Introduction to Information Technology Hardware Software

Introduction to Information Technology

Hardware & Software u HARDWARE - physical parts of a computer system – those parts you can see and touch. Screen/monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, processor box, cables, speakers, modem u SOFTWARE –instructions OR programs that the computer needs to be able to work effectively

TYPES OF SOFTWARE u System/Operating software -manages the hardware and basic working environment of a PC. – Windows XP and Windows Vista – Wordpad/Notepad, Windows Explorer, Outlook Express, Microsoft Paint, Calculator etc – GUI Graphical User Interface

Application Software u Programs for Word Processing, Email, Spreadsheets, Calendar management etc. u Browser Software – Internet Explorer u Microsoft Office or Microsoft Works

Information Flow

The 4 parts of a Computer System INPUT PROCESSING STORAGE OUTPUT

Input Devices Entering data/information into a computer u. Keyboards u. Mouse u. Trackball & Joystick u. Touchpad & Touch screen u. Scanner u. Digital camera/Cam-recorder

Output Devices that transfer data or information from a computer. ØPrinter ØMonitor ØPlotter ØSpeakers, Soundcards & Headphones ØSpeech Synthesizer ØModem

Input & Output Devices ØCombined Printer, Copier & Scanner ØTouch-screen Monitors ØModems ØNetwork cards ØSound Cards ØWebcams

Laser printers Like a photocopier u Uses a toner cartridge which has a longer ‘life’ and are excellent for high volume printing u High quality print & images usually in black and white. Colour print also but very expensive. u More expensive to buy than inkjet but much cheaper to run on an ongoing basis u

Inkjet Printers Uses jets of ink to create the print on a page u Inexpensive to buy but ink cartridges are expensive. u Can easily print black & white & colour. Better for digital photos. u More economical to have separate print cartridges u Print quality not as good in the long-term as laser printers u

Memory u Bit (x 8) u Byte (x 1, 024) u Kilobyte(Kb) (x 1, 000) u Megabyte (Mb) (x 1, 000) u Gigabyte(Gb)

Storage Devices & Capacity u Hard Disk Drive (HDD) 160 - 300 Gb u DVD – R/RW 4. 7 Gb u CD 700 MB u USB Flash Drive 8 Gb - 64 Gb u SD Card 1 GB – 4 Gb+ u Blu ray disc 50 GB u Floppy Disk (1. 4 Mb) & Magnetic Tape both obsolete

Files/Folders/Drives u A File is a piece of work – text, numbers, images or other objects – created and saved on a computer u A folder is an electronic container in which related files and programs are stored on a computer. It can also hold other folders. u A disk drive is a physical storage device in a computer for storing files and folders. A: = floppy drive, C: = Hard disk, D: = CD ROM, E & F = DVD drive

CPU Microprocessor/ Microchip u Located on the motherboard. u Controls the main functions of the computer. The computer’s ‘brain’. u Speed of the processor is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). u Intel Pentium, Dual Core and Core 2 Duo u Processor speeds of 1. 8 – 3 GHz. u Also found in phones, cars, and all digital devices used everyday. u

Memory u RAM (Random Access Memory). ØMain working storage area while a computer is working on a task. ØOnly used while the computer is powered on. Erased when the computer is off. ØThe average size nowadays is 1 Gb or 2 GB of RAM on PC/laptops.

Memory u ROM (Read Only Memory) ØStores information that can only be read and never changed. ØInformation like date/time, how to start up the computer etc. ØMuch smaller than RAM.

Computers in the home u Electronic equipment – Household appliances (microwave, washing machine, dishwasher) TV. Video/Home cinema systems, Burglar alarm, Games (Nintendo, WII etc) u PC’s – games, Internet, household accounts, homework, research, email family & friends – Working from home – Online study & courses

Computers in Business Stock control, accounting, payroll & office work u Production systems in industry u Supermarket stock control, check-out bar code scanners, price checkers, supermarket loyalty cards u Banking – online systems, payments , ATM’s, Credit/Debit card payments & authorization u E-commerce – Business over the Internet u

Computers in Business (cont. ) u Airlines – booking flights, online check-in, seat allocation u Government – revenue-online, motor tax online, agriculture & farming records, census, social welfare etc. Very large scale computer systems for keeping huge volumes of records u Hospitals/Healthcare – patient records, appointments, research, diagnostic & surgical equipment u Education – student records, timetabling, Computer Based Training (CBT), Distance learning, Research, homework

Computer Networks A Network u Where two or more computers are connected together u Provide users with services such as printersharing, file-sharing and E-mail. u Can be connected with cables or wirelessly

LAN & WAN Local Area Network u Connects computers in a small area e. g. home or small office WAN Wide Area Network Connects computers over a wider area – even across the world. Satellite communications u Networked computers can still be used independently u

Connection to an ISP Internet Service Provider A telecommunications company that allows you connect your PC to the Internet e. g. . Eircom, Chorus, BT, Digiweb, Perlico, 3 G, O 2 What do you need ? u Computer u Browser - Microsoft Internet Explorer u An account with an ISP u u Modem Telephone line possibly

INTERNET u u Narrowband Dial-up via the telephone system. Very slow Broadband Can be configured via the telephone lines, wireless or via a cable TV network. ‘Always on’ faster access to the Internet.

ISP Services u Internet u Web etc) Access - broadband or dial-up hosting (web sites, storing photos u Email.

Data Protection Act Data should be kept for one or more specified reasons only. u Data held should not be excessive for the purpose. u Data should not be held for longer than required. u Data should not be disclosed to others for any other reason. u

Data Protection Act (cont) u The company should have adequate security to protect the data held. u Everybody has the right to access, correct or erase personal data held by an organisation about them