Numerical &
Information Technology
Literacy
Lecture 1:
Introduction
Objective of this course
In this course, you are supposed to …
• Get familiar with the computing and information systems
• Computer system components
• Computer and the society
• Software commonly used in workspace
• Learn methods and skills in using computer for data processing
• Statistical methods
• Related tools and software
2
Textbooks
• I.T sections
• Vermaat, M. E., Sebok, S.L., Freund, S.M.,
Campbell, J.T. & Frydenberg, M. (2016).
Discovering Computers 2016, Cengage
Learning
• Statistic sections
• Triola, M. F. (2018). Elementary statistic,
13th ed. Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley.
• Waters, D. (2011). Quantitative Methods for
Business, 5th ed. New York: Prentice Hall. 3
Assessments
Assessment Tasks Weighting
(%)
Continuous assessment
- Class exercises 30%
15% in Numeracy
15% in IT Literacy
- Laboratory exercises 20%
- Written Test 50%
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The world of computers
• We are surrounded by various kinds of computers nowadays
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Lecture Outcomes
• After this lecture, you should be able to:
• Describe the different components of an
information system
• Describe the different types of computers.
• List out the different basic components in a
computer.
• Understand the basic types of memory.
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What is a computer?
• A computer is an electronic device, operating under the
control of instructions stored in its own memory.
• A computer can accept data, process the data according to
specified rules, produce results, store results for future use,
and communicate results with others.
The Information
Processing Cycle
Produces
Collects data
Processing information
(input)
(output)
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From data to information
• Computers process data into
information.
• Data
• Raw, unprocessed facts,
including text, numbers,
images, audio, video, etc.
• Information
• Data that have been
collected and processed into
a meaningful form
• helps decision making
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Information System
An Information System has five parts :
• People – End users
• Procedures – The rules or guidelines people follow when
using software, hardware, and data are procedures. Typically,
these procedures are documented in manuals written by
computer specialists.
• Software – A program consists of the step-by-step
instructions that tell the computer how to do its work.
Software is another name for a program. The purpose of
software is to convert data into information.
• Hardware – The equipment that processes the data to create
information is called hardware.
• Data – The raw, unprocessed facts, including text, number,
images, and sounds are called data.
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Daily Life Applications
• Automatic Teller Machine (ATM)
• Bar-code system for retailing
• Pay-by-Phone system
• Transportation system
• Library system
• Online booking system
• Social network system
• Any more…..
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Types of Computers
Personal computers
Mobile computers and mobile devices
Game consoles
Servers
Mainframes
Supercomputers
Embedded computers 11
Personal Computers (PC)
• A personal computer can perform all of its input, processing,
output, and storage activities by itself.
• Two popular architectures
• PC (Originated from IBM, usually uses Windows)
• Apple (usually uses MacOS)
• “Desktop Computers”
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Mobile computers & devices
Notebook Handheld computer
computer
Smart phone
Tablet
PDA
Full-scale
computers
Portable media
player
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Small enough to Digital camera
be held in hands
Game console
• A game console is a
computing device
designed for
single-player or multi-
player video games.
• May be stationary
or portable
14
Servers
• A server controls access to the
hardware, software and other
resources on a network, to
provide a centralized storage
area for programs, data,
and information.
• Usually uses in office to serve
different users’ personal
computer
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Mainframe
• A large, expensive, powerful
computer that can handle
hundreds
or thousands of
connected users
simultaneously.
• Use in banks in serving the
ATM in different districts
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supercomputers
• Fastest, most powerful, and most expensive computers.
• What is a Supercomputer
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utsi6h7IFPs
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Embedded computers
• A special-purpose computer that functions as a component in
a larger product.
Consumer Home Automation Process Controllers Computer Devices
Automobiles
Electronics Devices and Robotics and Office Machines
• Mobile and digital • Washing machine • Antilock brakes • Remote monitoring • Keyboards
telephones • Thermostats • Engine control systems • Printers
• Digital televisions • Sprinkling systems modules • Power monitors • Faxes
• Cameras • Security • Airbag controller • Machine • Copiers
• Video recorders monitoring systems • Cruise control controllers
• DVD players and • Appliances • Medical devices
recorders • Lights
• Answering
machines
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Embedded computers
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AutoPilot
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Components of a Computer
• Physical components you
• Allows hardware
to enter data and instructions into a
Input Device
computer
Output Device • Conveys information to one or more people
• Contains the electronic components of the computer
System Unit
that are used to process data
Storage Device • Holds data, instructions, and information for future use
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• Enables a computer to send and receive data,
Communications
instructions, and information to and from one or more
Device
computers or mobile devices
Components of a computer
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Input / output devices
• Input devices – allow you to enter data and instructions into a
computer
• Keyboard, Mouse, Trackball, Card-reader, Bar-code reader,
Scanner, RFID reader, etc.
• Output devices – conveys information to one or more people
• Monitor, speaker, printer, projector, etc.
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System unit
• The system unit is a case that contains electronic components
of the computer used to process data.
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System unit
• Main components inside the system unit on a desk-top
personal computer include:
Drive bay(s)
Power supply
Sound card
Video card
Processor
Memory
Motherboard 25
motherboard
• The motherboard is the main circuit board of the system unit,
connecting all components.
• A computer chip contains integrated circuits.
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processor
by bfishadow
• The processor, also called the central
processing unit (CPU), interprets and carries
out the basic instructions that operate a
computer
• Contain a control unit and an arithmetic logic
unit (ALU)
Multi-core Dual-core Quad-core 8 core processor
processor processor processor
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Inside a Processor
• The control unit (CU) is the component of
the processor that directs and coordinates
most of the operations in the computer.
• The arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)
performs arithmetic (e.g., +, -, *, /, etc.)
and logical (e.g., >, <, etc.) operations
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Processor’s interaction
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Multi-core processors
• The current trend of processor is to include more parallel
processing units to execute more instructions at the same
time.
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Choosing a Processor
Plan your use
beforehand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTbrM0hkHOc 31
Connector
Ports and Connectors
• A port is the point at which a peripheral attaches to or
communicates with a system unit.
• Sometimes referred to as a jack.
• A connector joins a cable to a port.
Cable from Wikipedia
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Ports
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Ports
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USB Port
• A USB (Universal Serial Bus) port is one of the most
commonly used port.
• It can connect up to 127 different peripherals.
• You can attach multiple peripherals using a single USB port with a
USB hub
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Other ports
• Other popular ones include:
Firewire Bluetooth
SCSI port
port port A Bluetooth adapter
converts a USB port
into a Bluetooth port.
eSATA port IrDA port Serial port
MIDI port
A smart phone may 36
communicate with a notebook
computer using an IrDA port
Buses
• A bus allows the
various devices both
inside and attached to
the system unit to
communicate with
each other
• Data bus
• Address bus
• Word size is the
number of bits the
processor can
interpret and execute
at a given time 37
Buses
• Expansion slots connect to expansion buses.
• Common types of expansion buses include:
PCI Express Accelerated
PCI bus
bus Graphics Port
USB and
PC Card bus
FireWire bus
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Power Supply
• The power supply converts the
wall outlet AC power into DC
power.
• Some external peripherals
have an AC adapter, which is an
external power supply.
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Summary
• It is important for us to know how to use computers nowadays.
• Various types of computers are introduced.
• Personal computers, Mobile devices, Mainframes,
Supercomputers, Game consoles, etc.
• Functional components in the system unit of a computer are
described.
Processors
Motherboards RAM
(CPU)
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Ports Buses Power supply
