Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
What is a computer?
It is an electronic device capable of accepting data, processing data, giving out data and or storing it for
future use.
There are four aspects in the definition
Accepting data
Processing data
Storage of data
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
Computers can be classified according to
Size
Processing power
speed
Cost
TYPES OF COMPUTERS
Computers are classified according to size as follows:
PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)
Laptop or Notebook
Network Computer
Mainframe computer
OUTPUT
CPU(PROCESSING)
INPUT
DATA STORAGE
Processing of data
Storage of data
Output-
Is giving out of data from the computer using devices such as screen and printer.
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com
Processing-
Is the changing of raw data into useful information using the processor
Storage-
is the keeping of data for later use on devices such as CDs, DVDs and Hard Disks
Hardwareand screen
Softwarethese are programs which give instruction to the computer hardware and the
computer user
Click-
INPUT DEVICES
Keyboard
Mouse
Joystick
Trackball
Touch screen
Modem
Microphone
Digital camera
Digital video
Light pen
Scanner
Barcode reader
OUTPUT DEVICES
Visual Display Unit (VDU)/Screen/Monitor
Speaker
Printer
Plotter
Actuators
Touch Screen
BASIC COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
Keyboard
Mouse
KEYBOARD
It is a human touch input device
It needs the human hand to press the keys when entering data.
It mostly captures text data (letters, numbers and symbols)
There are five general areas of the keyboard, these are as follows:
Function Keys (labelled from F1 to F12)
The typewriter area (in the QWERTY format.)
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com
THE MOUSE
The numeric keypad (located on the far right side of the keyboard)
The cursor motion
Control keys
It translates the movement of the hand to the movement of an arrow on the screen.
When a mouse pointer is over an icon the mouse buttons can be clicked, double clicked or
dragged to initiate an action.
All devices (Input, output processing and storage devices ) are connected to the CPU
It contains the functional unit (processor) that interprets and carries out instructions.
The job of the processor is to retrieve data or instructions from the memory and perform each
operation.
A processor is made up of two functional units and set of work spaces; that is:
These power buttons have green or blue light indicators that light up showing that power has
been supplied to the device
Once it has been switched on it will automatically start to load the operating system and the first
screen appears
It is the first screen that appears after loading the operating system or booting the computer
Booting the computer is switching on the central processing unit and loading the operating system
My computer folder
Recycle bin
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com
You can also open/create folders, run programs and install programs.
Local disc, compact disc, and flash disc can be viewed from this folder.
Printers and other output devices can be viewed from this folder.
Files deleted from the hard disc are kept in this folder.
Once you empty the recycle bin files are completely lost.
Clicking on this button pops up the menu from which you can select or run every program.
Its function is to display every running program that is allowing task switching provided the
program is running.
CLOCK BLOCK
It is situated on the task bar on the far right side of the task bar.
METHOD TWO
METHOD THREE
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com
Use either the mouse or the appropriate arrow keys to locate MICROSOFT WORD 2007.
Main button
Tool bar
Scroll bar
Working area
Status bar
It provides 6 options.
Maximize.
This is where the name of the program is displayed and also the minimize, the maximize and the
close button are found.
It gives you access to all commands within each menu with a simple key stroke or mouse click.
The Microsoft Word Menu is home, page layout, references and views all.
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com
As each item on the strip menu is selected a drop down list of all the commands on that menu
appears.
TOOL BAR
It is below the menu bar and it contains icons for commonly used functions.
Pointing on a function displays a tool tip.
Pointing over an icon or a tool gives a brief description of each button.
SCROLL BAR
There are two types of scroll bars the vertical and horizontal.
TYPES OF MEMORY
There are two types of Computer memory, namely Primary Memory and Secondary Memory.
Primary memory is known as Internal Memory or Main Memory.
Secondary Memory is held on the hard disk and is used when there is insufficient Primary Memory to hold
all the data or instructions (programmed).
Primary Memory, is made up of semi-conductor memory chips, is found in the CPU on the motherboard.
There are two types of Primary Memory that is, RAM and ROM, with ROM having other versions such as
PROM, EPROM and EAROM.
RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM)
This is the section of memory that is used to store data and programs currently in use.
Any area of this memory can be accessed very rapidly by the user, without the delays associated
with input-output operations involving disk drives.
These types of memory enhance the speed of the computer. Most computers these days have 1 GB
or more of RAM.
All data is transferred from the hard disk to RAM before being displayed on the screen, printed or
altered.
Every keystroke is stored in RAM before being displayed on the screen or stored on a hard disk.
When you open a programme all instructions the computer needs in order to run the programme
are read into RAM.
In the interest of speed, the computer tries to keep the maximum amount of information in the
RAM. This explains why you lose data when there is a power failure. If for example you type a
letter but do not save it to disk the computer can hold the whole letter in RAM.
Since the RAM is volatile as soon as the power is turned off all the information in RAM is lost so
when you switch on your PC again you have to retype the letter.
PROM (for Programmable Read Only Memory). This type of memory can be programmed by the
user and the programmed data is held permanently once programmed.
EPROM (for Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). Just the same as the PROM but this has
an advantage in that it can be erased and reprogrammed but for one to erase it, the EPROM must
be removed from the computer.
EAROM (for Electrical Alterable Read Only Memory). This type of memory can be erased, read and
re-programmed without removing the chip from the computer.
MEASURING MEMORY
How is Information Stored in The Computer?
A byte is a unit of memory in a computer and this byte represents a character which can be
letters, numbers and other punctuation marks.
Bits, or Binary Digits, may have one of two values. These are represented by 0 or 1, true or false,
but will actually be the presence or absence of magnetisation.
What is The Relationship between Bits, Bytes, Kilobytes, Megabytes and Gigabytes?
A bit is the smallest element of data storage. Bits grouped together form bytes. For example when you
type a letter 'a' the computer will understand that as a combination of zeros and ones e.g. 01100001.
The following indicates the relationship between different data units:
1bit = 1 unit of measurement
8 bits = 1 byte (= 1character)
1024(210) bytes = 1 kilobyte
1 048 576 (220) bytes = 1024 Kilobytes = 1 Megabyte
1 073 741 824 bytes = 1024 Megabytes = 1 Gigabyte
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com
In simple terms a Kilobyte = 1000 bytes, a megabyte = 1000 000 and Gigabyte = 1billion bytes
Characters are grouped together to form a word (field).e.g. field names such as First name, Surname,
Age and Residential Address.
Fields grouped together to form a record.
A group of records are stored as a file. For example records can be collected together for people working
for a certain company and then stored on the computer as the file Company Workers.
Directories/ folders are normally created to group a number of related files in one place. Hence files are
grouped together to form a Directory or Folder.
COMPUTER PERFORMANCE
The performance of a computer in terms of processing speed is related to:
Clock Pulse.
Processor Chip Type: The amount of information a computer can hold is dependent on its secondary
memory (Hard Disk) size.
Usually the efficiency of a computer is related to the Processor Chip, with more advanced chips
giving improved performance. The early PC processor chips were known as 8086, 286, 386 and
486. These are all now obsolete, and have all been superseded by the Pentium chip. Hence
Pentium I Pentium II, Pentium III and Pentium IV.
Primary Memory Size: It is also important that the computer has sufficient Random Access Memory i.e.
RAM. If there is adequate RAM, the computer can be fast if configured well, and will be able to run many
programs concurrently without running out of memory. A good office computer should have at least
512MB of RAM.
The combination of a modern Processor chip, sufficient RAM and adequate Hard Disk storage
space will produce good performance.
Another factor affecting performance is the number of programmes or applications running at the
same time. The amount of RAM available on any computer is limited and has to be shared
between applications, the more programs loaded at one time the less RAM each programme has
available.
SOFTWARE
What is software?
Software is a program which gives instruction to the computer hardware and the user.
What is a program?
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com
A Program is a sequence of instructions that tells the computer's processor what to do.
Types of Software
There are two types of Software:
System software
Application software
It is the minimum software that the computer must have for it to be functional.
An Operating System is a program that manages the computer hardware and all other software.
It provides the interface between the application software/programs and the computer hardware.
It is a program that runs first when you switch on your computer and it continues to run in the
back ground.
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows NT Workstation
Windows NT Server
Windows XP Professional
Windows XP Edition
Windows 7
UNIX
Novel
Linux
Macintosh
It directs information to the appropriate destinations. e.g., if you send information for printing, it
is the duty of the OS to direct that information to the chosen printer.
What is booting?
The problems range from word processing, desktop publishing, database management,
calculations, graphic designing and communication.
Word Processor Microsoft Word, Lotus WordPro, AmiPro, Display write, WordPro, Word Perfect,
Word Pad
Desktop Publisher
Spreadsheet
Multimedia
Application Software
Word Processor
Text intensive material e.g. letters, business/ legal documents, and mail
merges.
Repeatable
financial,
scientific
and engineering calculations,
mathematical modelling and simple databases.
Spreadsheet
Desktop Publishing
Computer-Aided
Design For drawing product designs
(CAD)
Computer
-Aided For manufacturing products from CAD Designs
Manufacture (CAM)
Multimedia Authoring
Producing multimedia 'movie files' for animated advertisements games
within web pages or presentations, whole websites, or cinema films.
Presentation
For creating slideshows (successions of multimedia pages), or multimedia
or printed posters.
Data logging
For recording automatically for scientific, engineering and statistical
purposes.
Programming
Writing, compiling and debugging computer programs
Word Processing Software
This type of software is used to produce written material such as letters, memos, reports,
projects and books.
Formatting (choosing the way the document should look by changing line spacing, setting borders,
inserting bullets for highlighting specific points, columns etc).
Justifying (Align left, Centre right and justify across the width of the page)
You can set up headers and footers, information which appear on the top and bottom part of all
pages in that document.
Mail merging: whereby variable details from data file are merged into the same letter to
different people.
INFORMATION NETWORKS
What is Network?
Network is the linking together of computers either by wire cables, fiber optical cables,
microwave links or satellite.
Network of computers allows users to link PCs on their desks together via cables and special
network Operating System.
Network allows computers to share files and programs, use a common printer or modem and share
the internet connection as well.
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com
People can also communicate instantly over a network using programs such as Whinchat or
Microsoft NetMeeting.
TYPES OF NETWORKS
There are two types of Networks: LAN and WAN
The wiring needed for both a WAN and LAN to function is installed and used specifically for that
purpose.
A computer (file) server with NETWORK OPERATING SYSTEM eg Windows NT Server or Windows 98
SE.
A hub is needed and this is the most important part of the network.
The hub brings all PCs together and provides a single connection to a network server or another
hub using wire cables, fibre optical cables, microwave links or satellite.
For a computer to be able to communicate via the telephone system, a modem is needed.
A modem is a device that changes analog (voice) to digital data (binary numerical form)
understood by computers and back to analog understood by telephones.
It is connected between the telephone and the computer and acts then as the go-between in
establishing a communication relationship between a computer and the telephone
What is Digital?
Digital is the representation of data or physical quantities by means of numbers that is 0 and 1 (binary
numbers). Digital quantity is discontinuous and it goes step by step in other words in the form of pulse.
What is analogue?
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com
Analogue is a signal that is continuous. It can take a value in a continuous form within a specified range.
What is E-mail (Electronic Mail)?
This is the transmission of written messages by electronic means via a computer network.
TYPES OF E-mail ACCOUNTS
Computer based e-mail Account there is an initial configuration needed to receive mail from a
Service provider. Once configured and the user has the required equipment one can send and
receive mail for the cost of a local call.
Most Web based accounts are free, and one can access the mail anywhere, at any time, as long as
the computer is connected to the internet. You can get a free e-mail address from the following
web sites:
www.yahoo.com
www.doramail.com
www.hotmail.com
www.ireland.com
A computer that is connected to the internet or Cell phone that is connected to the internet.
Savings in postage and telephone costs since one is charged at local call rates when sending and
receiving email.
It is very fast and allows multiple addressing. The same letter can be sent to several different
people at the same time.
The recipient does not have to be present to receive mail. Messages are stored at the ISP and can
be retrieved at any convenient time.
One can join servers and news groups include Eudora, Microsoft outlook Express, Microsoft
Outlook 2000 and Netscape Messenger.
THE INTERNET
It is a huge international network made up of smaller network that are linked together like a
spider web.
A computer
Phone line
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com
An Internet browser program (the two main browsers are internet Explorer and Netscape
Navigator)
Electronic Mail
File Transfer
Current Information
Discussion Groups
Virtual Classroom
Downloads
Collaborative Learning
Entertainment
Breaking News
On-line Shopping
Google.com
Excite
AltaVista
ProFusion
Inference
For Entertainment. E.g. playing games. These are internet-based computer games which allow
users to complete against other players who might be anywhere in the world.
Watching Television: using TV card and listening to the radio using radio using Radio card.
Watching Films from DVD and videos on CDs using DVD Drive.
For storing family photographs, where these have been taken with a digital camera.
Communicating with others abroad, having chat sessions with a friend abroad, sending e-mails.
The same computer can be used by children to do homework and also for remedial purposes using
Educational Software, such as EduSoft Everyday Mathematics, Microsoft Encarta.
You can practice Teleworking, working at home while accessing all the information you need on
company's computer and sending information to the office (other employees) using electronic
mail.
Reading your bible: There are now computerised Bibles one can install in a computer and it is easy
to use.
COMPUTER AT WORK
Computers offers a means for making employees more efficient, and so the world of commerce
computerises to gain competitive advantage.
Job seekers who know how to use a computer will have a distinct advantage over computer
illiterates
In many offices the typewriter has been displaced by the word processor.
Accounting packages e.g. pastel, have been developed for accounting purposes.
Payroll packages help in the administration of payrolls and annual tax returns
Spreadsheets programs are now being used in most companies for financial and what-if analysis.
Database management systems have been developed to keep company information e.g.
information about every employee.
In industry Computer Aided Design has been introduced as a product designed tool, and robots are
being used to do simple repetitive tasks, e.g. the welding jobs on production lines that used to be
done by human beings. The robots are computer controlled and can work 24hrs a day without
losing concentration and hence boost company production. A robot arm can average one weld per
second.
In some hotels the use of ordinary keys is being phases out with the introduction of plastic cards,
which you just need to insert and remove for the door to open. Some companies have also used
the same technique for their staff to enter and leave the company premises.
E-business is"electronic business" using the internet for both business to business and business to
customer transactions. This will allow the organizations to communicate more efficiently with
both suppliers and customers, and facilitate improvements in chain management and customer
relationship management.
Airlines rely on computers for bookings/ticket sales. These systems enable a travel agent
anywhere in the world to check on seat availability. e.g. It only takes a few minutes to book a
flight from Harare to Rio de Janairo via London.
COMPUTERS IN EDUCATION
In education computers are being used from kindergarten to university, in both administrative and
educational functions.
For Administrative purposes school computers are being used as follows:
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com
Students can now do collaborative learning with other students anywhere in the world and can
also have internet group discussions.
Using some educational software the teacher becomes a facilitator rather than the source of
information. New School versus Old School, because in the old school teachers used to be the
centre of all knowledge but in the new school students can find information from other sources
like t he internet and share it with the teacher.
Simulators are software designed to give student a better visualisation of a real biological process
or phenomenon, without using the real biological or chemical material.
There is no fast and slow learner because the student can learnt on his own at his/her own pace.
The learner has the freedom to repeat as many times as he/she wants.
The combination of text, video, sound, pictures and animation can improve the rate of
assimilation. This is the concept of multimedia.
The program is also designed in such a way that it monitors student progress and gives feedback.
The computer can only instruct and not teach or rather educate, because education or teaching
goes as far as the sentiments of the person.
It is dependent on technology.
Students cannot ask questions, but can only follow what is given.
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com
The customer will enjoy faster service at the checkout till. If the scanner is not working the
numbers can be punched in by the shop assistant.
The store will use the sales information to re-stock according to demand, there will be fewer
stock-outs.
An itemised receipt shows the name of a purchased product, the quality and the price.
Customers pass through the check points more quickly with fewer errors.
Goods are not priced individually but have only one code number which when processed will
determine a price.
In some large supermarkets, bar code readers are available so that the customer can check the
price of a product before going to the till point.
In addition, the amount the cheque has been made out for is captured when the cheque is presented for
payment/.
ATMs (Automatic Teller Machine)
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com
The use of ATMs or cash dispensers has removed the need to rush to the bank before it closes. ATMs work
24 hours a day, so money can be deposited or withdrawn at anytime of the day. These ATMs are computer
terminals connected to the central computer and the records are kept there.
What do I do to obtain Cash from ATMs?
Insert your Bank card into the slot. (A welcome message appears)
Choose the service you want, or simply press the button next to the amount you want and wait.
The card used to withdraw the money is plastic with a magnetic stripe similar to a credit card (Visa or
MasterCard). The magnetic stripe is coded with the following data:
Card holders account number
The PIN Personal Identification Number. For security reasons, do not write this on the card or
divulge to anyone.
The sort code
The card holders withdrawal limit
The amount withdrawn so far that day.
How does electronic funds transfer work?
When one withdraws money from an ATM that amount is electronically removed from the amount and the
new balance is set. This is known as the Electronic Funds Transfer because money is transferred
electronically.
When one pays for shopping using a bank card, that payment is transferred electronically from the
customers account to the supermarkets account. This transfer of funds is called EFTPOS (Electronic
Funds Transfer Point Of Sale)
What is Online Banking?
This is telephone based banking where customers can make bank transactions using the telephone or
mobile phone or computer, using numbers to give instructions to the Bank Computer.
With this technology you can pay bills, get balances, move money from one bank to another. Some banks
are also offering banking services through the internet where one can use the keyboard for
communication.
How are Computers Being Used In Hospital?
The introduction of computers in hospitals has helped both the administrators and the doctors.
The following are some of the uses of computers in hospitals:
For keeping patients records in a patient database to allow easy entering and retrieval
information.
With mail merge technologies it is now easy to send reminders to patients.
Computerized equipment is used in intensive care wards to monitor patients, with heartbeat,
temperature, pressure, and movement sensors inputting critical data from the patient.
Databases are created with details of patients requiring transplant surgery and in the event of
transplant organs belonging available; these can be matched quickly to an appropriate patient.
Doctors are now able to view a cross section of any body organ without cutting by using CAT
technology. CAT means Computer Axial Tomography ( a technology allowing the doctors to have an
image of a cross section view of an organ of the body).
Mothers can now be told the abnormalities or baby deformations before birth and proper
preparations can be made. This is scanning technology.
Most medical research is now computerized.
How Are Computers Being Used In Government?
The uses of computers in this area are numerous and some have already been mentioned under other
headings. A few uses include:
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com
In offices there is now the concept of office automation, which means almost every task is now
computerized, for example account ledgers and books have become computer based spreadsheet
accounting packages. Document storage and retrieval have now replaced manual filling.
The use of typewriters has seen to change with the introduction of word processing packages.
Basic phones have become digital and are being used to send mail at a faster speed, and for call
conferencing.
Computers have also helped physically handicapped people; e.g. teaching material can now be
printed in Braille for use by the blind. Computer control systems that allow voice recognition have
helped those without hands to give voice commands for doors, lights and alarms.
Computers can help to connect people who are physically confined with the outside world and to
keep in touch with others.
With computers anyone can communicate abroad at the cost of a local telephone call.
Do not use other peoples diskettes unless you first check for viruses.
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com
Ensure that there are no cds or dvds, or flash disk connected to your computer before boot up the
your machine.
Avoid opening up Spam electronic mail messages which advertise offers cash winning, free
holidays etc
User Licenses
This license is the official or legal permission about the particular software.
You need to read carefully the license information so that you do not misuse the software. For example if
your user license may be said to accommodate 10 users, if you exceed this you are violating the
manufacturers rights.
Data Protection Act
The following are the principles of the Data Protection Act, which is intended to protect the data
collected on personal matters. These are necessary because they protect our personal data from being
misused. Privacy is all that we look forward to. Imagine yourself not being able to get insurance or a
credit facility because some company which was holding your data decided to disclose it to some
company which was holding your personal data decided to disclose it to some other company. Imagine
yourself losing compensation because a company had wrong information.
The points below will try to protect you from all these risks.
It
King.mubaiwa@gmail.com/yahoo.com