Week 001
Computer Appreciation
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Module Learning Objectives
• Demonstrate understanding of the fundamental hardware
components that make up a computer’s hardware and the role of each
of these components
• Demonstrate understanding of the difference between an operating
system and an application program, and what each is used for in a
computer
• Explain the fundamental concepts of computer hardware and software
• Acquire the foundation level knowledge required to understand
computer and its operations.
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Information Processing System
• DATA is a collection of independent and unorganized facts.
• INFORMATION is the processed and organized data presented in a
meaningful form.
• DATA PROCESSING is the course of doing things in a sequence of
steps.
• COMPUTER is an electronic machine that follows a set of instructions
in order that it may be able to accept and gather data and transform
these into information.
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
PROCESSING
SYSTEM
DATA INFORMATION
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Functions of an Information Processing System
1. It accepts and gather data. (INPUT)
2. It processes data to become information. (PROCESSING)
3. It stores data and information. (STORE)
4. It presents information. (OUTPUT)
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Basic Units of Measurement
• BIT is a unit of information equivalent to the result of a choice
between only 2 possible alternatives in the binary number system.
• BYTE is a sequence of 8 bits (enough to represent one character of
alphanumeric data) processed as a single unit for information.
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Basic Units of Measurement
A byte can be used to represent a single character, which can be:
• A letter
• A number
• A special character or symbol, or
• A space
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
BASIC PC HARDWARE
• HARDWARE is the tangible part
of a computer system.
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Basic hardware of a PC system
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Memory Unit
• Input Devices
• Output Devices
• Secondary Storage Devices
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
1. Central Processing Unit
• Brain of the computer.
• It directs and controls the entire computer system
and performs all arithmetic and logical operations.
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
2. Memory Unit
Where the programs and data are stored .
• READ ONLY MEMORY (ROM) contains the
pre-programmed computer instructions
such as the Basic Input Output System
(BIOS).
• RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM) is used
to store the programs and data that you
will run. Exists only when there is power.
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
3. Input Devices
Allows data and programs to be sent to the CPU.
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Joystick
• Microphone
• Webcam
• Scanner
• Monitor
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Two Types of Mouse
• Mechanical - a type of computer mouse that
has a rubber or metal ball on its underside
and it can roll in every direction.
• Optical: This type uses a laser for detecting
the mouse's movement.
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
How a Mouse Hooks Up to a PC
• PS/2 Mouse
• Serial Mouse
• USB/Cordless Mouse
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Other Pointing Devices
• Trackball
• Track point
• Touch pad
• Touch Screen
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
• Joystick – input device for computer games
• Light Pens – light-sensitive penlike device
• Stylus – penlike device commonly used with
tablet PCs and PDAs.
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Scanning Devices
• Optical scanners
• Card readers
• Bar code readers
• Character and mark recognition devices
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
4. Output Devices
• Media used by the computer in displaying its
responses to our requests and instructions.
• Monitor
• Audio Speakers
• Printer
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Types of Monitor
• Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
• Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Printers
• IMPACT PRINTERS uses pressure by physically striking the
paper. Ex. Daisy wheel printers, line printers, dot matrix
printers & band printers.
• NON-IMPACT PRINTER does not apply pressure on the
paper but instead produces character by using lasers, ink
spray, photography or heat.
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Dot matrix
printer
Laser
printer
Inkjet printer
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
5. Secondary Storage Devices
• Attached to the computer system to allow you to store
programs and data permanently for the purpose of
retrieving them for future use.
• Floppy disk, Hard disk, CD Rom
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Floppy Disk
• The most common secondary storage device
• 3.5” disk – 1.44MB
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
High-Capacity Floppy Disks
• Floppy disk cartridges
• 3 ½ inches in diameter
• Stores more information
• Zip disks
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Hard Disk Drive or Hard Disk
• Made of rigid materials unlike floppy disks
• Holds a greater amount of data
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Optical Discs
• A standard part of modern desktop machines, especially
used for multimedia purposes and preferred in loading
applications.
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Kinds
• Blue Ray Disk – 40G
• Digital Versatile Disk
• DVD-R – write once, 3.95G
• DVD RW – rewritable, 3G
• Single Layer and Double Layer
• Compact Disk
• CD-R – write once, 650MB
• CD-RW – rewritable, 700MB
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Optical Drives
• CD-ROM read CDs
• CD-Writer read/write CDs
• DVD-Combo read/write CDs, read DVD
• DVD Writer read/write CDs
read/write DVDs
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Other Secondary Storage
Solid-State Storage
• No moving parts
• Flash memory cards
• USB flash drives
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Parts that Build Up A System Unit
• Casing or cover • Sound card
• Power Supply • Floppy disk drive
• Motherboard • Hard disk drive
• Microprocessor • CD-ROM drive
• Memory • MODEM
• Video Card
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Casing or cover
• The box or outer shell that houses most of the
computer, it is usually one of the most overlooked
parts of the PC.
• Protects the computer circuits, cooling and system
organization.
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Power Supply
• Responsible for powering every device in
your computer.
• Parts of a Power supply:
• Disk drive connectors
• Motherboard connector
• Power supply fan
• Power switch
• Input voltage selector
• Cover
• Power plugs receptacle
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Motherboard
• The physical arrangement in a computer
that contains the computer’s basic
circuitry and components.
• Components are:
• Microprocessor
• (Optional) Coprocessors
• Memory
• Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)
• Expansion Slot
• Interconnecting circuitry
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Software
• Instructions that tell the computer how to process
data into the form you want.
• Software and programs are interchangeable.
• Two major types:
• System and Applications
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
2 Kinds of Software
1. System Software enables the application software to interact
with the computer hardware.
• Operating Systems are programs that coordinate
computer resources, provide an interface between users
and the computer; and run applications.
• Utilities perform specific tasks related to managing
computer resources.
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
Functions of a System Software
• Managing resources (memory, processing, storage, and
devices like printer).
• Providing user interface
• Running applications
Week 001: Computer Appreciation
2 Kinds of Software
2. Applications Software - provides the real functionality of a
computer. It help you use your computer to do specific
types of work.
• Basic Applications, widely used in all career areas.
• Specialized Applications, more narrowly focused on
specific disciplines and occupations.
