Chapter 1 Overview The Foundation for Your Future Computer Components & Networks, 2002.

Chapter 1Overview

The Foundation for Your Future

Computer Components & Networks, 2002

Ch 1 Computer Components & Networks,2002 2 CCI

Overview• Computer literate and computer

competent• Information systems• Hardware• Software


Overview (continued)

• Computer systems• Computer development• Connectivity, Interactivity,

Digital convergence


Computer Literate vs. Competent

• Computer literacy– understanding what a computer is and what

it can do• Computer competency

– using skills to meet information needs and improve productivity


Competency

• Skill mastery covered:– terms– functions– uses


Computer Information Systems

• Hardware• Software• Data and information• People• Procedures• Communications


Architecture of Computer

• Von Neumann• “Computer” definition

A device: – Accepts Input– Processes Data– Stores Data– Produces Data


Computer Hardware

• An introduction video• 5 categories

– input– processing and

memory– output– storage– Communications


Input

• Keyboard• Mouse• Scanner• Microphone

Accept data and convert it into a form suitable for computer processing


Processing and Memory

• Motherboard• CPU• Memory

– many types of RAM

System Unit: the electronic circuitry that does the actual processing and, except in large computers, the memory that supports processing.


Output Hardware

• Hardcopy output– graphics– letters

• Softcopy output– monitor– audio

• music from MP3 for example

Provide the user with the means to view and use information produced by the computer system


Secondary Storage Hardware

• Permanent or nonvolatile– data is not lost when the power is turned off – easy to retrieve when needed for processing– magnetic disks: hard drives, floppy disks– optical storage (optical disks)– tape


Communications Hardware

• Facilitate networks– modems– hubs and other components of a network

Animation:Animation:

The procedure of computer The procedure of computer implementation a taskimplementation a task


Computer Software

• System software– communication with hardware– resource management– facilitates communication among application

programs

Software: a set of instructions that tells the computer how to perform a particular task.


Computer Software (Cont’)

• Applications software– benefits or assists the user


Types of Computers

• Supercomputer• Mainframe computers• Workstations• Microcomputers


Types of Computers (cont’)• Microcontrollers

– embedded or dedicated computers: from calculators to automobiles

• Server– network– Web


Supercomputer• The fastest and highest-capacity computers

– Worldwide weather forecasting– Nuclear weapons systems– Predictions of spreads of epidemics– Mathematical research


Computer Generations• First (1944 to1958)

– ENIAC and UNIVAC– http://www.seas.upenn.edu/ ~museum/hist-overview.html

• Second (1959 to1963)– IBM 1401 with 1402 card read/punch

• Third generation (1964 to 1970)– DEC PDP-8– Data General NOVA– IBM 360

http://www.seas.upenn.edu/






Computer Generations (continued)

• Fourth generation (1971 to now)– dominated by the LSI (large-scale integrated

circuits) and the VLSI (very-large-scale integrated circuits)

– word processing, spreadsheets, database, and graphic programs became readily available

– Cray-1 supercomputer– DEC VAX 11/780


Connectivity• Connecting devices for communication

• voice, data, multimedia– foundation for information age

• E-mail– send and receive messages over a local area

network or a large network, including the Internet


Connectivity (continued)

• Databases– for research and job prospects

• Telecommuting– Working at home or on the road– Communicating with the office through phone,

fax, and/or computer• On-line shopping and E-commerce


Databases

• Electronically stored data• Reference and other libraries of

information databases are extensive through connectivity, both specialized and generalized on the Internet


Online Services• America Online (AOL)• Microsoft Network (MSN)• CompuServe interactive services

(CompuServe)• Prodigy Internet (Prodigy)


Portals and the World Wide Web

• Online service providers– Often customize setup disks or CDs to show

their home page as the first page– Hence, the term portal, the entry way to the

Internet


Browsers

• Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator– two dominant Web browsers– also serve as portals through their home page


Interactivity

• Ability to respond immediately and modify processes

• Includes multimedia– text, graphics, animation, video,

music, voice


Interactive Devices

• Multimedia computers• Internet appliances

– TV set-top control boxes, also called smart boxes


Digital Convergence

• Merger of devices, media, and services– computers– communications– consumer electronics– entertainment– mass media


Technological Convergence

• Communications– same information gained in potentially multiple

ways• satellite• films• recordings• radio• telephones• television


Exercise

• P1.33~34 Self-exercises• P1.34 In your own words 2,4,6,7,10• Preparation

– The recently launched CPU products– The performance feature

Chapter 1 Overview The Foundation for Your Future Computer Components & Networks, 2002.

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