Chapter 1: Introduction to ComputersThe Digital Revolution- Where can you find computers?o Computers are everywhere- What is computer literacy?o Knowledge and understanding of computers and their usesWhat Is a Computer?- How is a computer defined?o Electronic machine operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory Accepts data Manipulates data Produces results Stores results- What are data and information?o Data Raw facts, figures, and symbolso Information Data that is organized, meaningful, and useful- Who is a user?o Person who communicates with a computer or uses the information it generates- What are hardware and software?o Hardware Electronic and mechanical equipmento Software Instructions that tell hardware how to perform tasks- What is the information processing cycle?o Inputo Processo Outputo Storageo CommunicationThe Components of a Computer- What are common computer hardware components?o Printero Speakero PC camerao Monitoro System unito Scannero Keyboardo Modemo Microphoneo Mouseo Digital Camera- What is an input device?o Hardware used to enter data and instructions Microphone Keyboard1 PC camera Scanner Digital camera Mouse- What is an output device?o Hardware that conveys information to a user Printer Monitor Speakers- What is the system unit?o Box-like device containing electronic components connected to motherboardo Also called a chassis CD-RW drive Zip drive Hard disk drive (inside case) CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive Floppy disk drive- What are two main components on the motherboard?o 1. Central Processing Unit (CPU) Also called a processor or processor chip Carries out instructions that tell computer what to do On PCs called a microprocessor chipo 2. Memory Temporary holding place for data and instructionso Internal – reside inside the system unit- What is a chip?o Device with microscopic pathways that carry electrical currentso Attaches to motherboard Memory chipo Processor chip packaging- What is storage?o Holds data, instructions, and information for future useo Storage Medium Physical material on which data, instructions, and information are storedo Storage Device Records and retrieves items to and from a storage medium- What are common storage devices or drives?o CD-RW driveo Hard disk Driveo CD-ROM or DVD-ROM driveo ZIP driveo Floppy disk drive- What is a floppy disk?o Thin, circular, flexible disk enclosed in rigid plastico A Zip® disk is a higher capacity disk- What is a hard disk?o Provides much greater storage capacity than a floppy disk Self-contained hard disk Removable hard disk- What is a compact disc? 2o Portable storage media  CD-ROM CD-RW  DVD-ROM - Can hold a full-length movie DVD+RW- What is miniature storage media?o Portable, thin, credit card size memory o Used in digital cameras andhandheld computers- What is a communications device?o Establishes a connection between two computers using cable, telephone lines,and satelliteso One type is a modemWhy Is a Computer So Powerful?- What makes a computer powerful?o Storageo Reliability o Speedo Accuracyo CommunicationsComputer Software- What is a computer program?o A series of instructions that tells the computer what to do- What happens when you run a program from a CD-ROM?o Usually must install part or all on the hard disk Step 1: Insert the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive Step 2: Instruct the computer to run the program- Step 2a: Setup program installs to hard drive Step 3: The program executes- What is system software?o Programs that control the operations of the computer and its deviceso Operating System (OS)o Utility Programs- What is the user interface?o Controls how you enter data and commands and how information displays- What is a graphical user interface (GUI)?o Uses visual images such as icons Icon represents program, instruction, or some other object- What is application software?o Programs that perform specific tasks for userso Software Suite Popular software applications bundled together as a single unito Office XP Word Processing - documents Spreadsheet – calculates numbers arranged in rows and columns Database – organizes and retrieves, manipulates and displays data Presentation graphics - What are shareware, freeware, public-domain software?3o Shareware Copyrighted software distributed free for trial period Send payment to developer on honor systemo Freeware Software provided at no cost Copyrighted Cannot resell it as your owno Public-Domain Software Freeware donated for public use No copyright restrictions- What is an application service provider (ASP)?o Third-party company that manages and distributes software and serviceson the Internet- Who designs and writes software?o Systems analysto Programmero Packaged software purchased off the shelfNetworks and the Internet- What is a network?o Collection of computers and devices connected togethero Communications Device Modemo Communications Media Cables Telephone lines Cellular radio Satellites- What are the reasons to network?o To share resources Hardware devices Software programs Data Informationo To save time and money- What is a local area network (LAN)?o Network that connects computers in a limited geographic areao Components Server Controls access to software, printer and storage Client Referred to as “workstations” Accesses storage on the servero Difference Server is more powerful Has more storage space- What is a wide area network (WAN)?o Network that covers large geographical area- What is the Internet?o Worldwide collection of networks that links millions of computers together- Why do users access the Internet?4o E-mail o Informationo Shoppingo Meeting peopleo Entertainment- How do users connect to the Internet?o Internet Service Provider (ISP) Provides access to the Interneto Online Service Provider (OSP) Provides access to the Internet and specialized services (AOL and MSN)- What is the World Wide Web (WWW)?o Billions of documents, called Web pages, linked together on computers throughout the worldo Web site Collection of related Web pageso Web page Contains text, graphics, sound, or video and links to other Web pages Link – built-in connection to another Web