Business Computing Skills Paperwork for Midterm Basic Computing Concepts
 What is a computer? A computer: Electronic device Manipulates information (data)
Ability: Store, Retrieve, Process Data USAGE: Type documents Send emails Surf Internet Handle spreadsheet Accounting, financing Database management Presentations Play games, etc.  Computer Simplified Two basic parts of computer: Hardware: Any part of computer Physical structure
Ex: computer monitor, keyboard… Software: Any sets of instructions Tell hardware what to do Ex: Web browsers, games, word processors  Types of Computer Desktop Com: Desktop: refer to casing/tower Monitor + Mouse + Keyboard
Easy to upgrade, expand, add new parts Laptop: easily carried Difficult to expand, upgrade
Sometimes called: notebook computer Others: Workstations Servers Mainframes Computer Supercomputer  Operating Systems Define: Most important software Runs on computer Purpose: Perform many essential tasks
Controls memory, manages disk space Controls peripheral devices
Allows you to communicate without
computer without knowing how it works Illustration: Booting Process Types: Windows Mac OS Linus
 Basic parts of a Computer (Part 1)
- All of the basic parts of a desktop computer are considered hardware.
- Inside the computer case: main board+ RAM + CPU + HDD
+ Power supply unit [+VGA/Sound/… Cards]
- monitor, keyboard, mouse, and
power cord, Optical/Blu-ray disks are considered as peripherals.  CPU - Central Processing Unit - The brain of the computer computer's engine , or the . - Carry out commands.
- Determines how fast a computer can execute instructions
- Its speed is measured in megahertz (MHZ), or millions of
instructions per second, and gigahertz (GHZ), or millions of instructions per second.
- Its power is measured in bits.
- More bits = more data it can handled → More powerful  RAM - Random Access Memory
- System’s short-term memory.
- Computer’s work takes place in RAM.
- More RAM = more things computer can do simultaneously
- RAM is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB).
 Basic parts of a Computer (Part 2) Ports: PS/2 Port Ethernet Port Audio In/ Audio Out VGA Port USB Port Parallel Port Serial Port Expansion Slots FireWire Port Networking Principles
 Computer Network Define: a group ( computer systems) link together many types  Internet Define: global network connecting millions computers
Exchanges of data, news, information
Online services: centrally controlled Internet: decentralized by design
Each host (Internet computer) is independent
- There are a variety of ways to access the Internet.
- Possible to gain access through a commercial Internet Service Provider ( Ú ISP)
- Internet is not synonymous with World Wide Web.
 How to connect to Internet? Requirements: an ISP a modem an Internet browser Types of Dial-up access Internet DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) access Cable access Satellite access Mobile access  Required Hardware Modem:
enables a computer to transmit data over Ex: telephone or cable lines Network Card: a piece of hardware
allows computers to communicate Router:
allows you to use several computers on a
single Internet connection from your ISP Computer Hardware  Hardware Basics
1. Central Processing Unit (CPU) 2. Primary storage 3. Secondary storage 4. Input device 5. Output device 6. Communication device
 COMPUTER HARDWARE FUNCTIONS Input:
Keyboards, mouse, optical scanners
Convert data → electronic form Processing: Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Arithmetic-logic unit performs the arithmetic functions Control unit Output:
Video display units, printers, etc.
Convert electronic information → human-intelligible form
 COMPUTER HARDWARE FUNCTIONS Storage: Primary Storage Unit or memory Secondary Storage
Magnetic disks and Optical disks Control: Control unit of the CPU
Controls the other components of the computer
 Random Access Memory (RAM) Define:
Computer’s primary working memory
Program instructions and data are stored
Can be accessed directly by the CPU
Volatility: do not retain its contents when the power is switched off. Save work frequently. Cache memory.
 Read Only Memory (ROM) Define: Does not lose its contents
when one switches off the power Permanent storage
Can be read but cannot be overwritten.  Flash Drive
- New type of permanent storage. - Rewritable ROM. - Compact and portable. - Uses semiconductor memory.