Computers

1. Computers in Libraries:
Desktops, Laptops, Tablets,
Handheld Devices, and Office
Applications
Presenter:
Tansiongco, Kevin Conrad T.
Professor:
Teodoro, Raymond

2. Introduction
Computers are ubiquitous feature of
society with impacts in every sphere of
life. Even in our high technological age,
an understanding of computers is not a
universal skill, and computers can
cause moments of frustration. The goal
of this chapter is to provide the
information essential to helping you
understand the basic pieces of a
computer and how it operates.

3. Desktop Computer Essentials
• Computer – an electronic device that
receives data (input), processes data,
stores data & produces result (output).
• Desktop – personal computer that needs
to sit on a desk or table; consists of a
“box” or the central processing unit
(CPU) which contains the main
components of the system, some input
devices (keyboard & mouse) and
peripherals (monitors, printers or
scanners).

4. • Motherboard – a piece of circuitry that
serves as the foundation for the workings
of the computer; this is where every
component in the CPU is connected
• Processor – powers the calculations the
computer must take to run the software
and process information
• Random Access Memory (RAM) – helps
the speed and performance of the
computer by giving software some space in
the memory to work in while it is running;
temporarily holds the computing processes
the software spawns

5. • Read-only Memory (ROM) – contains
information that cannot be altered by
the user
• Video card – allows items to be
displayed on the monitor.
• Soundcard – control audio output.
• Modem or network cards – allow
computer to communicate with other
computers through a variety of
networks

6. Computer Workstation

7. Computer Storage Media and Their
Capacities
Drive Type Media Type Media
Capacity
Primary Use(s)
Floppy 3.5 in. floppy disk 1.44 MB Small file storage and backup
CD-ROM CD-ROM disc 700 MB Application and distribution use
DVD-ROM DVD-ROM disc 4.7 GB-
17 GB
Application distribution and
archival storage
Tape Magnetic Tape Up to
several
GB
Archival storage and backups
No drive (USB
port)
Flash drives Up to 64
GB
Mobile memory for file storage or
using and distributing application
Memory Stick removable flash
Memory card
64 GB storage media for a portable
device
Smartcard (chip
card,
or integrated
circuit card (ICC))
pocket-sized card with
embedded
integrated circuits
8K - 128K
bit
provide identification,
authentication, data storage and
application processing

8. Drive Type Media Type Media Capacity Primary Use(s)
Zip Zip disk launched with capacities
of 100 MB, but later
versions increased this to
first 250 MB and then
750 MB.
Backup storage
Smart media
(solid-state
floppy disk
card or
SSFDC)
Flash memory card 2 MB to 128 MB read, write, and
erase memory in
small blocks of data
(256 or 512 bytes at
a time)
Removable
Hard Drive
Plug and play drive 160GB to 2TB system compatibility,
and features large
storage options and
portable design
Micro drive 1-inch hard
disk designed to fit in
a Compact Flash (CF)
Type II slot
8 GB or more Data storage and
manipulation

11. Computer Related Measurements
Measurement Definition
Bit Simplest level of computer information. A bit can have the value
of 1 or 0.
Byte Eight bits, which is enough memory to represent a single
alphanumeric character.
Kilobyte (KB) One thousand bytes; equivalent to a short note on a single sheet
of paper
Megabyte (MB) One million bytes; equivalent to 200-300 pages
Gigabyte (GB) One billion bytes; common measurement of hard drive and
storage space.
Megahertz (MHz) Common measurement of the internal speed of a computer’s
processor
Bits per second (Bps) Common measurement of data transmission through modems or
computer networks

12. Computer Software
Software - A set of instructions, stored
digitally within the computer's
memory, which tells the computer
system what to do.

13. • System software is the software used
to manage and control the hardware
components and which allow
interaction between the hardware and
the other types of software. The most
obvious type of system software is the
computer's operating system but
device drivers are also included within
this category.

14. • Utility software is software such as anti-
virus software, firewalls, disk defragmenters
and so on which helps to maintain and
protect the computer system but does not
directly interface with the hardware.
• Applications software (also known as 'apps')
are designed to allow the user of the system
complete a specific task or set of tasks. They
include programs such as web browsers,
office software, games and so on. They are
usually the reason you bought the computer
system in the first place and aren't concerned
with the management or maintenance of the
system itself.

15. Generic software is mass produced
with the intention that it will be used
by a wide variety of different users in
a range of different situations.
Bespoke software is created for a
specific purpose which will be used in
a known environment.

16. Operating Systems
• Provides the environment in which all
other software operates in the
computer.
• A large piece of software that controls
how the computer works

17. • Allow multitasking, the ability to have
multiple applications running at the
same time and to switch back and
forth between them.
• World of operating systems today is
primarily divided between Macintosh,
Windows computers and their
respective operating system.

19. History of Operating Systems
• DOS (Disk Operating System) –
initial computer OS
characterized by its command
line interface in which every
task you wanted the computer
to complete had to be typed
out on the screen at he
command prompt or included
in a program.

20. • Macintosh – (1980s) had a
graphical user interface (GUI)
that consisted of a screen with
little graphical images or icons
that could be clicked on to run
programs or open up
additional screens, or folders,
containing more icons; more
user friendly than DOS
machines and became more
and more proficient at
displaying and allowing the
manipulation of images.

21. The Operation of Computers
• When you start a computer by
pressing its power button and turning
it on, it goes through the boot-up
process.
• During the boot-up the computer gets
the operating system running and gets
you to a point where you can choose
an application to use.

22. Computer Peripherals
The term peripherals refers of optional
computer hardware items that have
specific functions. All of these
peripherals plug into the CPU, mostly
using USB ports or connections. USB
(Universal Serial Bus) is the dominant
method for connecting peripherals,
replacing earlier parallel and serial
connectors.

23. • Monitors are essential for visually
interacting with the CPU.
Two Main Varieties:
LCD (liquid crystal display)
Flat Panel

24. CRT( Cathode Ray Tube)

25. • Keyboard – most commonly used input device for
entering numeric and alphabetic data into a computer
Variety of Keyboards:
 Ergonomic – a keyboard designed to provide users with
more natural, comfortable hand, wrist and arm
positions
 Cordless/Wireless – a battery-powered keyboard that
transmits data using wireless technology
 Specialized – a keyboard with specialized keys that
represents items such as those used in fast-food
restaurants
 Security – a keyboard that provides security features
such as biometric fingerprint reader and magnetic
stripe and smart card readers
 Foldable/Flexible – an easily transported keyboard
primarily used with PDA and pocket PC-type devices; it
has a soft touch and water resistant.

26. • Mouse – most commonly used pointing device
for personal computers.
Types of Mouse:
 Mechanical – has a ball located on the bottom
that rolls on a flat surface as the mouse is
moved
 Optomechanical – same as a mechanical
mouse, but uses optical sensors to detect
motion of the ball
 Optical – uses a laser to detect the mouse’s
movement
 Wireless – battery-powered device that relies
on infrared or radio waves to communicate
with the computer

27. • Trackball – pointing device that
works like a mouse turned
upside down
• Joystick and wheel – pointing
device commonly used for games
• Pointing Stick – pressure-
sensitive device that looks like a
pencil eraser mostly found in
notebook computers
• Graphics Tablet – (digitizing
tablet) flat drawing surface on
which the user can draw figures
or write something freehand
• Touch display screen - special
screen with pictures and shapes
which involves your finger in
order to select the desired object.

28. • Stylus (digital pen) – pen-like writing
instruments that allows user to input
information by writing on a PDA (Personal
digital assistant) or mobile device
• Touchpad – commonly used in laptops
Scanner – device that can change images into
codes for input to the computer
Types of scanners:
 Image scanners – converts image into an
electronic form that can be stored in a
computer’s memory
 Bar code scanner - reads bar lines that
are printed on products
 Magnetic Scanner - read encoded
information on the back of credit cards
 Optical character recognition and
optical mark recognition scanner – use a
light source to read characters then converts
the data into digital data

29. • Digital Cameras – take
pictures and store it
digitally then transfer it
to the computer’s
memory.
• Biometrics – an
authentication technique
using automated methods
of recognizing a person
based on psychological or
behavioral characteristic.
• Virtual device – use the
synchronized positioning
of light emitting and
sensing devices to detect
user input.

30. Printers – produce a paper or
hard copy of the processing
results.
Varieties:
Inkjet printer – provides good
quality of color printing for less
expense.
Thermal printer – form
characters by heating paper.
Mobile printer – small, battery-
powered printer used to print
from a notebook computer.

31. Label printer – prints label
of various types and sizes
on an adhesive-type paper
Postage printer – type of
label printer that contains
a built-in digital scale and
prints postage stamps.
Plotters/Large-format
printer – used for drawing
and drafting output by
engineers, architects and
graphic artists.

32. • Speakers – generate sound,
such as music or instructions
on how to complete a tutorial
• Fax machine/fax modem -
transmit and receive
documents over a telephone
line or through a computer.
• Multifunctional peripheral –
provides a combination of
various output options such as
printing, scanning, copying and
faxing.
• Data projector – projects the
computer image onto a screen;
mostly used for presentations.

33. Student Computer Standards:
Minimum Configurations
• Intel Core 2, or AMD Phenom
• 4 GB memory (4 GB if you plan to
upgrade to Vista/Seven)
• 250 GB hard drive or higher
• DVDRW
• Ethernet card and cable
• WPA2 A/G/N Intel wireless card.
(Atheros cards may or may not
work on our network)
• Windows 7 Home Premium or
Higher and Microsoft Office
• External Hard Drive or Online
backup Account
Student Computer Standards:
Recommended Configurations
•Intel® Core™ i3, i5, i7 or AMD
Phenom 2 or higher
•8 GB Memory or more
•250+ GB hard drive
•DVDRW
•Ethernet card and cable
•WPA2 A/G/N intel wireless card
(Atheros cards may or may not work
on our network)
•Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate and
Microsoft Office
•External Hard Drive or Online backup
Account
NOTE: Intel based wireless cards are recommended for use with the university wireless
network. Other cards may be untested and not compatible.

34. Computers in Other Forms
• Laptops
– Developed to take the computer’s CPU, monitor,
keyboard and mouse along with you in a single
unit.
• Tablet PCs
– very similar to laptops in their composition
and computing power but offer a new
interface for interacting with software
• Mobile devices
– Represents an explosion of devices that
bring computer power and applications in a
small package.

35. Library Uses for Computers
• Collection Organization Control
– Libraries hold the maintenance, organization
and growth of their mission so it have
adopted even earlier the use of computers
for cataloging, acquisitions, and circulation
operations.
• Interlibrary Loan
– It can be much easier to locate libraries who
owned a desired book, video or periodical
article, also, the management of borrowed
and loaned items is much more convenient
than with paper files

36. • Electronic Reference Resources
– Libraries are providing periodical and
reference databases to their communities
both from within the library and from
individual user’ computers at home or work.
• Internet Access Tool
– Libraries need to provide access in ways that
fit their missions, and for many libraries this
means having access to the Internet from a
number of public computers as well as from
most or all staff computers.
• Management/Office Tool
– Libraries need to have software that is
commonly found in business and home
settings like word processing applications,
spreadsheet software and database software

37. • Instructional Tool
– Libraries that have a need for creating
instructional materials and presentations
will make use of a variety of instructional
software.
• Miscellaneous Library Tasks
– Staff members responsible for creating
documents for a library’s Web site will need
Web design software on their computers,
catalogers may have software packages
installed to access, edit, and download
bibliographic records for use in an online
catalog, and larger libraries may use online
calendar software to create schedules for
desk coverage or staff meetings.

38. Work Cited:
Burke, J.J. (2009). Neal-Schuman
library technology companion. 3rd
ed. NY: Neal-Schuman
Publishers, Inc.