Transcript Introduction to Information Technology

Introduction to Information
Technology
Chapter 1
Mind Tools for Your Future
Chapter 1: Key Questions
1.1 How does information technology facilitate e-mail, networks, and
the use of the Internet and the Web, and what is the meaning of
the term cyberspace?
1.2 What are the five sizes of computers, and what are clients and
servers?
1.3 What four basic operations do all computers follow, and what are
some of the devices associated with each operation? How does
communications affect these operations?
1.4 What are three directions of computer development and three
directions of communications development?
What is Information Technology?
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Information Technology(Infotech)
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Computer systems
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Merging computers with high speed communications links
Programmable, multiuser machines that accept data and
processes, or manipulate it into information we can use
Communications systems
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electromagnetic devices and systems for communicating
over long distances
Infotech Examples
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PCs
Telephones
Televisions
Personal digital assistants
Communications – the Plumbing
of Cyberspace
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Cyberspace
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Internet
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Mother of all networks
Over 400,000 smaller networks
World Wide Web
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Part of the Internet
Multimedia format
The Categories of Machines
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Supercomputers
Mainframe computers
Workstations
Microcomputers
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Desktop, tower, laptop, and PDAs
Microcontrollers
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“Smart” appliances & automobiles
Servers & Clients
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Server
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Central computer
Holds databases and programs for clients
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E.g., Web servers and mail servers
Clients
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Linked by wired or wireless network
PCs, workstations, & other devices
How Computers Work?
Processes data into information
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Data – raw facts and figures that are processed into information
Information – data that has been summarized or manipulated for
use in decision making
Uses hardware & software
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Hardware – all machinery and equipment in a computer system
Software – instructions that tell a computer how to perform a task
Operates by performing:
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Input – whatever is put in to a computer system
Processing – CPU processes data into information
Storage – store data/programs in memory and hard disks
Output – the results of processing
Communications - extends the power of the computer
The Basic Operations of a Computer
Input Hardware
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Keyboard
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Converts letters, numbers, and & characters into
electrical signals
Looks like a typewriter keyboard
Mouse - manipulates objects
Processing & Memory Hardware
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Case
Processor chip
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Memory chips
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CPU- the brain
RAM
Motherboard
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Main circuit board
Motherboard
Storage Hardware
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Storage capacity
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Byte – 1 character
Kilobyte – 1000 characters
Megabyte – 1 million characters
Gigabyte – 1 billion characters
Terabyte – 1 trillion characters
Storage Hardware
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Hard disks
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Floppy disks
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storage device that stores billions of
characters of data on a nonremovable disk
platter
stores data on removable 3.5-inch-diameter
diskette
Stores 1.44 million bytes
CD-ROM
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storage device that stores billions of
characters of data on optical disks
Read only
Output Hardware
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Devices that translate information processed
by the computer into human readable forms
Peripheral devices – expands computer’s
input, storage, and output capacities:
Video
card
Sound
card
Monitor
Pair
of speakers
Printer
Communications Hardware
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Modem
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Sends and receives data over telephone lines
Mounted on an expansion card
Telephone line connects from a wall plug into the
back of the computer
Computer Software
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System software
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Performs essential operations
Enables application software to run
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E.g., Windows 95/98/2000, Linux
Application software
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Performs specific tasks
Requires system software
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E.g., Word, Excel, Netscape,
Directions of Computer Development
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Miniaturizations
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Speed
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Transistors
Integrated circuits
Faster
Affordability
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Less expensive
Directions of Communications
Development
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Connectivity
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Interactivity
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Ability to connect computers by communications line
Two-way communication
Multimedia
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Text, pictures, sound, & animation
Computers & Communications
Combined
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Convergence
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Portability
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Portable and smaller
Personalization
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computers, communications, consumer electronics,
entertainment,mass media
Information tailored to personal preferences
Information overload
Ethics & InforTech Concerns
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Speed & scale
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Unpredictability
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great amounts of information can be stored,
retrieved, and transmitted at a speed and on a
scale not possible before
a lot less predictable and reliable
Complexity
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some computer systems are not even understood
by their creators