computer platforms
DESCRIPTION
COMPUTER PLATFORMS. COMH101 HNC / HND Programme 2003 - 2004. About the module…. HNC/HND Level 1 Module Provides a grounding of the basics of computing Computer Systems Operating Systems Networking Issues 12 weeks contact 11 weeks + 1 reading week 2 Assignments + 1 Very small test - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
COMPUTER PLATFORMS
COMH101
HNC / HND Programme 2003 - 2004
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
About the module…• HNC/HND Level 1 Module• Provides a grounding of the basics of
computing – Computer Systems– Operating Systems– Networking Issues
• 12 weeks contact– 11 weeks + 1 reading week
• 2 Assignments + 1 Very Very small test– More on this later!
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
About the lecturer…• Stuart Cunningham
– Room B126– [email protected]– Tel: 01978 293583
Notes and information found at:• www.newi.ac.uk/cunninghams/
– Scottish!• If I say something you don’t understand please
ask! (Generally a good idea, not just because of the accent).
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Scheme of work• Week 1
– About the module– Introduction to the computer system
• Week 2– The CPU– Von-Neumann model
• Week 3– Data formats– Terminology
• Week 4– Improving the PC
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Scheme of work• Week 5
– Reading Week
• Week 6 (Assignment 1 IN)– Fundamentals of computer networks
• Week 7– Network applications & performance
• Week 8– Planning networks
• Week 9– Operating Systems
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Scheme of work• Week 10
– Managing the OS– User training & support issues
• Week 11– Computer and network security issues
• Week 12 (Assignment 2 IN)– The end?!
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
COMPUTER PLATFORMS
Introduction to the Computer System
Week 1
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Computer Platforms• Introduction to the computer system:
– About computers– Input / Output / Process– Hardware– Software– Communications
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Computers• Computers are in widespread use
today:– Business– Education– Home
• Computers used for many things:– Office work– Science and Research– Games and Entertainment– Multimedia production– Data storage
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
The Computer• The computer is a machine
– ‘TOM’ – (Totally Obedient Moron)– Carries out instructions– Consists of electronic components
• Performs three main tasks– Accepts INPUT– Performs a PROCESS on the input– Produces OUTPUT from the process
INPUT OUTPUTPROCESS
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Computer System• Computer System consists of two
main areas of functionality:– Hardware
• Physical components to a computer system• Stuff you can touch and hold• Wires, transistors, keyboard, printer etc.
– Software• Instructions given to the hardware
– Programs or applications to run on the hardware
– Usually stored on a hardware media
– E.g.- Windows, Dreamweaver, MS Office, etc.
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Hardware• Essential Hardware Components
– Input• Keyboard, mouse
– Processing• Central Processing Unit (CPU)• E.g.- Intel Pentium n, AMDAthlon
– Output• Monitor, printer
– Memory• Temporary data storage, with fast retrieval• E.g.- RAM (Random Access memory)
– Permanent storage• A form of media to store data for a long term• E.g.- Hard disk drive• E.g.- ROM (Read Only Memory)
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Hardware• Employing RAM and backing store
– RAM = Random Access Memory• Sometimes called ‘main memory’• Used for temporary storage
– Contents are erased when power is off
• Very fast access to data– Any byte can be accessed randomly
– Backing store• Permanent place to keep important data• Commonly a hard disk drive
– Allows reading and writing of data
• Could also be a ROM (Read Only Memory) chip– Once written to can only be read in future
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Hardware• Employing RAM and backing store
INPUT OUTPUTPROCESS
Backing Store
RAM
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Hardware• Peripheral Hardware Components
– Input• Scanner, microphone, light pen
– Processing• Graphics card, sound card
– Output• Speakers, plotter, digital projector
– Memory• Extra RAM, VRAM
– Permanent storage• Zip drives, memory sticks, floppy disks
– Other Devices• Modem, NIC, DVD-R, DV-Camera
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Software• Essential Software
– Operating System (OS)• Many different types
– Graphical user Interface (GUI) / WIMP• E.g.- MS Windows, MacOS, NeXT
– Command line Interface (CLI)• E.g.- DOS, UNIX
– Low Level systems• E.g.- BIOS (Basic Input Output System)
– Application Software• Used to do anything ‘useful’• Communications• Office / Business• Processing
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Software• Operating Systems
– Acts as an interface between the user and the capabilities (hardware & software) of the computer
– Need the OS to run other applications– Need OS to control hardware– Organises files and directories– Is the ‘front end’ of the computer– The environment the user interacts with– Responds to commands issued by the
user
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Software• Operating Systems
– Command Line Interface (CLI)
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Software• Operating Systems
– Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Software• Different Types of OS:
– Real-time• Commands are carried out straight away
– Multi-threading• Can carry out parts of one program at the
same time
– Multitasking• Can run more than one program at the same
time
– Multiprocessing• Allows more than one CPU to be used to
execute a program
– Multi-user• Allows many users to share a CPU
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Software• Application Software
– Word processing– Spreadsheets– Databases– Web browsing– Email client– Internet hosting– Desktop Publishing (DTP)– Integrated Development Environment– Games (?)
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Types of Computer• Personal Computer (PC)
– Single-user computer– Standalone
• Supercomputer– Very fast computer which can carries out
huge amounts of instructions per second
• Mainframe– A powerful computer which can be used
by lots of users at the same time
Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003
Computer Platforms• What you know now (hopefully):
– More about this module– More about your lecturer (and more
importantly, where to find his module notes)
– What a computer is– Input -> Process -> Output– About basic computer hardware– About computer software
• Operating Systems (OS)• Application Software
– Types of computer