards are one of the two basic components used for data entry Keyboards use the

Qwerty typing layout similar to typewriters Keyboards usually also have a number

keypad to the right which can be used to enter numeric data

b Mouse

c Touch sensitive screen

d Microphone (voice data entry)

e Scanner

In computing an image scannermdashoften abbreviated to

just scannermdashis a device that optically scans images printed

text handwriting or an object and converts it to a digital

image Common examples found in offices are variations of

the desktop (or flatbed) scanner where the document is placed

on a glass window for scanning

f Smart Cards

A smart card chip card or integrated

circuit card (ICC) is any pocket-sized

card with embedded integrated circuits

A smart card or microprocessor cards

contain volatile memory and

microprocessor components The card

is made of plastic

Keyboard demonstration notes Write at least one keyboard shortcut

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

10

g Sensors eg alarms climate control

A sensor also called detector is a device that

measures a physical quantity and converts it into

a signal which can be read by an observer or by

an instrument Sensors are used in everyday

objects such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons

(tactile sensor) and lamps which dim or brighten

by touching the base There are also innumerable

applications for sensors of which most people are never aware Applications include cars

machines aerospace medicine manufacturing and robotics A sensor is a device which

receives and responds to a signal

Sensors are used in alarms and in climate control to detect changes and computers can

react according to the changes appropriately for eg Fire alarm burglar alarm air

conditioning and a refrigerator

115 Evaluate the use of various output devices with reference to specific

applications eg

a Printers (impact and non-impact)

An impact printer forms characters and graphics on a piece of paper by striking a

mechanism against an ink ribbon that physically contacts the paper Impact printers are

noisy and they do not print very good quality work Impact printers use a print head

containing a number of metal pins which strike an inked ribbon placed between the print

head and the paper

Nonimpact printers form characters and graphics on a piece of paper without actually

striking the paper Some of these printers use heat and pressure to create images and

some spray ink Nonimpact printers are much quieter than impact printers because they do

not strike the paper Three types of nonimpact printers that are used most often are ink-jet

printers laser printers and thermal printers The term nonimpact is important primarily in

that it distinguishes quiet printers from noisy (impact) printers

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

11

Impact Printers Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

1 Multiple copying depth- more than one page can be printed at the same time

2 No toner cartridge therefore cleaner

Disadvantage

1 They make so much noise that nobody wants them near

2 If tractor driven the perforated edge is a hassle

3 Separating the sheet forms

4 No printing on back

5 No collating

b Plotters

A plotter is a device that draws pictures on paper based on commands from a computer

Plotters differ from printers in that they draw lines using a pen they work by moving

a pen across the surface of a piece of paper As a result they can produce continuous

lines Which means that plotters are restricted to line art whereas other printers can

only simulate lines by printing a closely spaced series of dots Multicolour plotters use

different-coloured pens to draw different colons

They are often slow because of the mechanical movement of the pens and incapable of

efficiently creating a solid region of colour In general plotters are considerably more

expensive than printers They are used in engineering applications where precision is

mandatory

c Monitors

A monitor or display (visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for computers

The monitor comprises the display device circuitry and an enclosure The display

device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-

LCD) thin panel while older monitors use a cathode ray tube about as deep as the

screen size

Originally computer monitors were used for data processing while television receivers

were used for entertainment From the 1980s onwards computers (and their monitors)

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

12

have been used for both data processing and entertainment while televisions have

implemented some computer functionality

d Disks (magnetic optical and memory cards)

The normal method of storing programs and information on a computer is on a magnetic

disk or optical disk Later we will discuss the most common types of storage in SLO

118

Magnetic Disk

The data in this device is stored on a magnetic tape in the same way as an audio tape

ie sequentially In order to retrieve data from the tape it is necessary to go to the exact

point on the tape where the piece of data is stored The technology associated with tape

storage has developed and write speeds up to 15 Mbps However read speed is greatly

affected by the time taken to find the required data Therefore this type of storage

device is usually only used for archival storage

Optical Disk

Normally referred to as CDs and consist of an optical surface on to which the data is

burned using a laser beam The data is read from the disc using a laser The DVD is a

variation of the CD Discs are now available that may be reused and these are referred

to as rewritable RW discs CDs normally hold about 650 MB

Memory Cards

This is a small memory device that is used in a variety of digital equipment such as PDAs

digital cameras laptops and USBs etc It is simply an amount of RAM which may be

plugged in and out of the unit it is used in These devices are also referred to as flash

cards or memory sticks Readwrite speed is usually less than 20 Mbps

e Speakers

Computer speakers or multimedia speakers are

speakers external to a computer which disable the

lower fidelity built-in speaker and omit sound They

often have a low-power internal amplifier Computer

speakers range widely in quality and in price The

computer speakers typically packaged with computer

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

13

systems are small plastic and have mediocre sound quality Some computer speakers

have equalization features such as bass and treble controls Speakers can come in a va

rity of different formats ndash buzzers bells and speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business equipment

eg fax telephone photocopier

Fax (short for facsimile) sometimes called telecopying

is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material

(both text and images) normally to a telephone number

connected to a printer or other output device The original

document is scanned with a fax machine which

processes the contents as a single fixed graphic image

converting it into a bitmap The information is then transmitted as electrical signals

through the telephone system The receiving fax machine reconverts the coded image

printing a paper copy

Telephone

The telephone is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound most

commonly the human voice Telephones are a point-to-point communication system

whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to

each other It is one of the most common appliances in the developed world and has

long been considered indispensable to businesses households and governments The

word telephone has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around

the world

All telephones have a microphone to speak into an earphone which reproduces the

voice of the other person a ringer which makes a sound to alert the owner when a call is

coming in and a keypad

Photocopier

A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual

images quickly and cheaply Most current photocopiers use a technology called

xerography a dry process using heat

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 5: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

4 Monaghan Institute

as an interface between the different hardware devices and the user When the

computer boots up it is the operating system that we see first

Applications Software ndash software which is used to perform specific tasks For

example Word Excel Access and Internet Explorer

112 Evaluate the main components of a computer processing system

ie input output processing and backing store

A computer component is a computer part or hardware These can be divided into two

groups the components inside the tower and the components we can see

Main Components of a Computer Processing System ndash Inside the Tower

a Hard Drive

b CPU Central Processing Unit

c Motherboard

d PSU Power Supply Unit

e RAM Random Access Memory

f Modem

g Video Card

h Network Card

1) Hard Drive

Like the filing cabinet inside your computer This stores all of your

programs and files its size is measured in GB (the more GB the

more you can store) The average size today is upward of

120GB

2) CPU Central Processing Unit

The CPU stands Central Processing Unit - the brain of the computer

This is one of the smallest yet most expensive parts of a PC When

people talk about the speed of a computer they are talking about the

speed of the CPU The CPU interprets the instructions you give the

computer and then carries out the task The speed of a CPU is measured in Mhz and Ghz

(the more Mhz the faster the PC) and the bigger your CPU the faster a computer can work

Manufactures include Intel AMD and IBM

3) Motherboard

This is the main board on the computer All the components slot in or

connect to the motherboard it is a very complicated and intricate

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

5

4) PSU Power Supply Unit

This is where the mains power plugs into the computer It is located at the back of the

computer next to the fan which keeps it cool The PSU has lots of cables connected to it

which can plug into the components on the PC including the CD ROM Hard Drive Fan and

Motherboard

5) RAM Random Access Memory

RAM - stands for Random Access Memory This is a temporary type of

memory used while you are working on your computer (where your work is

saved before you actually save it) It is the memory a computer needs to

run software When you load or run software it goes into RAM If you

type something it also goes into RAM before being saved on the hard disk

When you turn your computer off all the data in RAM is lost The

performance of RAM is measured in MB the more MB of RAM a PC has

the better it can cope with big tasks like having lots of applications open at once if you have

a small amount of RAM the PC will crash and become very slow RAM can be easily added

to a computer to improve its performance

6) Modem

This is what is used to connect a computer to the internet it connects though a phone line

The performance of a modem is measured in KB The speed of modems is limited by

phone lines (that is why we now have broadband)

7) Video Card

A video card sends the picture signals from the

motherboard to the monitor The video card is

inserted into the mother board like the RAM It

interprets what needs to be displayed and passes

the message on to the monitor You can get

powerful 3D cards for games some video cards are

so fast they have to have their own fans

Performance of video cards is measured in MB (the

more lsquoMBrsquo the faster the picture appears) Average

size today is about 64mb

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

6

8) Network Card

Network cards (network interface controller) are used to

connect computers to a computer network all the computers

in the college have a network card so they can talk to each

other The speed of a network card is measured in MB per

second

From MEMORY ndash name 8 of the main components which are found inside the

tower of a computer and state briefly what they do

1) ____________________ ________________________________________________

2) ____________________ ________________________________________________

3) ____________________ ________________________________________________

4) ____________________ ________________________________________________

5) ____________________ ________________________________________________

6) ____________________ ________________________________________________

7) ____________________ ________________________________________________

8) ____________________ ________________________________________________

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

Main Components of a Computer Processing System ndash We can See

Input and Output

a Input Devices

Any device that is used to enter data into a computer system is called an input device

the following are 9 different types of input device match the numbers with the images

1 Keyboard

2 Mouse

3 Graphics Tablet

4 Microphone

5 Digital Camera

6 Scanner

7 TouchPad

8 TrackerBall

9 Joystick

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

b Output Devices

An output device is any device that is used to present data in a usable form from a

computer system is called an OUTPUT device The output may be permanent (on paper) or

may be temporary (on screen) There are many different types of OUTPUT device each

one designed to provide an efficient way of retrieving the DATA

Match the following descriptions with the name of the output device

a) Laser Printer

b) Data Projector

c) Headphones

d) Speakers

e) Inkjet Printer

f) Monitor VDU

Visual Display Unit ndash used for displaying the picture outputted from the graphics

card

Used to output noise from the computer also consider buzzers and alarms eg

burglar alarm

This printer has a print head which fires small jets of ink at the paper Head

consists of a line of jets similar to the dot matrix 600 dpi (data pixels per inch) 3

colours are magenta cyan and yellow

This printer works like a photocopier A laser beam scans the document and

then the toner is fused to the paper to form an image

Uses light bulbs to project an image which is sent from the computer to the wall

of the classroom

Just like speakers but the noise does not distract others in the same room

113 Distinguish between the various types of computer

a Mainframe

Mainframe computers are used by very large corporations and have large computing

power and storage space Modern mainframes tend to be about the size of a large

storage cabinet These computers would be stored in a special room with a large

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

8

number of terminals connected to them These computers are very powerful and

process data very quickly Main frames are very expensive and are therefore only used

by large corporations

b Mini

Mini computers have a similar arrangement to mainframe computers but are smaller ndash

typically the size of a small filing cabinet These would be used in situations where the

large power and storage of a mainframe was not required This type of computer is not

nearly as expensive as a mainframe but still retains a lot of the mainframe features

Mini computers are typically found in sizable companies

c Micro (desktop notebook palmtop)

Micro computers are by far the most common type of computer They are commonly

referred to as a PC (Personal Computer) The modern micro computer is as powerful as

a mainframe was a number of years ago they are relatively cheap and have a vast

number of programs available for them They are fast and have large storage and are

used in a wide variety of businesses there is a PC in most homes today

Dumb Terminals

Mainframe Computer

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

9

114 Evaluate the use of various input devices with reference to specific

application eg

a Keyboard

Keyboards are one of the two basic components used for data entry Keyboards use the

Qwerty typing layout similar to typewriters Keyboards usually also have a number

keypad to the right which can be used to enter numeric data

b Mouse

c Touch sensitive screen

d Microphone (voice data entry)

e Scanner

In computing an image scannermdashoften abbreviated to

just scannermdashis a device that optically scans images printed

text handwriting or an object and converts it to a digital

image Common examples found in offices are variations of

the desktop (or flatbed) scanner where the document is placed

on a glass window for scanning

f Smart Cards

A smart card chip card or integrated

circuit card (ICC) is any pocket-sized

card with embedded integrated circuits

A smart card or microprocessor cards

contain volatile memory and

microprocessor components The card

is made of plastic

Keyboard demonstration notes Write at least one keyboard shortcut

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

10

g Sensors eg alarms climate control

A sensor also called detector is a device that

measures a physical quantity and converts it into

a signal which can be read by an observer or by

an instrument Sensors are used in everyday

objects such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons

(tactile sensor) and lamps which dim or brighten

by touching the base There are also innumerable

applications for sensors of which most people are never aware Applications include cars

machines aerospace medicine manufacturing and robotics A sensor is a device which

receives and responds to a signal

Sensors are used in alarms and in climate control to detect changes and computers can

react according to the changes appropriately for eg Fire alarm burglar alarm air

conditioning and a refrigerator

115 Evaluate the use of various output devices with reference to specific

applications eg

a Printers (impact and non-impact)

An impact printer forms characters and graphics on a piece of paper by striking a

mechanism against an ink ribbon that physically contacts the paper Impact printers are

noisy and they do not print very good quality work Impact printers use a print head

containing a number of metal pins which strike an inked ribbon placed between the print

head and the paper

Nonimpact printers form characters and graphics on a piece of paper without actually

striking the paper Some of these printers use heat and pressure to create images and

some spray ink Nonimpact printers are much quieter than impact printers because they do

not strike the paper Three types of nonimpact printers that are used most often are ink-jet

printers laser printers and thermal printers The term nonimpact is important primarily in

that it distinguishes quiet printers from noisy (impact) printers

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

11

Impact Printers Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

1 Multiple copying depth- more than one page can be printed at the same time

2 No toner cartridge therefore cleaner

Disadvantage

1 They make so much noise that nobody wants them near

2 If tractor driven the perforated edge is a hassle

3 Separating the sheet forms

4 No printing on back

5 No collating

b Plotters

A plotter is a device that draws pictures on paper based on commands from a computer

Plotters differ from printers in that they draw lines using a pen they work by moving

a pen across the surface of a piece of paper As a result they can produce continuous

lines Which means that plotters are restricted to line art whereas other printers can

only simulate lines by printing a closely spaced series of dots Multicolour plotters use

different-coloured pens to draw different colons

They are often slow because of the mechanical movement of the pens and incapable of

efficiently creating a solid region of colour In general plotters are considerably more

expensive than printers They are used in engineering applications where precision is

mandatory

c Monitors

A monitor or display (visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for computers

The monitor comprises the display device circuitry and an enclosure The display

device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-

LCD) thin panel while older monitors use a cathode ray tube about as deep as the

screen size

Originally computer monitors were used for data processing while television receivers

were used for entertainment From the 1980s onwards computers (and their monitors)

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

12

have been used for both data processing and entertainment while televisions have

implemented some computer functionality

d Disks (magnetic optical and memory cards)

The normal method of storing programs and information on a computer is on a magnetic

disk or optical disk Later we will discuss the most common types of storage in SLO

118

Magnetic Disk

The data in this device is stored on a magnetic tape in the same way as an audio tape

ie sequentially In order to retrieve data from the tape it is necessary to go to the exact

point on the tape where the piece of data is stored The technology associated with tape

storage has developed and write speeds up to 15 Mbps However read speed is greatly

affected by the time taken to find the required data Therefore this type of storage

device is usually only used for archival storage

Optical Disk

Normally referred to as CDs and consist of an optical surface on to which the data is

burned using a laser beam The data is read from the disc using a laser The DVD is a

variation of the CD Discs are now available that may be reused and these are referred

to as rewritable RW discs CDs normally hold about 650 MB

Memory Cards

This is a small memory device that is used in a variety of digital equipment such as PDAs

digital cameras laptops and USBs etc It is simply an amount of RAM which may be

plugged in and out of the unit it is used in These devices are also referred to as flash

cards or memory sticks Readwrite speed is usually less than 20 Mbps

e Speakers

Computer speakers or multimedia speakers are

speakers external to a computer which disable the

lower fidelity built-in speaker and omit sound They

often have a low-power internal amplifier Computer

speakers range widely in quality and in price The

computer speakers typically packaged with computer

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

13

systems are small plastic and have mediocre sound quality Some computer speakers

have equalization features such as bass and treble controls Speakers can come in a va

rity of different formats ndash buzzers bells and speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business equipment

eg fax telephone photocopier

Fax (short for facsimile) sometimes called telecopying

is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material

(both text and images) normally to a telephone number

connected to a printer or other output device The original

document is scanned with a fax machine which

processes the contents as a single fixed graphic image

converting it into a bitmap The information is then transmitted as electrical signals

through the telephone system The receiving fax machine reconverts the coded image

printing a paper copy

Telephone

The telephone is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound most

commonly the human voice Telephones are a point-to-point communication system

whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to

each other It is one of the most common appliances in the developed world and has

long been considered indispensable to businesses households and governments The

word telephone has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around

the world

All telephones have a microphone to speak into an earphone which reproduces the

voice of the other person a ringer which makes a sound to alert the owner when a call is

coming in and a keypad

Photocopier

A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual

images quickly and cheaply Most current photocopiers use a technology called

xerography a dry process using heat

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 6: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

5

4) PSU Power Supply Unit

This is where the mains power plugs into the computer It is located at the back of the

computer next to the fan which keeps it cool The PSU has lots of cables connected to it

which can plug into the components on the PC including the CD ROM Hard Drive Fan and

Motherboard

5) RAM Random Access Memory

RAM - stands for Random Access Memory This is a temporary type of

memory used while you are working on your computer (where your work is

saved before you actually save it) It is the memory a computer needs to

run software When you load or run software it goes into RAM If you

type something it also goes into RAM before being saved on the hard disk

When you turn your computer off all the data in RAM is lost The

performance of RAM is measured in MB the more MB of RAM a PC has

the better it can cope with big tasks like having lots of applications open at once if you have

a small amount of RAM the PC will crash and become very slow RAM can be easily added

to a computer to improve its performance

6) Modem

This is what is used to connect a computer to the internet it connects though a phone line

The performance of a modem is measured in KB The speed of modems is limited by

phone lines (that is why we now have broadband)

7) Video Card

A video card sends the picture signals from the

motherboard to the monitor The video card is

inserted into the mother board like the RAM It

interprets what needs to be displayed and passes

the message on to the monitor You can get

powerful 3D cards for games some video cards are

so fast they have to have their own fans

Performance of video cards is measured in MB (the

more lsquoMBrsquo the faster the picture appears) Average

size today is about 64mb

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

6

8) Network Card

Network cards (network interface controller) are used to

connect computers to a computer network all the computers

in the college have a network card so they can talk to each

other The speed of a network card is measured in MB per

second

From MEMORY ndash name 8 of the main components which are found inside the

tower of a computer and state briefly what they do

1) ____________________ ________________________________________________

2) ____________________ ________________________________________________

3) ____________________ ________________________________________________

4) ____________________ ________________________________________________

5) ____________________ ________________________________________________

6) ____________________ ________________________________________________

7) ____________________ ________________________________________________

8) ____________________ ________________________________________________

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

Main Components of a Computer Processing System ndash We can See

Input and Output

a Input Devices

Any device that is used to enter data into a computer system is called an input device

the following are 9 different types of input device match the numbers with the images

1 Keyboard

2 Mouse

3 Graphics Tablet

4 Microphone

5 Digital Camera

6 Scanner

7 TouchPad

8 TrackerBall

9 Joystick

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

b Output Devices

An output device is any device that is used to present data in a usable form from a

computer system is called an OUTPUT device The output may be permanent (on paper) or

may be temporary (on screen) There are many different types of OUTPUT device each

one designed to provide an efficient way of retrieving the DATA

Match the following descriptions with the name of the output device

a) Laser Printer

b) Data Projector

c) Headphones

d) Speakers

e) Inkjet Printer

f) Monitor VDU

Visual Display Unit ndash used for displaying the picture outputted from the graphics

card

Used to output noise from the computer also consider buzzers and alarms eg

burglar alarm

This printer has a print head which fires small jets of ink at the paper Head

consists of a line of jets similar to the dot matrix 600 dpi (data pixels per inch) 3

colours are magenta cyan and yellow

This printer works like a photocopier A laser beam scans the document and

then the toner is fused to the paper to form an image

Uses light bulbs to project an image which is sent from the computer to the wall

of the classroom

Just like speakers but the noise does not distract others in the same room

113 Distinguish between the various types of computer

a Mainframe

Mainframe computers are used by very large corporations and have large computing

power and storage space Modern mainframes tend to be about the size of a large

storage cabinet These computers would be stored in a special room with a large

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

8

number of terminals connected to them These computers are very powerful and

process data very quickly Main frames are very expensive and are therefore only used

by large corporations

b Mini

Mini computers have a similar arrangement to mainframe computers but are smaller ndash

typically the size of a small filing cabinet These would be used in situations where the

large power and storage of a mainframe was not required This type of computer is not

nearly as expensive as a mainframe but still retains a lot of the mainframe features

Mini computers are typically found in sizable companies

c Micro (desktop notebook palmtop)

Micro computers are by far the most common type of computer They are commonly

referred to as a PC (Personal Computer) The modern micro computer is as powerful as

a mainframe was a number of years ago they are relatively cheap and have a vast

number of programs available for them They are fast and have large storage and are

used in a wide variety of businesses there is a PC in most homes today

Dumb Terminals

Mainframe Computer

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

9

114 Evaluate the use of various input devices with reference to specific

application eg

a Keyboard

Keyboards are one of the two basic components used for data entry Keyboards use the

Qwerty typing layout similar to typewriters Keyboards usually also have a number

keypad to the right which can be used to enter numeric data

b Mouse

c Touch sensitive screen

d Microphone (voice data entry)

e Scanner

In computing an image scannermdashoften abbreviated to

just scannermdashis a device that optically scans images printed

text handwriting or an object and converts it to a digital

image Common examples found in offices are variations of

the desktop (or flatbed) scanner where the document is placed

on a glass window for scanning

f Smart Cards

A smart card chip card or integrated

circuit card (ICC) is any pocket-sized

card with embedded integrated circuits

A smart card or microprocessor cards

contain volatile memory and

microprocessor components The card

is made of plastic

Keyboard demonstration notes Write at least one keyboard shortcut

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

10

g Sensors eg alarms climate control

A sensor also called detector is a device that

measures a physical quantity and converts it into

a signal which can be read by an observer or by

an instrument Sensors are used in everyday

objects such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons

(tactile sensor) and lamps which dim or brighten

by touching the base There are also innumerable

applications for sensors of which most people are never aware Applications include cars

machines aerospace medicine manufacturing and robotics A sensor is a device which

receives and responds to a signal

Sensors are used in alarms and in climate control to detect changes and computers can

react according to the changes appropriately for eg Fire alarm burglar alarm air

conditioning and a refrigerator

115 Evaluate the use of various output devices with reference to specific

applications eg

a Printers (impact and non-impact)

An impact printer forms characters and graphics on a piece of paper by striking a

mechanism against an ink ribbon that physically contacts the paper Impact printers are

noisy and they do not print very good quality work Impact printers use a print head

containing a number of metal pins which strike an inked ribbon placed between the print

head and the paper

Nonimpact printers form characters and graphics on a piece of paper without actually

striking the paper Some of these printers use heat and pressure to create images and

some spray ink Nonimpact printers are much quieter than impact printers because they do

not strike the paper Three types of nonimpact printers that are used most often are ink-jet

printers laser printers and thermal printers The term nonimpact is important primarily in

that it distinguishes quiet printers from noisy (impact) printers

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

11

Impact Printers Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

1 Multiple copying depth- more than one page can be printed at the same time

2 No toner cartridge therefore cleaner

Disadvantage

1 They make so much noise that nobody wants them near

2 If tractor driven the perforated edge is a hassle

3 Separating the sheet forms

4 No printing on back

5 No collating

b Plotters

A plotter is a device that draws pictures on paper based on commands from a computer

Plotters differ from printers in that they draw lines using a pen they work by moving

a pen across the surface of a piece of paper As a result they can produce continuous

lines Which means that plotters are restricted to line art whereas other printers can

only simulate lines by printing a closely spaced series of dots Multicolour plotters use

different-coloured pens to draw different colons

They are often slow because of the mechanical movement of the pens and incapable of

efficiently creating a solid region of colour In general plotters are considerably more

expensive than printers They are used in engineering applications where precision is

mandatory

c Monitors

A monitor or display (visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for computers

The monitor comprises the display device circuitry and an enclosure The display

device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-

LCD) thin panel while older monitors use a cathode ray tube about as deep as the

screen size

Originally computer monitors were used for data processing while television receivers

were used for entertainment From the 1980s onwards computers (and their monitors)

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

12

have been used for both data processing and entertainment while televisions have

implemented some computer functionality

d Disks (magnetic optical and memory cards)

The normal method of storing programs and information on a computer is on a magnetic

disk or optical disk Later we will discuss the most common types of storage in SLO

118

Magnetic Disk

The data in this device is stored on a magnetic tape in the same way as an audio tape

ie sequentially In order to retrieve data from the tape it is necessary to go to the exact

point on the tape where the piece of data is stored The technology associated with tape

storage has developed and write speeds up to 15 Mbps However read speed is greatly

affected by the time taken to find the required data Therefore this type of storage

device is usually only used for archival storage

Optical Disk

Normally referred to as CDs and consist of an optical surface on to which the data is

burned using a laser beam The data is read from the disc using a laser The DVD is a

variation of the CD Discs are now available that may be reused and these are referred

to as rewritable RW discs CDs normally hold about 650 MB

Memory Cards

This is a small memory device that is used in a variety of digital equipment such as PDAs

digital cameras laptops and USBs etc It is simply an amount of RAM which may be

plugged in and out of the unit it is used in These devices are also referred to as flash

cards or memory sticks Readwrite speed is usually less than 20 Mbps

e Speakers

Computer speakers or multimedia speakers are

speakers external to a computer which disable the

lower fidelity built-in speaker and omit sound They

often have a low-power internal amplifier Computer

speakers range widely in quality and in price The

computer speakers typically packaged with computer

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

13

systems are small plastic and have mediocre sound quality Some computer speakers

have equalization features such as bass and treble controls Speakers can come in a va

rity of different formats ndash buzzers bells and speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business equipment

eg fax telephone photocopier

Fax (short for facsimile) sometimes called telecopying

is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material

(both text and images) normally to a telephone number

connected to a printer or other output device The original

document is scanned with a fax machine which

processes the contents as a single fixed graphic image

converting it into a bitmap The information is then transmitted as electrical signals

through the telephone system The receiving fax machine reconverts the coded image

printing a paper copy

Telephone

The telephone is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound most

commonly the human voice Telephones are a point-to-point communication system

whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to

each other It is one of the most common appliances in the developed world and has

long been considered indispensable to businesses households and governments The

word telephone has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around

the world

All telephones have a microphone to speak into an earphone which reproduces the

voice of the other person a ringer which makes a sound to alert the owner when a call is

coming in and a keypad

Photocopier

A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual

images quickly and cheaply Most current photocopiers use a technology called

xerography a dry process using heat

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 7: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

6

8) Network Card

Network cards (network interface controller) are used to

connect computers to a computer network all the computers

in the college have a network card so they can talk to each

other The speed of a network card is measured in MB per

second

From MEMORY ndash name 8 of the main components which are found inside the

tower of a computer and state briefly what they do

1) ____________________ ________________________________________________

2) ____________________ ________________________________________________

3) ____________________ ________________________________________________

4) ____________________ ________________________________________________

5) ____________________ ________________________________________________

6) ____________________ ________________________________________________

7) ____________________ ________________________________________________

8) ____________________ ________________________________________________

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

Main Components of a Computer Processing System ndash We can See

Input and Output

a Input Devices

Any device that is used to enter data into a computer system is called an input device

the following are 9 different types of input device match the numbers with the images

1 Keyboard

2 Mouse

3 Graphics Tablet

4 Microphone

5 Digital Camera

6 Scanner

7 TouchPad

8 TrackerBall

9 Joystick

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

b Output Devices

An output device is any device that is used to present data in a usable form from a

computer system is called an OUTPUT device The output may be permanent (on paper) or

may be temporary (on screen) There are many different types of OUTPUT device each

one designed to provide an efficient way of retrieving the DATA

Match the following descriptions with the name of the output device

a) Laser Printer

b) Data Projector

c) Headphones

d) Speakers

e) Inkjet Printer

f) Monitor VDU

Visual Display Unit ndash used for displaying the picture outputted from the graphics

card

Used to output noise from the computer also consider buzzers and alarms eg

burglar alarm

This printer has a print head which fires small jets of ink at the paper Head

consists of a line of jets similar to the dot matrix 600 dpi (data pixels per inch) 3

colours are magenta cyan and yellow

This printer works like a photocopier A laser beam scans the document and

then the toner is fused to the paper to form an image

Uses light bulbs to project an image which is sent from the computer to the wall

of the classroom

Just like speakers but the noise does not distract others in the same room

113 Distinguish between the various types of computer

a Mainframe

Mainframe computers are used by very large corporations and have large computing

power and storage space Modern mainframes tend to be about the size of a large

storage cabinet These computers would be stored in a special room with a large

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

8

number of terminals connected to them These computers are very powerful and

process data very quickly Main frames are very expensive and are therefore only used

by large corporations

b Mini

Mini computers have a similar arrangement to mainframe computers but are smaller ndash

typically the size of a small filing cabinet These would be used in situations where the

large power and storage of a mainframe was not required This type of computer is not

nearly as expensive as a mainframe but still retains a lot of the mainframe features

Mini computers are typically found in sizable companies

c Micro (desktop notebook palmtop)

Micro computers are by far the most common type of computer They are commonly

referred to as a PC (Personal Computer) The modern micro computer is as powerful as

a mainframe was a number of years ago they are relatively cheap and have a vast

number of programs available for them They are fast and have large storage and are

used in a wide variety of businesses there is a PC in most homes today

Dumb Terminals

Mainframe Computer

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

9

114 Evaluate the use of various input devices with reference to specific

application eg

a Keyboard

Keyboards are one of the two basic components used for data entry Keyboards use the

Qwerty typing layout similar to typewriters Keyboards usually also have a number

keypad to the right which can be used to enter numeric data

b Mouse

c Touch sensitive screen

d Microphone (voice data entry)

e Scanner

In computing an image scannermdashoften abbreviated to

just scannermdashis a device that optically scans images printed

text handwriting or an object and converts it to a digital

image Common examples found in offices are variations of

the desktop (or flatbed) scanner where the document is placed

on a glass window for scanning

f Smart Cards

A smart card chip card or integrated

circuit card (ICC) is any pocket-sized

card with embedded integrated circuits

A smart card or microprocessor cards

contain volatile memory and

microprocessor components The card

is made of plastic

Keyboard demonstration notes Write at least one keyboard shortcut

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

10

g Sensors eg alarms climate control

A sensor also called detector is a device that

measures a physical quantity and converts it into

a signal which can be read by an observer or by

an instrument Sensors are used in everyday

objects such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons

(tactile sensor) and lamps which dim or brighten

by touching the base There are also innumerable

applications for sensors of which most people are never aware Applications include cars

machines aerospace medicine manufacturing and robotics A sensor is a device which

receives and responds to a signal

Sensors are used in alarms and in climate control to detect changes and computers can

react according to the changes appropriately for eg Fire alarm burglar alarm air

conditioning and a refrigerator

115 Evaluate the use of various output devices with reference to specific

applications eg

a Printers (impact and non-impact)

An impact printer forms characters and graphics on a piece of paper by striking a

mechanism against an ink ribbon that physically contacts the paper Impact printers are

noisy and they do not print very good quality work Impact printers use a print head

containing a number of metal pins which strike an inked ribbon placed between the print

head and the paper

Nonimpact printers form characters and graphics on a piece of paper without actually

striking the paper Some of these printers use heat and pressure to create images and

some spray ink Nonimpact printers are much quieter than impact printers because they do

not strike the paper Three types of nonimpact printers that are used most often are ink-jet

printers laser printers and thermal printers The term nonimpact is important primarily in

that it distinguishes quiet printers from noisy (impact) printers

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

11

Impact Printers Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

1 Multiple copying depth- more than one page can be printed at the same time

2 No toner cartridge therefore cleaner

Disadvantage

1 They make so much noise that nobody wants them near

2 If tractor driven the perforated edge is a hassle

3 Separating the sheet forms

4 No printing on back

5 No collating

b Plotters

A plotter is a device that draws pictures on paper based on commands from a computer

Plotters differ from printers in that they draw lines using a pen they work by moving

a pen across the surface of a piece of paper As a result they can produce continuous

lines Which means that plotters are restricted to line art whereas other printers can

only simulate lines by printing a closely spaced series of dots Multicolour plotters use

different-coloured pens to draw different colons

They are often slow because of the mechanical movement of the pens and incapable of

efficiently creating a solid region of colour In general plotters are considerably more

expensive than printers They are used in engineering applications where precision is

mandatory

c Monitors

A monitor or display (visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for computers

The monitor comprises the display device circuitry and an enclosure The display

device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-

LCD) thin panel while older monitors use a cathode ray tube about as deep as the

screen size

Originally computer monitors were used for data processing while television receivers

were used for entertainment From the 1980s onwards computers (and their monitors)

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

12

have been used for both data processing and entertainment while televisions have

implemented some computer functionality

d Disks (magnetic optical and memory cards)

The normal method of storing programs and information on a computer is on a magnetic

disk or optical disk Later we will discuss the most common types of storage in SLO

118

Magnetic Disk

The data in this device is stored on a magnetic tape in the same way as an audio tape

ie sequentially In order to retrieve data from the tape it is necessary to go to the exact

point on the tape where the piece of data is stored The technology associated with tape

storage has developed and write speeds up to 15 Mbps However read speed is greatly

affected by the time taken to find the required data Therefore this type of storage

device is usually only used for archival storage

Optical Disk

Normally referred to as CDs and consist of an optical surface on to which the data is

burned using a laser beam The data is read from the disc using a laser The DVD is a

variation of the CD Discs are now available that may be reused and these are referred

to as rewritable RW discs CDs normally hold about 650 MB

Memory Cards

This is a small memory device that is used in a variety of digital equipment such as PDAs

digital cameras laptops and USBs etc It is simply an amount of RAM which may be

plugged in and out of the unit it is used in These devices are also referred to as flash

cards or memory sticks Readwrite speed is usually less than 20 Mbps

e Speakers

Computer speakers or multimedia speakers are

speakers external to a computer which disable the

lower fidelity built-in speaker and omit sound They

often have a low-power internal amplifier Computer

speakers range widely in quality and in price The

computer speakers typically packaged with computer

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

13

systems are small plastic and have mediocre sound quality Some computer speakers

have equalization features such as bass and treble controls Speakers can come in a va

rity of different formats ndash buzzers bells and speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business equipment

eg fax telephone photocopier

Fax (short for facsimile) sometimes called telecopying

is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material

(both text and images) normally to a telephone number

connected to a printer or other output device The original

document is scanned with a fax machine which

processes the contents as a single fixed graphic image

converting it into a bitmap The information is then transmitted as electrical signals

through the telephone system The receiving fax machine reconverts the coded image

printing a paper copy

Telephone

The telephone is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound most

commonly the human voice Telephones are a point-to-point communication system

whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to

each other It is one of the most common appliances in the developed world and has

long been considered indispensable to businesses households and governments The

word telephone has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around

the world

All telephones have a microphone to speak into an earphone which reproduces the

voice of the other person a ringer which makes a sound to alert the owner when a call is

coming in and a keypad

Photocopier

A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual

images quickly and cheaply Most current photocopiers use a technology called

xerography a dry process using heat

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 8: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

Main Components of a Computer Processing System ndash We can See

Input and Output

a Input Devices

Any device that is used to enter data into a computer system is called an input device

the following are 9 different types of input device match the numbers with the images

1 Keyboard

2 Mouse

3 Graphics Tablet

4 Microphone

5 Digital Camera

6 Scanner

7 TouchPad

8 TrackerBall

9 Joystick

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

b Output Devices

An output device is any device that is used to present data in a usable form from a

computer system is called an OUTPUT device The output may be permanent (on paper) or

may be temporary (on screen) There are many different types of OUTPUT device each

one designed to provide an efficient way of retrieving the DATA

Match the following descriptions with the name of the output device

a) Laser Printer

b) Data Projector

c) Headphones

d) Speakers

e) Inkjet Printer

f) Monitor VDU

Visual Display Unit ndash used for displaying the picture outputted from the graphics

card

Used to output noise from the computer also consider buzzers and alarms eg

burglar alarm

This printer has a print head which fires small jets of ink at the paper Head

consists of a line of jets similar to the dot matrix 600 dpi (data pixels per inch) 3

colours are magenta cyan and yellow

This printer works like a photocopier A laser beam scans the document and

then the toner is fused to the paper to form an image

Uses light bulbs to project an image which is sent from the computer to the wall

of the classroom

Just like speakers but the noise does not distract others in the same room

113 Distinguish between the various types of computer

a Mainframe

Mainframe computers are used by very large corporations and have large computing

power and storage space Modern mainframes tend to be about the size of a large

storage cabinet These computers would be stored in a special room with a large

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

8

number of terminals connected to them These computers are very powerful and

process data very quickly Main frames are very expensive and are therefore only used

by large corporations

b Mini

Mini computers have a similar arrangement to mainframe computers but are smaller ndash

typically the size of a small filing cabinet These would be used in situations where the

large power and storage of a mainframe was not required This type of computer is not

nearly as expensive as a mainframe but still retains a lot of the mainframe features

Mini computers are typically found in sizable companies

c Micro (desktop notebook palmtop)

Micro computers are by far the most common type of computer They are commonly

referred to as a PC (Personal Computer) The modern micro computer is as powerful as

a mainframe was a number of years ago they are relatively cheap and have a vast

number of programs available for them They are fast and have large storage and are

used in a wide variety of businesses there is a PC in most homes today

Dumb Terminals

Mainframe Computer

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

9

114 Evaluate the use of various input devices with reference to specific

application eg

a Keyboard

Keyboards are one of the two basic components used for data entry Keyboards use the

Qwerty typing layout similar to typewriters Keyboards usually also have a number

keypad to the right which can be used to enter numeric data

b Mouse

c Touch sensitive screen

d Microphone (voice data entry)

e Scanner

In computing an image scannermdashoften abbreviated to

just scannermdashis a device that optically scans images printed

text handwriting or an object and converts it to a digital

image Common examples found in offices are variations of

the desktop (or flatbed) scanner where the document is placed

on a glass window for scanning

f Smart Cards

A smart card chip card or integrated

circuit card (ICC) is any pocket-sized

card with embedded integrated circuits

A smart card or microprocessor cards

contain volatile memory and

microprocessor components The card

is made of plastic

Keyboard demonstration notes Write at least one keyboard shortcut

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

10

g Sensors eg alarms climate control

A sensor also called detector is a device that

measures a physical quantity and converts it into

a signal which can be read by an observer or by

an instrument Sensors are used in everyday

objects such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons

(tactile sensor) and lamps which dim or brighten

by touching the base There are also innumerable

applications for sensors of which most people are never aware Applications include cars

machines aerospace medicine manufacturing and robotics A sensor is a device which

receives and responds to a signal

Sensors are used in alarms and in climate control to detect changes and computers can

react according to the changes appropriately for eg Fire alarm burglar alarm air

conditioning and a refrigerator

115 Evaluate the use of various output devices with reference to specific

applications eg

a Printers (impact and non-impact)

An impact printer forms characters and graphics on a piece of paper by striking a

mechanism against an ink ribbon that physically contacts the paper Impact printers are

noisy and they do not print very good quality work Impact printers use a print head

containing a number of metal pins which strike an inked ribbon placed between the print

head and the paper

Nonimpact printers form characters and graphics on a piece of paper without actually

striking the paper Some of these printers use heat and pressure to create images and

some spray ink Nonimpact printers are much quieter than impact printers because they do

not strike the paper Three types of nonimpact printers that are used most often are ink-jet

printers laser printers and thermal printers The term nonimpact is important primarily in

that it distinguishes quiet printers from noisy (impact) printers

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

11

Impact Printers Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

1 Multiple copying depth- more than one page can be printed at the same time

2 No toner cartridge therefore cleaner

Disadvantage

1 They make so much noise that nobody wants them near

2 If tractor driven the perforated edge is a hassle

3 Separating the sheet forms

4 No printing on back

5 No collating

b Plotters

A plotter is a device that draws pictures on paper based on commands from a computer

Plotters differ from printers in that they draw lines using a pen they work by moving

a pen across the surface of a piece of paper As a result they can produce continuous

lines Which means that plotters are restricted to line art whereas other printers can

only simulate lines by printing a closely spaced series of dots Multicolour plotters use

different-coloured pens to draw different colons

They are often slow because of the mechanical movement of the pens and incapable of

efficiently creating a solid region of colour In general plotters are considerably more

expensive than printers They are used in engineering applications where precision is

mandatory

c Monitors

A monitor or display (visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for computers

The monitor comprises the display device circuitry and an enclosure The display

device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-

LCD) thin panel while older monitors use a cathode ray tube about as deep as the

screen size

Originally computer monitors were used for data processing while television receivers

were used for entertainment From the 1980s onwards computers (and their monitors)

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

12

have been used for both data processing and entertainment while televisions have

implemented some computer functionality

d Disks (magnetic optical and memory cards)

The normal method of storing programs and information on a computer is on a magnetic

disk or optical disk Later we will discuss the most common types of storage in SLO

118

Magnetic Disk

The data in this device is stored on a magnetic tape in the same way as an audio tape

ie sequentially In order to retrieve data from the tape it is necessary to go to the exact

point on the tape where the piece of data is stored The technology associated with tape

storage has developed and write speeds up to 15 Mbps However read speed is greatly

affected by the time taken to find the required data Therefore this type of storage

device is usually only used for archival storage

Optical Disk

Normally referred to as CDs and consist of an optical surface on to which the data is

burned using a laser beam The data is read from the disc using a laser The DVD is a

variation of the CD Discs are now available that may be reused and these are referred

to as rewritable RW discs CDs normally hold about 650 MB

Memory Cards

This is a small memory device that is used in a variety of digital equipment such as PDAs

digital cameras laptops and USBs etc It is simply an amount of RAM which may be

plugged in and out of the unit it is used in These devices are also referred to as flash

cards or memory sticks Readwrite speed is usually less than 20 Mbps

e Speakers

Computer speakers or multimedia speakers are

speakers external to a computer which disable the

lower fidelity built-in speaker and omit sound They

often have a low-power internal amplifier Computer

speakers range widely in quality and in price The

computer speakers typically packaged with computer

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

13

systems are small plastic and have mediocre sound quality Some computer speakers

have equalization features such as bass and treble controls Speakers can come in a va

rity of different formats ndash buzzers bells and speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business equipment

eg fax telephone photocopier

Fax (short for facsimile) sometimes called telecopying

is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material

(both text and images) normally to a telephone number

connected to a printer or other output device The original

document is scanned with a fax machine which

processes the contents as a single fixed graphic image

converting it into a bitmap The information is then transmitted as electrical signals

through the telephone system The receiving fax machine reconverts the coded image

printing a paper copy

Telephone

The telephone is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound most

commonly the human voice Telephones are a point-to-point communication system

whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to

each other It is one of the most common appliances in the developed world and has

long been considered indispensable to businesses households and governments The

word telephone has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around

the world

All telephones have a microphone to speak into an earphone which reproduces the

voice of the other person a ringer which makes a sound to alert the owner when a call is

coming in and a keypad

Photocopier

A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual

images quickly and cheaply Most current photocopiers use a technology called

xerography a dry process using heat

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 9: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

7

b Output Devices

An output device is any device that is used to present data in a usable form from a

computer system is called an OUTPUT device The output may be permanent (on paper) or

may be temporary (on screen) There are many different types of OUTPUT device each

one designed to provide an efficient way of retrieving the DATA

Match the following descriptions with the name of the output device

a) Laser Printer

b) Data Projector

c) Headphones

d) Speakers

e) Inkjet Printer

f) Monitor VDU

Visual Display Unit ndash used for displaying the picture outputted from the graphics

card

Used to output noise from the computer also consider buzzers and alarms eg

burglar alarm

This printer has a print head which fires small jets of ink at the paper Head

consists of a line of jets similar to the dot matrix 600 dpi (data pixels per inch) 3

colours are magenta cyan and yellow

This printer works like a photocopier A laser beam scans the document and

then the toner is fused to the paper to form an image

Uses light bulbs to project an image which is sent from the computer to the wall

of the classroom

Just like speakers but the noise does not distract others in the same room

113 Distinguish between the various types of computer

a Mainframe

Mainframe computers are used by very large corporations and have large computing

power and storage space Modern mainframes tend to be about the size of a large

storage cabinet These computers would be stored in a special room with a large

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

8

number of terminals connected to them These computers are very powerful and

process data very quickly Main frames are very expensive and are therefore only used

by large corporations

b Mini

Mini computers have a similar arrangement to mainframe computers but are smaller ndash

typically the size of a small filing cabinet These would be used in situations where the

large power and storage of a mainframe was not required This type of computer is not

nearly as expensive as a mainframe but still retains a lot of the mainframe features

Mini computers are typically found in sizable companies

c Micro (desktop notebook palmtop)

Micro computers are by far the most common type of computer They are commonly

referred to as a PC (Personal Computer) The modern micro computer is as powerful as

a mainframe was a number of years ago they are relatively cheap and have a vast

number of programs available for them They are fast and have large storage and are

used in a wide variety of businesses there is a PC in most homes today

Dumb Terminals

Mainframe Computer

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

9

114 Evaluate the use of various input devices with reference to specific

application eg

a Keyboard

Keyboards are one of the two basic components used for data entry Keyboards use the

Qwerty typing layout similar to typewriters Keyboards usually also have a number

keypad to the right which can be used to enter numeric data

b Mouse

c Touch sensitive screen

d Microphone (voice data entry)

e Scanner

In computing an image scannermdashoften abbreviated to

just scannermdashis a device that optically scans images printed

text handwriting or an object and converts it to a digital

image Common examples found in offices are variations of

the desktop (or flatbed) scanner where the document is placed

on a glass window for scanning

f Smart Cards

A smart card chip card or integrated

circuit card (ICC) is any pocket-sized

card with embedded integrated circuits

A smart card or microprocessor cards

contain volatile memory and

microprocessor components The card

is made of plastic

Keyboard demonstration notes Write at least one keyboard shortcut

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

10

g Sensors eg alarms climate control

A sensor also called detector is a device that

measures a physical quantity and converts it into

a signal which can be read by an observer or by

an instrument Sensors are used in everyday

objects such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons

(tactile sensor) and lamps which dim or brighten

by touching the base There are also innumerable

applications for sensors of which most people are never aware Applications include cars

machines aerospace medicine manufacturing and robotics A sensor is a device which

receives and responds to a signal

Sensors are used in alarms and in climate control to detect changes and computers can

react according to the changes appropriately for eg Fire alarm burglar alarm air

conditioning and a refrigerator

115 Evaluate the use of various output devices with reference to specific

applications eg

a Printers (impact and non-impact)

An impact printer forms characters and graphics on a piece of paper by striking a

mechanism against an ink ribbon that physically contacts the paper Impact printers are

noisy and they do not print very good quality work Impact printers use a print head

containing a number of metal pins which strike an inked ribbon placed between the print

head and the paper

Nonimpact printers form characters and graphics on a piece of paper without actually

striking the paper Some of these printers use heat and pressure to create images and

some spray ink Nonimpact printers are much quieter than impact printers because they do

not strike the paper Three types of nonimpact printers that are used most often are ink-jet

printers laser printers and thermal printers The term nonimpact is important primarily in

that it distinguishes quiet printers from noisy (impact) printers

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

11

Impact Printers Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

1 Multiple copying depth- more than one page can be printed at the same time

2 No toner cartridge therefore cleaner

Disadvantage

1 They make so much noise that nobody wants them near

2 If tractor driven the perforated edge is a hassle

3 Separating the sheet forms

4 No printing on back

5 No collating

b Plotters

A plotter is a device that draws pictures on paper based on commands from a computer

Plotters differ from printers in that they draw lines using a pen they work by moving

a pen across the surface of a piece of paper As a result they can produce continuous

lines Which means that plotters are restricted to line art whereas other printers can

only simulate lines by printing a closely spaced series of dots Multicolour plotters use

different-coloured pens to draw different colons

They are often slow because of the mechanical movement of the pens and incapable of

efficiently creating a solid region of colour In general plotters are considerably more

expensive than printers They are used in engineering applications where precision is

mandatory

c Monitors

A monitor or display (visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for computers

The monitor comprises the display device circuitry and an enclosure The display

device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-

LCD) thin panel while older monitors use a cathode ray tube about as deep as the

screen size

Originally computer monitors were used for data processing while television receivers

were used for entertainment From the 1980s onwards computers (and their monitors)

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

12

have been used for both data processing and entertainment while televisions have

implemented some computer functionality

d Disks (magnetic optical and memory cards)

The normal method of storing programs and information on a computer is on a magnetic

disk or optical disk Later we will discuss the most common types of storage in SLO

118

Magnetic Disk

The data in this device is stored on a magnetic tape in the same way as an audio tape

ie sequentially In order to retrieve data from the tape it is necessary to go to the exact

point on the tape where the piece of data is stored The technology associated with tape

storage has developed and write speeds up to 15 Mbps However read speed is greatly

affected by the time taken to find the required data Therefore this type of storage

device is usually only used for archival storage

Optical Disk

Normally referred to as CDs and consist of an optical surface on to which the data is

burned using a laser beam The data is read from the disc using a laser The DVD is a

variation of the CD Discs are now available that may be reused and these are referred

to as rewritable RW discs CDs normally hold about 650 MB

Memory Cards

This is a small memory device that is used in a variety of digital equipment such as PDAs

digital cameras laptops and USBs etc It is simply an amount of RAM which may be

plugged in and out of the unit it is used in These devices are also referred to as flash

cards or memory sticks Readwrite speed is usually less than 20 Mbps

e Speakers

Computer speakers or multimedia speakers are

speakers external to a computer which disable the

lower fidelity built-in speaker and omit sound They

often have a low-power internal amplifier Computer

speakers range widely in quality and in price The

computer speakers typically packaged with computer

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

13

systems are small plastic and have mediocre sound quality Some computer speakers

have equalization features such as bass and treble controls Speakers can come in a va

rity of different formats ndash buzzers bells and speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business equipment

eg fax telephone photocopier

Fax (short for facsimile) sometimes called telecopying

is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material

(both text and images) normally to a telephone number

connected to a printer or other output device The original

document is scanned with a fax machine which

processes the contents as a single fixed graphic image

converting it into a bitmap The information is then transmitted as electrical signals

through the telephone system The receiving fax machine reconverts the coded image

printing a paper copy

Telephone

The telephone is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound most

commonly the human voice Telephones are a point-to-point communication system

whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to

each other It is one of the most common appliances in the developed world and has

long been considered indispensable to businesses households and governments The

word telephone has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around

the world

All telephones have a microphone to speak into an earphone which reproduces the

voice of the other person a ringer which makes a sound to alert the owner when a call is

coming in and a keypad

Photocopier

A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual

images quickly and cheaply Most current photocopiers use a technology called

xerography a dry process using heat

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 10: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

8

number of terminals connected to them These computers are very powerful and

process data very quickly Main frames are very expensive and are therefore only used

by large corporations

b Mini

Mini computers have a similar arrangement to mainframe computers but are smaller ndash

typically the size of a small filing cabinet These would be used in situations where the

large power and storage of a mainframe was not required This type of computer is not

nearly as expensive as a mainframe but still retains a lot of the mainframe features

Mini computers are typically found in sizable companies

c Micro (desktop notebook palmtop)

Micro computers are by far the most common type of computer They are commonly

referred to as a PC (Personal Computer) The modern micro computer is as powerful as

a mainframe was a number of years ago they are relatively cheap and have a vast

number of programs available for them They are fast and have large storage and are

used in a wide variety of businesses there is a PC in most homes today

Dumb Terminals

Mainframe Computer

NOTES

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

9

114 Evaluate the use of various input devices with reference to specific

application eg

a Keyboard

Keyboards are one of the two basic components used for data entry Keyboards use the

Qwerty typing layout similar to typewriters Keyboards usually also have a number

keypad to the right which can be used to enter numeric data

b Mouse

c Touch sensitive screen

d Microphone (voice data entry)

e Scanner

In computing an image scannermdashoften abbreviated to

just scannermdashis a device that optically scans images printed

text handwriting or an object and converts it to a digital

image Common examples found in offices are variations of

the desktop (or flatbed) scanner where the document is placed

on a glass window for scanning

f Smart Cards

A smart card chip card or integrated

circuit card (ICC) is any pocket-sized

card with embedded integrated circuits

A smart card or microprocessor cards

contain volatile memory and

microprocessor components The card

is made of plastic

Keyboard demonstration notes Write at least one keyboard shortcut

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

10

g Sensors eg alarms climate control

A sensor also called detector is a device that

measures a physical quantity and converts it into

a signal which can be read by an observer or by

an instrument Sensors are used in everyday

objects such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons

(tactile sensor) and lamps which dim or brighten

by touching the base There are also innumerable

applications for sensors of which most people are never aware Applications include cars

machines aerospace medicine manufacturing and robotics A sensor is a device which

receives and responds to a signal

Sensors are used in alarms and in climate control to detect changes and computers can

react according to the changes appropriately for eg Fire alarm burglar alarm air

conditioning and a refrigerator

115 Evaluate the use of various output devices with reference to specific

applications eg

a Printers (impact and non-impact)

An impact printer forms characters and graphics on a piece of paper by striking a

mechanism against an ink ribbon that physically contacts the paper Impact printers are

noisy and they do not print very good quality work Impact printers use a print head

containing a number of metal pins which strike an inked ribbon placed between the print

head and the paper

Nonimpact printers form characters and graphics on a piece of paper without actually

striking the paper Some of these printers use heat and pressure to create images and

some spray ink Nonimpact printers are much quieter than impact printers because they do

not strike the paper Three types of nonimpact printers that are used most often are ink-jet

printers laser printers and thermal printers The term nonimpact is important primarily in

that it distinguishes quiet printers from noisy (impact) printers

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

11

Impact Printers Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

1 Multiple copying depth- more than one page can be printed at the same time

2 No toner cartridge therefore cleaner

Disadvantage

1 They make so much noise that nobody wants them near

2 If tractor driven the perforated edge is a hassle

3 Separating the sheet forms

4 No printing on back

5 No collating

b Plotters

A plotter is a device that draws pictures on paper based on commands from a computer

Plotters differ from printers in that they draw lines using a pen they work by moving

a pen across the surface of a piece of paper As a result they can produce continuous

lines Which means that plotters are restricted to line art whereas other printers can

only simulate lines by printing a closely spaced series of dots Multicolour plotters use

different-coloured pens to draw different colons

They are often slow because of the mechanical movement of the pens and incapable of

efficiently creating a solid region of colour In general plotters are considerably more

expensive than printers They are used in engineering applications where precision is

mandatory

c Monitors

A monitor or display (visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for computers

The monitor comprises the display device circuitry and an enclosure The display

device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-

LCD) thin panel while older monitors use a cathode ray tube about as deep as the

screen size

Originally computer monitors were used for data processing while television receivers

were used for entertainment From the 1980s onwards computers (and their monitors)

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

12

have been used for both data processing and entertainment while televisions have

implemented some computer functionality

d Disks (magnetic optical and memory cards)

The normal method of storing programs and information on a computer is on a magnetic

disk or optical disk Later we will discuss the most common types of storage in SLO

118

Magnetic Disk

The data in this device is stored on a magnetic tape in the same way as an audio tape

ie sequentially In order to retrieve data from the tape it is necessary to go to the exact

point on the tape where the piece of data is stored The technology associated with tape

storage has developed and write speeds up to 15 Mbps However read speed is greatly

affected by the time taken to find the required data Therefore this type of storage

device is usually only used for archival storage

Optical Disk

Normally referred to as CDs and consist of an optical surface on to which the data is

burned using a laser beam The data is read from the disc using a laser The DVD is a

variation of the CD Discs are now available that may be reused and these are referred

to as rewritable RW discs CDs normally hold about 650 MB

Memory Cards

This is a small memory device that is used in a variety of digital equipment such as PDAs

digital cameras laptops and USBs etc It is simply an amount of RAM which may be

plugged in and out of the unit it is used in These devices are also referred to as flash

cards or memory sticks Readwrite speed is usually less than 20 Mbps

e Speakers

Computer speakers or multimedia speakers are

speakers external to a computer which disable the

lower fidelity built-in speaker and omit sound They

often have a low-power internal amplifier Computer

speakers range widely in quality and in price The

computer speakers typically packaged with computer

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

13

systems are small plastic and have mediocre sound quality Some computer speakers

have equalization features such as bass and treble controls Speakers can come in a va

rity of different formats ndash buzzers bells and speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business equipment

eg fax telephone photocopier

Fax (short for facsimile) sometimes called telecopying

is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material

(both text and images) normally to a telephone number

connected to a printer or other output device The original

document is scanned with a fax machine which

processes the contents as a single fixed graphic image

converting it into a bitmap The information is then transmitted as electrical signals

through the telephone system The receiving fax machine reconverts the coded image

printing a paper copy

Telephone

The telephone is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound most

commonly the human voice Telephones are a point-to-point communication system

whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to

each other It is one of the most common appliances in the developed world and has

long been considered indispensable to businesses households and governments The

word telephone has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around

the world

All telephones have a microphone to speak into an earphone which reproduces the

voice of the other person a ringer which makes a sound to alert the owner when a call is

coming in and a keypad

Photocopier

A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual

images quickly and cheaply Most current photocopiers use a technology called

xerography a dry process using heat

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 11: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

9

114 Evaluate the use of various input devices with reference to specific

application eg

a Keyboard

Keyboards are one of the two basic components used for data entry Keyboards use the

Qwerty typing layout similar to typewriters Keyboards usually also have a number

keypad to the right which can be used to enter numeric data

b Mouse

c Touch sensitive screen

d Microphone (voice data entry)

e Scanner

In computing an image scannermdashoften abbreviated to

just scannermdashis a device that optically scans images printed

text handwriting or an object and converts it to a digital

image Common examples found in offices are variations of

the desktop (or flatbed) scanner where the document is placed

on a glass window for scanning

f Smart Cards

A smart card chip card or integrated

circuit card (ICC) is any pocket-sized

card with embedded integrated circuits

A smart card or microprocessor cards

contain volatile memory and

microprocessor components The card

is made of plastic

Keyboard demonstration notes Write at least one keyboard shortcut

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

10

g Sensors eg alarms climate control

A sensor also called detector is a device that

measures a physical quantity and converts it into

a signal which can be read by an observer or by

an instrument Sensors are used in everyday

objects such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons

(tactile sensor) and lamps which dim or brighten

by touching the base There are also innumerable

applications for sensors of which most people are never aware Applications include cars

machines aerospace medicine manufacturing and robotics A sensor is a device which

receives and responds to a signal

Sensors are used in alarms and in climate control to detect changes and computers can

react according to the changes appropriately for eg Fire alarm burglar alarm air

conditioning and a refrigerator

115 Evaluate the use of various output devices with reference to specific

applications eg

a Printers (impact and non-impact)

An impact printer forms characters and graphics on a piece of paper by striking a

mechanism against an ink ribbon that physically contacts the paper Impact printers are

noisy and they do not print very good quality work Impact printers use a print head

containing a number of metal pins which strike an inked ribbon placed between the print

head and the paper

Nonimpact printers form characters and graphics on a piece of paper without actually

striking the paper Some of these printers use heat and pressure to create images and

some spray ink Nonimpact printers are much quieter than impact printers because they do

not strike the paper Three types of nonimpact printers that are used most often are ink-jet

printers laser printers and thermal printers The term nonimpact is important primarily in

that it distinguishes quiet printers from noisy (impact) printers

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

11

Impact Printers Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

1 Multiple copying depth- more than one page can be printed at the same time

2 No toner cartridge therefore cleaner

Disadvantage

1 They make so much noise that nobody wants them near

2 If tractor driven the perforated edge is a hassle

3 Separating the sheet forms

4 No printing on back

5 No collating

b Plotters

A plotter is a device that draws pictures on paper based on commands from a computer

Plotters differ from printers in that they draw lines using a pen they work by moving

a pen across the surface of a piece of paper As a result they can produce continuous

lines Which means that plotters are restricted to line art whereas other printers can

only simulate lines by printing a closely spaced series of dots Multicolour plotters use

different-coloured pens to draw different colons

They are often slow because of the mechanical movement of the pens and incapable of

efficiently creating a solid region of colour In general plotters are considerably more

expensive than printers They are used in engineering applications where precision is

mandatory

c Monitors

A monitor or display (visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for computers

The monitor comprises the display device circuitry and an enclosure The display

device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-

LCD) thin panel while older monitors use a cathode ray tube about as deep as the

screen size

Originally computer monitors were used for data processing while television receivers

were used for entertainment From the 1980s onwards computers (and their monitors)

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

12

have been used for both data processing and entertainment while televisions have

implemented some computer functionality

d Disks (magnetic optical and memory cards)

The normal method of storing programs and information on a computer is on a magnetic

disk or optical disk Later we will discuss the most common types of storage in SLO

118

Magnetic Disk

The data in this device is stored on a magnetic tape in the same way as an audio tape

ie sequentially In order to retrieve data from the tape it is necessary to go to the exact

point on the tape where the piece of data is stored The technology associated with tape

storage has developed and write speeds up to 15 Mbps However read speed is greatly

affected by the time taken to find the required data Therefore this type of storage

device is usually only used for archival storage

Optical Disk

Normally referred to as CDs and consist of an optical surface on to which the data is

burned using a laser beam The data is read from the disc using a laser The DVD is a

variation of the CD Discs are now available that may be reused and these are referred

to as rewritable RW discs CDs normally hold about 650 MB

Memory Cards

This is a small memory device that is used in a variety of digital equipment such as PDAs

digital cameras laptops and USBs etc It is simply an amount of RAM which may be

plugged in and out of the unit it is used in These devices are also referred to as flash

cards or memory sticks Readwrite speed is usually less than 20 Mbps

e Speakers

Computer speakers or multimedia speakers are

speakers external to a computer which disable the

lower fidelity built-in speaker and omit sound They

often have a low-power internal amplifier Computer

speakers range widely in quality and in price The

computer speakers typically packaged with computer

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

13

systems are small plastic and have mediocre sound quality Some computer speakers

have equalization features such as bass and treble controls Speakers can come in a va

rity of different formats ndash buzzers bells and speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business equipment

eg fax telephone photocopier

Fax (short for facsimile) sometimes called telecopying

is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material

(both text and images) normally to a telephone number

connected to a printer or other output device The original

document is scanned with a fax machine which

processes the contents as a single fixed graphic image

converting it into a bitmap The information is then transmitted as electrical signals

through the telephone system The receiving fax machine reconverts the coded image

printing a paper copy

Telephone

The telephone is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound most

commonly the human voice Telephones are a point-to-point communication system

whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to

each other It is one of the most common appliances in the developed world and has

long been considered indispensable to businesses households and governments The

word telephone has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around

the world

All telephones have a microphone to speak into an earphone which reproduces the

voice of the other person a ringer which makes a sound to alert the owner when a call is

coming in and a keypad

Photocopier

A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual

images quickly and cheaply Most current photocopiers use a technology called

xerography a dry process using heat

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 12: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

10

g Sensors eg alarms climate control

A sensor also called detector is a device that

measures a physical quantity and converts it into

a signal which can be read by an observer or by

an instrument Sensors are used in everyday

objects such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons

(tactile sensor) and lamps which dim or brighten

by touching the base There are also innumerable

applications for sensors of which most people are never aware Applications include cars

machines aerospace medicine manufacturing and robotics A sensor is a device which

receives and responds to a signal

Sensors are used in alarms and in climate control to detect changes and computers can

react according to the changes appropriately for eg Fire alarm burglar alarm air

conditioning and a refrigerator

115 Evaluate the use of various output devices with reference to specific

applications eg

a Printers (impact and non-impact)

An impact printer forms characters and graphics on a piece of paper by striking a

mechanism against an ink ribbon that physically contacts the paper Impact printers are

noisy and they do not print very good quality work Impact printers use a print head

containing a number of metal pins which strike an inked ribbon placed between the print

head and the paper

Nonimpact printers form characters and graphics on a piece of paper without actually

striking the paper Some of these printers use heat and pressure to create images and

some spray ink Nonimpact printers are much quieter than impact printers because they do

not strike the paper Three types of nonimpact printers that are used most often are ink-jet

printers laser printers and thermal printers The term nonimpact is important primarily in

that it distinguishes quiet printers from noisy (impact) printers

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

11

Impact Printers Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

1 Multiple copying depth- more than one page can be printed at the same time

2 No toner cartridge therefore cleaner

Disadvantage

1 They make so much noise that nobody wants them near

2 If tractor driven the perforated edge is a hassle

3 Separating the sheet forms

4 No printing on back

5 No collating

b Plotters

A plotter is a device that draws pictures on paper based on commands from a computer

Plotters differ from printers in that they draw lines using a pen they work by moving

a pen across the surface of a piece of paper As a result they can produce continuous

lines Which means that plotters are restricted to line art whereas other printers can

only simulate lines by printing a closely spaced series of dots Multicolour plotters use

different-coloured pens to draw different colons

They are often slow because of the mechanical movement of the pens and incapable of

efficiently creating a solid region of colour In general plotters are considerably more

expensive than printers They are used in engineering applications where precision is

mandatory

c Monitors

A monitor or display (visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for computers

The monitor comprises the display device circuitry and an enclosure The display

device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-

LCD) thin panel while older monitors use a cathode ray tube about as deep as the

screen size

Originally computer monitors were used for data processing while television receivers

were used for entertainment From the 1980s onwards computers (and their monitors)

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

12

have been used for both data processing and entertainment while televisions have

implemented some computer functionality

d Disks (magnetic optical and memory cards)

The normal method of storing programs and information on a computer is on a magnetic

disk or optical disk Later we will discuss the most common types of storage in SLO

118

Magnetic Disk

The data in this device is stored on a magnetic tape in the same way as an audio tape

ie sequentially In order to retrieve data from the tape it is necessary to go to the exact

point on the tape where the piece of data is stored The technology associated with tape

storage has developed and write speeds up to 15 Mbps However read speed is greatly

affected by the time taken to find the required data Therefore this type of storage

device is usually only used for archival storage

Optical Disk

Normally referred to as CDs and consist of an optical surface on to which the data is

burned using a laser beam The data is read from the disc using a laser The DVD is a

variation of the CD Discs are now available that may be reused and these are referred

to as rewritable RW discs CDs normally hold about 650 MB

Memory Cards

This is a small memory device that is used in a variety of digital equipment such as PDAs

digital cameras laptops and USBs etc It is simply an amount of RAM which may be

plugged in and out of the unit it is used in These devices are also referred to as flash

cards or memory sticks Readwrite speed is usually less than 20 Mbps

e Speakers

Computer speakers or multimedia speakers are

speakers external to a computer which disable the

lower fidelity built-in speaker and omit sound They

often have a low-power internal amplifier Computer

speakers range widely in quality and in price The

computer speakers typically packaged with computer

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

13

systems are small plastic and have mediocre sound quality Some computer speakers

have equalization features such as bass and treble controls Speakers can come in a va

rity of different formats ndash buzzers bells and speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business equipment

eg fax telephone photocopier

Fax (short for facsimile) sometimes called telecopying

is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material

(both text and images) normally to a telephone number

connected to a printer or other output device The original

document is scanned with a fax machine which

processes the contents as a single fixed graphic image

converting it into a bitmap The information is then transmitted as electrical signals

through the telephone system The receiving fax machine reconverts the coded image

printing a paper copy

Telephone

The telephone is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound most

commonly the human voice Telephones are a point-to-point communication system

whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to

each other It is one of the most common appliances in the developed world and has

long been considered indispensable to businesses households and governments The

word telephone has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around

the world

All telephones have a microphone to speak into an earphone which reproduces the

voice of the other person a ringer which makes a sound to alert the owner when a call is

coming in and a keypad

Photocopier

A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual

images quickly and cheaply Most current photocopiers use a technology called

xerography a dry process using heat

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 13: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

11

Impact Printers Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

1 Multiple copying depth- more than one page can be printed at the same time

2 No toner cartridge therefore cleaner

Disadvantage

1 They make so much noise that nobody wants them near

2 If tractor driven the perforated edge is a hassle

3 Separating the sheet forms

4 No printing on back

5 No collating

b Plotters

A plotter is a device that draws pictures on paper based on commands from a computer

Plotters differ from printers in that they draw lines using a pen they work by moving

a pen across the surface of a piece of paper As a result they can produce continuous

lines Which means that plotters are restricted to line art whereas other printers can

only simulate lines by printing a closely spaced series of dots Multicolour plotters use

different-coloured pens to draw different colons

They are often slow because of the mechanical movement of the pens and incapable of

efficiently creating a solid region of colour In general plotters are considerably more

expensive than printers They are used in engineering applications where precision is

mandatory

c Monitors

A monitor or display (visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for computers

The monitor comprises the display device circuitry and an enclosure The display

device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-

LCD) thin panel while older monitors use a cathode ray tube about as deep as the

screen size

Originally computer monitors were used for data processing while television receivers

were used for entertainment From the 1980s onwards computers (and their monitors)

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

12

have been used for both data processing and entertainment while televisions have

implemented some computer functionality

d Disks (magnetic optical and memory cards)

The normal method of storing programs and information on a computer is on a magnetic

disk or optical disk Later we will discuss the most common types of storage in SLO

118

Magnetic Disk

The data in this device is stored on a magnetic tape in the same way as an audio tape

ie sequentially In order to retrieve data from the tape it is necessary to go to the exact

point on the tape where the piece of data is stored The technology associated with tape

storage has developed and write speeds up to 15 Mbps However read speed is greatly

affected by the time taken to find the required data Therefore this type of storage

device is usually only used for archival storage

Optical Disk

Normally referred to as CDs and consist of an optical surface on to which the data is

burned using a laser beam The data is read from the disc using a laser The DVD is a

variation of the CD Discs are now available that may be reused and these are referred

to as rewritable RW discs CDs normally hold about 650 MB

Memory Cards

This is a small memory device that is used in a variety of digital equipment such as PDAs

digital cameras laptops and USBs etc It is simply an amount of RAM which may be

plugged in and out of the unit it is used in These devices are also referred to as flash

cards or memory sticks Readwrite speed is usually less than 20 Mbps

e Speakers

Computer speakers or multimedia speakers are

speakers external to a computer which disable the

lower fidelity built-in speaker and omit sound They

often have a low-power internal amplifier Computer

speakers range widely in quality and in price The

computer speakers typically packaged with computer

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

13

systems are small plastic and have mediocre sound quality Some computer speakers

have equalization features such as bass and treble controls Speakers can come in a va

rity of different formats ndash buzzers bells and speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business equipment

eg fax telephone photocopier

Fax (short for facsimile) sometimes called telecopying

is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material

(both text and images) normally to a telephone number

connected to a printer or other output device The original

document is scanned with a fax machine which

processes the contents as a single fixed graphic image

converting it into a bitmap The information is then transmitted as electrical signals

through the telephone system The receiving fax machine reconverts the coded image

printing a paper copy

Telephone

The telephone is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound most

commonly the human voice Telephones are a point-to-point communication system

whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to

each other It is one of the most common appliances in the developed world and has

long been considered indispensable to businesses households and governments The

word telephone has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around

the world

All telephones have a microphone to speak into an earphone which reproduces the

voice of the other person a ringer which makes a sound to alert the owner when a call is

coming in and a keypad

Photocopier

A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual

images quickly and cheaply Most current photocopiers use a technology called

xerography a dry process using heat

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 14: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

12

have been used for both data processing and entertainment while televisions have

implemented some computer functionality

d Disks (magnetic optical and memory cards)

The normal method of storing programs and information on a computer is on a magnetic

disk or optical disk Later we will discuss the most common types of storage in SLO

118

Magnetic Disk

The data in this device is stored on a magnetic tape in the same way as an audio tape

ie sequentially In order to retrieve data from the tape it is necessary to go to the exact

point on the tape where the piece of data is stored The technology associated with tape

storage has developed and write speeds up to 15 Mbps However read speed is greatly

affected by the time taken to find the required data Therefore this type of storage

device is usually only used for archival storage

Optical Disk

Normally referred to as CDs and consist of an optical surface on to which the data is

burned using a laser beam The data is read from the disc using a laser The DVD is a

variation of the CD Discs are now available that may be reused and these are referred

to as rewritable RW discs CDs normally hold about 650 MB

Memory Cards

This is a small memory device that is used in a variety of digital equipment such as PDAs

digital cameras laptops and USBs etc It is simply an amount of RAM which may be

plugged in and out of the unit it is used in These devices are also referred to as flash

cards or memory sticks Readwrite speed is usually less than 20 Mbps

e Speakers

Computer speakers or multimedia speakers are

speakers external to a computer which disable the

lower fidelity built-in speaker and omit sound They

often have a low-power internal amplifier Computer

speakers range widely in quality and in price The

computer speakers typically packaged with computer

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

13

systems are small plastic and have mediocre sound quality Some computer speakers

have equalization features such as bass and treble controls Speakers can come in a va

rity of different formats ndash buzzers bells and speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business equipment

eg fax telephone photocopier

Fax (short for facsimile) sometimes called telecopying

is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material

(both text and images) normally to a telephone number

connected to a printer or other output device The original

document is scanned with a fax machine which

processes the contents as a single fixed graphic image

converting it into a bitmap The information is then transmitted as electrical signals

through the telephone system The receiving fax machine reconverts the coded image

printing a paper copy

Telephone

The telephone is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound most

commonly the human voice Telephones are a point-to-point communication system

whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to

each other It is one of the most common appliances in the developed world and has

long been considered indispensable to businesses households and governments The

word telephone has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around

the world

All telephones have a microphone to speak into an earphone which reproduces the

voice of the other person a ringer which makes a sound to alert the owner when a call is

coming in and a keypad

Photocopier

A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual

images quickly and cheaply Most current photocopiers use a technology called

xerography a dry process using heat

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 15: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

13

systems are small plastic and have mediocre sound quality Some computer speakers

have equalization features such as bass and treble controls Speakers can come in a va

rity of different formats ndash buzzers bells and speakers

116 Identify the specifications of a range of office and business equipment

eg fax telephone photocopier

Fax (short for facsimile) sometimes called telecopying

is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material

(both text and images) normally to a telephone number

connected to a printer or other output device The original

document is scanned with a fax machine which

processes the contents as a single fixed graphic image

converting it into a bitmap The information is then transmitted as electrical signals

through the telephone system The receiving fax machine reconverts the coded image

printing a paper copy

Telephone

The telephone is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound most

commonly the human voice Telephones are a point-to-point communication system

whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to

each other It is one of the most common appliances in the developed world and has

long been considered indispensable to businesses households and governments The

word telephone has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around

the world

All telephones have a microphone to speak into an earphone which reproduces the

voice of the other person a ringer which makes a sound to alert the owner when a call is

coming in and a keypad

Photocopier

A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual

images quickly and cheaply Most current photocopiers use a technology called

xerography a dry process using heat

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 16: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

14

117 Distinguish between the various types of printers and plotters and outline

their advantages and disadvantages

Introduction to Printers

Deciding what kind of printer you want to purchase -- inkjet laser or multifunction -- can

be frustrating and confusing There are so many types and brands of printers to choose

from at all prices and just like computers new models seem to be introduced on a

monthly basis How can the average consumer make an informed choice

In order to make sense of it all we offer the following tips

What do you need the printer to do

This is probably the most important question to answer If you just need to occasionally

print out documents such as letters copies of Web pages from the Internet or simple

spreadsheets a low-end inkjet or laser printer is fine If you need to do presentations or

high quality photographs you want a photo printer If you print over 100 pages on a daily

basis and dont need color you may want to look at the faster laser printers And of

course if you are starting a home business and you need a combination of scanner

printer copier and fax machine a multifunction printer is best

Factors to Consider

Other important factors to be considered before purchasing a printer are

1 Resolution - the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch (over 1440 dpi is

good) Choose a higher end model with a higher resolution if you will be printing lots

of presentation-quality text graphics and photos

2 Operating Cost - Calculate the cost of replacement ink cartridges and paper

because printer users must continually purchase more ink cartridges and toner when

the old ones run out or dry up Be aware that the cost of paper toner and ink can

amount to more than the original cost of the printer within a year or so

3 Speed - the volume of printout (pages per minute) is essential if you are printing large

numbers of documents in black and white

4 Size of the printout - will you be printing on oversized or non-standard paper heavy

card stock blueprints transparencies etc Then choose a printer whose paper path

is no sharper than 90 degrees to allow printing on various types of media without

jamming

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 17: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

15

5 Photo Quality - Specialty color printers that have photo lab quality are essential if

you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images on photo paper

6 Digital camera cards and Memory Sticks - does the printer need to have built-in

slots for these de vices

7 Network enabled - will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office

network

8 Image processing - Processing images takes a lot of power so printers often have

as much computing horsepower and memory as a PC Some printers form the

complete image in memory prior to printing it which allows them to handle large files

quickly

9 Ease of use - how easy is the printer setup process

10 Compatibility - The newer printers are all USB-compatible which means they will

work for Windows 982000XP and with Mac System 81 or higher

11 Warranty - be sure to purchase a printer that includes a manufacturers andor store

warranty (at least 90 days)

The four main different types of printers are

Ink-jet Printers

Laser Printers

Dot-Matrix Printers

Multifunctional

Normally home computer users will use ink-jets as they are relatively cheap but superior

in quality to dot-matrix Laser jets and other printers created by new technology are

more expensive and more commonly found in the offices

Dot Matrix

Impact (Dot-matrix) printers use a set of closely

spaced pins and a ribbon to print letters or other

characters on a page These printers actually impact

the page to print a character much like a typewriter

Dot-matrix printers vary in terms of speed and the

number of pins they have They can run at a speed

anywhere between 50 and 500 CPS (Characters Per Second) The number of pins which

can vary between 9 to 24 determines the quality of the print job Dot matrix printers are

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 18: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

16

commonly used for printing invoices purchase orders shipping forms labels and other

multi-part forms Dot matrix printers can print through multi-part forms in a single pass

allowing them to produce more pages than even high-speed laser printers

Inkjet

Ink-jets(bubble-jets) printers spray ionized tiny drops of ink onto a

page to create an image This is achieved by using magnetized

plates which direct the inks path onto the paper in the desired

pattern Almost all ink-jets offer a color option as standard in varying

degrees of resolution Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print which

almost matches the quality of a laser printer A standard ink-jet printer has a resolution of

300 dots per inch although newer models have improved on that As a rule color link-jet

printers can also be used as a regular black and white printer

When a Color Inkjet Printer is the Best Choice

Ink jets are a good choice if you are looking for high quality color photo output for a

reasonable price Prices start at around euro150

First youll need to decide on the type of machine you want a standard ink jet for

reasonable photos and a low purchase price or a photo ink jet for superior photo quality

All of the top models offer 4800-by-1200-dpi resolution but they vary quite a bit in terms

of printing speed

Choose an inkjet printer based on the cost of replacement ink cartridges and not on the

cost of the printer Over time ink and paper costs can exceed the cost of the printer

several times over Avoid single-cartridge printers which only come with a color cartridge

that cant print true color It is more cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple

color cartridges (CMYK) so they can be replaced individually

Another cost saving tip Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in

the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry The resulting clogs cause streaks and other

anomalies in your pictures To avoid clogs print at least once a week Some printers run

a maintenance routine on startup meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by

turning your printer on and off once a week Check your devices manual to see whether it

has this feature

LaserJet

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 19: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

17

Laser printers operate by shining a laser beam to produce an image on a

drum The drum is then rolled through a pool or reservoir or toner and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up ink Finally using a

combination of heat and pressure the ink on the drum is transferred onto the

page Laser printers print very fast and the supply cartridges work a long time Color laser

printers use the same toner-based printing process as black and white ( BW) laser

printers except that they combine four different toner colors Color laser printers can also

be used as a regular black and white laser printer

When to Choose a Laser Printer

If you do a lot of document printing dont use an inkjet printer Use a laser printer Laser

printers cost more to buy but much less to use - they are very cost effective to operate

since their toner cartridges are not replaced as often

With all costs figured in each document page printed on a typical laser printer costs from

2 cents to 5 cents on an inkjet the cost per page can run from 10 cents to 15 cents

depending on the model (This does not even count the cost of photo printing which can

cost up to a eurp per page on an inkjet when you include the high cost of photo paper and

the additional ink thats used in that mode)

Plotters

Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings They

are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural

blueprints The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters

Flatbed plotters are horizontally aligned with a flat surface to which a piece of paper is

attached The paper remains stationary and the printer moves pens across the paper to

draw the image Drum plotters also called upright plotters are vertically positioned They

have a drum that the paper rolls on Drum plotters

usually make more noise and are more compact than

flatbed plotters

Digital Photo printers

Many middle range printers

are now able to print photo

quality images Usually an

option with color printers specialist photo print

heads allow a greater resolution to be achieved to

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 20: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

18

improve photo image quality Photo ink jet printers expand their gamuts by

adding additional ink colors usually light cyan and light magenta

Network printer is a printer that provides output capabilities to

all network users

Multifunction printers combine top-quality color

ink-jet or laser printing with plain-paper and PC faxing color copying and

color scanning telephoning- all in one convenient space-saving machine

If you work from home or have a small office a multifunctional device may be ideal

Name 10 of the factors you should consider when deciding on which printer

you would buy

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ___________________________

4) ___________________________

5) ___________________________

6) ___________________________

7) ___________________________

8) ___________________________

9) ___________________________

10) __________________________

What is the difference between a Laser Printer and an Inkjet Printer

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 21: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

19

118 Identify the various backing store devices and their associated media and

outline their advantages and disadvantages eg

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

Optical Disk

Magnetic Tape

Memory CardStick

Magnetic Disks

119 Describe the main parts of a small network eg gateway router hub

server etc

Distinguish between a LAN and a WAN

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share

resources Networked computers can share hardware (such as a printer) software

and data

There are two types of network

LAN - Local Area Network

WAN - Wide Area Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a Local Area Network covering a small area such as one building eg in a

school or a college Within a LAN computers and other hardware devices are

connected to the file server This allows the computers to share resources

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a Wide Area Network covering a large geographical area

Within a WAN many terminals are connected to the

host computers This allows networks to be cover a

large geographical area

1 The Internet is a WAN

2 A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN

3 A school network is a LAN

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 22: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

20

LANs are often connected to WANs for example a school network could be

connected to the Internet

Identify the components necessary to connect a computer to an Internet

Provider

To connect a computer to the internet you need

1 A computer

2 A telephone line

3 A modem

4 An account with an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

5 Browser software ndash a program which lets you connect to the internet eg

Internet Explorer or Firefox

1110 Distinguish between systems and applications software

See presentation notes

1111 Describe the major functions carried out by an operating system eg

a Providing the user interface

b Scheduling resources amongst users

c Reporting errors to the user

d File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

e Controlling operations of peripheral devices

f Running required software

g Memory management

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 23: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

21

File handlingcontrolling access to data on storage devices

Explain the terms file folderdirectory drive

A file is usually a document created in Excel Word or any other program which we have saved onto our computer For example you may have created a file which is a memo about a meeting A folder is usually some where we have saved a file or lots of files It is important to save files in folders related to the content of the file A drive is where the actual location of the stored files and folders are Think of this as the filing cabinet the lsquoMy Documentsrsquo folder is usually saved on the C Drive of a computer

Memo To J Vincent From S Sanghera Re Meeting Please bring your notes with you

Safety Meetings Folder

File

Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 24: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

22

Explain what it means to format a disk

Formatting a disk means permanently deleting all the information on the disk or USB and making it blank To format a floppy disk or a USB go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the disk or drive and select lsquoFormatrsquo When you click on lsquoFormatrsquo you will be asked if you are sure you want to lsquoFormatrsquo if you select lsquoOKrsquo the computer will format the disk for you

Note Do not format a disk or drive unless you are sure you want to permanently delete all the information on it

The E Drive is where I have saved my work (USB memory)

These are folders in the E drive

These are files in the folder Year 7 which is saved on the E Drive

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 25: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

23

Explain storage capacity

The storage capacity of a memory device is how much information it can hold To find the storage capacity of any drive which is part of your computer or attached to your computer go to lsquoMy Computerrsquo right click on the drive or device and go to lsquoPropertiesrsquo

From the lsquoPropertiesrsquo window you will see the overall capacity (size) of the drive and the lsquoUsedrsquo and lsquoFreersquo space available on that drive

Memory Size

Computer memory and disk space is measured by the number of bytes or characters

it is capable of holding Since these numbers are very large the terms kilobyte (KB)

megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are used

1KB = approximately 1000 bytes (1024 exactly)

1MB = approximately 1000000 bytes (1048576 exactly)

1GB = approximately 1000000000 bytes (1073741824 exactly)

Recognise the ability of computers to communicate with one another

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 26: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

24

Computers communicate

with each other via a

network or the internet The

Internet or is a global

network connecting millions

of computers In order for a

computer to connect to

another computer on the

internet the computer must

first have a modem

The modem converts the signals from digital to analogue and sends or receives the

information through the broadband or phone line

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 27: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

25

Outline the main points of the Data Protection Act

Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy You can access and

correct data about yourself Those who keep data about you have to comply with data

protection principles

What is data protection

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual they have a duty to keep these details private and safe This process is known as data protection We refer to organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details as lsquodata controllersrsquo

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies banks insurance companies medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources Under data protection law you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information

What are my rights

You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details Please read this section carefully to make sure that you are aware of your rights

1 Right to have your details used in line with data protection regulations 2 Right to information about your personal details 3 Right to access your personal details 4 Right to know if your personal details are being held 5 Right to change or remove your details 6 Right to prevent use of your personal details 7 Right to remove your details from a direct marketing list 8 Right to object 9 Right to freedom from automated decision making 10 Right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail

Reference wwwirishstatutebookie1988

Reference wwwbbccoukbitesize

Connect with power supply following appropriate safety procedures

Switch on and boot up computer using procedures appropriate to the system

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line

Page 28: Business Computing Level 5 L22142 - Rynagh McNally IT Notesmiitnotes.weebly.com/uploads/9/8/4/1/9841023/unit_1_computer_introduction_l22142.pdfUnit 1 Computer Introduction Business

Unit 1 Computer Introduction Business Computing Level 5 L22142

26

Turn on the computer at the power button

Ensure your monitor is switched on

Shut down the system using appropriate procedures

Go to Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off

When the computer is off turn off the power at the plug

Operate computer with due attention to safety procedures

Donrsquot slouch

Keep your back at around a 90 degree angle

Keep your feet on the ground

Take regular breaks

Sit facing the monitor in a straight line