IT

• Information Technology


  The use of computers, software, networks, and other electronic devices to store, retrieve, transmit, and manipulate data for various purposes
• Importance of IT in the Modern World

  • IT has become an integral part of our daily lives, impacting how we work, communicate, learn, and entertain ourselves
  • It has revolutionized industries such as healthcare, finance, education, and entertainment, leading to increased efficiency, accessibility, and innovation
• IT's Role in Business and Society

  • In business, IT plays a crucial role in streamlining operations, improving decision-making through data analytics, enhancing customer experience, and enabling global connectivity
  • In society, IT has facilitated advancements in healthcare (telemedicine), communication (social media, video conferencing), transportation (GPS, ride-sharing apps), and education (online learning platforms)
• Evolving Landscape of IT

  • Rapid advancements in IT, such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain, are transforming how businesses operate and individuals interact with technology
  • IT professionals play a vital role in developing, implementing, and maintaining IT systems to meet the evolving needs of organizations and society
• Challenges and Opportunities


  • While IT offers numerous benefits, it also poses challenges such as cybersecurity threats, data privacy concerns, and digital divide issues
  • Addressing these challenges requires collaboration between IT professionals, policymakers, businesses, and communities to ensure responsible and ethical use of technology
• Computer


  An electronic device, operating under the control of instructions (software) stored in its own memory unit, that can accept data (input), manipulate data (process), and produce information (output) from the processing
• Basic Computer Operations


  1. Accepts data or instructions by way of input

  2. Stores data

  3. Processes data as required by the user

  4. Gives results in the form of output
• Data


  Information that has not yet been processed into a form that is meaningful to the user
• Information


  Data that has been processed into a form that is meaningful to the user
• Why Is A Computer So Powerful?

  • The ability to perform the information processing cycle with amazing speed
  • Reliability (low failure rate)
  • Accuracy
  • Ability to store huge amounts of data and information
  • Ability to communicate with other computers
• Generations of Computers


  • First Generation: 1946 – 1958 (The Vacuum Tube Years)
  • Second Generation: 1959 – 1964 (The Era of the Transistor)
  • Third Generation: 1965-1970 (Integrated Circuits – Miniaturising the Computer)
  • Fourth Generation: 1971-1980 (VLSI microprocessor based)
  • Fifth Generation: 1980-onwards (Artificial Intelligence)
• Classification of Computers


  • Personal Computer
  • Workstation
  • Mini Computer
  • Main Frame
  • Supercomputer
• Application Areas of Computers

  • Business
  • Banking
  • Insurance
  • Education
  • Marketing
  • Health care
  • Engineering Design
  • Military
  • Communication
  • Government Applications
• Devices that comprise a computer system

  • Printer (output)
  • Monitor (output)
  • Speaker (output)
  • Scanner (input)
  • Mouse (input)
  • Keyboard (input)
  • System unit (processor, memory...)
  • Storage devices (CD-RW, Floppy, Hard disk, zip,...)
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)


  • Brain of the computer
  • It directs and controls the entire computer system and performs all arithmetic and logical operations
  • Also referred to as the processor
  • Two major brands are Intel and AMD
• Memory Unit


  • Read Only Memory (ROM)
  • Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Input Devices


  • Mouse
  • Keyboard
  • Microphone
  • Scanner
  • Webcam
• Output Devices


  • Monitor
  • Printer
  • Speaker/Headphone
• Motherboard


  • Is the main circuit board inside the computer
  • Has tiny electronic circuits and other components on it
  • Connects input, output, and processing devices together (CPU, Memory, Hard Drive, DVD Drive)
  • Tells the CPU how to run
• Expansion Cards


  • Video Card
  • Network Interface Card (NIC)
  • Sound Card
• Storage Devices


  • Hard Disk
  • Flash Drive
  • CD-ROM
  • DVD-ROM
• Ports and Connections


  • Universal Serial Bus (USB) Port
  • Network Port (Ethernet)
  • Parallel Port and Serial Port (Not in use anymore)
  • Display Adapter
  • Power
• Using a Computer


  1. To turn on a computer, press the power button on the system unit

  2. Log on to the operating system by your user name and password

  3. Computers allow you to create, modify, and save files

  4. To shut down a computer, click Start, and then, at the bottom of the Start menu, click Shut Down
• Using a Mouse


  1. Point

  2. Double Click

  3. Left Click

  4. Right Click

  5. Click-and-Drag or Drag-and-Drop
• Other Parts that Build Up A System Unit

  • Casing or cover
  • Power Supply
  • Motherboard
  • Memory
  • Video & Sound Card
  • Drives
  • Ports and Cables
  • Cooling (Fans & Sinks)
• Computer Software


  A set of instructions that drive a computer to perform specific tasks
• Types of Computer Software

  • System software
  • Application software
• System Software


  • Operating system
  • Network operating system
  • Utility
• Application Software


  • Word processing software
  • Spreadsheets
  • Presentation programs
  • Graphics programs
  • Database management software
• Data


  The words, numbers, symbols and graphics that describe people, events, things, and ideas
• Information


  Data that has been used as the basis for initiating some action or for making a decision
• File


  A named collection of data, stored on a storage medium such as a hard disk
• Document


  A file that a user can open and use
• Folder


  A place where groups of computer files and other folders can be kept and organized
• Files


  • Data files contain text, images, or other data that can be used by a program
  • Executable files contain programs or instructions that tell the computer how to perform a task
• Filename extensions


  Describe a file's contents
• File format


  The arrangement of data in a file and the coding scheme that is used to represent the data
• Native file format


  The format that is saved by the application that created it
• Network


  A group of computers and associated devices that are linked together to facilitate sharing information
• Network Components


  • Server
  • Workstation
  • Communication channel