COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS
INFORMATION consists of facts and items of knowledge. It can be anything that has meaning to people.
Usually information is expressed in words and numbers. However, it can be expressed in other forms, such as sounds, measurements or pictures.
Ex:
A list of names and addresses.
The contents of a letter.
The words of a song.
A map.
DATA Is information in which it can be processed.
Ex:
A word processed letter stored on a floppy disc
A song written as sheet music so that it can be played.
A telephone conversation converted to electrical signals to be sent down the wires.
PROCESSING INFORMATION
Information processing is the organization, manipulation and distribution of information.
Sorting a list of names and address into alphabetical order.
Producing a letter with a word processor, saving it on floppy disc and then sending it by electronic mail.
Transmitting a conversation over the phone system.
PROCESSING OF INFORMATION WITHOUT MACHINES
Ex:
Listening to songs and deciding which ones are best.
Reading a map to get from one place to another.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) is all types of equipment and programs which are used in the processing of information.
ex:
A computer.
A calculator.
A fax machine.
A telephone.
USES OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
The term ‘information technology is also used to refer to the uses of this technology. The main types of use involved are:
Presentation of information.
Handling information.
Searching data, sorting it into order and analyzing
Producing modules of real situations
Data communication.
Control and measurement
DIGITAL AND ANALOGUE DATA
A device is digital if some quantity in it can be set to a number of different separate values or states. Data is then represented by combinations by these values. Usually the devices are binary and data is represented as a succession of 1s and 0s.
An analogue device is one in which data is represented by some quantity which is continuously variable. The value of a data item at a given time is represented by the size of the quantity measured on a fixed scale.
COMPUTERS
A Computer is a programmable, multipurpose machine that accepts data (e.g. raw data, facts & figures) and processes, or manipulates it into information we can use, such as summaries or totals
EX: An Automated Teller Machine (ATM) computes the deposits and withdrawals to give you the total in your account.
Computer: (ISO) A programmable functional unit that consists of one or more associated processing units and peripheral equipment, that is controlled by internally stored programs and that can perform substantial computation, including numerous arithmetic operations or logic operations, without human intervention during a run.
A computer may be a stand-alone unit or may consist of several interconnected units.
