A Quick Tour of

Technology
Sabqat us Sahar

Topics
Categories of computer by size
Super, Mini, Mainframe & Micro

Computer Hardware

I/O Device
Storage Devices
Telecommunication Devices
Connecting Devices

Computer Software
Application Software & System Software

What is IT ?
Information Technology (IT)
It refers to anything related to computing

technology, such as networking, hardware,

software, Internet, storage, and other
physical devices, secure and exchange all
forms of electronic data and the people
that work with these technologies

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What is Computer ?
Acomputeris a device that accepts

information (in the form of digitalized data)

and manipulates it for some result based on
a program or sequence of instructions on how
the data is to be processed.

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Types of Computers
Supercomputers
Mainframe computers
Minicomputers
Microcomputers

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Supercomputers
High capacity
Used by large organizations
Used for scientific and engineering application
Tracking space
Online banking,
weather forecasting,
nuclear energy research
petroleum exploration

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Mainframe Computers
Occupies specially wired, air-conditioned

rooms
Capable of great processing speeds and data
storage
Not as powerful as supercomputers

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Minicomputers
Known as midrange computers
Medium-size companies
Used by departments of large

companies

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Least powerful
Widely used
Four types
Desktop
Notebook or laptop
Tablet PC
Handheld
Microcomputers

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Microcomputer Hardware
System unit
Input/output devices
Secondary storage
Communication Mediums

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Computer Hardware

I/O Device
Storage Devices
Telecommunication Devices
Connecting Devices

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What Is Input?
Input is any data and instructions entered into

the memory of a computer

An input device is any hardware component
that allows users to enter data and
instructions (programs, commands, and user
responses) into a computer.
Depending on the application and your
particular requirements, the input device
selected may vary.

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The Keyboard
A keyboard is an input device that contains

keys users press to enter data and

instructions into a computer
Keyboard Ergonomics
Design that reduces the chance of wrist and

hand injuries

Keyboards for Mobile Computers and

Mobile Devices

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Pointing Devices
A pointing device is an input device that

allows a user to control a pointer on the

screen.
In a graphical user interface, a pointer is a
small symbol on the screen
Mouse
Trackball
Touchpad
Pointing Stick
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Game Controllers
Video games and computer games use a

game controller as the input device that

directs movements and actions of on-screen
objects
Gamepads
Joysticks and Wheels
Light Guns
Dance Pads
Motion-Sensing Game Controllers
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Touch Screens and Touch-Sensitive Pads

Touch screens that recognize multiple points of

contact at the same time are known as multi-touch.

Laptop
Notebook
Kiosk
Mobile & Tablets
Microsoft Surface

Touch-Sensitive Pads
Pen Input
Digital Cameras
Scanners and Reading Devices
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Touch Screens and Touch-Sensitive Pads

Microsoft Surface

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Touch Screens and Touch-Sensitive Pads

Kiosk input device

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Optical Readers
An optical reader is a device that uses a light source

to read characters, marks, and codes and then

converts them into digital data that a computer can
process.

Optical character recognition (OCR)

Optical mark recognition (OMR)
Bar Code Readers
RFID Readers(Radio-Frequency Identification)
MICR Readers(Magnetic Ink Character

Recognition)
Magnetic Stripe Card Readers(MSCR)
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What is Output ?
Output is data that has been processed into a

useful form. That is, computers process data

(input) into information (output).
The form of output varies, depending on the
hardware and software being used and the
requirements of the user.
While working with a computer, a user
encounters four basic types of output: text,
graphics, audio, and video.

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Display Devices
A display device, or simply display, is an

output
device that visually conveys text, graphics,
and video information. Information on a display
device, sometimes called soft copy, exists
electronically and appears for a temporary
period.
Display devices consist of a screen and the
components that produce the information on
the screen.
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 Mostly mobile computers and devices

integrate
the display and other components into the
same physical case.
o Traditional notebook
o Tablet PCs
o smart phone
o digital camera
o handheld game consoles
o display in the dashboard

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Types of display devices

A flat-panel display/ LCD

is a lightweight display device with a shallow

depth and flat screen that typically uses LCD
(liquid crystal display) or gas plasma
technology.
A CRT monitor is a desktop monitor that
contains a cathode-ray tube. A cathode-ray
tube (CRT ) is a large, sealed glass tube.

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Flat-panel display
LCD monitors
LCD screens
Plasma monitors

Plasma monitors
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Plasma Monitors
A plasma monitor is a display device that
uses gas plasma technology, which
sandwiches a layer of gas between two glass
plates.
When voltage is applied, the gas releases
ultraviolet (UV) light. This UV light causes the
pixels on the screen to glow and
form an image.

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Display Screens

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Printers
A printer is an output device that produces
text and graphics on a physical medium such
as paper.
Printed information, called hard copy, exists
physically and is a more permanent form of
output
than that presented on a display Device (soft
copy).
A hard copy, also called a printout, is either in
portrait or landscape orientation.
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Impact Printers
An impact printer forms characters and graphics
on a
piece of paper by striking a mechanism against an
inked ribbon that physically contacts the paper.
Dot matrix
Daisy wheel
Line Printer

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Non impact Printers

A nonimpact printer forms characters and

graphics on a piece of paper without actually

striking the paper. Some spray ink, while others
use heat or pressure to create images.
Commonly used nonimpact printers are
ink-jet printers, photo printers, laser printers,
thermal printers, mobile printers, label and
postage printers, plotters, and large-format
printers.
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Plotters and Large-Format

Printers
Plotters are sophisticated printers used to produce
high-quality drawings such as blueprints, maps, and
circuit
diagrams.
These printers are used in specialized fields such as
engineering and drafting and usually are very costly.
Using ink-jet printer technology, but on a much larger scale,
a large-format printer creates photo-realistic-quality color
prints.
Graphic artists use these high-cost, high performance
printers for signs, posters, and other professional quality
displays
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Plotters and Large-Format Printers

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Speakers, Headphones, and Ear

buds
An audio output device is a component of a
computer that produces music, speech, or
Other sounds, such as beeps. Three
commonly used audio output devices are
Speakers
Headphones
Ear buds

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Data Projectors
A data projector is a device that takes the
text and images displaying on a computer
screen and projects them on a larger screen
so that an audience can see the image clearly.

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STORAGE Devices
The process of storing personal data or

information for future use is called STORAGE

OF DATA.
When a user issues a command like
Applications programs(MS OFFICE ,PAINT etc)
Operating system (WINDOWS) locates the
program in storage Devices such as on a
Hard Disk or optical Disk then lauds it into
RAM (Random Access Memory)

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STORAGE DEVICES
There are different storage devices.

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What is Networks ?
A network is a collection of computers

and devices connected together, often

wirelessly, via communications devices
and transmission media.
When a computer connects to a network, it is
called online.
Networks allow computers to share
resources, such as hardware, software,
data, and information. Sharing resources
saves time and money.
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Types of Networks
Three types of Networks
LAN (Local Area Network)
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
WAN (Wide Area Network)

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Types of Network

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Networking Devices
Hub
Switch
Bridge
Router
Gateway
Modem
NICs (Network Interface Card)
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
DSL (Digital subscriber Line)
WAPs (Wireless Access Point)
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Networking Devices

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Categories of software
Computer Software
Application Software
System Software /Operating

System

software

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System Software
Consists of the programs that control or
maintain
the operations of the computer
and its devices like Windows.
System software serves as the interface
between the user, the application software,
and the computers hardware.

System Software

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Operating System Functions

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Types of Operating
Systems
The three basic categories of operating

systems that exist today

Categories of Operating Systems
Stand-alone Operating system
Server Operating system
Embedded Operating system.

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Application software
Application software consists of

programs designed to make users more

productive and/or assist them with
personal tasks.
Software allows users to create enhance
audio and video clips; prepare taxes; play
games; compose e-mail messages and instant
messages and much more. To accomplish
these and many other tasks, users work

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Examples
Application software such as

MS World.
MS Excel.
MS Access.
MS Power point.
Paint etc.