1. Living in a Digital World
Discovering
Computers 2010
Ahmad Idrees

2. A World of Computers
• Computers are everywhere
2Ahmad Idrees

3. What Is a Computer?
• A computer is an electronic device, operating
under the control of instructions stored in its own
memory
3Page 6
Information Processing Cycle

4. What Is a Computer?
4Page 6
Figure 1-2

5. The Components of a Computer
5Pages 6 - 8

6. The Components of a Computer
6Page 7
Figure 1-3

7. The Components of a Computer
What is an input device?
 Hardware used
to enter data
and instructions into
a computer e.g,
keyboard, mouse,
microphone, scanner
and web cam etc.
7

8. The Components of a Computer
What is an output device?
 Hardware that
conveys information
to one or more
people e.g. printer,
monitor and speakers
etc.
8

9. The Components of a Computer
What is the system unit?
 Case containing
Electronic components
used to process data.
9

10. The Components of a Computer
What are two main components on the motherboard?
Central Processing Unit (CPU)Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Also called a processor.
The electronic component that interprets and carries
out the basic instructions that operate the computer.
MemoryMemory
Consists of electronic components that store
instructions waiting to be executed and data needed by
those instructions
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11. The Components of a Computer
What is storage?
Storage mediaStorage media
Physical material on which data, instructions,
and information are stored e.g. USB flash drive,
hard disks, optical discs and memory cards..
Storage mediaStorage media
Physical material on which data, instructions,
and information are stored e.g. USB flash drive,
hard disks, optical discs and memory cards..
 Holds data, instructions, and information for future use
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12. The Components of a Computer
What is a USB flash drive?
 Provides much
greater storage
capacity than a
floppy disk
 Portable storage device
small and lightweight
enough to be transported
on a keychain or
in a pocket.
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13. The Components of a Computer
What is a hard disk?
 Provides greater storage
capacity than a
floppy disk or
USB flash drive
 Most are housed inside
of the system unit
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14. The Components of a Computer
What is a optical disc?
 Flat, round, portable metal disc e.g. CDs, DVDs.
14

15. The Components of a Computer
What is a communications
device?
 Hardware component that
enables a computer to send and
receive data, instructions and
information
 Occurs over cables, telephone
lines, cellular networks, satellites,
and other transmission media
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16. Computer Applications in Society
16

17. Computer Applications in Society
17

18. Advantages and Disadvantages
of Using Computers
Advantages of
Using Computers
Disadvantages of
Using Computers
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19. Advantages and Disadvantages
of Using Computers
• Green computing involves reducing the electricity
consumed and environmental waste generated when
using a computer
• Strategies include:
– Recycling
– Regulating manufacturing processes
– Extending the life of computers
– Immediately donating or properly disposing of replaced computers
19

20. Networks and the Internet
• A network is a
collection of computers
and devices connected
together through
transmission media.
20

21. To shareTo share
Networks and the Internet
What are the reasons to network?
ResourcesResources
Hardware
devices
Hardware
devices
Software
programs
Software
programs
DataData To save
time
and
money
To save
time
and
money
InformationInformation
21

22. Networks and the Internet
What is a server?
 A server manages
the resources on a
network
 Clients access
the resources
on the server
22

23. Networks and the Internet
What is the Internet?
 Worldwide collection of networks that connects
millions of businesses, government agencies, educational
institutions, and individuals
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24. Networks and the Internet
What is the Web?
A Web site is
a collection of
related Web pages
A Web site is
a collection of
related Web pages
A Web page contains
text, graphics, sound,
video, and links to
other Web pages
A Web page contains
text, graphics, sound,
video, and links to
other Web pages
You can share
information by
creating Web pages
or posting photos on
a photo sharing
community
You can share
information by
creating Web pages
or posting photos on
a photo sharing
community
 Billions of documents, called Web pages, available to
anyone connected to the Internet
24

25. Networks and the Internet
• People use the Internet for a variety of reasons:
25

26. Computer Software
• Software, also called a program,consists of series of instructions
that tells the computer what tasks to perform and how to perform
them
26

27. Computer Software
What is system software?
Operating System (OS)Operating System (OS)
is a set of programs
that coordinates all
activities among
computer hardware
devices and allows
users to run
application software
Operating System (OS)Operating System (OS)
is a set of programs
that coordinates all
activities among
computer hardware
devices and allows
users to run
application software
Utility ProgramsUtility Programs allow the user to
perform maintenance-type tasks
usually related to managing a
computer, its devices or its programs
Utility ProgramsUtility Programs allow the user to
perform maintenance-type tasks
usually related to managing a
computer, its devices or its programs
 Programs that control or maintain the operations of
the computer and its devices
27

28. Computer Software
What is application software?
Presentation
Graphics
Spreadsheet
Database
Word
Processing
 Programs that perform specific
tasks for users
28

29. Computer Software
• A programmer develops
software or writes the
instructions that direct
the computer to
process data into
information
29

30. Categories of Computers
30

31. Personal Computers
• A personal computer can perform all of its input,
processing, output, and storage activities by itself
• Two popular architectures are the PC and the Apple
– Desktop computer
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32. Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices
32

33. Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices
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34. Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices
34

35. Game Consoles
• A game console is a
mobile computing
device designed for
single-player or
multiplayer video
games
35

36. Servers
• A server controls access
to the hardware,
software, and other
resources on a network
– Provides a centralized
storage area for
programs, data, and
information
36

37. Mainframes
• A mainframe is a large,
expensive, powerful
computer that can
handle hundreds or
thousands of connected
users simultaneously
37

38. Supercomputers
• A supercomputer is the fastest, most powerful
computer
– Fastest supercomputers are capable of processing
more than one quadrillion instructions in a single
second
38

39. Embedded Computers
• An embedded computer is a special-purpose
computer that functions as a component in a
larger product
39

40. Embedded Computers
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41. Elements of an Information System
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42. Elements of an Information System
42

43. Summary
43