FIRST COURSE

Essential Computer Concepts

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Objectives

• Compare the types of computers• Describe the components of a computer system• Describe input and output peripheral devices• Examine data representation and the ASCII code• Define memory and storage• Identify the hardware and software that are used

for data communications and to establish a network connection

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What Is a Computer?

• A computer is an electronic device that accepts information and instructions from a user, manipulates the information according to the instructions, displays the information in some way, and stores the information for retrieval later

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Types of Computers

Computer Hardware

• Central Processing Unit - also called “The Chip”, a CPU, a processor, or a microprocessor

• Memory (RAM)• Storage Devices• Input Devices• Output Devices

View an animated illustration on how integrated circuits or “chips” are made.

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Computer Systems

• Includes computer hardware and software– Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer– Software refers to the intangible components of a computer

system, particularly the programs, or lists of instructions, the computer needs to perform a specific task

• The design and construction of the hardware of a particular computer is referred to as its architecture or configuration

• The technical details about each component are called specifications

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Processing Hardware• The motherboard is the

main electronic component of the computer.

• The microprocessor, or CPU, is one of the most important pieces of processing hardware on the motherboard

• Cards are removable circuit boards

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Input and Output

• The data or instructions you type into the computer are called input.

• The result of the computer processing your input is referred to as output.

• Peripheral devices - accomplish input and output functions.

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Input Devices

• You use an input device, such as a keyboard or a mouse, to input data and issue commands, examples:– Keyboard

• Ergonomic

– Pointing device• Controls the pointer• Mouse

– Scroll wheel• Trackball• Touch pad• Pointing stick

– Scanner

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Output Devices• Output devices show you

the results of processing data– Monitor

• Flat panel• LCD• CRT

– Printer• Laser• Inkjet• Dot matrix

Types of Devices

Digital versus Analog• A digital device uses discrete data. Each bit of

information is separate from each other bit.-Ex: Numbers or digits.

• Most computers today are digital. Their circuits have only two possible states, such as “Off” and “On” or “0” and “1”.

Intel's website

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Data Representation

• Binary digits (bits)• A series of eight bits is called a byte– Kilobyte (KB or K)– Gigabyte (GB)– Terabyte (TB)

• ASCII– American Standard Code for Information

Interchange

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Binary is like Braille, except that you have 8 dots, instead of 6

Types of Devices

Digital versus AnalogAn analog device operates on continuously varying data.Continuously varying data has an infinite number of possible states.

Types of Devices

Digital versus Analog• A digital thermometer will give a specific

numerical reading when used to measure someone’s body temperature.

• An old fashioned mercury thermometer’s reading of someone’s body temperature could be interpreted differently by different users.

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Memory

• Random access memory (RAM)– Volatile memory– SDRAM

• Cache memory (RAM cache or CPU cache)• Virtual memory

Memory (RAM)

RAM or Random Access Memory• “Waiting room” for computer’s CPU. • Holds instructions for processing data,

processed data, and raw data.• Ram is measured by:– Capacity (in Megabytes or Gigabytes)– Speed (in Nanoseconds)

Memory (RAM)

• Amount of RAM installed will determine.–Which software applications will run (efficiently)?–How many software applications can be open simultaneously (multitasking ability)?

• RAM upgrades are cost-effective and easy to install.

Check your computer manual for RAM type (DIMM, SDRAM) and speed (100, 90ns).

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Memory

• Read-only memory (ROM)– BIOS– Nonvolatile memory

• Complementary metal oxide semiconductor memory (CMOS)

• Semi-permanent memory

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Storage Media

• A computer file is a named collection of stored data

• An executable file contains the instructions that tell a computer how to perform a specific task, usually ends with “.exe”

• A data file is created by a user

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Storage Media• Magnetic media– Hard disk

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Storage Media

• Flash memory– Flash memory cards– USB flash storage device– USB drive (flash drive)