Slide 1 Computer Confluence 7/e Chapter 0 Basics © 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Computer Confluence 7/e

Chapter 0

Basics

© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Computer Confluence 7/e Chapter 0Objectives

Describe the basic parts of a PC and how they work together

Explain the relationship between hardware and software

Use a keyboard and mouse to enter and edit text

Explain how files are organized within a PC


Computer Confluence 7/e Chapter 0

Objectives (continued)

Explain how the Internet extends the functionality of a PC

Describe some of the risks of Internet use and how to minimize them

Use a Windows PC or Macintosh to explore the Computer Confluence CD-ROM

Use a Windows PC or Macintosh to explore the Computer Confluence Web site



Human Dreams and Dream Machines Steve Roberts hit the road on Winnebiko

A recumbent bike equipped with a laptop and solar panel Each day, he connected to the CompuServe network

using pay phones he transmits magazine articles and book chapters

Years later Roberts was exploring America on BEHEMOTH (Big Electronic Human-Energized Machine . . . Only Too Heavy),

$1 million bike with seven networked computers and wireless communication capability



Human Dreams and Dream Machines Patricia Walsh lost her sight at 14 but not sight of her dreams

Her PC could talk using text-to-speech software, but it had nothing to say about scientific graphs and charts

Fortunately, Walsh met John Gardner, a blind physics professor at Oregon State University Gardner was developing tools to make math and science accessible to

visually impaired people: Tiger Tactile Graphics and Braille Embosser printed equations,

formulas, and graphs as raised patterns that could be read by touch

Using this technology, Walsh could once again “see” the figures that were critical to her studies in the e-mails from her professors


Computer Confluence 7/e Chapter 0 PC Basics

PC Hardware BasicsBuilt around a tiny microprocessor that controls the

workings of the systemThis central processing unit, or CPU, is usually housed in a box

Serves as command central for the entire computer system

The CPU is the brains of the computerControls the operation of the core computer components

Peripheral devices (peripherals): external devices connected via cables to the system unit



System unit includes built-in memory( RAM) and a hard disk CPU uses memory for instant access to information Hard disk serves as a longer-term storage device

Stores large quantities of informationA permanent fixture in the system unit



Removable media: disks that can be separated from their drivesMost popular types are 5-1/4 inch optical disks

Look like common audio CDs

A typical PC system unit includes some other kind of optical drive CD-ROM drive enables the computer to read audio CDs and CD-ROMs CD-RW drive can read CDs and also write, or burn, information onto CD

media A DVD drive can read (and sometimes burn) DVD movies and high-

capacity data DVDs as well as audio and data CDs



Diskette drive (also known as a floppy disk drive) enables the computer to store small amounts of information on pocket-sized, plastic-covered magnetic diskettes

Internal drives: included in the system unitExternal drives: attached to the system unit via cables A PC system might include:

An external hard disk for additional storage A USB keychain flash memory device for accessing small amounts of

storage



Portable storage that can be shuttled easily between multiple PCs DVD/CD-RW drive for reading and writing CDs and DVDs

Other system unit components, such as: video display card sound card network interface card modem,

communicate with external devices, with other computers, and with networks




CD-ROM drive

diskette drive

Keyboard

Monitor

Mouse


Using a Keyboard



Entering, Editing, and Formatting Text

Work on a word processing document using standard PC techniques and tools:

As you type, your text is displayed on screen and stored in RAMScreen appearance is the same as the printed version – WYSIWYG

Tools:Clipboard – stores text from Cut or Copy of text Find and Replace – for making repetitive changes

Formatting:Change the way the words look on the pageAdjust the size and shape of the text to achieve a certain look



Using a Mouse

Clicking the mouseDragging the mouseOther mouse operations

Double click Right click



PC Software BasicsCPU is controlled by software—instructions that tell

it what to do System software: takes care of behind-the scenes

detailsIncludes the operating system (OS)

The operating system determines what your screen display looks like as you work and how you tell the computer what you want it to do

Most PCs today use some version of the Microsoft Windows operating system; Macintosh computers use some version of Apple’s Mac OS



PC Software Basics

Application programs (applications): software tools that enable you to use a computer for specific purposes

Document: a file created by an application, regardless of whether it has actually been printed

Applications and documents are two different types of files File: a named collection of data stored on a computer disk or some

other storage medium Applications contain instructions that can be executed by the computer

Sometimes called executable files Documents contain passive data rather than instructions

Sometimes called data files



File Management Basics In Windows and the Mac OS, a file is represented by a name and

an icon Extension—a string of (usually) three characters

Follows a period (.) at the end of the file name Gives more information about the file’s origin or use

Files can be organized into collections using folders (directories) Operating system allows you to:

create folders, give them meaningful names, and store documents and other files inside them

Folders can be organized hierarchically—a folder can contain other folders, which in turn can contain still more folders



File Management Basics Modern operating systems include Search and Find

commands that can help find files no matter where they might be stored on a system Search for file names, or for words or phrases inside a document

A wide range of multimedia activities are supported These are the largest files: videos, songs, or images Reducing file size is key to managing storage – the process is called

Compression

Back-up of information ensures that crucial data is not lost



File Management Basics



PC Network BasicsComputers can be connected to a network

Direct connection: a cable connects computer to another computer or device close by

Remote access connection: used when computer isn’t physically close to the network

Using a modem, a remote computer can connect to a network through an ordinary phone line

Network can be connected to other networks Connected through cables, wireless radio transmissions, or other means

The Internet: an elaborate network of interconnected networks Dramatically changing the way people work



Internet BasicsUsing the Internet, you can:

Study material designed to supplement this book, including late-breaking news, interactive study aids, and multimedia simulations that can’t be printed on paper

Send a message to people, around town or around the world, and receive replies almost as quickly as the recipients can read the messages and type their responses

Explore vast libraries of research material, ranging from classic scholarly works to contemporary reference works, and get medical, legal, or technical advice from a wide variety of experts

Listen to live radio broadcasts from around the world



Internet Basics Participate in discussions or play games with people all over the globe who

share your interests Download free software or music clips from servers all over the world onto

your computer Order a custom-built computer, car, or condominium Track hourly changes in the stock markets and buy and sell stocks based on

those changes Take a course for college credit from a school thousands of miles away Publish your own writings, drawings, photos, and multimedia works so that

Internet users all over the world can view them Start your own business and have a worldwide clientele



World Wide Web BasicsThe World Wide Web (WWW) makes the Internet

accessible to people all over the planet Includes a wealth of multimedia content accessible through simple

point-and-click programs called Web browsers Made up of millions of interlinked documents called Web pages A collection of related pages stored on the same computer is called a

Web site Each Web page has a unique address

Referred to as a URL (uniform resource locator) For example, the URL for this book’s home page is

http://www.computerconfluence.com



World Wide Web Basics

At the heart of the Web is the concept of hypertextUsing a Web browser, you can jump from one Web page to another by

clicking hyperlinks (often called just links)—words, pictures, or menu items that act as buttons

Browsers have Back and Forward buttons Most browsers include tools called bookmarks or favorites for

keeping personal lists of memorable sites



Web Search BasicsSearch engines are used to locate information on the Web

Built around a database that catalogs Web locations based on contentSome search engines use researchers to organize and evaluate Web sitesOther search engines use software to search the Web and catalog information automatically

Directory or subject tree: a hierarchical catalog of Web sites compiled by researchers Used to repeatedly narrow a search The search engine at Yahoo! is probably the best-known example of this

technique: http://www.yahoo.com/



E-mail BasicsWhen you sign up for an e-mail account, you receive:

A user name (sometimes called a login name or alias) A storage area for messages (usually called a mailbox)

Sign up for accounts through your school, your company, or a private Internet service provider (ISP)



E-mail BasicsAny user can send a mail message to anyone else, regardless of

whether the recipient is currently logged in —connected to the network The message will be waiting in the recipient’s inbox the next time he or

she launches his or her e-mail program and logs in An e-mail message can be addressed to one person or hundreds of people Most e-mail messages are plain text, without the kinds of formatting and

graphic images found in printed documents E-mail messages can carry documents, pictures, multimedia files, and

other computer files as attachments



Internet Security Basics Despite its wonders, the Internet can be a dangerous placeOnce you connect a computer to a network or the Internet,

you dramatically increase the risk that your system will be compromised in some way

The most common form of Internet-based security risk is probably spam, or junk mail Most e-mail programs now include spam filters

Viruses are a more sinister e-mail problemAnother problem on the Internet is password theft A wider but related issue concerns identity (ID) theft



Lesson SummaryPCs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they’re

all made up of two things—the physical parts of the computer, called hardware, and the software instructions that tell the hardware what to do

A computer’s operating system software takes care of details of the computer’s operation; application software provides specific tools for computer users

PCs can be networked to other computers using cables, radio waves, or other means; a computer can also connect to a network through standard phone lines using a modem



Lesson Summary (continued)The Internet is a global network of computer

networks used for education, commerce, and communication

The most popular Internet activities are exploring the World Wide Web and communicating with electronic mail

A Web browser is a PC application that provides easy access to the World Wide Web

Search engines serve as indices for the Web, locating pages with subject matter that matches keywords



Lesson Summary (continued)

Electronic mail is the most popular Internet application and enables almost instant communication among Internet users; some e-mail systems can be accessed through Web browsers

The Internet is not without risks; Internet users must be prepared to deal with unsolicited (and often unsavory) e-mail, computer viruses, identity theft, and other risks


Slide 1 Computer Confluence 7/e Chapter 0 Basics © 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc.

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Transcript of Slide 1 Computer Confluence 7/e Chapter 0 Basics © 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc.