MONGU CATHOLIC COLLEGE

OF
EDUCATION
 ICT
What is ICT?
• ICT stands for Information and
Communications Technology.
• Two technologies make up ICT, and these
are:
– Information Technology
– Communications Technology

– By Likando K. V
What is Information?
Information is data that has
been processed or worked on.
Therefore; Information refers
to data that has been given
some form of meaning from
the act of processing.
What is Communication?
• This is the sending and
receiving of information which
can be in the form of words,
symbols or signals through
speaking, writing or any other
method.
Technology on the other hand is?
• This is the use or manipulation of tools,
including machines, modifications,
arrangement or procedures that make
work easy.
• This is the application of scientific
knowledge for practical purposes,
especially in industry.
• Or this is the development of machinery
and equipment using scientific knowledge.
 Therefore; ICT is..
• an umbrella term that includes any
communication device or application;
devices such as radio, television, cellular
phones, computer, network hardware and
software, satellite systems to mention but
a few as well as various services and
application associated with them, for
example video conferencing and
distance learning.
 ICT DEVICES
There are many types of ICT devices in use
today. Their use depends on: Purpose
Cash register
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
Decoders and Set-top boxes
Digital camera
Digitaliser
Electronic boards
Electronic calculators

 ICT DEVICES
Electronic reading devices
Light probes and colour sensors
Medical devices
Money handling devices
Orientation and way finding
systems (GPS)
 ICT DEVICES
Phones
Printers and Scanners
Speech synthesisers
Speakers and Microphone
Thermometers and barometers
Television set
Remote contro
 What is Information Technology?
• IT is a combination of facilities for collecting,
storing, retrieving and processing of
information.
• IT can be manual or electronic.
• The major component of electronic
information technology is the computer.
• Electronic information technology has many
advantages as compared to manual
information systems.
What is Communications Technology?
• Communications Technology is a collection
of facilities for transmission and reception of
information.
• Communications Technology can be
manual or electronic.
• The major components of electronic
Communications Technology are computers
and telecommunications facilities.
 What is a computer?
• From the beginning of time when man first
appeared on the earth, the computer has been
in existence.
• Believe it or not! Every person on the face of this
planet has a computer – yes
even you own a personal computer. The
computer that you have and own is called:
• The brain/body
With time the word ‘computer’ has been given to and
associated with an ICT device, which
we either see or use daily. The word computer’’
comes from the word ‘Compute’
The word ‘compute’ means

 To work out
 To work on
 To calculate
 To solve
 To put together
 To analyse
 WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
It is an electronic device which is
capable of receiving data as input in a
particular form and it processes the data
using a set of particular instructions to
produce information or data as output in
a particular form and can also store the
data, information and instructions for
future use.
 What does one learn in
computer studies?
• How to collect, store, retrieve and process
data.
• How to transmit and receive information.
• How to identify and correct errors during
processing or transmission.
• How to identify, install and troubleshoot
ICT facilities.
 ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF COMMPUTERS
• These are financial savings that are
attributed to the use of computers, e.g.
– Reduction in the time of processing data.
– Reduction in the cost of storage facilities.
– Reduction in the number of staff employed to
do routine tasks
ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTERS
• They are fast – work can be accomplished
within a very short time.
• They are very accurate and consistent –
work can be done with almost no errors.
• They reduce most operating costs.
• They lead to improved customer service.
• They can be used to automate tedious,
routine and repetitive tasks.
ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTERS
(Continued)

• They can be used to do or monitor work in

inaccessible places, e.g. high temperature
furnaces and nuclear reactors.
• They can be linked in networks for the
purposes of communication and sharing
resources, e.g. data, hardware and
software.
• They can enable co-workers to collaborate
on tasks.
ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTERS
(Continued)

• They can make complex calculations

easier.
• They can be used to gain competitive
advantage in business.
• They can work for very long periods
without requiring rest and remuneration.
 LIMITATIONS OF COMPUTERS
• Computers have limitations, i.e. they cannot be
expected to do everything.
• Their limitations are due to the fact that they are
programmed machines.
• As programmed machines, they can only
manage to do work which is specified in their
programs.
• Computers cannot be used to perform new
tasks whose programs have not been made and
installed.
KEYWORDS IN THE DEFINITION:
a) Electronic device
• A computer is a set of different devices
that use electricity in order to do
something.
• In addition, by being electronic means
the computer is mostly a digital machine
that
understands instructions and data in
strings or combinations of 1s and 0s.
KEYWORDS IN THE DEFINITION con.
Data
 is raw information that does not make any
sense or meaning to the user.
It is simply a collection of facts.
Input
This refers to the act of placing into the
computer data or instructions.
This is done through the use of input
devices
 Processes
 Processes means to work on, calculate,
solve, analyse or put together data into a
particular form so that it becomes either
information or data.
 Set of particular instructions
 A computer uses a set of instructions to
perform a task.
 These are directives that tell the
computer what to do to given data or
information.
Information
Information is data that has been
processed or worked on.
Therefore; Information refers to data
that has been given some form of meaning
from the act of processing.
Output
Output refers to the giving out of
information or data.
This is done through the use of
output devices.
Store
A computer has the ability to store
or keep data, instructions and
information for later
use as it can be retrieved.
This is made possible by the use of
storage devices and storage media.
 WHY IS THIS DEVICE CALLED A
COMPUTER?
The modern machine that man invented was given the
name ‘computer’ because it is able to:
 Solve
 Compute
 Put together
 Analyse
 Work out
 Work on Huge or large amounts of data in a very short
time. In fact today’s machine can do more
than just this. Now the ‘computer’ can be looked at
and discussed it in detail.
 HOME WORK
Some people believe that
computerising operations of an
organisation always leads to
unemployment. This belief is not
exactly correct. Give details to
show that this belief is based on
biased conclusions.
COMPUTER-RELATED CRIME
• Computers can also be used to perpetuate and
perpetrate various forms of crime.
• Examples of computer-related crimes are:
– Piracy of intellectual property, e.g. software, music
and video.
– Unauthorized access to information through methods
such as identity theft.
– Pornography.
– Virus attacks.
– Harassment and victimization.
– Theft or destruction of data.
 IMPORTANCE OF ICT IN
EDUCATION
• ICT is important in education for many
reasons.
• It is important to education authorities, e.g.
educational planners and education
administrators.
• It is important to teachers and students.
 IMPORTANCE OF ICT TO
EDUCATION ADMINISTRATORS
• Processing and storage of information
required for decision making and other
management functions such as:
– Controlling
– Coordinating
– Forecasting
– Organizing
• Efficient communication with schools,
partners, sponsors and parents.
 IMPORTANCE OF ICT TO
TEACHERS
• Teachers can use ICT in many ways, e.g.
• Processing and storage of assessment
instruments, e.g. assignments, tests and
examinations.
• Processing and storage of students records.
• Research and development of teaching
resources.
• Communication with students and school
managers.
 IMPORTANCE OF ICT TO
STUDENTS
• Students can also use ICT in many ways, e.g.
• Research for study materials, e.g. use of the
Internet.
• Communication with teachers, sponsors,
parents and friends.
• Production of learning resources, e.g. notes
and assignments.
• As a tool for self-paced learning, e.g. use of
audio, video and virtual classrooms.
 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
• There are various classes of computers.
• It is important to understand the various
classes of computers for a number of
reasons, e.g.
– Different computers are used for different
purposes.
– Different computers have different processing
power.
– Different computers have different costs.
– Different computers require different operating
conditions.
 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
• Computers can be classified on the basis
of many factors, e.g.
– Cost
– Speed of processing
– Amount of storage
– Operating environment
– Physical size
 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
• On the basis of the factors outlined above,
computers are classified as follows:
– Microcomputers
– Servers
– Minicomputers
– Mainframe computers
– Supercomputers
 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
• Microcomputer
 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
• Server Computer
 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
• Minicomputer
 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
• Mainframe Computer
 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
• Supercomputer
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
• MICROCOMPUTERS
– They are the most widespread.
– They are also called personal computers
because of being single user.
– They include the following:
• Desktops
• Laptops
• Notebooks
• Netbooks
• Palmtops
 MICROCOMPUTERS
• Desktop Computers
 MICROCOMPUTERS
• Laptop Computer
 MICROCOMPUTERS
• Notebook Computer
 MICROCOMPUTERS
• Netbook Computer
 MICROCOMPUTERS
• Palmtop Computer
 WHY MICROCOMPUTERS ARE
THE MOST COMMON
• They are portable.
• They cost the least amount of money to buy.
• They use less sophisticated software and
hardware.
• They can be upgraded easily.
• They do not necessarily require air-conditioned
rooms.
• Their processing power can be increased by
connecting them in a network.
 UNDERSTANDING A COMPUTER
What is a computer?
• A computer is an automatic electronic machine
which performs the following functions:
– Accepts data and instructions
– Stores the data and the instructions
– Retrieves data
– Processes data using the stored instructions
– Gives feedback or results in any desired
format
UNDERSTANDING A COMPUTER
(Continued)

• Strictly, a computer is not one item.

• A computer is a collection of different facilities
which all work together to accomplish a task.
• Therefore, a computer is a system.
• As a system, a computer consists of two main
parts.
• The main parts that make up a computer are
hardware and software.
• Computer = Hardware + Software
SOME UNITS OF A DESKTOP
COMPUTER SYSTEM
 COMPUTER HARDWARE
• A computer is an electronic machine which accepts
signals, stores the signals, processes the signals and
communicates results in human readable form.
• Computer hardware is the physical part of a computer.
• It consists of everything that can be touched, felt or
seen.
• In general, computer hardware resources are in four
categories as follows:
– Input
– Processor
– Storage
– Output
 Computer Hardware (Continued)
.

INPUT PROCESSOR OUTPUT

STORAGE

Arrows show the flow of data within the

computer.
 INPUT DEVICES
• Input devices are used to capture data into the
computer.
• Input devices are also used for entering
commands.
• Commands are instructions that users give to
the computer to initiate them into action.
• Since the computer’s processor can only
understand and do things in machine language,
an input device is used to convert data from
human language to machine language.
 Examples of input devices

Keyboard Mouse Track ball Joystick

Game
Scanner Camera Microphone
controller
Examples of input devices

Touch Screen Bar code Reader Drawing Tablet

 MACHINE LANGUAGE
• Machine language consists of codes of
characters in binary.
• In machine language, characters are
represented by bits (i.e. binary digits)
consisting of ones (1) and zeros (0).
• For example, in a coding scheme called
ASCII, A is 01000001, B is 01000010.
 MACHINE LANGUAGE (Continued)

• A binary representation of a character

represents the type of current that must
flow when the character is being entered
from the input to the processor.
• Each 1 in the code represents high
current, and each 0 represents low
current.
• For a code 101010101, the current has the
wave form
MACHINE LANGUAGE (Continued)

Character ASCII Code Current

A 01000001
B 01000010
C 01000011
D 01000100
E 01000101
 EXERCISE
• Write the ASCII codes and the
corresponding current wave forms for F, G,
and H.
 Examples of output devices

CRT Monitor LCD Monitor Impact Dot Matrix Printer

DeskJet Printer LaserJet Printer Speakers

 CRT MONITORS
• They have the cathode ray tube.
 CRT MONITORS (Continued)

Advantages:
• They are cheaper than LCD monitors.
• They are easy to repair.
Disadvantages:
• They occupy a lot of space on the desk.
• They consume a lot of electrical energy.
 LCD MONITORS
• They have liquid molecules.
Advantages:
• They occupy less space on the desk.
• They consume less electrical energy than CRT
monitors.
Disadvantages:
• They cost more money.
• They are not easily repaired when they develop
faults.
IMPACT DOT MATRIX PRINTERS
• They use an inked ribbon.
• They print by striking a pattern of dots on
paper through the inked ribbon.
 IMPACT DOT MATRIX PRINTER
(Continued)

Advantages:
• They can be used with carbon paper to print
multiple copies at once.
• Their ribbons are not very expensive.
Disadvantages:
• They are very slow; they print one line or one
character at a time.
• They make so much noise when printing.
• Print heads are difficult to replace when they get
worn out.
• Their printout has low quality.
 DESKJET PRINTERS
• They use ink to print.
Advantages:
• They can print in colour.
• They are less expensive.
• They make less noise when printing.
• They are very light; some are portable.
• Their printout has good quality.
Disadvantages:
• Their ink is expensive.
• They cannot be used with carbon paper.
 LASER JET PRINTERS
• They use toner and laser light.
Advantages:
• They print very fast.
• They print quietly.
• They can print in colour or black.
• Their printout is of high quality.
 LASER JET PRINTERS (Continued)

Disadvantages:
• They are expensive to buy.
• Their toner is costly as well.
• They use laser light which is harmful when
exposed to it.
• They consume more electrical energy.
 RESOLUTION OF AN OUPUT DEVICE
• Resolution refers to the sharpness or clarity of
an output.
• Often resolution is quoted in dots per inch (dpi),

i.e. …..
• The higher the resolution of an output device,
e.g. a monitor or a printer, the better the quality
of the output.
• Among the printers, the laser jet printer gives the
highest resolution, and the impact dot matrix
printer the lowest.
 STORAGE DEVICES
• Storage devices are used to store user
data and computer software.
• There are three types of storage devices.
• The three types are magnetic devices,
optical devices and semiconductor
devices.
MAGNETIC STORAGE DEVICES
• These use magnetic properties to store
data.
• To make a storage device, a magnetic
powder, e.g. iron oxide, is coated on a
material.
• Data is stored by forming a magnetic
pattern on the powder, similar to way
music is recorded on audio tapes.
MAGNETIC STORAGE DEVICES
(Continued)

• There are two types of magnetic storage

devices:
• The two types are magnetic tapes and
magnetic disks.
• Magnetic tapes are used very rarely
nowadays because they are slow.
• There are two types of magnetic disk.
 MAGNETIC DISKS
• The two types of magnetic disk are floppy
disk and hard disk.
• The hard disk stores more data than the
floppy disk.
• The hard disk is make from hard material
such as aluminium.
• The floppy disk is made from soft material,
i.e. plastic.
 MAGNETIC DISKS (Continued)

• Floppy disks are no longer popular on

modern computers.
• Floppy disks are removable from the
computer.
• Hard disks are not removable from the
computer.
 OPTICAL DISKS
• Optical disks do not use magnetic
properties to store data.
• Optical disks use laser light to store data
on storage medium.
• Examples of optical disks are CDs, CD-
ROMs, and DVD-ROMs.
• Optical disks store more data than floppy
disks.
 SEMICONDUCTOR STORAGE
• A semiconductor storage device does not
use magnetism or light to store data.
• Semiconductor storage devices use
electronic chips to store data.
• An example of a semiconductor storage
device is a flash disk.
• Flash disks store more data than floppy
disks, and they are easier to carry.
• Some flash disks store more data than
CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs.
Examples of Storage Devices

Hard Disk Floppy Disk CD-ROM

Zip Disk Flash Disk

 STORAGE CAPACITY
• The storage capacity of a storage medium
is given in BYTES.
• One byte of data is equal to eight bits.
• For example, in a coding system called
Extended Binary Coded Decimal
Interchange Code (EBCDIC), the letter A is
represented by 11110001.
• 11110001 is one byte.
 STORAGE CAPACITY (Continued)

• 1kilobyte (kB) means one thousand bytes.

• 1megabyte (MB) means one million bytes.
• 1gigabyte (GB) means one billion bytes.
• 1terabyte (TB) means one trillion bytes.
 EXERCISE
1. How many bits make up one character?
2. How many characters can a 512MB flash
disk hold?
3. How many bits can a 160GB hard disk
hold?
4. What is the difference between 20b and
20B?
 DISK DRIVES
• In the computer, a disk (floppy, hard or
optical) is controlled by a mechanism
called a disk drive.
• Disk drives are identified by letters A, B, C,
D, and so on.
• Disk drives A and B are no longer used on
modern computers because they control
floppy disks.
 DISK DRIVES (Continued)

• Disk drive C is always for the first hard disk

which was installed.
• If a computer has two hard disk drives, the first
is C and the second is D.
• A computer denotes a flash disk as a removable
disk.
• For a computer with one hard disk drive, flash
disks are assigned letters D, E, F, G, and so on.
• To check how many and which drives a
computer has, you simply open the My
Computer folder on the Windows Desktop.
 THE PROCESSOR
• This is the most important part of computer
hardware.
• It has many parts that perform different
functions.
• The most fundamental parts of the processor
are as follows:
 Control Unit – CU
 Arithmetic and Logic Unit – ALU
 Random Access Memory – RAM
 Read Only Memory - ROM
.
THE PROCESSOR
PROCESSOR
CPU
CU

ALU
INPUT OUTPUT

RAM
ROM MAIN MEMORY

STORAGE
 THE CONTROL UNIT – CU
• Controls all functions of the computer,
e.g.
–Controlling operations of
input/output (i/o) systems.
–Controlling flow of data within the
processor and between the
processor and the peripheral
devices.
–Configuring and optimizing RAM to
ensure that it works efficiently.
 THE ALU
• This is the unit that does the actual processing
of data.
• It processes data by doing arithmetic and logic
operations.
• Arithmetic means addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division.
• Logic is comparing things so as to make
appropriate choices.
• The CU and the ALU are made on the same
computer chip called the Central Processing
Unit (CPU) or the microprocessor.
 RAM
• RAM is temporary storage.
• When power is switched off, everything is
erased from RAM.
Functions of RAM include the following:
– Receiving raw data from input.
– Receiving processed data from the ALU.
– Storing instructions required by the CU.
– Holding data awaiting output.
– Holding data awaiting storage.
 ROM
• ROM stores instructions that are used to start the
computer.
• Instructions in ROM cannot be erased.
• During startup, the computer follows instructions in ROM
to do the following:
– Read the amount of RAM present.
– Check that monitor, keyboard and mouse are
connected and working.
– Check that components on the motherboard are
working properly.
– Check that the hard disk drive is connected and
working.
– Load the operating system software in RAM from
storage.
 THE BIOS
• BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output Systems.
• Every computer has specifications such as hard
disk size, memory size, and processor speed.
• A bios is a unit (usually part of the ROM) which
keeps these specifications.
• During booting, the computer uses instructions in
the ROM to check that these parameters are
correct.
• Together, ROM and BIOS are called ROM-BIOS.
 BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF PROGRAM
EXECUTION
• The main function of the CPU is to execute, i.e.
to run a program.
• A program consists of several instructions , or
steps.
• Each instruction tells the computer to perform a
specific task.
• A program is executed one instruction at a time.
• Initially a program is loaded in RAM.
• The CU, the ALU and the RAM coordinate very
closely during program execution.
 HOW CU, ALU AND RAM WORK TOGETHER
• CU fetches an instruction from RAM and puts it in its
CIR (i.e. Current Instruction Register).
• CU decodes, i.e. interprets the instruction and
communicates with ALU.
• CU directs RAM to send data to ALU.
• ALU processes data and places the processed data in
its ACCUMULATOR.
• CU directs ALU to send processed data back to RAM.
• CU directs RAM to send processed data to Output or
Storage.
• Current Instruction Register and Accumulator are
examples of Registers found in the CPU.
 REGISTERS OF THE CPU
• The CPU has a number of registers.
• Registers are temporary storage locations.
• Registers are used because they work
faster than RAM.
• Because within the CPU data and
instructions must be transferred very
quickly, the CPU places current
instructions and data in the registers.
REGISTERS OF THE CPU (Continued)

• Some of the registers of the CPU are:

1. Current Instruction Register (CIR) in the CU
and is used to hold an instruction being
obeyed to process data.
2. Memory Data Register (MDR) in the CU used
to hold data being processed.
3. Accumulator in the ALU and is used to hold
data that has just been processed.
4. Memory Address Register (MAR) in the CU
used to hold the address of data being
processed.
 COMPUTER BUSES
• Buses are routes through which data and
instructions travel from one point to another in
the computer.
• The processor has many buses that convey
different signals.
• The capacity of a computer is also determined
by the size of its buses.
• The greater the bus, the faster the computer
because many signals can be transferred at the
same time.
 PROCESOR BUSES (Continued)

• Examples of buses in the computer are:

1. Data Bus which carries data signals
between the CPU and RAM.
2. Address Bus which carries addresses of
data between the CPU and RAM.
3. Control Bus which carries control
signals from the CPU to all other units.
 COMPUTER SOFTWARE
• Computer hardware requires software to
tell it what to do and how to do it.
• A computer consists of many, many
different types of software.
• Every software has a specific purpose in
the computer.
• Computer software is in three types –
Systems software, Utility software, and
Applications software.
 OPERATING SYSTEM
• This is the most important type of software in a
computer.
• Operating system is part of systems software.
• It is the one that tells the hardware what to do
and how to do it.
• It interprets the user’s commands.
• It acts as an interface, i.e. as a link, between
applications software and the hardware.
• It directs the flow of data from input to output or
storage.
 EXAMPLES OF OPERATING
SYSTEMS
• Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT, Me, 2000,
XP, Server 2003 and Vista.
• Unix
• Linux
• Mac OS 9, X
 UTILITY PROGRAMS
• Utility programs are those used for certain
purposes to extend the capability of the
Operating System.
• Examples of utilities are:
– Antivirus software, e.g. Norton, Dr. Solomon,
McAfee, AVG, Panda, Avast - for checking and
protecting a computer against viruses.
– Scandisk - for checking the integrity of disks.
– Disk Defragmenter - for correcting disks that have
become fragmented.
– Device drivers - for effecting communication
between input/output units, (e.g. keyboard, mouse,
monitor, printer) and the CPU.
 APPLICATIONS SOFTWARE
• This is software in a computer which users
employ to do their work.
• Whereas a computer may have one Operating
System software, it always has several
Applications software, all being serviced by the
same Operating System.
• Applications software interacts with users
directly – it is the one which knows how to
manipulate data the way the user wants it to be.
• It does not have the capacity to control or
interact with the hardware directly.
 EXAMPLES OF APPLICATIONS
SOFTWARE
• Word processors, e.g. Microsoft Word,
Amipro, WordStar, WordPerfect.
• Spreadsheets, e.g. Microsoft Excel, Lotus.
• Databases, e.g. Microsoft Access,
Paradox, dBase 7.
• Financial analysis software, e.g. Pastel.
• Payroll software, e.g. MicroPay
• Computer games
 STARTING THE COMPUTER
• Locate the power switches on the system
unit (or CPU) and on the monitor.
• Switch on the monitor.
• Switch on the system unit.
• Wait for the computer to be ready.
Starting a computer is also called BOOTING.
MICROSOFT
WINDOWS
 INTRODUCTION
• Microsoft Windows is an operating system
software.
• As an operating system, it directs and
monitors the operation of the computer.
• As an operating system, it makes it
possible for the user to use the computer
with less effort.
• Thus it makes a computer to be an
automatic machine.
 Windows Desktop
This is the screen that you come to when you
start Microsoft Windows.
 Parts of Windows Desktop
Desktop background
Icons

START button Clock

Open Program or Document Task Bar
 Computer Mouse
Right button Scroll Wheel

Left button

• A mouse is a pointing device.

• It is used to move a pointer on the screen.
 Pointing, Clicking and Double-clicking
• Pointing is moving a pointer on the screen
so that its tip is placed on a chosen area
or spot.
• Clicking is pressing and releasing a mouse
button.
• Double-clicking is pressing and releasing a
mouse button twice in rapid succession.
• Clicking is used to select an item.
• Double-clicking is used to start something,
e.g. to open a program, a folder or a file.
 Parts of a Window
Minimize button Restore button Close
Title bar
button

Menu bar

Scroll
Address button
box Scroll bar

Icons
 Functions of parts in a window
• Title bar
– Used to display the name of the open window.
– Used to move or drag a window.
• Minimize button
– Used to minimize a window so that only its
name is visible on the Taskbar.
• Maximize button
– Used to maximize a window so that it fills the
whole screen.
 Functions of buttons in a
window (Continued)

• Restore down button

– Used to return the window to the original size
before it was maximized.
• Close button
– Used to close a window.
 The Menu Bar
• A menu is a list of command options in a
computer.
• The menu bar is found just below the Title
bar.
• It shows the different menus present in a
window.
• Examples of menus are File, Edit, View,
Tools, and Help.
 Closing a window
• You can close a window in two ways:
1. Click the Close button, or
2. - Click File menu
- Point to Exit and click
 Moving a window
• A window can be moved from place to place
on the desktop.
• Ensure that the window is not maximized or
minimized before you start the procedure.
1. Point to the Title bar of the window. (Ensure
that it does not change shape.)
2. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the
window to another place.
3. Release the mouse button.
 Re-sizing a window
• You can change the size of a window by
doing the following:
1. Point to the edge of the window until the
pointer becomes a double-headed arrow.
2. Hold down the left mouse button and
drag the edge to a new position.
3. Release the mouse button.
 Scroll bar
• If the window has so many items that they
cannot all be visible, a scroll bar appears.
• A scroll bar is either horizontal or vertical.
• There is always a scroll button on the
scroll bar.
• To scroll your window, drag the scroll
button in an appropriate direction.
 My Computer
It is a window which shows the disk drives
connected to your computer.
 My Documents
It is a window which contains the
documents or files that you save in your
computer.
 Recycle bin
It is a window which contains documents
or folders that you have removed from
your computer.
 Control Panel
It is a window you use to customize the
appearance and functionality of your
computer.
CUSTOMIZING THE COMPUTER
• This is setting the computer so that it
appears and behaves the way you want.
• You use Control Panel to customize the
computer.
• Using Control Panel you can customize
the mouse, the keyboard, the printer, the
monitor, e.t.c.
 CUSTOMIZING WINDOWS DESKTOP
• Click on the START button.
• Click on Control Panel.
• Click on Appearance and Themes.
• Select what you want to customize, e.g.
– Change the computer’s theme
– Change the desktop background
– Choose a screen saver
– Change the screen resolution
 Folders
• Folders are used like box files or File
cabinets.
• They are used for organizing documents.
• A folder can have another folder inside it.
• A folder found inside another folder is called
a sub-folder.
• Folders can be made in any storage

location, e.g. hard disk, floppy disk, flash

disk, or inside another folder.
 Making Folders

Do the following to make a folder:

1. Open the place where you want to make
the folder.
2. Click File menu.
3. Point to New and click Folder.
4. Type the name of the folder and either
press the Enter Key or click outside the
name you have typed.
 WordPad
• WordPad is a word processor found within
Microsoft Windows.
• A word processor is a kind of computer
software for creating and editing
documents.
 WordPad
STARTING WordPad:
• Click the START button on the Task bar.
• Check on the Start Menu for WordPad and
click on it if you see it. If you don’t see
WordPad, proceed as outlined below.
1.Point to All Programs.
2.Point to Accessories.
3.Move to WordPad and click on it.
 Title bar
WordPad
Menu bar
Standard Toolbar
Formatting bar
 WordPad
SAVING A DOCUMENT IN WordPad:
• Saving is transferring work from the computer’s
memory, i.e. RAM, to the computer’s storage.
• To save your work in WordPad, do the following:
– Click File Menu.
– Click Save As…
– Open the place in which you want to save the work.
– Click in the File Name box and erase any name you
find there.
– Type the name you want to use for your document.
– Click Save
 Opening a saved document in
WordPad
• Start WordPad.
• Click File Menu.
• Open the storage location where the
document was saved.
• Click in the File Name box and type the
name of the document.
• Click Open.
 COPYING AND MOVING FILES
AND FOLDERS
• Open My Documents.
• Open the storage location where the file or
folder is.
• Right click the file or folder.
• Left click Copy (to copy file) or Cut (to move file).
• Open the storage location where you want to
place what you have copied or cut.
• Right click some where.
• Left click Paste.
MICROSOFT WORD
• What is Microsoft Word?
• Microsoft Word is a word processing software.
• A word processing software is used for typing,
formatting and editing word documents.
• Word documents are documents that contain
mainly text information.
• Word Processors are the most popular
software because they are easier to use and
almost everyone always wants to
communicate text messages with other
people.
 MICROSOFT WORD
Starting Microsoft Word
• Do one of the following to start Microsoft
Word:
– Look for the Microsoft Word icon on the
desktop and double click it.
– Click the Start button, look for Microsoft Word
on the Start Menu and click it.
– Click the Start button, point to All Programs,
point to Microsoft Office, point to Microsoft
Word and click.
 THE MICROSOFT WORD
WINDOW
• The Microsoft Word window has the usual
features of a window, i.e. Title bar, Menu
bar and tool bars.
• The toolbars in Microsoft Word have tools
for doing word processing.
• Examples of the popular toolbars are
Standard Toolbar, Formatting Toolbar
and Drawing Toolbar.
 THE MICROSOFT WORD WINDOW

Title bar Menu bar Standard Toolbar Formatting Toolbar

Drawing Toolbar
 CUSTOMIZING MICROSOFT WORD WINDOW
• You can customize the Microsoft Word by
removing or adding toolbars or by
changing the colour of the work area.
• To add or remove toolbars do the
following:
– Click the View menu.
– Point to Toolbars
– Click on the name of the toolbar to remove a
check mark or to add a check mark.
 CUSTOMIZING MICROSOFT WORD WINDOW

To change the background colour of the

window, do the following:
• Click the Format menu.
• Point to Background and click the colour
on the colour palette you want to apply.
TYPING A DOCUMENT IN MICROSOFT WORD
• Start Microsoft Word.
• Ensure that you have the Standard
Toolbar, the Formatting Toolbar and the
Drawing Toolbar present.
• Start typing your text.
• Press the Space bar to put spaces
between words.
• Press the Enter key to start a new
paragraph.
 MICROSOFT WORD
Formatting a document:
• This means applying some quality improving
features onto the document.
• Examples of formatting are:
– Bold
– Italics
– Underline
– Changing font type and size
– Aligning
– Indenting
– Changing colour of text
– Line spacing
– Bulleting
 MICROSOFT WORD
Formatting text in a document:
1. Highlight the text you want to format.
2. Click the appropriate formatting toolbar
icon on the formatting bar.
3. Click any where outside the highlighted
area to remove the highlight.
 MICROSOFT WORD
Editing a document
• This means making changes by removing
or adding text at appropriate points in the
document.
• Examples of editing are:
– Copy and paste
– Cut and paste
– Undo
– Re-do
 MICROSOFT WORD
Using Undo and Redo
• Undo reverses the changes made to a
document.
• Redo reverses the changes done by
Undo.
• Click the Undo icon on the Standard
Toolbar to reverse your action.
• Click the Redo icon on the Standard
Toolbar to reverse the changes made by
Undo.
 MICROSOFT WORD
Using Format Painter
• Format Painter is a tool used to apply the
formats from one part to another part of a
document.
• Highlight the part that has the formats you
want to apply to another part of your
document.
• Click the Format Painter icon on the
Standard Toolbar
MICROSOFT EXCEL
 MICROSOFT EXCEL
• What type of software is Microsoft Excel?
• Microsoft Excel is a type of software called
spreadsheet.
• A spreadsheet is a software program for
performing calculations, analyzing and
managing lists of data.
• Another popular spreadsheet program is
Lotus.
 STARTING MICROSOFT EXCEL
• Click the START button on the Task bar.
• Point to All Programs.
• Point to Microsoft Office.
• Move the pointer to Microsoft Excel and
click on it.
 THE MICROSOFT EXCEL
WINDOW
• In general, the Microsoft Excel window
looks like any other window in Microsoft
Windows.
• The Microsoft Excel window has
– The Title bar
– The Menu bar
– The Standard Toolbar
– The Formatting Toolbar
– The Drawing Toolbar
 BASIC FEATURES OF
MICROSOFT EXCEL
• As a spreadsheet, Microsoft Excel has the
following basic features:
– Workbooks - This is a file that contains one
or more worksheets.
– Worksheets – Data in a workbook is
organized in worksheets.
– A workbook is like your notebook, and a
worksheet is like pages in your notebook.
 BASIC FEATURES OF
MICROSOFT EXCEL
• A worksheet consists of Rows and
Columns.
• Rows are identified by the numbers on the
left side of the worksheet.
• Columns are identified by letters at the top
of the worksheet.
• The intersection of a row and a column is
called a CELL.
 CELL REFERENCES
• Every cell in a spreadsheet has a unique
reference or address.
• The cell reference or address is specified
by stating its column letter and row
number, e.g. A1, B25, R54.
• The name of the current cell is displayed
in the NAME BOX.
 CURRENT CELL
• A rectangular box that moves from one cell
to another in a worksheet is called a CELL
POINTER.
• The cell where the Cell Pointer is at any
time is called the CURRENT CELL.
• In a worksheet, data is always entered in
the current cell.
 FORMULA BAR
• The FORMULA BAR is located just above
the columns header row.
• The Formula Bar displays data entered in
the current cell.
• The Formula Bar is also used to edit data
entered in any cell.
MOVING THE CELL POINTER
• To move the cell pointer in a worksheet, do
one of the following:
– Click the cell you want the cell pointer to
move to.
– Use one of the Arrow Keys on your keyboard
to take the cell pointer to the required cell.
 TYPES OF WORKSHEET DATA
• You can enter three types of data in a
worksheet.
• The three types of worksheet data are:
– Labels
– Values
– Formulas
 LABELS
• Labels are used to give meaning to values
in a worksheet.
• An entry such as 67% does not make
sense unless we attach a label to state
what it means.
• Any data entry which contains an alphabet
character is a label.
• Labels are aligned left in cells, e.g.

MCOE
 VALUES
• Any numeric data entered in a cell is
called a value.
• Values are aligned right in cells, e.g.

200
 FORMULAS
• Formulas are used to calculate values.
• A formula is entered starting with the
EQUALS (=) sign.
• If the equals sign is not used, Microsoft
Excel looks at the entry as a label.
• Example of a formula is =A3-A4 or
=(A5-C8)/23.
 ENTERING DATA IN CELLS
• Select the cell in which you want to enter
the data.
• Type in the data.
• Press Enter or move to another cell using
one of the arrow keys.
• At the end of the row, press ENTER to
move to the beginning of the next row.
ENTERING DATA INTO SEVERAL
CELLS AT ONCE
• Select the cells where you want to enter
data. The cells do not have to be adjacent.
• Type the data and press CTRL+ENTER.
 FILLING IN A SERIES OF DATA
• Select the first cell in the range you want to fill.
• Enter the starting value for the series.
• Enter a value in the next cell to establish a
pattern.
• Select the cell or cells that contain the starting
values.
• Drag the fill handle over the range you want to
fill.
• To fill in increasing order, drag down or to the
right.
• To fill in decreasing order, drag up or to the left.
 CHANGING COLUMN WIDTH
AND ROW HEIGHT
• Drag the boundary on the right side of the
column heading until the column is the width you
want.
• For multiple columns, select the columns you
want to change, and then drag a boundary to
the right of a selected column heading.
• To fit the contents in a cell, double-click the
boundary to the right of the column heading.
 CHANGING COLUMN WIDTH
AND ROW HEIGHT
• To resize a row height, drag the boundary
below the row heading until the row is the
height you want.
• To resize multiple rows, select the rows
you want to change, and drag a boundary
below a selected row heading.
• To fit the contents in a cell, double-click
the boundary below the row heading.
 EDITING DATA IN CELLS
• Double-click the cell that contains the data
you want to edit.
• Edit the cell contents.
• To enter or cancel your changes, press
ENTER or ESC.
 COPYING AND MOVING DATA
• To copy data, select the cells that contain
the data you want to copy.
• Click the COPY icon on the Formatting
Toolbar.
• Click in the first cell of the range to copy
data to.
• Click the Paste icon on the Formatting
Toolbar.
• Press ENTER.
 COPYING AND MOVING DATA
• To move data, select the cells that contain
the data you want to move.
• Click the CUT icon on the Formatting
Toolbar.
• Click in the first cell of the range to move
data to.
• Click the Paste icon on the Formatting
Toolbar.
• Press ENTER.
 COPYING CELL FORMATS
• Select the cells you want to copy.
• Click Copy on the Standard Toolbar.
• Select the upper-left cell of the paste
area.
• Click the arrow to the right of Paste, and
click Paste Special.
• Click Formats.
• Press Enter.
 USING FORMULAS
• Formulas are equations that perform
calculations on values in your worksheet.
• A formula starts with an equal sign (=).
• For example, the following formula
multiplies 5 by 6 and then adds 20 to the
result.
• =20+5*6
 USING FORMULAS
• To use a formula do the
following:
• Click the cell in which you want
to enter the formula.
• Type = (an equal sign).
• Enter the formula.
• Press ENTER.
 USING FORMULAS
• Worksheets usually contain massive amounts of
related data.
• For example, a business may create a worksheet with
the following details:
1. Names of products purchased.
2. Cost price of products purchased.
3. Quantity of products purchased.
4. Cost of all products.
5. Selling price of products.
6. Revenue gained by selling all products.
7. Profit gained from the products.
 USING FORMULAS
• Simple formulas have disadvantages.
• This is because they have to be entered
many times to calculate different values.
• Formulas based on the cell references are
better.
• For example, if 20 is in cell A1, 5 in cell B1
and 6 in cell C1, it is better to enter a
formula as =A1+B1*C1 instead of =20+5*6
in cell D1.
 USING FORMULAS
• The advantage of using formulas that
contain references is that if you change a
value in one cell, changes are
automatically effected in all formulas that
contain the affected cell.
 EXERCISE
• Enter 20 in cell A1, 5 in cell B1 and 6 in
cell C1.
• Click in cell D1.
• Type the simple formula: = 20+5*6 and
press ENTER.
• Click in cell E1.
• Type the formula: =A1+B1*C1 and press
ENTER.
• Click in cell B1, type 7 and press ENTER.
• Compare the effects of the two formulas.
 AUTOMATING CALCULATIONS
• Enter the following data in a worksheet.

• Calculate the amount for each product.

• Calculate the TOTAL amount for all products.
 AUTOMATING CALCULATIONS
• Instead of repeating the calculation for the
AMOUNT for every product, do the following:
1. Click in cell D2 and enter the formula =B2*C2.
2. Click in cell D2 again.
3. Place the mouse pointer on the Fill Handle at
the bottom right corner of the Cell Pointer.
4. Drag down to cell D6 and release the mouse
button.
5. Click in cell D7 and enter the formula:
=Sum(D2:D6) to calculate the TOTAL amount.
 SORTING DATA
• Sorting data means presenting data so
that it has either an ascending or a
descending order.
• To sort data, do the following:
• Highlight the range of cells to sort (include
the row headings).
• Click the Data menu.
• Select the required sort order.
• Click OK.
 TOTALS AND SUBTOTALS
• Suppose that you order various products
for re-sale in your shop in a particular
week or month.
• At the end of the period you may want to
find the following information:
1. The amount of money spent on each
type of product.
2. The total amount of money spent on all
the products.
 TOTALS AND SUBTOTALS
• EXERCISE
1. Enter your data as shown below:
 TOTALS AND SUBTOTALS
2. Click in cell E2.
3. Type =Sum(E2:E16)
4. Press ENTER.
5. Click in cell E2 again.
6. Place the mouse pointer on the Fill Handle at the
bottom right corner of the Cell Pointer.
7. Drag down to cell E16 and release the mouse button.
8. Click the DATA menu and select SORT.
9. Click the arrow of the Sort by box and select
PRODUCT.
10. Click OK.
 TOTALS AND SUBTOTALS
11. Click the DATA menu again and select
Subtotals…
12. Select PRODUCT in the At each
change in: box.
13. Select Sum in the Use Function: box.
14. Select AMOUNT in the Add Subtotal to:
box.
15. Click OK.
16. Examine your data now.
 USING CHARTS
• A chart is a pictorial representation of data.
• Charts make it easy for users to see
comparisons, patterns, and trends in data.
• For example, a chart can be used to check
at a glance whether sales are falling or
rising over a period of time.
 TYPES OF CHARTS
• Different types of charts can be used in
Microsoft Excel.
• Examples of Microsoft Excel charts are:
• Column charts
• Bar charts
• Pie charts
• Line charts
 CREATING A CHART
• To create a chart, you must first enter the
data for the chart on the worksheet.
• Then select that data and use the Chart
Wizard to guide you through the process
of choosing the chart type and the various
chart options.
• A chart is linked to the worksheet data it is
created from and is updated automatically
when the worksheet data changes.
COMPUTER NETWORKS
What is a computer network?
• A computer which is not connected to another
computer is called a stand-alone computer.
• Stand-alone computers have limited benefits.
• Computers are often links to one another to
form computer networks.
• A computer network is an interconnection of
computers.
• It is a link between two or more computers.
 What are the reasons for
networking computers?
• To share data
– For example, a centralized database can be
used to store all the records of an
organization.
– The same data in the database can be
accessed by everyone.
• To share tasks
– Co-workers can collaborate on tasks to speed
up processing.
 What are the reasons for
networking computers? (Continued)

• To share computer resources

– Expensive resources, such as hard disk
drives, printers and software programs can be
shared.
– Sharing these resources greatly reduces
acquisition and maintenance costs.
• To make communication more efficient
and effective
– It is easier and cheaper for people to
communicate.
 How can computers be linked?
• There are many ways in which computers can
be networked.
• The type of computer network formed is
generally determined by the distance which the
network will cover.
• On the basis of distance, there are three basic
computer networks:
– Local Area Network (LAN)
– Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
– Wide Area Network (WAN)
 How can computers be linked?
(Continued)

• A LAN is a computer network within a room, a

building or a small area such as a school
campus.
• Computers in a LAN are separated by distances
of up to a few kilometers.
• A LAN enables the fast and effective transfer of
information within a group of users and reduces
operational costs.
• An example of a LAN is the MCOE computer
network.
 How can computers be linked?
(Continued)

• A MAN is a computer network within a

town or district.
• A MAN covers a longer distance than a
LAN.
• An example of a MAN is the computer
network used to connect branches of a
bank within a town.
 How can computers be linked?
(Continued)

• WANs connect computers separated by longer

distances, for example in different towns, in
different countries or different continents.
• WANs also use specialized and expensive
hardware and leased communications services.
• An example of a WAN is the Internet which
interconnects many computer networks in the
world.
How can computers be linked in
a LAN? (Continued)

• The way computers and other resources

are laid out is known as topology.
• There are various LAN topologies in use.
• Examples of LAN topologies are:
– Star topology
– Ring topology
– Bus topology
– Tree topology
– Mesh topology
 STAR TOPOLOGY
• In this topology, there is a central
computer called the host or server to
which all other nodes are linked.
• The computers connected to the host are
called terminals or workstations or
slaves or clients.
STAR TOPOLOGY (Continued)

Host
 STAR TOPOLOGY (Continued)

• A high speed computer, e.g. a

minicomputer or a mainframe computer,
can be used as a server.
• A star network is also commonly known as
a client-server network.
 STAR TOPOLOGY (Continued)

Advantages of star topology

• It is relatively cheaper because computer
resources, e.g. printers and software are
concentrated on the server.
• There is better or improved security and control
for data and other resources.
• It is cheaper to install and easier to implement.
• A faulty client does not affect network traffic
between other clients.
 STAR TOPOLOGY (Continued)

Disadvantages of star topology

• The whole network is affected when the
server is down.
• The whole network is affected if the
server is slow.
• Extra hardware is required in order to
extend the network beyond the limit of
the star network.
• Requires more cable length.
 RING NETWORK
• There is no host and no slave; all the
computers are peers.
• Computers are connected to a cable that
runs round forming a ring.
Peer

Peer Peer

Peer
 RING NETWORK (Continued)

• Because there is no host computer to

control communication, a special signal
called a token is sent round the network.
• The computer with the token is the one
that is able to send while the other
computers can receive only.
 RING NETWORK (Continued)

Advantages of ring topology

• This type of LAN is faster than the star
network.
• There are no signal collisions during
transmission.
• All stations have equal access.
• Because each station on the ring acts as a
repeater, ring networks can span longer
distances.
 RING NETWORK (Continued)

Disadvantages of ring topology

• There is poor security for data.
• It is the most expensive topology.
• Failure of one node may affect others.
• For these reasons, ring networks are no
longer popular.
 BUS NETWORK
• In this network, a cable called a bus runs
through.
• All the computers in the network are linked
to this cable.

Bus
 BUS NETWORK (Continued)

• Sometimes computers may transmit

signals at the same time.
• Transmitted signals are broadcast.
• Every computer receives a transmitted
signal but checks if the signal is its own.
 BUS NETWORK (Continued)

Advantages of bus topology

• Theoretically, this is the fastest network.
• It is easier to connect a computer to the
bus.
• It requires less cable length than star
network.
 BUS NETWORK (Continued)

Disadvantages of bus topology

• There is a possibility of signal collisions.
• The entire network shuts down if there is a break
in the bus.
• The process of preventing signal collisions
makes this network slow and expensive
practically.
• Requires terminators at the end of the bus.
• It is difficulty to identify the problem if the
network shuts down.
 BUS NETWORK (Continued)

How signal collisions are prevented

• A special technique known as carrier sense
multiple access/collision detection
(CSMA/CD) is used.
• CSMA/CD works as follows:
– A computer wishing to transmit first listens in to check
if there is no signal on the network.
– If no signal is detected, the computer sends its signal
and listens in again to be sure that no other computer
transmitted at the same time.
 BUS NETWORK (Continued)

• How signal collisions are prevented

(Continued)

– If another signal is detected, both computers

terminate transmission and wait a random
length of time.
– The procedure is repeated until each
computer sends its signal.
TREE TOPOLOGY
MESH TOPOLOGY
 COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
• A communications channel is a link
between nodes on a network.
• It is a transport medium that conveys
signals from one network node to another.
• A communications channel can either be
wired or wireless.
• Communications channels differ from each
other mainly in the amount of data signals
which they can transmit at a time.
 COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

• The capacity or size of a communications

channel is known as bandwidth.
• Bandwidth is the amount of information that
can be sent through a communications
channel in a given amount of time.
• A channel with a greater bandwidth carries
more signals, and therefore transmits data
faster than a channel with a lower bandwidth.
 COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

• Bandwidth is measured by the number of

bits per second (bps) that can be sent over
a connection.
• For example, the bandwidth of a
connection can be quoted as 10Mbps, i.e.
10 megabits per second.
COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

WIRED CHANNELS
• Wired channels form physical links.
• Examples are UTP, Coaxial cable and
Optical fibre.
UTP
• UTP stands for Unshielded Twisted Pair.
• UTP consists of a pair of copper wires
twisted around each other.
COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

UTP
 COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

Advantages of UTP
• The cables are cheaper.
• UTP is easier to install.
• Modern UTP (e.g. Cat 6) has higher data
transfer rates or bandwidth.
Disadvantages of UTP
• Data transfer rates are low for old UTP.
• It has a distance limit of approximately 100m.
• There is more environmental signal interference.
COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

Coaxial cable
• A coaxial cable consists of a central
copper wire as one conductor surrounded
by a mesh of wire as outer conductor.
COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

• Coaxial cable
 COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

Advantages of coaxial cable

• Coaxial cables transmit data faster than
UTP because their bandwidth is larger.
• Coaxial cables can cover longer distances
than UTP.
• There is less signal interference from the
environment.
 COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

Disadvantages of coaxial cable

• They are more costly to produce and to
install than UTP.
• They are very bulky, i.e. large and heavy.
• They are not supported by some network
standards.
• For these reasons, coaxial cables are not
very commonly used in computer networks
nowadays.
 COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

Fibre Optic
• This is a very thin rod of extremely pure
glass the size of a human hair.
• Signals are transmitted in form of light
instead of in form of an electric current.
• Each fibre is bent at a special angle to
allow for total-internal reflection of light.
COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

Fibre optic
 COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

Advantages of fibre optic

• Fibre optic cables carry more data because they
have a much greater bandwidth than metal
cables.
• Fibre optic cables are less susceptible than
metal cables to interference.
• Fibre optic cables are much thinner and lighter
than metal wires.
• Data can be transmitted digitally (the natural
form for computer data) rather than analogically.
 COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

Disadvantages of fibre optic

• The main disadvantage of fiber optics is that the
cables are expensive to buy and install.
• In addition, they are more fragile than wire.
• The glass can be affected by various chemicals
including hydrogen sulphide gas.
• Most fibres become opaque when exposed to
radiation.
• Optical fibres cannot be joined together as easily
as copper cable and require additional training
of personnel to handle.
 COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

WIRELESS CHANNELS
• Wireless channels allow for the sending of data
as electromagnetic waves.
• Examples are infrared, radio, Bluetooth,
microwaves, and satellite.
• The advantage of some of these channels is that
data can be sent over very long distances by
remote.
• Remote means no physical connection between
sending and receiving nodes.
 COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

• The picture below shows satellite dishes.

 COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

• A satellite dish transmits and receives signals to

and from a satellite which is positioned in space
above the earth.
• Using satellite communication, messages can be
sent round the globe in just a fraction of a
second.
• A common type of dish is the VSAT such as the
one at TVTC.
• VSAT stands for Very Small Aperture Terminal.
COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

• Bluetooth symbol
COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
(Continued)

• Example of Bluetooth network

 OTHER NETWORK
REQUIREMENTS
• Transport media are one of the three
things required in order to link computers
together.
• The other two are protocols and a
naming system.
 OTHER NETWORK
REQUIREMENTS (Continued)

• Protocols are a set of rules that govern the

way communication has to be established.
• A naming system or conversion controls
how machines are identified on the
network.
 OTHER NETWORK
REQUIREMENTS (Continued)

ETHERNET
• Ethernet has become the most common
transport technology.
• Ethernet enables computers to
interconnect on a local area network.
• Ethernet uses coaxial, twisted-pair or fibre
optic cables as a communication medium.
 OTHER NETWORK
REQUIREMENTS (Continued)

TCP/IP
• The protocol that has become the
standard is the Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol.
• TCP/IP enables different types of
computers and networks on the Internet to
communicate with one another.
 OTHER NETWORK
REQUIREMENTS (Continued)

TCP/IP
• TCP/IP consists of two sets of protocols.
• TCP defines how data is transferred across the
Internet to their destination.
• IP defines how data is divided into chunks,
called packets, for transmission; it also
determines the path each packet takes between
computers.
• On a network each computer is assigned an
address called IP address so that signals can
be delivered to the correct destination.
 OTHER NETWORK
REQUIREMENTS (Continued)

TCP/IP
• For example, 165.165.38.19 is the IP
address of Google.
DNS
• Hosts or nodes on a network are identified
by names derived from a naming
conversion called Domain Name System.
 OTHER NETWORK
REQUIREMENTS (Continued)

DNS
• Because IP addresses are difficult to
remember by heart, a naming system was
introduced to simplify the task.
• Each IP address is assigned a domain
name.
• A DNS server translates names into IP
addresses.
 OTHER NETWORK
REQUIREMENTS (Continued)

DNS
• When a user enters a domain name e.g.
www.google.com, into the web browser,
the local DNS server tries to translate it to
an IP address by consulting its database.
 OTHER NETWORK
REQUIREMENTS (Continued)

DNS
• If it cannot find the address then the local
DNS server consults other DNS servers
on the Internet.
• If the domain name cannot be resolved
by all the DNS servers, the Web browser
displays an error message such as The
webpage cannot be found.
 OTHER NETWORK
REQUIREMENTS (Continued)

DNS
• The IP address naming system uses a
name system that has names in levels.
• Examples of the top-level domain, also
known as the primary domain, are names
that end with .com, .edu, .org, .gov, e.t.c.
• .com means commercial organisation.
• .edu means education organisation.
 OTHER NETWORK
REQUIREMENTS (Continued)

DNS
• The top-level domain may also define the
country in which the DNS server is
located, e.g. .zm (Zambia), .uk (United
Kingdom), .za (South Africa).
• All computers on the Internet are required
to register to one of these primary domain
names.
 OTHER NETWORK
REQUIREMENTS (Continued)

DNS
• For example, a domain name such as
business_studies.tvtc.edu.zm is
interpreted as follows:
– zm defines the country Zambia.
– edu shows that the network belongs to an
educational institution.
– tvtc gives the name of that educational
institution.
– business_studies gives the name of the sub
network within tvtc.
SETTING UP AN ETHERNET LAN
• To set up a LAN you need the following
resources.
– A hub or a switch
– Communications channel, e.g. wired or
wireless
– Communications software
– A network interface card (NIC)
SETTING UP AN ETHERNET LAN
(Continued)

• Hub or switch is used to interconnect computers

and other network resources or segments.
• Communications channel is required as a
passage of signals between network devices.
• Communications software is required for
controlling the hardware and the transmission of
signals.
• A network interface card is required for
connecting network devices onto the LAN.
SETTING UP AN ETHERNET LAN
(Continued)

• A hub differs from a switch in certain respects.

• A switch is more “intelligent” than a hub.
• When a hub receives data meant for one device,
it broadcasts the signal to all the devices on the
network.
• Unlike a hub, a switch first identifies the owner of
the data and then sends only to that destination.
• A switch also works faster than a hub.
 EXAMPLE OF AN ETHERNET
LAN
.

SWITCH
SWITCH
HUB
 THE INTERNET
• Internet is an interconnection of computer
networks.
• Internet is rated one of the most significant
human inventions of all time.
• The Internet offers many possibilities for
individuals and organizations.
 THE INTERNET (Continued)

There are three main functions of the Internet:

1. Communication
• One can contact and exchange
information with friends and organisations
anywhere in the world.
2. Retrieval of information
• One can have access to a broad range of
data and information from other computers
around the globe.
3. Commerce
• One can advertise, buy and sell goods
and services on the Internet.
 CONNECTING A LAN TO THE
INTERNET
• To connect a LAN to the Internet you need
the following resources:
– Router
– Internet software
– Internet service provider (ISP)
– Communications channel (wired or wireless)
 CONNECTING A LAN TO THE
INTERNET (Continued)

• The router is required for two reasons:

– To split the signal into packets for effective
transmission.
– To identify the most convenient route for each
packet to take to its destination.
• Internet software is required for controlling
the hardware and for correcting errors
during transmission.
• An ISP provides advanced and expensive
resources for accessing the Internet.
ROUTER
 MODEM and NIC
• Modem stands for Modulator Demodulator.
• A modem is a device that connects the computer
to the telephone line.
• In a computer data signals travel in parallel
lines, but in a telephone wire the signals travel
serially, i.e. one behind the other.
• We say that computers handle data in digital
form and telephone wires transmit data in
analog form.
• A modem is used to convert data from digital to
analog, and from analog to digital.
MODEM and NIC (Continued)
MODEM and NIC (Continued)
 MODEM and NIC (Continued)

• NIC stands for Network Interface Card.

• A NIC connects a computer to a LAN, not
to a telephone wire.
• A NIC also does the conversion of signals
from digital to analog and vice versa.
• Generally, a NIC transmits signals faster
than a modem.
• A NIC has a unique number which
identifies every computer on a network.
 MODEM and NIC (Continued)

NIC
 BROWSING THE INTERNET
• To browse the Internet is simple.
• You simply start the Internet browser
software.
• If you already know the URL, i.e. the
address of what you want, you simply type
it in the address box in the browser and
then click on a button to get to the
destination.
 BROWSING THE INTERNET
(Continued)

• URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator.

• An example of a URL is
http://www.yahoo.com
• Web browser is a software program that
connects your computer to the Internet.
• Examples of web browsers are Internet
Explorer, Mozilla FireFox and Opera.
• The best way to browse the Internet is to
use an Internet Search Engine.
 BROWSING THE INTERNET
(Continued)

• A Search Engine is a software program in which

the user types keywords instead of the URL.
• Examples of search engines are Google and
Yahoo.
• The Search Engine uses the keywords to locate
information in servers on the Internet.
• It lists down links to websites or web pages
where the actual details are found.
 BROWSING THE INTERNET
(Continued)

• The web pages are listed in the order of

the number of visits made to that page.
• Pages that are visited more frequently are
listed at the top.
• An example of a list of links given by a
search engine after entering the keywords
Search Engine is shown below.
 BROWSING THE INTERNET
(Continued)

• Web search engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A web search engine is designed to search for
information on the World Wide Web and FTP servers.
The search results are generally presented in a list of ...
History - How web search engines work - See also -
References

• AltaVista
AltaVista provides the most comprehensive search
experience on the Web! ... SEARCH: Worldwide or
Select a country RESULTS
 BROWSING THE INTERNET
(Continued)

• To read the article, you click on the link.

• The links are shown as underlined texts,
and most of them are in blue.
• You can narrow your search by using
Advanced Search.
• After you click on the Advanced Search
link, you enter your preferences in a form.
 BROWSING THE INTERNET
(Continued)

• The Internet is a global infrastructure of

computer networks.
• The Internet is used to access information
which is stored in the World Wide Web
(WWW).
• The World Wide Web is an infrastructure
of information.
 BROWSING THE INTERNET
(Continued)

• Websites consist of Web pages.

• The information in the WWW is found in
Websites.
• Actually, websites are servers with huge
databases.
• A web page is a place within the website
where documents are located.
 BROWSING THE INTERNET
(Continued)

• The URL
http://homepages.uel.ac.uk/u0311625/topo
logy.html
, is the web page of a document.
• The website or server name is
homepages.uel.ac.uk
• The document name on the web page is
topology, and is in hypertext markup
language (html) format.
 ELECTRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL)
• This is a facility available when one
connects to the Internet.
• One can send and receive text and both
video and audio messages using e-mail.
• To send e-mail, one types the message,
indicates the address to receive and clicks
a button.
 ELECTRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL)
(Continued)

• E-mail is meant to make mail more

efficient.
• It also solves the problem of so much
paper wastage, unattended to telephones
and delays associated with traditional mail.
• It is also extremely cheap to send
messages by e-mail.
• The same message can be sent to many
people at the same time.
 ELECTRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL)
(Continued)

• To create an email address, you do the

following:
– Start the browser software, e.g. Internet
Explorer.
– Click on the mail client, e.g. Gmail in google.
– Click on Create an Account.
– Complete the form which appears and select
submit at the end of the form.
 UNDERSTANDING EMAIL
ADDRESSES
• Normally an email address consists of
three parts.
• These parts are:
– Username
– Server name
– Top-level domain, i.e. primary domain name.
• The username is separated from the rest
by the @ symbol.
 UNDERSTANDING EMAIL
ADDRESSES (Continued)

• For example, in the address

[email protected], the username is
mstembo, the host computer name is tvtc,
and the primary domain name is edu in the
country Zambia.
• Note that the name that follows the @
symbol immediately is always the host
computer name, i.e. the server name.
 INTRANET
• The Internet consists of many networks.
 IT SECURITY
• Security refers to the defence necessary to ward
off threats imposed on IT resources.
• Security is ensuring that resources are free from
unauthorised internal and external manipulation.
• There are two types of security: physical
security and data security.
• Data security ensures that data, information and
software are safe from internal and external
threats.
• Physical security ensures that all the various
types of hardware are safe.
 TYPES OF THREATS
Some of the threats are as follows:
– Unauthorised access of individuals to data storage.
– Incorrect use of hardware and software, media or
computer rooms.
– Unauthorised manipulation of data files or
equipment.
– Theft of data or hardware.
– Fire/water.
– Environmental conditions, e.g. temperature and
humidity.
– Viruses and other malicious code.
 MEASURES TO IMPROVE ON
SECURITY
• Examples of possible measures are:
• Keeping all doors to computer rooms
locked so that access is upon permission
granted.
• Locking computers so that only personnel
with computer keys can unlock and use
them.
• Using passwords to start computers and to
open files.
 MEASURES TO IMPROVE ON
SECURITY (Continued)

• Installing alarm systems so that the

presence of intruders, fire, smoke, water
etc, can be identified.
• Installing air conditioners so that the room
temperature and humidity are
automatically regulated
 MEASURES TO IMPROVE ON
SECURITY (Continued)

• Backing up all data and programs so that

should the data and programs that are
used become corrupt, backups can
quickly be used.
• Keeping data and program backups in a
separate room which is also secured.
• Installing antivirus software and keeping
it updated.
 MEASURES TO IMPROVE ON
SECURITY (Continued)

• Installing Firewalls to scrutinize all signals

that enter or leave the computer or the
network.
• Training users about how to be security
conscious and how to react in an event of
a disaster.
• Training users how to properly use
software and hardware.
 COMPUTER VIRUSES
• A computer virus is a program that is
meant to cause some kind of damage or
discomfort when it is activated on an
infected computer.
• Virus is a general term, but viruses are in
categories.
 COMPUTER VIRUSES (Continued)

• Viruses are those malicious codes that are

capable of replicating themselves and attack
computer programs in memory.
• A Trojan horse is a program disguised as
something useful, which when run does damage
to the computer system while appearing to do
something else.
• A virus that propagates itself across computer
networks, usually via e-mail, is referred to as a
worm.
• The increase in transactions over the Internet
has greatly increased the chance of virus
infection.
 HOW COMPUTERS BECOME
INFECTED WITH VIRUSES
• There are many ways in which a computer may
become infected by a virus.
• Some of the common ones are as follows:
– Transfer of removable storage media, e.g.
floppies, CDs and flash disks, from one computer
to another.
– Through e-mail; when you receive and open an
infected e-mail, your computer gets infected.
– Through downloads, e.g. of music, pictures,
videos, documents and software on the Internet.
 HOW TO MINIMISE VIRUS
ATTACKS
To minimise the possibility of your
computer getting infected by viruses,
observe the following guidelines:
• Avoid exchanging removable storage
media with other people.
• Don’t read e-mail from people you do not
know.
• Don’t read e-mail from people you know
but from whom you do not expect e-mail.
 HOW TO MINIMISE VIRUS
ATTACKS (Continued)

• Avoid the temptation to download anything

you find interesting on the Internet.
• Don’t click on pop ups and other adverts
that flash on your screen as you browse
the Internet.
• Search for information by typing keywords
in the Search Engine.
 HOW TO MINIMISE VIRUS
ATTACKS
• Ensure that your computer has latest
versions of antivirus software.
• Always update the antivirus software from
the Internet.
• Always scan your computer for viruses.
 HACKERS AND CRACKERS
• A hacker is a person who gains remote
access to a computer or network not
necessarily for bad motives.
• A cracker is a person who also gains
remote access to someone’s computer or
network but with the intension to cause
havoc.
 HACKERS AND CRACKERS
(Continued)

• To protect yourself against hackers, you should

use very secure passwords and encrypt your
data during transmission.
• Secure passwords are those that do not use
any names of people, organisations and things
like dates which a cracker can easily decode.
• Secure passwords should contain
alphanumeric characters that should be
extremely difficult to guess by anyone, and
should be long.
 HACKERS AND CRACKERS
(Continued)

• Hackers and crackers use very sophisticated

methods to crack passwords.
• They use advanced programs which are capable
of unlocking what you may think is very secure.
• One approach to defeat them is to ensure that
you don’t use the same password for a long
time.
• However, should you forget the password you
will not be allowed access to your own data or
computer system.