COMPUTER PLATFORMS

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

COMPUTER PLATFORMS

COMH101

HNC / HND Programme 2003 - 2004

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

About the module…• HNC/HND Level 1 Module• Provides a grounding of the basics of

computing – Computer Systems– Operating Systems– Networking Issues

• 12 weeks contact– 11 weeks + 1 reading week

• 2 Assignments + 1 Very Very small test– More on this later!

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

About the lecturer…• Stuart Cunningham

– Room B126– s.cunningham@newi.ac.uk– Tel: 01978 293583

Notes and information found at:• www.newi.ac.uk/cunninghams/

– Scottish!• If I say something you don’t understand please

ask! (Generally a good idea, not just because of the accent).

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Scheme of work• Week 1

– About the module– Introduction to the computer system

• Week 2– The CPU– Von-Neumann model

• Week 3– Data formats– Terminology

• Week 4– Improving the PC

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Scheme of work• Week 5

– Reading Week

• Week 6 (Assignment 1 IN)– Fundamentals of computer networks

• Week 7– Network applications & performance

• Week 8– Planning networks

• Week 9– Operating Systems

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Scheme of work• Week 10

– Managing the OS– User training & support issues

• Week 11– Computer and network security issues

• Week 12 (Assignment 2 IN)– The end?!

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

COMPUTER PLATFORMS

Introduction to the Computer System

Week 1

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Computer Platforms• Introduction to the computer system:

– About computers– Input / Output / Process– Hardware– Software– Communications

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Computers• Computers are in widespread use

today:– Business– Education– Home

• Computers used for many things:– Office work– Science and Research– Games and Entertainment– Multimedia production– Data storage

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

The Computer• The computer is a machine

– ‘TOM’ – (Totally Obedient Moron)– Carries out instructions– Consists of electronic components

• Performs three main tasks– Accepts INPUT– Performs a PROCESS on the input– Produces OUTPUT from the process

INPUT OUTPUTPROCESS

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Computer System• Computer System consists of two

main areas of functionality:– Hardware

• Physical components to a computer system• Stuff you can touch and hold• Wires, transistors, keyboard, printer etc.

– Software• Instructions given to the hardware

– Programs or applications to run on the hardware

– Usually stored on a hardware media

– E.g.- Windows, Dreamweaver, MS Office, etc.

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Hardware• Essential Hardware Components

– Input• Keyboard, mouse

– Processing• Central Processing Unit (CPU)• E.g.- Intel Pentium n, AMDAthlon

– Output• Monitor, printer

– Memory• Temporary data storage, with fast retrieval• E.g.- RAM (Random Access memory)

– Permanent storage• A form of media to store data for a long term• E.g.- Hard disk drive• E.g.- ROM (Read Only Memory)

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Hardware• Employing RAM and backing store

– RAM = Random Access Memory• Sometimes called ‘main memory’• Used for temporary storage

– Contents are erased when power is off

• Very fast access to data– Any byte can be accessed randomly

– Backing store• Permanent place to keep important data• Commonly a hard disk drive

– Allows reading and writing of data

• Could also be a ROM (Read Only Memory) chip– Once written to can only be read in future

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Hardware• Employing RAM and backing store

INPUT OUTPUTPROCESS

Backing Store

RAM

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Hardware• Peripheral Hardware Components

– Input• Scanner, microphone, light pen

– Processing• Graphics card, sound card

– Output• Speakers, plotter, digital projector

– Memory• Extra RAM, VRAM

– Permanent storage• Zip drives, memory sticks, floppy disks

– Other Devices• Modem, NIC, DVD-R, DV-Camera

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Software• Essential Software

– Operating System (OS)• Many different types

– Graphical user Interface (GUI) / WIMP• E.g.- MS Windows, MacOS, NeXT

– Command line Interface (CLI)• E.g.- DOS, UNIX

– Low Level systems• E.g.- BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

– Application Software• Used to do anything ‘useful’• Communications• Office / Business• Processing

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Software• Operating Systems

– Acts as an interface between the user and the capabilities (hardware & software) of the computer

– Need the OS to run other applications– Need OS to control hardware– Organises files and directories– Is the ‘front end’ of the computer– The environment the user interacts with– Responds to commands issued by the

user

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Software• Operating Systems

– Command Line Interface (CLI)

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Software• Operating Systems

– Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Software• Different Types of OS:

– Real-time• Commands are carried out straight away

– Multi-threading• Can carry out parts of one program at the

same time

– Multitasking• Can run more than one program at the same

time

– Multiprocessing• Allows more than one CPU to be used to

execute a program

– Multi-user• Allows many users to share a CPU

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Software• Application Software

– Word processing– Spreadsheets– Databases– Web browsing– Email client– Internet hosting– Desktop Publishing (DTP)– Integrated Development Environment– Games (?)

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Types of Computer• Personal Computer (PC)

– Single-user computer– Standalone

• Supercomputer– Very fast computer which can carries out

huge amounts of instructions per second

• Mainframe– A powerful computer which can be used

by lots of users at the same time

Stuart Cunningham - Computer Platforms - 2003

Computer Platforms• What you know now (hopefully):

– More about this module– More about your lecturer (and more

importantly, where to find his module notes)

– What a computer is– Input -> Process -> Output– About basic computer hardware– About computer software

• Operating Systems (OS)• Application Software

– Types of computer