2. 1. Definition
We define 'Computing science' as the automatic treatment
of information by the use of computers.
A computer is made up of two main parts:
●
Hardware: every physical part (touchable) of the computer. They
may be in or out of the CPU (Central Process Unit)
●
Software: untouchable components of the computer. It compiles
all the logic instructions that the system uses to do different
tasks
3. 2. Hardware
A hard, plastic film that
contains every electronic
circuit and connection where
all the devices are switched.
2.1. CPU components
a) MOTHER BOARD
4. It's the main storage system. We may
find more than one, and it contains all
the information required by the
computer.
This information is not lost after
switching off the power.
Think of it as the computer's brain. It does
every mathematical and logical operation.
One of its main features is the processing
speed, defined as the number of operations
it is able to do in a second.
b) HARD DISC
c) PROCESSOR
5. 2. Hardware
They are used to stablish communication between the user and the
computer and depending on the direction of the flow of information,
we have different types
2.2. Peripherals
6. a) Input peripheral:
b) Output peripheral:
c) Input-Output peripheral:
used by the user to enter data
to the processor
Examples: keyboard, mouse,
microphone, scanner, etc.
used by the processor to give
information to the user
Examples: printer, screen,
Loudspeakers, etc. .
used by the processor to give information to the user and vice versa
Examples: router, touchable screen, etc.
7. If we want to have a data transmission with the computer, we need to have
special hardware to connect the specific peripheral to the CPU. This type
of device is called a port. There are different types of ports.
Usually, you find most of them in the back side of your computer. In the
picture, you can see the most common:
Ports
8. 2. Hardware
Depending on their portability, we can find different sorts of storage
systems:
portable devices: like a pen drive, a storage card, CD/DVD...They may be
easily carried.
non portable devices: hard disk and the RAM memory, both attached to
the mother board. There are others .
This is one of the elements that has changed a great deal in recent years.
The first device could store 514 kbytes and now you can find little cards
with 32 Gbytes... incredible isn't it?
2.3. Storage devices
9. RAM (Random Access Memory)
It only contains the information that
the processor needs in the present
moment, and it loses its content
when the computer is switched off.
It cannot be modified (read-only)
It stores critical programs that are
used to boot the computer
ROM (Read – Only Memory)
a) Types of memories
11. 3. Software
The main program of the computer. It has several important functions:
a) To coordinate and manage the information flow that runs
between the different components, the processor, the hard
disk, the peripherals, etc.
b) To organize all the information when it is stored in any
device, creating documents, files, folders, directories, etc.
c) To define the graphic interface in the screen
3.1. Operating system
12. There are three operative systems at the current moment:
a) Windows was created by Microsoft. It's the
most extended OS in its different versions, 98,
2000, XP, Vista, 8 and the latest on e 10.
b) LINUX is based on a community where
everyone profits from the sharing the knowledge.
It is free and many of its applications. Its
appearance is very similar to Windows. The best
of its versions: UBUNTU
c) Mac OS: was created by Apple. It is
very extended on graphic design
applications.
13. 3. Software
We may define a program as a list of instructions. When they are
executed (we run the program), they do a specific task. We have to
know, then, how to talk with the computer.
a) Programming language: The language that is used by the person who
creates the program. It is written with key words, very similar to the
way we write a telegram.
b) Machine language: The language that the different parts of the
computer use to communicate with eachother. It's a strange code
written with zeros and ones, called binary code. The first programs were
written directly in this language, because the computers were too simple
to interpret complex instructions expressed in human language.
3.2. Programs
14. 3. Software
Depending on the type of information we manage, we can have different
sorts of files, and in order to know what type of file we are managing we
have to look the three last letters. They are the extension of the file.
Here you have a table showing many of them, as well as the the type of
document they represent:
➔
Text Document: .doc / .txt / .odt
➔
Calc Sheet: .xls / .ods
➔
Image: .jpg / .png / .bmp / .gif
➔
Application (program): .exe
➔
Sound file: .mp3 / .wav
➔
Video file: .mp4 / .dvd / .avi
➔
Internet site: .htm
3.3. Files
