Element 3Element 3

Identify information Identify information technology equipmenttechnology equipment

LEARNING OUTCOMESLEARNING OUTCOMES

• 1. Clearly identify the information 1. Clearly identify the information technology equipment/software and technology equipment/software and operating system supported by the operating system supported by the organization.organization.

• 2. Accurately identify equipment, 2. Accurately identify equipment, location and service requirements location and service requirements according to organizational according to organizational requirements.requirements.

IDENTIFY INFORMATION IDENTIFY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY

EQUIPMENT/SOFTWARE AND EQUIPMENT/SOFTWARE AND OPERATING SYSTEMOPERATING SYSTEM

• As an employee of an IT organization As an employee of an IT organization it is important to be aware of the it is important to be aware of the type of equipment and software that type of equipment and software that are in use as these will be your ‘tools are in use as these will be your ‘tools of the trade’. of the trade’.

Computer - a programmable electronic machine that:

• takes in data and instructions (input)

• works with the data (processing)

• puts out information (output)

EquipmentEquipment

IT equipment may include but is not IT equipment may include but is not limited limited

to: to: • Personal computerPersonal computer• Network systemsNetwork systems• Attached PeripheralsAttached Peripherals

Personal computer - A small, relatively inexpensive computer designed for an individual user. Businesses use personal computers for word processing, accounting, desktop publishing and for running spreadsheets and database management applications.

Network systemsNetwork systems

There are many types of computer networks, There are many types of computer networks, including: including:

LocalLocal-area networks (LANs) -area networks (LANs) - The computers - The computers are geographically close together (that is, in are geographically close together (that is, in the same building) the same building)

WideWide-area networks (WANs) -area networks (WANs) - The - The computers are relatively far apart and are computers are relatively far apart and are connected by telephone lines or radio waves. connected by telephone lines or radio waves.

CampusCampus-area networks (CANs) -area networks (CANs) - The - The computers are within a limited geographic computers are within a limited geographic area, such as a campus or military base.area, such as a campus or military base.Network Systems - A group of two or

more computer systems linked together.

Attached PeripheralsAttached Peripherals

Peripherals are devices, such as a CD-ROM drive printer, mouse, keyboard, printer, monitor, external Zip drive and scanner, fax machines that are attached to the computer and are used either for input or output.

Specialized equipmentSpecialized equipment

• Certain organizations may require specialized Certain organizations may require specialized computer equipment that you should be aware computer equipment that you should be aware of and be able to identify, for instance:of and be able to identify, for instance:

Type of Type of OrganizationOrganization

Specialized Specialized EquipmentEquipment

Sales and ServiceSales and Service Point of Sale Point of Sale machinemachine

Call CentreCall Centre Routers, SwitchesRouters, Switches

SoftwareSoftware

• Software is the collective term used to Software is the collective term used to describe computer programs. A describe computer programs. A program uses a set of instructions program uses a set of instructions that tells the computer what to do. that tells the computer what to do. Software is often divided into two Software is often divided into two categories: categories:

• Systems software Systems software • Applications softwareApplications software

System SoftwareSystem Software

• This describes the computer This describes the computer programs that control the hardware programs that control the hardware device and ensures that they work device and ensures that they work together effectively and efficiently. together effectively and efficiently.

• It includes the operating system and It includes the operating system and all the utilities that enable the all the utilities that enable the computer to function. computer to function.

Application SoftwareApplication Software

This describes the programs that allow the This describes the programs that allow the computer to be used, so that it can perform computer to be used, so that it can perform a specific function. a specific function.

For example, an accounting application For example, an accounting application allows the computer to be used to record allows the computer to be used to record accounts receivable and accounts payable accounts receivable and accounts payable transactions.transactions.

Examples of applications software include Examples of applications software include

word processing,word processing,

Software can also be highly specialized and be Software can also be highly specialized and be

specific to certain types of organization such as: specific to certain types of organization such as:

Type of Type of OrganizationOrganization

Specialized SoftwareSpecialized Software

AccountingAccounting Peachtree Accounting, AccPacPeachtree Accounting, AccPac

Web developmentWeb development

EducationalEducational

Dream weaver, Microsoft Dream weaver, Microsoft FrontPageFrontPage

Timetabling software, Online Timetabling software, Online Educational SoftwareEducational Software

Operating SystemOperating System

• Operating System Operating System – is the most important – is the most important program that runs on the computer. program that runs on the computer.

• Every general purpose computer must have Every general purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs.an operating system to run other programs.

• Operating systems perform basic tasks such Operating systems perform basic tasks such as recognizing input from the keyboard, as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.such as disk drives and printers.

• For large systems, such as those found For large systems, such as those found in an IT organization, the operating in an IT organization, the operating system has even greater responsibilities, system has even greater responsibilities, functioning somewhat like a traffic cop functioning somewhat like a traffic cop by ensuring that different programs and by ensuring that different programs and users running at the same time do not users running at the same time do not interfere with each other. interfere with each other.

• The operating system is also responsible The operating system is also responsible for security, ensuring that unauthorized for security, ensuring that unauthorized users do not access the system.users do not access the system.

The table below describes two The table below describes two types of operating systems:types of operating systems:

Command Line Command Line Operating SystemsOperating Systems

Graphical User Graphical User Interface Operating Interface Operating SystemsSystems

Unix, MSDOSUnix, MSDOS Windows (98 – XP), Windows (98 – XP), Macintosh OSMacintosh OS

NOTE: Although they all look alike, there are some differences between operating systems.

You should be aware of which operating system is running on your computer.

It is also very important to distinguish between the Operating System and Applications Software.

IDENTIFY EQUIPMENT, LOCATION IDENTIFY EQUIPMENT, LOCATION AND SERVICE REQUIREMENTSAND SERVICE REQUIREMENTS

• Organizations may have standardized on certain Organizations may have standardized on certain computing solutions, depending on their type of computing solutions, depending on their type of workflow. workflow.

• There will very likely be a computer network installed There will very likely be a computer network installed across the organization's site or sites.across the organization's site or sites.

• Therefore there will be a location for Servers that is Therefore there will be a location for Servers that is usually off-limits to anybody except for IT personnel. usually off-limits to anybody except for IT personnel.

• As a member of the IT team, it is your responsibility As a member of the IT team, it is your responsibility to know not only where these sites are, but also to know not only where these sites are, but also where each piece of equipment is located. where each piece of equipment is located.

• The organization’s fixed asset register will contain The organization’s fixed asset register will contain these details.these details.

• Your company may have established Your company may have established guidelines and schedules for servicing guidelines and schedules for servicing equipment or it may simply follow the equipment or it may simply follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. manufacturer’s recommendations.

• Whichever documentation is available; Whichever documentation is available; you must refer to it and put the you must refer to it and put the necessary procedures in place to make necessary procedures in place to make it work. it work.

• If no guidelines exist, you may want to If no guidelines exist, you may want to take the initiative and develop your own take the initiative and develop your own which you should get vetted before which you should get vetted before implementing.implementing.

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS

Why is it necessary to service equipment? What are the service requirements for a PC? What is a peripheral? What is a computer? What is a network system? State and define the different categories of

software. Give 3 examples for the different categories of

software. What is a personal computer?