Internet an Introduction to Information Technology

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Internet an
Introduction to Information
Technology
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Hardware Software

• HARDWARE - physical parts of a computer system
  those parts you can see and touch.
• Screen/monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer,
  processor box, cables, speakers, modem
• SOFTWARE instructions OR programs that the
  computer needs to be able to work effectively

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TYPES OF SOFTWARE

• System/Operating software -manages the hardware
  and basic working environment of a PC.
• Windows XP and Windows Vista
• Wordpad/Notepad, Windows Explorer, Outlook
  Express, Microsoft Paint, Calculator etc
• GUI Graphical User Interface

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Application Software

• Programs for Word Processing, Email,
  Spreadsheets, Calendar management etc.
• Browser Software Internet Explorer
• Microsoft Office or Microsoft Works

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Information Flow
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The 4 parts of a Computer System
INPUT
PROCESSING
STORAGE
OUTPUT
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Input Devices

• Entering data/information into a computer
• Keyboards
• Mouse
• Trackball Joystick
• Touchpad Touch screen
• Scanner
• Digital camera/Cam-recorder

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Output Devices

• Devices that transfer data or information from
  a computer.
• Printer
• Monitor
• Plotter
• Speakers, Soundcards Headphones
• Speech Synthesizer
• Modem

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Input Output Devices

• Combined Printer, Copier Scanner
• Touch-screen Monitors
• Modems
• Network cards
• Sound Cards
• Webcams

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Laser printers

• Like a photocopier
• Uses a toner cartridge which has a longer life
  and are excellent for high volume printing
• High quality print images usually in black and
  white. Colour print also but very expensive.
• More expensive to buy than inkjet but much
  cheaper to run on an ongoing basis

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Inkjet Printers

• Uses jets of ink to create the print on a page
• Inexpensive to buy but ink cartridges are
  expensive.
• Can easily print black white colour. Better
  for digital photos.
• More economical to have separate print cartridges
• Print quality not as good in the long-term as
  laser printers

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Memory

• Bit (x 8)
• Byte (x 1,024)
• Kilobyte(Kb) (x 1,000)
• Megabyte (Mb) (x 1,000)
• Gigabyte(Gb)

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Storage Devices Capacity

• Hard Disk Drive (HDD) 160 - 300Gb
• DVD R/RW 4.7Gb
• CD 700MB
• USB Flash Drive 8Gb - 64Gb
• SD Card 1GB 4Gb
• Blu ray disc 50 GB
• Floppy Disk (1.4 Mb) Magnetic Tape both
  obsolete

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Files/Folders/Drives

• A File is a piece of work text, numbers, images
  or other objects created and saved on a
  computer
• A folder is an electronic container in which
  related files and programs are stored on a
  computer. It can also hold other folders.
• A disk drive is a physical storage device in a
  computer for storing files and folders.
• A floppy drive, C Hard disk, D CD
  ROM,
• E F DVD drive

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CPU

• Microprocessor/ Microchip
• Located on the motherboard.
• Controls the main functions of the computer. The
  computers brain.
• Speed of the processor is measured in megahertz
  (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).
• Intel Pentium, Dual Core and Core2 Duo
• Processor speeds of 1.8 3 GHz.
• Also found in phones, cars, and all digital
  devices used everyday.

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Memory

• RAM (Random Access Memory).
• Main working storage area while a computer is
  working on a task.
• Only used while the computer is powered on.
  Erased when the computer is off.
• The average size nowadays is 1Gb or 2GB of RAM on
  PC/laptops.

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Memory

• ROM (Read Only Memory)
• Stores information that can only be read and
  never changed.
• Information like date/time, how to start up the
  computer etc.
• Much smaller than RAM.

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Computers in the home

• Electronic equipment
• Household appliances (microwave, washing
  machine, dishwasher) TV. Video/Home cinema
  systems, Burglar alarm, Games (Nintendo, WII
  etc)
• PCs
• games, Internet, household accounts, homework,
  research, email family friends
• Working from home
• Online study courses

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Computers in Business

• Stock control, accounting, payroll office work
• Production systems in industry
• Supermarket stock control, check-out bar code
  scanners, price checkers, supermarket loyalty
  cards
• Banking online systems, payments , ATMs,
  Credit/Debit card payments authorization
• E-commerce Business over the Internet

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Computers in Business (cont.)

• Airlines booking flights, online check-in, seat
  allocation
• Government revenue-online, motor tax online,
  agriculture farming records, census, social
  welfare etc. Very large scale computer systems
  for keeping huge volumes of records
• Hospitals/Healthcare patient records,
  appointments, research, diagnostic surgical
  equipment
• Education student records, timetabling,
  Computer Based Training (CBT), Distance learning,
  Research, homework

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Computer Networks

• A Network
• Where two or more computers are connected
  together
• Provide users with services such as
  printer-sharing, file-sharing and E-mail.
• Can be connected with cables or wirelessly

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LAN WAN

• LAN Local Area Network
• Connects computers in a small area e.g. home or
  small office
• WAN Wide Area Network
• Connects computers over a wider area even
  across the world. Satellite communications
• Networked computers can still be used
  independently

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Connection to an ISP

• Internet Service Provider
• A telecommunications company that allows you
  connect your PC to the Internet e.g.. Eircom,
  Chorus, BT, Digiweb, Perlico,3G,O2
• What do you need ?
• Computer
• Browser - Microsoft Internet Explorer
• An account with an ISP
• Modem
• Telephone line possibly

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INTERNET

• Narrowband
• Dial-up via the telephone system. Very slow
• Broadband
• Can be configured via the telephone lines,
  wireless or via a cable TV network.
• Always on faster access to the Internet.

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ISP Services

• Internet Access - broadband or dial-up
• Web hosting (web sites, storing photos etc)
• Email.

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Data Protection Act

• Data should be kept for one or more specified
  reasons only.
• Data held should not be excessive for the
  purpose.
• Data should not be held for longer than required.
• Data should not be disclosed to others for any
  other reason.

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Data Protection Act (cont)

• The company should have adequate security to
  protect the data held.
• Everybody has the right to access, correct or
  erase personal data held by an organisation about
  them