Basic Computer TermsUnit 1—Part A

Computer TechnologyAntenh Mekonen

Why Study Basic Terms?• For some people, the computer aisles at an

electronics store can be quite a mystery!• Prepare for the State Skills Test• Use computers in your future with ease and

confidence

What is a Computer?• An electronic device that you can use to

manipulate, store, retrieve and process data.

Information Processing Cycle

Hardware

• The physical, touchable parts of the computer.

Software• A term that is used in contrast to hardware;

everything in the computer that is not hardware is software.

• Software allows you to:– Process words– Calculate numbers– Send an e-mail– Browse the Internet– And many more…

Input

• A collection of raw data from the outside world that is put into the computer.

• Example: The payroll clerk collects workers' timecards so she knows how many hours each person worked and then types the hours from the timecards into a spreadsheet.

Input Devices• Keyboard• Mouse• Scanner• Digital Camera• Bar code reader • Graphic tablets• And many more…

Processing• Manipulating data– Bold, italicize, underline, double space in a word

processor– Enter formulas and calculate totals in a

spreadsheet– Edit a picture

Storage• The place where data is held when it is not needed for

processing

• Storage Devices are computer components capable of storing digital data

• Examples of Storage Devices:– Floppy Disk (almost obsolete)– Hard Drive– CD, DVD– Flash Drive

Output• The results of processed data• Examples of output:

– A printed paper– A presentation– Audio– Video

• Data is entered through various forms (input) into a computer, the data is manipulated (processing), and then information is presented to a human (output).

Output Devices• Monitor• Speakers• Printer• Headphones

Peripherals• AKA—Peripheral Devices• Any hardware device connected to the

computer that expands the computer’s input, output and storage capabilities

Input and Output Devices• As you continue, you will

review several different input and output devices.

• You need to be able to identify each device, tell if it is an input or output device and indicate what the devices are used for.

Keyboard• The most commonly used input device• It is made up of :– Alphabetic Keys– Numeric Keys– Function Keys– Command Keys

• Connected to the computer through a USB connection or wirelessly

Mouse

• A hand-operated input device that controls the cursor on the screen as you move it around on a desktop

• Older = ball style mouse• Newer = “optical” technology• Turn over your mouse. Do you see a red light?

If you do, then you are using an optical mouse.

Touchpad

• An input device used to move the cursor on a laptop computer

• As you slide your finger over the surface, sensors underneath detect the movement, direction and speed

• Useful when carrying a mouse is not practical

Trackball

• A pointing device that works like a mouse turned upside down; the ball in on top of the device

• Advantages:• TrackBall is stationary so it does not require much

space. • You can place a trackball on any type of surface,

including your lap.

Joystick

• Joysticks are input devices, similar to a mouse, that allow you to move the cursor in any direction

• Joysticks were originally used by pilots as part of an airplane's controls. Technology developed to let gamers experience a more realistic game environment

Microphone

• A microphone is used to input sound• The sound is detected by the microphone and

an electronic signal is transmitted to the computer

• Special hardware is used to convert the analog data (sound) into digital data so it an be stored and manipulated on the computer.

Scanner

• Scanners are used to convert images or text on paper into a digital image format (.bmp, .gif, .jpeg)

• Scanners with optical character recognition can convert text on paper into text that can be edited in a word processor

Web Cam

• Web cam is short for ‘web camera’• It is an input device that captures a video or

image of the scene in front of it• Some are built into the computer (i.e. Laptop),

others are connected via USB cable• Used for chatting online, security and tourism

(i.e. view your favorite animal at the zoo online)

Graphics Tablet

• Graphics tables are used by graphics designers and illustrators to input data

• Create accurate drawings on a screen that could not be produced with a mouse or stylus

• Usually consists of a tablet that you draw on and a pen that has pressure sensitive tips allowing the artist to draw heavier and lighter lines

Biometric Devices• AKA—Access Control Devices• Uses a body feature of a person seeking access to identify and

authorize that person– Fingerprint scanner– Iris scan– Access card (can be scanned like a credit card or contain a radio

frequency transmitter used to identify the card holder)• Britain and Germany have included a microchip in their passport.

The microchip contains electronic data unique to each user

Monitor• Most commonly used output device• The picture on a monitor is made up of tiny

colored dots called pixels• The quality and detail of the picture depends

on the number of pixels that the monitor can display

Ink Jet Printer

• An output device that produces a hard copy by spraying ink on paper

• Relatively cheap to buy• Can print it both black and white or color• Limitations:– Slow– Not designed for high-volume printing– Ink cartridges are expensive

Laser Jet Printer• A output device that prints similar to a photo

copy machine• Uses powdered ink called ‘toner’ to fuse onto

the paper by heat and pressure• Black and white versions are relatively cheap

to purchase• Capable of quick high-volume printing

Speakers• Most computers have a small internal speaker

that produces beeping sounds when you make an error

• Computers can be fitted with a sound card which enables sound (audio) to be output through external speakers

Digital Camera

• An input device that takes photographs and stores them as digital files on a computer

Projector

• A device which connects to a computer and is used to project the output from the computer onto a wall or screen.

Touch Screen

• The only device that serves as both an input and output device

• You view the options available to you on the screen (output) and then use your finger to touch the option you have chosen (input)

Plotter• A large document printer which is able to

draw high quality images on very large pieces of paper (example: 3 feet wide by 10 feet long)

• Used by:– Engineers– Architects– Map makers

The End