Intro. to Computer Applications

• Instructor: Blase B. Cindric

• Mount Union College

• Spring Semester, 2002

• MWF 12:00 noon - 12:50 pm

• KHIC 112

What is a Computer System?

• System– a group of related components working

together to solve some problem

• Computer System– a system with a computer acting as a major

component

Components of all Computer Systems

• Hardware– actual machines that make up the computer

• Software– also called programs or applications– instructions for the hardware to follow

• Data– raw material to be processed by system

Components of all Computer Systems

• Personnel– Users– Support Staff (programmers, help desk, etc.)– Management

• Documentation– instructions for personnel to follow– users manuals, help screens, etc.

Computers are General-Purpose Problem Solving Devices

• Software determines the specific problem to be solved

• Different programs cause the machine to act as a different device

• Data and keystrokes have various meanings in different programs– trend: uniform user-interface structure (menus,

hot keys, etc.)

Typical Microcomputer Applications

• Word Processing– computer acts as a text manipulating device

(fancy typewriter)

• Spreadsheet– computer as pencil, paper and calculator

• Database Management– computer as electronic filing cabinet

Typical Microcomputer Applications

• Data Communications– computer as communications agent– Local-Area Networks– The Internet (e-mail, World-Wide Web, etc.)

• Presentation Graphics– computer as multi-media slide-show projector

• Software Development– programming language– how new software is created

Essential Aspects of Computing Process

• Input– data moves from outside world into computer hardware

• Processing– computer converts raw input data into results

• Output– results of processing sent back to outside world

• Storage– data and results stored in computer-readable format

Hardware Devices

• Input Devices– Keyboard, Mouse, Microphone, Scanner, ….

• Processing Devices– CPU, Memory chips

• Output Devices– Screen, Printers, Speaker, Robot Arm, ….

• Storage Devices– disks, CD-ROM, CD-RW, ….

Programming Languages

• Input Commands

• Processing Commands– add, multiply, etc.

• Output Commands

• Storage Commands– save, open, retrieve, etc.

Intro. to Computer Applications

• Instructor: Blase B. Cindric

• Mount Union College

• Spring Semester, 2002

• MWF 12:00 noon - 12:50 pm

• KHIC 112