CHAPTER 1 - COMPUTER

1.0 ABOUT THE COMPUTER

• a computer is a programmable machine that receives input, stores, and manipulates data, and provides output in a useful format.
• while a computer can, in theory, be made out of almost anything and mechanical examples of computers have existed through much of recorded human history, the first electronic computers were developed in the mid-20th century (1940-1945).
• originally, they were the size of large room, consuming as much power as several hundred modern personal computers (PCs).
• modern computers based on integrated circuits are millions to billions of times more capable than the early machines, and occupy a fraction of the space.
• simple computers are small enough to fit into mobile devices, and can be powered by a small battery. personal computers in their various forms are icons of the Information Age and are what most people think of as "computers".
• the embedded computers found in many devices from MP3 players to fighter aircraft and  from toys to industrial robots are the most numerous.

1.1 BASIC COMPONENT OF COMPUTER

 

 

1.2 SOFTWARE

1. operating system - the programs that coordinate computer resource, provide the interface between user and computer, and run application. for example, Window NT, Window 98, Window 2000, Window XP, Window Vista and Window 7.
2. utilities - perform specific tasks related to managing computer resources like disk defragmenter and system back up.
3. basic application - widely used in nearly all career areas (navigate, explore, and find information on the internet).
4. specialized application - program that more narrowly focused on specific discipline and occupation (graphic, multimedia, audio, video, and artificial intelligent program).

1.3 SYSTEM UNIT

1. system unit - a base unit or main body of desktop computer, typically consisting of a metal or plastic enclosure containing a motherboard, power supply, cooling fan, internal disk drives and memory modules and expansion cards that are plugged into motherboard, such  video and network card like TV card and VGA card.
2. input/output device - translate data and programs that humans can understand into a form that computer can process. the most common input devices are keyboard and mouse (joystick, touch screen/ touch pen). output device translate the processed information from the computer into the form that humans can understand.
3. secondary storage - hold data and programs even after electrical power to computer system has been turned off. for example, hard disk, solid state storage and optical disk).

 

1.4 OPERATING SYSTEM AND COMPUTER APPLICATION SOFTWARE

• an operating system (commonly abbreviated OS and O/S) is the infrastructure software component of a computer system; it is responsible for the management and coordination of activities
  and the sharing of the limited resources of the computers.
• the operating system acts as a host for application that are run on the machine.
• as a host, one of the purpose of an operating system is to handle the details of the operating of the hardware.
• this relieves application programs from having to manage these details and makes it easier to write applications.
• almost all computers, including handled computers, desktop computers, supercomputers, and even video game, use an operating system of same type.
• operating system offer a number of service to application programs and users.
• the application can request a service from the operating system, pass parameters, and receive the result of the operation.
• users may also interact