Week 1

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computer basics

Week One Objectives:

  • Learn how to turn on and turn off the computer. Executing this move. Understanding how and why it is important to turn off the computer properly.
  • Learn the parts of the computer and what they are called. Learn what a peripheral is and why.
  • Learn the difference between “software” and “hardware.”
  • Learn various file transportation methods.
  • Learn features of the keyboard that make it different from a typewriter.
  • Learn how your computer’s speed is measured and how to tell if your personal computer is fast enough to meet your needs (or a computer you may be considering purchasing)

 

 

First, let’s learn the basics about computers

bike-for-two

versus

racing-bike

For computers, as for anything else, different styles exist. The different styles reflect different functions.

 

 

Types of Computers

From largest to smallest, the main types of standard computers are:

  • desktop computer
  • laptop computer/notebook
  • personal digital assistant (PDA’s) and smart phones

 

Desktop Computers

desktop-computer

  • sit on your desk
  • found in most businesses
  • come with:
    • a case, usually a tower, that holds the computers “parts”
    • a monitor, also called a screen
    • a mouse, used to move and select information on the monitor
    • a keyboard, used to type in commands and documents

 

Laptop Computers

laptop-computer

  • designed to sit on your lap
  • portable
  • monitor and keyboard are built-in
  • mouse built-in as a “touchpad”
  • smaller models are referred to as “notebooks” or “netbooks”

 

Personal Digital Assistants (PDA’s)

 

  • handheld devices
  • function as “information managers”
  • can connect to the Internet
  • also called smart phones

iphoneApple iPhone is an example

 

 

 

 

 

Now let’s consider the basic components of a computer.

Hardware

computer-componets

Hardware refers to computer’s physical components, which include:

  • Central Processing Unit (CPU)
  • Hard Drive
  • Random Access Memory (RAM)
  • Ports and Peripherals

 

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

computer-cpu

The central processing unit (CPU) is the “brains” of a computer. It is often called a micro-processing chip. The CPU is a computation engine that:

  • allows the computer to perform operations
  • enables the computer to run software
  • determines how fast the computer can make computations
  • despite the disability, the CPU is a very small component.

 

Hard Drive

computer-hard-drive

The hard drive stores your computers information and data. the hard drive:

  • looks like an aluminum box
  • contains electronic discs on which information is stored
  • can be read and written to with arms that function like a very precise record player arm

hard-drive

three-hard-drives

 Three “hard disks” on the hard drive.

 read-write-arm

The read/write arm on the hard drive.

 

Random Access Memory (RAM)

computer-ram

  • Random Access Memory (RAM) refers to a computer’s working memory.
  • It affects how much information can be worked with at a given time.
  • RAM affects how quickly a computer will start up and how fast it will let you work.
  • .RAM is stored inside the computer on memory modules.

 

All of these pieces get wired together on a motherboard, hooked up to a power supply and a fan,and put inside a computer case, where they are held in place much like a car chassis holds the parts of a car in place.

computer-motherboard

Mother board

computer-power-supply

Power Supply

 computer-case

Assembled computer – inside a tower computer case

car-chassis

Car Chassis

Now let’s look at the final hardware component of a computer, the peripherals and ports.

  • Peripherals are the external hardware devices they could plug into your computer.
  • Laptops have fewer peripherals and their standard setup.
  • Some examples of peripherals are printers and keyboards.

computer-printer

Printer

computer-keyboard

Keyboard

Ports on your Laptop

  • Ports are docks, or connecting plugs, for your peripherals.
  • They are the locations on your computer at which you connect peripherals.
  • Each peripheral is designed to connect to a particular kind of port.

 

Ports on the left side of your laptop

computer-ports

USB plugs are common plugs used for digital cameras, modems, scanners, WebCams, etc. Look at your mouse’s plugged.

usb connectors

Different size USB plugs

 

Ports on the right side of your laptop

laptop-power-port

  • The power cord plugs into a round port.

 

 

 

Now a brief look at the basic parts of the computer, let’s look at the systems that keep it running.

circularity-system

 

 Software

Software is the entire set of programs and procedures associated with a computer.

Software comes in two forms:

  • operating systems
  • applications software

 

Operating Systems (OS)

popular-operating-system

  • Operating System, or “OS,” software, is what lets the computer run.
  • You can think of an OS as similar to the circulation system, since without an OS, a computer would be useless, just like our bodies would be useless without blood circulating.
  • Operating systems very, but they all do the same thing – allow the computer to run.
    • Microsoft Windows
    • Mac
    • Unix
    • Linux

 

Application Software

human-eye

  • Also known as software applications, applications, or programs.
  • Designed to help users perform particular tasks, such as word processing, spreadsheets, or creative computer painting.
  • Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Paint are all examples of application software.

In comparison to operating software, application software might be considered comparable to a specific part of a body system, such as the eye, that allows us to perform a particular function, such as seeing.

 

Review of basic components of a computer

Hardware

  • entral processing unit (CPU)
  • hard drive
  • random access memory (RAM)
  • ports and peripherals

Software

  • operating system (OS)
  • application software
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