Chapter 1 Notes

What is a computer?

Information Processing Cycle
Data is a collection of unorganized facts which are  input into the computer.  Information is processed data or output. Data is processed into information by a computer program (a series of instructions written by a programmer).  The program, data and output can be saved for future use in a storage device such as a USB drive or floppy disk.

The electronic equipment that makes up a computer is called hardware.  Software is the series of instructions that tell the hardware what to do with the data and how to process it.  Another term for software is program.

"Digital Students" are much more media-centric than previous generations.  They have a virtual world at their fingertips with all its promises and pitfalls.  Today's students are different from previous generations in the way they think, in the way they access, absorb, interpret, process and apply information, and in the way they view, interact, and communicate.  Be sure to check out the chart on page 7 in your Integrating Technology book.

Categories of Computers

Personal computer -


Mobile computers -

Tablet PC's -

Mobile devices such as PDAs, smart watches -

Servers -


Supercomputers -


Embedded computers -


Mainframes -


List 4 reasons why a computer is so powerful





Software

System Software -

        Examples:  operating system -


                             utility programs -


                             user interface -


Application Programs -


     Examples:


      Software suite -

      Open source software -

Networks - A network is a collection of computers and devices connected together via communications media.  Networks can be wired or wireless.

LAN -


WAN -

Advantages of using a network -


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