HCS 135: INTRODUCTION TO

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

SECTION
 Overview of the module
• Introduction to IT
• Hardware
• Software
• Computer networks
• Internet
• Computer security and ethics
• Practical
INTRODUCTION
 UNIT ONE
• Define terms used in information technology
• State the three operations of a computer in their
sequence
• familiarise yourself with advantages and
disadvantages of computers
• identify the uses of computers in your field of study
• identify different types of computers
• recognise the four types of microcomputers
• state the five generations of computers
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
• Information technology- refers to hardware,
software, databases, telecommunication
technologies and other information processing
technologies that manipulate data resources
into useful information products.
 Data
• Data can be defined as a representation of
facts, concepts, or instructions in a formalized
manner, which should be suitable for
communication, interpretation, or processing,
by human or electronic machine. Data is
represented with the help of characters such
as alphabets (A-Z, a-z), digits (0-9) or special
characters (+,-,/,*,<,>,= etc.)
 Information
• Information is organized or classified data,
which has some meaningful values for the
receiver. Information is the processed data on
which decisions and actions are based.
• A computer program is a sequence of
instructions written using a Computer
Programming Language to perform a specified
task by the computer.
 Computer
• a computer is an electronic device which
works under the instructions of stored
programmes, automatically accepting
result or output of that processing.
 OPERATIONS OF A COMPUTER

A computer performs the following three

operations in sequence.
• It receives data & instructions from the
input device
• Processes the data as per instructions.
• Provides the result (output) in a desired
form.
 ADVANTAGES OF A COMPUTER
• High speed
• Accuracy
• Storage capability
• Diligence
• Versatility
• Reliability
• Automation
• Reduction in paperwork and costs
 DISADVANTAGES
In groups of 4, state the disadvantages of
computers
 COMPUTER USES
• In groups of 4, outline the uses of
computers in your field of study.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMPUTERS

There are four basic types of computers:

• Supercomputers
• Mainframes
• Minicomputers
• Microcomputers
Types of microcomputers
END