Chapter 1 : The introduction of the Computer

August 28, 2016. Monday

           To be honest, we are so blessed to have a lovely and great EE205 Engineering Software & Applications lecturer and her name is Ms.Wan Irma. To me, she is a very patient lecturer and I do enjoy during her class lesson.

First of all, I have zero knowledge in write a blog. Thanks to our lecturer suggest us starting out as a blogger.  It is really good experience for me in learning new things.

        I have also learnt about a computer contains many electric, electronic,

 and mechanical components known as hardware.

The components of a computer varies, it contains many electric, electronic, and mechanical components know as hardware. Hardware consists of many device, such as an input and an output device, a system unit, storage device, and lastly acommunications device. All of this put together creates a functional computer.

What is a computer?

A computer is an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory.

The elements of an information system. These include the hardware, software, data, people, and procedures. Ms.Wan suggested us these 5 elements and tested us to form a sentence that includes the elements of an information system. This is an example of how the elements of an information system in an Enterprise might Interact.

Advantages of Using Computers:

·         Speed

·          Reliability

·          Consistency

·          storage

·          Communication.

Disadvantages of Using Computers :

·         Health Risks

·          Violation of Privacy

·          Public Safety

·          Impact on Labor Force

·          Impact on Environment

 People use the Internet for Communicate, Research and Access Information, Bank, Invest, Online Trading, Entertainment, Download Videos, Share Information and Web Application.

Input device

-Allows you to enter data and instruction into a computer.

Output device

-Hardware component that conveys information to one or more people.

System unit

-Case that contains the electronic components of the computer that are used to process data.

Storage device

-Records (writes) and/or retrieves (reads) items to and from storage media.

Communications device

-Enables a computer to send and receive data, instructions, and information to and from one or more computers or mobile devices.

How to reduce environmental impact?

•Green computing. It involves reducing the electricity consumed &  environmental waste generated when using a computer.

•Recycling

•Regulating manufacturing processes

•Extending the life of computers

•Immediately donating or properly disposing of replaced computers

Categories of computers

Personal computers

-It can perform all of its input, processing, output and storage  activities by itself.

Mobile computers

-It is a personal computer you can carry from place to place.

 Eg: laptop, tablet, notebook

Mobile devices

-It is a computing device small enough to hold in your hand.

 Eg: smartphone, e-book reader, digital camera, portable media  player

Game consoles

-It is a mobile computing device designed for single player or  multiplayer video games.

Embedded computers

 -It is a special purpose computer that functions as a component in a  large product.

Eg:

i) Consumer electronics - mobile phone, televisions, cameras, DVD players

ii) Home automation devices - thermostats, appliances, surveillance systems, lights

iii) Automobiles - anti-lock braking system (ABS), airbag controller, cruise control

iv) Process controllers & robotics - remote monitoring systems, machine controllers

v) Computer devices and office machines - keyboards, printers, faxes, copiers

Computer usage

1) Home user: personal financial management, web access,  communications, entertainment

2) Small office user - look up information, send/receive e-mails, make  phone calls

3) Mobile user - transfer information, play video games, listen to  music, watch movies

4) Power user - work with multimedia, use industry-specific software

5) Enterprise user - communicate among employees, process high  volumes of transactions, blog

Computer applications in society

i) Education

ii) Finance

iii) Government

iv) Health care

v) Science

vi) Publishing

vii) Travel

viii) Manufacturing