tools for an information age

8/4/2019 Tools for an Information Age

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Computers: Tools

for an InformationAge


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Contents Information Age

Computer Literacy Where Computers Are Used

Computer System

Network Classifications of Computers


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The current age will be characterized by the ability ofindividuals to transferinformation freely, and to haveinstant access to knowledge that would have been

difficult or impossible to find previously.

Information Age


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Internet Usage - 2009


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Cornerstones of our Economy Traditional

Cornerstones

of Economy: Land Labour

Capital

New Economic

Element: Information


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Jobs

From physical to mental

From muscle-power tobrain-power

Forging a Computer-Based Society:


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Computer use Where used?

Bank withdrawal

Supermarket

Drive the car

Do I need a Personal Computer? Half of Americans have one at home

Many more use at work

Will I use a computer in my future career? Almost every job will involve use of a computer


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Computer Literacy Awareness

Importance

Versatility (doing many things at the same time)

Pervasiveness (general applicability)

Knowledge What are computers

How do computers work

Terminology

Interaction Use some simple computer applications


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The Nature of Computers

Characteristics

Speed

Reliability

Storage capability

Results Productivity

Decision making

Cost reduction


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Benefits of Computers Productivity

Workers use computers to do their jobs faster and better

Many processes can be more efficiently controlled by

computers

Decision Making

Helps decision makers sort out financial, geographical,

and logistical factors

Cost Reduction

Helps hold down costs of labor, energy and paperwork


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Where Computers Are Used

Graphics

Graphs and charts

Animated graphics

Visual walk-through


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Education

Teaching and

testing aid

Learning by doing

Computer-basedinstruction


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Retailing

Bar codes for pricingand inventory

Shipping


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Energy

Locate oil, coal, natural gas, and uranium

Monitor the power network

Meter reading


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Law Enforcement

National

fingerprint files

National files on

criminal

Computer

modeling of DNA


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Transportation

Cars

Run rapid transit systems

Load containerships

Track railroad cars

Monitor air traffic


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Money

Record keeping

Banking by phone

Credit cards


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Government

Forecast weather

Manage parks

Process immigrants

Social Security benefits

Taxes


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The Home

Educational tool

Letter writing Budgeting

Drawing and editing

pictures

Newsletters

Connecting with others


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Health and Medicine

Monitor patients

Electronic imaging

Diagnose illnesses


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Robotics

Perform jobs that are dangerous for

humans

Factory work


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The Human Connection

Assist the disabled

Assist athletes by

monitoring their

movements


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The Sciences Research

Simulation

Connectivity Communication

Telecommuting

(work fromhome)


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Computers are all around! Grocery store

School

Library

Bank

Mail

We interact with computers everyday!We interact with computers everyday!


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Computer System A machine that can be programmed to accept data,

process it into useful information, and store it away

People

Software

Hardware


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People Computer programmer person who

writes programs

Users or End-users make use of the

computers capabilities


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Software

Programs

Set of instructions that directs the

hardware to do a required task

and produce the desired results


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Hardware

Basic Components of aComputer


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ComputerA machine that can be programmed to

accept data (input), process it into useful

information (output), and store it away (insecondary storage device) for safekeepingor later reuse

Process is directed by software butperformed by the hardware


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Function of Computer System

Data handling

I Input

P Process

O OutputS Storage


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Input devices

Accept data or commands and convert them to

electronic form

Getting data into the computer

Typing on a keyboard

Pointing with a mouse

Scanning with a wand reader or bar-code reader

Terminal (telephones, fax, network devices - printers,

work stations, routers in a VoIP network )


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Output devices

Monitor or screen Text

Numbers Symbols

Art

Photographs

Video

Printer

Black and white

Color

Convert from electronic form to some otherform

May display the processed results

Usable information


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The Processor

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Converts data to useful information

Interpret and execute instructions

Communicate with input, output andstorage


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Two Types of Storage

Secondary storage

long-term storage

Primary storage or memory

temporary storage


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Memory / Primary Storage

Used to temporarily hold data

After it is retrieved from input device and

before it is processed After it is processed and before it is

released to output device

Temporary (volatile) storage

Data in memory lost if power is lost orprogram closed

Transforms data into information


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Secondary Storage

Long-term storage

Non-volatile


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Secondary Storage Examples Magnetic disks read and written by

magnetic disk drive Hard disk Diskette

Optical disks read and written by optical diskdrives CD-ROM DVD-ROM

Magnetic tape read and written by magnetictape drives Primarily used for back-up


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Output: What Comes Out

Output: the result produced by the CPU

Common forms of output: text, numbers,

graphics, and sounds

Common output devices:

Screen (monitor): can display text, numbers,

photographs, even video, in full color

Printer: produces printed reports as instructed

by a programReturn


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Network

Definition A system that uses communications equipment

to connect computers and their resources.

Types

Local area network (LAN) connects computers

in close proximity

Metropolitan area network (MAN) connect

computers between buildings in the same

geographic area

Wide are network (WAN) connects computers

over great distances


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Home Connectivity

Connect home PC to other computers

Use modem to convert signals

between electronic (computer) and

analog (voice) formats


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Modem

A device that allows users to communicate

with other computers over telephone lines

Required when you dont have a digital

connection such as DSL or a cable modem

Return


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Internet

As of 2009, an estimated quarter of Earth'spopulation uses the services of the Internet.

Collection of thousands of networks

No ownership

No central source for services available No comprehensive index of what information is available

Individuals

Businesses

Organizations

Libraries

Research labs

Government

Connects Everyone!


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Getting Connected Users computer must connect to a server

Server receives, processes, and transmits

information

Server must communicate using TCP/IP

The user can purchase access to a server from

an ISP (Internet Service Provider)


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Internet Service Providers

The owner of a server computer

Charges a fee for access to the Internet

Fee can provide unlimited access or be based on

usage

Provides the user a means to connect to

the server Once connected, you can connect to the

Internet and all other server computers


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Computer Protocols

Provides a standard way to communicate

with other computers

Transmission Control Protocol/InternetProtocol (TCP/IP) used on the Internet

Allows different types of computers to share

data

Return


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World Wide Web

Browser program that allows the user

to move around and explore the

Internet

Use the mouse to point and click on

text and graphics

Web page Web site

Home page


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Classifications of Computers

Use the computer that fits your needs

Based upon

Size Speed

Cost

Portability

Number of simultaneous users supported

Available software

Typical use


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Classification of Computers

Personal Computers

Notebook Computers

Handheld Computers

Midrange Computers

Mainframes

Supercomputers


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Personal Computers Desktop computers

Also known as PCs, microcomputers, or homecomputers

Broken down into three categories: Low-end computers Fully-powered personal computers

Workstations

Network computer

Central processing unit and minimal memory Designed to be used on a network

Sometimes called thin client

Return


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PC Categories

Low-end computers Fine for home users, word processing, simple games,

Internet access

Fully powered computers Good for heavy use of graphics, programming, or

action-oriented games

Workstations

Very high-end computers used by engineers, financialtraders, and graphic designers

Return


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Notebook Computers

Small, lightweight computers

Capabilities approach that of

desktop computers Similar processing and memory

Most have hard disk, and

diskette or CD-ROM drive

Typically more expensivethan comparable desktop

computersReturn


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Handheld Computers

Personal Digital Assistant(PDA) Keeps track of appointments,

contacts, etc.

Accepts input with hand-heldstylus

Pocket PC Offers capabilities of PDAs, plus

the ability to run stripped-downversions of software such as wordprocessing and spreadsheets

Return


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Midrange Computers

Multi-user computers designed to serve

the needs of medium-sized organizations

Hundreds or thousands of users connected

Used for inventory, order-entry, and other

company-wide applications

Return


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Mainframes Very large and powerful computers

Capable of processing billions of instructionsper second

Capable of handling billions of characters ofdata

Often used for applications with many users

Reservations systems

Large mail-order houses

E-mail servers

Return


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Supercomputers

The fastest and most

powerful computers

Capable of processing trillions

of instructions per second

Used for very sophisticated

applications requiring

mammoth data manipulation:

Weather forecasting Weapons research

Special effects for movies

Return


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Objectives

Describe the three fundamental characteristics ofcomputers

Describe at least four areas of society in which computersare used

Identify the basic components of a computer system:input, processing, output, and storage

List some common input, output, and storage media

Distinguish data from information

Describe the significance of networking

Explain the significance of the Internet

Explain the various classifications of computers

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