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2440:105 Intro to Computers and Appl. Software The University of Akron Dept of Business TechnologyStudy Guide #1 (Intro to Computers, Windows, Internet) Summit College Computer Information SystemsComputer ConceptsBasic Computer Concepts- A computer is a machine that performs the following four basic operations known as the information processing cycle (input, processing, storage, output).o Input – the computer gathers data from userso Processing – data is converted into informationo Storage – data or information is stored for future useo Output – data or information is retrieved from the computerTypes of Computers- The four basic types of computers are supercomputers, mainframes, minicomputers, and microcomputers.o Supercomputers – fastest, most expensive, large and powerful computers for specialized tasks such as mathematical calculations, weather tracking, satellite monitoring, etco Mainframe – large computers that multitask and often found in business and collegeso Minicomputers – may be used in medium-sized businesses with smaller data storage requirementso Microcomputers – the smallest category of computers that range in size from servers to handheld devices- Some of the most common types of microcomputers include desktops, laptop/notebook,personal digital assistants (PDAs).Components of an Information System- The six basic components of a computer information system are hardware, software, procedures, data, people, and network.o Hardware – consists of the equipment controlled by the software. Types of hardware devices (peripherals) include input devices, system unit, storage devices, and output devices. Input Devices – the devices used to enter data into the computer for processing. E.g., keyboard, mouse, scanner, digital camera, video camera, etc System Unit – holds the processing hardware, electrical power supply, disk drives, circuit cards, ports for connecting other hardware and motherboard (system board). Thesystem unit has two important parts: processor and memory.- Processor/Microprocessor /Central Processing Unit (CPU) – the brain of the computer that controls all the commands and tasks of the computero CPUs are measured by the speed at which they are capable of processing data (measured in megahertz (MHz) – in millions, gigahertz (GHz) – in billions, terahertz – in trillions, etc)o The CPU has two main parts: control unit and arithmetic/logic unit. Control Unit – obtains instructions from the memory and interprets these instructions and executes them Arithmetic-Logic Unit (ALU) – performs the arithmetic and logical operations for the computer- Memory holds data, instructions and information. Two basic types of memory include RAM and ROM.o Random Access Memory (RAM) – the volatile part of memory that stores information temporarilyo Read-Only Memory (ROM) – the nonvolatile part of memory on which instructions have been prerecorded to help start the computer and perform other taskso Memory is measured by size in bytes, kilobytes (thousands of bytes), megabytes (millions of bytes), and gigabytes (billions of bytes), terabytes (trillions of bytes), etc. Byte – represents a single character and consists of 8 bitsEnoch E. Damson Page 1 of 52440:105 Intro to Computers and Appl. Software The University of Akron Dept of Business TechnologyStudy Guide #1 (Intro to Computers, Windows, Internet) Summit College Computer Information Systems Bit – the smallest unit of information in computers that is made up of 0s and 1s Storage Devices – used to store data and information permanently. Data is generally stored using one of the following forms: magnetic, optical, flash memory.- Magnetic storage – uses sectors that divide tracks to store datao E.g. hard disks, tapes, floppy disks, zip disks- Optical storage – also uses tracks and sectors but data is saved using a laser beamo E.g. Compact discs (CDs), digital video discs (DVDs)- Flash memory – uses solid-state technology which is completely electronic and has no moving mechanical partso E.g. Flash drives (memory sticks), cards used in digital cameras etc- Storage devices are also measured by size in bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, etc. Output Devices – the devices used to display and print processed data (information). E.g., monitor printer, etc.- Monitors output soft copy and their resolution identifies the number of pixels (picture elements) per square inch that appear on a screen- Printers output hard copy and their resolution is measured in dots per inch (dpi)o Software (program) – a set of instructions that direct the computer to accomplish certain tasks  The two major categories of software are: system software and application software.- System Software – enables the application software to interact with the computer hardware. There are 4 types of system software: operation systems, utility software, device drivers, and programming languages.- Application Software –”end-user” software that performs useful tasks such as word processing, desktop publishing, etc. Kinds of application software include: word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation and communication software.o Procedures – rules or guidelines for people to follow when using software, hardware, and datao Data – the raw facts entered into the computer system for processing to produce informationo Networks – two or more computers connected in some way to share hardware, software programs, data and other resources Each object (computer, printer, etc) connected to a network is known as a node Networks fall into two categories: local area networks, wide area networks.- Local area network (LAN) – link computers within a small geographic area like a building or group of buildings- Wide area network (WAN) – link computers separated by a few miles or even thousands of miles Network Topology (Topography) – how computers and other devices are arranged and connected. The most common topographic layouts include: bus, ring, star, and wireless networks.Ports- A port is where all the peripheral devices connect to the computer to enable data exchange. Types of ports include: serial ports, parallel ports, universal serial bus (USB) ports, FireWire ports, and connectivity ports.Introduction to WindowsWindows Fundamentals- Operating System - set of computer instructions (computer programs) that control the allocation of computer


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