2013

Varun
WINDFEILDS
10/15/2013
COUMPUTER FOR DUMMIES
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is a computer?.................................................................................................................. 4
What is hardware?..................................................................................................................... 6
What are the main hardware components of a computer? : ...................................................... 8
What is an operating system? ................................................................................................. 10
What is software? :.................................................................................................................. 12
Software are ............................................................................................................................ 12
samples of software: ............................................................................................................... 14
common user interface elements and describe their functions: .............................................. 16
A common user interface adopts any users identification which staff members who wants to
use the program can chose its own password and that the same password can be used with all
others applications on the network. ........................................................................................ 16
What is a peripheral? .............................................................................................................. 18
What peripherals are commonly used, and what are they used for? ....................................... 20
What is a network? What are the difference between a network and a stand-alone
environment?........................................................................................................................... 22
Revolutions in Computing Timeline ....................................................................................... 24
Bibliography: .......................................................................................................................... 43






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WHAT IS A COMPUTER? :
A computer is a system/programmable machine of many parts that work together.
It is an electronic device to store and process data. Most computers are electronic
and digital.












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WHAT IS HARDWARE?
Hardware is a machine/wired object that is a physical component
of a computer, a device that can be physically connected to a
computer.











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WHAT ARE THE MAIN HARDWARE
COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER? :
A mouse, a keyboard, a system unit, and a monitor. Other types of
hardware are a speaker, a modem, and a printer. A mouse has 2
buttons, a primary button (the left button of the mouse) and the
secondary button which is the right button on the mouse. There is
also another part of the mouse which many have. Its a wheel
between the 2 buttons that you can scroll in the monitor. When you
want to click to certain area on the monitor, you press and release
the primary button. When you move the mouse with your hand, a
pointer on the screen moves in the same way. The keyboard allows
you to type letters on the monitor. There are 3 parts of the
keyboard. The function keys which are at the top of the row and are
used for specific reasons. The numeric pad, which is on the right
side of the keyboard which you can type numbers quickly. The last
part of the keyboard is called the navigation keys; these keys are
the up, down, right and up arrows on the keyboard which is used
to move the position on a document or webpage.



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WHAT IS AN OPERATING SYSTEM?
What is its purpose? : A operating system is a system in the
computer that supports or has the main functions of a computer.
Such as Intel Core i7, Windows 7, Windows 8, IOS, Mac OS X 10
operating systems. Intel Core i7.










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WHAT IS SOFTWARE? :
Software are the programs and other operating information
used by a computer. Anything that can copy data to a mass
storage device is software. Software is a number of
instructions which is coded by programmers in any special
programming language.













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SAMPLES OF SOFTWARE:
Some samples of software and commonly used software are
Google Chrome, Skype, Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, and
Internet Explorer. Google Chrome is the fastest internet browser
used on the computer which is made by Google. Skype is the best
calling service that allows you to video call, instant message, send
files, share screens, etc. Microsoft Word is a software for writing
work like resumes, letters, etc. Adobe Photoshop is used for editing
pictures for posting on the internet, printing, etc.









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COMMON USER INTERFACE ELEMENTS AND
DESCRIBE THEIR FUNCTIONS:
A common user interface adopts any users identification
which staff members who wants to use the program can
chose its own password and that the same password can
be used with all others applications on the network.



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WHAT IS A PERIPHERAL? :
A peripheral is a device that is an input, output, or storage. An input device is a
device used to interact with or to send data to the computer such as microphones,
webcams, mouses, keyboards. An output device lets you supply to the user from
the computer. A storage device stores data processed by the computer such as a USB
drive, a hard drive and flash drives. A peripheral device is a device that is connected
to the computer.













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WHAT PERIPHERALS ARE COMMONLY USED,
AND WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR? :
Common peripherals are a mouse, which is used for moving the cursor on the
screen to a desired place. A keyboard, is a device that you can type and write
something on the screen. A USB, that is a device that you can send files and import
files to any computer you want which is useful for sharing stored data.
















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WHAT IS A NETWORK? WHAT ARE THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NETWORK AND A
STAND-ALONE ENVIRONMENT? :
A network is a number of computers that are connected and linked together that
share information and data. There are 5 types of network. Local area network
(LAN), which is that the computers are close to each other and that are in the same
building. A Wide area network (WAN), is when the computers are far apart and
connected by telephone line or radio waves.











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REVOLUTIONS IN COMPUTING TIMELINE


Year What is it? Why is it important? Interesting fact
Abacus 300
B.c
it is one of the first
counting devices
created to help
people count until
number were
invented
it is important because
there was no numbers
and people needed a way
to count especially the
merchants .
in the starting only
merchants used the abacus to
help them count
Antikythra
mechanism
87
B.C
lost
arou
nd
76
B.C
it is an instrument
kinda of like a
mechanical analog
computer that is
used to calculate
the movements of
stars and planets in
astronomy

its important because at
that time they didnt
have a compass so they
negatived by the stars
it is the most complicated
ancient device discovered
John Napier,
Calculation Tables
16th
cent
ury
it was the worlds
first calculator
created in england
because back when he
created the table people
were not good at math so
this helped them a lot
its called napiers bones
Joseph-Marie
Jacquard, Punchcard
controlled loom
1804 it is a machine that
weaves
complicated
designs fast
john marie invention is
one the first examples of
computer programing
and also because it can
create a lot of
complicated patterns
easily
marie was a worker in a
factor and in her spare time
worked on the machine
Charles Babbage,
Difference Engine
1821 it is a device that
calculates and
tabulate
polynomial
functions
it is important because it
is the first complete
design of an automatic
calculating engine
baddage created 4 different
versions of difference engine
each better than the other

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Samuel Morse,
Telegraph
1837 it is a device that is
used for long
distance
communication by
using electrical
signals over a wire
it is important because it
revolutionized long
distance communication
the telegraph samuel morse build
is much more simple to use than
what most of the other inventors
built
Sir Charles
Wheatstone, paper
tapes
1857 it is an improved
version of the
telegraph system
it was important because
it was the first telegraph
made available to the
public.
wheatstone also created an
invention called the microphone
Stoles, Glidden and
Soule, typewriter
1867 it is a device that is
used to type
something on a
piece of paper
it was important because
it set the model for
modern day keyboards
and it was faster for
newspapers to type then
write it
the typewriters took of in sales
starting 1880s and right after it
was built.
Herman Hollerith,
Tabulating Machine
1890 it is a device that is
used to calculate
census data more
efficiently than
hand methods
it is important because it
saved the taxpayers of
that time a lot of money.
and because he founded
the company that later
became ibm
hollerith design denominated the
computing industry for almost
100 years
Colossus 1943 colossus was the
worlds first
computer
it was important because
it an important system
that was used during
world war 2 to decrypt
messages
out of the ten colossus computers
after the war eight were destroyed
for computer security reasons.
Bell Labs, the
Transistor
1947 transistor is a
device that is used
to amplify a signal
from a electronic
device
it is important because it
started a new generation
of modern electronic
devices
it was first introduced in 1907 but
didnt get known until bell
released it in 1947
Texas Instruments
and Fairchild
Semiconductor,
Integrated Circuit
1961 it was used to
increase the
number of
components on a
device and
decrease the size
it was a important
invention for modern
technological
development
it was also known as microchip

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IBM 360 1964 it was the first
mainframe
computer system
family that could
do a complete
range of both
commercial and
scientific
ti was important because
it started a new era of
computer compatibility
for the first time
the IBM 360 replaced the five
computers on the product line at
that with a very compatible
family of computers.
Word Processor
invented
1979 word processor is
the use of
computer generator
text data that you
can create, edit,
store, retrieve or
print an document
on
it is important because it
was the first
commercially successful
word processing
software
the first word processor was
called wordstar it got knocked out
of the market because of poor
performance of wordstar 2000
ARPANET 1969 it was a software
that was made
during cold war to
help the military
it was important because
it protected important
information from other
countries
it was the grandfather of internet
Intel, 1K RAM
CHIP (the 4004)
1971 it is the the first
microprocessor it
had everything that
made the computer
run on a small chip
it was important because
ever thing that was
important is on one chip.
it had the power to do the work of
twelve chips
Jonathan Titus,
Mark 8
1974 mark 8 is a
microcomputer
based on the first 8
bit microprocessor
(intel 8008)
it was important because
it inspired the the
revolution of new
computer era
there was another microcomputer
that came before the mark 8
(scecbi-8) but wasnt that popular
BBN, Telenet 1973 bbn telenet is a
company that was
formed Bolt
Beranek &
Newman
bbn telenet was the first
to find out the
commercial potential of
packet switching
the telenet inc did not make much
money as they thought it would.
Paul Allen and Bill
Gates invent BASIC
1975 basic (stands for
beginner's all
Purpose symbolic
instruction code)
it is important because
there partnership will
grow to be the biggest
corporations in u.s
gates and allen have been buddies
for a long time before they
created micro-soft
USENET 1980 it was a world
wide internet
discussion system
it is important because it
has a big cultural
importance in the network
world and has popularized
many words such as FAQ
and spam
even though its old people still
use usenet
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TCP/IP 1978 tcp/ip stands for
transmission
control
protocol/internet
protocol is used by
the internet for
transmitting data
it is important because
without tcp/ip computers
would not be able to
communicate with each
other
tcp/ip tcp depends on ip to
function
Apple Macintosh 1983
-
1984
apple macintosh is
the first
commercially
successful that
used graphical user
interface
it is important because it
revolutionized how
computers are used now
before macintosh the computer
were all text based
Microsoft Windows
1.0
1985 windows 1.0 is
software that
allows you to click
your way through
screens without
pressing your
command on MS-
DOS
it is important because it
is a software that is now
used in every computer
in the world
the windows 1.0 was initially sold
for 100 dollars
The Internet 1995 the internet is a
global system that
is interconnected
to other computer
networks which
use the same
communication
protocols
the internet is important
because it revolutionized
the computers and the
communications world
like nothing has ever did
before in our history
the grandfather of internet is
ARPAnet and the father of
internet is NSFnet
Apple iPod 2001 ipod is a device
that lets you have
songs on a
portable device
ipod is important
because it started a new
era of portable
technology
the ipod even though it released
in 2001 it didnt start selling until
2004 because of the price and
mac only compatibility
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Apple iPhone 2007 iphone is a touch
screen smartphone
that not only can
you call but you
could also use
other
applications
such as internet
the apple iphone is
important because it
created a new era of
smartphone
apple used about a 1000
employees to confidential work
on the iphone

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Amazon Kindle 2007 kindle is a device
that lets you shop
for download,
browse and read
eBooks,
newspapers, etc..
it is important because it
created a new way of
reading other than hard
copy books
the kindle software is not only in
the kindle device but also in
others like Microsoft and ios
Apple iPad 2010 the apple ipad is a
line of tablet
computers that
were designed and
produced by apple
it is important because it
is bringing forward a
new generation of mini
computers
apples first tablet computer was
newton message pad 100 which
was created in 1993
Android 2003 android is an open
source software
operating system
that is created
primarily for
touchscreen
devices
smartphones or
tablets

it is important because
like apple IOS android is
something that is
revolutionizing the
touch screen devices
android was originally backed up
by Google until it got bought by
Google in 2005
3D Printing 1983 is the making of a
three dimensional
solid object of any
shape by a digital
model
it is important because it
could replace regular
household objects and
revolutionize the
printing world
in 2012 3D printing was worth
2.2 billion worldwide was up by
29% since 2011

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Leap Motion
Controller
2010 leap motion is a
motion controller
that senses your
hands and fingers
and fellows its
every move so you
could do almost
everything without
touching
it is important because it
could change how we
use technology in the
future
the leap motion uses 3d modeling
to work and do what it does
The Cloud 1960 is the used to store
or share data
processing tasks
and online access
to computer
services or
resources
it is important because it
is faster and easier to use
than traditional means
some people say the roots of
cloud date back to 1950s













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Evaluating a website
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/04/dayintech_0404
April 4, 1975: Bill Gates, Paul Allen Form a Little Partnership
The author of this website is Randy Alfred. The website is owned by a company
and I know that because of the .com in the website URL. This website is good
because it also has a way to contact the author to ask questions about if you need
to and it is not like a comment box but he personally answers you by email. The
information on this website is also pretty new because it was updated on April 4
0f 2008. I could not tell if the site is well maintained or not but the links on the
page are not broken and very good. Overall I liked the website because it was
easy to read and navigate and I also think its pretty well organized to so I would
recommend this website and also might use in the future as well













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Index

computer, 3
E
electronic, 3
F
files, 11
H
Hardware, 4
K
keyboard, 10
M
Microsoft Word, 7
monitor, 4
mouse, 10
P
peripheral device, 10
U
USB, 10
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Glossary

applications: is a special use or purpose to which something is put like technology
having Numerous applications to help the user


astronomy
: is an expression that has the sum of two or more terms each which is the product of
constant and variable raised to an integral power


compatibility: is being capable of running on another computer without any change or
being capable of connecting to another device without need help from software or
equipment


merchants .: a person who buys or sells stuff for profit ( dealer, trader)


polynomial

portable device is a device that you can carry around with you and use when ever or
where ever you like
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