Computer Skills

CIS-100
CH 1
 Eyad
Alshareef General Information

 Course Website :
www.just.edu.jo/~eyad
 Textbook
Computer Skills - 2013
 Textbook Cover
 Eyad
Alshareef Chapter 1: Introduction To Computer
 Eyad
Alshareef Chapter 1: Introduction To Computer
 Definition of Computers.
 Benefits (functions) of Computers.
 Computer hardware.
 Operating systems (their definition and functions).
 Classification of computers
 Computer Problems and Viruses
 Definition of data, information and knowledge.
 Eyad
Alshareef What is Computer
 A computer is a programmable machine.
 general purpose device that can be programmed to
carry out a finite set of arithmetic or logical
operations.
 The first electronic digital computers were
developed between 1940 and 1945 in the United
Kingdom and United States.

See Page # 3
A Computer System (Contd.)

 In general, a computer is a machine which accepts

data, processes it and returns new information as
output.

Processing

Data Information
 Eyad
Alshareef Computer Components

 Hardware
 Software
 Eyad
Alshareef Hardware

 Tangible objects
 The actual machinery, wires, transistors, and
circuits.
9 Devices that comprise a computer system

Monitor Speaker
(output) (output)
System unit
(processor, memory…)

Printer
(output)

Storage devices
(CD-RW, Floppy, Hard
disk, zip,…)
Mouse
(input)
Scanner
Keyboard
(input)
(input)
 Eyad
Alshareef Software

 Computer Programs
 instructions and data 
 Eyad
Alshareef Computer Units

1.Input Unit
2.Output Unit
3.Central processing Unit
4.Memory Unit
5.Mass storage Unit

See Page # 4
 Eyad
Alshareef Computer Units
 Eyad
Alshareef Computer Hardware
 Eyad
Alshareef Input Unit

 used to provide data and control signals to a

Computer.
 Provide data in a form understandable by computer
(Computer Language)
 Main examples Keyboard and mouse
 Eyad
Alshareef Input Unit

1. Keyboard
 has characters printed on the keys and each press
 Different buttons with different types and functions
 To know Keyboard buttons types see page 8 figure 4.
2. Mouse
 is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional
 motion
 Eyad
Alshareef Input Unit
 Eyad
Alshareef Input Unit

 Sample Questions
 What is the main purpose of input Unit.
 List 3 examples of Input Devices
 The main examples of Input devices are
 One of the following is an example of Input devices
 Eyad
Alshareef Output Unit

 used to communicate the results of data

processing carried out by the processing unit.
 converts the electronically generated
information into human-readable form.
 Eyad
Alshareef Output devices Examples

1. A monitor 

 What CRT and LCD stands for?

 Which type is more familiar these days ?

See Page # 9
 Eyad
Alshareef Output devices Examples

2. Printer

 transfers data from a computer onto paper

 Compare between the two main types of printers?
 Eyad
Alshareef Central Processing Unit

 CPU
 known as microprocessor or processor
 It is responsible for all functions and processes
 Eyad
Alshareef CPU Components

 The CPU is comprised of three main parts

1. ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)
2. Control Unit (CU)
3. Registers: Stores the data that is to be executed next.
 Eyad
Alshareef ALU
 which executes all arithmetic and logical operations.
 Arithmetic calculations like as addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division
 Logical operation like compare numbers, letters, or special
characters

 What is the different between Arithmetic and logical operations?

 Eyad
Alshareef Control Unit (CU)

 controls and co-ordinates computer components.

1. Read the code for the next instruction to be executed.
2. Increment the program counter so it points to the next instruction.
3. Read whatever data the instruction requires from cells in memory.
4. Provide the necessary data to an ALU or register.
5. If the instruction requires an ALU or specialized hardware to
complete, instruct the hardware to perform the requested operation.
 Eyad
Alshareef Registers

 Registers are temporary storage areas which are

responsible for holding the data that is to be
processed.
 Are very fast storage area
 Eyad
Alshareef Memory Unit

 Computer Memory is divided into two main types

1. Main Memory (Primary)
2. Secondary Memory

 See figure 8 Page 13

 Eyad
Alshareef Primary Memory

 Main Examples of the primary memory are

1.RAM
2.ROM
 RAM
Eyad
Alshareef

 Stand for Random Access Memory

 responsible for storing data on a temporary basis.
 It is volatile memory

 What volatile means ?

 Why the RAM is considered As “Random Access”?
 Eyad
Alshareef ROM

 Stand for Read Only Memory

 is a permanent form of storage
 Programmed at manufacturing time
 Eyad
Alshareef Secondary Memory

 Stores data and programs permanently

 its retained after the power is turned off
 Main Examples
1. Hard Disk
2. Optical Disk
3. Flash memory
 Eyad
Alshareef Hard Disk

 Called Disk drive or HDD

 stores and provides relatively quick access to large
amounts of data.
 Stores data on an electromagnetically charged
surface or set of surfaces.
 Eyad
Alshareef Optical Disk & Flash

 an optical disc drive (ODD) is a disk drive that uses laser light to

store data.
 There are three main types of optical media: CD, DVD, and Blu-ray
disc

 What is CD, DVD, Blu-ray stand for?

 What is the average capacity for each type?
 Eyad
Alshareef RAM V.s Hard Disk

 What are the differences between RAM as a main

memory and HDD as a Secondary Memory.

 See Table 2 Page 15

 Software
Eyad
Alshareef

 organized collections of computer data and

instructions
 two major categories:
1. system software
2. application software
 Eyad
Alshareef System software

 Known as Operating System

 is responsible for controlling, integrating, and
managing the individual hardware components of a
computer system
 Windows is an example of OS.

 List 3 other example of System Software?

 Eyad
Alshareef Application Software

 is used to accomplish specific tasks other than just

running the computer system.
 Two types
1.software package: single program
2.software suite: multiple program
 Eyad
Alshareef System Software V.s Application Software

 Compare between System Software and application one based

on these factors
1.Definition
2.Examples
3.User Interaction
4.Dependency

See Table 3 Page 17 to checkup your answer

 Eyad
Alshareef Computer Languages
 languages that is used to communicate with computers.
 Two main Types
1. Machine language
 Machine language is referred as the binary language
 machine dependent
2. High level language
 Easy to write and understand (unlike machine)
 It was in 1957 that a high level language called FORTRAN was
developed by IBM
 List some examples of High level language?
 Eyad
Alshareef Unit of Measurements - Storage
Storage Units

Bit BIT 0 or 1

Byte B 8 bits

Kilobyte KB 1024 bytes

Megabyte MB 1024 kilobytes

Gigabyte GB 1024 megabytes

Terabyte TB 1024 gigabytes

 Eyad
Alshareef Unit of Measurements - Storage

 Sample Question

 3MB equivalent to ___________ Byte

 A file with size 3GB required __________ CDs to store it
 Each symbol in a keyboard like ‘A’ required ____________ to
store it?
 Eyad
Alshareef Unit of Measurement -Speed

 The speed of CPU measured by unit called Hertz

(Hz)
 1 Hz represent 1 cycle per second.
 The speed of CPU is known as Computer Speed.
 Eyad
Alshareef Computer Classification

 Computers can be classified by size and power to:

1. Personal computer (PCs)
2. Workstation:
3. Minicomputer
4. Mainframe:
5. SuperComputer
 Eyad
Alshareef Computer Classification
 Compare between the previous type of computers based
on
 Price
 Processing Speed
 Storage Capacity
 Powerful
 Single-user or Multi-user
 Computer Size
 Companies size
 Eyad
Alshareef Laptop computer

 is a portable computer.
 personal computer that can be easily carried and used in a
variety of locations.
 run the same software and applications in PCs
 Eyad
Alshareef Laptop computer

 How is a Laptop Different from a Desktop?

 Touchpad
 Battery
 AC Adapter
 Ports

 See page 22 for more details

 Eyad
Alshareef Netbook Computer

 A netbook is a type of laptop that is designed to be even

more portable.
 Cheaper and less powerful  than laptops or desktops.

 Why its called as Netbook?

 Compare between laptop size and Netbook size?
 Eyad
Alshareef Mobile Devices
 A mobile device is basically any handheld computer.
 It is designed to be extremely portable.
 Some mobile devices are more powerful
 Types:
1.Tablet Computers
2.E-Book Readers
3.Smartphones
 Eyad
Alshareef Tablet Computers

 designed to be portable.
 The most obvious difference is that tablet
computers don't have keyboards or touchpads.
 Best used for tasks like web browsing, watching
videos, reading e-books, and playing games.
 Eyad
Alshareef Tablet Computers
 some of the main features that you can expect with a tablet
computer
1. Mobile OS
2. Solid-State Drives
3. Wi-Fi and 3G/4G
4. Bluetooth

 Give an example of a tablet Computer?

 Give an example of Tablet OS?
 Eyad
Alshareef
E-Book Readers
 called e-readers
 similar to tablet computers, except they are mainly designed for
reading e-books (digital, downloadable books)
 Two Types
1.E-Paper display
2.LCD display

 What is the main difference between these types?

 Give an example of E-book reader?
 Eyad
Alshareef Smartphones

 a powerful mobile phone
 designed to run a variety of applications in
addition to phone service.
 Compare it with the tablet?
 Internet access is an important feature of
smartphones. (3G or 4G)(Wi-Fi Service)
 What a bout PDA?
 Eyad
Alshareef Data, Information and Knowledge

 Data:
 Facts and figures which relay something specific
 but which are not organized in any way and which
provide no further information regarding patterns
 unstructured facts and figures
 Eyad
Alshareef Data, Information and Knowledge

 Information:
 For data to become information, it must be
contextualized, categorized, calculated and
condensed. (Processing)
 it is data with relevance and purpose.
 Eyad
Alshareef Data, Information and Knowledge

 Knowledge:
 Knowledge is closely linked to doing and implies
know-how and understanding.
 Processing Information
 Eyad
Alshareef Data, Information and Knowledge

 Data: symbols
 Information: data that are processed to be useful;
provides answers to "who", "what", "where", and
"when" questions
 Knowledge: application of data and information;
answers "how" questions
 Eyad
Alshareef Data, Information and Knowledge
 Eyad
Alshareef Data, Information and Knowledge

 Processing data produces

information, and processing
information produces knowledge.
 Eyad
Alshareef Characteristics of Computer

1.Speed 
2.Accuracy 
3.Diligence 
4.Storage Capability 
5.Versatility 
List some of computer Limitations?

 See page # 29
 Eyad
Alshareef Computer Problems

1. The Computer Won’t Start

2. The Screen is Blank
3. Abnormally Functioning Operating System or
Software
4. Windows Won’t Boot
5. The Screen is frozen
 Eyad
Alshareef Computer Problems

6. Computer is Slow
7. Strange Noises
8. Slow Internet
9. Overheating
10.Dropped Internet Connections

List one action to solve each of the above problem?

 Eyad
Alshareef Malicious Software

 Viruses:
 E-mail viruses:
 Trojan horses:
 Worms:
 Eyad
Alshareef Viruses

 A computer virus is an application program designed and

written to destroy other programs.
 A virus is a small piece of software that piggybacks on real
programs
 virus might attach itself to a program such as a spreadsheet
program
 and it has the chance to reproduce (by attaching to other
programs)
 Eyad
Alshareef E-mail viruses:

 e-mail virus travels as an attachment to e-mail messages

 Replicates itself by automatically mailing itself to dozens
of people in the victim's e-mail address book.

 How to a void this type of virus?

 Eyad
Alshareef Trojan horses

 simply a computer program

 The program claims to do one thing (it may claim
to be a game) but instead does damage when you
run it

 How this type is different from Viruses?

 Eyad
Alshareef Worms

 A worm is a small piece of software that uses

computer networks and security holes to replicate
itself.
 worm scans the network for another machine that
has a specific security hole.
 Eyad
Alshareef Malicious Software

 How do you know if you have a virus?

 Lack of storage capability
 Decrease in the speed of executing
programs
 Unexpected error messages
 Halting the system
 Tips to avoid viruses and lessen their impact?
Eyad
Alshareef

1. Delete e-mails from unknown or suspicious,

untrustworthy (unreliable) sources, especially
those with files attached to an e-mail.
2. Never open a file attached to an e-mail unless
you know what it is, even if it appears to come
from a friend.
3. Download files from the Internet only from
legitimate and reputable sources.
4. Update your antivirus software at least every two
weeks as over 200 viruses are discovered each
month.
5. Backup your files periodically
 Eyad
Alshareef The End

 Look at chapter Questions Page 34

& 35