Computer Basics

CS 1 Introduction to Computers and Computer

Technology
Rick Graziani
Fall 2007
Only the basics, the details come later!

This presentation discusses a variety of terms and topics, all of which

will be discussed in much greater detail in later chapters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o
No one knows it all and we never stop
learning!
James Goldman, Purdue University
You will never know all there is know about computer technology.
Be honest with yourself concerning what you dont know.
Anonymous
The only ones that think they know it all, are the ones that know very little.
Terms and Acronyms

To learn Information
Technology (IT) is to learn
the language of acronyms
and terms

WYSISYG (pronounced
WHIZ-zee-wig)
What You See Is What You
Get
GUI: Graphical User Interface
What is a computer?

A computer is a electromechanical device which can be

programmed to change (process) information from one
form to another.
Do exactly as they are told.
Digital devices: Understand only two different states
(OFF and ON)
The Human Clock: www.humanclock.com
5:04 pm
5:05 pm
5:06 pm
5:07 pm
Computers are everywhere
Traditional Types of Computers

General purpose computers

Mainframe
Minicomputer
Microcomputer (Personal Computer)
Traditional Types of Computers

Mainframe
Computers

First computers, introduced in 1950s

Used by large businesses
Typically supported 100 to 500 users
Very expensive
Used for very large processing tasks
Traditional Types of Computers

Minicomputers

Typically supported 10 to 100 users

Smaller and less expensive than mainframes
The real difference is relative in terms of price, power,
marketing.
Traditional Types of Computers

Microcomputers
(Personal
Computer or PC)

Small, self-contained computers

with their own CPUs
Used by home and business
users
Uses a microprocessor, a CPU
(Central Processing Unit) on a
single chip.
Portable Computer

What are these types of

portable computers (a type
of personal computer)?

Desktop computers
Laptop computers
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
Networked computer

Networked computer = Computers connected to other computers or

peripheral devices (printers, etc.) to share information.
What is the difference between these two networked devices?

Intelligent terminal (computer) Dumb terminal

No CPU (uses servers)
No Operating system (uses
servers)
Input and Output only
Embedded Computers

Embedded computers Computers found in consumer goods in

order to enhance their function.
Special Purpose Computers

Special purpose or dedicated computers A device with a

specific purpose such as game system or information
kiosk.
Hardware versus Software

Hardware = The
physical components
that make up a
computer system.
More in a
moment
Much more on all of
these items in later
presentations!
Hardware versus Software

Software = The
programs (instructions)
that tell the computer
what to do.
System Software
Application Software
Stored on a storage
media such as hard
disk, CD-ROM, floppy
disk, tape, etc.
More later
Hardware Components

This is just an overview, more later

Hardware Components
INPUT SYSTEM UNIT OUTPUT

PERMANENT
STORAGE
Know these!
The Processor

Lets open the box!

 The Processor
circuit board = a board with
integrated circuits
(microchips)
system board or
motherboard
interface boards or expansion
boards
system board or motherboard =
a single circuit board with the
components which make up
the computers processor for a
microcomputer, including the:
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
Memory
RAM
ROM or ROM BIOS
expansion slots
The Processor: The CPU

CPU (Central Processing Unit) = A complex collection of electronic

circuits on one or more integrated circuits (chips) which:
1. executes the instructions in a software program
2. communicates with other parts of the computer system, especially
RAM and input devices

The CPU is the computer!

Input and Output Devices

INPUT SYSTEM UNIT OUTPUT

PERMANENT
STORAGE
Input Devices

Enter information
into a computer
Examples:
Mouse
Keyboard
Trackball
Touchpad
Light pen
Joystick
Digital camera
Microphone
Bar code reader
Scanner
Output Devices

Send information out from a PC

Examples:
Speakers
Monitors
Visual Display Unit (VDU), Cathode Ray Tube (CRT),
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Light-Emitting Diode
(LED)
Printers
 System Unit - Revisited

INPUT SYSTEM UNIT OUTPUT

PERMANENT
STORAGE

System Unit:
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
Memory
RAM
ROM or ROM BIOS
expansion slots
RAM (Random Access Memory)

RAM (Random Access Memory) = integrated circuits (chips) used to

temporarily store software (programs, instructions) and data
primary storage for the CPU
electronic switches, storing ONs and OFFs

Temporarily stores for the CPU:

Software
operating system software
application software
Data
data (documents, spreadsheets, etc.)
Inserting RAM

RAM is TEMPORARY memory

RAM is volatile
stores ON and OFF bits (software and data) electrically
when power goes off, everything in RAM is lost
RAM: Speed

Why does the CPU use RAM?

The CPU is very FAST!
The CPU needs the instructions (software) and data as quickly as
possible
If the CPU has to wait, so does the user

Why doesnt the CPU use permanent storage like disk drives?
Too slow
EXAMPLE: Spellchecker
RAM: Capacity

The amount of RAM determines:

what software and data the user can work on
how much software and data the user can work with
Most computers have at least 256 MB (Megabytes, 256 million bytes)

out of memory error message from the Operating System

The more complex and sophisticated the software, the more instructions
that software contains, which means larger software files.
ROM (Read Only Memory)

ROM (Read Only Memory) = integrated circuits (microchips) that are used
to permanently store start-up (boot) instructions and other critical
information
Read Only = information which:
Cannot be changed
Cannot be removed
Cannot be appended (added to)
Fixed by manufacturer
ROM (Read Only Memory)

ROM is sometimes known as ROM BIOS (Basic Input Output System

software)

ROM permanently contains:

start-up (boot) instructions
instructions to do low level processing of input and output devices,
such as the communications with the keyboard and the monitor

Firmware = software program which is stored permanently on a

microchip, such as the software on the ROM chip
Looking at your computer
 Storage Devices

INPUT SYSTEM UNIT OUTPUT

PERMANENT
STORAGE

Storage Devices:
Floppy disks
CD-ROMs
Hard disks
Zip disks
Tape drives
Floppy disks

Store up to 1.44 MB of data

Usually 3.5" square disks
Removable

Write-Protect tab
(Open means write
enabled)
Hard disks

Fixed permanently in a hard disk

drive inside a system unit
Used to store the operating
system, applications, and data
Can not buy more expansion
(easily)
CD-ROMs

Read-only memory devices

(but CD-R and CD-RW
discs are recordable)
Store up to 650 MB of data
Portable and can be used
on any computer that has a
CD-ROM drive
CD-R (CD Recordable)
CD-RW (CD Rewritable)
Flash sticks or memory

Storage
Digital Player
Voice Recorder
Zip disks

Store up to 250 MB of data

Used for backing up files or
transporting large files
Tape drives

Work like a tape recorder

Vary in capacity and
access speed
Relatively expensive
Generally used to back up
data
Good for archiving
information
Types
Cartridge (slowest)
DAT (Digital Audio Tape)
Computer Performance

CPU speed (and type)

Amount of RAM (and
speed)
Hard disk capacity
Computer Performance

CPU Speed
Governed by a clock
Measured in millions of
cycles per second, or
megahertz (MHz)
700 MHz means 700
million operations per
second
Measured in billions of
cycles per second, or
megahertz (GHz)
1.133 MHz means 1
billion, 133 million
operations per second
Software

System Software
Application Software
Application Software

Performs specific tasks:

Word processing
Calculations
Information storage and
retrieval
Accounting
Cannot function without the
OS (Operating System)
Written for a specific
operating system and
computer hardware.
Operating System Software

Loads automatically when

you switch on a computer
Main roles:
Controls hardware and
software
Permits you to manage
files
Acts as intermediary
between user and
applications
Operating System Software

Software which manages the overall operation of the

computer system including:
hardware (CPU, RAM, I/O)
security
system interface
application interface
GUI Graphical User Interface

Windows 3.1

Windows
95/98/XP
GUI Graphical User Interface

MAC OS

UNIX/LINUX with
X-Windows
CLI Command Line Interface

No GUI
MS DOS
? Windows 97 ?
Putting it altogether!

Booting up the computer

Creating and saving a word processing document
Shutting down the computer
CPU

RAM
256
ROM MB

Hard Disk Drive

Operating System Software
The kernel
Application Software
MS Word
User data (information)

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 Computer Basics

CS 1 Introduction to Computers and Computer

Technology
Rick Graziani
Fall 2007