Technology in Action

Technology

in Action

Alan Evans
•


Kendall Martin

Mary Anne Poatsy

Tenth
Edition

Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall

Technology in Action

Chapter 2

Looking at
Computers
Understanding the Parts


Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall

Chapter Topics

•
Understanding Your Computer

•
Input Devices and Output Devices

•
Processing, Memory, and Storage

•
Ports and Power Controls

•
Setting It All Up

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2

Understanding Your Computer

Computers are Data Processing Devices

•
Performs
four major
functions

–
Input
: Gathers data, allows users to
enter
data

–
Process
: Manipulates, calculates, or
organizes data into information

–
Output
: Displays data and information for user

–
Storage
: Saves data and information for later
use

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3

Understanding Your
Computer

Computers are Data Processing Devices (cont.)

•
Data
: Representation of a fact, figure, or
idea

•
Information
: Data
that has been o
rganized
or presented in a meaningful fashion

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4

Understanding Your
Computer

Bits and Bytes: The Language of Computers

•
The language
of
computers

–
Bit

•
Binary digit

•
0 or 1

–
Byte

•
8 bits

•
Each letter, number, or character is a
unique combination of 8 bits of 0s and 1s

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5

Understanding Your
Computer

Bits and Bytes: The Language of Computers (cont.)

Name

Abbreviation

Number of Bytes

Byte

B

1 byte

Kilobyte

KB

1,024 bytes (2
10
)

Megabyte

MB

1,048,576 bytes (2
20

bytes)

Gigabyte

GB

1,073,741,824 bytes (2
30

bytes)

Terabyte

TB

1,099,511,627,776 bytes (2
40

bytes)

Petabyte

PB

1,125,899,906,842,62 bytes (2
50

bytes)

Exabyte

EB

1,152,921,504,606,846,976 bytes (2
60

bytes)

Zettabyte

ZB

1,180,591,620,717,411,303,424 bytes (2
70

bytes)

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6

Understanding Your
Computer

Bits and Bytes: The Language of Computers (cont.)

•
Computer uses combination of hardware
and software to process data into
information

–
Hardware

is any part of the computer you can
physically touch

–
Software

is set of computer programs

•
Application softwar
e

•
System software

–
Operating system (OS)

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7

Understanding Your
Computer

Types of Computers

•
Two basic designs of computers

–
Portable

•
Laptop computers

•
Netbooks

•
Tablet PCs

•
Tablet computer

•
Ultrabooks

–
Stationary

•
D
esktop computers

–
Separate case plus peripheral devices

•
All
-
in
-
one computers

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8

Understanding Your
Computer

Types of Computers (cont.)

•
Mainframe

–
Supports many users simultaneously

•
Supercomputer

–
Performs complex calculations extremely
rapidly

•
Embedded

–
Self
-
contained computer devices performing
dedicated functions

–
Smartphone

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9

Input Devices

•
Devices
used to enter
data and
instructions
into the
computer

•
Most common input devices:

–
Keyboards to enter typed data and commands

–
Mouse to enter responses and commands

•
Other input devices:

–
Microphone to input sounds

–
Scanner to input
nondigital

text

–
Digital camera to input digital images

–
Stylus to tap commands or draw on screen

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10

Input Devices

Keyboards

•
QWERTY layout is standard on most PCs

•
Netbook and laptop
keys
are more
compact and have fewer keys

•
Wireless keyboards work via radio
frequencies

•
Alternative keyboards

–
Flexible keyboards

–
Virtual laser keyboard

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11

Input Devices

Mice and Other Pointing Devices

•
Optical mouse

–
Internal sensor or laser detects movement

–
Moves pointer on the screen

•
Wireless mouse

–
Optical and trackball

–
Data sent by radio frequency (RF) or
Bluetooth technology

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12

Input Devices

Mice and Other Pointing Devices (cont.)

•
Touch
pads and
trackpoint

devices

•
Take place of mouse on laptops

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13

Input Devices

Mice and Other Pointing Devices (cont.)

•
Game controllers send data to computer

–
Joysticks

–
Game pads

–
Steering wheels

•
Most game controllers are wireless to
provide extra mobility

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14

Input Devices

Touch Screens

•
Display screen that responds to
commands by touch with finger or stylus

•
Becoming popular on many computing
devices

–
Smartphones

–
Tablet PCs

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15

Input Devices

Image Input

•
Digital
cameras, camcorders,
cell
phones

–
Capture pictures and video

•
Scanners

–
Create digital image

•
Webcams

–
Capture and transmit

live
video

–
Used for videoconferences

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16

Input Devices

Sound Input

•
A microphone (
mic
) captures sound waves
and transfer them to digital format

•
Sound input allows

–
Video conferencing

–
Audio conferencing

–
Chatting with friends or family over the
Internet instead of using a phone

–
Recording podcasts

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17

Input Devices

Sound Input (cont.)

•
Close talk microphones

•
Omnidirectional

•
Unidirectional

•
Clip
-
on microphones

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18

Output Devices

•
Enable you to send processed data out of
the computer in the form of text, pictures,
sounds, or video

–
Monitors

–
Printers

–
Speakers and earphones

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19

Output Devices

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

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20

Output Devices

Monitors (cont.)

•
How
LCD Monitors work

–
Screens are grids made up of millions of tiny
dots called pixels

–
Each pixel is composed of red, blue, and
green
subpixels

(and sometimes yellow)

–
Two or more sheets of material are filled with
liquid crystal solution

–
Crystals block or let light shine through to
cause images to form on the screen

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21

Output Devices

Monitors (cont.)

•
Choosing
an LCD Monitor

–
Aspect ratio
–

width to height proportion

–
Resolution
–

number of pixels displayed on
screen

–
Contrast ratio
–

difference in light intensity
between brightest white and darkest black

–
Viewing angle
–

distance in degrees from
which you can move to the side of (or above
or below) a monitor

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22

Output Devices

Monitors (cont.)

•
Choosing
an LCD
Monitor (cont.)

–
Brightness
–

greatest amount of light showing
when the monitor is displaying pur
e white

–
Response
time
–

time it takes for a pixel to
change color

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23

Output Devices

Monitors (cont.)

•
The bigger the monitor, the more you can
display

•
27
-
inch monitor

–
2560
×

1440 pixels

•
21.5
-
inch monitor

–
1680
×

1050 pixels

•
Blu
-
ray movies

–
Require at least 1920
×

1080 pixels

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24

Output Devices

Printers

•
Inkjet printers

–
Spray tiny drops of ink onto page

•
Laser printers

–
Use laser beams and static electricity to
deliver toner to page

•
Nonimpact
printers have replaced impact
printers almost entirely


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25

Output Devices

Printers (cont.)

•
Inkjet

–
Affordable

–
High
-
quality color
printouts

–
Quick and quiet

•
Laser

–
Faster printing
speed

–
Higher quality
printouts

–
More expensive

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26

Output Devices

Printers (cont.)

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27

•
Wireless printer

–
No wires

–
Several people can print to same printer from
different places

–
Two types
–

WiFi

and Bluetooth

•
Range of up to approx. 300 feet

•
WiFi

sends data more quickly

–
Allows you to print from portable devices

Output Devices

Printers (cont.)

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28

•
All
-
in
-
one printer

–
Functions as printer, scanner, copier, and fax

•
Plotter

–
Used to print oversize images

•
Thermal printer

–
Emerging as popular

technology for mobile

and portable printing

Output Devices

Printers (cont.)

•
Selecting
a Printer

–
Decide your primary printing need first

•
Speed
(
pages per minute)

•
Resolution (
dots per inch)

•
Color output

•
Cost
of consumables

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29

Sound Output

•
Speaker is output device for sound

–
Inexpensive speakers come with computers

–
Surround
-
sound speakers

–
Wireless speaker systems


•
Headphones or
earbuds

avoid distracting
others

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•
CPU

•
ROM, RAM, and cache

•
Slots for expansion
cards

•
Network interface card
(NIC)

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Processing and Memory on the Motherboard

•
Motherboard: Main circuit board containing
central electronic components of the
computer

Processing and Memory on
the Motherboard

Memory

RAM

Random
access
memory

•
Stores
instructions
and data

•
Series of several
memory cards or
modules

•
Temporary
(volatile)
storage

ROM

Read
-
only memory

•
Stores
startup
instructions

•
Permanent
(nonvolatile) storage


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32

Processing and Memory on
the Motherboard

Processing

•
Central
Processing Unit

–
Also called CPU or processor

–
Referred
to as the “brains” of the computer

–
Controls all functions
performed by the
computer’s other components

–
Processes all commands and instructions

–
Can perform billions of tasks per second

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33

Processing and Memory on
the Motherboard

Processing (cont.)

•
CPU
Performance Measures

–
Processor speed measured in hertz (Hz)

•
Megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz)

–
Number of cores

•
Single

•
Dual

•
Quad

•
Eight

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34

Storing Data and
Information

Hard Drives

•
Primary device for permanent storage

•
Holds stored programs and data

•
Internal hard drive

–
Inside the system

–
Holds all permanently stored programs and data

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35

Storing Data and
Information

Hard Drives (cont.)

•
External hard drive

–
Resides outside the system

–
Connects via USB or FireWire port

•
Solid
-
State Drive (SSD)

–
No moving parts

–
Runs with no noise

–
Emits little heat

–
Requires little power

–
Less likely to fail


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36

Storing Data and
Information

Hard Drives (cont.)

•
Internal drive bays

–
Reserved for internal hard drives

•
External drive bays

–
House CD or DVD drives

–
Notebook expansion attaches external drive
via USB port

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37

Storing Data and
Information

Flash Storage

•
External hard drives

–
Large portable
storage needs

–
Small and lightweight

–
Attach to computer
via USB port

–
Care must be taken
when transporting

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38

Storing Data and
Information

Flash Storage (cont.)

–
Use solid
-
state flash
memory

–
No moving parts

–
Significant storage
capacity

–
Plug into USB ports

–
Appears as another disk
drive

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•
Flash drive (jump drive, USB drive, thumb
drive)

Storing Data and
Information

Flash Memory (cont.)

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•
Flash memory card

–
Convenience means of portable storage

–
Uses solid
-
state flash memory

–
Allows you to transfer digital data between
computer and devices

Storing Data and
Information

Optical Storage

•
Compact discs (CDs)

–
Initially used to store audio files

•
Digital video discs (DVDs)

–
Store more data than CDs

•
Blu
-
ray discs (BDs)

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41

Connecting Peripherals to the Computer

•
A port is a place through which a
peripheral device attaches to computer

•
Many ports are located on the back of the
computer

•
Some commonly used ports are placed on
the front and sides for easier access

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42

Connecting Peripherals to the
Computer

High
-
Speed and Data Transfer Ports

•
Universal serial bus (USB) is the most
common port type used to connect input
and output devices to a computer

•
USB 2.0 port is current standard

–
Transfer data at 480 megabits per second

•
New USB 3.0 standard provides transfer
speeds that are 10 times faster

–
Should quickly become the port of choice

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43

Connecting Peripherals to the
Computer

High
-
Speed and Data Transfer Ports (cont.)

•
FireWire 400

–
Moves data at 400 Mbps

•
FireWire 800

–
Doubles rate to 800 Mbps

•
FireWire 3200

–
Has been ratified

–
Yet to reach market

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44

Connecting Peripherals to the
Computer

Connectivity and Multimedia Ports

•
Connectivity port can give access to
networks and the Internet

–
Ethernet port

–
Modem port

•
Audio ports

–
Connect headphones, microphones,
speakers

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45

Connecting Peripherals to the
Computer

Connectivity and Multimedia Ports

•
Video ports

–
Connect monitors and multimedia devices

–
Video graphics array (VGA)
-

port to connect
older LCD monitors

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46

Connecting Peripherals to the
Computer

Connectivity and Multimedia Ports (cont.)

•
Digital video interface (DVI): Ports used to
connect newer LCD monitors and other
multimedia devices

•
High
-
definition multimedia interface
(HDMI)

–
Digital connector for use in HD home theater
environments

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47

Connecting Peripherals to the
Computer

Adding Ports: Expansion Cards and Hubs

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48

•
Expansion cards

–
New port standards

•
Expansion
hubs

–
Enable several devices
to be connected to a port

Power Controls

•
Powe
r supply transforms wall voltage to
voltages required by computer chips

•
Cold boot: Powering on your computer
from a completely turned
-
off state

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49

Power Controls (cont.)

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50

•
Sleep Mode

–
Main method of power management in
Windows 8

–
D
ocuments, applications, data remain in RAM

•
Hibernate

–
Similar to Sleep

–
All data is stored on hard drive

–
Computer is powered off

•
Warm boot

–
Restarting the system while it’s powered on

Setting It All
Up

•
Ergonomics refers to how you set up your
computer to minimize risk of injury,
discomfort, or eyestrain

•
Guidelines to follow

–
Position monitor correctly

–
Use adjustable chair

–
Assume proper position while typing

–
Take breaks from computer

–
Ensure
that
lighting is
adequate

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51

Setting It All Up (cont.)

•
Mobile computing devices present
challenges to injury prevention

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52

Setting It All Up (cont.)

•
Devices for People with Disabilities

–
Voice recognition

–
Keyboards with larger keys

–
Keyboards that display on touch screens

–
Specialized input consoles

–
Keyboards designed for one hand

–
Special trackballs

–
Head
-
mounted pointing devices

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53

Chapter 2 Summary Questions

1.
What exactly is a computer, and what are
its four main functions?

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54

Chapter 2 Summary Questions

2.
What is the difference between data and
information?

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55

Chapter 2 Summary Questions

3.
What are bits and bytes, and how are
they measured?

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56

Chapter 2 Summary Questions

4.
What devices
can I
use to get data into
the computer?

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57

Chapter 2 Summary Questions

5.
What devices
can I
use to get information
out of the computer?

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58

Chapter 2 Summary Questions

6.
What’s on the
motherboard?

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59

Chapter 2 Summary Questions

7.
Where are information and programs
stored?

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60

Chapter 2 Summary Questions

8.
How are devices connected to the
computer?

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61

Chapter 2 Summary Questions

9.
What’s th
e best way to turn my computer
on and off and when should it be done?

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62

Chapter 2 Summary Questions

10.

How
do
I
set up
my
computer to avoid
strain and injury?

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63

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permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America.

Copyright ©
2014
Pearson Education, Inc.


Publishing as Prentice Hall