UIT Ch 1 CCAS

IT

general term that describes any technology that helps produce, manipulate, store, communicate, and/or disseminate information.

Computer Technology

is a programmable, multiuse machine that accepts data- raw facts and figures- and processes or manipulates it into information we can use such as summaries, totals, or reports.

Communications Technology

also called telecommunications technology consists of electromagnetic devices and systems for communicating over long distances

"Cyberspace"

It described a futuristic computer network into which users plug their brains.The two most important aspects of cyberspace are the internet and the world wide web.

Internet

is the worldwide computer network that connects hundreds of thousands of smaller networks.These networks link educational,commercial,nonprofit, and military entities, as well as individuals.

World Wide Web

is the multimedia part of the internet.The world wide web often called simply the web,is an interconnected system of internet computers (called servers) that support specially formatted documents in multimedia form.

Multimedia

refers to technology that presents information in more than one medium such as text, still images, moving images, and sound.

6 ways becoming tech smart benefits you

1.How to make better buying decisions

2.How to fix ordinary problems

3.How to upgrade their equipment and integrate new technology

4.How to use the Internet more effectively

5.How to protect themseleves against online dangers

6.What kind of technological uses can advance their careers

Super Computers

-Supercomputers are multiuser systems used for tasks requiring the processing of enormous volumes of data

-They are high-capcity computers with thousands of processors that can be perform more than several quadrillion calculations per second.These are the most expensive and fastest computers available.

Mainframe Computers

-Often users access a mainframe by means of a terminal, which has a display screen and a keyboard and can input and output data but cannot by itself process data.

Workstations

-They are usually required to perform complex scientific, mathematical, and engineering calculations and for computer-aided design and manufacturing.

-Workstations are used for tasks such as designing automobiles,developing,prescription drugs,and creating movie special effects.

Microcomputers

-They are either stand-alone computers or a re connected to a computer network,such as a local area network.

-A local area network (LAN) connects,usually by special cable, a group of desktop PCS and other devices, such as printers,in an office or a building.

Microcontrollers

-Microcontrollers are the tiny,specialized microprocessors installed in many appliances and automobiles.

-Microcontrollers are used, for example, in microwaves, programmable ovens, blood-pressure monitors,air-bags sensors,vibration sensors,MP3 players,digital cameras,keyboards,cars,etc.

How Computers Work: 3 Concepts

1.Purpose of a computer: turning data into information

2.Difference between hardware and software

3.The basic operations of a computer

Data

consists of raw facts and figures that are processed into information that is useful to people for example, the votes of different candidates.

Information

is the data that has been summarized or otherwise manipulated for use in decision making- for example, the total votes for each candidate.

Hardware

consists of all the machinery and equipment in a computer system.Among other devices, hardware includes the keyboard,the screens,the printer,and the computer or programming device itself.Hardware is of no use without software.

Software

Software or programs,consists of all the electronic instructions that tell the computer how to perform a task.These instructions come from a software developer in a form (such as on a CD, or compact disk) that will be accepted by the computer. Examples are Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office.

Input

is data "put in" or entered into the computer system

Processing

is the manipulation on a computer does to transform data into information

Storage of data or information is

of two types- temporary and permanent storage, or primary storage and secondary storage.

Primary storage or memory

is temporary storage and it is the internal computer circuitry that temporarily holds data waiting to be presented.

Processing & memory hardware

A processor chip, or CPU (for central processing unit), is a tiny piece of silicon that contains millions of miniature electronic circuits that support processing.Chip processor speed is measured in megahertz and gigahertz.

Secondary storage

is permanent storage.It refers to a computer media where data or information is held permanently and to the devices that facilitate this such as DVDs and CDs.

Output

is whatever is "put out" from the computer system- then results of processing, usually information,such as numbers or pictures on the screen or printer paper or sounds from speakers

Communications offers

an extension capability, sending and receiving data and extending the power of the computer-input, processing,storage,and output- through wired or wireless connections.

Storage Hardware

-Whereas memory chips deal only with temporary storage, or permanent storage,stores data for as long as you want.

-Examples of secondary storage devices are hard-disk drive and CD/DVD drive.

System software

-System software helps the computer perform essential operating tasks and enable the application software to run.

-System software comes installed on a new computer and also on back-up CDs.

Application software

Application software is installed after system software.

-Application software enables the user to perform specific tasks-perform work (e.g. word processing), solve problems (e.g., using spreadsheets), or be entertained (e.g. with videogames).

Miniaturization

Two major developments have enabled manufactures to reduce the size of computers:

Transistors replaced radio-style vacuum tubes.Transistors are small devices used as gateways to transfer electrical signals along predetermined paths(circuts)

The next development was integrated circuits collections of electrical circuits or pathways that are etched on tiny squares (chips) of silicon half the size of a human thumbnail.

Speed

Owing to miniaturization and new material used in making processors,computer makers are able to add more hardware components to their machines and thus provide faster processing speeds and more data storage capacity.

Affordability

Processors cost only a faction of what they did 15 years ago.(Today's processor costing less than $1,000 has the same processing power as a huge 1980s computer costing more than $1 million.)

Conenctivity

Connectivity refers line in order to provide online information access and/or the sharing of peripheral devices.Connectivity resulting from the expansion of computer networks has made possible email and online shopping.

Interactivity

Interactivity refers to two-way communications.The user can respond to information he or she receives and modify what the computer is doing.

Interactive software includes most popular programs, such as web browsers and word processors and spreadsheets.By comparison, noninteractive programs operate without human contract, such as some types of systems software (compilers).

Multimedia

Multimedia refers to technology that presents information in more than one medium-such as text,pictures,video,sound,and animation- in a single integrated communication.

The development of the World Wide Web expanded the Internet to include pictures, sound,music,and so on as well as text.