Discovering
Computers 2012
Your Interactive Guide
to the Digital World
A World of Computers
• Computers are everywhere
Pages 4 - 5 2
Figure 1-1
What Is a Computer?
• A computer Is a machine that accepts data and
processes the data into useful and relevant
information. The computer store the information
that can be retrieved.
Collects Produces
data Processing informatio
(input) n (output)
Information Processing Cycle
Page 6 3
What Is a Computer?
Page 6 4
Figure 1-2
The Components of a Computer
• A computer contains many electric, electronic, and
mechanical components known as hardware
Input Device • Allows you to enter data and instructions into a computer
Output Device • Hardware component that conveys information to one or more people
• Case that contains the electronic components of the computer that
System Unit are used to process data
• Records (writes) and/or retrieves (reads) items to and from storage
Storage Device media
Communications • Enables a computer to send and receive data, instructions, and
Device information to and from one or more computers or mobile devices
Pages 6 - 8 5
The Components of a Computer
Page 7 6
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 1
Figure 1-3
Advantages and Disadvantages
of Using Computers
• Advantages of • Disadvantages of
Using Computers Using Computers
Speed Health Risks
Large and Reliable
Storage Capacity
Violation of Privacy
Consistency Public Safety
Impact on
Communications
Environment
• Pages 9 - 10 7
EDP(Electronic Data Processing )
Definition: Use of computers for
recording, manipulating and summarizing
data.
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 1 8
EDP(Electronic Data Processing )
9
Computer Software
• Software, also called a program, tells the
computer what tasks to perform and how to
perform them
System Software
• Operating system
• Utility program
Application Software
Pages 15 - 16 10
Figures 1-10 - 1-11
Computer Software
• Installing is the process of setting up software to
work with the computer, printer, and other
hardware
Pages 16 - 17 11
Figure 1-12
TYPES OF COMPUTER
Personal computers
Workstation
Minicomputer
Mainframe
Supercomputers
Page 19 12
Personal Computers
• A personal computer can perform all of its input,
processing, output, and storage activities by itself
• Two popular architectures are the PC and the
Apple
– Desktop computer
Pages 19 - 20 13
Figures 1-15 - 1-16
Workstation
A powerful, single-user computer. A workstation
is like a personal computer, but it has a
more powerful microprocessor and, in general, a
higher-quality monitor.
14
Minicomputer
A multi-user
computer
capable of
supporting up
to hundreds of
users
simultaneously 15
Mainframes
• A mainframe is a large,
expensive, powerful
computer that can
handle hundreds or
thousands of connected
users simultaneously
Page 25 16
Figure 1-26
Supercomputers
• A supercomputer is the fastest, most powerful
computer
– Fastest supercomputers are capable of processing
more than one quadrillion instructions in a single
second
Page 25 17
Figure 1-27
Servers
• A server controls access
to the hardware,
software, and other
resources on a network
– Provides a centralized
storage area for
programs, data, and
information
Page 25 18
Figure 1-25
Examples of Computer Usage
Home User Small Office/Home Mobile User
• Personal financial Office User • Connect to other computers
management • Look up information on a network or the Internet
• Web access • Send and receive e-mail • Transfer information
• Communications messages • Play video games
• Entertainment • Make telephone calls • Listen to music
• Watch movies
Pages 28 – 31 19
Figures 1-30 – 1-32
Examples of Computer Usage
Power User Enterprise User
• Work with multimedia • Communicate among
• Use industry-specific employees
software • Process high volumes
of transactions
• Blog
Pages 31 – 32 20
Figures 1-33 – 1-34
Computer Applications in Society
Education
Finance
Government
Health Care
Pages 34 - 36 21
Figures 1-36 – 1-39
Computer Applications in Society
Science
Publishing
Travel
Manufacturing
Pages 36 - 38 22
Figures 1-40 – 1-43
