Computer Literacy Lesson 1: Computer and Operating Systems

Computer Literacy
BASICS: A
Comprehensive Guide
to IC3, 5th Edition
Lesson 1
Computers and Operating Systems
1 Morrison / Wells / Ruffolo

Lesson1
Morrison / Wells / Ruffolo CLB: A Comp Guide to IC3 5E
About the Presentations
 The presentations cover the objectives found in
the opening of each lesson.
 All lesson objectives are listed in the beginning
of each presentation.
 You may customize the presentations to fit your
class needs.
 Some figures from the lessons are included. A
complete set of images from the book can be
found on the Instructor Resources disc.
2

Lesson1
Objectives
 Describe the importance of computers in daily life.
 Explain the difference between system software and
application software.
 Describe the four major types of operating systems.
 Identify the tasks an operating system performs.
 Start a computer.
 Use an operating system and start an application.
 Lock and shut down a computer.
333

Lesson1
Words to Know
 application software
 boot process
 buffer
 command-line interface
 data
 driver
4
 embedded
operating system
 graphical user
interface (GUI)
 hardware
 icon
 information
processing cycle
44

Lesson1
Words to Know (continued)
 multiuser operating
system
 open-source software
 operating system
 random access
memory (RAM)
5
 server operating
system
 software
 swapping
 system software
 utility program
 virtual memory

Lesson1
Understanding the Importance of
Computers
 Computers are everywhere.
 Computers are used in your cell phone, in
ATMs, in your home thermostat, and in your
car’s cruise control.
 Computers assist you in most parts of your
daily life and play a central role in worldwide
communications, entertainment, education,
commerce, and other business activities.
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Lesson1
Computers (continued)
 Computers have been around since the late
1940s.
 Then, they were massive, special-purpose
machines with names such as UNIVAC and
ENIAC and were designed for use by the
military and government.
 They took hours to complete a calculation,
occupied small buildings or entire city blocks,
and cost millions of dollars.
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Lesson1
 Today’s smartphones have more processing
power than a UNIVAC, cost less than any of
its components, and fit in the palm of your
hand.
 The future promises innovations such as
wearable computers, using human thought
as input, and computer-controlled, micro-
controlled robots that treat and possibly cure
cancer.
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Lesson1
 Understanding what a computer is and how it
works can help you appreciate and use it
more effectively.
 A computer is an electronic device that
receives data (input), processes data, stores
data, and produces a result (output).
 Data is a collection of raw unprocessed facts,
including text, numbers, sound, images, and
video.
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Lesson1
 The actual machine—wires, transistors, and
circuits—is called hardware.
 Software consists of instructions or programs for
controlling the computer.
 Data is text, numbers, sound, images, or video.
 The computer receives data through an input
device, processes the data, produces the output
information on an output device, and stores the
information on a storage device.
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Lesson1
 The input and output devices, such as
keyboards and monitors, are types of hardware
called peripherals.
 Data transformed into meaningful form becomes
information.
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Lesson1
 Input, processing, output, and storage (IPOS) is
called the information processing cycle.
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Lesson1
 Computer Literacy
 To be computer literate means that you can use
today’s computers efficiently to enhance your life
and the lives of those around you.
 Computer literacy also means you understand a
wide range of information about current technology
and how it is used to solve problems.
 A digital divide is an economic gap between those
who are computer literate and have access to
computer technology, and those who do not.
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Lesson1
Types of Software
 Software provides the
means for you to
interact with the
computer’s hardware.
 A graphical user
interface (GUI) displays
pictures called icons
that allow you to interact
with data and execute
commands.
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Lesson1
Types of Software (continued)
 Some software uses a command-line
interface, which requires you to type text
commands to interact with the computer.
15

Lesson1
 System Software and Application Software
 A computer relies on two types of software:
system software and application software.
 System software runs a computer and includes
the operating system and utility programs.
– An operating system is software that coordinates the
resources and activities on a computer.
– A utility program helps the operating system set up,
maintain, and protect a computer.
16

Lesson1
 System Software and Application
Software (continued)
 Application software is the software used to
directly complete a specific task or to create
something electronically.
 Application software helps you perform tasks
such as writing a report, creating a video,
viewing a Web page, or sending photos to a
friend.
17

Lesson1
18
 System Software
and Application
Software (continued)

Lesson1
Types of Operating Systems
 Operating systems fall into four major
categories depending on the type of device
for which they are designed:
– Personal computers
– Mobile computing devices
– Servers
– Devices other than computers
19

Lesson1
(continued)
 Personal Computer Operating Systems
 Personal or desktop operating systems are installed
on a single computer and are called single-user
operating systems because one user interacts with
the operating system at a time.
 They are multitasking operating systems, which
means they let you work with more than one
program at a time.
 The three most popular personal computer operating
systems are Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
20

Lesson1
(continued)
(continued)
 Windows XP (2001) and Windows 7 (2009) were
both widely used Windows versions. Windows 8
(2012) is the most recent version of Windows.
 Windows became widespread because it ran on
inexpensive personal computers created by a variety
of computer manufacturers.
 Windows is easy to use and to personalize, and it
runs more types of applications than other operating
systems.
21

Lesson1
(continued)
(continued)
 Mac OS runs only on Apple Macintosh
computers.
 Mac OS X is the current version of the operating
system.
 Mac OS set the standard for GUI operating
systems and is liked by its users for being a very
secure, reliable, and easy-to-maintain operating
system.
22

Lesson1
(continued)
(continued)
 Linux is a personal computer operating system
related to UNIX, which is an operating system
developed in the late 1960s that is frequently used by
scientists and programmers.
 Linux is released to the public as open-source
software, meaning anyone can use, modify, and
distribute it.
 Linux is available in versions called distributions,
including commercial and noncommercial
distributions.
23

Lesson1
(continued)
 Mobile Operating Systems
 A mobile operating system is designed for small
handheld computing devices.
 It includes features similar to a personal
operating system but is simpler and smaller.
 A smartphone is a cell phone that includes
many features of a computer.
 Tablets are one-piece mobile computers that
usually include a touchscreen, which is a
screen you touch to interact with the GUI.
24

Lesson1
(continued)
 Mobile Operating Systems (continued)
 iOS is a version of Mac OS X written for Apple’s
mobile devices, including iPhones and iPads.
 Google’s Android is an open-source operating
system designed to run on many types of
smartphones and tablets, and is derived from Linux.
 Windows Phone and Windows RT are similar to
Windows 8.
 Mobile operating systems primarily work as single-
user, single-tasking operating systems.
25

Lesson1
(continued)
 Embedded Operating
Systems
 Embedded operating
systems run devices such
as ATMs, navigation
systems, portable media
players, and digital
recorders.
 They are designed to meet
a specific purpose and
perform a single task, such
as providing maps and
directions.
26

Lesson1
(continued)
 Server Operating
Systems
 A server operating
system resides on a server
and is used to manage a
network (a group of two or
more computers linked
together).
 A server is a computer that
provides network services
such as e-mail to other
computers, or clients.
27

Lesson1
(continued)
 Server Operating Systems (continued)
 Server operating systems are sometimes called
network operating systems.
 Each client on a network has its own personal
operating system.
 The server operating system manages the
requests for services from the client computers.
 An expert called the network administrator uses
the server operating system to manage the
network and its users.
28

Lesson1
(continued)
 Server Operating Systems (continued)
 Server operating systems are multiuser
operating systems because they allow many
users to run programs and use the server’s
resources at the same time.
 Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and UNIX all have
server versions of their operating systems.
 UNIX is used for many servers that handle
e-mail and Internet access.
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Lesson1
Operating System Tasks
 The operating system controls your computer
from the time you turn on the power to the
time you turn it off.
 It takes care of technical tasks such as start-
up steps, managing memory, processing
input and output, controlling hardware, and
ending a computer session.
30

Lesson1
(continued)
 Completing Start-Up Steps
 The boot process is a series of steps the
operating system must complete before you can
interact with the operating system.
31

Lesson1
(continued)
 Managing Memory
 After starting up, the operating system
manages computer resources.
 A resource is any component the system
requires to do work.
 The main resources are memory, processing
components, storage space, and peripherals.
32

Lesson1
(continued)
 Managing Memory (continued)
 The operating system manages random
access memory (RAM) efficiently.
 All programs need space in RAM to run.
 When you start an application, the operating
system allocates RAM to the program. When
you close the application, the operating
system reclaims the RAM.
33

Lesson1
(continued)
 If you run too many applications at a time, the
computer can run out of RAM.
 In that case, the operating system might close
an application or shut down the computer
unexpectedly (called a crash).
 Operating systems can take advantage of
virtual memory, a part of a computer’s hard
disk that can work as additional RAM.
34

Lesson1
(continued)
 To gain memory, Windows moves data from one
running application out of RAM and into virtual
memory, a process called swapping.
35

Lesson1
(continued)
 Processing Input and Output
 Another major task of the operating system is
processing input and output.
 Often, the operating system must handle many input
and output tasks at the same time.
 To keep your computer running smoothly, the
operating system sets a sequence for processing
input and output tasks.
 The operating system places data into a buffer,
which is part of memory or storage where data waits
until it can be transferred to a device.
36

Lesson1
(continued)
 Controlling Hardware
 The operating system considers every hardware
device connected to the computer as an input or
output device.
 The operating system communicates with a driver
(aka device driver), which is a small program that
enables the operating system to interact with the
device.
 Each device must have a driver and is typically
provided by the device manufacturer.
37

Lesson1
(continued)
 Controlling Hardware (continued)
 The operating system includes drivers for
common devices.
 When you install new hardware, the operating
system searches for the correct driver and installs
it so you can use the new hardware right away.
This feature is called Plug and Play.
38

Lesson1
(continued)
 Ending a
Computer
Session
 When you end a
session, the
operating system
takes care of the
tasks to shut
down, restart,
sign out, switch
users, or lock the
computer.
39

Lesson1
(continued)
 Ending a Computer
Session (continued)
 To shut down a
computer (aka log off),
the operating system
follows a series of steps:
– Checks users
– Closes applications
– Closes system software
– Turns off the power
40

Lesson1
Summary
In this lesson, you learned:
 A computer is an electronic device that
receives data (input), processes data, stores
data, and produces a result (output).
 A computer includes hardware (physical
equipment such as wires and circuits) and
software (instructions or programs for
controlling the computer).
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Lesson1
Summary (continued)
 To keep up with the changes in computer
technology, you need to be computer literate,
which means that you can use today’s
computer hardware and software efficiently
to enhance your life and the lives of those
around you.
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Lesson1
Summary (continued)
 You interact with software through its user
interface, which allows you to enter and receive
information.
 Most contemporary software has a graphical
user interface (GUI), which uses icons and other
graphics to accept data and commands.
 Other software uses a command-line interface,
which requires you to type text commands to
interact with the computer.
434343

Lesson1
Summary (continued)
 A computer runs two main types of software:
system software and application software.
 System software is the software that runs a
computer, and includes the operating system
and utility programs.
 A utility program helps the operating system
set up, maintain, and protect a computer.
444444

Lesson1
Summary (continued)
 An operating system is software that
coordinates the resources and activities on a
computer.
 Application software is software you use to
carry out your work or personal tasks.
454545

Lesson1
Summary (continued)
 Personal computer operating systems run on
personal computers.
 Mobile operating systems are designed for
handheld computers such as tablets and
smartphones.
 Embedded operating systems are part of an
electronic device or system other than a
computer. Server operating systems run servers,
which are the computers that coordinate
networks.
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Lesson1
Summary (continued)
 Single-user, single-tasking operating systems let
only one user perform a single task at one time.
Most mobile and embedded operating systems fall
into this category.
 Single-user multitasking operating systems let one
user run many programs at the same time, and
include all personal computer operating systems.
 Multiuser operating systems, such as server
operating systems, let many users run programs
and take advantage of the computer’s resources
at the same time.
474747

Lesson1
Summary (continued)
 The technical tasks an operating system
performs include completing start-up steps,
managing memory, processing input and
output, controlling hardware, and ending a
computer session.
 The boot process is a series of steps the
computer and operating system must
complete before you can interact with the
operating system.
484848

Lesson1
Summary (continued)
 The resources an operating system manages
include memory (RAM), processing
components, storage space, and peripheral
devices.
 To supplement RAM, operating systems take
advantage of virtual memory, which is part of
a computer’s storage space that can work as
additional memory.
494949

Lesson1
Summary (continued)
 To keep your computer running smoothly, the
operating system sets a sequence for processing
input and output tasks and uses buffers, which
are parts of memory or storage where data waits
until it can be transferred to a device.
 To control a hardware resource, the operating
system communicates with a device driver, a
small program that tells the operating system how
to interact with the device.
505050

Lesson1
Summary (continued)
 A personal operating system needs to know when
you’re finished working with a computer so it can
protect itself and other software, and keep your
information private while you are away.
 Although you select an option to end a session,
the operating system takes care of the tasks,
which range from shutting down, to restarting,
signing out (also called logging off), switching
users, and locking the computer.
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Computer Literacy Lesson 1: Computer and Operating Systems

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