Lecture 1 / Chapter 1

COSC1300/ITSC 1401/BCIS 1405

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Lecture 1 / Chapter 1

Anyone missed the first class or the lab orientation?

When you do your labs, before you turn them in check the SAMPLE labs
Please be on time and turn your CELL Phones off!
Everyone has the book?
Financial Aid
Received emails

The goal is to become COMPUTER LITERATE!

What is a COMPUTER?
Instruction: Steps telling the
computer how to perform a task

For test do the practice tests at the end of the chapter

Read page 18 of the PREFACE (NOTE TO STUDENTS)
o KEY TERMS
o DO THE CHECK POINTS
Interesting reading: page 1.52 A TIME-LINE about the HISTORY OF COMPUTERS

Instructions /
Memory

Reading Materials:

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What are computer APPLICATIONS?

General Items:

COSC1300/ITSC 1401/BCIS 1405

Input

Hardware
Software

Output

Processor

Miscellaneous:

History of computers (LATER)

Memory

Information Processing Cycles

A series of
activities:

Storage

Input

Output

Processor

Information

Data
The USER

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Components of computers
- Hardware
- Software
Computer Hardware (5):
- Input devices Examples?
- Output devices Examples?
- System unit (Mother board)
CPU (Processor)
Memory (maintains the data and instructions)
- Storage devices and media
Storage media: Device that maintains the data/instruction
(Hard-disk, CD-ROM, Zip Drive, USB Flash Drives)
Storage device: Records/reads ITEMS to/from storage media
(CD Driver , DVD Driver)
These devices are different in terms of size and access speed
They can be the source of input to the computer
- Communication devices and media
Communication media
Cables such as telephone lines or coax cables
Air
Glass
Wired or Wireless
Devices: Wireless card, Modem, DSL Modem, Cell Phones

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Keyboards, Mouse, Camera

CPU

Memory

CHIP

CHIP

Motherboard

Cable/Fiber

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COMPUTER

Printer, Monitor,
Speaker

COMPUTER

COMPUTER
Modem

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Storage
Floppy,
Zip,
DVD,
CD

Cable/Fiber

Service Provider

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COMPUTER
Modem

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Computers are powerful tools!

- Fast performance
o How fast? (Trillions of instructions per second!)
- Reliable
o Low failure rate
- Accurate
o Garbage-in-garbage-out (GIGO)
- High storage capacity
- Capable of communicating
o Exchange information
o Share resources (printers)

Remember: A FOOL with a TOOL is still a FOOL

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Getting ONLINE
Connecting the computer to the network (Internet)
Service providers:
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Providing access to Internet
Online Service Provider (OSP)
Providing access to Internet and other services (AOL,
MSN)
Online services (Internet services)
WWW (or Web) millions of documents called Web Pages
Navigate through Web pages using WEB BROWSERS
Web page publishing
EMAIL, Instant Messaging, etc.

Computer Networks
Collection of computers and devices (e.g. printers) connected together
Advantages: Sharing resources and communicating
Basic components:
Communication devices (modem)
Communication media (Cable, Fiber, Air, etc)
Types
LAN (Local Area Network university network)
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network covering the entire city)
WAN (Wide Area Network satellite networks)
The biggest computer network is Internet
500 million users each day!
Provides variety of services
What is your favorite one?
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Computer Software:
- Also called Computer programs
- Series of INSTRUCTIONS telling the hardware what to do
- Related terms
Program (or software) Execution (RUN)
Program (or software) Installationfull or partial on HD
Loading the Program (put the program in the memory)
GUI Interface Graphical user interface (using ICONS)
- Categories
System software (Windows)
Application software (MS Word)
System software
- Programs control the operation of the components and devices
- Two types:
Operating system programs
Allows executing the Application Software
Coordinating computer hardware devices
Typically resides in the hard disk -> Memory
Examples: Windows, DOS, Linux)
Utility programs
Used for managing a computer
Examples: Uninstaller, Drivers, Searching tools, etc.

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Application Software

- Perform specific tasks for users

Word processing software
Spreadsheet software
Database Software, etc.
- Bundle of application software is called SUITE (MS Office XP)
- Come in different FORMS:
Packaged Software (meets the needs of variety of USERS)
Custom Software (Small shop users)
Freeware (Free but copyrighted)
Public Domain (Free and NOT copyrighted)
Shareware (Free for trial period and copyrighted)

Developing a software

- Programmers (computer programmers)

o Write a series of instructions to direct the computer to do a task
o They use programming Language to write a program
Depends on the application software
Java, C, C++, Visual Basics, etc.
SUMMARY:
OS

App.
Software

Hardware

App.
Software

Is it DISK or DISC?
GUI
Inter.

GUI
Interface

How to enter &

display data (ICON)
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Computer Categories (6):

Basic characteristics:
o Different in terms of
Size, Speed, Processing power, and Price
o Cost
o Networking capability
Categories (Look at page 1.18 for pictures)
o Personal Computer (PC)
Desktop, Notebook, Workstation
Can be powerful to function as a server (serving CLIENTS)
Stand-alone / all-in-one (storage, processing, etc.)
All the processing functions are in the microprocessor (chip)
Two popular series
Characteristics
o Different OS (Windows and Mac OS)
o Different processors (Intel / Motorola)
PC (based on original IBM specifications)
Apple Mac (iMAC)
o Mobile Computers
A mobile personal computer
Examples:
Notebook computers
o Tablet PC uses a digital pen
Mobile Devices (web- enable)
o Handheld Computers, PDA (personal digital
assistant), Smart phones

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o Mid-range Server
More powerful than a desktop
Can be connected to thousands of TERMINALS)
o Mainframe
Can handle thousands of users (IBM Mainframes)
o Supercomputer
Very powerful and fast computers
Can be connected to thousands of users
Example: IBS Supercomputer:
100 trillions of inst./sec
As big as two basketball court
Connected to thousands of users
Information System
Maintaining computers updated in order to obtain useful information
Elements of IS
o Hardware
o Software
o Inputting accurate data
o Trained info. technology (IT) personal (manuals, personnel, etc.)

Seen any thing cool lately?

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Computer Usage
Computers are used in variety of ways by many different users
Categories (functionalities and applications):
o Home
Web access, Games, Finance management,
Entertainment, etc.
Reference software (Road Atlas, Encyclopedia, Dictionaries)
o Small Office
e-commercing (conducting business online)
Establishing a LAN
o Mobile Users
Traveling users (sales representatives, students!)
Wireless connections / Web-enable Handheld computers
o Large Businesses
Maintain an IT depart. to keep software/hardware updated
Help Desk
Provide telecommuting (communicate with the office using
computers)
o Power Users
Requiring highly specialized app. and powerful computers
Multimedia applications (combining graphics, text, and video)
Architectures/Engineers /Simulations

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Computer Applications and Society

Computers have changed the way we live
Changing our culture!
o From learning in classrooms, shopping, to DATING, PRAYING,
and SOCIALIZING!
o Changing our economy and productivity
Growth, employment, outsourcing, etc.
o Dividing the society more Digital divide between poor and rich
communities)
Education
o Paperless classrooms!
o Instant access to information
o Less library trips!
Finance
o Shopping!
o Online Banking and Investing
Government
o Get the official forms
o Talk to your representative
o Online access to some records
o Library of congress
Healthcare
o Keeping the records, telemedicine, etc.
o Camera pills, Robotic surgery, access to medicine, etc.
Science
o Neural networks (imitating human brain behavior)
Traveling
o All Star?
o Find directions, reservation, etc.
F.Farahmand

Technology is good WHEN we use it wisely!

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CD-ROM:
Compact Disk Read-Only-Memory
Used for recording audio, graphics, video, text (good for music recording)
Based on laser technology (reflection of light results in electrical current)
Typical Storage: 650 MB to 1 GB of data
Speed: Single speed is equivalent to 150 KB/sec (one X) (today: 48X to 75X)
>>>> Low storage capacity for multi-media applications! <<<<

DVD-ROM:
Digital Versatile Disc-Read-Only-Memory
Typical Storage: 4.7 GB to 17 GB of data (10 Billion characters can be stored!)
Used for multimedia applications (much higher quality than CD-ROM)
Based on laser technology: Double sides, better coding technique, multilayer pits

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