tu170 7 to 11

• Chapters


  • Chapter 7: Application Software
  • Chapter 8: System Software
  • Chapter 9: Input and Output
  • Chapter 10: The System Unit
  • Chapter 11: Secondary Storage
• Application Software


  • End user software used to accomplish a variety of tasks
  • Three categories: General-Purpose Applications, Specialized applications, Mobile apps
• General-Purpose Applications


  • Word processors (e.g. Microsoft Word)
  • Spreadsheets (e.g. Microsoft Excel)
  • Presentation graphics (e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint)
  • Database management systems (e.g. Microsoft Access)
• Specialized applications


  • Graphics programs: Desktop publishing (e.g. Adobe InDesign), Image editing (e.g. Adobe Photoshop), Illustration (e.g. Adobe Illustrator), Video editors (e.g. Windows Live Movie Maker)
• User interface


  Portion of the application that allows you to control and interact with the program
• Graphical User Interface (GUI)

  • Displays graphical elements called icons to represent familiar objects
  • Mouse controls a pointer on the screen to select items like icons
  • Windows are rectangular areas that can contain documents, programs or messages
• System software


  Works with end users, application programs and computer hardware to handle technical details
• Types of system software

  • Operating systems
  • Utilities
  • Device drivers
  • Language translators
• Operating system


  Collection of programs that handle technical tasks related to using a computer
• Categories of operating systems

  • Embedded operating systems (real-time)
  • Stand-alone operating systems (desktop)
  • Network operating systems
• Input


  Data or instructions used by a computer
• Input devices


  • Keyboards
  • Pointing devices (mouse, touch screen)
  • Scanning devices (optical scanners, card readers)
  • Image capturing devices (digital cameras, webcams)
  • Audio-input devices (microphone)
• Output


  Processed data or information
• Output devices


  • Monitors
  • Printers
  • Audio-output devices (speakers, headphones)
• Types of monitors


  • Flat-panel
  • Curved
  • E-books readers
  • Digital or interactive whiteboards
  • Ultra-high-definition television (UHDTV)
  • Digital projectors
• Types of printers


  • Inkjet
  • Laser
  • 3D
• System unit


  Container that houses most of the electronic components that make up a computer system
• Types of personal computers


  • Desktop
  • Laptop
  • Tablet
  • Smartphones
  • Wearable computers
• Desktop computer


  • Most powerful type of personal computer
  • System unit in a separate case
  • Input and output devices located outside the system unit
  • Some have monitor and system unit housed together (all-in-one)
• Laptops


  • Not as powerful as desktops
  • Portable and smaller than desktops
  • System unit housed with selected secondary storage and input devices
  • Specialized types: two-in-one, gaming, ultrabooks
• Tablets


  • Thin slab with system unit behind monitor
  • Smaller, lighter, and less powerful than laptops
  • Use virtual touch-sensitive keyboard instead of standard keyboard
  • Mini tablets have smaller screens
• Smartphones


  • Extend capabilities of cell phones by providing computing power
  • Capture and send audio/video, run apps, connect to internet
  • System unit located behind display screen
• Wearable computers


  • Contain an embedded computer on a chip, smaller and less powerful than smartphones
  • Common examples are smartwatches and activity trackers
• System unit components


  • System boards
  • Microprocessors
  • Memory
• Primary memory


  RAM holds data and programs the CPU is currently processing
• Secondary storage


  Provides permanent or non-volatile storage for data and programs
• Secondary storage devices


  • Hard disks
  • Solid-state storage
  • Optical discs
• Hard disks


  • Save files by altering magnetic charges on disk surface
  • Internal hard disks located inside system unit, store and retrieve data quickly
  • External hard disks located outside system unit, provide slower access
• Solid-state storage


  • Have no moving parts, data stored and retrieved electronically
  • Examples: solid-state drives (SSDs), flash memory cards, USB drives
• Optical discs


  • Data stored by altering surface of plastic or metallic disc with laser beam
  • Examples: CDs (700MB), DVDs (4.7GB), Blu-ray discs (50GB)