Learning Objectives

When you finish this chapter, you will:

Recognize major components of an electronic computer. Understand how the different components work. Know the functions of peripheral equipment.
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Learning Objectives
Be able to classify computers into major categories, and identify their strengths and weaknesses. Be able to identify and evaluate key criteria when deciding what computers to purchase.

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The Central Tool of Modern Information Systems

Four Basic Functions of Computers
Accept data Process data Store data and instructions Output data

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The Central Tool of Modern Information Systems

Figure 4.1 All computers have the same basic components.

MIS 175 Spring 2002

The Central Tool of Modern Information Systems

Figure 4.2 Organizations have moved from using large mainframes to using networked PCs.
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The Central Tool of Modern Information Systems

Figure 4.3 A timeline of computing

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The Central Tool of Modern Information Systems

Figure 4.3 (continued) A timeline of computing

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 Computer recognizes two states: on or off

Each on or off signal represents a bit (binary digit)

Computers Communicating: Bits And Bytes

Encoding Schemes
Representation of symbols by unique strings of bits

Counting Bases
Decimal system is base 10 Binary systemMIS 175 Spring 2002 is base 2
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Computers Communicating: Bits And Bytes

Figure 4.4 Binary encoding schemes

MIS 175 Spring 2002

A Peek Inside the Computer

Figure 4.5 A look inside a computer

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A Peek Inside the Computer

The Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The brain of the computer Microprocessor
Carries signals that execute all processing

Two Components:
Control unit Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
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A Peek Inside the Computer

Microprocessor
Silicon chip embedded with transistors, or semiconductors

Figure 4.6 Schematic of how circuits on a chip would be open and closed to represent the letter D in EBCDIC (11000100)
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A Peek Inside the Computer

Figure 4.7 What happens inside the CPU in one machine cycle executing the operation 7 + 5
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A Peek Inside the Computer

Machine Cycle
CPUs execution of four functions:
Fetch Decode Execute Store

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Time Measurements
Functions measured in small fractions of a second Clock speed determines the number of the smallest operations performed per second

Figure 4.8 Computer time

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Speed Measurements
Measured in terms of cycles per second
1 hertz (Hz) = one clock cycle per second 1 MHz (megahertz) = 1,000,000 clock cycles per second (1 million) 1 GHz (gigahertz) = 1,000,000,000 clock cycles per second (1 billion)

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Moores Law
States that
Chip density will double every 18 months

This has driven incredible decreases in cost per unit of computing power and memory

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A Peek Inside the Computer

Memory
CPU Registers (part of the CPU) Internal Memory
Random access memory (RAM) Read-only memory (ROM)

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 Computer Power

A Peek Inside the Computer

Clock rate (measured in cycles per second) Amount of information the CPU can process in each cycle This is determined by the word length and bus size Effective speed determined only by combination of both factors
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Input Devices
Keyboard Mouse, Trackball, and Track Pad Touch Screen Source Data Input Devices Imaging Speech Recognition

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Input Devices

Figure 4.9 Banks use magnetic-ink character recognition (MICR) to automate their input procedures.
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Output Devices
Soft-Copy Output Devices
Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT) Monitor Flat-Panel Monitor Speech Output

Hardcopy Output Devices

Nonimpact Printers (most common) Impact Printers
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External Storage Media

External Memory (Storage)
Magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, optical discs

Important Properties to Consider

Capacity Speed Cost Reliability and permanence
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External Storage Media

Magnetic Tapes Magnetic Disks Optical Discs (Compact Discs) Optical Tapes

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External Storage Media

Business Considerations of Storage Media
Trade-offs Modes of Access
Sequential Access Direct Access

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External Storage Media

Figure 4.11 Characteristics of storage media for business consideration

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External Storage Media

Figure 4.12 Sequential and random data organization

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Classification of Computers
Supercomputers
The largest, most powerful, and most expensive Used by universities, research institutions, large corporations, and the military

Mainframe Computers
Less powerful and less expensive than supercomputers Used by businesses with large amounts of data that needMIS 175 Spring 2002 to be stored in a central

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Classification of Computers
Minicomputer
Often used as the host computer in a network of smaller computers Priced in the tens of thousands to a few hundred thousand dollars Manufacturers: Compaq (VAX), IBM (AS/400), and Hewlett-Packard
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Classification of Computers
Servers
Minicomputers used for specialized purposes on a network Example: file server, printer server, database server, web server Optimized for processing tasks and I/O with other computers
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Classification of Computers
Personal Computers / Clients Laptop and Handheld Computers

Figure 4.13 PC sales continue to grow.

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Importance of Standards
Compatibility
Software and peripheral devices from one computer can be used with another computer. In a networked environment, computers need to communicate to share databases and other computing resources. In addition to power and cost, compatibility is an extremely important factor in purchasing decisions.

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 What should you consider when buying personal computers?

Considerations in Purchasing Hardware

Power -- speed, size of memory, storage capacity Expansion and upgrade capability Ports for external devices like printers, hard disks, communication devices Ergonomics: Keyboard, Monitor Vendor reliability, warranty policy, vendor support

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