Dr. Wael M.

Alenazy

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 Aim
This chapter focuses on the basics concepts of ICT and its applications. It emphasis about the
peripheral devices and software concepts of the computer systems. The chapter delivers
theoretical and practical skills, introduces the best ICT practices in computer applications.
Furthermore, it provides practical exposure on text processing tools and spreadsheets program.

Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this chapter, the student will be able to understand:

The computing concepts and ICT development.

Computer applications and Introduction to open source software.

Text processing tools with hands-on experience.

Spreadsheet programs with hands-on experience.

Contents

Introduction to the computing and computer hardware

Computer Applications

Word Processing

Spreadsheets

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 Session Introduction to Computing

Session

Introduction to Computing

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 Goal

In this Session, you will learn

about the general and basic concepts of computers and computer peripheral devices.

Learning objectives

Dear Student
By the end of this Session, you should be able to:

Understand the general concepts Know about the classification

about computers. of computers.

1 2 3 4

Know working of computers Distinguish the applications of

and peripheral devices. computing.

Be prepared

To understand computer as a machine, we must know the working process and various
components within since it involves hardware and software. This session focuses on the basic
concepts as well as on hardware that shows the tangible working process of computer.

List of Acronyms
Computer Electronic device

Hardware Physical Equipment’s

ICT Information & Communication Technology

Applications Different types Software Programs

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 Session Introduction to Computing

Learn

Introduction
Throughout history, technology has been the driving force of change. In present time
of the 21st century, which is known as a digital era, Information & Communication
Technology (ICT) plays a vital role and been embraced and incorporated into our daily
lives. This is the time where Computers are the primary means of communication in
the world. Computers are ubiquitously available at office, homes etc. It becomes an
easy and useful tool for communication that can provide various kind of information.
The computing technologies have altered conceptions of time and distance. It has
created a wealth of information that is available at the stroke of a key. Moreover,
these computing technologies are being widely adopted and used in education
sectors, such as universities and schools.

“MY FIRST OBJECTIVE IS FOR OUR COUNTRY

IS TO BE A PIONEERING AND SUCCESSFUL
GLOBAL LEADER OF EXCELLENCE, ON ALL
WORK WITH YOU TO ACHIEVE THAT”

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

King Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud

ICT for Cultural Development – The Saudi Vision 2030.

Due to ICT revolution, technology enhances aspects of development worldwide.
ICT is having a direct impact on culture and it plays an increasingly pertinent role
in the protection and transmission of cultural heritage. The aim of Saudi Vision
2030 is to use ICT advancements of Human-computer interaction and automation
with artificial intelligence. We can find out these steps of advancements of using
ICT, in recent announcements.

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 To build modern and highly automated city named “NEOM” in accordance with Saudi Vision 2030.

As a part of the same vision, the country hopes to build a Hyperloop, a massive, high-speed
pneumatic transit system that would travel between several cities in Saudi Arabia and UAE.

They are also projecting to build the world’s largest entertainment city as a part of an economic
diversification strategy.

Kingdom plans a huge Red Sea Beach tourism project. Each of such steps of development will help
in ICT interventions in it.

What is the Computer?

Word ‘Computer’ basically derived from the word ‘compute’ which means to calculate.
Typically, Computer means a device, which accepts the data from the input devices. It
processes the input data to produce the required output and stores as required.

History of Computer
We are from the generation where we have grown from infancy from desktop to laptop within the last three decades. The
history of the computer goes back several decades, however, there are five definable generations of computers. Started
from basic calculators to the Babbage's engine initial computer machine can be classified in many generations. Each genera-
tion is defined by a significant technological development that changes fundamentally how computers operate – leading to
more compact, less expensive, but more powerful, efficient and robust machines.

First Generation (1940 to 1956) Third Generation (1964 to 1971) Fifth Generation (2010 Onwards)
Using Vacuum Tubes Using Integrated Circuits Using Artificial Intelligence

Second Generation (1956 to 1963) Fourth Generation (1971 to 2010)

Using Transistors Using Microprocessors

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 Session Introduction to Computing

Features of Computer
The features of computers such as the high speed of calculation, attentiveness, precision, consistency and a huge capacity
to store the data, which has made it an integrated part of our life.

High Processor Speed Huge Storage

Precision & Diligence Versatility & Reliability

How Computer Works

The computer is integration of hardware and software with different types of peripherals.
Computer works with the support of hardware devices and software’s programs. Detailed
study of the same is covered in approaching sessions and chapters. Hardware devices consist
of input and output devices referred as the physical components of a computer. Software
applications referred as the background process consists of programs coded with different
programming languages to interact graphically with the computer machine.

The process of a computer involves the processors with the data or information from
the input devices and provides the output.

CPU is the “brain” of the computer.

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

CPU SCREEN
DATA

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Applications of Computers
In day to day life, it is very easy to understand the application of computers as everyone using computers of various sizes
like desktop, laptop, palmtop, PDAs, tablets etc. Computers have made our life so easy. With greater precision and accuracy
and less time taking computers can do a lot in a short time while that task can take a lot of time doing manually. Computers
have taken many sectors to a completely new level. The process of information with different applications will be discussed
in approaching chapters.

Here are some examples of applications of computers:

Software Development Networking and Communication
Visualisation and Multimedia concepts Information Security

Software Development:
The developments of various system software or applications designed with the different programming
languages for different types of applications such as operating systems like MAC, Windows as
background software’s and end-user productivity tools like office tools and different applications for
gaming, communication. Detailed with practical skills discussed in the Algorithm and Programming
chapter.

Visualization and Multimedia concepts:

There are various visualization tools such as Photoshop for editing pictures and data representations,
such as Presentation tools, Prezi an online tool and Illustration tool etc. Using advanced techniques of
computers, data can be presented in the combination of various forms such as audio, text, animations,
pictures, video and scribed content to make the presentation very interactive way. To develop animated
and interactive games multimedia is very useful. Moreover, by the use of augmented and virtual reality
became the reality using AR and VR glasses which uses 3D and 7D technologies. The details of Visualisation
concepts will be studied in the Data visualization chapters.

Networking and Communication

Computer became an easy and best tool of communication using the networks of network concepts
termed as the ‘Modern Internet’. The network can be defined as connection and interaction between two
or more computers using different sources such as Wireless or Wired. These days the advancements of
technology are touching the sky with different techniques such as the internet of things (IoT) and cloud
computing concepts. So, using this emerging technology the communication between machine to
machine became possible. Using machine learning, machines can communicate with humans and will be
able to take decision in the near future. The details of data communication and computer networking will
be studied in the Networking and Communication chapters.

Information Security
In this trending technology era, the information stored in digital devices such as computers and smart
devices, using the internet the data is stored online in the cloud. Many organizations provide cloud
storages such as One Drive, SkyDrive to name few. The question is the data which stored offline or online
is it safe and private? To ensure the data is safe, protected with confidentiality, authenticity various
information security measures should be taken, you will learn in detail about the information security
chapter with different techniques.

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 Session Introduction to Computing

Classification of Computers
Computer can be classified based on its size and performance. The computers broadly categorized into four types.

1 - Supercomputer. 2 - Mainframe Computers. 3 - Mini Computers. 4 - Micro Computers.

Supercomputer
A supercomputer is a computer that performs at or near the currently highest
operational rate for computers. They are very expensive and have been used for
scientific and engineering applications that must handle very large databases or do a
great amount of computation. They are employed for specialized applications that
require immense amounts of mathematical calculations. For example, weather
forecasting, animated graphics, fluid dynamic calculations, nuclear energy research,
and petroleum exploration etc.

- Shaheen II system has a total of 197,568 processor cores and 790TB of aggregate memory.
- Shaheen II was the seventh fastest supercomputer in the world.

Mainframe Computers
Mainframes are a type of computer that generally is known for their large size, amount of
storage, processing power and high level of reliability. They are primarily used by large
organizations for special applications requiring high volumes of data processing. In some
ways, mainframes are more powerful than supercomputers because they support more
simultaneous programs. However, supercomputers can execute a single program faster
than a mainframe.

Mainframe Computer (Ministry of Interior NIC) Riyadh

The main difference between a supercomputer and a mainframe is that a supercomputer channels all its power into
executing a few programs as fast as possible, whereas a mainframe uses its power to execute many programs
concurrently.

Mini Computers
A minicomputer is a type of computer that possesses most of the features and capabilities of a
large computer but is smaller in physical size. It fills the space between the mainframe and
microcomputer. They are mainly used as small or mid-range servers operating business and
scientific applications. However, the use of the term minicomputer has diminished and has
merged with servers which are capable of supporting from 4 to about 200 users simultaneously.

Desktop Computer: A personal or microcomputer sufficient to fit on a desk.

Laptop Computer: A portable computer with an integrated screen and keyboard.

Micro Computers It is generally smaller in size than a desktop computer and larger than a notebook
computer.

Palmtop Computer/Digital Diary/Notebook/PDAs: A hand-sized computer.

Palmtops have no keyboard but the screen serves both as an input and output
device.

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Computer Peripherals Devices
As a machine computer requires hardware devices which supports the entire process of computing. Computer hardware
comprises of some electromechanical components. These required components are classified into three parts:

1The- end
Input/ Output Devices
user interacts with input and output devices. The computer recognises its input such
as a keyboard, mouse, scanner, from these devices, it accepts the data or information. Further
processed by the system unit and provides the required information using output devices such
as monitor screen, printer, speaker etc.

2 - System Unit
Typically, the system unit known as motherboard which consists integrated circuits. Basically,
motherboard is well known as the heart of the computer. Motherboard consists of the main
component called the Central Processing Unit (CPU). CPU controls the instructions from the
input and output devices and process it accordingly. CPU has registries for the temporary
storage of the instructions. CPU is named as the brain of the computer.

It consists of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and Control Unit (CU).

- ALU executes all the arithmetic and logical operations such as basic additions,
subtractions and comparisons (+, -, *, /, <, >, =).

- CU is like an execution unit which controls the rest of the computer instructions
and coordinates with other devices in the queues.

3 - Memory Devices
Memory devices basically stores the data or information. After the process of the instructions
carried out from the input devices to the system unit. The data must be stored temporarily to
provide the instant output of the output devices. This memory named as main memory. Main
memory is also known as primary memory. The essential commands for the processing of data
and any transitional results are also stored in the same. The process of CPU will be working with
the main memory device. To store the processed data for long-term, memory devices have
another type of memory called secondary storage devices. The data stored permanently in this
storage device of the computer, such as Hard Disks, DVD, Flash drives etc.

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 Session Introduction to Computing

Apply

Fill in the blanks:

Software, Machine Learning, Computer, Hardware, Software , Minicomputer
Activity
1 1 - _____________ is a device which accepts the data from the input devices. It processes the input data to
produce the required output and stores as required.

2 - The computer is the integration of ____________ and ____________ with different types of peripherals.

3 - ____________applications referred as the background process consists of programs coded with different
programming languages to interact graphically with the computer machine.

4 - Using _______________ machines can communicate with humans and able to take a decision in the near
future.

5 - A _________________is a type of computer that possesses most of the features and capabilities of a large
computer but is smaller in physical size.

Choose the correct option for the following statement:

a) CPU
Activity
2
b) Motherboard
1 - Basically __________ is well known as the heart of the computer.
c) Screen
d) Mouse
a) CPU
b) Motherboard
2 - The ___________ has registries for the temporary storage of the instructions.
c) Keyboard
d) Printer

a) CPU
3 - ___________executes all the arithmetic and logical operations such as basic additions, b) CU
subtractions and comparisons (>=, <=). c) ALU
d) DVD

a) ALU
4 - ______________is like an execution unit which controls the rest of the computer b) DVD
instructions and coordinates with other devices in the queues. c) CPU
d) CU
a) Primary
5 - To store the processed data for long-term, memory devices have another type b.) Secondary
of memory called as _____________ storage devices. c) Input
d) Output

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 Discussion Board:
Activity
3 A - Explain how computer works?
B - Which type of computer is suitable to use while studying in university? And why?

Case study:
Activity 1 - Briefly discuss the trending ICT developments in Saudi Arabia?
4 2 - Organize students into the groups:
a - Discuss about the performance of RAM with other groups such as RAM 4GB or 8GB which is suitable for
different types of applications.
b - Discuss the features of different processors such as speed.

Closing

Dear student, You have learnt from this session:

Introduction to Computing

What is the Computer? Classification of Computer Peripherals

Introduction
Computers Devices

History of Computer Supercomputer Input/Output Devices

Features of Computer Mainframe Computers System Unit
How Computer Works Mini Computers Memory Devices
Applications of Computers Micro Computers

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