Chapter 6 The System Unit

Chapter 6 The System Unit

l  Speed, capacity, and flexibility determine the power of microcomputers.

l  Knowledge of a computer’s power allows you to make good buying decisions and to determine if your current system will run new applications.

l  Competent end users need to understand the basic principles of how microcomputers are put together. These principles will be covered in this chapter.

System Unit Types

l  Desktop System Units

l  Media Center System Units

l  Notebook System Units

l  Tablet PC System Units

l  Handheld Computer

Electronic Data and Instructions

Two-state system or Binary System:

l  Off/on electrical states

l  Characters represented by 0s (off) and 1s (on)

l  Bits

l  Bytes

      

Character Coding Schemes

Three types of binary coding schemes

l  ASCII - American Standard Code for Information Exchange

l  EBCDIC - Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code

l  Unicode – handles languages with large numbers of characters

Microprocessor Chips

  A microprocessor incorporates most or all of the functions of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) on a single integrated circuit (IC, or microchip).

Microprocessor Chips

•          Central Processing Unit (CPU)

•          Two Basic Components

–        Control unit

–        Arithmetic-logic unit (ALU)

•          Chip capacities are expressed in word sizes

•          Two Recent Significant Developments

–        64-bit processors

•          Have become standard for most of  today’s desktop and laptop computers

–        Multi-Core Chips

•          Can provide two separate and independent CPUs

•          Parallel processing

^Memory

^{•       Types of memory chips}

^l    Random-access memory (RAM) is a form of computer data storage. Today, it takes the form of integrated circuits that allow stored data to be accessed in any order (that is, at random).

^l    Read-only memory, a type of storage media which is used in computers and other electronic devices.

^l    Flash memory is used for a wide  of range of applications, If changes are made to the computer system, these changes are reflected in flash memory

^{Expansion Slots and Cards}

^{•       Allow for new devices to
be added}

^{–      Open architecture}

^{–      Slots provide for expansion}

^{•       Expansion cards are
also called …}

^{–      Plug-in boards}

^{–      Controller cards}

^{–      Adapter cards}

^{–      Interface cards}

^{Power Supply}

^{•      Computers require direct current (DC)}

^{•      DC power provided by converting alternating current (AC) from wall outlets or batteries}

^{•      Desktop computers use power supply units}

^{•      Notebooks and handhelds use AC adapters}

^{A Look to the Future}

•          Wearable computers

•          Send and receive email while jogging

•          Maintain your personal schedule book

•          Remember the names of people at a party

^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microprocessor - cite_note-0#cite_note-0}

Chapter 5 System Software

Chapter 5  System Software

Introduction

l  Computers and computer applications are ubiquitous in our lives so much so that we expect them to “be there when we need them”.

l  We often give little thought to the processes and programs running behind the scenes to keep our computers functioning effectively.

l  These kinds of programs and processes (i.e. operating systems, utility programs, device drivers, etc…) fall under the topic of system software and are covered in this chapter.

System Software

System software is computer software designed to operate the computer hardware and to provide a platform for running application software.^[1][2]

The most basic types of system software are:

• The computer BIOS and device firmware, which provide basic functionality to operate and control the hardware connected to or built into the computer.
• The operating system (prominent examples being Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux), which allows the parts of a computer to work together by performing tasks like transferring data between memory and disks or rendering output onto a display device. It also provides a platform to run high-level system software and application software.

• Utility software, which helps to analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the computer.

Four types of programs:

1. Operating system: An operating system (OS) is software, consisting of programs and data, that runs on computers and manages computer hardware resources^[1] and provides common services for efficient execution of various application software.

2. Utilities: perform specific tasks related to managing computer resources

3. Device drivers: a computer program allowing higher-level computer programs to interact with a hardware device.

4. Language translators: convert the programming instructions written by programmers into a language that computers understand and process.

Windows

Microsoft Windows is a series of software operating systems and graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. Microsoft first introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces (GUIs).^[2] Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal computer market, overtaking Mac OS, which had been introduced in 1984. As of October 2009, Windows had approximately 91% of the market share of the client operating systems for usage on the Internet.^[3][4][5] The most recent client version of Windows is Windows 7; the most recent server version is Windows Server 2008 R2; the most recent mobile OS version is Windows Phone 7.

 

Mac OS

Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. (formerly Apple Computer, Inc.) for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface. The original form of what Apple would later name the "Mac OS" was the integral and unnamed system software first introduced in 1984 with the original Macintosh, usually referred to simply as the System software.

Virtualization

Virtualization, in computing, is the creation of a virtual (rather than actual) version of something, such as a hardware platform, operating system, a storage device or network resources

Chapter 4 Specialized Application Software

Chapter 4  Specialized Application Software

Introduction

•    Specialized applications make it possible to perform advanced tasks at home.

•    Home users can create Webs sites, work with graphic images, and create music or art.

•    Robots now provide security
and assistance in homes.

•    Competent end users need to
be aware of specialized
applications

–    Graphics programs

–    Audio and video editing software

–    Multimedia

–    Web authoring

–    Artificial intelligence

Graphics Programs

In computer graphics, graphics software or image editing software is a program or collection of programs that enable a person to manipulate visual images on a computer.

Audio and Video Software

1.    Audio editing softwar

This audio editing software is a full featured professional audio and music editor for Windows and Mac OS X. It lets you record and edit music, voice and other audio recordings. When editing audio files you can cut, copy and paste parts of recordings then add effects like echo, amplification and noise reduction. WavePad works as a wav or mp3 editor but it also supports a number of other file formats including vox, gsm, wma, real audio, au, aif, flac, ogg and more.

]

2. Video editing software

  Video editing software, also known as Non Linear Editing (NLE), is application software which handles the editing of video sequences on a computer. NLE systems replace traditional flatbed celluloid film editing tools and analogue video tape-to-tape machines

Multimedia Programs

Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun (a medium with multiple content forms) or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which only use traditional forms of printed or hand-produced material. Multimedia includes a combination of text, audio, still images, animation, video, and interactivity content forms.

Web Authoring 

(1) (adj.) A category of software that enables the user to develop a Web site in a desktop publishing format. The software will generate the required HTML coding for the layout of the Web pages based on what the user designs. Typically, the user can toggle back and forth between the graphical design and the HTML code and make changes to the Web page in either the design of the accompanying code.

(2) (v.) To design and create a Web site, from writing the site's underlying code to writing the text to managing the site's upkeep.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents"^[2] where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its chances of success.^[3] John McCarthy, who coined the term in 1956,^[4] defines it as "the science and engineering of making intelligent machines

Chapter 3 Basic Application Software

Chapter 3  Basic Application Software

Introduction

•    Not long ago, trained specialists were required to perform many of the operations you can now do with a microcomputer.

•    A microcomputer can be an electric tool.

•    Competent end users need to understand the capabilities of basic application software including:

–    Word processors

–    Spreadsheets

–    Database management systems

–    Presentation programs

Word Processor

  A word processor (more formally known as document preparation system) is a computer application used for the production (including composition, editing, formatting, and possibly printing) of any sort of printable material.

 

OpenOffice.org Writer in Version 3.2

File:KWord-1.4.2-screenshot.png

Spreadsheet

  A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper, accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas. A formula defines how the content of that cell is to be calculated from the contents of any other cell (or combination of cells) each time any cell is updated. Spreadsheets are frequently used for financial information because of their ability to re-calculate the entire sheet automatically after a change to a single cell is made. A pseudo third dimension to the matrix is sometimes applied as another layer, or layers/sheets, of two-dimensional data.

Database Management System

 

  A Database Management System (DBMS) is a set of computer programs that controls the creation, maintenance, and the use of a database. It allows organizations to place control of database development in the hands of database administrators (DBAs) and other specialists. A DBMS is a system software package that helps the use of integrated collection of data records and files known as databases. It allows different user application programs to easily access the same database. DBMSs may use any of a variety of database models, such as the network model or relational model. In large systems, a DBMS allows users and other software to store and retrieve data in a structured way. Instead of having to write computer programs to extract information, user can ask simple questions in a query language. Thus, many DBMS packages provide Fourth-generation programming language (4GLs) and other application development features. It helps to specify the logical organization for a database and access and use the information within a database. It provides facilities for controlling data access, enforcing data integrity, managing concurrency, and restoring the database from backups. A DBMS also provides the ability to logically present database information to users.

Presentation Graphics

 

  A presentation program (also called a presentation graphics program) is a computer software package used to display information, normally in the form of a slide show. It typically includes three major functions: an editor that allows text to be inserted and formatted, a method for inserting and manipulating graphic images and a slide-show system to display the content.