FA C U LT Y O F C O M P U T E R S & A RT I F I C I A L

INTELLIGENCE-CAIRO UNIVERSITY
DR. SAMAR HESHAM
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Outline
Preamble

Learning Objectives

What is a Computer?

Information Technology (IT)

Information System

Computer Hardware

Computer Networks/Internet

Computer Software

Data Versus Information

Careers in IT

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Course Assessment
Lab Tasks (10)
Assignments/Quizzes (15)
Midterm (15)
Final exam (60)

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Blackboard Enrollment Accses
Code
Course ID: 202102.FCI.CS111
Course Name: Fundamentals of Computer
Sciences
Enrollment Code: 137710

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 Preamble
•Welcome to Computer and IT world. In today’s
digital society, computers and technology affect
virtually everyone’s life.
•This course helps prepare you for success in a
world that is filled with computers. At work, at
school, at home, in stores, and as you travel,
computers help make things run more smoothly.
•In this course, you will learn about the
technologies that drive our computerized
society, including the Internet and local area
networks (LANs).

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Learning Objectives

Understand the
Recognize the different
purpose and elements
types of computers
of information systems

Identify the
Distinguish the main
components of a
software types
computer system

Understand how
computers
communicate
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What is a Computer ?
A computer is an electronic device that manipulates data (quantifiable
facts). It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data to produce
information.

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For What Purpose We Need Information?

Support Decision Making

Planning

Monitoring and Controlling

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What That Make Computer so Different?
Computational Speed: can Storage: virtually
perform billions of
unlimited, measured in
operations per second
(measured as a clock
GigaBytes, TeraBytes, …
speed, Ghz) etc.

Generality: unlimited Accuracy: very

applications high

Connectivity: can be
connected to other
devices (wired or
wireless)

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 Information Technology IT
Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to store, retrieve,
transmit, and manipulate data or information. IT is a merging of two
technologies:
Computing Technology
Communications Technology
There are many types of IT, hereafter only some of them:
 Information System IS …

 Big Data & Big Data Analytics: the discovery of meaningful information in large data volumes ...

 Artificial Intelligence. Intelligent software that learns. ...

 Customer Relationship Management. ...

 Decision Support System. ...

 E-commerce …
 E-government …

 E-learning …

 GIS (Geographical Information System) …

…
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Information System
An information system is a complete interconnected environment in which
raw data - quantifiable facts - is turned into useful information.
An information system includes the following parts:
◾ People (Users)
◾ Computer(s):
 Hardware
 Software (Programs)
◾ Procedures
◾ Data
Communications:
 Networking
 Internet
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Information System
People
Technical Staff
Administrative Staff
End Users

Procedures
The rules or guidelines for people to follow when using software, hardware,
and data are procedures.
These procedures are typically documented in manuals written by computer
specialists.
Software and hardware manufacturers provide manuals with their products.
These manuals are provided in either printed or electronic form.

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Computer Hardware
Computer Hardware compromise all physical components of the
computer, which are:
CPU - central processing unit: where decisions are made, computations
are performed, and input/output requests are delegated.
Main Memory: stores information being processed by the CPU

Secondary Memory (Mass Storage): stores data and programs

Input devices: Allow people to supply information to computers

Output devices: Allow people to receive information from computers.

Network connection: Modems, Ethernet interface and Internet

connection.
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Computer Hardware

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Computer Hardware

CPU (Central Processing Unit), “brains” of the

Computer,

•Arithmetic Logical Unit (ALU), performs arithmetic and

logical operations.
structured as: Control Unit (CU): decodes and executes instructions.
Registers that hold data and instructions for CPU to
process.

Arithmetic and logical operations are

performed using binary number system (only
0’s and 1’s).
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Computer Hardware
Microprocessor: A CPU on only one electronic chip
(Integrated Circuit).

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Computer Hardware
Memory used to store
◦ Programs
◦ Operating system
◦ Applications
◦ Data
Types of memory
◦ RAM - volatile
◦ ROM
Composed of bits, which are combined into bytes

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Memory Cells
Address Contents

0 -27.2
1 354
2 0.005
3 -26
4 H
5 RTV 001
6 ...
... X
999 75.62

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Computer Hardware

Secondary Storage
Semi permanent data-storage capability
Magnetic
◦ Hard disk
◦ Floppy disk
◦ Tape
Non-magnetic
◦ CD or DVD
◦ memory stick, flash drive
Secondary memory usually has much more storage capacity than main
memory

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Computer Hardware: Computer
Networks
Allow multiple computers LAN - Local area
network
to connect to share
WAN - Wide area
resources and/or data network

Internetworking:
Internet
Connected Networks

Requires additional •modem

hardware •network interface
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Computer Hardware
Local Area Network (LAN)

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Computer Hardware
Wide Area Network (WAN) with satellite communications

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 Computer Hardware
Internet
The Internet is the global system of interconnected computer networks that
uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks
and devices.

It is a network of networks that consists of private, public, academic,

business, and government networks of local to global scope, linked by a
broad array of electronic, wireless, and optical networking technologies.

The Internet carries a vast range of information resources and services,

such as the applications of the World Wide Web (WWW), electronic
mail, telephony, and file sharing.

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Computer Hardware : Connectivity &
Networking
Connectivity is the capability of a computer to
share information with other computers.
Networking
◦ Communications system connecting two or more devices
◦ Largest network is the Internet
◦ Web provides a multimedia interface for Internet
resources
Emerging technologies
◦ Cloud computing
◦ Computers on the Internet. Also, it allow access to more resources
◦ Wireless technology
◦ Changing the way, we communicate. .e.g., Tablets, smartphones, wearable
devices

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Computer Software
There are two major kinds of software: system software and
application software.

 System Software
• Programs to manage and control computer
resources
 Application Software
• Programs users use

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Computer Software

System Software

Enables application software to interact with the computer hardware.

Background software helps the computer manage its own internal
resources.

System software is not a single program, rather, it is a collection of

programs, including the following:

Operating Systems
Utilities programs
Device Drivers
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Computer Software

Operating Systems (OS)

1.Coordinates computer resources

Functions of Operating System 2.Provides the user interface
3.Runs applications

Embedded operating system Used by Smartphones and tablets

Real-time operating systems (RTOS)

Standalone operating system Used by desktops

Networking operating systems Used to run networks

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Computer Software
Utilities

 Perform specific tasks related to managing computer

resources.
 Antivirus Program: Protects from viruses
 can damage your software or hardware
 Comprise the security and privacy of personal
data

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Computer Software

Applications: End-user Software

• General-Purpose applications
• Widely used programs
• Browsers
• Word Processor
• Specialized applications
• More narrowly focused
• Two of the best known are graphics and web authoring
programs.
• Mobile applications or simply apps, designed for mobile
devices such as social media apps

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Types of Computer
Supercomputers
• Most powerful computers
• they are used to analyze and
predict worldwide weather
patterns

Mainframe computers
• Process large amounts of data
• mainframe computers are
capable of great processing
speeds and data storage
• Used by governments and large
corporations to provide
centralized storage.
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Types of Computer

Midrange computers (Servers)

• Are computers with processing capabilities less
powerful than a mainframe computer yet more
powerful than a personal computer.
• A Server serves the computers on a
• network by supplying them with data.

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Types of Computer
A Personal Computer is a type of microcomputer designed to meet the
computing needs of an individual.

Are the least powerful, yet the most widely used and fastest-growing
type of computer.

There are five types of personal computers:

• Desktop • Smartphones
• Laptop (Notebook) • Wearables
• Tablet

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Personal Computer System
Parts
A Personal Computer System consists of the following:
◦ System unit: is the case that holds the computer’s main circuit boards,
microprocessor, memory, power supply, and storage devices.
◦ Display device: consists of two parts:
◦ Circuitry, called a graphics card, converts raw digital data into images that
can be shown on a display device.
◦ Display devices, called computer screens or monitors, present visual output,
such as documents, photos, and videos.
◦ Keyboard: as the primary input device.
◦ Mouse: is an input device designed to manipulate on-screen graphical objects
and controls.

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 Personal Computer System
Parts (cont.)
•Hard disk drive is the main storage device on a personal computer system that
mounted inside the computer’s system unit.

•Optical drives: is a storage device that works with CDs, DVDs “digital versatile disc”
or “digital videodisk”, or some combination of these storage media.

•Sound card and speakers: can output digital music, digitally recorded speech, and a
variety of sound effects.
◦ Sound card sends signals to speakers, which can be external devices or built into
the system unit.

•Peripheral devices: A specified equipment that might be added to a computer

system to enhance its functionality ex. Printer, Digital camera, Scanner, Joystick and
Graphics tablet.

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Data vs Information
Data mean known facts that can be recorded and that have implicit
meaning.
Data and information are often used interchangeably; however, data are
raw, unprocessed facts including text, numbers, images, and
sounds. The result of processing data is Information.
There are 3 types of data
 Structured data – Relational databases
 Semi-structured data – Documents, Email messages, … etc.
 Unstructured data – Text documents, HTML pages, … etc.
Digital data is stored electronically in files, common types of files are:
 Document
 Worksheet
 Database
 Presentation

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Data
Document Files
Created by word processors to
save documents such as reports,
memos, term papers, and letters.

Worksheet Files
Created by electronic
spreadsheets to analyze things
like budgets and to predict sales

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Data
Document Files
Created by word processors to
save documents such as reports,
memos, term papers, and letters.

Worksheet Files
Created by electronic
spreadsheets to analyze things
like budgets and to predict sales

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Data
Database Files
Typically created by database
management programs to contain
highly structured and organized
data.

Presentation Files
Created by presentation graphics
programs to prepare presentation
materials.

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Careers in IT
Develops and maintains websites and
Webmaster
web resources

Analyzes users’ needs and creates

Software Engineer
application software

Provides technical support to

Computer Support Specialist
customers and other users

Repairs and install computer

Computer Technician
components and systems
Prepares instruction manuals,
Technical Writer technical reports, and other scientific
or technical documents
Creates and maintains computer
Network Administrator
networks

Designs, creates and maintains

Database Administrator
databases
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