ICT And Multimedia Introduction

Understanding Computers: Today UNDERSTANDING
and Tomorrow is an introduction to COMPUTER:
computers and related technologies,
as well as how they are employed in Today And Tomorrow
today's world. It will provide you a Introductory
thorough introduction to computer
principles and terminology, as well as Prepared by:
a solid foundation for any future
courses you may take on computers Anis Syuhada Binti Bonandar
or their applications in today's 6 Al -Farabi
world.
030220-01-0890

INVOLVEMENT OF COMPUTERS IN YOUR LIFE

Computers are now used in almost every part of most people's life, including at home, school,
work, and on the go. The following sections give an overview of the importance of computers
as well as some of the most typical computer-related activities that people face on a daily
basis.

COMPUTERS AT HOME

As computers and Internet access have gotten less
expensive and an expanding number of online
consumer activities have become available, home
computing has increased considerably in recent
years. At home, people use the Internet to seek up
information, send e-mail, shop, watch TV and
videos, download music and movies, research
products, and pay bills, among other things.

Many people use their home computers for job-
related duties, such as reviewing work-related
papers. The computer is becoming a fundamental
aspect of home entertainment as the Internet,
wireless technology, and gadgets such as laptops,
televisions, digital video recorders (DVRs), and
gaming consoles continue to combine. Wireless
networking enables the usage of computers in
nearly any location, as well as the wireless
transmission of both online and offline content
from one device to another.

COMPUTERS FOR EDUCATION

Most children and teenagers today have been exposed
to computers and related technology throughout their
lives. The majority of today's students have access to
computers at school. Some schools have fully integrated
computers into the curriculum. Today, students at all
levels are use using a computer to some extent as part of
their regular education, such as for writing papers,
practicing skills, conducting Internet research, and
presenting presentations, and some universities even

need computer for an enrollment.

COMPUTERS ON JOB

Computers were first utilized as research
tools for computer professionals and
scientists, and then as office productivity
aids. Today, all types of employees in all
types of enterprises use computers,
including corporate executives, retail store
clerks, travelling sales, artists, engineers,
and others. In essence, the computer has
evolved into an all-purpose tool for
decision-making, productivity, and
communication on the workplace.

Many businesses and organizations use
computers for access control, such as
authentication systems that allow only
authorized individuals to enter an office
building, punch in or out of work, or access
the company network via an access card or a
fingerprint reader.

COMPUTERS ON THE GO

In other elements of daily life, most people
come into contact with and use various sorts of
computers. In retail establishments and other
public places, for example, people frequently
utilize consumer kiosks such as ATM
machines, ticketing systems, and checkout
systems.

Furthermore, many people carry a portable
computer or mobile device with them on a
regular basis in order to stay in touch with
others electronically and access information
as needed while on the go. These handheld
gadgets are also frequently used to listen to
music watching Netflix and scrolling media
social.

WHAT DOES A COMPUTER DO AND WHAT IS THE PURPOSE?

A computer is a programmed, electronic device that accepts data, performs operations on it,
displays the results, and stores the data or results as necessary. The fact that the computer is
a programmable that means a computer will do whatever the instructions. The programs
used with a computer determine the tasks that computer can perform.

There are four operations that can describe this definition is referred as input, processing
output and storage.

THE FOUR OPERATIONS ARE:

Input Entering data into
Processing computer
Performing
Output operations on the
Storage data
Presenting the
result
Saving data,
programs, or
output for future
user

DATA VS INFORMATION: INFORMATION

DATA Information is frequently generated in
order to answer a specific query, such as
A user enters data into a computer, which how many employees at a restaurant work
is subsequently processed by the computer. less than 20 hours per week, how many
Such as, the words in a letter to a friend, the tickets are available on a specific aircraft
numbers in a monthly budget, the visuals from Los Angeles to San Francisco, or
in a photograph, the notes in a song, or the what is Hank Aaron's career home run total.
facts in an employment record, can all
become computer data

HARDWARE

Input device An input device is any piece of equipment that
is used to input data into the computer. The
Processing input devices are keyboard, mouse, and
Devices microphone. Other common input devices
Output devices include scanners, digital cameras, digital pens
and styluses, touch pads and touch screens and
fingerprint readers.

The main processing device for a computer is the central processing unit (CPU).
The CPU is located inside the system unit and performs the calculations and
comparisons needed for processing. it also controls the computer’s operations.
An output device accepts processed data from the
computer and presents the results to the user, most
of the time on the display screen (monitor), on
paper (via a printer), or through a speaker.

Storage Devices Storage devices are used to store data on or access data from storage media. Some
storage hardware includes both a storage device and storage medium in a single piece
Communications of hardware. Storage devices are used to save data, program settings, or output for
Devices future use. They can be installed inside the computer, attached to the computer as an
external device, or accessed remotely through a network or wireless connection.
Communications devices allow users to communicate electronically with others and to
access remote information via the Internet or a home, school, or company computer
network. A variety of modems and network adapters are available because there are
different types of Internet and network connections

SOFTWARE

System The programs that allow a computer to operate are collectively referred to as
Software system software. The main system software is the operating system, which starts
up the computer and controls its operation. Common operating system tasks
include setting up new hardware ,allowing users to run other software, and
allowing users to manage the documents stored on their computers. Without an
operating system, a computer cannot function.

Application Application software includes programmed that enable people to perform specific
Software tasks on computers, such as writing letters, preparing budgets, managing
inventory and customer databases. The operating system is used to start the
application software.

COMPUTERS TO FIT EVERY NEED

Small computers embedded in consumer products, pocket-sized mobile devices that perform
a limited number of computing tasks, powerful and versatile desktop and portable computers
found in homes and businesses, and super powerful computers used to control the country's
defense systems are all examples of computers available today.

Computers are divided into six groups based on their size, capability, and price.

Embedded computers tiny computers embedded into products to perform specific
functions or tasks for that product.

Mobile devices mobile phones, small tablets, and other small personal

devices that contain built-in computing or Internet
capabilities.

Personal computers fully functioning portable or desktop computers that
Midrange servers are designed to be used by a single individual at a
time.

computers that host data and programs available to a
small group of users.

Mainframe computers powerful computers used to host a large amount of

data and programs available to a wide group of
users.

Supercomputers extremely powerful computers used for complex
computations and processing.

COMPUTER NETWORKS AND THE INTERNET

A computer network is a group of computers and other devices that are linked together to
allow users to share hardware, software, and data as well as communicate electronically.

There are many different sizes and types of computer networks.

Home networks used to allow home computers to share a single printer and Internet connection,
Office networks as well as to exchange files.

School enable workers to access company records stored on a network server,
networks communicate with other employees, share a high-speed printer, and access the
Interne

allow students and teachers to access the Internet and school resources, and large
corporate networks often connect all the offices or retail stores in the corporation,
creating a network that spans several cities or states.

Public networks provide Internet access to individuals via their portable computers and mobile
devices
mobile telephone networks provide Internet access and communications
capabilities to smartphone users.

THE INTERNET VS THE WORLD WIDE WEB

THE INTERNET THE WORLD WIDE WEB

The Internet is the largest and most well-known A collection of documents called Web pages are
computer network in the world. It is technically available through the Internet. A group of Web
a network of networks since it consists of pages belonging to one individual or company is
thousands of networks that can all access each called a Web site. A collection of documents
other via the main backbone infrastructure of the called Web pages are available through the
Internet. Individual users connect to the Internet Internet. A group of Web pages belonging to one
by connecting their computers or other devices individual or company is called a Web site. A
to servers belonging to an Internet service wide variety of information is available via Web
provider (ISP) Millions of people and pages, such as company and product information,
organizations all over the world are connected to government forms and publications, maps,
the Internet .The most common Internet telephone directories, news, weather, sports
activities today are exchanging e-mail messages results, airline schedules, and more. Web pages
and accessing content located on Web pages. are viewed using a Web browser, such as Internet
While the term Internet refers to the physical Explorer.
structure of that network

Accessing a Network or the Internet

To access a local computer network (such as a home network, a school or company network,
or a public wireless hotspot), you need to use a network adapter (either built into your
computer or attached to it) to connect your computer to the network. With some computer
networks you need to supply logon information (such as a username and a password) to log
on to a network .Once you are connected to the network, you can access network resources,
including the network’s Internet connection.

Most Internet connections today are direct connections, which means the computer or other
device being used to access the Internet is continually connected to the ISP’s computer.
With a direct connection, you only need to open your Web browser to begin using the
Internet. To request a Web page or other resource located on the Internet, using internet
addresses.

The most common types of Internet addresses:

IP addresses & domain IP addresses and their corresponding domain names are used to
addresses identify computers available through the Internet. IP addresses are
numeric, such as 207.46.197.32 ,and are commonly used by
URLs computers to refer to other computers. A computer that hosts
(Uniform Resource Locator) information available through the Internet such as a Web server
hosting Web pages usually has a unique text-based domain name such
as microsoft.com that corresponds to that computer’s IP address to
make it easier for people to request Web pages located on that
computer.

URL uniquely identifies a specific Web page including the protocol
or standard being used to display the Web page, the Web server
hosting the Web page, the name of any folders on the Web server in
which the Web page file is stored, and the Web page’s filename, if
needed
the most common Web page protocols are Hypertext Transfer
Protocol (http://) for regular Web pages for secure Web pages that
can safely be used to transmit sensitive information, such as credit
card numbers.

E-mail addresses To contact people using the Internet, you most often use their e-mail

addresses. An e-mail address consists of a username, followed by
the @ symbol, followed by the domain name for the computer that
will be handling that person’s e-mail.

BENEFIT AND RISKS A COMPUTER-ORIENTED SOCIETY

BENEFIT RISKS

The capability to virtually design, Security Issues
build, and test new buildings ,cars, One of the most common online security risks
and airplanes before the actual today is your computer becoming infected with a
construction begins helps malware program, such as a computer virus.
professionals create safer end
products. Malware often causes damage to the infected
computer ,such as erasing data or bogging down
Technological advances in the computer so it does not function well. It can
medicine allow for earlier also be used to try to locate sensitive data on your
diagnosis and more effective computer.
treatment of diseases than ever
before. Privacy Issues
Some individuals view the potential risk to
Documents and photographs can personal privacy as one of the most important
be e-mailed or faxed in mere issues regarding our networked society. As more
moments, instead and more data about our everyday activities is
of taking at least a day to be collected and stored on computers accessible via
mailed physically. the Internet, our privacy is at risk because the
potential for privacy violations increases.

Differences in Online The Anonymity Factor Information Integrity
Communications
Being anonymous gives While much of the information
There is no doubt that e-mail many individuals a sense of is factual, other information may
and other online freedom, which makes them be misleading, biased, or just
communications methods feel able to say or do plain wrong .As more and more
have helped speed up both anything online. This sense of people turn to the Web for
personal and business true freedom of speech can be information, it is crucial that
communications and have beneficial .For example, a they take the time to determine if
made them more efficient as reserved individual who the information they obtain and
you spend more and more might never complain about a pass on to others is accurate.
time communicating online, poor product or service in There have been numerous cases
you will probably notice person may feel comfortable of information intended as a joke
some differences between lodging a complaint by e- being restated on a Web site as
online communications mail. fact, statements being quoted out
methods and traditional of context.
communications methods
compose and send e-mail
messages quickly,

SUMMARY

INVOLVEMENT OF COMPUTERS IN YOUR LIFE

Today, computers can be found practically everywhere, and most individuals need to use a
computer or a computerized device on a regular basis at work, at home, at school, or on the
go. Computer literacy, or understanding basic computer principles, allows people to feel
more at ease when using computers and is a critical skill for everyone nowadays.

In today's homes, schools, companies, and other settings, computers abound. For
productivity, research, and other critical duties, most students and employers require the
usage of a computer. Individuals frequently use computers at home and/or carry portable
computers or mobile devices with them to communicate with others and access Internet
resources on a continuous basis.

WHAT IS A COMPUTER AND WHAT DOES IT DO?

A computer is a programmable electrical device that accepts data, processes it, and outputs
the results. Today's computers have built-in communication capabilities. The information
processing cycle refers to the sequence of intake, processing, output, and storage.

Data is the raw, disorganized facts that are entered into the computer to be processed are
referred to as data. Information is data that has been transformed into a useable format by a
computer. Text, pictures, music, and video can all be used to represent data.

Hardware (the actual physical equipment that makes up the computer system) and software
(the computer's applications) make up a computer.

All computers need system software, namely an operating system (usually Windows, Mac
OS, or Linux), to function. Most software programs today use a variety of graphical objects
that are selected to tell the computer what to do. The basic workspace for Windows’ users
is the Windows desktop.

Application software consists of programs designed to allow people to perform specific
tasks or applications, such as word processing, Web browsing, photo touch-up, and so on.

COMPUTERS TO FIT EVERY NEED

Embedded computers are built into products, to give them added functionality. Mobile
devices are small devices with computing or Internet capabilities. Small computers used by
individuals at home or work are called personal computers. Internet appliances are
designed specifically for accessing the Internet and e-mail. Medium-sized computers, or
midrange servers, are used in many businesses to host data and programs to be accessed
via the company network. The powerful computers used by most large businesses and
organizations to perform the information processing necessary for day-to-day operations are
called mainframe computers. The very largest, most powerful computers, which typically
run one application at a time, are supercomputers.