Technology in Action

16th Edition

Chapter 2
Looking at Computers:
Understanding the Parts

Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Ltd.

 Chapter Objectives

• What is a computer, and what are its four main functions?

• What is the difference between data and information?
• What are bits and bytes, and how they are measured?
• What devices do I use to to get data into the computer?
• What devices do I use to get information out of the
computer?
• What’s on the motherboard?
• Where are information and programs stored?
• How are devices connected to the computer?
• How do I set up my computer to avoid strain and injury?

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 Chapter Topics

1. Understanding your computer

2. Input and output devices
3. Processing and memory on the
motherboard
4. Storing data and information
5. Connecting peripherals to the computer
6. Power controls
7. Setting it all up
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 1. Understanding Your Computer
Computers are Data Processing
Devices

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 1. Understanding Your Computer
Computers are Data Processing
Devices
• Perform Four Major Functions:
➢Input: Giving instructions to the computer,
entering data
➢Processing: Executing instructions given
(manipulates, calculates, or organizes data)
➢Output: Displaying the results after processing

➢Storing: Saving the output

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 Data vs. Information
• Data: Representation of a fact, figure, or idea
• Information: Data that has been organized or
presented in a meaningful fashion

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 Bits and Bytes
• Binary language: The language of computers
➢Bit: Binary digit (0 or 1)
➢Byte: Consists of 8 bits
• Each letter, number, or character is a unique combination
of 8 bits of 0s and 1s that’s is arranged in ways that the
computer can read, understand, and act upon

• Kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, petabytes,

exabytes, zettabytes
Binary Code
 Types of Computers

• Some types of computers:

➢ Personal Computer (PC)
➢ Tablets and Smartphone
➢ Super Computer
➢ Mainframe Computer
➢ Embedded Computers

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 Personal Computers (PC)

• Personal computers (PC)

➢ A general purpose computer designed for individual
use
➢ For personal use or work such as making an
assignment, watching a movie, or office work, etc.
➢ Portable
• Laptops
• Notebooks
➢ Stationary
• Desktop computers
– Separate case plus peripheral devices
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• All-in-one computers 0
Personal Computers

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 Tablets and Smartphones
• Tablets and Smartphones
➢ Are types of computers that are pocket friendly
and easy to carry is (handy)
➢ Best use of modern technology
➢ Able to provide wireless communication protocols

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 Super Computers
• Supercomputer
➢ Are the fastest computers and are very expensive
➢ Performs complex calculations rapidly up to ten
trillion calculations per second
➢ Used in scientific & engineering applications such as:
o Analyzing data obtained from exploring the solar
system, satellites, Weather forecasting, etc.
o Stock market or big organizations for managing the
online currency world such as Bitcoin etc.
o Nuclear energy research
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Super Computers

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 Mainframe Computers

• Mainframe computer
➢ Expensive computer
➢ Supports hundreds or thousands of users at
the same time
➢ Supports multiple programs simultaneously
➢ Used in big organizations like banking,
telecom sectors, etc.
➢ Has high storage capacity and great
performance 1
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Mainframe Computers

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 Embedded Computers

• Embedded Computers

➢ Computer chip resides in another device

➢ Is self-contained, has its own programming,
and performs dedicated functions
➢ Example:
➢ Electronic thermostat
➢ ATM machines
➢ Medical devices
➢ Vending Machines
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Embedded Computers

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 2. Input Devices

Physical Keyboards and Touch Screens

• Devices used to enter data and instructions
• Examples:
➢ Keyboard
➢ Touch screen
➢ Virtual Keyboard
➢ Stylus (input device that looks like a pen
used to tap commands or draw on a screen) 19
 Keyboards

• QWERTY layout is standard on most PCs

• Dvorak keyboard puts most commonly used
letters on “home keys”

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 Input Devices... Cont.

Mice and Other Pointing Devices

• Mouse
• Touch Pad (Trackpad)
• Game controllers (wireless)
➢Joysticks
➢Game pads
➢Steering wheels

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 Input Devices... Cont.
Image, Sound, and Sensor Input
• Popular for images
➢ Digital cameras
➢ Mobile device cameras
➢ Scanners
➢ Webcams
• Popular for sound
➢ Microphone with voice recognition software
• Sensors

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 2. Output Devices
Image and Audio Output
• Send data out of the computer in the form of:
➢ Text
➢ Pictures
➢ Sounds
➢ Video
• Examples
➢ Monitors
➢ Printers
➢ Speakers and headphones/earbuds
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Image and Audio Output

Types of display screens (Monitors)

• Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
➢Flat panel
➢Light and energy efficient
• Light-Emitting Diode (LED)
➢More energy efficient than LCD monitors
➢Better color accuracy and thinner panels
• Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED)
➢Use organic compounds that produce light
➢Much thinner than LCD and LED
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 How Monitors Work

• Screens are grids made up of millions of

tiny dots called pixels
• Each pixel is composed of red, green and
blue subpixels (and sometimes yellow)

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 Choosing Monitor

• Aspect ratio
• Resolution
• Contrast ratio
• Viewing angle
• Brightness
• Response time

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 Choosing Monitor
• Aspect ratio: is the width to height proportion of a monitor (4:3 or
16:9 or 16:10)
• Resolution: reflects the number of pixels on the screen (higher is
better)
• Contrast ratio: is the measure in the difference in light intensity
between the brightest white and the darkest black (400:1 and
1,000:1)
• Viewing angle: measures how far you can move to the side of
the monitor (at least 150 degrees)
• Brightness: is a measure of the greatest amount of light showing
when the monitor is displaying pure white (300cd/m 2 or greater)
• Response time: is the time it takes for a pixel to change color 27
 Examples
• Flexible OLED • Samsung Flexible
Phone prototype
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Audio Output
• Speaker
➢Output device for sound
➢Surround-sound speakers
➢Wireless speaker systems
• Headphones or earbuds
➢Hearing might be damaged by
excessive volume when using earbuds

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 Output Devices .... Cont.

Printers
• Inkjet
– Spray tiny drops of ink onto page
• Laser
– Use laser beams and static electricity to
deliver toner to page

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 Nonimpact Printers
• Inkjet
➢Affordable
➢High-quality color
➢Quick and quiet

• Laser
➢ Faster printing speed
➢ Higher-quality printouts
➢ More expensive

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 Specialty Printers
• All-in-one printer
➢Printer, scanner, copier, and fax

• Large format printer (Plotter)

➢Prints oversize images

• Thermal printer
➢Emerging as popular technology
for mobile and portable printing

• 3D printer
➢Prints three-dimensional models

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 3. Processing and Memory on the
Motherboard
• Motherboard: main circuit board that contains the
central electronic components of the computer

➢ CPU (brain)
➢ ROM, RAM, and cache
➢ Slots for expansion cards
➢ Network interface card
(NIC)

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 Memory
(RAM) (ROM)
Random Access Memory Read-Only Memory

➢ Stores instructions ➢ Stores startup

and data instructions
➢ Series of several ➢ Permanent
memory cards or (nonvolatile) storage
modules
➢ Temporary (volatile)
storage
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Central Processing Unit (CPU) or Processor

➢Brains” of the computer

➢Controls all functions of the computer’s
components
➢Processes all commands and instructions
➢Gigahertz (billions of tasks per second)

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 CPU Performance Measures
➢ Processor speed measured in hertz (Hz) or
machine cycle per seconds
– Gigahertz (GHz)
➢Number of cores
– Single
– Dual
– Quad
– Ten

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 4. Storing data and information
Storage options on computing Devices

• Local storage devices:

➢ Hard Disk Drive
➢ Primary storage device
➢ Nonvolatile storage
➢ Internal drive
➢ External hard drive

➢ Solid-State Drive (SSD)

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 Portable Storage Options

• Flash Drive and Flash Memory Card

• Use solid state flash memory (chip)
• No moving parts

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 Cloud Storage

• Cloud Storage:
➢Files stored on the Internet
➢Some amount is free
➢Can purchase additional storage

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 Optical Storage
• Compact discs (CDs)
• Digital video discs (DVDs)
– Store more data than CDs)
• Blu-ray discs (BDs)
– More storage and faster access

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 5. Connecting Peripherals to
Computer Ports

• A port is a place through which a peripheral

device attaches to computer
• Many ports are located
on back of computer
• Some commonly used
ports are placed on
front and sides for
easier access
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 High Speed and Data Transfer Ports

• Thunderbolt
➢Transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps
• Universal serial bus (USB) port
➢Transfer speeds of 10 Gbps
• Connectivity port
➢Ethernet port
➢Up to 10,000 Mbps
• HDMI port 43
6. Power Controls and Power Management

• Battery drain: some applications drain the battery

such as Google Maps, YouTube
• Power supply: provides power for the devices
• Sleep mode: all documents in RAM stay in RAM
• Warm boot: restart from a turned on state
• Cold boot: powering on your computer from a
completely turned off state. (like in the morning)
• Hibernate: it stores all the documents from RAM on
the hard drive
 7. Setting It All Up
• Ergonomics refers to how you set up your
computer to minimize risk of injury,
discomfort, or eyestrain.
• Guidelines to follow:
– Monitor position
– Adjustable chair
– Proper typing position
– Breaks
– Adequate lighting
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Setting It All Up: Ergonomics

Assistive (adaptive) technologies

• Voice recognition or special keyboards for
visually impaired
• Special trackballs for users with motor
control issues
Copyright
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