1. Chapter 1
Introducing Computer
Systems
McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Outline
• The Computer Defined
• Parts of the Computer System
• Information Processing Cycle
• Computers For Individual Use
• Computers For Organizations
• Computers in society
2

3. The Computer Defined
• Electronic device
• Converts data into information
• The computers used numbers to
represent those pieces of information so
they called Digital Computers
3

4. Parts of the Computer System
• Computer systems have four parts
1. Hardware
2. Software
3. Data
4. User
4

5. Parts of the Computer System
1. Hardware
- Anything that can be touched
2. Software
-Tell the computer what to do
Also called a program
5

6. Parts of the Computer System
3. Data
- Pieces of information
4. Users
- People operating the computer
- Most important part
- Tell the computer what to do
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7. Information Processing Cycle
• Steps followed to process data
•Input
•Processing
•Output
•Storage
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8. Essential Computer Hardware
• Hardware categorized into four types:
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9. Essential Computer Hardware
1. Processing devices
– Brains of the computer
– Most computers have several processors
– Central Processing Unit (CPU) , or called
( processer)
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10. Essential Computer Hardware
2. Memory devices
– Stores data or programs
– Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Volatile
• Stores current data and programs
– Read Only Memory (ROM)
• Permanent storage of programs
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11. Essential Computer Hardware
3. Input and output devices
– Input devices accept data
• Keyboard, mouse
– Output devices deliver data
• Monitor, printer, speaker
– Some devices are input and output
• Touch screens
• Digital camera
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12. Essential Computer Hardware
Touch screens
Digital camera
12

13. Essential Computer Hardware
4. Storage devices
– Hold data and programs permanently
– Different from RAM
– Floppy and hard drive
– CD and DVD drives
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14. Computers For Individual Use
• The following systems are examples of
personal computer (PCs)
1.Desktop computers
– The most common type of computer
– Sits on the desk or floor
– Performs a variety of tasks
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15. Computers For Individual Use
2. Workstations
– Specialized computers
– Optimized for science or graphics
– More powerful than a desktop
3. Notebook computers
– Small portable computers
– Also called laptop computers
– Typically as powerful as a desktop
15
– Can include a docking station

16. Computers For Individual Use
4. Tablet computers
– Newest
development in
portable
computers
– Input is through
a pen
– Run specialized
versions of office
products
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17. Computers For Individual Use
5. Handheld computers
– Very small computers
– Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)
– Note taking or contact management
– Data can synchronize with a desktop
6. Smart phones
– Hybrid of cell phone and PDA
– Web surfing, e-mail access
17

18. Computers For Organizations
• The largest organizational computers
support thousands of individual user at
the same time.
1. Network servers
– Centralized computer
– All other computers connect
– Provides access to network resources
– Often simply a powerful desktop
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19. Computers For Organizations
•
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20. Computers For Organizations
2. Mainframes
– Used in large organizations
– Handle thousands
of users
– Users access through a terminal
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21. Computers For Organizations
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22. Computers For Organizations
3. Minicomputers
– Called midrange computers
– Power between mainframe and desktop
– Handle hundreds of users
– Used in smaller organizations
– Users access through a terminal
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23. Computers For Organizations
4. Supercomputers
– The most powerful
computers made
– Handle large and
complex calculations
– Process trillions of
operations per
second
– Found in research
organizations
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24. Computers in society
• Home
• Education
• Small business
• Industry
• Government
• Health care