Application of Information and

Communication Technologies
Lecture 1

M. Ali Shahid
Department of Computer Science

The slides are adapted from the publisher’s material

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow (Ch1, Ch4)
What is a computer?

 An electronic device for storing and processing data, typically in binary

form, according to instructions given to it in a variable program.
 Computer: A programmable, electronic device that accepts data, performs
operations on that data, and stores the data or results as needed
 Computers follow 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
Data vs Information

Data
 Data is raw, unorganized facts that need to be processed.
Can be in the form of text, graphics, audio, or video
Information
 When data is processed, organized, structured or presented
in a given context so as to make it useful, it is called
information.
Information Technology?

Technology
 Technology is humans using objects (tools, machines,
systems, and materials) to change the natural and human-
made environment.
 Technology is developed by people to modify their
environment.

Information Technology
 Information technology is “ anything related to computing
technology, such as networking, hardware, software, the
Internet, or the people that work with these technologies”.
Computer Technology
 Hardware: This includes physical components of a computer
such as the CPU, memory (RAM), storage devices (HDDs,
SSDs), motherboards, and peripherals (keyboards, mice,
printers). Advances in hardware technology have led to
increasingly powerful and compact devices.
 Software: This encompasses the operating systems (e.g.,
Windows, macOS, Linux), application software (e.g., word
processors, web browsers), and programming languages (e.g.,
Python, Java, C++). Software development involves creating
and maintaining these programs to perform various tasks.
 Networking: This involves connecting computers to share
resources and information. Local Area Networks (LANs) and
Wide Area Networks (WANs) are key components, with
protocols like TCP/IP enabling communication between devices.
Communication Technology

 Telecommunications: This includes technologies for

transmitting information over distances, such as
telephones, satellites, and radio. It encompasses both
wired and wireless communication systems.
 Internet and Web Technologies: The internet is a global
network of interconnected computers that use protocols
like HTTP/HTTPS to communicate. Web technologies
involve the development of websites and web applications
using languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
 Mobile Communication: This involves technologies used in
mobile phones and other wireless devices. Key
components include cellular networks (3G, 4G, 5G), Wi-Fi,
and Bluetooth.
Computers and Society
 The vast improvements in technology over the past
decade have had a distinct impact on daily life, both 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
 Devices that allow challenged people to perform job tasks
 Documents e-mailed or faxed in moments
 Download information, music, programs, movies, and more on
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Computers and Society
 Computer-oriented society also has risks

 Computer viruses and malware

 Identity theft and phishing
 Privacy issues
 Differences in online communications

 Less formal than traditional

 Netiquette
 Emoticons
 Information Integrity

 Check your source, not all information on the Internet

is accurate.
Computing Models

 Computing models are frameworks or abstractions used

to describe how computers and systems process
information, perform calculations, and solve problems.

1. Von Neumann Model

2. Turing Model
Von Neumann Model

 Von-Neumann proposed his computer architecture

design in 1945 which was later known as Von-Neumann
Architecture. It consisted of a Control Unit, Arithmetic,
and Logical Memory Unit (ALU), Registers and
Inputs/Outputs

 Von Neumann architecture is based on the stored-

program computer concept, where instruction data and
program data are stored in the same memory. This
design is still used in most computers produced today.
Von Neumann Model
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Turing Model

 The Turing model, named after the British mathematician

and logician Alan Turing, is a foundational concept in the
theory of computation. It provides a formal framework
for understanding what can be computed and how.
 A Turing machine is a theoretical construct that defines a
simple abstract device capable of performing
computations. It provides a formal model of computation
that can simulate any algorithmic process.
Input Devices

In computing, an input device is a piece of

equipment used to provide data and control
signals to processing system
Examples
• Keyboards
• Mouse
• Scanners
• Cameras
• joysticks
• Microphones
Input Devices (Keyboards)

 Keyboard: An input device used to enter characters at

the location marked by the insertion point or cursor
 Can be wired or wireless

 Most computers today are designed to be used with a

keyboard
 Typically contains:
 Standard alphanumeric keys
 Numeric keypad
 Function keys
 Delete and Backspace keys
 Control and Alternate keys
 Arrow directional keys and special keys
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Input Devices (Keyboards)

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Input Devices (Keyboards)
 Portable computers and mobile devices often use:
 Built in or slide-out keyboard
 Pen or touch input (on-screen keyboard)

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Input Devices (Pointing Devices)

 Pointing devices: Used to select and manipulate

objects
 Used to input data
 Used to issue commands to the computer
 Common types of pointing devices:
 Mouse
 Pen/stylus
 Touch screen

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Mice
 Mouse: A common pointing device that the user
slides along a flat surface to move a pointer
around the screen and clicks its buttons to make
selections
 Older mechanical mice use a ball
 Optical or laser mice track with light
 3D mice
 Can be wireless

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Pens/Styluses
 Stylus: Pen-like device used to draw or write electronically on the
screen
 Also called digital pen, electronic pen, tablet pen
 Commonly used with pen-based computers
 Used to issue commands and input data
 If handwriting recognition is used, written text can be converted to
editable typed text

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Handwriting Recognition

• Digital form
Used to input
handwritten data into
the computer and
then convert it to
editable text

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Pens/Styluses
 Other uses for pens/styluses:
 Digital writing systems
 Graphics tablets
 Signature capture devices

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Touch Screens

 Touch screen: Display device that is touched with the

finger to select commands or otherwise provide input to
the computer
 Used with:
 Desktop and portable computers
 Mobile phones and mobile devices
 Consumer kiosks
 Can be multi-touch

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Other Pointing Devices

 Other pointing
devices:
 Joysticks, gamepads,
and other gaming
devices
 Trackballs
 Buttons and wheels
 Touch pads

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Quick Quiz

1. An optical mouse is ____________.

a. the same as a wireless mouse
b. a mouse that tracks movements with light instead of a ball
c. a mouse that contains a scroll wheel on the top
2. True or False: With handwriting recognition, text is
input as a graphical image so the text cannot later be
edited as text.
3. An input device that looks like an upside-down mouse
with the ball on top is a(n) ____________.
Answers:
1) b; 2) False; 3) trackball
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Scanners, Readers, and Digital Cameras

 Source documents:
Documents containing data
that already exists in physical
form (order form, photograph,
invoice, check, or price label)
 Source data automation:
Capturing data directly from a
source document
 Saves time
 Increases accuracy
 Scanning or reading
devices

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Scanners

 Scanner (optical scanner): Input device that captures

an image of an object and transfers them to a
computer in digital form
 Can scan photos, documents, drawings, (flat objects)
 Data is typically input as a single image
 If optical character recognition (OCR) is used, text is input as
individual text characters
 Types of scanners
 Flatbed
 Portable
 Integrated (ATMs, etc.)

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Scanners

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Barcode Readers
 Barcode readers: Input devices that
read barcodes
 Barcode: Machine-readable code that
represents data as
a set of bars
 Common types
 Universal Product Code (UPC)
 ISBN
 Code 39
 Intelligent mail code
 2D (QR) – hold more data

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Biometric Readers
 Biometric data: Based on unique physiological
characteristics or personal trait
 Fingerprint
 Hand or face geometry
 Iris of the eye
 Voice or signature
 Biometric readers: Used to input biometric data
 Can be stand-alone or built into another piece of hardware
 Used to allow access only by authorized individuals
 Most often used for access control and to verify transactions

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Biometric Readers

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Audio Input

 Audio input: The process of entering audio data into the

computer
 Voice input: Inputting spoken words and converting them
to digital form
 Via microphone or headset
 Recorded for narrations, podcasts, etc.
 VoIP (Voice over IP systems) applications
 To provide spoken instructions to computer (speech recognition
systems)
 Music input systems are used to input music
 Microphones, keyboard controllers, etc.

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Output Devices
 An output device is any piece of computer
hardware equipment which converts information
into a human-perceptible form or, historically, into
a physical machine-readable form for use with
other non-computerized equipment. It can be text,
graphics, tactile, audio, or video.

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Display Devices

 Display device: Presents output visually

 Monitor: Display device for a desktop
computer
 Display screen: Screen built into a variety of
devices
 Notebook and other portable computers
 Mobile phones and mobile devices
 Handheld gaming devices, home entertainment
devices, kitchen appliances
 Digital photo frames, e-book readers
 Digital signage systems, digital billboards

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Display Devices

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Data and Multimedia Projectors
 Data projector: Display device that projects all computer output to
a wall or projection screen
 Found in classrooms, conference rooms
 Can be wireless or integrated into devices

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Printers
 Printers: Produce hard copy
 Printer characteristics
 Printing technology used
 Impact vs. nonimpact

 Color vs. black and white

 Personal vs. network printers
 Dot-matrix printer
 Laser printer
 Ink-jet printer
 Plotter:
 A plotter is a device that receives
commands
 from the computer and then draws its
picture on
 the page
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Audio Output
 Audio output: Output in the form of voice, music,
and other audible sounds
 Speakers
 Headphones and headsets
 Earphones and earbuds

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Next Lecture

How Computer Process Data; Central Processing Unit:

Control Unit, Arithmetic & Logic Unit, System Clock &
Machine Cycle; Memory: Volatile & Non-Volatile, Flash
Memory, Registers, Cache Memory; Bus & Types, and Ports.

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