Information Technology (IT) Lecture Notes PDF

Information Technology (IT) Assoc.Prof. Ahmed Saeed Agor Electrical Engineering Department Faculty of Engineering References Understanding Computers Today and Tomorrow Comprehensive , 15th Edition , 2016 Discovering Computers Enhanced Tools, Apps, Devices, and the Impa...

Information Technology (IT) Assoc.Prof. Ahmed Saeed Agor Electrical Engineering Department Faculty of Engineering References Understanding Computers Today and Tomorrow Comprehensive , 15th Edition , 2016 Discovering Computers Enhanced Tools, Apps, Devices, and the Impact of Technology, 2017 2 Assessment Methods Name Percentage of grade Student Activities 20% Mid-Term Exam 15% Practical Exam 15% Final Exam 50% 3 Chapter 1 Introduction to the World of Computers rs 4 Learning Objectives 1. Explain why it is essential to learn about computers today 2. Discuss several ways computers are integrated into our business and personal lives. 3. Define a computer and describe its primary operations. 4. List some important milestones in computer evolution. 5. Identify the major parts of a personal computer, including input, processing, output, storage, and communications hardware. 6. Define software and understand how it is used to instruct the computer what to do. Learning Objectives 6. List the five basic types of computers, giving at least one example of each type of computer and stating what that computer might be used for. 7. Explain what a network, the Internet, and the World Wide Web are, as well as how computers, people, and Web pages are identified on the Internet. 8. Describe how to access a Web page and navigate through a Web site. 9. Discuss the societal impact of computers, including some benefits and risks related to their prominence in our society. Overview This chapter covers: – What computers are, how they work, and how they are used – Computer terminology – An overview of the history of computers – The basic types of computers in use today – How to access resources on the Internet – Societal impacts of computers Computers in Your Life Why learn about computers? – Pervasive computing Also known as ubiquitous computing that means the computing can be done using anytime and anywhere. Computers have become an integral part of our lives – Basic computer literacy Understanding what a computer is and how it works Computers in Your Life Before 1980 – Computers were large and expensive – Very few people had access to them – Computers were mostly used for high-volume processing tasks Microcomputers in the early 1980s – Inexpensive personal computers – Computer use increased dramatically Computers in Your Life Today – Nearly 90% of US households include a computer, and most use computers at work – Electronic devices are converging into single units with multiple capabilities Check e-mail on living room television View Internet content on mobile devices – Computer literacy is an essential skill for everyone Computers in Your Life Computers in the Home Computers used for a variety of tasks: – Looking up information and news – Exchanging e-mail – Shopping and paying bills – Watching TV and videos – Downloading music and movies – Organizing digital photographs – Playing games – Making vacation plans  Computers in the Home Wireless networking – Computers can be used in nearly any location Smart appliances – Traditional appliances with built-in computer or communication technology Smart homes – Household tasks are monitored and controlled by a main computer in the house  Computers in Education Computer labs and classrooms – Most students today have access to computers at school – Some schools integrate e-books into the curriculum Wireless hotspots – Colleges and universities are even more integrated – Some have computer requirements for enrollment Distance learning – Students participate from locations other than the traditional classroom setting using computers and Internet access Computers in Education Computers on the Job Computers have become a universal on-the-job tool for decision-making, productivity, and communication – By all types of employees – For access control and other security measures – For service professional use – Extensively by the military – Requires continually refreshing computer skills – Common uses: – Decision making, productivity, off-site communications, and authentication Computers on the Job Computers on the Go Computers are encountered in nearly every aspect of daily life – ATM transactions as any use of an ATM, including to withdraw cash, deposit funds, transfer funds, or check account balances. – POS systems at retail stores (point of sale) is a device that is used to process transactions by retail customers – Self-checkout systems are machines that provide a mechanism for customers to complete their own transaction from a retailer without needing a traditional staffed checkout – Consumer authentication systems as codes generated from the user's smartphone, Captcha tests, fingerprints, voice biometrics or facial recognition – Portable computers or mobile devices – GPS systems  What Is a Computer and What Does It Do? Computer – A programmable, electronic device that accepts data, performs operations on that data, and stores the data – Follows instructions, called programs, which determine the tasks the computer will perform Basic Operations – Input: Entering data into the computer – Processing: Performing operations on the data – Output: Presenting the results – Storage: Saving data, programs, or output for future use – Communications: Sending or receiving data What Is a Computer and What Does It Do?  Data vs. Information Data – Raw, unorganized facts – Can be in the form of text, graphics, audio, or video Information – Data that has been processed into a meaningful form Information Processing – Converting data into information Computer’s History The evolution of computing machinery has taken place over several centuries. The evolution of computers is usually classified into different generations according to the technology of the era. Computer generations First-generation computers (1946-1957) Second-generation computers (1958-1963) Third-generation computers (1964-1970) Fourth-generation computers (1971-present) Fifth-generation (the present and future ) 22 First-generation computers First-generation computers (1946-1957) Enormous and powered by vacuum tubes (an electronic device that controls the flow of electrons in a vacuum) Used a great deal of electricity, and generated a lot of heat ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer) and UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) Second-generation computers Second-generation computers (1958-1963) Used transistors (an electronic component that can be used as an amplifier or as a switch) Computers were smaller, more powerful, cheaper, more efficient, and more reliable Punch cards and magnetic tape were used to input and store data Third-generation computers Third-generation computers (1964-1970) Used integrated circuits (IC) - a small electronic circuit printed on a chip (usually made of silicon) that contains many its own circuit elements (e.g. transistors, diodes, resistors, etc.). Small & medium scale integration (IC) Keyboards and monitors introduced Fourth-generation computers Fourth-generation computers (1971-present) Very large scale integration (VLSI) Use microprocessors IBM PC, apple macintosh Use keyboards, mice, monitors, and printers Use magnetic disks, flash memory, and optical disks for storage Computer networks, wireless technologies, internet introduced Fifth-generation computers Fifth-generation computers (the present and future ) Based on artificial intelligence Uses the ultra large-scale integration (ULSI) technology and parallel processing method. UlSI– millions of transistors on a single microchip 28