INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD OF

COMPUTERS
Application of Information and Communication
Technologies

Mr. Shan Zafar

Govt. Graduate College of Commerce (GGCC) AIT,

Lahore
About the course
• Aims and Objectives
• A thorough understanding of the user level of
computers and their role in society.

• Sufficient knowledge of Information Technology and key

concepts of the computer world.

• The ability to use computers to enhance productivity

regardless of the type of discipline in which they are
being used, including effective use of different
productivity software.
About the course
• Aims and Objectives (Cont.)
• An overall understanding of different areas of ICT like
computer and network communication hardware, system
and application software, Internet and the world wide
web, computer and network security, and data privacy.

• Be proficient enough to design, build and host a basic

website.

• A primitive understanding of information systems and their

development life cycle, the significance of e-commerce,
and its business models.
Quizzes
• We will have few quizzes to check that you're
keeping up with the material between exams
• Quizzes may be unannounced or announced in
advance
• If you happen not to attend class on the day a
quiz is given, you will get a 0 for that quiz
Honesty Policy
• Taking someone else's work and representing it as your
own is lying, cheating, and stealing.

• Any reference material taken from the Web or other

sources must be properly cited.

• Violations of the honesty policy will, at the very least,

result in no credit for the work and 0 sessional marks.
Cheating on Homework Assignment
• Copying from another or copying from the Internet are
considered as cheating.

• BOTH PARTIES participated in the cheating will be

penalized
Attendance and Late Arrival
• You are expected to attend every lecture and be
on time.
• If you must come in late for unavoidable reasons,
take extreme care not to disturb the class.
• Anyone arriving after I finish taking attendance
will be counted as absent for that day.
Computers in Your Life
• Why learn about computers?
▪ Pervasive computing
• Computers have become an integral part of our
lives
▪ Basic computer literacy
• Understanding what a computer is and how it
works
Computers in Your Life
• Before 1980
• Computers were large and expensive
• Very few people had access to them
• Computers were mostly used for high-volume
processing tasks
• Microcomputers in the early 1980s
• Inexpensive personal computers
• Computer use increased dramatically
Computers in Your Life
• Today
▪ Nearly 90% of US households include a computer,
and most use computers at work
▪ Electronic devices are converging into single units
with multiple capabilities
• Check e-mail on the living room television
• View Internet content on mobile devices
▪ Computer literacy is an essential skill for everyone
Computers in Your Life
Computers in the Home
• Computers used for a variety of tasks:
• Looking up information and news
• Exchanging e-mail
• Shopping and paying bills
• Watching TV and videos
• Downloading music and movies
• Organizing digital photographs
• Playing games
• Making vacation plans
Computers in the Home
• Used for reference, productivity, and
entertainment
• Wireless networking
▪ Computers can be used in nearly any location
• Smart appliances
▪ Traditional appliances with built-in computer or
communication technology
• Smart homes
▪ Household tasks are monitored and controlled by a main
computer in the house
Computers in Education
• Youth today: the computing generation
• Computer labs and classrooms
▪ Most students today have access to computers at school
▪ Some schools integrate e-books into the curriculum
• Wireless hotspots
▪ Colleges and universities are even more integrated
▪ Some have computer requirements for enrollment
• Supplied or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
• Distance learning
▪ Students participate from locations other than the traditional
classroom setting using computers and Internet access
Computers in Education
Computers on the Job
• Computers have become a universal on-the-job tool
for decision-making, productivity, and communication
• By all types of employees
• For access control and other security measures
• For service professional use
• Extensively by the military
• Requires continually refreshing computer skills
• Common uses:
• Decision-making, productivity, off-site communications, and
authentication
Computers on the Job
Computers on the Go
• Computers are encountered in nearly every
aspect of daily life
• ATM transactions
• POS systems at retail stores
• Self-checkout systems
• Consumer authentication systems
• Portable computers or mobile devices
• GPS systems
Technology and You Box
• Restaurant iPad Ordering Systems
• Used in conjunction with e-menus
• Customers can place and pay for orders
• Can provide more resources to customers
What Is a Computer and What Does It
Do?
• Computer
• A programmable electronic device that accepts data,
performs operations on that data, and stores the data
• Follows instructions, called programs, which determine the
tasks the computer will perform
• Basic Operations
• Input: Entering data into the computer
• Processing: Performing operations on the data
• Output: Presenting the results
• Storage: Saving data, programs, or output for future use
• Communications: Sending or receiving data
What Is a Computer and What Does It
Do?
Data vs. Information
• Data
• Raw, unorganized facts
• Can be in the form of text, graphics, audio, or video
• Information
• Data that has been processed into a meaningful
form
• Information Processing
• Converting data into information
Computers Then and Now
• The computer as we know it is a fairly recent
invention
• The history of computers is often referred to in terms
of generations
• Each new generation is characterized by a major
technological development
• Precomputers and early computers (before approx.
1946)
• Abacus, slide rule, mechanical calculator
• Punch Card Tabulating Machine and Sorter
Computers Then and Now
• First-generation computers (1946-1957)
• Enormous and powered by vacuum tubes
• Used a great deal of electricity and generated a lot of heat
• ENIAC and UNIVAC
• Second-generation computers (1958-1963)
• Used transistors
• Computers were smaller, more powerful, cheaper, more
energy-efficient, and more reliable
• Punch cards and magnetic tape were used to input and
store data
Computers Then and Now
• Third-generation computers (1964-1970)
• Used integrated circuits (ICs)
• Keyboards and monitors introduced
• Fourth-generation computers (1971-present)
• Use microprocessors
• IBM PC, Apple Macintosh
• Use keyboards, mice, monitors, and printers
• Use magnetic disks, flash memory, and optical disks for
storage
• Computer networks, wireless technologies, Internet
introduced
Computers Then and Now
• Fifth-generation (now and the future)
• Infancy stage
• May be based on artificial intelligence (AI)
• Will likely use voice and touch input
• May be based on optical computers and utilize
nanotechnology
Computers Then and Now
Computers Then and Now
Hardware
• Hardware: The physical parts of a computer
• Internal hardware
• Located inside the main box (system unit) of the
computer
• External hardware
• Located outside the system unit
• Connect to the computer via a wired or wireless
connection
• Hardware devices are associated with all five
computer operations
Hardware
• Input Devices
• Used to input data into the computer
• Keyboards, mice, scanners, cameras, microphones,
touch pads, touch screens, fingerprint readers, etc.
• Processing Devices
• Perform calculations and control computer’s operation
• Central processing unit (CPU) and memory
• Output Devices
• Present results to the user
• Monitors, printers, speakers, projectors, etc.
Hardware
• Storage Devices
• Used to store data on or access data from storage
media
• Hard drives, CD/DVD discs and drives, USB flash
drives, etc.
• Communications Devices
• Allow users to communicate with others and to
electronically access remote information
• Modems, network adapters, routers, etc.
Hardware
Software
• Software
• The programs or instructions used to tell the computer
hardware what to do
• System Software
• Operating system starts up the computer and controls
its operation
• Without OS, computer cannot function
• Boots the computer and launches programs at the
user’s direction
• Most use a GUI to interact with the user via icons,
buttons, tiles, etc.
• Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, etc.
Application Software
• Application Software
• Performs specific tasks or applications
• Creating letters, budgets, etc.
• Managing inventory and customer databases
• Editing photographs
• Scheduling appointments
• Viewing Web pages
• Exchanging e-mail
• Burning DVDs
• Designing homes
• Playing games
 Application Software
• Examples of application software
• Word processing programs
• Multimedia programs
• Web browsers
• E-mail programs
Computer Users and Professionals
• Computer Users (end users)
• People who use a computer to obtain information
• Computer professionals include:
• Programmers
• Write programs computers use
• Systems analysts
• Design computer systems
• Computer operations personnel
• Manage day-to-day computer operations
• Security specialists
• Secure computers and networks against hackers
Computers To Fit Every Need
• Six basic categories of computers:
• Embedded computers
• Mobile devices
• Personal computers
• Servers
• Mainframe computers
• Supercomputers
 Embedded Computers
• Embedded Computers
• Embedded into a product and designed to perform specific tasks
or functions for that product
• Cannot be used as general-purpose computers
• Often embedded into:
• Household appliances
• Thermostats
• Sewing machines
• Treadmills
• Answering machines
• Cars
Mobile Devices
• Mobile Device
• A very small device with some type of built-in computing
or Internet capability
• Typically has a small screen and keyboard
• Examples:
• Smartphones
• Handheld gaming devices
• Portable digital media players
• Media tablets
Personal Computers (PCs)
• Personal Computer (PC)
• Small computer designed to be used by one person at a time
• Also called a microcomputer
• Available in different sizes and shapes
• Desktop Computers
• Tower case, desktop case, or all-in-one
• PC or Macintosh
• Not portable
Portable Computers
• Portable Computers
• Designed to be carried around easily
• Fully functional computers
• Notebook (laptop) computers
• Typically use a clamshell design
• Tablet computers
• Usually use a digital pen/stylus or touch screen
• No physical keyboard; can use on-screen or attached
keyboard
• Hybrid notebook-tablet computers
• Netbooks
• Smaller and have more limited features than conventional
notebooks
Portable Computers
Thin Client and Internet Appliances
• Thin Client
• Designed to utilize a network for much of its processing
• Lower cost, increased security and easier maintenance
• Limited or no local storage
• Not able to function as a computer if network is down

• Internet Appliance
• Specialized network computer designed for Internet
access
• Some use apps to deliver news, sports scores, weather,
music, and other Web-based information
Thin Client and Internet Appliances
Servers
• Server
• A medium-sized computer used to host
programs and data for a small network
• Sometimes referred to as a minicomputer
• Users connect via a network with a computer,
thin client, or dumb terminal
• Virtualization
• Creating virtual rather than actual environments
(often used to share a server for increased efficiency)
Mainframe Computers
• Mainframe Computer
• Powerful computer used by many large organizations to
manage large amounts of centralized data
• Standard choice for hospitals, universities, large
businesses, banks, government offices
• Located in climate-controlled data centers and
connected to the rest of the company computers via a
network
• Larger, more expensive, and more powerful than
servers
• Usually operate 24 hours a day
• Also called high-end servers or enterprise-class servers
Mainframe Computers
Supercomputers
• Supercomputer
• Fastest, most expensive, most powerful type of
computer
• Generally run one program at a time, as fast as
possible
• Can cost several million dollars each
• Tend to be very large and contain a large number of
CPUs
• Titan is one of the fastest computers in the world
Supercomputers
Computer Networks and the Internet

• Computer Network
• A collection of hardware and other
devices that are connected together
• Users can share hardware, software, and
data
• Users can communicate with each other
• Network Servers
• Manage resources on a network
Computer Networks and the Internet

• Computer networks exist in many

sizes and types
• Home networks
• School and small office networks
• Large corporate
• Public wireless networks
• Mobile telephone networks
Computer Networks and the Internet
What Are the Internet and the World Wide
Web?
• Internet
• The largest/most well-known computer network in the
world
• Individuals connect using an Internet service provider
(ISP)
• World Wide Web
• One resource (a vast collection of Web pages) available
through the Internet
• Web sites contain Web pages stored on Web servers
• Viewed using a Web browser (Internet Explorer,
Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, etc.)
• Offers a wide variety of information
What Are the Internet and the World Wide
Web?
 Accessing a Network or the Internet
• Need a modem or network adapter to connect
• Some networks require a username and
password
• Internet connections can be:
• Direct (always-on) connections
• Dial-up connections
• Internet addresses are used to access resources
on the Internet
• IP (Internet Protocol) address
• Numeric address that identifies computers (207.46.197.32)
IP Addresses and Domain Names
• IP Addresses
• Are numeric and unique

• Domain Names
• Correspond to IP addresses
• Top-level domains (TLDs)
• Identifies type of organization or its location
Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)
• Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)
• Uniquely identifies a Web page, including
• Protocol or standard being used
• Web server hosting the page
• Names of folders in which the Web page file is
stored
• Web page’s filename
Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)
• Protocols:
• Hypertext Transfer Protocol (http://) is typically used to display Web
pages (https:// is used for secure Web pages)
• File Transfer Protocol (ftp://) is often used for file exchange
E-mail Addresses
• E-mail addresses consist of:
• Username
• An identifying name
• The @ symbol
• Domain name for the computer that will be handling the person’s e-
mail (mail server)
• Pronouncing Internet addresses
Surfing the Web
• Web browser
• Used to display Web pages

• Browser starting page or home page

• The first page displayed when the browser is opened

• To navigate to a Web page, you can:

• Type a URL in the Address bar
• Click a hyperlink – graphics or text linked to other Web
pages
• Select a Favorite/Bookmark or page from the History list
Searching the Web
• Search site:
• Helps you locate what you are looking for
• Typically search using keywords

• Reference sites
• Look up addresses,
• telephone numbers
• ZIP codes, maps, etc.
E-Mail
• Electronic mail (e-mail)
• Electronic messages exchanged between computers on a network

• One of the most widely used Internet applications

• Can be a conventional e-mail program, Web-based, or

mobile-based

Conventional Web-based
Microsoft Outlook Gmail
Mac OS X Mail Outlook.com
E-Mail
• Can contain photos, attached files, etc.
• Mobile e-mail may require a fee
• Other types of mobile communications
• Short Message Service (SMS)
• Multimedia Message Service (MMS)
E-Mail
Computers and Society
• The vast improvements in technology over the
past decade have had a distinct impact on daily
life, at home and at work
• Many benefits of a computer-oriented society
• Ability to design products before construction leads to safer
products
• Earlier medical diagnoses and more effective treatment
• Devices that allow physically and/or visually challenged individuals
to perform job tasks
• Documents e-mailed or faxed in moments
• Download information, music, programs, movies, and more on
demand
Computers and Society
• Computer-oriented society also has
risks
• Stress and health concerns
• Spam
• Computer viruses and malware
• Identity theft and phishing
• Privacy issues
• How data is collected
• How secure is the collected data
Computers and Society

• Differences in online communications

• Less formal than traditional
• Netiquette
• Be polite and considerate of others
• Refrain from offensive remarks
• Abbreviations (acronyms) and emoticons
• Acronyms, such as BTW (by the way)
• Illustrations of faces, such as ☺
Computers and Society
Computers and Society
• The Anonymity Factor
• Gives many individuals a sense of freedom
• Can also be abused
• Information Integrity
• Use common sense when evaluating online
content
• Check your source--not all information on the
Internet is accurate
Summary
• Computers in Your Life
• What is a Computer and What Does It Do?
• Computers to Fit Every Need
• Computer Networks and the Internet
• Computers and Society
Credit
• This lecture notes are based on the following resources:

• Chapter 1, Understanding Computers: Today and

Tomorrow by Deborah Morley and Charles S. Parker,