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Computers: The End User’s Perspective

Computers: The End User’s Perspective Hardware Software Applications Operating Systems Types of Computers Types of Operating Systems DOS, Windows,… Unix, Linux Other What Is a Computer Definition:

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Computers: The End User’s Perspective

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  1. Computers: The End User’s Perspective • Hardware • Software • Applications • Operating Systems • Types of Computers Types of Operating Systems • DOS, Windows,… • Unix, Linux • Other Courtesy of: The Computer Continuum

  2. What Is a Computer • Definition: • A computer is a device which takes data in one form, uses it, and produces a different form of information which is related to (but not the same as) the original data. Courtesy of: The Computer Continuum

  3. Basic Concepts of Computers • Minimal configurations of a typical computer include: • input units • output units • memory • central processing unit Courtesy of: The Computer Continuum

  4. Basic Concepts of Computers • Computer Hardware • The electronics and associated mechanical parts of the computer. • Computer Software • Consists of instructions that control the hardware and cause the desired process to happen Courtesy of: The Computer Continuum

  5. The Many Kinds of Computers • General-purpose Computers • Were not manufactured to do any one thing. • Changeable to do any task. • Special-purpose Computers • Manufactured to do a predetermined task or set of tasks. Courtesy of: The Computer Continuum

  6. The Many Kinds of Computers • Digital Computers • One that functions in discretely varying quantities. • Produces or gives results that are also discretely varying. • Analog Computers • One that functions in continuously varying quantities. • Produces or gives results that are also continuously varying. Courtesy of: The Computer Continuum

  7. The General-Purpose Digital Computer • The General-Purpose Digital Computer • Accepts information of many kinds. • Changes it in a way that is controlled by humans. • Presents results in a way usable by humans. Courtesy of: The Computer Continuum

  8. The Von Neumann Computer and Beyond • Microcomputer Memory Input Units Output Units CPU (Central Processing Unit) Input Units: Keyboard Floppy disk Hard disk Mouse CD ROM Output Units: Screen Floppy drive Hard disk Printer Speakers Courtesy of: The Computer Continuum

  9. The Von Neumann Computer and Beyond • Minicomputer Memory Input Units Output Units CPU (Central Processing Unit) Input Units: Several Keyboards Floppy disk(s) Hard disk(s) Several Mice CD ROM(s) Output Units: Several Screens Floppy drive(s) Hard disk(s) Printer(s) Speakers(s) Courtesy of: The Computer Continuum

  10. The Von Neumann Computer and Beyond • Mainframe computer Memory Input Units Output Units CPU (Central Processing Unit) Input Units: Many Keyboard (Hundreds?) Massive Hard disk Output Units: Many Screens (Hundreds?) Massive Hard disk Printer(s) Courtesy of: The Computer Continuum

  11. The Von Neumann Computer and Beyond • Supercomputer Memory Input Units Output Units CPU (Central Processing Unit) Input Units: Many Keyboard (Hundreds?) Massive Hard disk CPUs: From many (from 4) To thousands (65,537) Output Units: Many Screens (Hundreds?) Massive Hard disk Printer(s) Courtesy of: The Computer Continuum

  12. What Is an Operating System? • The operating system: • A collection of programs that help you use the computer. • Acts as a smart assistant that moves information around the computer. • Allows use of (partial list!) • the keyboard • the mouse • printing to a printer of your choice • viewing information on a monitor • saving or retrieving files • formatting a disk • running programs • controlling any external device attached to the computer Courtesy of: The Computer Continuum

  13. What Is an Operating System? • Where does the operating system reside? • ROM (Read Only Memory) • Contains the skeleton operating system. • The skeleton operating system allows use of keyboard and both floppy and hard disk drives. • RAM (Random Access Memory) • The main part of the operating system is transferred from a secondary memory source, usually a hard disk to RAM. • The complete operating system contained in both ROM and RAM controls the computer. Courtesy of: The Computer Continuum

  14. What Is an Operating System? • Earlier synonyms for the operating system: • monitor, supervisor, executive • Now, operating systems are referred to by their commercial names: • MS-DOS, Windows ‘98, MacOS, OS/2, UNIX, Linux, VMS,… Courtesy of: The Computer Continuum

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