Module 1 Lesson 2

• Computer


  A machine that stores, retrieves, and processes information or data. It can be used for typing documents, sending emails, browsing the internet, accounting, database management, presentations, games, and more
• Types of computers

  • Personal computers (desktop or laptop)
  • Mobile devices (smartphones and tablets)
  • Supercomputers
  • Embedded systems
• Computer system


  Consists of hardware, software, and people to collect, manipulate, store, and process data into information
• Hardware


  1. Physical computer equipment used in computer systems

  2. Categorized as input device, central processing unit, storage device, output device
• Input device

  • Hardware used to enter data into a computer or similar processing device
  • Examples: keyboard, mouse, touchpad, joystick, touchscreen, scanner, microphone, digital camera
• Central processing unit (CPU)


  The brain or heart of the computer that processes, manipulates, or converts data
• Storage device

  • Physical device where data are stored
  • Examples: hard disk, DVDs, CDs, magnetic tape, Flash drive/thumb drive/Flash memory (USB memory sticks)
• Primary storage

  Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Secondary storage


  Flash drives, CDs, hard disks, SD cards
• Output device

  • Hardware used to output or reproduce data entered into a computer
  • Examples: monitor, printer, plotter, projector, speaker, headphones, light/LED
• Software

  1. Programming instructions that tell the computer what to do

  2. Two main types: system software and application software
• System software


  • Controls the way the computer works and tells it what to do
  • Examples: operating system, utilities, user interface
• Application software


  • Allows specific tasks like creating documents, communicating, playing games
  • Examples: word processors, e-spreadsheets, databases, games, web browser
• Peopleware


  Refers to the role of using and developing computer software and hardware systems
• Application software


  • Even without it, the computer will still work
• Roles related to Peopleware

  • Computer operators
  • System administrators
  • Computer programmers
  • Computer technicians
  • Hackers
• Computer operators

  • Regularly use the computer for specific tasks like creating documents and spreadsheets
• System administrators


  • Manage computers in a corporate group, ensuring all systems are operational and up-to-date
• Computer programmers


  • Create software by encoding instructions for the computer to follow
• Computer technicians


  • Focus on troubleshooting and fixing hardware elements of computer systems
• Hackers


  • Acquire knowledge in various computer roles and use it for unconventional tasks
• The basic foundation of the computer is the language it uses to accept, process, store, and communicate data, known as machine language
• Machine language


  Language used by computers, represented in the form of bits (0 and 1)
• Images are made up of pixels, with each pixel representing a color in the image
• Red color is represented by the bits 11111111 00000000 00000000
• Binary data representation is derived from the ASCII chart (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)
• Bits in a computer can be represented by states, such as north/south polarity in magnetic fields
• Learning Activity: Identify a computer in your household and its input, output, and storage devices. Write your first name in binary using the chart provided in the lesson