the university of akron summit college business technology department computer information systems...

The University of AkronSummit College

Business Technology DepartmentComputer Information Systems

2440: 105 Introduction to Computers & Application

SoftwareInstructor: Enoch E. Damson

Introduction to Computers 2

Computer

A machine that performs four basic operations known as the information processing cycle (input, processing, output, and storage) Input – computer gathers data from users Process – data is converted into information Storage – data or information is stored for

future use Output – data or information is retrieved from

the computer


Types of Computers

The four basic types of computers are: Supercomputers Mainframes Minicomputers Microcomputers


Types of Computers…

Supercomputers – fastest, most expensive, large and powerful computers for very large organizations designed for specialized tasks such as mathematical calculations, weather tracking, satellite monitoring, etc

IBM’s Blue Gene is one of the fastest computers in the world Mainframes – large computers that occupy specially

wired, air-conditioned rooms and are designed to handle huge processing jobs in large corporations such as insurance companies and government agencies

Minicomputers – refrigerator-sized machines that handle specific needs such as assembly-line operations for medium-sized to smaller companies

Microcomputers – designed to meet individual needs Some of the most common types of microcomputers are:

desktops, laptop/notebook/netbook, tablet personal computers (PCs), and handheld computers such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and smartphones


Types of Microcomputers


Specialty Computers

Servers – provide resources to other computers connected in a network

Embedded computers – specially designed computer chips that reside inside other devices such as cars electronic thermostats, etc


Computer Information System (IS)

A collection of components that work together to process data into information

Components include: People Data Procedures Hardware Software Network


Computer Information System…


People

Making people more productive is what computers are all about

Examples include: Analysts Designers Developers Users


Data

Raw facts entered into the computer system for processing

Processed to produce information


Procedures

Rules or guidelines for people to follow when using software, hardware, and data

E.g. Software Manuals


Hardware

The physical components of the computer controlled by the software

Types of hardware devices (peripherals) include: Input Devices Systems Unit Storage Devices Output Devices


Types of Hardware Devices


Input Devices

Used to enter data into the computer for processing

Examples include: Keyboard Mouse Scanner Digital camera Video camera


System Unit

Holds the processing hardware, electrical power supply, disk drives, circuit cards, ports for connecting other hardware and the motherboard (system board) Motherboard – ties everything in the system

unit together The motherboard holds two very important

parts of the computer: Processor (central processing unit (CPU)

or microprocessor) Memory (RAM)


Motherboard


Processor

The brain of the computer that controls all the commands and tasks of the computer

Also known as the microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU)

Has two main parts: Control Unit – obtains instructions from the computer’s

memory and interprets and executes them Arithmetic-Logic Unit (ALU) – performs all the

arithmetic (math operations) and logical (comparisons) operations for the computer

Measured by the speed at which they are capable of processing data and size of data

Processing speed is measured in kilohertz (KHz) – in thousands; megahertz (MHz) – in millions; gigahertz (GHz) – in billions; and terahertz (MHz) – in trillions

Two leading processor manufacturers include: Intel Corporation and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)


Memory

Holds: Data – raw facts for processing Instructions – rules for processing data Information – processed data

Two basic types of memory include: Random Access Memory (RAM) – the volatile part of

memory that stores information temporarily Read-Only Memory (ROM) – the nonvolatile part of

memory on which instructions have been prerecorded to help start the computer and perform other tasks

Memory is measured by its size in bytes, kilobytes (thousands), megabytes (millions), gigabytes (billions), and terabytes (trillions)

Byte – represents a single character and consists of 8 bits Bit (binary digit)– the smallest unit of information in computers

that is made up of 0s and 1s


How Much is a Byte?Name Abbreviation Number of Bytes

Byte B 1 byte

Kilobyte KB 1,024 bytes

Megabyte MB 1,048,576 bytes

Gigabyte GB 1,073,741,824 bytes

Terabyte TB 1,099,511,627,776 bytes


Ports

Where all the peripheral devices connect to the computer to enable data exchange

Because input and output devices can exchange data with the computer using different methods, they might require different ports


Types of Ports

Serial and parallel ports are two of the oldest types of ports found on a computer

Serial ports – can only send data one bit at a time

Devices that use serial ports include the mouse, modem

Parallel ports – send data in groups of bits, at transfer rates of up to 500 Kbps

Printers often use parallel ports


Faster Types of Ports Universal serial bus (USB) ports – able to interface

with several different peripheral devices FireWire ports - usually used to connect digital

cameras or digital video recorders to a computer Connectivity ports – used to connect to a local network

or to the Internet Examples include:

Modem ports – resemble phone jacks and are used to connect the modem to a phone system and enable dial-up Internet access

Ethernet port - a bit larger than the standard phone jack and used for network access and can also be used to connect a cable modem or router


Types of Ports


Storage Devices

Used to store data and information permanently Data is generally stored using one of the following

forms: Magnetic storage – uses sectors that divide tracks

to store data E.g. hard disks, tapes, floppy disks, zip disks

Optical storage – also uses tracks and sectors but data is saved using a laser beam

E.g. Compact discs (CDs), digital video discs (DVDs) Flash memory – uses solid-state technology which is

completely electronic and has no moving mechanical parts

E.g. Flash drives (memory sticks), cards used in digital cameras, MP3 players, etc

Storage devices are measured in bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, and terabytes


Examples of Storage Devices


Output Devices

The devices used to display and print data and information

E.g. monitor, printer, speakers, etc Monitors output soft copy and their resolution

identifies the number pixels (picture elements) per square inch that appear on a screen The two main categories of monitors are:

Cathode ray tubes (CRT) – can be curved or flat and relatively inexpensive

Flat-panel monitors – use liquid crystal display (LCD) or light-emitting diode (LED) technology and are much slimmer and expensive

Printers output hard copy and their resolution is measured in dots per inch (dpi) The two main categories of printers are:

Impact printers – like dot matrix printers that use small keys to strike an ink ribbon against a paper

Non-impact printers – like ink-jet printers and laser printers that do not touch the paper when printing


Examples of Output Devices

Monitors

Printers


Software

Software (program) - a set of instructions that direct the computer to accomplish certain tasks

The two major categories of software are:

System software Application software


System Software

Provides the instructions needed for the computer to run

The ”background software” that manages the fundamental operations of a computer system including: Starting up (booting) the computer Executing programs

There are 4 types of system software: Operating systems – E.g. Windows, Mac OS, Linux Utilities programs – Norton Antivirus Device drivers – printer software Programming languages – Java, C++


Application Software

”End-user” software that performs useful tasks such as word processing, desktop publishing, etc

Kinds of application software include: Word processing software – e.g. Microsoft

Word Spreadsheet software – e.g. Microsoft Excel Database software – e.g. Microsoft Access Presentation software – e.g. Microsoft

PowerPoint Communication & Organization software –

e.g. Microsoft Outlook


Networks

Two or more computers connected in some way to share hardware, software programs, data and other resources Node – each object (computer, printer,

etc) connected to a network

Types of Networks

The two main types of networks are: Local area network (LAN) – uses direct

cables, radio, or other signals to link computers within a small geographic area like a building or group of buildings

Wide area network (WAN) – uses long-distance transmission media to link computers separated by a few miles or even thousands of miles

Internet – the largest WAN Cloud computing – uses the Internet to

shift many computer activities from a user’s computers to the Internet



Network Configurations

The two main categories of network configurations are: Peer-to-peer (P2P) networks – most

commonly found in homes and small-businesses with each node capable of communicating with every other node

Client/server networks - consist of a server (host computer) and clients (workstations)


Networks Topology (Topography)

The different types of network architecture – how computers and other devices are arranged and connected

The most common topographic layouts include: Bus network – no server but each node connects to a

central high-speed line (bus) Ring network – all nodes connect to a circular line

around which data travels in only one direction Star network – each node connects to a centrally located

switch to communicate with other nodes The most frequently used networking style for businesses Has a server to which all clients and other devices are

connected Wireless network – devices connect to other computers

and network resources using radio signals, microwaves, satellite signals, and other wireless media


Network Topologies

Network Cables

Computers can be connected to a network using devices like:

Coaxial cables – typically used by most cable TV systems The ends are usually made with RF (radio frequency)

connectors Twister pair cables (shielded and unshielded) – two

conductors are twisted together for the purposes of canceling out electromagnetic interference (EMI) from external sources

The ends are usually made with RJ (registered jack) 45 to plug into computer network interfaces

Two main types include: Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) cables – Unshielded Twisted pair (UTP) /Ethernet cables – primarily used for telephones

and commonly for computer networking

Fiber-optic cables – a glass or plastic fiber that carries light along its length

Used by most high-speed Internet cable connections Wireless – transfers information without using wires


Coaxial Cable


Twisted Pair Cable


Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

Fiber-Optic Cable



History of Early Computers The Pascalene Calculator – created by Blaise Pascal (a

French mathematician) in 1642 Used gears to count (add, subtract, multiply and divide) tens –

similar to odometers in cars Jacquard Loom – created by Joseph Jacquard in the 1800s

Automated the weaving of complex patterns in the fabric industry The process gave birth to punch cards

Babbage’s Engines – designed by Charles Babbage (known as the “father of computing”) in 1834

Difference Engine – a huge steam-powered calculator Analytical Engine – the first automatic calculator

The Hollerith Tabulating Machine – developed by Herman Hollerith in 1890

Used Jacquard’s punch card concept to tabulate census data for the U.S. Census Bureau

Hollerith later started the Tabulating Machine Company which later became International Business Machines (IBM)


History of Early Computers… The Z1 Computer – created by Konrad Zuse (a German

inventor) in 1936 A mechanical calculator Thought to be the first computer to include a control unit,

and separate memory functions which are important for today’s computers

The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) – built by John Atanasoff (a professor at Iowa State University) in 1939 The first computer to use vacuum tubes to store data

instead of mechanical switches used in old computers The first computer to use the binary system The first computer to have memory that repowered itself

when booting


History of Early Computers… The Harvard Mark I – designed by Howard Aiken (an

electronic engineer and physicist) and Grace Hopper at Harvard University in 1944 Could perform all four arithmetic operations (add, subtract,

multiply and divide) The Mark series of computers designed from the early

1930s to the late 1950s Used by the U.S. Navy for ballistic and gunnery

calculations Grace Hopper invented the compiler, a computer program

that translated English language instructions into computer language

She was also the first to “debug” a computer by removing a moth from the Harvard Mark I

She coined the term “bugs” for computer errors


History of Early Computers… The Turing Machine – created by Alan Turing (a British

mathematician) in 1936 An abstract computer model that could perform logical operations A hypothetical model that mathematically defined a mechanical procedure

(algorithm) Turing’s concept by which machines could read, write, erase symbols

written on squares of an infinite paper tape was the precursor to today’s RAM

The ENIAC (Electronic Integrator and Computer) – a U.S. government-sponsored machine developed created by John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert in 1944 at the University of Pennsylvania

Calculated the settings used for weapons Thought of as the first successful high-speed electronic digital computer Was big and clumsy Used nearly 18,000 vacuum tubes Filled approximately 1,800 sq. ft. of floor space Remained in use until 1955


History of Early Computers… The UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) – developed

in 1951 by the Remington Rand company The first commercially successful electronic digital computer Operated on a magnetic tag (instead of punch cards used by

competitors) Used to predict only 5% of the popular vote to correctly identify

Dwight D. Eisenhower as the victor over Stevenson during the U.S. presidential race

Together with other similar computers, were considered first-generation computers and were the last to use vacuum tubes to store data

Transistors – developed around 1956 by scientists at the Bell Telephone Laboratories in NJ

Smaller and more powerful Replaced the bulky vacuum tubes as a means to store data Used in almost everything from radios to phones Computers that used transistors were known as second-

generation computers


History of Early Computers… Integrated Circuits – invented by Jack Kilby of Texas

Instruments in 1958 A small chip capable of containing 1000s of transistors Enabled computers to become smaller and lighter Computer in this generation were considered third-

generation computers Microprocessor chips – introduced by Intel

Corporation in 1971 A small chip containing millions of transistors Functions as the central processing unit (CPU), or brains, of

the computer Intel and Motorola became the leading manufacturers of

microprocessors over time Computers that used transistors were known as fourth-

generation computers


History of Early Computers…Year Computer Creator

1642 Pascalene Calculator Blaise Pascal

1800s Jacquard Loom Joseph Jacquard

1834 Babbage Engines Charles Babbage

1890 Hollerith Tabulating Machine Herman Hollerith

1936 Z1 Konrad Zuse

1936 Turing Machine Alan Turing

1939 Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) John Atanasoff

1944 Harvard Mark I Howard Aiken/Grace Hopper

1944 ENIAC John W. Mauchly/J. Presper Eckert

1951 UNIVAC (1 GC) Remington Rand Company

1956 Transistors (2 GC) Bell Telephone Labs

1958 Integrated Circuits (3 GC) Texas Instruments

1971 Microcomputer Chips (4 GC) Intel Corporation


History of Personal Computers Altair 8800 – developed by Micro Instrumentation and

Telemetry Systems (MITS) in 1975 Very primitive with no keyboard, monitor, or printer Only 256 bytes of memory Switches were used to enter machine code (0s and 1s)

Apple I – built by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs in 1976 One of the first personal computers to have a keyboard Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs later founded their company called

the Apple Computer Company Apple II – designed by the Apple Computer Company in 1977

Included a color monitor, sound, and game paddles Included 4KB of RAM and an optional floppy disk drive for users to

run additional programs (most of the programs were games) Eventually included spreadsheet program, word processing, and

desktop publishing software


History of Personal Computers… Commodore PET 2001 – developed by the

Commodore company in 1977 Very primitive with no keyboard, monitor, or printer Only 256 bytes of memory Switches were used to enter machine code (0s and 1s)

TRS-80 Model I – developed by Tandy RadioShack in 1977 Included a monochrome display and 4 KB of memory

Apple III – designed by the Apple Computer Company in 1980 Included a color monitor, sound, and game paddles


History of Personal Computers… Osborne – designed by the Osborne company in 1981

A portable machine that weighed 24.5 lbs with a 5 inches monitor

Included 64 KB of memory, two floppy disk drives, and preinstalled software programs

It’s successor, the Executive, reduced Osborne’s sales and the company closed

Compaq bought the Osborne design and produced its first portable computer in 1983

IBM PC – developed by IBM (International Business Machines) in 1981 Included 64 KB of memory, expandable to 256 KB The term PC soon became a description of personal

computers Time magazine named the computer “1982 machine of the

year” in its January 1983 issue


History of Personal Computers…

Lisa – developed by Apple Computer Company in 1983 The first successful PC on the market to use a GUI

(Graphical User Interface) Xerox had already designed the Alto and Star

Office System to have GUI in 1972 but never sold them commercially

Macintosh – designed by the Apple in 1984 Had everything in the Lisa but cheaper The first personal computer to introduce 3.5-inch

floppy disks with a hard cover, which were smaller and sturdier than the previous 5.25-inch floppies


History of Personal Computers…Year Apple IBM Others

1975 Altair 8800 (by MITS)

1976 Apple I

1977 Apple II TRS-80 (by Tandy RadioShack), Commodore PET 2001 (by Commodore )

1980 Apple III

1981 IBM PC Osborne

1983 Lisa

1984 Macintosh

286-AT

the university of akron summit college business technology department computer information systems...

Documents

information slide

damson slide

fastest computers

basic types of computers

handheld computers

computer system

powerful computers

information storage