Highlights – Digital LiteracyHighlights – Digital Literacy

An An operating systemoperating system (OS) is the most (OS) is the most important program that runs on your important program that runs on your computer. Every general-purpose computer. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system computer must have an operating system to run other programs. to run other programs.

Operating systems perform basic tasks, Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track or files & directories, screen, keeping track or files & directories, and controlling peripheral devices, such as and controlling peripheral devices, such as disk drives and printers.disk drives and printers.

Operating systems provide a software platform Operating systems provide a software platform on top of which other programs can run on top of which other programs can run (Microsoft Word, Publisher, Powerpoint, etc.) (Microsoft Word, Publisher, Powerpoint, etc.) The application programs must be written to run The application programs must be written to run on top of a particular operating system. on top of a particular operating system.

Your choice of operating system, therefore, Your choice of operating system, therefore, determines to a great extent the applications you determines to a great extent the applications you can run.can run.

The most popular Operating system is Windows. The most popular Operating system is Windows. Other are available, such as Linux. Other are available, such as Linux.

Advantages of using a Advantages of using a commoncommon OS OS (i.e. 90% of people use Windows)(i.e. 90% of people use Windows)

a. Easier to open, edit and create files that have come from the same a. Easier to open, edit and create files that have come from the same operating system.operating system.

b. Easier for a user to use one operating system only - so they are familiar b. Easier for a user to use one operating system only - so they are familiar with it.with it.

c. It may make it possible to use a variety of different hardware and c. It may make it possible to use a variety of different hardware and software with it - e.g. Word for windows cannot be used for programs that software with it - e.g. Word for windows cannot be used for programs that only run on a Mac. A mouse for use with windows may not work properly on only run on a Mac. A mouse for use with windows may not work properly on a Mac either.a Mac either.

d. There is access to a broader community of persons having advice or d. There is access to a broader community of persons having advice or custom fixes for commonly-experienced problems, and/or a larger segment custom fixes for commonly-experienced problems, and/or a larger segment of the market capable of bringing market pressures to bear on the of the market capable of bringing market pressures to bear on the manufacturer.manufacturer.

Advantages of using an Advantages of using an uncommon uncommon OSOS (i.e. 10% of people use Mac)(i.e. 10% of people use Mac)

a. Some users may prefer to use specific operating systems such as a. Some users may prefer to use specific operating systems such as a Mac.a Mac.

b. Many different things such as an iPod may work better with a Mac b. Many different things such as an iPod may work better with a Mac because Apple manufactures both products.because Apple manufactures both products.

c. When you use more than one operating systems, you are not as c. When you use more than one operating systems, you are not as familiar with a specific one. For example, it may be hard to change familiar with a specific one. For example, it may be hard to change something in the control panel in windows if you are used to using a something in the control panel in windows if you are used to using a Mac.Mac.

d. d. There is a larger proportion of users with a common OS, having a There is a larger proportion of users with a common OS, having a more appealing target for those who write or distribute viruses & more appealing target for those who write or distribute viruses & malware. On the other hand, there are more chances of acquiring a malware. On the other hand, there are more chances of acquiring a virus or those fatal errors that PC's are known for.virus or those fatal errors that PC's are known for.

SoftwareSoftware

Operating System SoftwareOperating System Software A collection of software that manages computer A collection of software that manages computer

hardware resources. Your computer won’t run hardware resources. Your computer won’t run without it (i.e. Windows).without it (i.e. Windows).

Application SoftwareApplication Software All the computer software that causes a computer to All the computer software that causes a computer to

perform useful tasks beyond the running of the perform useful tasks beyond the running of the computer itself.computer itself.

NetworksNetworks What is a Network? What is a Network? A network consists of two or more computers A network consists of two or more computers

that are linked in order to share resources (such that are linked in order to share resources (such as printers and CDs), exchange files, or allow as printers and CDs), exchange files, or allow electronic communications. The computers on a electronic communications. The computers on a network may be linked through cables, network may be linked through cables, telephone lines, radio waves, satellites, or telephone lines, radio waves, satellites, or infrared light beams. infrared light beams.

Four very common types of networks include: Four very common types of networks include: Local Area Network (LAN) Wide Area Network (WAN)

Personal Area Network (PAN)Personal Area Network (PAN) Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

LANLAN

A Local Area Network is a network that is A Local Area Network is a network that is confined to a relatively small area. It is confined to a relatively small area. It is generally limited to a geographic area generally limited to a geographic area such as a writing lab, school, or building. such as a writing lab, school, or building.

WANWAN

Wide Area Networks connect networks in Wide Area Networks connect networks in larger geographic areas, such as Florida, larger geographic areas, such as Florida, the United States, or the world. Dedicated the United States, or the world. Dedicated transoceanic cabling or satellite uplinks transoceanic cabling or satellite uplinks may be used to connect this type of global may be used to connect this type of global network. network.

PANPAN

Personalized Area Network connects Personalized Area Network connects devices within your personal space. devices within your personal space. i.e. bluetooth earpiece, Apple TV devicei.e. bluetooth earpiece, Apple TV device

MANMAN

Metropolitan Area Network Metropolitan Area Network Smaller than a WAN but bigger than a LANSmaller than a WAN but bigger than a LAN Mostly within a cityMostly within a city

Hardware vs. SoftwareHardware vs. Software

Hardware are computer parts that are Hardware are computer parts that are physical – you can pick up and touch physical – you can pick up and touch themthem

Peripheral device – equipment connected to the CPU Peripheral device – equipment connected to the CPU of a computer (i.e. printer, mouse, headphones, of a computer (i.e. printer, mouse, headphones, keyboard, USB drive)keyboard, USB drive)

Software is not physical. You cannot Software is not physical. You cannot see them (i.e. programs)see them (i.e. programs)

Operating Software Operating Software – required to run your computer– required to run your computer Application Software Application Software – different programs on your computer– different programs on your computer

Desktop InterfaceDesktop Interface

4 Functions of a Computer4 Functions of a Computer InputInput: Any device that allows raw data to be entered into : Any device that allows raw data to be entered into

the computer system. the computer system. Processing:Processing: The system unit is a metal enclosure or The system unit is a metal enclosure or

““casecase”” that contains the internal components of a that contains the internal components of a computer. The system unit takes raw data from the input computer. The system unit takes raw data from the input devices, processes it into useful information, and then devices, processes it into useful information, and then sends it to the output devices. sends it to the output devices.

Storage:Storage: Sometimes known as "secondary" or "auxiliary" Sometimes known as "secondary" or "auxiliary" storage. This is where information can be stored so that storage. This is where information can be stored so that it can be retrieved at a later date. it can be retrieved at a later date.

Output:Output: any device that takes processed data and any device that takes processed data and displays it in a meaningful way. displays it in a meaningful way.