01: IT, Internet, and You

CS 30 Introduction to Information Technology SY 2009 - 2010

Competencies

What are the parts of an information system? What is the difference between application software and system software? What are the difference types of computers? What are the different types of computer hardware? What is data and how it can be presented? What is computer connectivity?

Information System
People
End-users who use computers to make themselves more productive

Procedures

Software

Hardware

Data
Raw unprocessed facts including text, numbers, images, sound and video

Specify rules or guidelines for computer operations

Provides step-bystep instructions for computer hardware

Equipment such as keyboard, mouse, monitor, system unit and other devices

Connectivity
Allows computers to connect and share information that allows users to greatly expand the capability and usefulness of their information systems

People
Most

important though overlooked part of IS touch almost every part of our

Computers

lives
Entertainment Business Education Medicine

Software
Programs

- Instructions that tell the computer how to process data into the form you want.
System software - the kind the computer uses Application software - the kind you use

Kinds:

Software
User

Application Software
- End User software 1. Basic Applications programs you have to know to be considered computer competent including browsers, word processors, spreadsheets, DBMS and presentation graphics 2.Specialized Applications programs that are focused on specific disciplines and occupations such as graphics, audio, video, multimedia, web authoring and artificial programs

System Software
- Enables application software to interact with the computer hardware - Collection of programs that helps the computer manage its own resources 1. Operating Systems coordinates computer resources, provides an interface between users & computer & runs applications 2. Utilities - perform specific tasks related to managing computer resources 3. Device Drivers - specialized programs designed to to allow input & output devices to communicate with the computer system

Hardware

Hardware

Computers are electronic devices that can follow instructions to accept input, process the input, and produce information Types:

Supercomputers - most powerful type of computer, high capacity computers used by large organizations. (IBMs Blue Gene) Mainframe computers - are capable of great processing speeds and data storage, they are located in specially wired air-conditioned rooms Minicomputers - mid-range computers, refrigerator sized machines typically used for a specific purpose Microcomputers - least powerful yet most widely used

Microcomputers

Desktop computer - small enough to fit on your desk but too big to carry around Notebook computer- Laptop computers are portable, lightweight, and fit into most briefcases Tablet PC - type of notebook computer that accepts handwriting as input and converts it digitally to standard text that can be further processed by programs

Handheld computers - palm computers, PDAs, smallest computers designed to fit in the palm of your hand, combines pen input, writing recognition, personal

Hardware

Physical equipment in an information system

System Unit - container that houses most of the electronic components of a computer system

Microprocessor - controls and manipulates data to produce information Memory - primary storage/random access memory (RAM) - holds data and instructions for processing the data, also known as temporary storage because contents will be lost once electrical power is disrupted

Input/Output devices - translates data and programs that humans can understand into a form that the computer can process and vice-versa

Secondary Storage - Holds data and programs even after electrical poweris disrupted
Floppy disks, Hard disks, Optical Discs Communications - connects the system to other computers and the Internet.

Modem - modifies signals for processing and communications

Data
Raw,

unprocessed facts about something. It can take the form of text, numbers, images, sounds and video.

Document Files - word processors Worksheet Files - spreadsheet programs Database Files DBMS Presentation Files - graphics programs

Connectivity

The ability for end-users to tap into information well beyond their desktops Wireless Revolution - most dramatic change in connectivity in recent years. It is the wide spread and increasing use of mobile (wireless) communication devices Networks - connected computers that share data and resources Internet - largest network in the world. Its a highway that connects you to millions of people, organization and information through out the world Web - multimedia interface of the resources and information available on the internet