La2 computer systems

mknz98@yahoo.com SMK BANDAR TENGGARA 2007
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SYSTEM CONCEPT
LESSON 27
OVERVIEW OF COMPUTER SYSTEM
These devices are examples of computer hardware. A computer system
needs to have these hardware to function.
COMPUTER SYSTEM
A computer system is defined as combination of components designed to
process data and store files.
A computer system consists of four major hardware components; input
devices, output devices, processor and storage devices.
A computer system requires hardware, software and a user to fully function.

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Software refers to set of instructions that tell the hardware what to do.
Software can also have various other functions such as performing
computation, communication with other software and human interaction.
User refers to a person who uses the computer for any purposes such as
work, business and entertainment.
COMPUTER HARDWARE
Computer hardware consists of:
input devices
processor
output devices
storage devices
Input Devices
Input devices feed data or commands in a form that the computer can use.
Example of input devices are:
Keyboard
Light Pen
Joystick
Microphone
Mouse
Video
Digital camera.
Processor
The CPU is an example of a processor. It has the
same important as the brain to human being.
Output Devices
Output devices such as the monitor shows
people the process data or information. This
type of information can be understood and use
by computer user. Other example of output
devices are:
Printer
Plotter
Speaker
Storage Devices
Storage usually means secondary storage. It
consists secondary storage devices such as
hardisk, Floppy Disk, diskette, CD ROM and DVD
ROM.

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COMPUTER SOFTWARE
There a 2 types of computer software, system software and application
software. System software is any computer software that helps to run
computer system. System software controls, integrate and manages the
individual component of a computer system.
LESSON 28
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SYSTEM
COMPUTER HARDWARE BLOCK DIAGRAM
An Input device feed raw data to the processor. A processor processes raw
data and turns it into useful information. A storage device keeps or stores
both process and unprocess data for later usage. An output device shows or
display the processed data.

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INPUT DEVICES
When data is entered into the computer system, it is called an input. Input
comes in various forms; texts, graphics, audio and video. Input devices are
needed to input data into the computer system.
Keyboard, mouse, scanner, barcode reader and digital camera are some
example of input devices.
OUTPUT DEVICES
Output is the result of raw input data that has been
processed by the central processing unit into
meaningful information. Common forms of output
are texts, numbers, graphics, sounds, animations
and videos.The most common output devices are
computer screens, speakers and printers.
STORAGE DEVICES
The system’s primary storage, Random Access Memory (RAM) can only hold
data temporarily. Thus, secondary storage is needed to provide additional
storage. The data stored in the secondary storage is considered permanent
until it is deleted or removed.
Secondary storage can be magnetic disks and optical disks. Examples of
secondary storage are hard disks, rewritable CDs and DVDs as well as
removable disks such as pen drives.
PERIPHERAL DEVICES
External hardware devices attached to the
computer are called peripheral equipments.

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LESSON 29
INFORMATION PROCESSING CYCLE
Do you know how a computer works? We use the computer in our everyday
lives but not all of us know how this machine operates.
Human uses the brain to think, make decisions and process information. A
computer has a brain too, and the brain of a computer is the processor or
the central processing unit (CPU) that processes information.
THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT
The central processing unit or the CPU is the brain of the computer.
All processing activities are done in the CPU. It
utilises the computer memory to execute instructions
from the application software and accomplish a task.
For example: editing a letter, drawing a picture and
sorting numbers.
The processor must be connected to input devices, output devices and
storage devices to carry out the above mentioned tasks.
THE INFORMATION PROCESSING CYCLE
User will input the data to be processed by the processor.
The storage holds databases, files and programs. The output devices
present the processed data as useful information products for the user.

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INPUT
Input is any data or instructions that we enter into the computer system for
processing.
There are some common ways of feeding input data
into the system, which are:
• typing on a keyboard
• pointing with a mouse
CPU accepts instruction from the user and translates the instruction into
readable information (decode).
PROCESS
The processing unit controls all activities within the system. For every
instruction, the control unit repeats a set of four basic operations called the
machine cycle:
Fetching
the process of obtaining a program instructions or data item from memory.
Decoding
the process of translating a program instruction into signals that the
computer can execute.
Executing
the process of implementing the instructions in a program.
Storing
the process of writing the result to the storage or memory.

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STORAGE
Storage is a location which data, instruction and
information are held for future use. Every computer
uses storage to hold system software and application
software.
When we issue a command to start the application
software, the operating system locates the program in
storage and loads it into memory.
A storage medium, also called secondary storage is the physical material in
the computer that keeps data, instruction and information.
A storage device is the computer hardware that records or retrieves items to
and from storage media.
OUTPUT
Output is data that has been processed into a useful
form, called information. There are four types of
output, which are texts, graphics, audio and video.
The text consists of characters that are used to
create texts, sentences and paragraphs.
Graphics are digital representations of non text information such as
drawings, charts and photographs.
Audio is music, speech or any other sound. Video consists of images that
provide the appearance of full motion.
LESSON 30
DATA REPRESENTATION
BINARY DIGIT
Computers recognize only two discrete
states: on and off. These states can be
represented by two digits, 0 and 1. Each 0
or 1 is called a bit in the binary system.
Bit is the smallest unit of data a computer
can process. Bit is a short for binary digit.
The binary system has a base of 2 with
the two digits (0 and 1). Combinations of
0s and 1s represent larger numbers.

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BIT
A bit is the smallest unit of data that the
computer can process. Bit is a short for binary
digit. A bit is represented by the numbers 1
and 0. These numbers represent the binary
system. They correspond to the states of on
and off, true and false, or yes and no.
All digital data use the binary system to process the information. This
information include letters, digits or special character.
BYTE
Byte is a unit of information built from bits. One byte is equals to 8 bits.
Eight bits that are grouped together as a unit. A byte provides enough
different combinations of 0s and 1s to represent 256 individual characters.
One byte represents a single character such as the number 3, letter b
or a $ symbol. Bits and bytes are the basis for representing all meaningful
information and programs on computers.
CHARACTER
8 bits = 1 byte
One byte represents one character such as A, 7, 9 and +.Eight bits that are
grouped together as a unit. A byte provides enough different combinations
of 0s and 1s to represent 256 individual characters.
For example, the capital letter F is represented by the binary code 01000110
that can be understood by the computer system. Eight bits grouped together
as a unit are called a byte. A byte represents a single character in the
computer.
CHARACTER CODES
There are three character codes to represent
characters which are ASCII, EBCDIC and Unicode.
Each byte contains eight bits. A byte provides enough
different combination of 0s and 1s to represent 256
characters.

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The combinations of 0s and 1s are defined by patterns. These patterns are
called coding scheme. The 256-character capability of ASCII and EBCDIC is
too small to handle the characters that are used by other languages such as
Arabic, Japanese and Chinese.
The Unicode coding scheme is designed to solve this problem. It uses two
bytes (16 bits) to represent one character. Unicode will have more than
65,000 different characters. This can cover all the world’s languages.
LESSON 31
INTRODUCTION TO BINARY CODING
COMMUNICATION CODES
Smoke signals, Morse code and semaphore are some of the communication
codes used by people in the early days. In the information digital era, people
send information via electronic devices such as through the computers.
Computers use binary codes to communicate. One of the widely used binary
codes is the American Standard Code for Information Interchange
(ASCII).
HISTORY OF CHARACTER CODES
Before people used binary codes such as ASCII to communicate via
computers, character codes were widely used as a medium of
communication. Let’s look at some of the character codes used prior to the
use of ASCII.

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WHAT IS ASCII?
ASCII pronounced as "ask-key" stands for the American Standard Code for
Information Interchange and was proposed by ASA (American Standard
Association) in 963 and was finalised in 1968.ASCII is a standard of 7-bit
code used to represent characters, which include letters, numbers and
punctuation marks.
7 bits allow the computer to encode a total of 128 characters for the
numbers 0-9, uppercase and lowercase letters A-Z and a few punctuation
symbols. However this 128 bit code only suitable for english language
speaking users.
IBM and Apple expanded the amount of space reserved for the character
codes to 8-bits, equivalent to 1 byte.
FUNCTIONS OF ASCII
ASCII was established to achieve compatibility
between various types of data processing
equipment making it possible for the
components to communicate with each other
successfully.
ASCII enables manufacturers to produce components that are assured to
operate correctly in a computer.
ASCII makes it possible for humans to interact with a computer. It also
enables users to purchase components that are compatible with their
computer configurations.

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HOW ASCII WORKS IN A COMPUTER SYSTEM?
When you press a key, for example the letter D on
your keyboard, the electronic signal is sent to the CPU
for the computer to process and store in memory.
Every character is converted to its corresponding
binary form. The computer the processes the letter as
a byte., which actually a series of on and off of
electrical states. When the computer is finished
processing the byte, the software installed in the system convert the byte
back which is then displayed in the screen. In this example, the letter D is
converted to 01000100.
LESSON 32
DATA MEASUREMENT
KILOBYTE (KB)
In mathematics, 1 KB = 1000 bytes.
In computer, 1 KB = 1024 bytes or
can be said as:
1 KB = 210
bytes
This is how we get the calculation for 1024
bytes.
MEGABYTE (MB)
1 MB = 1 048 576 bytes or it can be said as:
1 MB = 220
bytes
GIGABYTE (GB)
1 GB = 1 073 741 824 bytes or it can be said as:
1 GB = 230
bytes
TERABYTE (TB)
1 TB = 1 099 511 627 776 bytes or it can be said as:
1 TB = 240
bytes
Why is 1024 bytes = 1KB?
20
= 1
21
= 2
22
= 4
23
= 8
24
= 16
25
= 32
26
= 64
27
= 128
28
= 256
29
= 512
210
= 1024

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LESSON 33
CLOCK SPEED MEASUREMENT
EVOLUTION OF COMMUNICATION
When people talk about a computer’s “speed”, they
mean how fast it can process data. In other words,
this means the speed the computer can turn data into
information.
Every microprocessor contains a system clock. The system clock controls the
speed of all the operations within a computer. The speed of the clock is
measured by how many cycles per second the clock makes.
HERTZ AND SECONDS
The clock speed unit is measured in hertz. A hertz is one cycle per second.
MEGAHERTZ (MHz)
Mega is a prefix that stands for million. Thus, megahertz (MHz) equals to
one million cycles of the system clock. A computer that operates at 933 MHz
(megahertz) has 933 million clock cycles in one second.
GIGAHERTZ (GHz)
Giga is a prefix that stands for billion.Gigahertz (GHz) equals to one billion
cycles of the system clock.In relation with megahertz,1.0 GHz is equivalent
to 1000 MHz.
For example, a microprocessor that runs at 200 GHz executes 200 billion
cycles per second. This is what they are talking about if they say a computer
is a 2.4 GHz machine. Its clock rate is 2.4 billion cycles per second.
GHz is most often used as a measurement of a PC processor chip and power,
with bigger numbers meaning more speed and higher price.

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PROCESSING SPEED
The system clock is one of the major factors that
influence the computer speed. A CPU with a higher
clock speed can process more instructions per second
than a CPU with a lower clock speed. For example, a
1 GHz CPU is faster than a CPU operating at 800 MHz.
The speed of the system clock affects only the CPU. It
has no effect on peripherals such as a printer or disk
drive.
MICROPROCESSOR SPEED
One way of comparing the performance of personal computers is by
comparing their microprocessor speeds. Microprocessor speeds are
determined by their clock speed and are usually expressed in gigahertz
(GHz), billion of machine cycles per second.
For example, a personal computer that is listed at 2.2 GHz has a processor
capable of handling 2.2 billion machine cycles per second. A top speed
personal computer can be much faster, with newer ones exceeding 3.0 GHz.
Direct comparison of clock is meaningful between identical microprocessor.
Thus, it is accurate to say that a Pentium 4 running at 2.4 GHz is
approximately one-third faster than a Pentium 4 running at 1.8 GHz.
SPEED AND PATH
The combination of speed and number of paths determines the total
processing speed or channel bandwidth. This is because different processors
often use different architectures. For this reason, a 1.4 GHz Pentium 4
performs better than a 1.4 GHz Pentium 3, but it is not as fast as a 1.4 GHz
Power PC G4 processor.

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LESSON 34
INPUT DEVICES
INPUT
Input is any data or instruction that you enter into
the memory of a computer.
There are four types of input: which are text,
graphic, audio and video.
INPUT DEVICES
Input devices are any electronic device connected to a computer and
produces input signals.
A keyboard is an example of input
device for text input.
A scanner is an example of input
device for graphical as well as text
input.
A microphone is an example of
input device for audio input and a
webcam is an example of an
input device for video input.
A mouse is also an input device but it is called a
pointing device used to input data that is continuous
and multi-dimensional into a computer.

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a) INPUT DEVICES FOR TEXTS
You can enter data such as text and commands into a computer by pressing
the keys on the keyboard.
You can press the keys of a virtual keyboard on the screen.
An optical reader is a device that uses a light source to read characters,
marks and codes and then converts them into digital data that a computer
can process.
b) INPUT DEVICES FOR GRAPHICS
A scanner is a device that captures images from photographic prints,
posters, magazine pages and similar sources for computer editing and
display.
A digital camera allows you to take pictures and store the photographed
images digitally.
c) INPUT DEVICES FOR AUDIO
Audio input is the speech, music and sound effects entered into the
computer. This can be done using input devices such as a microphone and
digital musical instruments like the Musical Instrument Digital Interface
(MIDI) keyboard.

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d) INPUT DEVICES FOR VIDEO
Video input is input of motion images captured into the computer by special
input devices.
A Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) video camera is a type of digital video
camera that enables a home or small business user to capture video and still
images.
A webcam is any video camera that displays its output on a web page.
A digital video camera allows you to record full motion and store the
captured motion digitally.
e) POINTING DEVICES
A pointing device is another form of input device. Pointing devices such as a
mouse, trackball, graphics tablet and touch screen are used to input
spatial data into the computer.
Spatial data refers to data that is continuous and multi-dimensional.
LESSON 35
OUTPUT DEVICES
Output is the result of data processing
activity when it is presented external to the
system. The output from a computer can be
in a form for use by people, for example,
printed or displayed. There are four types of
output, which are:

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OUTPUT DEVICES
An output device is hardware that is capable of delivering or showing
information to one or more users. An output device shows, prints and
presents the results of a computer’s work.
TYPES OF OUTPUT DEVICES
A display device is an output device that visually conveys texts, graphics
and video information. A printer is an output device that prints text and
graphics on a physical medium such as paper or transparency film.An audio
output device produces music, speech, or other sounds.
Other output devices include Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) projectors and
facsimile (fax) machines.
A monitor is an example of an output device that can be used to display
text. It can also display graphics and video. It is similar to a television set
that accepts video signals from a computer and displays information on its
screen.
A printer is another example of an output device that can be used to print
text, apart from graphics, on mediums such as paper, transparency film or
even cloths.
A photo printer is a colour printer that produces photo-lab-quality pictures.

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An image setter produces high quality output compared to an ordinary laser
printer. An image setter is a high resolution output device that can transfer
electronic text and graphics directly to film, plates, or photo-sensitive paper.
A pair of speakers is an audio output device that generates sound. The
headphone is a pair of small speakers placed over the ears and plugged into
a port on the sound card. A woofer or subwoofer is used to boost the low
bass sound and is connected to the port on the sound card.
A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) projector uses its own light source to project
what is displayed on the computer on a wall or projection screen. A digital
light processing (DLP) projector uses tiny mirrors to reflect light which can
be seen clearly in a well-lit room.
LESSON 36
MOTHERBOARD
This is a motherboard and its components. Motherboard
is the main circuit board of the system unit, which has
some electronic components attached to it and others
built into it.
This is the location of the Central Processing Unit (CPU).

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This is where the expansion slots are located.
These are the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)
expansion slots.Peripheral Component Interconnect. A
personal computer local bus which runs at 33 MHz and
supports Plug and Play. It provides a high-speed
connection with peripherals and allows connection of
seven peripheral devices
In addition, the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA)
expansion slots are also the components of the
motherboard.Industry Standard Architecture. A PC
expansion bus used for modems, video displays,
speakers, and other peripherals.PCs with ISA commonly
have some 8-bit and some 16-bit expansion slots.
These are the expansion card.The expansion cards are
slotted in the expansion slots.
This is called RAM or Random Access Memory. RAM is
the memory of the computer.
This is the location of the ports. Connectors are plugged
into these ports. Port is Point at which peripheral
attaches to a system unit so it can send data to or
receive information from the computer.
The connector connects to the port. For example, the
printer port matches its connector. All computer
components are connected to its respective ports by a
connector.

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LESSON 37
COMPONENTS OF A MOTHERBOARD
CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) controls the operation
of the computer. It interprets and carries out the basic
instructions that operate a computer. The processor
significantly impacts overall computing power and
manages most of a computer's operations.
On larger computers such as mainframes and supercomputers, the various
functions performed by the processor extend over many separate chips and
often multiple circuit boards. On personal computer, all functions of the
processor usually are on a single chip. Some computers and chip
manufacturers use the term microprocessor to refer to a personal computer
processor chip.
EXPANSION SLOTS
Expansion slots are the sockets where the circuit boards or the adapter
cards can be inserted into the motherboard. In computers, a slot or
expansion slot, is an engineered technique for adding capability to a
computer in the form of connection pinholes (typically in the range of 16 to
64 closely-spaced holes).
It is a place to fit an expansion card containing the circuitry that provides
some specialised capability, such as video acceleration, sound or disk drive
control.
A Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus is a high speed expansion
bus that connects high speed devices.
An Industry-Standard Architecture (ISA) expansion slot is a slot in a
computer where ISA accessories can be added to.

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EXPANSION CARDS
An expansion card is plugged into an expansion slot. It is used to add new
devices or capabilities to a computer.
An expansion card is a circuitry designed to provide
expanded capability to a computer. It is provided on the
surface of a standard-sized rigid material (fiberboard)
and then plugged into one of the computer's expansion
slots in its motherboard (backplane).
Cards may come in one of two sizes designed to match standard slot
dimensions. Cards may come in one of two sizes designed to match standard
slot dimensions.
RAM SLOT
The slot where the computer memory, also called as
RAM is placed on the computer’s motherboard.
PORTS AND CONNECTORS
A port is the point at which a peripheral attaches to a
system unit so that the peripheral can send data to or
receive information from the computer.
An external device, such as a keyboard, monitor,
printer, mouse and microphone is often attached by a
cable to a port on the system unit.
The back of the system unit contains so many ports. Some newer personal
computers also have ports on the front of the system unit.
Ports have different types of connectors. A connector joins a cable to a
peripheral. One end of a cable attaches to the connector on the system unit
and the other end of the cable attaches to a connector on the peripheral.
LESSON 38
PORTS AND CONNECTORS
There are different kinds of port in a system unit. The
ports are :
Serial port
Parallel port
Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.
FireWire port

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special purpose ports
- MIDI port
- SCSI port
- IrDA port
1) SERIAL PORT
A serial port is a socket on a computer used to connect
a modem, data acquisition terminal or other serial
devices via a slow-speed serial interface.
A serial port is used to connect a device to the system
unit by transmitting data one bit at a time.
Earlier PCs used the serial port for the mouse, and earlier Macintosh models
used the serial port to attach a printer.
Today, the serial port is a legacy interface, having been superseded by the
USB bus. An example of a serial port is the COM (communication) port.
2) PARALLEL PORT
A parallel port is a socket on a computer used to connect a printer or other
parallel devices via the computer's parallel interface.
Unlike a serial port, a parallel port is an interface that
connects devices by transferring information more than
one bit at a time. Originally, parallel ports were
developed as an alternative to the slower speed serial
ports. Many printers connect to the system unit using a
parallel port.
This parallel port can transfer eight bits of data (one byte) simultaneously
through eight separate lines in a single cable. An example of a parallel port
is the printer port.
3) USB PORT
A USB port is a socket on a computer or peripheral
devices into which a USB cable is plugged in. A USB
port, short for universal serial bus port, can connect up
to 127 different peripherals together with a single
connector.
It's used to connect all kinds of external devices, such as external hard
drives, printers, mouse and scanner. It can transfer data to a speed of 12
megabits per second.

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USB ports began to appear on PCs in 1997, and Windows 98 was the
first Windows to support it. Within a few years, the USB became popular
for connecting nearly every external peripheral device. Now that it is
replacing the serial and parallel ports on a PC, at least four USB ports are
standard on every computer.
4) FIREWIRE PORT
Previously the FireWire port is called IEEE 1394 port, a personal computer
(and digital audio/video) serial bus interface standard.
FireWire is similar to a USB port in that it can connect
multiple types of devices that require faster data
transmission speeds. Usually camcorders and other
video equipment use this port to transmit data on a
computer. Data can move across the port at up to 400
megabits per second.
Apple invented this technology and had branded it as FireWire. It was also
adopted as an industry standard and is called IEEE 1394 on non-Apple
computers. Up to 63 devices can be daisy-chained to one FireWire port.
Daisy-Chain
A bus wiring scheme in which, for example, device A is wired to device B,
device B is wired to device C, device C to device D etc.
5) SPECIAL PURPOSE PORTS
There are four special purpose ports, which are:
MIDI port
It is designed to connect the system unit to a musical
instrument, such as an electronic keyboard.
SCSI port
It is a special high-speed parallel port used to attach
peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers..
IrDA port
Some devices transmit data via infrared light waves.
For these wireless devices to transmit signals to a
computer, both the computer and the device must
have an IrDA port.

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LESSON 39
CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT
Like human beings, computers too have a ‘brain’ that processes raw
information into usable data. Users input data into the computer system and
it is then processed by the central processing unit or the CPU. The results of
the processed data are then sent to an output device as usable data.
THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)
A Central Processing Unit or CPU is a microprocessor
(or processor for short). It is an integrated circuit chip
that is capable of processing electronic signals. The CPU
is the most important element in a computer system.
A CPU interprets instructions given by the software and carries out those
instructions by processing data and controlling the rest of the computer’s
components.
Nowadays, processors are found in all kinds of electronic devices such as cell
phones, calculators, automobile engines, and even industrial and medical
equipment. They process information so that humans can enjoy their
effective and efficient operation.
A CPU consists of two subcomponents; the Control Unit (CU) and the
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU).
1) CONTROL UNIT (CU)
Basically the Control Unit’s main function is to direct the
CPU to process data. The Control Unit extracts
instructions from memory and decodes and executes
them.
Under the direction of a program, the Control Unit manages a four-step
basic operation which is called a machine cycle or processing cycle.
Fetch and decode is in the instruction cycle whereas execute and store is in
the execution cycle. Today’s microprocessor can go through this entire
four-step process billions of times per second.

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FETCH
Retrieves the next program instruction from the computer’s memory.
DECODE
Determines what the program is telling the computer to do.
STORE
Stores the results to an internal register (a temporary storage location or to
memory).
EXECUTE
Performs the requested instruction, such as adding two numbers or deciding
which one of them is larger.
2) ARITHMETIC LOGIC UNIT (ALU)
The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), as its name implies,
can perform all arithmetic and logical operations.
Arithmetic operation is an operation that forms a
function of two numbers. This function is usually one of
the class of operations: add, subtract, multiply and
divide.
Logic operation is an operation on logical values, producing a Boolean result.
In general there are 16 logic operations over one or two operands; they
include AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR and equivalence.
HOW DATA IS PROCESSED BY THE CPU
When a user starts a program, its instructions are
transferred from the storage device to the memory. The
user enters the data needed by the program.
The Control Unit then interprets and executes instructions in the memory.
The Arithmetic Logic Unit then performs calculations on the data in the
memory. As a result, information is then stored in the memory. Information
can then be sent to an output device or a storage device.

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LESSON 40
STORAGE
WHAT IS COMPUTER
STORAGE ?
Information and documents are stored
in computer storage so that it can be
retrieved whenever they are needed
later on.
Computer storage is the holding of
data in an electromagnetic form for
access by a computer processor.
FUNCTIONS OF COMPUTER STORAGE.
Computer storage is important to help users store
programs and data to be used at a later time.
It is also useful to keep current data while being
processed by the processor until the information is saved
in a storage media such as a hard disk or a diskette.
Computer storage also stores instructions from a
computer program.
TYPES OF COMPUTER STORAGE
Primary storage is known as the main memory of a
computer, including RAM (Random-Access Memory)
and ROM (Read-Only Memory). It is an internal
memory (inside the CPU) that can be accessed directly
by the processor.
Secondary storage is the alternative storage in a
computer. It is an external storage that refers to
various ways a computer can store program and data.

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PRIMARY STORAGE
Primary storage is installed internally. Two main types
of primary storage are RAM and ROM.
Data from RAM can be read or retrieved and written or
stored during processing whereas data from ROM can
just be read only.
RAM is volatile, which means the program and data will be lost when the
computer is turned off.
ROM is non-volatile which means it holds the programs and data even when
the computer is turned off.
Many complex functions, such as translators for high-level languages and
operating systems are placed in primary storage.
volatile : The content is lost when a computer’s power is turned off.
SECONDARY STORAGE
Secondary storage is an
alternative storage. It is very
useful to store programs and data
for future use. Secondary storage
is required for two reasons.
1. The working memory of the
CPU is limited in size and
cannot always hold the
amount of data required.
2. Data and programs in
secondary storage do not
disappear when the power is
turned off.
LESSON 41
PRIMARY STORAGE
Primary storage is the main memory in a computer. It stores data and
programs that can be accessed directly by the processor.

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TYPES OF PRIMARY STORAGE
There are two types of primary storage which are RAM and ROM.
RAM is an acronym for Random-Access Memory which
means the data and program in RAM can be read and
written.
ROM is an acronym for Read-Only Memory. The data or
program in ROM can just be read but cannot be written at
all.
RANDOM-ACCESS MEMORY (RAM)
RAM is installed inside computers. RAM is also
known as a working memory.
The data in RAM can be read (retrieved) or
written (stored).
RAM is volatile which means the programs and
data in RAM are lost when the computer is
powered off.
A computer uses RAM to hold temporary instructions and data needed
to complete tasks. This enables the computer's CPU (Central
Processing Unit) to access instructions and data stored in the memory
very quickly.
RAM stores data during and after processing.
READ-ONLY MEMORY (ROM)
ROM is another type of memory permanently
stored inside the computer.
ROM is non-volatile. It holds the programs and
data when the computer is powered off.
Programs in ROM have been pre-recorded. It can
only be stored by the manufacturer; once it is
done, it cannot be changed.
Many complex functions, such as start up operating instructions,
translators for high-level languages and operating systems are placed
in ROM memory.
All the contents in ROM can be accessed and read but cannot be
changed.

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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RAM AND ROM
RAM ROM
Data and program Stores during and after
processing
Stored by manufacturer
Content Stores information
temporarily
Stores instructions
(Information) permanently
Processing time Very fast, but uses a lot
of power
Fast, but uses very little
power
Volatility Volatile Non-volatile
LESSON 42
SECONDARY STORAGE
WHAT IS SECONDARY STORAGE?
Secondary storage is another
alternative storage to keep your work
and documents. It is very useful to
store programs and data for future use.
It is non-volatile, which means that
it does not need power to maintain
the information stored in it. It will
store the information until it is erased.
TYPES OF SECONDARY STORAGE

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MAGNETIC MEDIUM
Magnetic Medium is a non-volatile storage medium.
It can be any type of storage medium that utilizes
magnetic patterns to represent information. The
devices use disks that are coated with magnetically
sensitive material. The examples of magnetic storage
are:
magnetic disk such as:
o a floppy disk, used for off-line storage
o hard disk, used for secondary storage
magnetic tape; including video cassette, audio storage reel-to-reel
tape and others.
OPTICAL MEDIUM
Optical Medium is a non-volatile storage media that
holds content in digital form that are written and read
by a laser. These media include various types of CDs
and DVDs.
These following forms are often commonly used :
CD, CD-ROM, and DVD: Read only storage, used for distribution of
digital information such as music, video and computer programs.
CD-R: Write once storage, the data cannot be erased or written over
once it is saved.
CD-RW, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM: Slow to write but fast reading
storage; it allows data that have been saved to be erased and
rewritten.
Optical media have a number of advantages over magnetic media such as
the disk capacity. One optical disk holds about the equivalent of 500 floppy
disks worth of data. Durability is another feature of optical media, they are
able to last for up to seven times as long as traditional storage media.
FLASH MEMORY
Flash Memory is a solid-state, non-volatile, rewritable
memory that functions like RAM and a hard disk drive
combined. Flash memory store bits of electronic data in
memory cells just like DRAM (Dynamic RAM), but it also
works like a hard disk drive that when the power is
turned off, the data remains in the memory. Flash
memory cards and flash memory sticks are examples of
flash memory.
Flash memory cards are also used with digital cellular
phones, MP3 players, digital video cameras and other
portable digital devices.

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Flash memory is also called USB drives, thumb drives, pen drives or flash
drives, are the up-and-coming players in the portable storage market.
The advantages of flash memory are, it offers fast
reading access times among the secondary storage
devices, (though not as fast as RAM) it is durable and
requires low voltage. It is also light and small. The
disadvantage is, it is more expensive than the magnetic
disk of the same capacity.
LESSON 43
TYPES OF SOFTWARE
Software is a program which consists of a set of
instructions that tells the computer how to perform
a specific operation.
A computer is just a machine with no special
benefits without software.
CATEGORIES OF SOFTWARE
Software can be divided into two categories, which are:
System Software
Software that is used to control and manage computer devices and
operations.
Application Software
Software that is used to help a user perform a task and solve a problem.
SYSTEM SOFTWARE
System software refers to all programs that help the
computer to function properly. The most important
type of system software is the computer’s operating
system, which enables the computer to start, such as
Microsoft Windows, MS-DOS and Mac OS.
Other types of system software include system utilities
such as file compression (zip program) and antivirus
programs.

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APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Application software are all programs that perform
specific tasks for users, which include word
processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation
e-Mail and Web browser software. Examples of
application software are Microsoft Word, Microsoft
Excel, Outlook Express and Internet Explorer.
SYSTEM SOFTWARE VS APPLICATION SOFTWARE
The differences between system software and application software.
LESSON 44
SYSTEM SOFTWARE
WHAT IS SYSTEM SOFTWARE
A system software is a program that controls or maintains the operations of
a computer and its devices. A system software also serves as the interface
between the user, the application software and the computer’s hardware.

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There are two types of system software:
• operating system
• utility program
OPERATING SYSTEM
An operating system is a set of programs that coordinates all the activities
among the computer hardware devices. In most cases, the operating system
is installed and resides on the computer’s hard disk.
However, on handheld computers and many mobile devices such as PDAs
and smart phones, the operating system may reside on a ROM chip.
The operating system that a computer uses sometimes is called the
platform.

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Linux is a freely distributed UNIX, it is a compatible
operating system for PCs and a number of other
processors.
Mac OS X is a multitasking operating system that is
the latest version of the Macintosh operating system.
UNIX is an operating system, or family of operating
systems, developed at Bell Laboratories in early
1970sas a replacement for an earlier system called
Multics.
Windows XP is the latest version of the Windows
operating system, which is Microsoft’s fastest, most
reliable Windows operating system.
UTILITY PROGRAM
A utility program which is also called a utility is a type of system software
that allows a user to perform maintenance-type tasks usually related to
managing a computer, its devices or its programs.
Antivirus Diagnostic Utility
File Manager Screen Savers

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ANTIVIRUS
Antivirus is a program that protects a computer against viruses by
identifying and removing any computer viruses found in a memory or
storage media or in incoming files.
DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY
Diagnostic utility is a utility program that compiles technical information
about a computer’s hardware and certain system software programs and
then prepares a report outlining any identified problems.
FILE MANAGER
File manager is a utility program that performs functions related to files and
disk management.
SCREEN SAVER
Screen saver is a utility program that enables a display device’s screen to
show a moving image or blank screen if no mouse activity occurs for a
specified time.
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OPERATING SYSTEMS
AND UTILITY PROGRAM

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LESSON 45
TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEMS
DEFINITION OF OPERATING SYSTEM
An operating system is a set of programs that schedule tasks, allocates
storage and presents a default interface to the user between applications.
Many of the first operating systems were device-dependent and proprietary.
The functions of the operating systems are:
starting a computer
providing a user interface
managing data and programs
managing memory
configuring devices
A device-dependent program is the one that runs only on a specific make of
a computer.
Proprietary software is privately owned and limited to a specific vendor or
computer.
PC PLATFORM OPERATING SYSTEMS
There are various types of operating system used on different platforms. The
examples of operating systems used on PC platforms or IBM compatible
computers are:
Disk Operating System (DOS)
Microsoft Windows XP
It is necessary for computer manufacturers to produce
unique software versions for each platform available in
the market. For instance, the Apple Macintosh, PC-
compatibles, and Sun SPARC-Stations are all different
platforms.
DOS is an acronym for Disk Operating System.
Microsoft developed DOS in the early 1980s for
personal computers. DOS used a command line
interface when Microsoft first developed it. It is a
closed source software.
Microsoft Windows XP’s operating environment is a
Graphical User Interface (GUI). It is a closed source
software.

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APPLE PLATFORM OPERATING SYSTEMS
The operating systems used on Apple platforms are:
Mac OS
Mac OS X
Mac OS was the first commercially successful graphical
user interface released in 1984. It is a closed source
software and are targeted for use with home desktops
and workstations.
Mac OS X is a multitasking operating system and it is
the latest version of the Macintosh operating system
released in 2001. Mac OS X is targeted for use with
home desktops, workstations and servers. It also has
better security protection compared to Mac OS, for
example the integrated firewall utility.
CROSS-PLATFORM OPERATING SYSTEMS
Cross-platforms operating systems are:
UNIX
LINUX
UNIX is a multitasking operating system developed in
the early 1970s by scientists at the Bell Laboratories.
Some versions of UNIX have a command line interface
but most versions of UNIX offer a graphical user
interface.
Linux is a popular, free, UNIX-like graphical user
interface operating system. It is an open source
software. Linux follows the Free Software Foundation's
radical licensing model, which provides a great deal of
liberty to those that interact with Linux technology.
Although Linux runs on many kinds of equipment, it is
best known for its support of IBM-Intel PC-based
hardware.

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LESSON 46
FUNCTIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEMS
DEFINITION OF OPERATING SYSTEM
An operating system, also commonly called OS is a set of programs that
coordinates all the activities among computer hardware devices. It also
supports the application software that we run.
It is designed to work with a specific type of computer such as a PC or a
Macintosh. Examples of popular Operating Systems are:-
Disk Operating System (DOS)
Linux
Mac OS X
Unix
Windows XP
FUNCTIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEM
1) STARTING THE COMPUTER
The first function of an operating system is to start
the computer. When we start a computer, it loads the
operating system into the computer's memory. This
process is called booting. Booting means to load and
initialize the operating system on a computer
machine. It can happen in two ways: warm boot or
cold boot.

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WARM BOOT
A warm boot means restarting a computer that is already on.It normally
happens after installing a new software or hardware or after an application
crashes or stops working.
COLD BOOT
A cold boot means starting a computer that is already off. It happens when
we turn on a computer that has been completely powered off.
2) PROVIDING A USER INTERFACE
From the user's perspective, the most important function of an operating
system, is providing the user interface. This function controls how the user
enters data and instruction and how information is displayed.
The user interface typically enables users:
to start an application program
to manage disks and files such as formatting, copying and renaming
to shut down the computer safely by following the correct procedures
The three types of user interface are Command-Line, Menu-Driven and
Graphical User Interface (GUI).
3) MANAGING DATA AND PROGRAMS
The next function of an operating system is to manage data and programs.
When we start an application, the CPU loads the application from storage
into memory.
In the early days of personal computing, single-tasking operating systems
could run only one application at a time.
Multitasking operating systems enable users to work with two or more
application programs at the same time.
Command-Line Menu-Driven GUI

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4) MANAGING MEMORY
The computer's operating system is responsible for managing memory such
as:
optimizing the use of random access
memory (RAM)
allocating data and instruction to an
area of memory while being
processed
monitoring the contents of memory
releasing data and instructions from
being monitored in memory when the
process is done
5) CONFIGURING DEVICES
Another function of an operating system is handling
input and output, as well as enabling communication
with input and output devices. Most operating
systems come with drivers for popular input and
output devices.
These drivers install new devices and check
whenever there is conflict with these devices.
LESSON 47
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SYSTEM
THE IMPORTANCE OF USER INTERFACES
The user interface is the part of an operating system
that you see and interact with and by which users
and programs communicate with each other.
The importance of user interfaces are:
to assist users interacting with a software
to control how a user enters data and
instructions
to control how information is displayed

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COMMAND-LINE USER INTERFACE
The command-line user interface requires a user to
type commands or press special keys on the
keyboard to enter data and instructions that instruct
the operating system what to do. It has to be typed
one line at a time.
The command-line user interface is difficult to use
because it requires exact spelling, syntax or a set of rules of entering
commands and punctuation.
We must observe the complicated rules of syntax that specify exactly what
you can type in a given place.For example, if we want to rename a filename
from ABC.txt to DEF.txt we use the following command.
The command-line user interface also requires memorisation. It is also easy
to make a typing mistake. The advantage of command-line interface is, it
helps the user to operate the computer quickly after memorizing the
keywords and syntax.
MENU DRIVEN INTERFACE
Menu-driven user interface enables the user to avoid
memorizing keywords such as copy, paste and
syntax. On-screen, menu-driven interface provide
menus as means of entering commands. It shows all
the options available at a given point in a form of
text-based menu. Menu-driven user interfaces are
easy to learn.
GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE (GUI)
Graphical user interface makes use of the computer’s
graphics capabilities to make the operating system
and programs easier to use, which is also called
‘user-friendly’. On today’s PCs and Macintoshes, GUIs
are used to create the desktop that appears after the
operating system finishes loading into memory.
We can easily differentiate the interfaces between Mac OS, Windows XP or
Linux by looking at their desktops. Graphical user interface interact with
menus and visual images such as buttons, icons and other graphical objects
to issue commands.
On the desktop, we can initiate many actions by clicking icons that represent
computer resources such as files, programs and network connections.
Graphical user interface is commonly used and has become a standard.

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LESSON 48
TYPES OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE
DEFINITION OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Application software is a computer program or a suite of computer
programs that performs a particular function for the user. Application
software includes all programs that perform specific tasks such as word
processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation, e-mail and Web browsing
A software application that enables a user to display and interact with text,
images, and other information typically located on a web page at a website
on the World Wide Web.
TYPES OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE
COMMON TYPES OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Word Processing
Word Processing an office application that enables user to create, edit,
format and print textual document.
Spreadsheet
A program that processes information in the form of tables. Tables cells can
hold values or mathematical formula.
Presentation
An application software that allows a user to create visual aid for
presentation to communicate ideas, messages and other information to a
group.
Graphics Editing
Program that can edit digital representation or non-text information such as
drawing, charts and photograph.

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1)WORD PROCESSING
A word processing program is an office application that enables users to
create, edit, format and print textual documents. It also offers commands
that enables users to format a document so that they can create an
attractive appearance.
2) SPREADSHEET
A spreadsheet is a program that processes information in the form of grid of
columns and rows. It is also called a table. Table cells can hold values or
mathematical formulas. Spreadsheets are indispensable tools for anyone
who works with numbers.
3) PRESENTATION
A presentation software enables users to create transparencies, slides and
handouts for presentation. It allows a user to create visual aids for
presentation to communicate ideas, messages and other information to a
group.

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4) GRAPHICS EDITING
Graphics editing is a program that can edit digital representation or non-text
information such as drawings, charts or photographs.
SOFTWARE SUITE
A software suite is a collection of individual programs sold as a single
package. The software suite is designed to enhance the performance of our
work. It typically includes word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and e-
mail. Currently, Microsoft Office is a very popular example of software suite
being used.
EXAMPLES OF SOFTWARE SUITES

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LESSON 49
USAGES OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE
USAGES OF WORD PROCESSING SOFTWARE
A word processing software (word processor) allows
users to create and manipulate documents
containing mostly text and sometimes graphics. It
provides the ability to create, check spelling, edit
and format a document on the screen before printing
it to paper.
A word processing software can be used to produce documents such as
letters, memos, reports, fax cover sheets, mailing labels, newsletters, and
web pages. Examples of word processing software are Microsoft Word,
StarOffice Writer, TexMaker and Corel WordPerfect.
Some features of word processing include the capability of:
creating and editing document
defining the size of paper on which to print and specifying the margin
changing the shape and size of characters
organising texts in newsletter-style columns
incorporating many types of graphical images
typing words in a paragraph continually without processing the ENTER
key at the end of each line
reviewing the spelling of a document (spelling checker)
inserting header and footer in a document
drawing tables of any size or shape
USAGES OF SPREADSHEET SOFTWARE
Spreadsheet software is an application that allows users
to organise and manipulate data in rows and columns. It
produces worksheets that require repetitive calculations
– budgeting, maintaining a grade book, balancing
accounts, tracking investment, calculating loan
payments, estimating project costs and preparing
financial statements.
Some features of spreadsheet include:
creating, editing and formatting worksheet in rows and columns
containing formulas which can perform calculations on the data in the
worksheet
making charts, which depicts the data graphically such as column
charts or pie charts
what-if analysis, the ability of recalculating the rest of the worksheet
when data in a worksheet changes.

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USAGES OF PRESENTATION SOFTWARE
Presentation software is an application that allows users
to create visual aids for presentations to communicate
ideas, messages and other information to an audience.
Examples of presentation software are Microsoft
PowerPoint, StarOffice Impress and CorelDraw.
Some features of presentation software include:
providing a variety of predefined presentation formats that define the
complementary colours for backgrounds, text and graphical accents on
the slides
providing a variety of layouts for each individual slide such as a title
slide, a two-column slide and a slide with clip art, a picture, a chart, a
table or animation
enhancing text, charts and graphical images on a slide with 3-D and
other special effects such as shading, shadows and textures
setting the slide timing so that the presentation automatically displays
the next slide after a preset delay
applying special effects to the transition between each slide
inserting images, video and audio clips
USAGES OF GRAPHICS SOFTWARE
Graphics software is an application that allows users
to work with drawings, photos and pictures. It
provides the users the ability of creating, manipulating
and printing graphics. Examples of graphics software
are Microsoft Paint, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe
Illustrator, Corel Painter and Macromedia Fireworks.
Some features of graphics software include:
drawing pictures, shapes and other graphical images with various on-
screen tools such as a pen, brush, eyedropper and paint bucket
modifying the contrast and brightness of an image
cropping unwanted objects
removing “red eye”
adding special effects such as shadows and glows

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LESSON 50
APPLICATION SOFTWARE: ADVANCED FEATURES OF WORD
PROCESSING
Word processing software incorporates basic functions such as:
typing, saving, opening and printing documents
copying, cutting and pasting texts and graphics
formatting texts and also checking for spelling
errors
MAIL MERGE
Mail merge is a powerful feature of word processing
software. If you need to create numerous documents
that are similar but require at least a modicum of
personalization, learning to use the mail merge feature
in word processing will save you a lot of time.
The mail merge has 2 parts. Main documents and a
data source. The 2 parts are merge so that you can
create customize document without typing it individually.
Mail merge can be used to create any type of printed documents, as well as
electronically distributed documents and faxes.
Here are some examples that can be created with mail merge:
Catalogues
Invoices
Labels
Envelopes
Form letters
Certificates
When used wisely, mail merge will greatly improve your productivity.
Mail Merge Wizard
1. First, prepare a list of recipients for your letters using Microsoft Excel.
2. Open Microsoft Word and start a new document.
3. From the menu bar, select Tools, click at Letters and Mailings and click
Mail Merge Wizard.
4. In the Mail Merge task pane, click on Labels.
5. Click Next.
6. In the Mail Merge task pane, select Change document layout and then
click Labels options. A dialog box is displayed.
7. Select your criteria for Label products including the product number of
the labels you are using. Click OK to close the dialog box.
8. Click next: select recipients.
9. In the mail merge task pane, select use an existing list.
10. Then click Browse to browse for the file. Locate the file and click
Open.

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11. Select the sheets you want to use and click OK. Select the record you
want to merge and click OK.
12. Click Next.
13. In the Mail Merge task pane, click More items.
14. An insert Merge Field dialog box is displayed. Insert the field you
want in your labels. Click close.
15. Arrange your merge field as desired, click Update all labels, click
next, preview your labels.
16. The first page of your label will merge for you for your preview. Click
next to complete the merge.
17. Click Edit individual labels to view all the labels and make any
custom edits that are needed.
DROP CAP
A drop cap allows you to offset the first letter of the
sentences or paragraph. It is basically the first letter
of the first word of a paragraph displayed in a large
font which can add a touch o style or class to a
document.
How to: Drop Cap
1. Position your cursor at the beginning of a paragraph where you would
like to see a drop cap.
2. From the menu bar, choose Format and select Drop Cap.
3. A drop cap dialog box will be displayed. Select whether you would like
a Dropped or In Margin drop cap., or you can remove a previously
existing cap.
4. You can select the font you wish to use for the cap.
5. If desired, you can select a different Distance from text to make the
drop cap letter more or less removed from the paragraph.
6. Increase or decrease the Lines to drop to increase or decrease the size
of the drop cap letter.
7. Press OK to apply your desired changes.
WATERMARK
A watermark is any text or graphic image that is
printed to overlap the existing text in a document,
either in the background or foreground. For example,
the word “Draft” printed lightly behind the text can be
considered as a watermark. It adds to the general
design without preventing readers from seeing the
text above it.

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How to: Watermark
1. Start Microsoft Word.
2. From the menu bar, click at Format, point to Background and then
click Printed Watermark.
3. To insert text watermark, in the Text box, type My Watermark, choose
Century Gothic for the font. Click Auto for the size and choose the
colour.
4. Click to select the Semitransparent check box (default setting) then
click the Diagonal option next to Layout.
5. Click OK. The watermark that you have just created is now visible on
the document sheet.
MICROSOFT EQUATION
The Microsoft Equation is a tool in Microsoft Word
that will allow you to easily create complex equation
on your computer. When you create an equation, it
becomes embedded in the word document.
How to: Microsoft Equation
1. Open a new Microsoft Word document.
2. From the menu bar, click at Insert and Select Object.
3. The object dialogue box opens. On the Create New tab, select
Microsoft Equation 3.0.
4. The equation tool bar appears.
5. The Equation Editor Toolbar contains dozens of equation templates.
Within each button on the toolbar, there are several tools available.
Simply click on a button to see the tools contained in each of them.
6. Click on the Fraction and Radical templates button.
7. Choose a template from the list.
8. After selecting the option for friction, type characters inside the dotted
box.
9. Type X in the numerator box of the fraction.
10. To give an exponent to this X, select the superscript option from the
Subscript and Superscript template button.
11. After selecting the exponent option, you will see a box on the top
right corner of X. Now type 2 in that box.
12. To move the cursor outside the exponent box, press the right arrow
key once. Then type Y.
13. Move to the denominator by pressing the down key once.
14. Type Z.
15. To exit the Microsoft Equation, click outside the shaded box.
16. On Fraction and Radical Templates button, select the square root
format.
17. Type in the characters inside the dotted box for the numbers that
you wish to have the value of square root.
18. To leave the square root option, press the right arrow key once.
19. Type + y

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21. On the summation Template button. Select the summation format
with upper and lower limit option.
22. Fill the dotted box for upper and lower limits with the corresponding
values.
23. Use the arrow keys to move to the different places of the summation
to type in the characters.
COMPARISON BETWEEN MICROSOFT WORD XP
AND OPENOFFICE WRITER
LESSON 51
APPLICATION SOFTWARE: ADVANCED FEATURES OF
SPREADSHEET SOFTWARE
Spreadsheet software allows users to:
organise data in rows and columns
perform calculation on data
recalculate the rest of the worksheet when data in a worksheet
changes
depict the data in chart form
Most spreadsheet software has advanced features to allow you to work more
productively. For example:
macro
lookup
protection
pivot table

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MACRO
Macro is a sequence of keystrokes and instructions
that are recorded and saved. Microsoft Excel is an
example of a program that allows you to create
macros. You can set whether to run the macro by
using a new button in the toolbar or a shortcut key
such as CTRL+D, ALT+H or CTRL+ALT+S.
Macros can automate complex tasks and reduce the number of steps
required to complete tasks that you perform frequently.
LOOKUP
One of the more powerful functions available in
spreadsheet is the Lookup function. This allows you to
take any value entered, find it in a designated table,
and then return a value from that same table. It is
very practical, for example, if you wish to look up a
student's name by typing in the identification number
or MyKad number.
PROTECTION
Spreadsheet has a protection feature that allows you
to protect your information from being lost. Once a
worksheet or workbook is protected no information
can be modified or erased until the spreadsheet has
been unprotected.
This feature is very useful when you share spreadsheets with others. It’s
often important to make sure that the spreadsheet is protected from
changes. Microsoft Excel provides a feature called "Protection" that allows
you to ensure that nothing on your spreadsheet gets changed accidentally.
PIVOT TABLE
Spreadsheet has a feature that allows users to
summarise and simplify tasks that contain a lengthy list
using complex criteria. This feature is called Pivot Table.
A complex criterion refers to each column of field in
source data that summarises multiple rows of
information. A Pivot Table is a hidden reporting tool that
can sort and sum large amounts of data in lists and
tables.

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COMPARISON BETWEEN MICROSOFT EXCEL XP AND
OPENOFFICE CALC 2.0
As with Microsoft Word and OpenOffice Writer, comparison between
Microsoft Excel and OpenOffice Calc is not an easy task. Firstly, the former’s
license needs to be bought while spreadsheet software licensing for
OpenOffice Calc is absolutely free.
Microsoft Excel XP supports all the advanced features explained. OpenOffice
Calc 2.0 supports the first three features as well but it does not support
speech tool (at least until a current release).However, both applications
share a great number of similarities in their look and features, and in the
way the software runs. For example:
Formula
Macro
Autofill
Filter
Chart
Function
Often we find features which are better in one or the other. Each new
version will definitely have some improvements upon features that will make
each one better.
LESSON 52
APPLICATION SOFTWARE: ADVANCED FEATURES OF
PRESENTATION
Presentation software allows users to combine text, photos, clip art, graphs,
animation, sound and even video into a series of electronic slides like those
shown on the screen. Most presentation software has advanced features to
make your presentation more effective. For example:
organisation chart
rehearse timing
PowerPoint show
photo album

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Examples of presentation software are:
Microsoft PowerPoint
Harvard Graphics
Adobe Persuasion
Corel Presentation
Freelance Graphics
ORGANISATION CHART
Organisational charts are a great way to relate certain
topics together. They can be used to visually show:
An organisation’s structure
A flow of logical steps of a project
A family tree
REHEARSE TIMING
Sometimes, however, people may not know how long
each slide should be displayed. PowerPoint allows you
to rehearse the timings. It will run the slide show on
manual and begin recording times. When you are
done, it can place those times in the presentation for
you.
The Rehearse Timing Tool in presentation software allows you to practice
giving an on-screen presentation, regardless of any timing you may have set
previously. The timing tool not only displays the entire presentation, but also
each individual slide, as you rehearses. Each time you advance the slide, the
time is recorded.
POWERPOINT SHOW
You can save your presentation as a Powerpoint Show
(.pps) file so that your presentation will open straight
into screen show mode.
PHOTO ALBUM
PowerPoint's Photo Album feature allows you to insert
several photos quickly and edit your "album" once the
images have been placed.

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COMPARISON BETWEEN MICROSOFT POWERPOINT AND
OPENOFFICE IMPRESS
OpenOffice Impress is free software but MS PowerPoint is copyrighted
software.
Like the rest of OpenOffice, Impress is designed for an easy transition
from Microsoft Office.
Most of the same tools are available as in Powerpoint and in the same
places.
MS PowerPoint supports all the advanced features explained in this
lesson.
OpenOffice Impress supports the first three features as well as
explained in this lesson but it does not allow users to save the file as a
presentation show like PowerPoint Show.
However, OpenOffice Impress has a feature which allows users to save
the file in “.swf format “as a presentation show.
Both application share a great number of similarities in basic features
like slide transition, drawing objects, chart and diagram, bullets and
numbered lists, master slide, hyperlink.
Both software supports similar audio format.
Besides that, Impress has no tools for recording sounds or narration
and for playing CD tracks.
In contrast to PowerPoint’s several dozen templates. Impress offers
only a few.

137
LESSON 53
APPLICATION SOFTWARE: GRAPHICS EDITING
Graphics software or graphics editing software is a
program that enables a person to manipulate visual
images on a computer. Most graphics software
have features to enhance your graphics. For example:
crop
photo enhance
Examples of graphics software are MS Paint, Adobe Illustrator, PhotoFiltre,
Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Fireworks, Macromedia Freehand and
EazyDraw.
CROP
In graphics software, the crop tool is used for cropping
or cutting pictures down to size. The required area is
selected using the crop tool, and then the crop is
applied to leave just the selected area.

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PHOTO ENHANCE
Enhancing Pictures allows you to add new and exciting
effects to your pictures to make them better. Photo
enhancements include:
cropping
changing background
combining elements from two or more pictures.
Adding or removing colour.
Adjusting or modifying colours and size.
Adding other special effects like borders and spotlight.
COMPARISON BETWEEN ADOBE PHOTOSHOP AND
THE GIMP
Adobe Photoshop and GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) are
examples of graphics software which allow users to enhance and retouch
graphics. The former is proprietary software and is quite expensive. Each
copy or license for Adobe Photoshop CS that is purchased from Adobe can
only be installed on one primary computer and one secondary computer.
Unlike Photoshop, the GIMP can be installed on as many machines as you
like as it is free open source software.
Photoshop has an easy to use desktop and user interface. The look of the
GIMP is similar to Photoshop. Both employ toolboxes with understandable
symbols. And thus, the GIMP is as easy to use as Photoshop. The GIMP is
comparable to Photoshop with actual photo editing and image manipulation
tools. For example:
drawing tools
cropping tools
colour correction tools
image enhancement tools
layers
channels
gradient editor
transparencies
However, the GIMP does not have all the features like “path” and “actions”,
which Photoshop has.

139
LESSON 54
TYPES AND USAGES OF UTILITY PROGRAMS
Utility programs, also known as service
programs, perform maintenance-type tasks
related to the managing of a computer, its
devices, or its programs.
They enhance existing functions or provide services not supplied by other
system software programs. Most computers come with built-in utilities as
part of the system software. However they may also be bought separately as
external utility programs such as Norton SystemWorks and McAfee Utilities.
FILE MANAGER
File manager is the software used to manage files on a
disk. It provides functions to delete, copy, move,
rename and view files as well as create and manage
folders (directories).
File manager performs tasks of formatting and copying disks, displaying a
list of files on a storage medium, checking the amount of used or free space
on a storage medium, organising, copying, renaming, deleting, moving and
sorting files and also creating shortcuts.
DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY
A diagnostic utility compiles technical information
about a computer's hardware and certain system
software programs and then prepares a report
outlining any identified problems. Information in the
report assists technical support staff in remedying any
problems.
DISK DEFRAGMENTER
When an operating system stores data on a disk, it
places the data in the first available sector on the disk.
It attempts to place data in sectors that are
contiguous but this is not always possible. When the
contents of a file are scattered across two or more
non-contiguous sectors, the file is fragmented.
The process of defragmentation is the reorganising of the disk so the files
are stored in contiguous sectors. A fragmented disk has many files stored in
non-contiguous sectors. Defragmenting reorganises the files so they are
located in contiguous sectors, which speeds access time.

140
SMALL UTILITY PROGRAMS
An image viewer displays, copies and prints the
contents of a graphics file.
A personal firewall detects and protects computer
from unauthorised intrusions.
An uninstaller removes a program and any associated
entries in the system files.
A screen saver displays a moving image or blank
screen if no keyboard or mouse activity occurs for a
specified time.
LESSON 55
MORE TYPES AND USAGES OF UTILITY PROGRAMS
BACKUP UTILITY
Backup utility allows users to copy or back up,
selected files or an entire hard disk to another storage
medium.
Why is it important?
The program allows the user to retrieve data if the
hard drive fails and there are no more programs or
files that can function.

141
An example of a backup utility program is Norton Ghost from Symantec.
DATA RECOVERY
A data recovery utility is used to restore the data that
has been physically damage or corrupted. Data can be
damaged by viruses, bad software, hardware failure
and power fluctuations that occur while data is being
written or recorded.
VIRUS PROTECTION
It is essential that you install antivirus software.
Antivirus software is a utility program that scans the
hard disks, floppy disks and memory to detect viruses.
Some utilities destroy the virus on the spot. Others
notify you of a possible viral behaviour. Examples of
antivirus software are Norton Antivirus and McAfee’s
VirusScan.
Antivirus utilities normally look for virus signatures to
identify a virus. Users of antivirus utilities must update
the virus definition files as often as possible to ensure
that such files contain patterns for newly discovered
viruses.
If an antivirus utility cannot remove the virus, it often
quarantines the infected file in a separate area of a
hard disk until the virus can be removed. Most
antivirus utilities can create a recovery disk to remove
or repair infected programs and files. In extreme
cases, a hardisk may need to be reformatted to
remove a virus.
Virus Signature
A virus signature or virus definition is known as a specific pattern of a virus
code.
Quarantines
Keeping a virus away because it is dangerous.
DATA COMPRESSION
Data compression utility is a utility that removes
redundant elements, gaps and unnecessary data from a

142
computer’s storage space so that less space is required to store or transmit
data. With the increasing use of large graphics, sound, and video files, data
compression is necessary both to reduce the time required and to reduce the
time required to transmit such large files over a network.
Compressed files are sometimes called zipped files because they usually
have a .ZIP extension. A compressed file must be unzipped or restored to its
original form before being used. Two popular file compression utilities are
PKZIP and WinZip.
DISK SCANNER AND DISK CLEANUP
These utilities detect and correct certain types of
common problems on hard disks and floppies and
search for and remove unnecessary files, such as
temporary files or “temp files”.
Both windows and the applications you run create temp files needed only for
a small tasks and system restore after certain types of system problems.
These files are stores in the Temp folder.
LESSON 56
PROPRIETARY AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE
Proprietary software is also called closed source
software. The closed source software or proprietary
software offers a stable system with support if the
software fails or malfunctions.
EXAMPLES OF PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE
OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
Open source software is:

143
software provided for use, modification and redistribution
software that any programmer can download from the Internet for free
and modify with suggested improvements.
the only qualification is that changes can't be copyrighted,
Why is it popular? Because this software is not closed software. Any
programmer can make improvements which can result in better quality
software.
EXAMPLES OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
Linux is the popular multi-tasking UNIX type operating
system. Some versions of Linux are command line.
Others are GUI. The two most popular GUIs available
for Linux are GNOME and KDE.
Many application programs, utilities and plug-in have Linux versions
including OpenOffice.org, PHP-Nuke, The GIMP, Mozilla, ClamAV, OpenLDAP,
Audacity and RedHat.
Users can obtain Linux in a variety of ways. Some
download it for free from the web. Others purchase it
from vendors.
COMPARISON

144
LESSON 57
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF PROPRIETARY
SOFTWARE
Vendors of proprietary software say “keeping the source code closed
make their product more secured”. Keeping the source code closed might
deter some hackers, but the large number of successful attacks against
Windows and other proprietary software proves that it certainly does not
provide any kind of high level security.
There are advantages and disadvantages of proprietary software from the
perspectives of both the manufacturer and the user.
ADVANTAGES OF PRODUCING PROPRIETARY
SOFTWARE
The producing company creates software that must be
purchased in order to be installed and used, thus
giving room for profit. The company can set limit to
the licence of use. This will allow the company to
control and monitor the installation and distribution of
the software sold.
ADVANTAGES OF USING PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE
The advantages of using proprietary software are :
The software offers a stable system support if it
fails or malfunction.
The software is safe and guaranteed to be safe
from dubious threats like programming bugs and
viruses thus providing ease of mind for the user.
The software is easier to install and used as the
production is planned and extensive research is
carried out to ensure users purchase only the best.
Furthermore, free updates and latest information on the software are
usually provided to the user.
DISADVANTAGES OF PRODUCING PROPRIETARY
SOFTWARE
Disadvantages of producing proprietary software are:
manufacturers are often under massive amounts
of pressure to release the software before it is
ready, causing major problems later. This is
because the release of the software would affect
the profit
security is a major issue. Manufacturers will
have to invest in an ongoing research against threats from hackers

145
DISADVANTAGES OF USING PROPRIETARY
SOFTWARE
Disadvantages to users of using proprietary software are:
users need to spend a long time downloading and installing security
patches to fix bugs announced by the manufacturer.
Any improvements would usually require fees, which is often
expensive.
users are not allowed to describe and share the software as that are
licensed.
Customising the software is nearly impossible because when users buy
proprietary software will receive binary version of the program, not the
code as the code is the manufacturer’s trade secret.
LESSON 58
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF OPEN SOURCE
SOFTWARE
Have you heard about Linux?
Linux is one of the fastest growing operating
system. Linux is an example of open source
software which means its code is provided for
use, modification and redistribution. There are
other open source software, such as the Firefox
and GIMP.
In addition to the basic operating system, Linux also includes many free
utility programs. Users can obtain Linux in a variety of ways. Some
download it free from the web. Others purchase it from vendors for a
minimal fee.
There are also open source browsers such as Firefox and open source image
editor – the GIMP. The GIMP is very reliable and cost effective for normal
users who do not need extra features offered in other graphics software
such as Adobe Photoshop.
ADVANTAGES OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
Some advantages of open source software are:
The source codes are available to users and they have the rights to
modify them.
This will allow improvements to the software without having to invest
large sum of money in research and development.
The modified and improved source codes can be freely redistributed.

146
MORE ADVANTAGES OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
The open source software is created according to
industry demands but allows for upgrades to take place
freely when the need arises. Therefore, if bugs in the
codes are found, they can be fixed by anyone interested
and capable. Fixes and patches to rectify the bugs are
rapidly developed.
The software can be used in any way and for any legal purposes. There is no
restriction in a unilateral way on how the software could be used.
DISADVANTAGES OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
Since nobody in particular is responsible for the codes, there is no exact
knowledge and assurance on when the codes are going to be fixed if there a
bugs in it. Thus, users will have to use the problematic software until
someone rectifies the problem.
MORE DISADVANTAGES OF OPEN SOURCE
SOFTWARE
Other disadvantages of open source software are:
The codes are too complicated for novice users
to understand.
There is no particular official monitoring the
works of a programmer improving the codes.
This is because anyone is free to use, modify or
even distribute the codes.
Open source usually comes without warranty and after sales support should
the software fail or malfunction. This is because the software usually
distributed free of charge or sold for very minimal fees.
LESSON 59
PC PRE-ASSEMBLING
Before assembling a PC, we should know the
importance of safety in handling computer
components. Do not assemble or touch any
components while the power is plugged in.
There are possibilities of short circuit or
someone else accidentally switching the power
on causing the user being electrocuted.
These components are made of metal with sharp edges. You may cut your
finger if you are not careful. When handling computer components like

147
motherboards, video cards, memory, or even a hard drive, it is important to
hold them by the edges. Our fingers would not come in contact with any
conductors, thus decreasing the chance of causing any electro static
discharge (ESD) damage.
Certain electrical components namely capacitors can store electrical charge
even after the power has been disconnected for a certain time.
COMPONENT LIST FOR ASSEMBLING A PC
LESSON 60
PC ASSEMBLING
TYPES OF MOTHERBOARDS
There are several types of motherboards in the market
based on what type of processor we are going to use.
For example if you have an Intel Pentium 4 or Intel
Celeron processor, you can use a Gigabyte or an MSI
motherboard, which are well known locally, or you can

148
also use an Intel motherboard. If you decided to have an AMD K8 processor,
you can use a Gigabyte or an MSI motherboard.
FIXING THE PROCESSOR
Place the CPU into the ZIF socket. Make sure pin
number one is placed correctly.
Lock the socket using the locking lever.
Apply the IC paste at the bottom of the heat sink.
Fix the processor fan on the processor.
INSTALLING THE RAM
Insert the RAM in the RAM slot and press downwards.
Ensure that the RAM remains in the locked position.
You will hear a 'click' sound when the RAM is locked in
place.
INSTALLING THE POWER SUPPLY
Attach the power supply to the motherboard. You
must ensure all connections are firmly attached and
no wires run near the top of the processor fan.

149
INSTALLING THE OPTICAL DRIVE (DVD OR CD)
Set the jumper on the CD-ROM drive as Master.
Attach the drive to the trails on the casing.
Screw the drive securely on both sides.
Plug in the IDE cable and power cable.
ATTACHING THE VIDEO CARD & CONNECTING THE
CABLES
Attach the video and audio cards onto the slots.
Attach the IDE cables for hard-disk, CD-ROM and floppy
drive on the motherboard.

150
Attach the power cables for the motherboard.
Attach power cables for front panel display that is to the
speaker, HDD indicator LED, Power LED and RESET
button.
INSTALLING THE FLOPPY DRIVE
Attach the drive to the casing.
Screw the drive securely on both sides.
Plug the power cable.
Connect the IDE cable.

151
INSTALLING THE HARD DISK
Set the jumper to master. If this is your second hard
disk, set the jumper to slave.
Secure the hard disk on both sides.
Attach the master or slave connection of the IDE cable
to the hard disk.
Connect the power cable.
CONNECTING OTHER PERIPHERALS
Replace the casing and screw it tightly and finally set it
in an upright position.
Plug in the video cable from the monitor to the display
card.
Connect the keyboard, speakers and mouse to the
respective ports.

152
POWERING THE SYSTEM
Plug in the power cord and switch on the power.
Press the power button.
LESSON 61
BIOS SETUP
BIOS stand for Basic Input Output System. It is a set
of routines stored inside the Read Only Memory (ROM)
that allows a computer to:
Boot up the computer when you turn on the
power or hit the reset button.
Communicate with various devices such as disk
drives, keyboard, printer and communication
ports.
And load the operating system.
The most important role of BIOS is to load the
operating system. As you turn the PC, the processor
will find and execute the instructions provided by
BIOS.
There are my programs and versions of BIOS,
depending on the type of motherboard used in a PC.
Although these BIOS interfaces may be slightly
different in appearance, they all have the following
general functions:
Standard setting
Advanced setting
Power management
Boot Order
Exit setup

153
H
HOW TO ACCESS BIOS
First, turn on the PC.
During the booting process, the screen usually states
the key to be pressed for entering the BIOS.
In this case, press DELETE key immediately during the
power-on self-test (POST).
Now you can see the main BIOS screen.

154
BIOS MAIN MENU
On the main menu, you’ll get a snapshot of
BIOS version, processor type, processor
speed, System bus and memory speed,
Cache and Total memory. You cannot
change these numbers unless you physically
change your PC. To change other fields
data, use your keyboard’s Tab or Up and
Down arrows keys to navigate to
appropriate field, and if you need to input
new data, press ENTER.
ADVANCED MENU
Peripheral configuration
Use this screen to turn on or off the serial and
parallel ports, plus to change more specific
configuration.
Drive Configuration
If you were to install a new hard drive you would
want to check here to make sure the setting are
noted.
Floppy Configuration
Should you install new floppy disk drive, you might
need to modify certain setting here.
USB Configuration
USB or Universal Serial Bus ports provide fast
connection with peripheral devices such as a mouse.
Event Log configuration
Your system may contain a DMI or Desktop
Management Interface Event Log. A DMI log keeps
track of the changes made to a system such as
program installation. This screen give you options for
turning on and off the log and then viewing the logs
content, clearing it and marking it as read.

155
POWER MENU
The Advanced Configuration and Power Interface
(ACPI) settings enable you to dictate ho much system
resources are allocated to each peripheral device. If
not in use, a PC can shut down a device, saving
system resources.
You may also turn on and off the “after power failure” type setting, which
determines how your system reacts in the event of a power failure.
BOOT MENU
You may configure the boot sequence in the boot
menu. This boot menu controls the order of the
devices from which the BIOS will load the operating
system.
EXIT MENU
Your BIOS probably contains an Exit screen that gives
you a safe way to leave the firmware. You can save
your changes in the Complementary Metal Oxide
Semiconductor (CMOS) and exit the BIOS or cancel
the changes.
Some BIOS come with another built-in safety feature. If you choose to exit
BIOS by pressing the ESC button, you will be asked whether you want to
discard changes before exiting. Look for the instruction to save the changes
in CMOS. In this case, type ‘F10’ and choose ‘Yes’ (Y) to save changes and
exit the BIOS.
LESSON 62
HARD DISK PARTITIONING AND FORMATTING
A hard disk is like a big office with many departments
(partitions). Each department has its own purpose,
such as:
Graphics department
Human resource department
Finance department
We create partitions on the hard disk for different purposes. For example:
Data
Games
Backups

156
WHY PARTITION?
Disk partitioning is the process of dividing and
organising a disk into different specific sections.
Limits Accidental Or Deliberate Damage Of Your Data
Partitioning a disk will store different application into
different partitions. If the partition where an
application is installed on is corrupted or accidentally
deleted, the data in another partition would not be
erased. You will only need to recover one partition,
which is faster than recovering the entire hard disk.
Increases Security
Encryption is one of the methods of protecting critical
data fro theft or corruption, but it slows down the
computer performance. By partitioning the disk, you
can encrypt only those partitions that need protection,
and other parts of your system will run unencrypted
and hence faster.
Making The Computer Faster
A computer can find data faster in a partitioned disk. A
computer finds files and directories quicker as it needs
to search only one partition, not the whole disk.
Organises Information
By partitioning a disk, you can organise your data
logically. The data is arranged in categories according
to different functions or objectives.
Increases Productivity
Partitioning a disk can increase productivity. You will
save time searching for a particular file and may
complete some useful tasks.

157
PARTITIONING THE HARD DISK
The following steps will demonstrate how to use a Windows XP CD to
partition a hard disk. First, Insert the Windows XP Installation CD and restart
the computer. Press the key stated on the screen to enter the BIOS setup.
We need to set the CD-ROM drive as the first booting device in the boot
sequence. Restart your computer.
Follow the instruction, when you get the message to ‘press any key to boot
from CD’. Once the boot from CD-ROM has started, it will display at the top
of the screen: Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration.
After a brief delay, the Microsoft “Windows Setup” installation screen is
displayed. “Setup is loading files”, means it is loading all types of device
drivers.”
It will finally state: "Setup is starting Windows" and will display after a short
delay the “Windows XP Professional Setup" screen. Select "to set up
Windows XP now" and press the ENTER key.
CREATING A PARTITION ON HARD DISK
Setup will now display the partitioning of your disk. If
your system has an operating that has been installed,
you will see them listed. To continue installing a fresh
copy of Windows XP without repairing, press ESC.

158
You now have a simple Disk Manager, allowing you to
create and delete partitions. You will need to select an
“Unpartitioned space” and press C to create partition.
If you do not need to specify the size of the partition,
use the default size and press ENTER.
Now, a partition is created. Select the partition and press Enter to set up
Windows XP on the selected partition. Choose a desired format either using
NTFS or FAT for the partition. Clicks ENTER on the chosen format.
FORMATTING HARD DISK
Once the partition is created, the next screen will ask for the type of disk
formatting to be used. Disk formatting is the process of making a disk for
specific file system such as NTFS. Here, we are going to use NTFS, so we will
select it and press ENTER. Setup will start formatting the disk and will then
start copying files from the CD-ROM to the disk. The system will then need
to reboot.
After the restart, Windows XP starts the first time with the graphical user
interface. Setup will continue to copy files and to install the OS.

159
LESSON 63
INSTALLING THE OPERATING SYSTEM
Examples of operating system
STEPS IN FINALIZING WINDOWS XP INSTALLATION
LESSON 64
INSTALLING AN APPLICATION SOFTWARE
If you want to install new application software, you need to check:
the hardware requirements demanded by
the software, for example whether you
have a Pentium 4 Processor
other software requirements, such as
DirectX 10 or Windows XP

160
Some new software needs special hardware and software specifications.
INSTALLING MS OFFICE XP
In this session, you will be guided through the
installation of Microsoft Office XP. Check
minimum hardware and system requirements:
Windows 98
133 MHz Processor
24 MB RAM
245 MB of available hard disk space
Enter your name and initials in the User name
and Initials fields, and Organization field,
respectively. Enter the CD Key (the 25
characters located on the back of the CD's case
and called Product Key) into the Product Key
field. Click Next.
Read the End-User License Agreement. Select
the “I accept the terms in the License
Agreement" option, then click Next to
continue.
Leave Install Now selected for the default
install. Click Next.
A new window will appear, verifying the
components that you wish to install. If the
information is correct, click Install; otherwise
click Back and make necessary changes.

161
Microsoft Office XP will install to your
computer. The installation may take several
minutes.
If the program installs correctly, a Microsoft
Office XP window will appear, stating that the
program has been installed successfully. Click
OK to complete the installation.
Restart your computer. Save any opened documents or files before
restarting to avoid data loss.
Microsoft Office icons will appear on your
computer’s Desktop.
When you first open a program in Microsoft
Office P suite, you will be prompted to register
your software. You can use Microsoft Office up
to 50 times before registration is mandatory.
If you do not register, you will not be able to
use any of the programs in the Office XP suite
beyond this limited usage.
To register, simply follow the instruction that Microsoft provides. The
recommended and quickest way to register is via an online connection.
LESSON 65
INSTALLING A UTILITY PROGRAM
General Guide in installing Utility Program
1. Make sure your computer meets the requirements of the utility you are
trying to install.
2. The 'Readme’ file is usually located in the same directory as
installation program. Installation instructions are usually found in this
file.

162
3. When installing the utility, it is always advisable to first close or
disable other programs that are still running.
4. Most utilities contain an Auto Play feature that will automatically start
the setup screen for the program when the CD is run.
5. Otherwise, you can open the My Computer window, and locate the
setup file manually.
INSTALLING AN ANTIVIRUS PROGRAM
An antivirus program will detect, clean or quarantine
viruses found. First download the free antivirus
program, AVG Free Edition. Click on the downloaded
file to begin installation.
A pop-up window appears requiring the user to
continue the installation steps. Click OK to complete
the installation.
LESSON 66
PERVASIVE COMPUTING
WHAT IS PERVASIVE COMPUTING?
Pervasive computing means the technology that is gracefully integrated in
our everyday life. The user is no longer aware of this embedded technology.
Pervasive computing uses web technology, portable devices, wireless
communications and nomadic or ubiquitous computing systems. Other terms
for pervasive computing are Ubiquitous Computing, Calm Technology, and
Things That Think.
It is about the ability to deliver any information to any device over any
network. In short, it is about computers everywhere where computers are
embedded into equipments, machines, furniture or people. The current
technology has evolved into embedded, networked and wireless.

163
Ubiquitous
A synonym of the word ‘pervasive’, meaning things that seem to be
everywhere.
Calm Technology
In computing, calm technology aims to reduce the "excitement" of
information overload by letting the user select what information is at the
centre of their attention and what information is peripheral. The term was
coined by Mark Weiser, chief technologist, and John Seeley Brown, director
of the Xerox Palo Alto Research Lab. In the coming age of ubiquitous
computing in which technology will become at once pervasive yet invisible,
Weiser and Brown foresee the need for design principles and methods that
enable users to sense and control what immediately interests them while
retaining peripheral awareness of other information possibilities that they
can at any time choose to focus on. Calm technology, they envision, will not
only relax the user but, by moving unneeded information to the edge of an
interface, allow more information to exist there, ready for selection when
needed.
PERVASIVE COMPUTING
Pervasive computing devices are not personal
computers, but very tiny - even invisible - devices,
either mobile or embedded in almost any type of
object imaginable, including cars, tools, appliances,
clothing and various consumer goods - all
communicating through interconnected networks.
Expert predict pervasive computing in year 2010 will become so naturalized
within the environment that people will not even realize that they are using
computers.

164
EXAMPLE OF PERVASIVE COMPUTING
This is an example of pervasive computing in our daily lives which is the
automatic Touch 'n Go SmartTags toll gate.
Another example of pervasive computing in daily lives is the 3G technology
video phone.

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