PURC109

IT AND COMPUTER
FUNDAMENTALS

By
Charles Baah
What is this course about?
The Introduction to Computing module introduces
students to components of a computer system,
Information Technology, Computer appreciation,
operating systems and application software
typically used in office environment. This covers
the Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access,
Internet access, E-Mail usage and Windows
operating system. Emphasis is on training students
to acquire practical hands-on skills with the usage
of the computer to carry out office work.
CBAAH-PUIT101-V2
Course learning outcomes

Students upon completing this module are expected to be

able to:
 Appreciate Computer Hardware & Software

 Identify changing trends in Computing

 Provide Computer Security and Control

 Use the computer to perform tasks in

 Microsoft Word
 Microsoft Spreadsheet
 Microsoft Power Point
 Understand Computer Network concepts and Internet
environment. CBAAH-PUIT101-V2
How is it assessed?
 Approved summative assessment for this course
is:
 End-of-semester examination
 Interim Assessment
 Continuous assessment
 Approved formative assessment (pass/fail):
 College assembly
 Class attendance
 Mentorship attendance

CBAAH-PUIT101-V2
 1.0 Introduction to Computers
 History

 Types

 Components

 Using the Computer

1.1 History
 Counting/Mechanical/Electronic machines
 Circuitry and Power usage - Vacuum tubes,

Transistor, Microchips
 Charles Babbage (Difference engine)

 Physical size/Weight - ENIAC, 30 feet by 50

feet, “contained 17,468 vacuum tubes, It weighed

30 short tons (27 t), was roughly 8.5 feet by 3
feet by 80 feet as compared with Handheld PC
 Tasks performing
1.2 Types of Computers
 Super Computer
 Mainframe, Mini

 Server

 PC/Workstation

 Laptop

 Tablet

 Smartphone
1.3 Components of a Computer
 A computer is an electronic device which with the
aid of a specific set of instructions, accepts data,
stores the data, process it and displays or transfers
the results.
 A computer consists of Hardware and Software.
 Hardware -> Accept (Input), Store (Storage/Memory),
Process (Processor) and Display (Output).
 Software –> Set of instructions (Program).
 Note: Firmware is a device with an inbuilt
software.
1.3.1 Hardware
Any physical
component of a
computer is called
Hardware.
There are 4 main
types: Input,
Output,
Storage/Memory,
Processor
1.3.1.1 Input Devices
Input devices put data into computer:
 Keyboard

 Mouse

 Scanner

 Touch Pad

 Modem (Internal/External) Joystick

 Microphone

 WebCam

 Stylus
 1.3.1.2 Output Devices
Input devices put data into computer:
 Printer (Ink/Desk/Bubble jet, Laser, Dot-matrix)

 Speed - Pages Per Minute (PPM), e.g. Mono 16ppm,

Col. 14ppm
 Resolution – Dots Per Inch (DPI) e.g., 9600x2400dpi.
 Monitor

 Screen type – Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) or Liquid Crystal

Display (LCD)
 Speaker

 Modem (Internal/External). Can also be considered as an

input device.
1.3.1.3 Memory/Storage
 Computer stores data using either Memory or Storage.
Memory – generally, stores temporarily; Storage, Permanent
Calculating Storage Space/Capacity
 Bit: Bit stands for Binary Digit and it is the smallest unit of

computer data. It is either 0 or 1.

 Byte: Byte is the unit of computer storage and it consists of 8

bits. One character is considered to be equal to one byte.

 1 Kilobyte is 1024 Bytes, about one thousand bytes.

 1 Megabyte is 1024 Kilobytes, about one million bytes.

 1 Gigabyte is 1024 Megabytes, about one billion bytes.

 1 Terabyte is 1024 Gigabytes, about one trillion bytes.

 1 Petabyte = ? Note: Computer Kilo = 210

Memory
This is the primary storage of the computer.
 ROM (Read Only Memory) - Required to start the

computer.
 RAM (Random Access Memory) – Primary Storage

of the computer.
 Volatile, i.e., stores temporarily, because contents are
lost when there is power outage.
 Very fast. The bigger the size, the faster the computer
may be. E.g., 8GB or more.
Memory - Types of RAM
SDRAM (Synchronous
dynamic random
access memory)

DDR (Double Data

Rate)

CBAAH-PUIT101-V2
Storage
 This is the secondary storage of the computer. All
storage devices store information permanently.
The following are different types of storage:
 Storage Continued
Hard Drive. Also known as Hard Disk.
 Is the Fastest. Is read/write.

 Stores the Operating System and Application

Programs. Can be Internal or External.

 SCSI/IDE/SATA

Stiffy/Floppy Drive
 Slowest. Read/write. Typical size of 1.44 MB.

 It’s original purpose is to allow one to transfer

information from one computer to another.

Obsolete, although they are still in use.

 Storage Continued
CDROM and CDRW Drive
 Faster than Stiffy and DVDs but slower than

Hard Drives.
 Stores far more than Stiffy but less than DVDs

and Hard Drives. A typical size is 650 MB.

 CDROM –Read Only. CDRW-Read/Write.

 CDs were intended to replace Stiffy in

transferring information from one computer to

another.

DVDROM/RW Drive
 Like CDs but stores far more than CDs.

 A typical size is 4.7 GB.

 Storage Continued
Tape Drive
 Faster than Stiffy but slower than Hard

drives.
 Is read/write.

 Used to back up entire system. Stores

large amount of pictures and audio files.

Flash Drive
 Faster than Stiffy but slower than Hard

drives.
 Is read/write.
1.3.1.4 - Central Processing Unit (CPU)

 Performs all the processing work.

 Considered to be the brain of the
computer.
 Has ALU and CU
 Examples are from Intel and AMD. Intel:
Pentium 1 to 4 and Celerons. Currently,
speeds are in GHz. The bigger the better.
E.g., 2.0GHz or more.
 Dual Core, Core 2 Duo, Quad Core - i3,
i5, i7
1.3.2 Software
 Software is a program. A program is a set of
instructions required to perform a given task.

 There are 2 main types. Application and System

Software.
 Application software is a program required to
perform a mundane task like composing a letter.
Examples are:
Software Continued
 Word Processing – editing text (e.g., Microsoft Word and
WordPerfect)
 Spreadsheet – manipulating figures (e.g., Microsoft Excel,

Lotus 1-2-3)
 Desktop Publishing – for manipulating text and graphics. (e.g.,

Microsoft Publisher).
 Database Management System (DBMS) – managing data.

(e.g., Access, SQL Server, Oracle).

 Presentation – for presentations (e.g., PowerPoint)

Some Application Software come as Integrated Packages which

consists of 2 or more Application Software. A typical example
is Microsoft Office which consists of Word, Excel and other
software.
Software Continued
 System Software. System Software is a set of programs
required for a particular hardware to function. E.g.,
Programming Language, Device Driver or Operating System.
 Programming Language – A computer program used
to develop other programs including operating systems.
(e.g., C, C++, Java and Visual Basic.
 Device Driver – A program required for a hardware to
function. E.g., a modem software.
 Operating System is a special type of System Software that
communicates with Application Software and the Hardware. It
is normally referred to as System Software.
Software Continued
Some of the functions of operating system include:

 File Management, e.g., Save, Open, Delete,

Rename, Copy files or folders.

 Communication with device drivers. A device

driver allows a particular device, e.g., printer to
communicate with the operating system and
application software.
Software Continued
 File Security
Access Level, Privileges
 NOTE: Without an Operating System you cannot

use (operate) the computer.

Examples of Operating Systems include:

 DOS (Disk Operating System), Windows 95, 98,

ME, 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 7, 8, Server 2012,

Linux, Netware, Mac OS.
2.0 Using the Computer
 Starting and shutting down the computer
 Using the Mouse
 Click, Right-Click, Double-Click, Scroll, Drag/Move
 Learning the Windows Interface
 Desktop, Icons, Window, Menu, Ribbon, Controls
 Using the Keyboard
2.1 Starting/Shutting down a Computer

 Booting - Cold and Warm

 BIOS – Basic Input Output System
 POST – Power On Self Test
2.2 Using the Mouse
 Click
 Right-Click
 Double-Click
 Scroll
 Drag/Move
2.3 Learning the Windows Interface

 Desktop
 Window
 Menu
 Ribbon
 Controls
2.3.1 Desktop
2.3.2 Window
2.3.3 Menu

► Opens a sub-menu (i.e.,

another menu)
● The item is enabled. To
disable, choose another
item in the group.
 The item is enabled. To
disable, click on it to remove
the check mark.
… Opens a dialog box.
2.3.4 Ribbon
2.3.5 Controls
2.4 Using the Keyboard

Source:Wikipedia