M2 - Basic Computer Principles

Computer

Programmable electronic device that can
store, retrieve & process data.

Input Devices

Any hardware device that sends data to a computer,
allowing you to interact with and control it.

Examples of Input Devices

1. Keyboard
2. Mouse
3. Microphones
4. Barcode readers
5. Touch screens
6. Image scanners

Output Devices

-Any piece of computer hardware equipment which converts
information into a human-perceptible form
-Can be text, graphics, tactile, audio, or video

Examples of Output Devices

1. Monitors
2. Printers
3. Speakers

Binary Code

The computer takes data from
the user and processes it using
a machine language of 1s and
0s, known as

Binary code 1

✓ Transistor circuit is closed
✓ Current passes through

Binary code 0

✓ Transistor circuit is open
✓ No current passes

bit

Each 1 and each 0 represents a

bit

• single unit of data

Byte

• made up of eight bits

Byte

• amount of memory needed to
store one alphanumeric
character

Case

To hold all the components
in a relatively cool, clean,
and safe environment.

Case

To shield the outside
environment from the radio
frequencies being emitted by
the electronic components of
the computer.

Largest circuitry board inside the computer

Largest circuitry board inside the computer

Components of MOBO

1. CPU
2. Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)
3. Bus
4. Memory
5. Ports
6. Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductors (CMOS)

CPU

• Brain of the computer

CPU

• Consists of a series of
transistors that are
arranged to manipulate
data received from the
software.

Central Processing Unit (Microprocessor)

CPU meaning

Basic task of a CPU:

1. To read data from storage
2. Manipulate the data
3. Then move the data back to storage or send it to
external devices, such as monitors & printers

1979

First microprocessor was made by Intel
in

8088

First microprocessor was called the

8088

Needs 12 cycle to complete
1 basic instruction

Pentium 4

1 instruction per cycle

i5

3GHz, 3 thousand million
instructions per second

BIOS

Contains a simple set of instructions for
the computer

BIOS

The microprocessor uses the ___ during
the boot-up process of the computer to
help bring the computer to life

BIOS

Oversees the basic functions of receiving
& interpreting signals from the keyboard
and interchanging information with
various ports

BIOS

Intermediary between the operating
system & the hardware.

Bus

• Series of connections, controllers, and chips that
creates the information highway of the computer

Bus

• Provides the connections for the information to flow
within the computer

Bus found in computer

PCI – Peripheral Component Interconnect
SCSI – Small Computer System Interface
AGP – Accelerated Graphics Port
USB – Universal Serial Bus

Peripheral Component Interconnect

PCI

SCSI

Small Computer System Interface

AGP

Accelerated Graphics Port

USB

Universal Serial Bus

Memory

• Used to store information currently being processed within the CPU
• Also known as RAM

RAM

is short-term storage for
open programs

RAM

is only temporary, once
the PC is turned off, the ___ is
wiped clean

Ports

• Collection of connectors sticking
out of the back of the PC that
link:

Examples of Por

✓ Adapter cards
✓ Drives
✓ Printers
✓ Scanners
✓ Keyboards
✓ Mouse
✓ Other peripherals that may be
used

Types of Ports

1. Parallel
2. Serial
3. USB
4. IDE – Integrated Drive Electrons
5. SCSI – Small Computer System
Interface

Integrated Drive Electrons

IDE

Small Computer System Interface

SCSI

Parallel Port

25 pin connector
8 bits of data

Serial Port

9-25 pin connector
1 bit of data

USB Port

Most common wired connection
Multiple devices may be connected
into 1 port

IDE (Integrated Drive Electrons)

Found in the motherboard
Connects the hard drive, floppy drive, CD-ROM drive to the board

SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)

Fastest & most
versatile way for a
PC to communicate
with its peripherals

SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)

Can manage up
to 7 devices
through a daisy
chain connection

SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)

1. Hard drives
2. CD-ROM
drives
3. Scanners
4. Printers

CMOS

• Special type of memory chip

CMOS

• Special type of memory chip

CMOS

• Also the location of the system clock
that keeps track of the date & time

Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductors

CMOS

quartz crystal

System clock uses a vibrating ____ ____ to set the speed for the CPU.

Sound Card

• Contains all the
circuitry for recording &
reproducing sound on
the PC.

WAV, MP3, MIDI

Sound card interprets many file types such as:

Waveform Audio Files

WAV

Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer 3 Files

MP3

Musical Instrument Digital Interface

MIDI

NIC

• Has a RJ-45 adapter jack at the
rear of the PC for a twisted-pair
wire with RJ-45 connector

NIC

• Comes as an expansion card
plugged into a slot or as part of
the PC motherboard circuitry

NIC

• Enables the PC to connect to other
PCs that are on the same network

Network Interface Card

NIC

Power Supply

• Designed to take the brunt of the force if
the computer ever receives a power
surge
• Delivers all electricity to the PC &
contains a fan to help keep the inside
cool
• Contains transformer that converts AC to
DC in the voltages appropriate for each
powered device

Hard Drive

• Made up of many hard, thin magnetic platters that
are stacked one on top of the other with only
enough space for a read-write head to glide over
the surface of the disks
• The disks are spun at a fast speed by a small motor,
& The read/write head glides to the area that
houses the information needed & reads/writes as
asked
• Main repository for programs & documents on a PC

CD

Compact Disk

CD

• Thin injection-molded
polycarbonate plastic disk
• Has microscopic bumps that
indicate either a 1 or 0 to
the computer
• Can hold up to 74 minutes
of music or approx. 780 MB
of data

DVD

Digital Versatile Disk

DVD

• Holds up to 7 times more than the CD
• Single-sided 9.4 GB
• Double-sided 17 GB

3 main types
of CD/DVD

1. CD-ROM (Read Only Memory)
2. CD-R (Write Once-read Many)
3. CD-RW (Read And Write Many Times)

CD-RW

Read And Write Many Times
• erasable disc that can be reused
• The data on a CD-RW disc can be erased and recorded over
numerous times.

CD-R

Read Only Memory
• Write Once Read Multiple (WORM) disc.
• can only record data once and then the data becomes
permanent on the disc.

CD-ROM

Read Only Memory
• created commercially and cannot save data once they have
been created

Peripherals

Peripherals

Monitors

1. CRT – Cathode Ray Tube
2. LCD – Liquid Crystal Display
3. OLED – Organic Light-emitting diode
4. AMOLED - Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diodes

Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diodes

AMOLED

Organic Light-emitting diode

OLED

Liquid Crystal Display

LCD

Cathode Ray Tube

CRT

Pixel

• Basic picture element on a display

Resolution

• Number of pixels on a display
• Process or capability to distinguish
adjacent parts

higher

The more pixels in an image, the ____
the resolution.

Matrix

Rectangular or square table of numbers that represents
the pixel intensity to be displayed on the monitor
Matrix
• Measurement of how clos

Dot pitch

• Measurement of how close
the dots are located to one
another within a pixel

finer

The smaller the dot pitch of a
display, the finer the resolution.

Advantage of CRT

1. Less expensive
2. Better color representation
3. More responsive
4. Can provide multiple
resolutions
5. More rugged and can sustain
rough handling

Disadvantage of LCD

1. Less space
2. Consumes less power
3. Produces less heat
4. Surface produces little or no
glare
5. Requires a smaller frame
around display

Disadvantage of CRT

1. Bulky
2. Larger viewing are, the
deeper & heavier the
unit
3. Not easily adjusted for
viewing at different
heights & angles

Operating System

OS

OS

• Software that controls the computer hardware & acts
as a bridge between applications & the hardware
• Computers must have an __ for it to be able to fully
function as it was intended

4 Types of OS

Real-time OS
Single-user, Single-task
Single-user, Multitask
Multiuser

Single-user/Multitask

• Designed for one user to perform multiple
functions at the same time, such as the OS on a
PC.

Multiuser

• Designed to handle multiple users and multiple
tasks at the same time, such as UNIX running on
a large server or as a mainframe computer
supporting an entire company.

Computers
in the
Radiology
Department

Front desk - File room - RT Workstation - (Console) - Radiologist -Reading Room