CHAPTER 01
INTRODUCTION TO
COMPUTERS
1.1 What is a computer?
1.2 Types of computer
1.3 Hardware
1,4 Software
1.5 How internet works
1.1 What is a computer?
•Computer is an electronic device that manipulates
information, or data.
•It has the ability to store, retrieve and process data.
•You may already know that you can use a computer to
type documents, send email, play game and browse
the web. You can also use it to edit or create
spreadsheet, presentation and even videos.
1.2 Types of computer?
• When most people hear the word computer, they
think of a personal computer such as desktop or
laptop.
• However computers come in many Shapes and size,
and they perform many different functions in our
daily lives. When you withdraw cash from ATM or
use calculator, you`re using type of computer.
Desktop computers
• May people use desktop computers at work, home
and school.
• Desktop computers are designed to be placed on a
desk and they are typically made up of a few
different parts, including the computer case,
monitor, keyboard and mouse.
Laptop computers
• The second type of computer you may be familiar with is a
laptop computer, commonly called a laptop.
• A laptop is a battery powered computers and are portable
computer that integrates all the components of a desktop
computer, including a monitor, keyboard, touchpad (instead
of a mouse), and speakers, into a single unit.
Tablet computers
• Tablet computers-or tablets are handheld computers
that are even more portable than laptops.
• Instead of a keyboard and mouse, tablets use a touch-
sensitive screen for typing and navigation. The IPAD is
an example of a tablet.
Servers
• Server is a computer that captures data from
one machine and delivers it to another
machine on the same network or over the
Internet.
Smartphones
• Many cell phones can do a lot of things computers
can do, including browsing the internet and playing
games.
• They are often called smartphones: because they
are a combination of a mobile phone and advanced
computing capabilities
1.3 Hardware and Software
• Hardware: The physical devices that make up
a computer
• Computer is a system composed of several
components that all work together
• Typical major components:
A. Central processing unit(CPU)
B. Main memory(RAM)
C. Secondary storage devices
D. Input devices
E. output devices
A. The CPU
• Central processing unit (CPU): the part
of the computer that actually runs
programs
• Most important component
• Without it, cannot run software
• Used to be a huge device
B. Main Memory
• Main memory: where computer stores a
program while program is running, and data
used by the program
• Known as Random Access Memory or RAM
• CPU is able to quickly access data in RAM
• Volatile memory used for temporary
storage while program is running
• Contents are erased when computer is off
C. Secondary Storage Devices
• Secondary storage: can hold data for long periods of time
• Programs normally stored here and loaded to main
memory when needed
• Types of secondary memory
• Disk drive(HDD): magnetically encodes data onto a
spinning circular disk
• Solid State Drive(SSD): faster than disk drive, no moving
parts, stores data in solid state memory
• Flash memory: portable, no physical disk
• Optical devices: data encoded optically
D. Input Devices
• Input: data the computer collects from people
and other devices
• Input device: component that collects the data
• Examples: keyboard, mouse,
scanner ,touchscreen, camera
• Disk drives can be considered input devices
because they load programs into the main
memory
E. Output Devices
• Output: data produced by the computer for other
people or devices
• Can be text, image, audio, or bit stream
• Output device: formats and presents output
• Examples: Screen, printer
• Disk drives and USB drives can be considered output
devices because data is sent to them to be saved
1.4 Software
• Everything the computer does is controlled by software
• General categories:
• System software
• Application software
• System software: programs that control and manage
basic operations of a computer
• Operating system: controls operations of hardware
components
• Application software: programs that make computer
useful for every day tasks
• Examples: word processing, email, games and Web
browsers
System Software
• System software: programs that control and manage
basic operations of a computer
• Operating system(OS): controls operations of
hardware components some operating System are:
Application Software
• Application software: programs that make computer
useful for every day tasks
• Examples: [Link] Suit, email, games and Web
browsers
1.5 How internet works
• Network: two or more computers connected
together for the purpose of communicating and
sharing resources.
• Client: requests some type of service (such as a file
or database access) from the server.
• Server: fulfills the request and transmits the results
to the client over a network
HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol
• A set of rules for exchanging files such as text, graphics
images, sound, video, and other multimedia files on the Web.
• Web browsers(Client) send HTTP requests for web pages and
their associated files.
• Web servers send HTTP responses back to the web browsers.