Introduction to Computers and

Information Technology

Chapter 1: Computer Basics

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 What is a computer?
 A computer is a machine
storage
that changes information
from one form to another
Processing Output
by performing four basic
actions. 3
 Input, processing,
2 4
output, and storage are
the four actions of a Input 1
computer’s information Four basic actions

processing cycle.

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 Digital Computers
 Computers work with binary system that has a fixed value.
 Bit is short for binary digit. Each bit has two possible values: 0 or 1.
 Pieces of data are entered into the computer as combinations of bits, or as 0s or
1s. The bits are combined into groups of eight or more. Each group is called a
byte.

0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1

or 1
Byte
0

bit bit 3
 Decimal
 The decimal digits are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Decimal Binary
0 0000
1
2
0001
0010
7
3 0011 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1
4 0100 Decimal
5 0101
6 0110
Binary
7 0111
8 1000
9 1001
10 1010
11 1011
12 1100
13 1101
14 1110
15 1111
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 Decimal to Binary conversion
 Convert 3 from decimal to binary.

1. 00000011
2. 11101010
3. 00001101
4. 11101111

 Convert 10 from decimal to binary.

1. 00000011
2. 11101010
3. 00001010
4. 01001111
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 Hexadecimal
 A hexadecimal can be any of the following 16 digits:
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
 One hexadecimal digit is equivalent to four binary digits.

Byte

0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1

7 1
71

hexadecimal 6
 Binary to Hexadecimal conversion
 Convert 10010001 from binary to hexadecimal.

A. 90
B. 91
C. 92
D. 93

 Convert 11110010 from binary to hexadecimal.

1. F1
2. F3
3. F2
4. E2
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 Hexadecimal
 Color can be represented by a three-byte combination where each byte
represents red, green, or blue (RGB).
 There are 256 possible combinations of 1 or 0 in each group of eight bits. To
represent a color, the three byte RGB codes are simplified into a 6-digit
hexadecimal value. The first two digits of the hexadecimal value represent the
intensity of the red, the second two are green, and the last two are blue.

RGB

R G B

00 FF 00
Pure green 00FF00 8
 Encoding

 Character encoding : is type of encoding

characters as bytes.

 While a computers only recognize binary

(Digital ) data so text must be represented
in a binary form.

 The most common coding system

(Character set):

 ASCII : uses 8 bits.

 Unicode :uses 16 bits.

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 Measurement units in computer

Unit Equivalent

1 kilobyte (KB) 1,024 bytes

1 megabyte (MB) 1,048,576 bytes

÷ 1 gigabyte (GB) 1,073,741,824 bytes
×
1 terabyte (TB) 1,099,511,627,776 bytes

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 Measurement units in computer

From MB to byte
 1 MB is 1,024 KB (1 x 1024 ) or 1,048,576 bytes (1024x1024).

From GB to byte

Examples
 1 GB is 1,024 MB (1 x 1024 ) or 1,073,741,824 bytes (1024x1024x1024).

From Byte to KB and MB

 1,048,576 bytes is 1024 KB (1,048,576 ÷ 1024 ).
 1,048,576 bytes is 1 MB (1,048,576 ÷ 1024 ÷ 1024 ).

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 A computer system consists
of two major elements

2
1

Software
Hardware
Computer’s Elements

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 What is Computer Hardware?

 Hardware are the computer’s physical parts. The processor is a hardware

device that turns raw data into usable information.

 Most computer hardware is inside the computer case.

 This hardware is used for processing and storing data. There are other devices,
such as a keyboard or mouse, that are only used outside of the computer case.

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Main components of a computer

01

Motherboard

04 02
Computer
HDD CPU
Components

03
RAM

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 Computer Components - Motherboard
 The motherboard connects hardware and allows
data to travel from one device to another.

 Also known as the system board or the main

board.

 The Motherboard contains a set of paths called

buses used for communication between
different devices.

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 Computer Components - CPU

 One of the most important processing devices to a

computer is the central processing unit, or CPU.

 It receives data input, executes instructions, and

processes information.

 The CPU fits into the motherboard's CPU socket.

 CPU's speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz) (billions

of instructions per second).

 Example (3.20GHz).

Socket 16
 Computer Components - RAM

 Near the CPU is the primary data storage area called Random Access Memory, or RAM.
 The close proximity allows the CPU to quickly find the data it works with.
 RAM comes with high capacity storage than Cache memory.
 Cache Memory is memory that exists between CPU and RAM. CPU uses this memory as
a buffer memory during processing.

RAM stores data when the computer is

on, but the data is lost when the
computer is turned off.

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 Computer Components - RAM

 RAM is measured by the unit of

gigabyte.
 It is located in specific slots in
motherboard (small hinges that
lock the RAM in place).
 Examples of RAM size:
• 8 GB.
• 12 GB.
• 16 GB.

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 Computer Components - HDD

 Hard disk drives hold the most data, typically in

the amount of several hundred gigabytes.

 Store data permanently even if the computer is

turned off.

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 Powering the Computer

 Computer components are powered by electricity.

 When a computer is plugged in, electricity flows from the outlet to the circuits
of the computer.

 A circuit is a network of electronic components.

 Computer circuits contain switches, or transistors, which use electricity to

complete tasks.

 A transformer transfers electricity from one circuit to another to deliver power.

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 Power Supply

 The power supply is a hardware that's used to convert the power provided

from the outlet (alternating current (AC)) into (direct current (DC)).

alternating current (AC) direct current (DC)

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 Hardware Peripherals

 Peripheral devices are separate pieces of

hardware, but can be connected to the case.

 Peripherals need to be connected to the computer

for data to move back and forth.

 The connection can be via plug (Port) or wireless

connection.

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 Expansion Cards
 Sound cards, video cards, etc.
Slots
 Provide extra functionality.

 Fit into slots on the motherboard

Ports 23
 Expansion Cards

VIDEO CARD

Ports Ports
SOUND CARD

NETWORK
INTERFACE CARD (NIC)
Ports

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 Group and Individual Computing

 Computers range in size. The

largest and most powerful

computers process huge amounts of

data very quickly. These are called

supercomputers.

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 Computers for Organizations

 Mainframe computers are used in

centralized computing systems as the
storage location for most of the data.
These types of computers are often used
by government agencies and large
corporations.

 Most organizations connect their

computers together in a network, which
are all connected to a computer called a
server. The server holds all the data and
programs for people in the network to
use on their computers.

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 Computers for Individuals

 Workstations are the most powerful personal computers.

 Desktop computers are personal computers that are small enough to fit on or under
a desk.

 Tablet computers are small, portable, and have a flat panel display.

 Smart phones are telephones with computing capabilities.

 Wearable computers are designed to be worn on the body, leaving hands free for
other tasks.

 A personal digital assistant (PDA) is a small, portable handheld computer.

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 What is Computer Software?

Software includes all the programs that tell a computer what to do and how to
do it.

Two types of software:

1 System software

2 Application software

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 Basic Programming Concepts

using

Programmer
write instructions, called source code
Programming language

These instructions
become software

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 Basic Programming Concepts

There are two types of programming:

 Procedural programming, which uses step-by-step instructions to tell a computer

what to do.

 Object-oriented programming provides rules for creating and managing objects,

which are items that include data and how to process the data.

 Object-oriented programming languages include Java, Python.

 Procedural programming languages include C, Fortran, and Basic.

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 Basic Programming Concepts

• Compilers and interpreters are programs that translate source code into a form
that can be read and acted on by a computer.
• Interpreters can translate source code directly into actions, while compilers must
first translate the source code into binary form. Still, compilers are able to
complete a task faster.

Some common data types include string (a sequence of characters that does not contain
numbers used for calculations), numeric (numbers or amounts that are used in calculations),
character (text), integers (represent whole numbers), and date (the method of coding dates).

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 Programs are Directions
The linear sequence of instructions that result in the computer performing a specific task
is called an algorithm.

True
Start A=0 Print A A <= 5 A=A+1

False

End

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 Activities

Binary Numbers Interactive

Page 22

Virtual Computer Tour

Page 4

CPU – RAM – Hard Disk

Page 53

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 Activities

Types of Computers
Page 7
The key learning objectives for this simulation are:
• List the Various Types and Characteristics of Personal Computers
• Give Examples of Other Personal Computing Devices

Hardware
Page 27
The key learning objectives for this simulation are:
• Select hardware components appropriate to your needs​
• Evaluate the advantages offered by technological components in
light of cost concerns

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