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• Students should only attend lectures and assessments in their own classes, labs, and sections to have their marks considered; otherwise, it could lead to failure.
• Calculators are not allowed in exams.
• It is essential to learn about computers today due to their integration into business and personal lives.
• A computer is a programmable, electronic device that accepts data, performs operations on that data, and stores the data or results as needed.
• Important milestones in computer evolution should be noted
• The major parts of a personal computer, including input, processing, output, storage, and communications hardware, should be identified.
• Software should be defined as the instructions computers use to perform tasks
• Understanding how software programs the computer is essential.
• The five basic types of computers should be listed with examples of their common uses.
• Basic computer literacy needed includes understanding the many ways computers are used every day
• Looking up information and news are common uses of computers
• Exchanging email is a common use of computers

Computer Basics

• A computer is a programmable electronic device that accepts and processes data.
• Computers operate following instructions called programs.

Computer Basic Operations

• Input involves entering data into the computer.
• Processing involves performing operations on the data.
• Output involves presenting the results, or information.
• Storage involves saving data, programs, or output for future use.
• Communications include sending or receiving data.

Data vs. Information

• Data consists of raw, unorganized facts that can be in text, graphics, audio, or video form.
• Information is data that has been processed into a meaningful form.
• Information processing is converting data into information

Computer Users

• Computer users, also known as end users, use a computer to obtain information.

Computer Professionals

• Programmers write programs for computers.
• Systems analysts design computer systems.
• Computer operations personnel manage day-to-day computer operations.
• Security specialists secure computers and networks against hackers.

Computers: Then and Now

• The modern computer is a fairly recent invention.
• Precomputers, early computers existing before 1946, include the Abacus (a slide rule, mechanical calculator
• Herman Hollerith's Punch Card Tabulating Machine and Sorter was used to process the 1890 U.S. Census data.
• The history of computers is often categorized into generations, each defined by a major technological development.
• This history can be referred to in terms of generations of computers
• Each new generation is characterized by a major technological development

First-Generation Computers (1946-1957)

• First-generation computers were enormous and powered by vacuum tubes.
• These computers used a great deal of electricity and generated a lot of heat.

Second-Generation Computers (1958-1963)

• Second-generation computers used transistors.
• The second generation computers were smaller, more powerful, cheaper, more energy-efficient, and more reliable than first generation computers.
• Punch cards and magnetic tape were used for data input and storage.

Third-Generation Computers (1964-1970)

• Third-generation computers used integrated circuits (ICs).
• Keyboards and monitors were introduced.

Fourth-Generation Computers (1971-Present)

• Microcomputers were invented in the early 80s.
• Microprocessors are used
• IBM PC and Apple Macintosh were prominent.
• Keyboards, mice, monitors, and printers come into wide use:
• Magnetic disks, flash memory, and optical disks provided storage.
• Computer networks, wireless technologies, and the Internet developed.

Fifth Generation, Now and Future

• Fifth-generation is in its infancy.
• Fifth generation has no precise classification.
• Fifth generation may be based on artificial intelligence (AI).
• Voice and gesture controls are being developed
• Fifth Generation is based on optical computers and nanotechnology.

Computer Hardware

• Hardware comprises the physical parts of a computer

Internal vs External Hardware

• Internal hardware is located inside the system unit.
• External hardware is located outside the system unit and connects via wired or wireless connections.
• Hardware is associated with all five computer operations:
• CPU means Central Processing Unit.
• RAM means Single Inline Memory Module
• HDD means Hard Disk Drive

Hardware - Input Devices

• Input devices are used to input data into the computer.
• Keyboards, mice, scanners, cameras, microphones, joysticks, touch pads, touch screens, and fingerprint readers are input devices

Hardware - Output Devices

• Output devices present results to the user.
• Monitors, printers, speakers, and projectors are output devices

Hardware - Processing devices

• Processing devices Perform calculations and control the computer's operations
• The central processing unit (CPU) and memory are processing components

Hardware - Storage Devices

• Storage devices Store data on or access data from storage media
• This includes Hard drives, CD/DVD discs and drives, USB flash drives

Hardware - Communication Devices

• Communications devices Allow users to communicate with others and to electronically access remote information
• Modems and network adapters are Communication Devices

Software

• Software refers to the programs or instructions used to tell the hardware what to do. Traditionally, software purchased on CDs, DVDs, or downloaded from the Internet needs to be installed on a computer before use.

System Software

• System software encompasses the programs that allow a computer to operate
• The main system software is the operating system.
• Windows, OS X, and Linux, Android, iOS are common desktop operating systems

Application Software

• Application software (apps) is programs that enable users to perform specific tasks
• Common tasks are Writing letters or playing games, creating letters, preparing budgets, managing inventory and customer databases, playing games, watching videos

Six basic computer types

• Embedded computers
• Mobile devices
• Personal computers
• Midrange servers
• Mainframe computers
• Supercomputers

Embedded computer

• Embedded into a product and designed to perform specific tasks or functions for that product
• These cannot be used for general purpose
• Household appliances, thermostats, sewing machines and cars have embedded computers

Mobile devices

• Mobile devices A very small device with some type of built-in computing or Internet capability
• Mobile devices are Typically based on mobile phones
• Mobile devices Typically have small screens and keyboards
• Smartphones, Handheld gaming devices, portable digital media players are examples of mobile devices

Personal computers

• A small computer designed to be used by one person at a time
• Desktop computers fit on or next to a desk
• Desktop computers can use tower case, desktop case, or all-in-one
• Desktop computers can be PC- compatible or Macintosh
• Desktop computers are Not designed to be portable
• Desktop computers come in tower cases,desktop cases and all in one cases
• A small personal computer, such as a notebook or tablet computer, that is designed to be carried around easily
• A fully functioning portable computer that opens to reveal a screen and keyboard; also called a laptop computer.
• Tablet computer. A portable computer about the size of a notebook computer that is designed to be used with a digital pen or touch input.
• Hybrid notebook-tablet computer. A portable computer designed to function as both a notebook and a tablet computer.
• A small notebook computer that is designed primarily to access Internet applications and resources.

Midrange servers

• A medium-sized computer used to host programs and data for a small network
• Users connect via a network with a computer or dumb terminal

Mainframe Computers

• A Powerful computer used by several large organizations to manage large amounts of centralized data
• Mainframe Computers are the Standard choice for large organizations, hospitals, universities, large businesses, banks, government offices
• Mainframe computers are usually Located in climate-controlled data centers
• Companies connect the rest of the company computers via a network to the mainframe
• Mainframe computers tend to be Larger, more expensive, and more powerful than midrange servers
• Mainframe computers usually Operate 24 hours a day
• Also called high-end servers or enterprise-class servers

Supercomputers

• Fastest, most expensive, most powerful type of computer
• SupercomputersGenerally run one program at a time, as fast as possible
• Supercomputers are Commonly built by connecting hundreds of smaller computers, supercomputing cluster
• Used for space exploration, missile guidance, satellites, weather forecast, oil exploration, scientific research, complex Web sites, decision support systems, 3D applications, etc

Big Data

• Big data is a term for data sets that are so large or complex
• Traditional data processing application software is inadequate to deal with big data
• Key enablers for the growth of “Big Data” are increased storage and processing capacities, and availability of different data types.

Four V's of Big Data

• Volume: Huge data size, terabytes - petabytes
• Variety: Various data sources (social, mobile, M2M, structured and unstructured data)
• Velocity: High speed of data flow, change and processing
• Veracity: Various levels of data uncertainty and reliability

Internet of Things

• Internet of Things (IoT) comprises things that have unique identities
• These things are connected to the Internet.
• IoT allows these things to communicate and exchange data (control & information).
• IoT is a new revolution in the capabilities of the endpoints that are connected to the internet.
• The potential benefits of IoT are improved preformance, reduced costs, creation of innovative service and new revenue streams