CSC 201 Chapter 1- Basic IT Concepts, Fall 2001

- CHAPTER 1 – - CHAPTER 1 – Basic Concepts of Information Basic Concepts of Information Technology Technology Overview Overview Understand the Basic Concepts of Understand the Basic Concepts of Hardware, Hardware, Software and Information Technology (IT). Software and Information Technology (IT).  Hardware Hardware  The term hardware refers to the physical The term hardware refers to the physical components of your computer such as the system components of your computer such as the system unit, mouse, keyboard, monitor etc. unit, mouse, keyboard, monitor etc.  Software Software  The software is the instructions that makes the The software is the instructions that makes the computer work. computer work.  Software is held either on your computers hard Software is held either on your computers hard disk, CD-ROM, DVD or on a diskette (floppy disk) disk, CD-ROM, DVD or on a diskette (floppy disk) and is loaded (i.e. copied) from the disk into the and is loaded (i.e. copied) from the disk into the computers RAM (Random Access Memory), as computers RAM (Random Access Memory), as and when required. and when required.  Information Technology (IT) Information Technology (IT)  IT is related to all aspects of managing and IT is related to all aspects of managing and processing information, especially in large processing information, especially in large organizations. organizations.  Alternative phrases: IS, MIS . . . Alternative phrases: IS, MIS . . . Types of Types of Computers Computers Distinguish Between Main frame Distinguish Between Main frame Computer, Minicomputer, Computer, Minicomputer, Network Computer, PC, and Network Computer, PC, and Laptop. Laptop.  Make sure you understand the following terms: Make sure you understand the following terms:  Supercomputer Supercomputer  Mainframe Mainframe  Minicomputer Minicomputer  Microcomputer Microcomputer Distinguish Between Computers Distinguish Between Computers in Terms in Terms of Capacity, Speed, Cost, and of Capacity, Speed, Cost, and Typical Users. Typical Users.  Supercomputers Supercomputers __ The mightiest computers and the most The mightiest computers and the most expensive, it expensive, it process billions of instructions per second. Mostly process billions of instructions per second. Mostly used by agencies of the government . used by agencies of the government .  Mini and Mainframe Computers Mini and Mainframe Computers  Very powerful, used by large organisations Very powerful, used by large organisations such an banks to control the entire business such an banks to control the entire business operation. Very expensive! operation. Very expensive!  Personal Computers Personal Computers  Cheap and easy to use. Often used as stand- Cheap and easy to use. Often used as stand- alone computers or in a network. May be alone computers or in a network. May be connected to large mainframe computers connected to large mainframe computers within big companies. within big companies.  Differences: Differences:  CPU types, Clock Speed, RAM, CPU types, Clock Speed, RAM, Hard Disk speed and storage Hard Disk speed and storage Understand the Terms Understand the Terms Intelligent Intelligent and Dumb Terminal. and Dumb Terminal.  An intelligent terminal, for example a PC: An intelligent terminal, for example a PC:  Performs a lot of the processing locally Performs a lot of the processing locally  You could use a PC, linked to a mainframe You could use a PC, linked to a mainframe  A dumb terminal: A dumb terminal:  Has very limited processing capabilities Has very limited processing capabilities itself, but allows you to connect to a large itself, but allows you to connect to a large powerful computer such as a mainframe. powerful computer such as a mainframe.  When you process your data from the dumb When you process your data from the dumb terminal, it is the mainframe at the other terminal, it is the mainframe at the other end of the network that is performing all the end of the network that is performing all the calculations. calculations. Main Parts of a Main Parts of a Personal Personal Computer Computer Know the Main Parts of a Know the Main Parts of a Personal Computer: Personal Computer: The System Unit The System Unit  The System Unit The System Unit  The main PC box that houses the various elements that go The main PC box that houses the various elements that go together to make up the PC. It contains the following major together to make up the PC. It contains the following major elements: elements:  The System (Mother) Board The System (Mother) Board  Central Processing Unit Central Processing Unit (CPU) which is divided into (CPU) which is divided into control unit and arithmetic control unit and arithmetic logic unit. logic unit.  Primary Storage Primary Storage (RAM and ROM) (RAM and ROM)  BUS BUS  Power Supply Power Supply  Secondary Storage Secondary Storage  Hard Disk Hard Disk  Floppy Disk (Diskette) Floppy Disk (Diskette)  CD Drive CD Drive Know the Main Parts of a Know the Main Parts of a Personal Computer: Personal Computer: Common Input/output Devices Common Input/output Devices Input devices Input devices Keyboard Keyboard Mouse Mouse Output Devices Output Devices Monitor (VDU Visual Monitor (VDU Visual Display Unit) Display Unit) Speakers Speakers Printer Printer Know the Main Parts of a Know the Main Parts of a Personal Computer: Personal Computer: Understand the Term Understand the Term ‘Peripheral Device’ ‘Peripheral Device’ A peripheral device is any device that you A peripheral device is any device that you can attach to your computer. can attach to your computer. Thus you could attach a scanner or modem to Thus you could attach a scanner or modem to the back of your system unit. the back of your system unit. Sound Cards and Speakers, Modems, Sound Cards and Speakers, Modems, Scanners, Recordable CDs, Tape Backup . . . Scanners, Recordable CDs, Tape Backup . . . Know the Main Parts of a Know the Main Parts of a Personal Computer: Personal Computer: Ports Ports  Ports Ports  Serial (Old Mouse, Old Net. Connection) Serial (Old Mouse, Old Net. Connection)  Parallel (Printer Port – LPT) Parallel (Printer Port – LPT)  AT (Old Keyboard) AT (Old Keyboard)  PS2 (Mouse & Keyboard) PS2 (Mouse & Keyboard)  VGA DB9-15 pin (VGA Port) VGA DB9-15 pin (VGA Port)  USB 1.1 & 2.0 (Scanner, Printer, Digital camera, …) USB 1.1 & 2.0 (Scanner, Printer, Digital camera, …)  RJ11 (Modem) RJ11 (Modem)  Firewire or IEEE1394 (Digital Camera 6 & 4 pins) Firewire or IEEE1394 (Digital Camera 6 & 4 pins)  RJ45 (Network) RJ45 (Network)  Infrared Infrared  Wifi (Wireless Network – LAN & WAN) Wifi (Wireless Network – LAN & WAN)  Bluetooth (Wireless devices) Bluetooth (Wireless devices) Know the Main Parts of a Know the Main Parts of a Personal Computer: Personal Computer: Ports Ports Ports Ports Serial (Old Mouse, Old Net. Connection) Serial (Old Mouse, Old Net. Connection) Parallel (Printer Port – LPT) Parallel (Printer Port – LPT) PS2 (Mouse & Keyboard) PS2 (Mouse & Keyboard) VGA DB9-15 pin (VGA Port) VGA DB9-15 pin (VGA Port) Know the Main Parts of a Know the Main Parts of a Personal Computer: Personal Computer: Ports Ports Ports Ports USB 1.1 & 2.0 (Scanner, Printer, Digital USB 1.1 & 2.0 (Scanner, Printer, Digital camera, …) camera, …) RJ11 (Modem) RJ11 (Modem) RJ45 (Network) RJ45 (Network) Firewire or IEEE1394 Firewire or IEEE1394 (Digital Camera 6 & 4 pins) (Digital Camera 6 & 4 pins) Know the Main Parts of a Personal Know the Main Parts of a Personal Computer: Computer: Ports Speed Ports Speed