INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD OF

COMPUTERS
Application of Information and Communication
Technologies

Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Majeed

Faculty of Computing and Information Technology (FCIT)

University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
 Engr. Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Majeed
Associate Professor
Department of Data Science
 PhD Computer Engineering
 MS Computer Engineering
Research interests:
Certifications:
Mispronunciation Detection,
1. Project Management Professional (PMP)®
2. PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner Disease classification.
3. Professional Scrum Master (PSM) Network and Communications.
4. Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSC) Machine Learning
5. ITIL Certified
6. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
7. Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate (JNCIA)
8. IBM Certified Data Engineer

Experience: 21 Years of Teaching & Network Management

 University of The Punjab, Lahore
 University of Engineering and Technology Taxila.
 NUST School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Islamabad.
 University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi.
About the course
About the course
• Aims and Objectives
• A thorough understanding of the user level of
computers and their role in society.

• Sufficient knowledge of Information Technology and key

concepts of the computer world.

• The ability to use computers to enhance productivity

regardless of the type of discipline in which they are
being used, including effective use of different
productivity software.
About the course
• Aims and Objectives (Cont.)
• An overall understanding of different areas of ICT like
computer and network communication hardware, system
and application software, Internet and the world wide
web, computer and network security, and data privacy.

• Be proficient enough to design, build and host a basic

website.

• A primitive understanding of information systems and their

development life cycle, the significance of e-commerce,
and its business models.
Quizzes
• We will have few quizzes to check that you're
keeping up with the material between exams
• Quizzes may be unannounced or announced in
advance
• If you happen not to attend class on the day a
quiz is given, you will get a 0 for that quiz
Honesty Policy
• Taking someone else's work and representing it as your
own is lying, cheating, and stealing.

• Any reference material taken from the Web or other

sources must be properly cited.

• Violations of the honesty policy will, at the very least,

result in no credit for the work and 0 sessional marks.
Cheating on Homework Assignment
• Copying from another or copying from the Internet are
considered as cheating.

• BOTH PARTIES participated in the cheating will be

penalized
Attendance and Late Arrival
• You are expected to attend every lecture and be
on time.
• If you must come in late for unavoidable reasons,
take extreme care not to disturb the class.
• Anyone arriving after I finish taking attendance
will be counted as absent for that day.
Computers in Your Life
• Why learn about computers?
▪ Pervasive computing
• Computers have become an integral part of our
lives
▪ Basic computer literacy
• Understanding what a computer is and how it
works
Computers in Your Life
• Before 1980
• Computers were large and expensive
• Very few people had access to them
• Computers were mostly used for high-volume
processing tasks
• Microcomputers in the early 1980s
• Inexpensive personal computers
• Computer use increased dramatically
Computers in Your Life
• Today
▪ Nearly 90% of US households include a computer,
and most use computers at work
▪ Electronic devices are converging into single units
with multiple capabilities
• Check e-mail on the living room television
• View Internet content on mobile devices
▪ Computer literacy is an essential skill for everyone
Computers in Your Life
Computers in the Home
• Computers used for a variety of tasks:
• Looking up information and news
• Exchanging e-mail
• Shopping and paying bills
• Watching TV and videos
• Downloading music and movies
• Organizing digital photographs
• Playing games
• Making vacation plans
Computers in the Home
• Used for reference, productivity, and
entertainment
• Wireless networking
▪ Computers can be used in nearly any location
• Smart appliances
▪ Traditional appliances with built-in computer or
communication technology
• Smart homes
▪ Household tasks are monitored and controlled by a main
computer in the house
Computers in Education
• Youth today: the computing generation
• Computer labs and classrooms
▪ Most students today have access to computers at school
▪ Some schools integrate e-books into the curriculum
• Wireless hotspots
▪ Colleges and universities are even more integrated
▪ Some have computer requirements for enrollment
• Supplied or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
• Distance learning
▪ Students participate from locations other than the traditional
classroom setting using computers and Internet access
Computers in Education
Computers on the Job
• Computers have become a universal on-the-job tool
for decision-making, productivity, and communication
• By all types of employees
• For access control and other security measures
• For service professional use
• Extensively by the military
• Requires continually refreshing computer skills
• Common uses:
• Decision-making, productivity, off-site communications, and
authentication
Computers on the Job
Computers on the Go
• Computers are encountered in nearly every
aspect of daily life
• ATM transactions
• POS systems at retail stores
• Self-checkout systems
• Consumer authentication systems
• Portable computers or mobile devices
• GPS systems
Technology and You Box
• Restaurant iPad Ordering Systems
• Used in conjunction with e-menus
• Customers can place and pay for orders
• Can provide more resources to customers
What Is a Computer and What Does It
Do?
• Computer
• A programmable electronic device that accepts data,
performs operations on that data, and stores the data
• Follows instructions, called programs, which determine the
tasks the computer will perform
• Basic Operations
• Input: Entering data into the computer
• Processing: Performing operations on the data
• Output: Presenting the results
• Storage: Saving data, programs, or output for future use
• Communications: Sending or receiving data
What Is a Computer and What Does It
Do?
Data vs. Information
• Data
• Raw, unorganized facts
• Can be in the form of text, graphics, audio, or video
• Information
• Data that has been processed into a meaningful
form
• Information Processing
• Converting data into information
Computers Then and Now
• The computer as we know it is a fairly recent
invention
• The history of computers is often referred to in terms
of generations
• Each new generation is characterized by a major
technological development
• Precomputers and early computers (before approx.
1946)
• Abacus, slide rule, mechanical calculator
• Punch Card Tabulating Machine and Sorter
Computers Then and Now
• First-generation computers (1946-1957)
• Enormous and powered by vacuum tubes
• Used a great deal of electricity and generated a lot of heat
• ENIAC and UNIVAC
• Second-generation computers (1958-1963)
• Used transistors
• Computers were smaller, more powerful, cheaper, more
energy-efficient, and more reliable
• Punch cards and magnetic tape were used to input and
store data
Computers Then and Now
• Third-generation computers (1964-1970)
• Used integrated circuits (ICs)
• Keyboards and monitors introduced
• Fourth-generation computers (1971-present)
• Use microprocessors
• IBM PC, Apple Macintosh
• Use keyboards, mice, monitors, and printers
• Use magnetic disks, flash memory, and optical disks for
storage
• Computer networks, wireless technologies, Internet
introduced
Computers Then and Now
• Fifth-generation (now and the future)
• Infancy stage
• May be based on artificial intelligence (AI)
• Will likely use voice and touch input
• May be based on optical computers and utilize
nanotechnology
Computers Then and Now
Computers Then and Now
Hardware
• Hardware: The physical parts of a computer
• Internal hardware
• Located inside the main box (system unit) of the
computer
• External hardware
• Located outside the system unit
• Connect to the computer via a wired or wireless
connection
• Hardware devices are associated with all five
computer operations
Hardware
• Input Devices
• Used to input data into the computer
• Keyboards, mice, scanners, cameras, microphones,
touch pads, touch screens, fingerprint readers, etc.
• Processing Devices
• Perform calculations and control computer’s operation
• Central processing unit (CPU) and memory
• Output Devices
• Present results to the user
• Monitors, printers, speakers, projectors, etc.
Hardware
• Storage Devices
• Used to store data on or access data from storage
media
• Hard drives, CD/DVD discs and drives, USB flash
drives, etc.
• Communications Devices
• Allow users to communicate with others and to
electronically access remote information
• Modems, network adapters, routers, etc.
Hardware
Software
• Software
• The programs or instructions used to tell the computer
hardware what to do
• System Software
• Operating system starts up the computer and controls
its operation
• Without OS, computer cannot function
• Boots the computer and launches programs at the
user’s direction
• Most use a GUI to interact with the user via icons,
buttons, tiles, etc.
• Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, etc.
Application Software
• Application Software
• Performs specific tasks or applications
• Creating letters, budgets, etc.
• Managing inventory and customer databases
• Editing photographs
• Scheduling appointments
• Viewing Web pages
• Exchanging e-mail
• Burning DVDs
• Designing homes
• Playing games
 Application Software
• Examples of application software
• Word processing programs
• Multimedia programs
• Web browsers
• E-mail programs
Computer Users and Professionals
• Computer Users (end users)
• People who use a computer to obtain information
• Computer professionals include:
• Programmers
• Write programs computers use
• Systems analysts
• Design computer systems
• Computer operations personnel
• Manage day-to-day computer operations
• Security specialists
• Secure computers and networks against hackers
Computers To Fit Every Need
• Six basic categories of computers:
• Embedded computers
• Mobile devices
• Personal computers
• Servers
• Mainframe computers
• Supercomputers
 Embedded Computers
• Embedded Computers
• Embedded into a product and designed to perform specific tasks
or functions for that product
• Cannot be used as general-purpose computers
• Often embedded into:
• Household appliances
• Thermostats
• Sewing machines
• Treadmills
• Answering machines
• Cars
Mobile Devices
• Mobile Device
• A very small device with some type of built-in computing
or Internet capability
• Typically has a small screen and keyboard
• Examples:
• Smartphones
• Handheld gaming devices
• Portable digital media players
• Media tablets
Personal Computers (PCs)
• Personal Computer (PC)
• Small computer designed to be used by one person at a time
• Also called a microcomputer
• Available in different sizes and shapes
• Desktop Computers
• Tower case, desktop case, or all-in-one
• PC or Macintosh
• Not portable
Portable Computers
• Portable Computers
• Designed to be carried around easily
• Fully functional computers
• Notebook (laptop) computers
• Typically use a clamshell design
• Tablet computers
• Usually use a digital pen/stylus or touch screen
• No physical keyboard; can use on-screen or attached
keyboard
• Hybrid notebook-tablet computers
• Netbooks
• Smaller and have more limited features than conventional
notebooks
Portable Computers
Thin Client and Internet Appliances
• Thin Client
• Designed to utilize a network for much of its processing
• Lower cost, increased security and easier maintenance
• Limited or no local storage
• Not able to function as a computer if network is down

• Internet Appliance
• Specialized network computer designed for Internet
access
• Some use apps to deliver news, sports scores, weather,
music, and other Web-based information
Thin Client and Internet Appliances
Servers
• Server
• A medium-sized computer used to host
programs and data for a small network
• Sometimes referred to as a minicomputer
• Users connect via a network with a computer,
thin client, or dumb terminal
• Virtualization
• Creating virtual rather than actual environments
(often used to share a server for increased efficiency)
Mainframe Computers
• Mainframe Computer
• Powerful computer used by many large organizations to
manage large amounts of centralized data
• Standard choice for hospitals, universities, large
businesses, banks, government offices
• Located in climate-controlled data centers and
connected to the rest of the company computers via a
network
• Larger, more expensive, and more powerful than
servers
• Usually operate 24 hours a day
• Also called high-end servers or enterprise-class servers
Mainframe Computers
Supercomputers
• Supercomputer
• Fastest, most expensive, most powerful type of
computer
• Generally run one program at a time, as fast as
possible
• Can cost several million dollars each
• Tend to be very large and contain a large number of
CPUs
• Titan is one of the fastest computers in the world
Supercomputers
Computer Networks and the Internet
• Computer Network
• A collection of hardware and other
devices that are connected together
• Users can share hardware, software, and
data
• Users can communicate with each other
• Network Servers
• Manage resources on a network
Computer Networks and the Internet
• Computer networks exist in many
sizes and types
• Home networks
• School and small office networks
• Large corporate
• Public wireless networks
• Mobile telephone networks
Computer Networks and the Internet
What Are the Internet and the World Wide
Web?
• Internet
• The largest/most well-known computer network in the
world
• Individuals connect using an Internet service provider
(ISP)
• World Wide Web
• One resource (a vast collection of Web pages) available
through the Internet
• Web sites contain Web pages stored on Web servers
• Viewed using a Web browser (Internet Explorer,
Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, etc.)
• Offers a wide variety of information
What Are the Internet and the World Wide
Web?
Accessing a Network or the Internet
• Need a modem or network adapter to connect
• Some networks require a username and
password
• Internet connections can be:
• Direct (always-on) connections
• Dial-up connections
• Internet addresses are used to access resources
on the Internet
• IP (Internet Protocol) address
• Numeric address that identifies computers (207.46.197.32)
IP Addresses and Domain Names
• IP Addresses
• Are numeric and unique

• Domain Names
• Correspond to IP addresses
• Top-level domains (TLDs)
• Identifies type of organization or its location
Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)
• Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)
• Uniquely identifies a Web page, including
• Protocol or standard being used
• Web server hosting the page
• Names of folders in which the Web page file is
stored
• Web page’s filename
Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)
• Protocols:
• Hypertext Transfer Protocol (http://) is typically used to display Web
pages (https:// is used for secure Web pages)
• File Transfer Protocol (ftp://) is often used for file exchange
E-mail Addresses
• E-mail addresses consist of:
• Username
• An identifying name
• The @ symbol
• Domain name for the computer that will be handling the person’s e-
mail (mail server)
• Pronouncing Internet addresses
Surfing the Web
• Web browser
• Used to display Web pages

• Browser starting page or home page

• The first page displayed when the browser is opened

• To navigate to a Web page, you can:

• Type a URL in the Address bar
• Click a hyperlink – graphics or text linked to other Web
pages
• Select a Favorite/Bookmark or page from the History list
Searching the Web
• Search site:
• Helps you locate what you are looking for
• Typically search using keywords

• Reference sites
• Look up addresses,
• telephone numbers
• ZIP codes, maps, etc.
E-Mail
• Electronic mail (e-mail)
• Electronic messages exchanged between computers on a network

• One of the most widely used Internet applications

• Can be a conventional e-mail program, Web-based, or

mobile-based

Conventional Web-based
Microsoft Outlook Gmail
Mac OS X Mail Outlook.com
E-Mail
• Can contain photos, attached files, etc.
• Mobile e-mail may require a fee
• Other types of mobile communications
• Short Message Service (SMS)
• Multimedia Message Service (MMS)
E-Mail
Computers and Society
• The vast improvements in technology over the
past decade have had a distinct impact on daily
life, at home and at work
• Many benefits of a computer-oriented society
• Ability to design products before construction leads to safer
products
• Earlier medical diagnoses and more effective treatment
• Devices that allow physically and/or visually challenged individuals
to perform job tasks
• Documents e-mailed or faxed in moments
• Download information, music, programs, movies, and more on
demand
Computers and Society
• Computer-oriented society also has
risks
• Stress and health concerns
• Spam
• Computer viruses and malware
• Identity theft and phishing
• Privacy issues
• How data is collected
• How secure is the collected data
Computers and Society
• Differences in online communications
• Less formal than traditional
• Netiquette
• Be polite and considerate of others
• Refrain from offensive remarks
• Abbreviations (acronyms) and emoticons
• Acronyms, such as BTW (by the way)
• Illustrations of faces, such as ☺
Computers and Society
Computers and Society
• The Anonymity Factor
• Gives many individuals a sense of freedom
• Can also be abused
• Information Integrity
• Use common sense when evaluating online
content
• Check your source--not all information on the
Internet is accurate
Summary
• Computers in Your Life
• What is a Computer and What Does It Do?
• Computers to Fit Every Need
• Computer Networks and the Internet
• Computers and Society
Credit
• This lecture notes are based on the following resources:

• Chapter 1, Understanding Computers: Today and

Tomorrow by Deborah Morley and Charles S. Parker,