Read or Die.: INTRICT ENTRY 5

QUIZ REVIWER

Discovering Computers 2007 - Gateway to Information
Shelly Cashman Series

CHAPTER 1

World of Computers = We use technology in our everyday life
Computer Literacy - involves having a knowledge and understanding of computers and their uses.

Computer - electronic device, controlled using instructions stored in its memory, can accept data, process, produce and stores results.

Data - collection of unprocessed items
Information - processed data

Information Processing Cycle - Computers process data (input) into info (output), series of input, process, output and storage activities.
Instructions - steps that tell computer how to do things

FAQ - Frequently Asked Question

Component of Computers:

Input Devices - hardware component that allows you to enter data/instructions into the computer. Widely used Input Devices:

Keyboard
Mouse
Microphone
Scanner
Digital Camera
PC Video Camera

Output Devices - hardware component that conveys info to user/people. Three Commonly Used Output Device:

Printer
Monitor
Speakers

System Unit - contains electronic components of the computer that are used to process data. The circuitry if system unit is a part/ connected to a circuit board called the motherboard.

Components of Motherboard
Processor - electronic component that interprets/carries out instructions that operates the computer
Memory - electric component that store instructions waiting to be executed and data needed by those instructions, Some Memory are stores permanently, some do not after shut down.

Storage Devices - holds data, instructions and info for future use. Storage Media ex: floppy disks, Zip disks, USB flash drives, hard disks, CDs, DVDs.

--Common Computer hardwares : keyboard, mouse, mic, scanner, digital camera, pc video cam| printer, monitor, speakers| system unit, internal disk drives, external hard disk, usb flash drive, card reader/writer, modem.

Communication Devices - hardware that enables to transmit and receive info from one computer to another --- occurs over cables, telephone lines, cellular radio networks, satellites and other transmission media.

Advantage of Using Computers - Speed, Reliability, Consistency, Storage, Communications
Disadvantage of Using Computers - Violation of Privacy, Impact on Labor Force, Health Risks, Impact on Environment

Network - collection of computer and devices connected together via communications devices and transmission media.

Internet - worldwide collection of networks that connects billions of businesses, gov't agencies, educational institutions and individuals.

Web - contains billions of documents called Web Pages.
Web Page - can contain text, graphics, audio and video.

Software - also called a program, consists of a series of instructions that tells the computer what to do or how to do it.

with GUI or Graphical User Interface - you interact with the software using text, graphics, and visual images such as icons.

Icons - is a miature image that represents a program, an instruction or some object.

Two Categories of Software

System Software - consists of the progs that control or maintain operations of computer and its devices

---Operating System - set of progs that coordinates all the activities among computer hardware devices. (ex. Microsoft XP, Vista)
---Utility Program - allows user to perform maintenance-type tasks usually related to managing computer, its devices, or its programs.

Application Software - consists of programs designed to make users more productive and/or assist them with personal tasks.

Installing - process of setting up softwares to work with computer components.

Disc - CD, DVD
Disk - Hard Disks, Floppy Disks

Categories of Computers:

Personal Computer
Desktop Computer

Mobile Computers / Devices:

Notebook/Laptop Computers
Tablet PC
Handheld/handtop/Ultra Personal Computers
Personal Digital Assistant
Smart Phone

Server - controls access to resources on a network and provides centralized storage area for progs, data and info.

Mainframe - an expensive computer that can handle thousands of connected users simultaneously.

Supercomputers - fastest, most powerful computer, capable of processing more than 100 trillion instructions in a single second, can store 20k times data/info of an average desktop computer.

Embedded Computer - special-purpose computer that functions as component in a larger product. (ex> cars)

Elements of Information System: