Chapter 1: Discovering Computers 2005

World of Computers & Literacy

Computer Revolution

Ø shifts in the way we live.

Ø shaped society in fundamental ways.

Ø converted from industrial to

Ø information society.

Ø move from physical labour to brain

Ø power.

World of Computers & Literacy

+s of Computer Revolution

Ø computer retailing

Ø integrated computers in cars

Ø 24 hour banking

Ø spell-check & grammar check

Ø expert systems

-s of Computer Revolution

Ø replace human

Ø computer crime & health hazards

Computer Literacy & Cyberphobia

Computer Literacy

To have sufficient computer knowledge to prepare you for workplace and living in a computerized society.

Information Literacy

To know how to find, analyze & use information (ie. to be able to gather info from multiple sources, select the relevant ones & organize it into a form.

Cyberphobia

To perceive computers as something mystical. The irrational fear of and aversion to computers.

Uses in Business & Industry - Retail

Ø P.O.S. (point-of-sale) Terminals

Ø UPC (Universal Product Code

Ø Debit Card

Ø EDI (Electronic data Interchange)

Uses in Business & Industry - Banking & Finance

Ø Stock Market – Program Trading

Ø EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer

Ø ATM (Automated Teller Machine

Uses in Business & Industry - Education

Ø In the Classroom

Ø Performing Research

Ø Distance Learning

Ø Administrative Uses

Ø Education after School

Ø Edutainment – Simulating & Actively Involved

Values of Computer

Read from text

Limitations of Computers

Ø Need to be Programmed

Ø Perform limited tasks

Ø Cannot evaluate intangibles

Ø Not always the best solution

Categories of Computers - Microcomputer

Ø desktop, laptop, notebook, palmtop, pocket PC.

Ø single to a few users

Ø general purpose, home entertainment & business

Ø $1,000 & up

Categories of Computers - Minicomputer

Ø its size can fill a closet

Ø 5 to 4,000 users

Ø retail business & colleges

Ø $5,000 to $150,000

Categories of Computers - Mainframe

Ø its size can fill a room

Ø more than 200 but less than 2000 users

Ø used for large scale information processing. Examples in banks & airlines

Ø $300,000 to millions

Categories of Computers - Supercomputer

Ø its size can fill a room

Ø more than 5,000 users

Ø used by governments, weapons research & oil exploration

Ø Several Millions $

The First Computers

Ø Abacus

Ø Clockwork Calculator

Ø Jacquard Loom

Ø Punched-Card Machine

Ø Analytical Engine

Ø 1st Digital Computer

Early Electronic Computers & The Computer Generations

Ø 1st Generation 1951 - 1959

Ø 2nd Generation 1959 - 1963

Ø 3rd Generation 1963 - 1975

Ø 4th Generation 1975 - Today

Ø 5th Generation ??