Computer

Fundamentals and
Programming

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COURSE OBJECTIVES
• Know the basic concepts of computers
• Use Word Processors and
Spreadsheets
• Computer Programming

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Computer
• A programmable, electronic device that accepts
data, performs operations on that data, presents
the results, and stores the data or results as
needed
• INPUT – entering data into the computer
• PROCESSing – performing operations on the data
• OUTPUT – presenting the results
• STORAGE – saving data, programs, or output for
future use

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Why learn about computers?
• Pervasive computing
• Also known as ubiquitous computing
• Computers have become an integral part of our
lives
• Basic computer literacy
• Knowing about and understanding computers
and their uses

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Data vs. information
• Data – raw, unorganized facts; can exist in
many forms (text, graphics, audio and
video)
• Information - data that has been
processed into a meaningful form
• Information processing – the conversion of
data into information

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COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
• HARDWARE – physical parts of a computer
• SOFTWARE – also called programs or instructions used to
tell the computer hardware what to do.
• PEOPLEWARE – people involved in a computer system;
people who make the computers work and those who use
them
• Computer Users – (end users) people who use the computer to
obtain information
• Programmers – computer professionals whose primary job
responsibility is to write programs that computers use (Programmer,
Systems Analyst, Database Administrator)

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HARDWARE
• Input devices
• Used to input data into the
• computer
• Processing devices
• Perform calculations and
• Control computer’s operation
• Output devices
• Present results to the user

• Storage devices
• Used to store data on or access data from storage media
• Communications devices
• Allow users to communicate with others and to electronically access
information

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TYPICAL COMPUTER HARDWARE

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SOFTWARE
• Also called programs
• Consists of related instructions, organized for a common
purpose
• Tells the computer what task to perform and how to
perform them
• Usually installed on a computer
• Types : System Software & Application Software

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Software
• SYSTEM SOFTWARE
Consists of programs that control or maintain the
operations of the computer and its devices
Serves as the interface between the user, the application
software and the computers hardware
• OPERATING SYSTEM – a set of programs that
coordinates all the activities among computer hardware
devices (DOS, Windows, MacOS, Linux, Unix)
• UTILITY PROGRAMS – allows users to perform
maintenance-type tasks usually related to managing a
computer and its devices or programs

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Software
• APPLICATION SOFTWARE
• Consists of programs designed to allow people
to perform specific tasks or applications using a
computer
• Word Processing Programs Photoediting
• Spreadsheet Programs Games
• Multimedia Programs E-mail Programs
• Database Programs Web browsers

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APPLICATION software

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 Categories of computer
• Speed, price, size, processing power
• Embedded Computers – tiny computers embedded into products to perform
specific function or tasks for that product
• Personal Computers – microcomputer; designed to be used by one person at a
time(desktop, notebook)
• Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices – mobile phones/devices with computing
and Internet capabilities (Smartphones, PDA (personal digital Assistant) portable
media players)
• Game Consoles – mobile computing device for single-player or multiplayer video
games (Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Sony PS3)
• Servers – control access to the HW, SW and other resources on a network; host to
a small group of users
• Mainframes – powerful computers used to host a large amount of data and
programs available to a wide group of users
• Supercomputers – extremely powerful computers used for complex computations
and processing

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Advantages DISADVANTAGES
(+) SPEED (-) HEALTH RISK
(+) RELIABILITY (-) VIOLATION OF PRIVACY
(+) CONSISTENCY (-) IMPACT ON LABOR
(+) STORAGE (-) IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT
(+) COMMUNICATIONS (-) PUBLIC SAFETY

Green computing – involves reducing the electricity consumed

and environmental waste generated when using a computer
i.e recycling, regulating manufacturing , extending life

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Computer networks and the
Internet
• Communicate with and meet other people
• Conduct research and access a wealth of information and news
• Shop for goods and services
• Bank and invest
• Participate in online training
• Engage in certain activities such as planning vacations, online games,
listening to music, watching or editing videos, and reading books,
magazines
• Download music & videos
• Share information, photos and videos

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 NETWORKS & THE INTERNET
• COMPUTER NETWORK – a collection of computers and other
hardware devices connected together, often wirelessly via
communication devices and transmission media
• Allows users to share resources(hardware, software, data and
information as well as to communicate with electronically with one
another)
• ONLINE – when computer connects to a network
• SERVER (host) – any computer that provides services and
connections to other computers on a network
• controls access to the resources on the network
• CLIENT -
• INTERNET – worldwide collection of networks that connects
millions of businesses, government agencies, educational
institutions and individuals

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 Example of a
Computer Network
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 Connecting to the internet
ISP – a company that provides individuals , business organizations internet access, usually for a fee
• Cable Internet Service – provides high speed Internet access through the cable tv network via
cable modem
• DSL (digital Subscriber Line) provides high speed internet access using regular copper
telephone lines
• FTTP – (fiber to the premises) – uses fiber optic cable
• Fixed wireless – uses a dish shaped antenna to communicate with a tower location via radio
signals
• Cellular radio network – computers with wireless modems
• Wi-Fi – (Wireless Fidelity) – uses radio signal to compatible wireless technology
• Satellite Internet Service – via satellite to a satellite dish that communicates with a satellite
modem
• Dial-up – slow speed technology that transmits data and information using an analog pattern

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 Computers and the internet
• www (worldwide web) – web; global library of information available to the internet
• Contains billions of electronic documents(web pages)
• TIM BERNERS-LEE – creator of the world wide web
• Web pages – a document containing text, graphics, animation, audio and video;
contains hyperlinks to other documents
• Web site – a collection of related web pages usually belonging to an organization or an
individual
• Web server – a computer that is continually connected to the internet and hosts web
pages that are accessible through the internet
• Web browser – a program used to access and view web pages (Google Chrome, IE..)
• Podcast – recorded audio stored on a web site that can be downloaded to a computer
or a portable media player

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 Computers and the internet
• W3C – World Wide Web Consortium
• Oversees research and sets standards and guidelines for many areas of the
internet

• Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)

• a nonprofit organization that does:
• IP address space allocation
• protocol parameter assignment
• domain name system management
• Fall of 1998 in response to a policy statement issued by the US Department of
Commerce. This statement called for the formation of a private sector not-for-
profit Internet stakeholder to administer policy for the Internet name and
address system
• responsible for managing and coordinating the DNS to ensure universal
resolvability

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 INTERNET ADDRESS
• INTERNET ADDRESS
• Numerical or text-based addresses used to identify resources accessible through the internet
• IP address (Internet Protocol) - Numeric address that identifies computers
(207.46.138.20)
• Protocol is a set of rule & regulation that determine how the data is transmitted over
the network
• Hypertext Transfer Protocol (http) is typically used to display Web pages (https is used
for secure Web pages
• File Transfer Protocol (ftp) is often used for file exchange
• Domain name: Text-based address that identifies computers (microsoft.com)
• URLs – identifies web pages
• E-mail address – uniquely identify a person on the internet
• E-mail (electronic mail) electronic messages sent from one user to another over the internet or
other network

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IP address
• IP Address (IP – Internet Protocol)
• - numeric based such as 207.46.197.32
• Unique (no two computers with same IP address
• uniquely identifies each computer device connected to the internet
• Example 74.125.71.105 (4 groups of numbers)
• DOMAIN NAME
• Text based internet address that uniquely identifies a computer on the
internet (microsoft.com)
• identifies who owns the computer and either the type of entity or location
• Example www.google.com

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Top level domains (tld)
ORIGINAL TLDs INTENDED USE
.com Commercial businesses
.edu Educational institutions
.gov Government organizations
.int International treaty organization
.mil Military organizations
.net Network providers
.org Noncommercial organization
NEW TLDs INTENDED USE
.aero Aviation industry
.biz Businesses
.coop Coop organizations
.info Resource sites
.jobs Employment sites
.travel Travel-oriented sites 23
Web page URL

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 Types of web sites
• Portal – web site that offers a variety of internet services from a single location
• news- newsworthy material
• informational-factual information,
• business/marketing – promotes or sells products
• Wiki - a collaborative web site that allows users to create, add to, modify, or
delete the web site (wikipedia)
• Blog – informal web site consisting of time stamped articles in a diary or journal
format, usually listed in reversed chronological order; specific opinions and ideas
of others
• Social networking web site – an online social network that encourages members
to share their interests, ideas, stories, photos, music and videos with other
registered users (Facebook, MySpace)
• Web applications – a web site that allows users to access and interact with
software from any computer or device that is connected to the internet (Google
docs, windows live hotmail)

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Rules of netiquette
• Netiquette – (internet etiquette) the code of acceptable behaviors
users should follow while on the internet
• Keep messages short
• Be Polite
• Avoid sending flames or spam
• Use emoticons
• Identify spoiler(read FAQ)
• Never read someone’s private e-mail
• Use descriptive subject lines
• Don’t Shout (using capital letters)

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REFERENCES
• Morley, Deborah & Parker, C.S. (2009), Understanding computers:
Today and tomorrow(12th ed.), Course Technology, Cengage Learning,
USA.
• Shelly, G.B. & Vermaat, M.E (2010), Discovering Computers 2010:
Living in a Digital World, Course Technology, Cengage Learning. USA

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