Introduction To Computers

Introduction to Computers

Business Applications

What is a Computer?

• An electronic device – Operates under the control of instructions

stored in its own memory unit– Can accept data (input)– Manipulates the data according to specific

rules (process)– Produce results (output) for future use

Computer Hardware Components

Computer Hardware Components

What Does A Computer Do?Computers perform 4 general operations which

comprise the information processing cycle.

• Output

• Storage

•Input

•Process

Input Devices

• Desktop computer keyboard

• Handheld computer (PDA), you use a stylus to select keys on the onscreen keyboard.

• Notebook computers have the keyboard built into the top of the unit.

The KeyboardThe Keyboard

Input Devices

• A pointing device that fits comfortably under the palm of your hand.

• You control the movement of the pointer on the screen and make selections from the screen.

• A mouse has one to five buttons.

• Notebook computers come with a pointing device built into the keyboard.

The Mouse

Output Devices

• The printer prints by striking an inked ribbon against the paper.

• Dot matrix printers are capable of handling wide paper and printing multipart forms.

Impact Printers

Output Devices

• Prints higher quality text and graphics.

• Inkjet and Laser printers do a better job printing different fonts, are quieter, and can print in color.

• Photo printers produce photo-quality pictures and are ideal for home or office.

Nonimpact Printers

Output Devices

• Visually conveys text, graphics, and video information.

• Monitors.– CRT (cathode ray tube),

the big ones.– LCD (flat panel monitor).– Notebook computers and

tablet PCs have color LCD screens built in.

– PDA’s have color displays and a few smart phones have color displays.

Display Devices

Storage Devices

• Hard Disk (C:)• Network drive (H:)• USB Drive

External Storage

• The hard disk is enclosed inside an airtight, sealed case inside the system unit.

• One kilobyte is one thousand bytes (KB)

• One megabyte is one million bytes. (MB)

• One billion bytes are called gigabyte (GB).

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Storage DevicesHard Disks

Storage Devices

• A storage medium that consists of a flat, round, portable, metal storage medium that usually is 4.75 inches in diameter and less than 1/20 of an inch thick.

• Two types of optical discs are CD and DVD.

Optical Discs

Storage Devices

• Jump drives or USB drives

Miniature Mobile Storage

Storage Devices

• Rewritable media usually in the form of a flash memory card.

• The primary storage used with PDAs, digital cameras, music players, and smart phones to store digital images, music, or documents.

Miniature Storage Media

Communications Devices

• A hardware component that enables a computer to send and receive data, instructions, and information to and from one or more computers.

• Communications occur over Transmission media.– modem– cables– telephone lines– cellular radio networks– satellites

• Some transmission media are wireless.

Transmission Media

Communications Devices

• Consists of programs to control the operations of computer equipment.

• The operating system tells the computer how to perform the functions of loading, storing, and executing an application program and how to transfer data.

• An operating system must be stored in the computer’s memory for it to operate.

• The process of turning on your computer and loading the operating system into the computer’s memory from auxiliary storage is called booting.

• Microsoft Windows XP is a widely used graphical operating system that we use here at WMHS.

System Software

Communications Devices

• Consists of programs that tell a computer how to produce information.

• Microsoft Office is the software package that we use in Business Applications.– Word Processing: used to create, edit, format, and

print documents.– Spreadsheet: allows the user to add, subtract, and

perform user-defined calculations on rows and columns of numbers.

– Database: allows the user to enter, retrieve, and update data in an organized and efficient manner.

– Presentation Graphics: allows the user to create slides for use in a presentation to a group.

Application Software

Networks and Internet

• Local Area Network• Wide Area Network• Internet Service Provider

– AOL

• Online Service Provider– Comcast– Bellsouth

World Wide Web

• WWW

• Web page

• Web site

• Web browser (Internet Explorer)

• URL

Email

• Electronic mail

• Faster than snail mail

• Email address– [email protected]

Computer Virus

• Designed to infect other software or files

• Attaches itself to software and files.