Introduction to Information Technology

Introduction to Information Technology
Chapter 1
Information Technology, the Internet, and You
Mutah University
Faculty of IT, Department of Software Engineering
Dr. Ra’Fat A. AL-msie’deen
https://sites.google.com/site/ralmsideen/

Text Book
 This material is based on chapter 1 of Computing Essentials 2014
Complete Edition. Copyright 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies,
Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

Information Technology, The
Internet And You
Chapter 1

Parts of an Information System
People: end users and information technology staff
Procedures: the rules or guidelines people follow when
using software, hardware, and data
Software: programs that tell the computer how to do its work
– they process data to convert it into information
Hardware: the equipment that processes the data to create
information
Data: the raw, unprocessed facts including text, numbers,
images, and sounds.
Connectivity allows computers to connect and share
information

People
• People are the most important part of any information
system.
• Contact is …
– Direct
– Indirect
• Computer uses
– Business & Entertainment
– Education & Medicine

Software
• Software is another name for programs.
• Programs tell the computer how to process
data.
• Two major kinds of software
 System Software.
 Application Software.

1. System Software
A collection of programs.
Enables the application software to interact with
the hardware.
Background software that helps the computer
manage its own resources.

Cont…
1. Operating Systems: Programs that coordinate computer
resources, provide an interface between the user and computer,
and run applications.
Examples include Windows XP and the Mac OS X
2. Utilities (service programs): Perform specific tasks
related to managing computer resources, such as de-fragmenting
disks, checking for viruses, etc.
3. Device Drivers: Specialized programs to allow particular
input and output devices to communicate with the rest of the
system, for example, a printer driver.

2. Application Software
Application software is “end user” software.
1) Basic or General-purpose applications
• Also known as basic applications
• Examples include:
Browsers: to search the Internet and Web.
Word Processors: to create and edit documents.
Spreadsheets: to analyze and summarize numerical data
Database Management Systems (DBMS): organize and manage data
and information.
Presentation Graphics: communicate a message.
2) Special-purpose applications
• Include thousands of applications that are narrowly focused on a specific
profession or occupation.
• Some of the best known are graphics, audio and video, multimedia, web
authoring, and artificial intelligence programs.

Hardware
• Equipment that processes the data
• Controlled by software
• Physical devices
– Keyboard
– Mouse
– Monitor
– Other devices

Hardware
Type of Computer:
1. Supercomputers: The most powerful type of computers
• Example: NASA uses supercomputers to track and control
space explorations.
2. Mainframe Computer: Not quite as powerful as
supercomputers, they still have great processing speeds and
storage capacity.
• Often fill up a specially wired and air-conditioned room.
• Typically used for business applications such as insurance
companies that process thousands of policy holder billing
statements.

Type of Computer (cont)
3. Minicomputers: Also known as midrange computers
• Work like a “small” mainframe
• Typically the size of a refrigerator
• A production department may use a minicomputer to
monitor manufacturing processes and assembly line
operations.
4. Microcomputer: The least powerful, but most widely used
computers.
• There are four main types of microcomputers:
1. Desktop.
2. Notebook or laptop.
3. Tablet PC.
4. Handheld.

Microcomputer
• Desktops: small enough to fit on top or along side your
desk, yet too big to carry around
• Notebooks (or laptops): portable, lightweight, fit in most
briefcases
• Tablet PCs: type of notebook that accepts your handwriting
on a specially designed input screen
• Handheld computers (or palm computers, Personal
Digital Assistants – PDAs): the smallest microcomputers,
typically combine pen input, handwriting recognition, personal
organizational tools, and communications capabilities in a
very small package.

Microcomputer
Desktop Notebook
Tablet PC
Handheld

Microcomputer Hardware
• System unit: Also known as the system cabinet or chassis
• Holds most of the electronic components that make up the computer,
including:
• Microprocessor (processor, Central Processing Unit – CPU):
• Memory primary storage, Random Access Memory – RAM)
• Input/output devices: Input device such as keyboard and mouse.
Output device such as Monitor and printer.
• Secondary storage:
• Communications: Used to connect and share information
from one computer to another.
• A Modem is a popular communication device used to connect
a computer to another using ordinary phone lines.

Data
• Raw, unprocessed facts
• Processing creates information
• Stored electronically in files
– Document files
– Worksheet files
– Database files
– Presentation files
 Presentation
 Database
 Worksheet
 Document

Document Files
• Created by word processors to save
documents such as memos, term papers,
and letters

Worksheet Files
• Created by electronic spreadsheets to
analyze things like budgets and to predict
sales

Database Files
• Typically created by database management
programs to contain highly structured and
organized data

Presentation Files
• Created by presentation graphics programs to save
presentation materials. For example, a file might
contain audience handouts, speaker notes, and
electronic slides.

Connectivity, the Wireless Revolution, and
the Internet
• Connectivity
– Sharing of information
– Wireless communication is becoming popular
• Computer networks
– Connected communication system of computers
– Largest network is the Internet

Knowledge Foundation
Being Computer Competent means using and
understanding Information Technology (IT)

Introduction to Information Technology

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