BASIC DEFINITIONS OF INFORMATICS AND COMPUTING

What is computing? Science of the rational treatment, by means of automatic machines, of

information considered as the support of human knowledge and communications in the technical,
economic and social fields. The word Computer Science is formed by the contraction of the words
Information and automatic.

What is computing? The concept "Computing" refers to the scientific study that is developed on
automated information management systems, which is carried out through tools designed for this
purpose.

Differences Between Computing and Informatics

Computing refers to the scientific study that is developed on automated information management
systems, which is carried out through tools designed for this purpose.
Computing refers to the technology itself that allows the management and mobility of information
regarding this science. nce or knowledge also refers to the theoretical foundations of the
information that computers process, and the different implementations in the form of computational
systems.

Computing is responsible for the automatic processing of information. This automatic processing is
what has given computing the manipulation of large proportions of data and the rapid execution of
complex calculations. It also focuses on software processing by users and other aspects related to
programs, hardware and computer structure.

Computing functions

It makes possible the automatic and rational processing of information. Among the most popular
tasks that this technology has facilitated are:

.Creation of new job specifications.

.Development and implementation of computer systems.
.Systematization of processes.
.Optimizing existing methods and systems.

What is a data
Data: elements that are subject to processing. Formally they are defined as the set of symbols used
to represent or express a fact, an idea, a number.

Computer data type is an attribute of a piece of data that tells the computer (and/or the
Programmer) something about the type of data that is to be processed. This includes imposing
restrictions on the data, such as what values it can take and what operations it can perform.
Common data types are: integers, floating point numbers (decimals), alphanumeric strings, dates,
times, colors, cars or anything you can think of.

What is information: Set of data and instructions necessary for the computer to execute a task.

Organized set of processed data, which constitute a message that changes the state of knowledge
of the subject or system that receives said message.

What are the qualities of good information.

.That it is truthful: truthful information that can be contrasted with reality.
.Make it timely: obtain the precise information at the right time.
.That it is relevant: information that is important and not mere data without any link.

Information storage elements

• Bit: Binary digit acronym. (binary digit). A bit is a digit in the binary number system. While ten
digits are used in the decimal number system, only two digits are used in the binary number
system, 0 and 1. The bit is the minimum unit of information used in computing, in any digital device,
or in information theory. It is a binary value, the most basic unit of information. Normally the bit is
not used as a unit of information storage since it is very small.

• Byte: number of bits necessary to store a character. This number depends on the code used by
the computer, generally being 8, so byte is usually used as a synonym for 8 bits or octet.

Multiples:

1 Kilobyte (KB) = 1024 bytes

1 Megabyte (MG) =1024 kilobyte (1,048,576 bytes)

1 Gigabyte (GB) = 1024megabyte (1,073,741,824 bytes)

1 Terabyte = 1024 gigabyte (1.0 x1012 bytes)

1 Petabyte = 1024 terabyte (1.1 x1015 bytes)

8. What is a Field: it is a storage space for a particular piece of data. In databases, a field is the
smallest unit of information that can be accessed; A field or a set of them form a record, where
there may be blank fields, this being a system error. In spreadsheets, fields are called cells. Most
fields have attributes associated with them. For example, some fields are numeric while others
store text, the size of these also varies. Additionally, each field has a name.

What is a record : A record is a set of fields that contain data that belongs to the same entity
repetition. A consecutive number (record number) is automatically assigned, which is sometimes
used as an index, although it is normal and practical to assign each record a key field for searching.

What is a file: A file or computer file is a set of bits stored on a device. A file is identified by a name
and the description of the folder or directory that contains it. Computer files are so called because
they are the digital equivalents of the card, paper, or microfiche files in the traditional office
environment. Computer files provide a way to organize the resources used to permanently store
data in a computer system.

What is a computer : It is a machine based on microelectronic technology that, through its various
physical and logical components (basically processor, memory and input/output devices), allows
the processing of data to obtain information.

Computer is a machine capable of accepting input data, performing logical and arithmetic
operations on them, and providing the resulting information through an output medium, all without
the intervention of a human operator and under the control of a program made up of instructions. ,
previously stored on the computer.
What are input devices: These devices allow the computer user to enter data, commands and
programs into the CPU. The most common input device is a keyboard similar to that found on
typewriters. The information entered with it is transformed by the computer into recognizable
models. Data is read from the input devices and stored in the central or internal memory. Input
Devices convert information into electrical signals that are stored in the central memory.

What are output devices : These devices allow the user to see the results of the computer's
calculations or data manipulations. The most common output device is the display unit (VDU),
which is a monitor that displays characters and graphics on a television-like screen.

What is the Central Processing Unit :

The central processing unit or CPU (for the acronym in English of central processing unit), or simply
the processor or microprocessor, is the component of the computer and other programmable
devices, which interprets the instructions contained in the programs and processes the data.
The term "central processing unit" is, broadly speaking, a description of a certain class of logic
machines that can execute complex computer programs.

What is memory: In computing, memory (also called storage) refers to part of the components that
make up a computer. They are devices that retain computer data for some interval of time.
Computer memories provide one of the main functions of modern computing, the retention or
storage of information.

Memory Types:

RAM: This memory is where the microprocessor will store the programs or instructions that we give
it when we want it to carry out certain operations. The main difference between this type of memory
and ROM memory is that RAM is emptied when it is turns off the computer, that is, it is volatile. It
should be taken into account that the greater the amount of memory a computer has, the greater
the number of operations it can carry out.

ROM: It is a memory that contains a series of small programs, which have been stored there by the
computer manufacturers, so that this memory can only be used to be read. The main mission of the
programs stored in this memory is to check that all the components of the computer are in good
condition and that they work perfectly: the keyboard, the monitor, the storage units, etc.

CACHE: It is the fastest memory and therefore the most expensive, so computers have only a
small amount (normally it contains about 256 or 512 Kb). It stores instructions or data that are
analyzed frequently. It is between the processor and RAM.

Virtual memory, simulation of RAM on hard disk

What is Hardware : Hard matter.
It corresponds to all the tangible parts of a computer: its electrical, electronic, electromechanical
and mechanical components; 1 its cables, cabinets or boxes, peripherals of all kinds and any other
physical element involved.

What is Software: Soft Matter. It comes from the English word soft, which means soft. The word
software is used to designate the logical part of the computer. The set of programs that are used to
direct and control the operation of the computer is called the logical part.

Software classification:
Software is classified into three large groups, depending on the objectives for which it was created:
operating system software, programming software and application software.

Software systems or operating systems:

It is made up of the programs that are responsible for controlling, coordinating and managing all the
computer hardware.
These programs are called operating systems and act as intermediaries between the physical
components of the computer and the user.

Operating systems are classified according to the type of behavior they provide to the computer, for
example, according to the number of programs that the computer can run at once. If the computer
can only work with one program at a time, it is called single-tasking; On the contrary, if it allows
many programs to run at the same time, it is called multitasking.

In addition, operating systems are also classified according to the number of users who can work
with the computer at the same time. This is what they are called single-user or multi-user.

Among the main operating systems we can highlight:

-MS-DOS: With this Microsoft system, the first IBM PC appeared in 1981. It is single-task and
single-user.

-OS/2: Created by IBM in 1987. It is multitasking and single-user. It works with a graphical interface
that makes it easy to use.

-Windows: It is from the Microsoft company. The system allows you to work in multitasking and
single-user mode. It has a graphical interface through windows that makes it easier for the user to
use the computer. This system is also compatible with MS-DOS.
Windows 98, Windows XP, Millenium, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, 8.1, Windows 10.

-Unix: It has numerous names depending on the company that markets it (Linux, Unix, Sco...). This
system is multitasking and multiuser and can be run on a personal computer or on a large
mainframe computer with numerous screens. It is usually used in large companies.