Chapter 1: Introduction to Information Technology PDF

CHAPTER-01 **1.1 INTRODUCTION INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY?** The merging of computers and communication is called Information Technology. IT is a technology that merges computing with high-speed communication links carrying data, sound, image, graph, and video. Computers and communication are the paren...

CHAPTER-01 **1.1 INTRODUCTION INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY?** The merging of computers and communication is called Information Technology. IT is a technology that merges computing with high-speed communication links carrying data, sound, image, graph, and video. Computers and communication are the parents of the information age. It manages a network of computers. Creating WEB Pages, producing videos, selling, buying, and performing any type of business activity on the Internet. For example, telephones, radio equipment, and switches are used for voice communication. Managing video conferencing etc. Through the Internet, you can communicate with any computer user having an internet connection anywhere in the world. **1.2 Components of Information Technology:\ Data Resources, Human Resources, Hardware Resources, Software Resources, and Telecommunication Resources** **1-Data Resources** Data are the raw facts and figures that are unorganized and are processed to generate information. Software is used for organizing and serving data to the user and managing physical storage of media, and virtual resources. Software needs data for processing. Data can take many forms, including Text data, Audio data, video data, voice data graphics, and image data. **2-Human Resources** The most important, component of information systems is the human element. The people that are needed to run the system and the procedures they follow so that the knowledge in the huge databases and data warehouses can be turned into learning that can interpret what has happened in the past and guide future action. The personnel include System Analysts, Programmers, Data entry operators, and Data processing officers. **3-Hardware Resources** This is the physical technology that works with information. Hardware can be as small as a smartphone that fits in a pocket or as large as a supercomputer that fills a building. Hardware also includes the peripheral devices that work with computers, such as keyboards, external disk drives, and routers. **4-Software Resources** The Software consists of programs whose purpose is to communicate with computer. The hardware needs to know what to do, and that is the role of software. Software can be divided into two types: system software and application software. The primary piece of system software is the operating system, such as Windows or iOS, which manages the hardware\'s operation. Application software is designed for specific tasks, such as handling a spreadsheet, creating a document, or designing a Web page. **5-Telecommunication Resources** Telecommunication resources connect the hardware to form a network. Connections can be through wires, such as Ethernet cables or fiber optics, or wireless, such as through Wi-Fi. A network can be designed to tie together computers in a specific area, such as an office or a school, through a local area network (LAN). If computers are more dispersed, the network is called a wide area network (WAN). The Internet itself can be considered a network of networks. **1.3 Advantages Electronic Data Processing Systems** The main advantage of EDP systems is that they enable the rapid processing and analysis of large volumes of data. EDP tools also reduce the cost of paper document management and storage as they remove the need for physical storage locations, printing, couriering, etc. Many EDP tools support user-friendly document search and streamline business workflows. Users can collaborate on projects and track the status of data. They can gain useful insights for their specific requirements in a format that makes the most sense to them. EDP tools reduce the need for manual effort and also minimize the presence of redundant or bad data, which enables better enterprise decision-making. **1.4 Definition Computer System.** A computer is an electronic device that can accept the input data, process the data, and give the result of the process data according to instructions. OR A computer is a system, of interrelated, interacting components that perform the basic function of input, processing, output, storage, and control. There are three basic computer components; Input, CPU, and Output. **1.5 Basic Components of a Computer System** **1.5.1. INPUT DEVICES** An input device is any hardware component that allows you to enter data and instructions into a computer. Five widely used input devices are the keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, and Webcam. **1.5.2. OUTPUT DEVICES** An output device is any hardware component that conveys information to people. Three commonly used output devices are a printer, a monitor, and speakers. **1.5.3. MEMORY DEVICES**\ \ **Memory Devices (Primary Memory)** is the place where the computer program and data are stored during processing. This memory is a temporary storage unit for data, instructions, and information. The storage unit is often called either main storage or internal storage or primary storage. There are usually two types of primary memory/storage. **a) RAM: -** It stands for Random-Access-Memory or read/write Memory because information can either be read from or written to the RAM. RAM is called volatile or semiconductor memory. This is the memory whose information can be erased or changed. It is a temporary memory. Anything stored in RAM is lost when the computer is switched off. **b) ROM: -** It stands for Read-Only-Memory. Information can be read from ROM but we cannot write information in it. This is the memory whose information can not be changed. The information stored in it cannot be lost if we turn off the computer. ROM is used to store permanent programs. This information is available on small pieces of the memory called chips. It is also called non-volatile memory or semiconductor memory. **1.5.4. Secondary storage/Memory devices** Secondary storage is a memory that is stored external to the computer. It is mainly used for the permanent and long-term storage of programs and data. Hard Disks, CDs, DVDs, Pen/Flash drives, SSDs, etc., are examples of secondary storage. **1.5.5 Processing Device (Micro Processor)** A Microprocessor is an important part of a computer architecture without which you will not be able to perform anything on your computer. It is a programmable device that takes in input performs some arithmetic and logical operations over it and produces the desired output. In simple words, a Microprocessor is a digital device on a chip that can fetch instructions from memory, decode and execute them, and give results. The Micro Processor is the collection of two units. **i) Control Unit (CU)** The Control Unit is the nerve center of the computer. It controls all activities of a computer system. The control unit directs and coordinates the entire Computer System in carrying out Program instruction. It accepts data from an input device and sends it to the memory. From the memory, the data are then transferred to ALU, and send the result to the output unit. **ii) Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)** This is the calculation section of the computer. All arithmetic operations like addition subtraction, multiplication, and division as well as some logical operations are performed in this section. It consists of two units. a-Arithmetic Unit and b-Logic unit **a-Arithmetic Unit** The arithmetic unit of the ALU performs basic arithmetic functions as addition such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. **b-Logic Unit** The logic unit of the ALU performs logical operations like comparing two data items to find which data item is greater than, equal to, or less than the other. **1.6 Definition and Type of Computer Software with Examples SOFTWARE** Software is a set of instructions that tells a computer what to do. Software is a written computer program or a series of instructions. Software is a program that allows the hardware to perform a useful work. Without software, hardware is quite useless. Software is the communication between user and the computer. There are two types of software 1. System software 2) Application Software **1.6.1 SYSTEM SOFTWARE** System Software is a group of programs that controls all the operations of a computer. It controls the usage and allocation of different hardware components. It enables other application programs to execute properly. System software is the type of software, which makes better & effective utilization of the entire computer System. System Software serves as an interface between systems, networks, hardware, and the application programs of end users. The person preparing system software is called System Programmer & the process is called System Programming. The development of the Compiler, Operating System, etc. For example, Operating Systems, utilities, device drivers, and Network Management Programs. **1.6.2-Application Software** Application Software is a type of software that is used to perform different tasks for users. It is used to perform different tasks such as a word processor, a spreadsheet or database, etc. An application is the job or task a user wants the computer to do. Application software enables you to perform different tasks, solve problems, and perform work. The person preparing the application software is called the application programmer. For example, software developed for the PAYROLL of employees and programs for maintaining of personal records come under this category. **1.7 Proprietary Software, Free and Open-Source Software** Microsoft Office Suit, Google Application, Open Office **Proprietary Software** Proprietary software is software which is owned by an individual or company. It\'s therefore subject to copyright laws, and only the author or owner has control over its development. Producing proprietary software provides a clear business model the owners sell their product and make money. Proprietary software is available only after buying the proper license of the software. Moreover, it has proper copyright and license. The users can only use the software and that too under certain predefined conditions. **Examples of proprietary software include:** Windows and OS X operating systems. Microsoft Office productivity suite, Adobe Creative Suite productivity software, Logic music creation software, and paid-for games for consoles. **Free Software** **What is Free Software?** It means the software is freely accessible, free to use, changed, improved, copied, and distributed without any payments. Popular examples of freeware include Adobe Reader, Free Studio, and Skype. **OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE** **What is open-source software?** Open-source software is software with source code that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance. \"Source code\" is the part of software that most computer users don\'t ever see; it\'s the code computer programmers can manipulate to change how a piece of software \"program\" or \"application\" works. Programmers who have access to a computer program\'s source code can improve that program by adding features to it or fixing parts that don\'t always work correctly. **FREE AND OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE** **What is free and open-source software?** Open-source software is software in which the source code is also available along with the software. Moreover, the users have the right to view, modify, and enhance this code. Furthermore, no license is required for the software. The software can be cost-free or chargeable. [Free and open-source software (FOSS)] is a term used to refer to groups of software consisting of both free software and open-source software where anyone is freely licensed to use, copy, study, and change the software in any way, and the source code is openly shared so that people are encouraged to voluntarily improve. **Microsoft Office Suit** **What Is Microsoft Office Suite?** Microsoft Office is the collective name for Microsoft\'s set of home and business productivity software. The MS suite of programs includes Microsoft Word, a word processing tool; Microsoft Excel, a spreadsheet program; Microsoft PowerPoint, used for creating interactive presentations; Microsoft Outlook, used for email and calendar management; Microsoft Access, a database management program; and Microsoft OneNote, a note-taking application. Microsoft Office programs have become the de facto standard for many of the categories of programs it includes, especially word processing and spreadsheet use. Microsoft Office Suit costs thousands. **Microsoft Office Suite Versions** The latest stand-alone version of Microsoft Office is Office 2016. Newer versions of Microsoft Office software can normally open files created in older versions and save files in formats accessible by older versions, though some formatting and other settings can be lost when working with multiple versions. Microsoft Office is available for the Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS operating systems, and some of the Office suite is available for phones and tablets running Google\'s Android operating system, Microsoft\'s Windows 10 Mobile system, and Apple\'s iOS. **Google Application** The most popular Google apps for business include Gmail, Calendar, Google Drive, Hangouts, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Keep, Currents, App Maker, and Search. At Google, we use open source to innovate and we release open source to share our innovations. We encourage you to browse through our featured projects to find work to use, share, and build on! Android is an open-source operating system for mobile devices and a corresponding open-source project led by Google. Android is Google\'s most recognizable open-source project, but it\'s far from the only one. Chromium the browser technology powering Google Chrome is also open source, as is Chromium OS, Google\'s web-based operating system. **OPEN OFFICE** **What is OpenOffice?** OpenOffice is a free office suite. It includes a word processor (Writer), a spreadsheet (Calculation), a presentation program (Impress), and a vector drawing program (Draw). OpenOffice is available on a variety of platforms. It runs on Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X, Solaris and Windows. OpenOffice file formats are considerably smaller than MS Office files. **Differentiate between OpenOffice and Microsoft Office** 1\. MS Office is used more than OpenOffice. 2\. OpenOffice is free of cost nothing, MS Office is not free. 3\. Open Office comes only in a single version. On the other hand, MS Office has many versions, such as Professional, Home, and Student. 4\. OpenOffice offers support for all MS Office document formats. However, only the new MS Office supports the Open Office documents. 5\. Older MS Office versions, like MS Office 2003, had a menu-based system that was similar to Open Office. Today, MS Office uses a ribbon-like interface. 6\. Updates in Open Office are free whereas it is not freely available to MS Office. 7\. Open Office Impress is better than MS PowerPoint