Course:

Introduction to computing

Dr. Nokpo Anderson

nokpoanderson@gmail.com
0709235397

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Objectives
 Master technical vocabulary related to computing and information
technology
 Read, comprehend, and analyze technical documents accurately
 Communicate clearly about technical topics through writing and
speaking
 Develop professional communication skills for the tech industry

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 Unit 1 :
History of computing

3 History of computing
Course aim:
 Identify key individuals, inventions, and time periods that were
pivotal in the development of computers and information
technology.
 Explain how technological advances enabled progression from early
calculating tools to modern electronic computers.

 Analyze how the capabilities and applications of computers changed

across different historical eras.

4 History of computing
Foreword
 Reading
Although computer science was established as a science only in the 1940s,
interest in computing and computation has a very long history. Early
Babylonians invented the abacus, a simple counting device in order to keep
a record of their goods. It consisted of a counting table, which was a
specially marked flat surface where small stones could serve as markers.
Alternatively, it comprised beads strung on rods that were in turn mounted
in a rectangular frame. The positions of the beads represented stored values
and the output could then be read off. In the early 17th century, Napier’s
bones was a mechanism created to simplify the operations of multiplication
and division by reducing them to simple tasks of addition and subtraction. A
series of numbers were written on narrow strips of bone.

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Related questions
1.Who invented the abacus?
2.What was the abacus used for?
3.What is "Napier’s bones" used for?
4. When was computer science established as a
formal science?

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 Unit 2:
Introducing Computer Systems

76 Introduction to Computers
 Preview and Objectives
 Identify the various parts of a computer system and what each
does.
 Identify various Operating Systems.
 Identify major software applications packages and what they do.
 Use computers in the business workplace and other fields.

77 Introduction to Computers
 Definition of a computer
 By definition, a computer is an electronic device that inputs
data, processes data(converting it into information that is useful to
people) outputs and stores information.
 Computers are controlled by programmed instructions that
transform the data into meaningful information.
 Generally a Computer is a device that accepts input, processes
it, stores data, and produces output.

78 Introduction to Computers
Information Processing Cycle
 Steps followed to process data
 Input
 Processing
 Output
 Storage

79 Introduction to Computers
 Input
 Input: Information provided to the computer by a person, the
environment, or another computer.
Examples of Input
 words and symbols
 numbers
 pictures
 audio signals from a microphone
 signals from another computer
 temperature, speed, pressures, etc. from sensors

80 Introduction to Computers
Processing
 Processing - manipulation of data.
 Data are symbols that represent raw facts, objects, and ideas about
people, places, events, and things that are of importance in an
organization.
 A computer program or software is a series of instructions that
tell a computer how to carry out a processing task.
 Examples of Processing
 Arithmetic calculations
 Sorting a list
 Modifying pictures
 Drawing graphs

81 Introduction to Computers
 Output
 Output - the result produced by a computer after processing the
data.
 Output device –displays, prints, or transmits the results after
processing.
 Examples of Output
 images on a monitor
 printed documents
 sounds
 signals to device controllers

82 Introduction to Computers
Memory and Storage
 Memory - the area of a computer that temporarily holds data that
is being processed or waiting to be processed, stored, or output.
 Storage - The area where data can be left on a permanent basis
while it is not needed for processing.
 Examples of Storage
 magnetic disks
 CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory)
 magnetic tapes
 Flash disk
 Memory card
 Floppy disk (disquette)

83 Introduction to Computers
Personal and Home Uses of Computers
 Computers allow people.
 Shopping online
 Playing games with other people
 Work from home
 Entertainment such as listening to
music, watching videos etc.
 Enable communication through the
use of (electronic mails) e-mails ,
chats etc.

Introduction to Computers 84
Business Uses of Computers
 Computers allow companies to
keep large amounts of information
at hand.
 Databases
 Makes ordering and tracking
resources quicker and easier.
 Allows people to have meetings
from different locations.
 Helps in information management
which eases the process of decision
making .
 Computers allow people across
the world to communicate easily.

Introduction to Computers 85
Educational Uses of Computers
 The Internet allows access to
hundreds of online research
materials.
 Allows colleagues to correspond
quickly about ongoing research.
 Eases the process of analysing
research data.

Introduction to Computers 86
Parts of a Computer System
 Computer systems have four parts
 Hardware (materiel)
 Software (logiciel)
 Data (données)
 User (people)

87 Introduction to Computers
 Parts of a Computer System
 Computer hardware:
 A computer's hardware consists of electronic
devices; the parts you can see and touch.
 In other words these are tangible parts of a
computer.
 The term "device" refers to any piece of
hardware used by the computer, such as a
keyboard, monitor, modem, mouse, etc.

 These are mechanical devices that make up the

computer.
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Computer Hardware Components/equipment

 Display Device (Monitor or

LCD screen)
 System Unit
 Floppy disk drive
 CD ROM drive
 Hard disk drive
 Keyboard
 Mouse

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Present-day computer Hardware Components

90 Introduction to Computers
Present-day computer Hardware Components

91 Introduction to Computers
 Other hardware components
 DVD drive (Digital Versatile Disk)
 CD writer (Compact disk)
 Sound card and speakers
 Modem (Modulate and Demodulate)
 Printers.

92 Introduction to Computers
Peripherals
 A peripheral device designates equipment
that might be added to a computer system to
enhance its functionality.
 Examples:
 Printer
 Digital camera
 Scanner
 Joystick

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 Parts of a computer system

94 Introduction to Computers
 Parts of a Computer System
 Computer Software
 Is the set of instructions that makes the computer perform
tasks.
 The software is a part of the computer you cannot touch but
is very important.
 The software is all the programming that makes the
computer run; controlling everything that the computer
does.
 For any computer to function, it needs to have software
installed on it.

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 Parts of a Computer System
 Data:
 Data consists of raw facts, which the computer can
manipulate and process into information that is
useful to people.
 Computerized data is digital, meaning that it has
been reduced to digits, or numbers. The computer
stores and reads all data as numbers.
 Users:
 People operating the computer.
 Tell the computer what to do.
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 Essential Computer Hardware
 A computer’s hardware devices falls into one of the four
categories;
1. Processor
2. Memory
3. Input and Output
4. Storage

97 Introduction to Computers
 Essential Computer Hardware

 Processing Devices
 The procedure that transforms raw data into
useful information is called processing.
 The processor is like the brain of the
computer.
 Organizes and carries out instructions from
either the user or software.
 Manipulate the data.
 Most computers have several processors.
 Central Processing Unit (CPU) refers to a
computer’s processor.
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Essential Computer Hardware

 Memory devices
 Memory is made up of one or more sets of chips that Store data or
program instructions either temporarily or permanently. Memory is
divided into two types:
a) Random Access Memory (RAM)
 RAM holds data and program instructions temporarily while the CPU works
with them.
 RAM is volatile, meaning it holds data only when the power is on. When the
power is off, RAM's contents are lost.
 The “random” in RAM implies that any portion of RAM can be accessed at
anytime. This helps make RAM very fast.
 More RAM results in a faster system.

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 Essential Computer Hardware
b) Read Only Memory (ROM)
 Permanent storage of programs.
 ROM is called non-volatile memory because it never loses its contents.
 Holds instructions that the computer needs to operate.

 Memory is measured in terms of:

 Kilobyte (KB) - 1,000 bytes
 Megabyte (MB) - 1,000,000 bytes
 Gigabyte (GB) - 1,000,000,000 bytes
 Terabyte (TB) - 1,000,000,000,000 bytes.

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 Position of RAM and ROM on the
MotherBoard

101 Introduction to Computers

 Essential Computer Hardware
Input and Output Devices
 Input devices accept data and instructions from the user or from
another computer system.
 Output devices return processed data to the user or to another
computer system.
 Input devices include: keyboard, mouse, scanner, digital camera,
microphone etc.
 Output devices include: monitor, printer, stereo speakers, headphones
etc.
 Communications devices (such as modems and network
interface cards) perform both input and output, allowing computers
to share information.

102 Introduction to Computers

103 Introduction to Computers
Essential Computer Hardware

 Storage Devices
 The purpose of storage is to hold data permanently, even
when the computer is turned off.
 Storage devices hold data not currently being used by the
CPU.
 Data is commonly stored on a magnetic or optical disk.
 A disk drive is a device that reads data from and writes
data to a disk. Most new computers feature a floppy disk
drive, a hard disk drive, and an optical disk drive.
 The most common optical storage devices are CDROM
and DVD-ROM drives.

104 Introduction to Computers

Computer Software
 Software is a set of instructions that drive a computer
to perform specific tasks.
 These instructions tell the machine’s physical
components what to do.
 A set of instructions is often called a program.
 When a computer is using a particular program, it is
said to be running or executing the program.
 The two most common types of programs are system
software and application software.

105 Introduction to Computers

Computer Software
1) System software: Is any program that controls the
computer’s hardware or that can be used to maintain the
computer in some way so that it runs more efficiently.
 System Software provides a platform for running
application software.
 There are three basic types of system software:
a) An operating system tells the computer how to use its
own components. All computers require an operating
system.
 The OS tells the computer how to interact with the user
and its own devices.
 Examples of operating systems include Windows,
Macintosh operating system and Linux.
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Computer Software
b) A network operating system allows computers to
communicate and share data across a network while controlling
network operations and overseeing the network’s security.
Example is Windows server 2003.
c) A utility is a program that makes the computer system easier
to use or performs highly specialized functions.
 Utilities are used to manage disks, troubleshoot hardware
problems, and perform other tasks that the operating
system itself may not be able to do. For example a
Symantec antivirus, Partition Magic etc.

107 Introduction to Computers

Computer Software
2) Application Software:Tells the computer how to accomplish
specific tasks, such as word processing or drawing, for the user.
 Some of the major categories of these applications include:
 Word processing software for creating text-based documents
 Spreadsheets for creating numeric-based documents such as budgets.
 Presentation programs for creating and presenting electronic slide
shows.
 Graphics programs for designing illustrations or manipulating
photographs, movies etc.
 Database management software for building and manipulating large
sets of data such as names, addresses etc.

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Application software

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Application software

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Data and Information
 Data are the words, numbers, symbols and graphics that
describe people, events, things, and ideas.
 Data becomes information when it is used as the basis for
initiating some action or for making a decision.
 Information are the words, numbers, and graphics used as the
basis for human actions and decisions.
 A set of data that has been given a name is called a file.
 A file that a user can open and use is called document.
 A folder is a place where groups of computer files and other
folders can be kept and organized.

111 Introduction to Computers

 Files
 A file is a named collection of data, stored on a storage medium
such as a hard disk.
 There are two types of files
 Data files contains text, images, or other data that can be used by a
program.
 Executable files contains programs or instructions that tell the
computer how to perform a task.
 Filename extensions describe a file’s contents. For example
Executable files usually end in .exe, word files end in .doc, adobe
acrobat documents end in .pdf etc.

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Extensions and Formats
 A filename might be followed by a filename extension that
further describes the file contents.
 Word files end in .doc
 Excel files end in .xls
 The file format is the arrangement of data in a file and the coding
scheme that is used to represent the data.
 The native file format is the format that is saved by the
application that created it.

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 Look at the picture below

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 Assignment 2
4- In the list below, identify the storage devices that
are still used and no longer used today:
 Pen Drive
 CD Rom,
 Floppy disk
 Memory Cards
 Magnetic disks
 Magnetic tapes
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 Assignment 2
True or False task
Answer the following question by true (T) or false (F)
1. Information processing cycle include output, storage, input and
processing
2. The input includes any kind of command provided by one individual
3. Processing involves the treatment of data transmitted by a person to a
computer
4. The output is the findings of a computer after processing data
5. Memory and storage differ in that memory stores data permanently while
storage saves data temporarily
6. Computer are used for a wide range of activities
7- The computer includes a system, hardware, software and software
8- The ROM holds information occasionally as well as it never loses its
content
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 Assignment 3
Matching Hardware Components
Instructions: Match each hardware component listed on the
left with its corresponding description on the right. Write
the letter of the correct description next to each
component.

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 Components Descriptions

1. Display Device (Monitor or LCD screen) a. This component serves as the primary input device
for typing text and commands into the computer.

2. System Unit b. It is a peripheral device used for pointing, clicking,

and navigating on-screen elements.
3. Floppy disk drive c. This device is responsible for displaying visual
output from the computer, such as text, images, and
videos.
4. CD ROM drive d. It is the main enclosure that houses the computer's
internal components, including the motherboard,
CPU, RAM, and storage drives.
5. Hard disk drive e. This storage device reads and writes data to a
spinning magnetic disk, typically used for saving files
and documents.
6. Keyboard f. A storage device that reads and writes data to
optical discs, such as CDs or DVDs, for software
installation, data backup, or media playback.
7. Mouse g. An older storage medium that uses a small plastic
disk coated with magnetic material for data storage,
118 now largely obsolete.