BASIC CONCEPTS OF COMPUTING

MODULE 2.1
CONTENTS

🞭 What is a computer?
🞭 An expanded model of a compu
ter
🞭 The role of software
🞭 Types of computers
🞭 ICT systems
🞭 Glossary
2
WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
🞭 Main components or parts of a computer

• all the parts of • the programs –

a computer sets of
that you can instructions –
physically that tell the
touch computer what
to do
Hardwar Softwar
e e
3
WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
🞭 The basic model of a computer
🞭 IPO model

Processin
Input Output
g

4
WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
🞭 A definition of a computer
🞭 A computer is a multi‑purpose
electronic tool that can receive data
(input),can process the data, can
produce results and can output them.
Produc
Input Proces e
data s results/
Output

5
DATA INFORMATION
🞭 raw, unprocessed facts. 🞭 is the result of the
processing of data and
should be useful and
meaningful.

CAT123NW CAT123N
Wnumber of a
🞭 registration
car from the North West
province.

WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
6
 AN EXPANDED MODEL OF A COMPUTER
executes the
instructions,
processes the data
and manages and
controls all the other get feedback from
get data into parts of the the computer
computer computer

allow computers to
communicate with
each other

keep instructions and

data that it is not
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currently working on
AN EXPANDED MODEL OF A COMPUTER

🞭 Note the following:

🞭 Programs have to be ‘loaded’ before
they can be used.
🞭 Data must also be in memory if the
computer is to work with it.
🞭 The contents of memory only become
‘permanent’ when you ‘Save’ them.

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ACTIVITY 1

9
THE ROLE OF SOFTWARE
🞭 Software categories according to function

System Applicatio
Software n
Software
10
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Graphics and Design

Word Processor

Spreadsheet

Database

Presentation Software
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APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Communication Software

Office Suite

Desktop Publishing

Games

Web Authoring Software

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APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Web browser

Plug-ins

Financial Applications

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THE ROLE OF SOFTWARE
🞭 Software categories according to distribution model

• Advantages :No cost / low cost; Access to source

code; Freedom to adapt and change; Access to a
community of users / support.
Open source • Disadvantages: No one to hold responsible; Risk of
software poor support; Higher skills needed; Various
(OSS) ‘varieties’.

• Shrinkwrap; Shareware; Freeware

• Proprietary software is owned by a company – you
never get the source code – in fact you only ever
Proprietary ‘license’ the software, you do not ‘own’ the
software software.

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ACTIVITY 2

15
TYPES OF COMPUTERS
🞭 Size and processing power

Processing power

Physical size
Portabl
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TYPES OF COMPUTERS
🞭 Servers

-used in
network
environme
nts to help
‘run’ a
network of
linked
computers

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TYPES OF COMPUTERS
🞭 Consumer Tablets & Tablet PCs
🞭 These are small
portable devices
🞭 They are designed to
be controlled
through touch
screen interfaces
🞭 Consumer tablets
usually have WiFi,
Bluetooth and 3G
communication built
in
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TYPES OF COMPUTERS
🞭 Uses
Server
• Providing services to users in a network.

Desktop, laptop, notebook, netbook, Tablet PC

• Productive work and the use of applications that allow one
to be creative.

Consumer tablet
• Use digital content, access the web and e-mail, create
documents, play games, etc.

Smartphone
• Mobile access to connectivity and services.

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TYPES OF COMPUTERS
🞭 Advantages and disadvantages of using computers
ONLY
QUICKLY BECOME THEY AS GOOD
OUTDATED THAT ARE USE AS THE
IS
GO OD D ATD AN WAY
FE D
REPET TIH THAT
D TASKS T O THEM T E
I VE
DATA
A N E
T RAT NUMBER OF PHYSICAL
LIMITED
S
FAAPPLICATIONS
CU MULTI-
AC PURPOSE TH IN K
DO NOT GET TIRED OR COMPLAINAOR O T
NE C N NDEMAND
INCREASES
S
ED IN PAY
S R S OLVE
CAN BE VERY OF P O EMS
TW ECIA O BL
EXPENSIVE AR LLY PR
E DE
I O N V E T K E EPING
TER ICAT EL L LO
ENP TA
FA S UDN EX C ED
M S
COD MAN
E RS R ECORD
I N E AMM
RA OG R
VARIOUS METHODS TO PROCESS AND
T
EED D PR ANALYSEO RS DATA
N L LE A T
SK
I P ER
N DO
A 20
ACTIVITY 3

21
ICT SYSTEMS
🞭 The ability to analyse and interpret data in order to arrive at
valid conclusions and to form accurate predictions
(information) can spell the difference between success and
failure.
Newspaper
s sell
information
about their
Informatio subscribers

n is power
using information
and
to streamline their
stock control and
creates
ordering
processes
the
potential Google and
Facebook
for wealth. advertising

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ICT SYSTEMS

Informat Communica Technol

ion tion ogy
• Systems
The process technologies
of transferring (hardware and
data/ software)
Manipulated information • Communications
or processed from one place technologies
data to another (networks and
communication
devices)

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ICT SYSTEMS
🞭 Data storage by businesses

🞭 Data warehousing:
🞤 securely store, manage and retrieve large
amounts of data.
🞭 Data mining:
🞤 process and analyse data looking for
valuable information that you did not even
know was there.

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ICT SYSTEMS
🞭 Examples of ICT systems in everyday life

🞭 Supermarket chain
🞤 Modern POS systems use
barcodes and scanning
🞤 Scanning is also more
accurate 🞭 An ICT system
🞤 Items scanned removed enables them to
from a computerised 🞤 Order only the right
database of what is in amount of stock when
stock – enabling you to needed
better manage your
🞤 See which items are
inventory.
not selling well
🞤 Data sent to the head
office - stock ordering and 🞤 track sales
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management decisions.
ICT SYSTEMS
🞭 Examples of ICT systems in everyday life

🞭 Cellphone company
🞤 contracts
🞤 adequate supplies & stock of
cellphones
🞤 generating finance for
expansion and maintenance 🞭 An ICT system enables them
🞤 tracking of call durations, to
🞤 List how many calls you have
SMSs, data transfers, free talk
time, carry-over of free made, to which numbers and
minutes/seconds, and expiry how long each call was
🞤 Total the number of minutes
of the same
🞤 service and repairs of used and bill you for them
🞤 Total the amount of data you
cellphones and other
infrastructure have transferred (usually in
megabytes) and then bill you
🞤 monitoring the network status
for that.
🞤 maintaining staff records 26
ACTIVITY 4

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GLOSSARY
Application
Information POS system
software

Proprietary
Computer Input
software

Data IPO model Shareware

Freeware IT and ICT Software

Open source
Hardware Source code
software

System
ICT system Output
software

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