Introduction to Information Technology

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Introduction to Information Technology

• Chapter 1
• Mind Tools for Your Future

2
Chapter 1 Key Questions

• 1.1 How does information technology facilitate
  e-mail, networks, and the use of the Internet and
  the Web, and what is the meaning of the term
  cyberspace?
• 1.2 What are the five sizes of computers, and
  what are clients and servers?
• 1.3 What four basic operations do all computers
  follow, and what are some of the devices
  associated with each operation? How does
  communications affect these operations?
• 1.4 What are three directions of computer
  development and three directions of
  communications development?

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What is Information Technology?

• Information Technology(Infotech)
• Merging computers with high speed communications
  links
• Computer systems
• Programmable, multiuser machines that accept data
  and processes, or manipulate it into information
  we can use
• Communications systems
• electromagnetic devices and systems for
  communicating over long distances

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Infotech Examples

• PCs
• Telephones
• Televisions
• Personal digital assistants

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Communications the Plumbing of Cyberspace

• Cyberspace
• Internet
• Mother of all networks
• Over 400,000 smaller networks
• World Wide Web
• Part of the Internet
• Multimedia format

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The Categories of Machines

• Supercomputers
• Mainframe computers
• Workstations
• Microcomputers
• Desktop, tower, laptop, and PDAs
• Microcontrollers
• Smart appliances automobiles

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Servers Clients

• Server
• Central computer
• Holds databases and programs for clients
• E.g., Web servers and mail servers
• Clients
• Linked by wired or wireless network
• PCs, workstations, other devices

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How Computers Work?

• Processes data into information
• Data raw facts and figures that are processed
  into information
• Information data that has been summarized or
  manipulated for use in decision making
• Uses hardware software
• Hardware all machinery and equipment in a
  computer system
• Software instructions that tell a computer how
  to perform a task
• Operates by performing
• Input whatever is put in to a computer system
• Processing CPU processes data into information
• Storage store data/programs in memory and hard
  disks
• Output the results of processing
• Communications - extends the power of the computer

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The Basic Operations of a Computer
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Input Hardware

• Keyboard
• Converts letters, numbers, and characters into
  electrical signals
• Looks like a typewriter keyboard
• Mouse - manipulates objects

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Processing Memory Hardware

• Case
• Processor chip
• CPU- the brain
• Memory chips
• RAM
• Motherboard
• Main circuit board

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Motherboard
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Storage Hardware

• Storage capacity
• Byte 1 character
• Kilobyte 1000 characters
• Megabyte 1 million characters
• Gigabyte 1 billion characters
• Terabyte 1 trillion characters

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Storage Hardware

• Hard disks
• storage device that stores billions of characters
  of data on a nonremovable disk platter
• Floppy disks
• stores data on removable 3.5-inch-diameter
  diskette
• Stores 1.44 million bytes
• CD-ROM
• storage device that stores billions of characters
  of data on optical disks
• Read only

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Output Hardware

• Devices that translate information processed by
  the computer into human readable forms
• Peripheral devices expands computers input,
  storage, and output capacities

Video card Pair of speakers
Sound card Printer
Monitor
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Communications Hardware

• Modem
• Sends and receives data over telephone lines
• Mounted on an expansion card
• Telephone line connects from a wall plug into the
  back of the computer

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Computer Software

• System software
• Performs essential operations
• Enables application software to run
• E.g., Windows 95/98/2000, Linux
• Application software
• Performs specific tasks
• Requires system software
• E.g., Word, Excel, Netscape,

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Directions of Computer Development

• Miniaturizations
• Transistors
• Integrated circuits
• Speed
• Faster
• Affordability
• Less expensive

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Directions of Communications Development

• Connectivity
• Ability to connect computers by communications
  line
• Interactivity
• Two-way communication
• Multimedia
• Text, pictures, sound, animation

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Computers Communications Combined

• Convergence
• computers, communications, consumer electronics,
  entertainment,mass media
• Portability
• Portable and smaller
• Personalization
• Information tailored to personal preferences
• Information overload

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Ethics InforTech Concerns

• Speed scale
• great amounts of information can be stored,
  retrieved, and transmitted at a speed and on a
  scale not possible before
• Unpredictability
• a lot less predictable and reliable
• Complexity
• some computer systems are not even understood by
  their creators