INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS

COMPUTER BASICS:
ALL ABOUT THE DESKTOP COMPUTER

Instructions
Visit the following website: https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/computerbasics/
Read through the lessons and answer the questions below.
Save the file as LastnameHardwareBasics.docx in your Hardware & Software unit folder.
When you are finished, go to the following website and do the activity/quiz:
http://online-passport.info/compbas/?page_id=181

1. What is a computer?-An electronic device that manipulates information

2. Name and describe the two things all computers have in common.
1.Hardwear - all the physical things a computer is made up of for example : keyboard or mouse
2.software A set of instructions who tell a computer what to do and how.
3. Describe each of the following types of computers:

a) Desktop- designed to be at a desk and usually made are made of a few different parts

b) Server-A computer that saves information for another computer

c) Tablet- handheld computers that uses a touch sensitive screen

d) Laptop- A portable computer which is powered by battery

e) Mobile Device- any type of handheld computer

f) TV- A kind of computer which most of the times has application that let you watch and access
online content

4. What is an operating system? Describe some of the things an operating system does.
An operating system is an important system which manages the computer's memory and processes, as
well as all of its software and hardware in addition it lets you talk to the computer without actually
speaking the computers language.
5. What is a GUI?
a digital interface which lets you interact and click on icons picture ect.
6. Other than Microsoft Windows, what are some other common operating systems that are used in
computers? Be sure to describe in some detail at least two (2) other operating systems.
macOS- comes only in macs and apple devices and Linux-a family of open-source operating systems,
which means they can be modified.
7. What is the difference between open source software and proprietary software?
Open-source software is free to use and can be shared, while proprietary software is licensed and has
some usage restrictions.
8. How are operating systems for mobile devices different than those made for desktop or laptop
computers?
Operating systems for mobile devices are not as fully featured as those for desktop and laptop
computers, and they cannot run all the same software.
9. What is an application?
is a type of software that allows you to perform specific tasks
10. Name and describe three (3) types of software applications.
1.Word processor ,You can use a word processor to write a letter, make a flyer, and create all sorts
of documents.
2.A web browser: is basically what you use to get on the Internet.
3.If you want to listen to MP3s or watch movies you've downloaded, you'll need to use a media
player
11. What is a filename extension? What purpose does a filename extension serve?
The extension is a three- or four-letter abbreviation that signifies the file type. For example, in letter.
docx the filename is letter and the extension is docx.
12. What is cloud computing? Identify and describe two (2) advantages of using the cloud?
cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking,
software, analytics, and intelligence—over the internet to offer faster innovation, the cloud offers more
flexibility and reliability, increased performance and efficiency
13. What is a web app and how is it different than regular applications?
A web application is software that runs in your web browser, the different between a web app and a regular is that unlike a
regular app a web app is ran on the web so you don't need to install it on your device.

Hardware Basics
LESSON 3: Basic Parts of a Computer
LESSON 4: Buttons and Ports on a Computer
LESSON 5: Inside a Computer

QUESTIONS:
1. Name and describe the five (5) basic parts of a computer.
a motherboard (the main printed circuit board in a computer), a central processing unit, a graphics
processing unit, a random access memory(RAM), and a hard disk.

2. What is an optical disc drive?

allows you to use CDs, DVDs to watch a movie or listen to music.

3. Describe each of the following ports and sockets that you find in a computer:

(a) Audio In/Audio Out-output audio flows from the system outside

(b) USB- allows you to connect hardwear

(c) Ethernet- allows you to connect to the internet via a cable

(d) Serial-Serial ports are used to physically connect devices to a computer

(e) VGA-A standard display interface is used to connect video output devices to computers,
projectors to display monitors and TVs.

(f) PS/2-used for connecting some keyboards and mice to a PC compatible computer system.

(g) Parallel-a method of sending multiple bits of data simultaneously across multiple wires or
channels.

4. What are peripherals? Name and describe at least three (3) examples of peripheral devices that
 you can connect to a computer.
peripherals are an hardware device that connects to a computer to expand its capabilities for example : a printer,
a speaker and a monitor.

5. Define and describe each of the following internal components of a computer, including what each
one does (i.e. its purpose):

(a) CPU-the primary component of a computer that acts as its “control center".

(b) Motherboard -the main printed circuit board in a computer it connects all the internal components, such
as the memory, processor, graphics card, and other hardware

(c) Power Supply Unit-is a part of the computer that converts alternating current to direct current

(d) RAM- or (random access memory)-RAM is used as short-term memory storage for a computer's central
processing unit

(e) Hard Drive-the hardware component that stores the digital content

6. What are expansion slots? Name and describe three (3) examples of expansion cards that you
can connect to a computer’s motherboard.

expansion slots are any of the slots on a motherboard that can hold an expansion card to expand the computer's
functionality for example video card, network card, or sound card