Course:

Introduction to computing

Dr. Nokpo Anderson

[email protected]
0709235397

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Objectives
Master technical vocabulary related to
computing and information technology
Read, comprehend, and analyze technical
documents accurately
Communicate clearly about technical topics
through writing and speaking
Develop professional communication skills for
the tech industry

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 Unit 1 :
History of computing

3 History of computing
Course aim:
Identify key individuals, inventions, and time
periods that were pivotal in the development of
computers and information technology.
Explain how technological advances enabled
progression from early calculating tools to
modern electronic computers.

Analyze how the capabilities and applications of

computers changed across different historical
eras.

4 History of computing
Foreword
 Reading
Although computer science was established as a science only
in the 1940s, interest in computing and computation has a
very long history. Early Babylonians invented the abacus, a
simple counting device in order to keep a record of their
goods. It consisted of a counting table, which was a specially
marked flat surface where small stones could serve as
markers. Alternatively, it comprised beads strung on rods
that were in turn mounted in a rectangular frame. The
positions of the beads represented stored values and the
output could then be read off. In the early 17th
century, Napier’s bones was a mechanism created to
simplify the operations of multiplication and division by
reducing them to simple tasks of addition and subtraction. A
series of numbers were written on narrow strips of bone.
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1. Some of the key inventions
Here are some of the key inventions that were
important milestones in the history of computers:
1.1 The Abacus
A manual counting device used for basic math
calculations, consisting of beads or stones moved on
rods. One of the earliest computing aids.
1.2 Step reckoner
Step reckoner - A mechanical calculator invented in
the 1600s that could add and subtract through
stepped drums representing digits. An early adding
machine.
1.3 Human operator
Refers to early computers that required humans to
manually
6 operate them, carrying out tasks like
changing cables or reading printouts.
 1.4 Alan Turing (Colossus)
Alan Turing was a computer scientist who led the team
that built the Colossus, an early electronic computer used
to crack codes in World War 2.
1.5 Vacuum tube
An early electronic component used in early computers to
control electricity flow. Larger and less reliable than
modern transistors.
1.6 Transistor
A small semiconductor device used to amplify or switch
electronic signals and electrical power. Smaller and more
reliable than vacuum tubes.
1.7 Personal computer
A small, affordable computer designed for use by an
individual. Became popular for home and office use in the
1980s
7 with machines like the Apple Macintosh.
 Unit 2:
Introducing Computer Systems

8 Introduction to Computers
Preview and Objectives
Identify the various parts of a computer
system and what each does.
Identify various Operating Systems.
Identify major software applications packages
and what they do.
Use computers in the business workplace and
other fields.

9 Introduction to Computers
 Definition of a
computer
By definition, a computer is an electronic
device that inputs data, processes
data(converting it into information that is useful
to people) outputs and stores information.
Computers are controlled by programmed
instructions that transform the data into
meaningful information.
Generally a Computer is a device that accepts
input, processes it, stores data, and
produces output.

10 Introduction to Computers
Information Processing Cycle
Steps followed to process data
Input
Processing
Output
Storage

11 Introduction to Computers
 Input
Input: Information provided to the computer by
a person, the environment, or another
computer.
Examples of Input
words and symbols
numbers
pictures
audio signals from a microphone
signals from another computer
temperature, speed, pressures, etc. from sensors

12 Introduction to Computers
Processing
Processing - manipulation of data.
 Data are symbols that represent raw facts,
objects, and ideas about people, places, events,
and things that are of importance in an
organization.
 A computer program or software is a series of
instructions that tell a computer how to carry out
a processing task.
Examples of Processing
 Arithmetic calculations
 Sorting a list
 Modifying pictures
 Drawing graphs

13 Introduction to Computers
 Output
Output - the result produced by a computer
after processing the data.
Output device –displays, prints, or transmits the
results after processing.
Examples of Output
images on a monitor
printed documents
sounds
signals to device controllers

14 Introduction to Computers
Memory and Storage
Memory - the area of a computer that
temporarily holds data that is being processed
or waiting to be processed, stored, or output.
Storage - The area where data can be left on a
permanent basis while it is not needed for
processing.
Examples of Storage
magnetic disks
CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory)
magnetic tapes
Flash disk
Memory card
Floppy disk

15 Introduction to Computers
Personal and Home Uses of
Computers
 Computers allow people.
 Shopping online
 Playing games with other
people
 Work from home
 Entertainment such as
listening to music,
watching videos etc.
 Enable communication
through the use of
(electronic mails) e-mails ,
chats etc.
Introduction to Computers 16
Business Uses of Computers
 Computers allow companies
to keep large amounts of
information at hand.
 Databases
 Makes ordering and
tracking resources quicker
and easier.
 Allows people to have
meetings from different
locations.
 Helps in information
management which eases
the process of decision
making .
 Computers allow people
across the world to
communicate easily.Introduction to Computers 17
Educational Uses of Computers
The Internet allows
access to hundreds of
online research
materials.
Allows colleagues to
correspond quickly
about ongoing research.
Eases the process of
analysing research
data.

Introduction to Computers 18
Parts of a Computer System
Computer systems have four parts
Hardware
Software
Data
User (people)

19 Introduction to Computers
 Parts of a Computer System
Computer hardware:
A computer's hardware consists of electronic
devices; the parts you can see and touch.
Inotherwords these are tangible parts of a
computer.
The term "device" refers to any piece of
hardware used by the computer, such as a
keyboard, monitor, modem, mouse, etc.
These are mechanical devices that make up the
computer.

20 Introduction to Computers
Computer Hardware
Components/equipment

 Display Device
(Monitor or LCD
screen)
 System Unit
 Floppy disk drive
 CD ROM drive
 Hard disk drive
 Keyboard
 Mouse
21 Introduction to Computers
 Other hardware components
DVD drive (Digital Versatile Disk)
CD writer (Compact disk)
Sound card and speakers
Modem (Modulate and Demodulate)
Printers.

22 Introduction to Computers
Peripherals
A peripheral device designates equipment
that might be added to a computer system to
enhance its functionality.
Examples:
Printer
Digital camera
Scanner
Joystick

23 Introduction to Computers
 Parts of a Computer System
Computer Software
Is the set of instructions that makes the computer
perform tasks.
The software is a part of the computer you cannot
touch but is very important.
 The software is all the programming that makes
the computer run; controlling everything that the
computer does.
For any computer to function, it needs to have
software installed on it.

24 Introduction to Computers
 Parts of a Computer System
Data:
Data consists of raw facts, which the computer
can manipulate and process into information that
is useful to people.
Computerized data is digital, meaning that it has
been reduced to digits, or numbers. The computer
stores and reads all data as numbers.
Users:
People operating the computer.
Tell the computer what to do.

25 Introduction to Computers
 Essential Computer Hardware
A computer’s hardware devices falls into one of
the four categories;
1. Processor
2. Memory
3. Input and Output
4. Storage

26 Introduction to Computers
 Essential Computer Hardware
Processing Devices
The procedure that transforms raw data into useful
information is called processing.
The processor is like the brain of the computer.
Organizes and carries out instructions from either
the user or software.
Manipulate the data.
Most computers have several processors.
Central Processing Unit (CPU) refers to a
computer’s processor.

27 Introduction to Computers
Essential Computer Hardware
 Memory devices
 Memory is made up of one or more sets of chips
that Store data or program instructions either
temporarily or permanently. Memory is divided
into two types:
a) Random Access Memory (RAM)
 RAM holds data and program instructions temporarily
while the CPU works with them.
 RAM is volatile, meaning it holds data only when the
power is on. When the power is off, RAM's contents are
lost.
 The “random” in RAM implies that any portion of RAM
can be accessed at anytime. This helps make RAM very
fast.
 More RAM results in a faster system.
28 Introduction to Computers
 Essential Computer Hardware
b) Read Only Memory (ROM)
 Permanent storage of programs.
 ROM is called non-volatile memory because it never loses
its contents.
 Holds instructions that the computer needs to operate.

 Memory is measured in terms of:

 Kilobyte (KB) - 1,000 bytes
 Megabyte (MB) - 1,000,000 bytes
 Gigabyte (GB) - 1,000,000,000 bytes
 Terabyte (TB) - 1,000,000,000,000 bytes.

29 Introduction to Computers
 Position of RAM and ROM on the MotherBoard

30 Introduction to Computers
 Essential Computer Hardware
Input and Output Devices
Input devices accept data and instructions from
the user or from another computer system.
Output devices return processed data to the user
or to another computer system.
Input devices include: keyboard, mouse, scanner,
digital camera, microphone etc.
Output devices include: monitor, printer, stereo
speakers, headphones etc.
Communications devices (such as modems
and network interface cards) perform both input
and output, allowing computers to share
information.

31 Introduction to Computers
Essential Computer Hardware
 Storage Devices
 The purpose of storage is to hold data
permanently, even when the computer is
turned off.
 Storage devices hold data not currently being
used by the CPU.
 Data is commonly stored on a magnetic or
optical disk.
 A disk drive is a device that reads data from
and writes data to a disk. Most new computers
feature a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive,
and an optical disk drive.
 The most common optical storage devices are
32 CDROM
Introduction and DVD-ROM drives.
to Computers
Computer Software
Software is a set of instructions that drive a
computer to perform specific tasks.
These instructions tell the machine’s physical
components what to do.
A set of instructions is often called a program.
When a computer is using a particular program,
it is said to be running or executing the
program.
The two most common types of programs are
system software and application software.

33 Introduction to Computers
Computer Software
1) System software: Is any program that controls the
computer’s hardware or that can be used to
maintain the computer in some way so that it runs
more efficiently.
 System Software provides a platform for running
application software.
 There are three basic types of system software:
a) An operating system tells the computer how to
use its own components. All computers require an
operating system.
 The OS tells the computer how to interact with
the user and its own devices.
 Examples of operating systems include Windows,
Macintosh operating system and Linux.
34 Introduction to Computers
Computer Software
b) A network operating system allows
computers to communicate and share data
across a network while controlling network
operations and overseeing the network’s
security. Example is Windows server 2003.
c) A utility is a program that makes the
computer system easier to use or performs
highly specialized functions.
 Utilities are used to manage disks,
troubleshoot hardware problems, and
perform other tasks that the operating
system itself may not be able to do. For
example a Symantec antivirus, Partition
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Magic etc.
Introduction to Computers
Computer Software
2) Application Software: Tells the computer how to
accomplish specific tasks, such as word processing or
drawing, for the user.
 Some of the major categories of these applications
include:
 Word processing software for creating text-based
documents
 Spreadsheets for creating numeric-based documents
such as budgets.
 Presentation programs for creating and presenting
electronic slide shows.
 Graphics programs for designing illustrations or
manipulating photographs, movies etc.
 Database management software for building and
manipulating large sets of data such as names,
Introduction to Computers
36 addresses etc.
Data and Information
 Data are the words, numbers, symbols and
graphics that describe people, events, things, and
ideas.
 Data becomes information when it is used as the
basis for initiating some action or for making a
decision.
 Information are the words, numbers, and graphics
used as the basis for human actions and decisions.
 A set of data that has been given a name is called
a file.
 A file that a user can open and use is called
document.
 A folder is a place where groups of computer files
and other folders can be kept and organized.
37 Introduction to Computers
 Files
A file is a named collection of data, stored on a
storage medium such as a hard disk.
There are two types of files
Data files contains text, images, or other data
that can be used by a program.
Executable files contains programs or
instructions that tell the computer how to perform
a task.
Filename extensions describe a file’s
contents. For example Executable files usually
end in .exe, word files end in .doc, adobe
acrobat documents end in .pdf etc.

38 Introduction to Computers
Extensions and Formats
A filename might be followed by a filename
extension that further describes the file
contents.
Word files end in .doc
Excel files end in .xls
The file format is the arrangement of data in a
file and the coding scheme that is used to
represent the data.
The native file format is the format that is
saved by the application that created it.

39 Introduction to Computers
 Assignment 1
1. Discuss the history and evolution of
computers. (maximum. 3 pages).
2. Computers are used more extensively
than ever for tasks such as banking,
investing, shopping and communicating.
Do you see this trend as having a
positive or a negative impact on our
society and economy? Give reasons to
support your answer. (maximum. 3
pages).

40 Introduction to Computers
 Final assignment
Giving presentation
Introduce one computer software from the list provided:

1. Microsoft Windows: An operating system developed

by Microsoft for personal computers.
2. Microsoft Office Suite: Includes applications like
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook for productivity
tasks.
3. Adobe Acrobat Reader: Software for viewing,
printing, and annotating PDF documents.
4. Google Chrome: A web browser developed by Google
for accessing the internet.
5. Mozilla Firefox: Another popular web browser known
for its privacy features and customization options.
41 Introduction to Computers
 1. Adobe Photoshop: Image editing software used for
creating and editing digital images.
2. VLC Media Player: A versatile media player capable
of playing various audio and video file formats.
3. Zoom/Microsoft Teams: Communication software
for making voice and video calls, as well as instant
messaging.
4. Dropbox: Cloud storage service for storing and
sharing files online.
5. 10. Antivirus Software (e.g., Norton, McAfee,
Avast): Programs designed to detect, prevent, and
remove malware and other threats from computers.it
to the participants

42 Introduction to Computers
 You can perform your presentation of the
following patterns:

1. Brief overview of the software's purpose and functionality.

2. Key features and capabilities that make it popular or unique.
3. Any notable updates, versions, or recent developments related
to the software.
4. Tips or recommendations for users who are new to the software.
5. Examples of industries or use cases where the software is
commonly utilized.
6. Compatibility with different operating systems or devices.
7. User reviews or testimonials highlighting the software's
strengths and benefits.
8. Resources or support options available for users to learn more
or troubleshoot issues.
9. Pricing model or licensing options for accessing the software.
10. Any upcoming features or enhancements expected in future
releases.
43 Introduction to Computers