Transcript introduction - NYU Computer Science

Chapter 1
What is computer fluency?
The knowledge possessed by people
who are able to navigate the digital world
successfully
NOT THIS
What is a computer?
A machine that, under a program’s
direction, performs four basic operations:
input, processing, output, and storage
What is a program?
A list of instructions that tells a
computer how to perform the four basic
operations
What is input?
Data entered into the computer
system for processing
Electrical impulses representing
words, numbers, images, or sounds
What is processing?
Performing arithmetic or
comparison (logical) operations on
the data
Arithmetic
Logic
4 + 16 =
728 > 546
20
What is output?
Showing the results of the
processing operation in a way
people can understand
What is storage?
Saving the data or output so
that it can be used again later
What are the computer’s physical components?
HARDWARE
Input devices- Enable users to put data into the
computer for processing
Processing circuitry- Components located in
the system’s case that transform data into
information
Output devices- Peripherals that show the
results of processing
Storage devices- Used to hold all the programs
and data that the computer uses
Communication Devices- Used to move data
between computers
What are input devices?
Mouse- pointing device
Keyboard
Microphonespeech-recognition
What are processing devices?
Motherboard
Expansion card
Central Processing Unit- CPU
Random Access
Memory- RAM
What are output devices?
Monitor
Printer
Speakers
Hard Drive
What are storage devices ?
Micro Drive
Floppy Disk Drive
CD / DVD
Drive
Zip Drive
Jazz
Drive
Tape
Drive
What are communications devices ?
Modem
Network Interface
Card- NIC
What are the different types of computers?
Desktop- PC, Microcomputer
Workstation
Supercomputer
Mainframe
Minicomputer
Server
Notebook- Laptop
Personal Digital
Assistant- PDA,
Handheld, Pocket PC
What is software?
Programs that give the computer’s
hardware its step-by-step instructions
What are the different types of software?
System software- All programs that
help the computer function properly
Application software- All the programs
you use to perform a task such as writing
a letter or browsing the World Wide Web
System software
Application software
What is an operating system?
System software that . . .
Coordinates the various functions of the
computer’s hardware
Provide support for running application
software
Provide utility programs for optimizing
computer performance
What are the types of operating systems?
Command-line interface- Users type
instructions at the keyboard, one line at a time.
Examples MS-DOS, PC DOS, UNIX
Graphical user interface (GUI)- Users choose
items from menus by using a pointing device
to click on icons which represent resources
and commands. Examples Windows, Mac OS
Command-line interface
Graphical user interface (GUI)-
What is a software suite?
A collection of full featured standalone
programs that usually share a common
command structure and have similar
interfaces
MS WORD
MS EXCEL
MS ACCESS
MS POWERPOINT
MS FRONT PAGE
What is the internet?
A world-spanning computer network
What are internet services?
Standards and software that make internet
resources, such as Web pages, files and
electronic mail available to users
Electronic mail- (e-mail)
World Wide Web- (WWW)
Electronic commerce- (e-commerce)
File Transfer Protocol- (FTP)
Instant messaging
The
End