DAB Computer Basics

What are computers

electronics device that manipulates information, or data

types of computers

laptop, tablet, phone, can be programmed

computers are designed to

complete any task a program instructs it to do

computers can

store, retrieve and process data

first mechanical computer

Charles Babbage in 1822

first desktop

1964 - $3,200

first laptop

1981 - $1800

Hardware components

perform a computer's tasks like calculating data, storing information, processing input, and providing output ​

two types of hardware (internal)

(processing components and motherboard)

two types of hardware (external)

( input/output devices)

Motherboard

a printed circuit containing the principal components of a computer or other devices

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

the primary component of a computer that acts as its control center

Graphical Processing Unit (GPU)

a specialized electronic designed for digital image processing and to accelerate computer graphics

Random Access Memory (RAM)

a form of electronic computer memory and used to store working data and machine code

Storage Device

a hardware component that allows you to store and retrieve digital information on your computer

Input Devices

devices that users need in order to give instructions to a computer

Output Devices

devices that allow computers to send data to other devices or users

Processing Devices

core function of any computer; this is the intermediate stage where raw data is transformed into information that can be meaningfully outputted to the user

Memory (Storage) Devices

devices that are capable of storing information temporarily or permanently

Input Device

An input device is a hardware component that provides data to a computer through user interaction (information you give to the computer)

Output Device

An output device is a hardware component that produces the result of some entered input after it has been processed (information the computer gives you)

Examples of input devices

Keyboard: When a key is pressed, a signal is sent to the computer to complete a certain task.​

Microphone: Transforms sound into an electronic signal that can be stored in a computer.​

Mouse: Clicking and moving the mouse sends data to the computer to control the cursor.​

Scanner: Converts physical documents into files that can be accessed by a computer.​

Joystick: Movement of the joystick sends data to a computer in order to control a digital object.

Examples of output devices

Printers: Printer's covert data from a computer into physical form such as paper. ​

Monitors: Monitors display data from a computer into videos, images, text, and graphics​

Projectors: Projectors take images and videos from a computer and display them onto a screen or wall​

Headphones: Headphones are an audio output device that deliver sound into the ears of the listener​

Speakers: Speakers turn electronic signals from a computer into sound waves that can be heard by listeners​

Punch Card

The first form of a storage device, invented in 1801

Magnetic tape

IBM 726 was the first, storage device invented in 1952, 2.3 MB)

Floppy disk

created in 1967, type of hard drive was invented by IBM

Masuoka Fuijo

1980s, first to invent FLASH MEMORY, popularity sprung into the early 2000s

Non-Volatile memory

Holds saved data when power is turned off

Compliments primary storage

Frees primary storage space by moving data to a secondary location

Types of secondary storage

Magnetic​: Hard disk drives, tape drives, floppy disk drives​

Optical:​ CD, DVD, Blue-ray​

Solid-state​: SSD, USB drives

Cloud Storage origins

go back to 1960 when MIT developed a multiuser computer system

Four Types of Cloud Storage

Personal Cloud, Public Cloud, Private Cloud, and Hybrid Cloud

Personal Cloud

- Allows storing and accessing files online rather than on a local hard drive ​
- Benefits such as faster syncing and enhanced protection from cyber threats

Public Cloud

- Managed by a third-party vendors who provide shared digital resources over the internet ​
- Examples include Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Drive.

Private Cloud

- Used exclusively by one organization offering special solutions and enhanced security ​
- Used mostly by organizations with sensitive data such as banks and healthcare providers

Hybrid Cloud

-Allows Data to move between private and public clouds based on needs and cost ​
- Has private cloud resources with public cloud services

"Bit"

stands for binary digit and is the smallest unit of binary information.

Ex of a bit

Imagine you have a single light switch that can be either in the "on" position or the "off" position. In the world of binary digits:​
"On" could represent the value 1.​
"Off" could represent the value 0.​
So, if you were to describe the state of this light switch using a bit, you would say it is either 1 (on) or 0 (off). This simple representation of binary states is how bits work to convey information in digital systems.

Bytes

are the basic unit of information in computer storage and processing.

One byte consists of

8 bits and each bit is either a 1 or 0.​

A single byte of information:

10110100

A single letter is one byte of information

"L"= 1 byte

The word "dog" is equivalent to

three bytes

A gigabyte is

one billion bytes

A terrabyte is

one trillion bytes

"Binary digits"

are one of two digits (0 or 1) in a binary system of notation.

Binary digits are basis of

the binary system.

The binary digits are used to

code and write data for different computer languages such as Java.

Binary digits example

In the byte, 01100010, all eight numbers are binary digits.

What is a computer program

A set of instructions that tell a computer program what to do

How does Computer Programs work

A program simply tells the computer how to accept some type of input, manipulate that input, and spit it back out again in a form humans find useful.

Programming is Problem Solving

A program tells a computer how to solve a specific problem​
Big programs are made up of a series of smaller problems that needed to be solved

Programming isn’t difficult , just time consuming

Computers are essentially stupid on their own, and need to be told exactly what to do.

Word Processor

Input: Characters on keyboard
What does it do: formats text and corrects spelling
Output: Displays and prints neatly organized text

Stock market predictor

Input: Current and past prices for stock
What does it do: tries to recognize trends and fluctuations in prices
Output: predicts the future price of stock

What is a computer programmer?

-Computer programmers create and develop websites, video games, mobile applications, etc.​

-They do this by writing, testing, and debugging code in computer software and programs.​

-They use various programming languages to perform tasks ranging from simple calculations to intricate data analysis.

Common Programming Languages

Python, JavaScript, C++, SQL

High level languages like

Python are meant to make it easier for humans to understand and write

Lower-level languages are

closer to machine language, ex binary code

What is debugging?

Computer programmers use the concept of debugging to find and fix errors in a program​

The name of a file is

the title of that file

When creating a file, the name is important

-Consistent​
-Easy to find​
-Match the content in the file

Things to avoid

-Long names​
-Spaces and special characters

Renaming a file

-Right click on the file and press "Rename" button​
-Click on file and press "Rename" button in the task bar

Following the file name, is a file extension.

A file extension, or file format is a suffix that describes how the data in a file is formatted or organized​
The file extensions are based on the type of data in a file​

Example of file name and extension

-Spreadsheet files such as Excel files will end in xls or xlsx​
-Text files can include extensions like doc, docx and txt ​
-Audio and Video files can end in mov, mp3, or mp4​
-Not all operating systems rely on file extensions

Directory's

-A directory is a unique type of file ​
-Directories branch downward from the root directory, ​
-Directories can be defined by the operating system ​
-Directories contain files, subdirectories, or a combination of both ​
-The name of each directory must be unique where it is stored​
--This ensures that the directory has a unique path name in the file system

Paths

A file path is similar to a map that tells your computer how to find a specific file or directory. ​

Absolute Path

-You can think of an absolute path as an immediate path to a document. Using an absolute path, you can immediately find your file as soon as you open up your file app. An absolute path starts from the root directory. Ex. C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\EXCEL.EXE​
-Notice in the example how the entire root directory is included within the path. You can see that this example file was a Microsoft office EXE with the file name EXCEL.

Relative Path

-A relative path allows you to access another file within the parent folder in a much simpler fashion. First you would click on your folder then access your desired file after opening your app. A relative path would start with the parent folder and then use the name of the file. Ex. \Images\photo.jpg​
-The parent folder "Images" comes right before the file name "photo" and then the file type. Compared to the absolute path this doesn't include with root directory.

Which of the following contains the principle components of a computer?

motherboard

Which of the following is an output device?

Monitor

Which of the following is an example of an input device?

Keyboard

What was the first form of a Storage Device?

Punch Card

Which of the following is NOT a secondary storage device

Writing down the information

Which company uses printer drives to create printer command language files?

Hp

Which system software protects data from threats?

Security program

What are the two binary digits?

0 and 1

How many bits are in a byte?

8

What is an example of a high-level programming language?

Python

What best describes the concept of "debugging" in programming?

Finding and fixing errors in a program

How do you rename a file?

Right click the file and press "rename"

Which of the following are common spreadsheet file extensions?

xlsx

What is the purpose of using the file management system within an office?

To organize documents in a structured manner

What is a relative path?

A relative path would start with the parent folder and then use the name of the file.