1 You and Computer Competency 2
End Users and Computer Competency 3
Four Kinds of Computers 3
The Five Parts of an Information System 5
Software 6
Hardware 8
Data 12
Connectivity 12
A Look at the Future:You and Computer Competency 13
2 Applications Software:Basic Tools 20
General-Purpose Applications Packages 20
Word Processors 22
Spreadsheets 24
Database Managers 27
Graphics 29
Communications 31
Integrated Packages and Software Suites 33
A Look at the Future 34
3 Systems Software 40
Why Learn About Systems Software? 40
Four Kinds of Programs 42
DOS:The Personal Computer Standard 44
Windows 46
Windows NT 48
OS/2 49
Macintosh Operating Systems 50
Unix:The“Portable”Operating System 52
A Look at the Future 54
4 The Processing Unit 60
The CPU 60
Memory 61
The Binary System 62
The System Unit 66
The Four Types of Computer Systems 75
A Look at the Future 81
5 Input and Output 88
Input:Keyboard Versus Direct Entry 88
Keyboard Entry 89
Direct Entry 90
Output:Monitors,Printers,Plotters,Voice 97
Types of Monitors 97
Printers 100
Plotters 104
Voice-Output Devices 105
A Look at the Future 106
6 Secondary Storage 112
Four Kinds of Secondary Storage 112
Floppy Disks 113
Hard Disks 117
Optical Disks 120
Magnetic Tape 122
A Look at the Future 124
7 Communications and Connectivity 130
Communications and Connectivity 131
National Information Highway and internet 136
User Connection 138
Communications Channels 139
Data Transmission 141
Network Architecture 144
Network Types 146
A Look at the Future 148
8 Files and Databases 154
Files 154
Database 158
DBMS Organization 160
Types of Databases 162
Database Uses and lssues 165
A Look at the Future 166