Intro to computing midterm

Computer

At its heart, a ___ is a machine that follows instructions.

Input process output storage

IPOS mean

INPUT

You type letters on your keyboard.

Give it some data

PROCESS

The computer's processor arranges these letters into words and sentences. It checks for spelling errors.

It will think about it.

OUTPUT

The words appear on your monitor.

show us the result.

STORAGE

You click 'Save'. The computer writes your essay file to the hard drive.

maybe save it for later

Hardware

The physical parts of the computer you can touch. The keyboard, mouse, monitor, and the circuits inside the case.

It's the Body.

Software

The set of instructions (programs) that tells the hardware what to do. Your operating system (Windows, macOS), web browser, and games.

It's the Mind.

Binary Code

How do computers, which are just circuits and electricity, understand things like letters, photos, and videos? The secret is a simple language called ______

ON OFF

Computers only understand two states

1

Number of ON

0

Number of OFF

bit

Each 1 or 0 Is called a __.

Ancient Times

The Abacus was an early form of a calculating tool.

1800s

Charles Babbage designed the Analytical Engine, a mechanical computer.

Ada Lovelace wrote the first algorithm for it, making her the first programmer!

Year??

Charles Babbage

designed the Analytical Engine, a mechanical computer.

Ada Lovelace

wrote the first algorithm for it, making her the first programmer

1940s

The first electronic computers were built, like ENIAC. They were massive, filled entire rooms, and used vacuum tubes.

Year??

ENIAC

The first electronic computers were built, like _____. They were massive, filled entire rooms, and used vacuum tubes.

1950s-60s

The Invention of the transistor made computers smaller, faster, and more reliable.

1970s

The microprocessor put an entire computer brain on a single chip, leading to the first personal computers (PCs).

1980s-90s

Companies like Apple and Microsoft brought computers into our homes, and the World Wide Web was born..

2000s-Today

The rise of smartphones, cloud computing, and Al puts powerful computing in the palm of our hands.

1st Gen (Vacuum Tubes)

2nd Gen (Transistors)

3rd Gen (Integrated Circuits)

4th Gen (Microprocessors)

5th Gen (Al & Parallel Processing)

Generations of Computers

1st Gen (Vacuum Tubes)

: Massive, hot, and unreliable.

2nd Gen (Transistors)

Smaller, cooler, and more dependable

3rd Gen (Integrated Circuits)

Many transistors on one chip. Cheaper and more powerful.

4th Gen (Microprocessors)

A whole CPU on one chip. The age of the PC begins!

5th Gen (Al & Parallel Processing)

What we have today and are developing for the future, focusing on artificial Intelligence and connecting many processors.

Supercomputers

Servers

Mobile Devices

Mainframes

Personal Computers (PCs)

Embedded Systems

The Computer Family Tree

Supercomputers

The fastest computers on Earth, used for weather forecasting and scientific research

Servers

The backbone of the internet, hosting websites and managing data

Mobile Devices

Smartphones and tablets that have become our primary computing devices.

Mainframes

Handle huge amounts of transactions for banks and airlines.

Personal Computers (PCs)

Desktops and laptops for our daily work and play

Embedded Systems

Hidden computers in cars, TVs, and appliances that perform one specific task.

Motherboard

Everything connects to the _____.

It's the foundation of the computer, a large circuit board that lets all the other parts communicate.

It's like the map of a city, with roads connecting all the important buildings.

CPU Socket

RAM Slots

PCle Slots

SATA Ports

I/O Panel

Key parts of a motherboard

CPU Socket

Where the 'brain' is installed

RAM Slots

Where the short-term memory sticks are inserted.

PCle Slots

For expansion cards like graphics cards.

SATA Ports

To connect storage drives like SSDs and HDDs.

I/O Panel

The ports on the back of your PC (USB, HDMI, etc.).

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

is a small chip that is the engine of your computer. It executes billions of instructions per second to run your programs.

Clock Speed (GHz)

How many cycles (Instructions) it can run per second. Higher is generally better

Cores

The number of independent processors on the chip. More cores means it can multitask better (like having multiple chefs).

Random Access Memory (RAM)

is your computer's short-term memory. It's where the computer temporarily stores the data for the applications you are currently running.

RAM

Is volatile, meaning it needs power to hold data. More ___ allows you to run more applications smoothly at the same time.

Storage

This is where your files, operating system, and programs are kept permanently. Unlike RAM, storage is non-volatile it keeps your data even when the power is off.

HDD (Hard Disk Drive)

SSD (Solid-State Drive)

Storage 2 main types:

HDD (Hard Disk Drive)

Uses a spinning platter and a mechanical arm to read/write data.

Think of a record player. It's slower, but offers more storage for less money.

SSD (Solid-State Drive)

Uses flash memory chips with no moving parts. It's like a very large, very fast USB drive. Your computer boots up and opens programs much faster with an ___.

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

or graphics card, is a specialized processor designed to handle everything you see on your screen. While a CPU has a few powerful cores, a GPU has thousands of simpler cores that work together.

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

It's the difference between a master artist (CPU) painting one masterpiece, and an army of painters (GPU) each painting one pixel at the same time. This is why GPUs are essential for:

Video Games

Video Editing and Animation

Export to PDF

Scientific Simulations and Al

Peripherals

Are the devices we connect to the outside of the computer case. They plug into Ports, which are the connection points on the motherboard's I/O panel.

Ports

They plug into ___, which are the connection points on the motherboard's I/O panel.

USB (Universal Serial Bus)

The most common port for connecting mice, keyboards, printers, phones, and flash drives. (Types: USB-A, USB-C)

HDMI/DisplayPort

Used to connect your monitor or a TV..

Ethernet Port

For a wired internet connection

Audio Jacks

For connecting speakers, headphones, and microphones.

USB (Universal Serial Bus)

HDMI/DisplayPort

Ethernet Port

Audio Jacks

Common Ports:

Fans

Case ____ pull cool air in and push hot air out. The CPU and GPU have their own dedicated fans.

Heatsinks

A mblock of metal with many fins that sits on top of the CPU. It absorbs the heat, and the fins provide a large surface area for the fan to blow the heat away.

Input Devices

These are the components you use to send information *to* the computer.

Keyboard

Mouse

Microphone

Webcam

Input Devices

Output Devices

These are the components the computer uses to send information *to* you.

Monitor

Printer

Speakers

Headphones

Output Devices

Software

Is the set of instructions, data, or programs used to operate computers and execute specific tasks.Without ___, computer hardware is just an expensive paperweight

System Software

Application Software

The Two Main Types of Software

System Software

Manages the computer hardware. and provides a platform for applications to run. It's the foundation.

Application Software

Programs designed to perform specific tasks for the user. These are the programs you interact with daily.

System software

is the essential layer between your hardware and your applications.

Hardware -> ________ ->Application

Operating System (OS)

is the most important software on your computer. It manages all the hardware and software resources.

Examples: Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, Linux

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

File Management

Process Management

Memory Management

Key OS function

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Provides the visual elements (windows, icons, menus) that you interact with.

File Management

Allows you to create, save, delete, and organize your files and folders.

Process Management

Manages which programs get to use the CPU and for how long, enabling multitasking.

Memory Management

Controls how RAM is allocated to different programs.

device driver

Every piece of hardware (like your printer or webcam) needs a special piece of software called a _____. The ____ acts as a translator, allowing the OS to communicate with the hardware.

Utilities

are small programs designed to help manage and maintain your computer.

Utilities

Examples:

•Antivirus Software

•File Compression Tools (like WinRAR)

•Disk Cleanup and Defragmentation Tools

Application Software

These are the "apps" you use to get things done. They are designed for end-users.

Productivity Software

Web Browsers

Communication Software

Entertainment Software

Types of Application Software

Productivity Software

Helps you create things for work or school (eg. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Web Browsers

Your gateway to the internet (eg, Google Chrome, Firefox)

Communication Software

Tools for talking to others (e.g.. Messenger, Zoom, Email clients).

Entertainment Software

For fun and leisure (e g., Spotify, Netflix, PC Games)

setup program or installer

How is Software Installed?

Most software is installed using a ______

Download-> Run Installer ->Follow Steps

The installer copies the necessary program files to your storage drive and creates shortcuts so you can easily run the application.

Software Licensing

Not all software is free. The ____ tells you how you can use it.

Freeware

Shareware

Open Source

Proprietary/Commercial

Software licensing

Freeware

Completely free to use (e.g., Google Chrome).

Shareware

Free to try for a limited time, then you must pay (e.g., WinRAR, trial versions of games).

Open Source

The source code is available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute (e.g., Linux, Firefox).

Proprietary/Commercial

You must purchase a license to use it (e.g., Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop).

Power Supply Unit (PSU)

All these components are housed in a case and powered by a ______.