Which of the following is a collection of equipment that processes data to create information?

Inhaltsverzeichnis Show What is a collection of equipment that processes data to create information? What is the computer component that processes data to create information? Which of the following is an information system that captures and processes data? Which of the following is a collection of program?

What is a computer and what does it do? A computer is an electronic machine, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory, that can accept data (input), manipulate the data according to specified rules (process), produce results (output), and store the results for future use. Want to see the history of computers? Click here!

Data entered into a computer is called input. The processed results are called output. Thus, a computer processes input to create output. A computer also can hold data and information for future use in an area called storage. This cycle of input, process, output, and storage is called the information processing cycle.

User - A person that communicates with a computer or uses the information it generates

Input Devices - allows a user to enter data and commands into the memory of a computer. Four commonly used input devices are the keyboard, the mouse, a microphone, and a PC camera.

Output Devices - used to convey the information generated by a computer to a user. Three commonly used output devices are a printer, a monitor, and speakers.

Two main components on the motherboard

Both the processor and memory are chips. A chip is an electronic device that contains many microscopic pathways designed to carry electrical current. Chips, which usually are no bigger than one-half inch square, are packaged so they can be connected to a motherboard or other circuit boards.

Storage Devices - Storage holds data, instructions, and information for future use. Storage differs from memory, in that it can hold these items permanently, whereas memory holds these items only temporarily while they are being processed. Used to record and retrieve data, instructions, and information to and from a storage medium. Storage devices often function as a source of input because they transfer items from storage into memory.

Communications Devices - enable computer users to communicate and to exchange items such as data, instructions, and information with another computer. Communications devices transmit these items over transmission media, such as cables, telephone lines, or other means, used to establish a connection between two computers.

Why is a computer a powerful tool?
A computer’s power is derived from its capability of performing the information processing cycle operations with speed, reliability, and accuracy; its capacity to store huge amounts of data, instructions, and information; and its ability to communicate with other computers.

Speed - Inside the system unit, operations occur through electronic circuits. When data, instructions, and information flow along these circuits, they travel at close to the speed of light. This allows billions of operations to be carried out in a single second.

Reliability - The electronic components in modern computers are dependable because they have a low failure rate. The high reliability of components enables the computer to produce consistent results.

Accuracy - Computers can process large amounts of data and generate error-free results, provided the data is entered correctly. If inaccurate data is entered, the resulting output will be incorrect. This computing principle - known as garbage in, garbage out (GIGO), point out that the accuracy of a computer’s output depends on the accuracy of the input.

Storage - Many computers can store enormous amounts of data and make this data available for processing any time it is needed. Using current storage devices, the data can be transferred quickly from storage to memory, processed, and then stored again for future use.

Communications - Most computers today have the capability of communicating with other computers. Computers with this capability can share any’ of the four information processing cycle operations - input, process, output, and storage - with another computer.

Computer Software - A series of instructions that tells the computer what to do. Before a computer can perform, or execute, a program, the instructions in the program must be placed, or loaded, into the memory of the computer. Software is the key to productive use of computers. With the correct software, a computer can become a valuable tool. 

Two types of software

Utility Programs - a type of system software that performs a specific task. usually related to managing a computer. its devices, or its programs. Software that plays a supporting role for users and developers. Basic utility programs include file/folder management functions (create, copy, move, delete, rename), file search and compare, disk format and partition, as well as diagnostic routines to check performance and the health of the hardware.

User Interface - All software has a user interface that is the part of the software with which you interact. The user interface controls how data and instructions are entered and how information is presented on the screen. Nowadays we have Graphical User Interface or GUI (gooey) on most of our computer systems but before having GUI old computers only had Command Line Interface or CLI, a means of interacting with a computer program where the user (or client) issues commands to the program in the form of successive lines of text (command lines) Want to experience CLI? Click here!

Application Software - consists of programs designed to perform specific tasks for users. Popular application software includes word processing software, spreadsheet software, database software, and presentation graphics software memos.

Packaged Software - designed to meet the needs of a wide variety of users, not just a single user or company, sometimes called commercial off-the-shelf software because you can purchase these programs of the shelf from software vendors or stores that sell computer products, and sometimes called commercial off-the-shelf software because you can purchase these programs of the shelf from software vendors or stores that sell computer products.

Custom Software - Sometimes a user or organization with unique software requirements cannot find packaged software that meets all of its needs. In this case, the user or organization can use custom software, which is a program or programs developed at a user’s request to perform specific functions.

Shareware - software that is distributed free for a trial period. If you want to use a shareware program beyond that period of time, you are expected to send a payment to the person or company that developed the program. Upon sending this small fee, the developer registers you to receive service assistance and updates.

Freeware and Public-Domain Software - software that is provided at no cost to a user by an individual or company. Although free, freeware is copyrighted, meaning you cannot resell it as your own. Public-domain software is free software that has been donated for public use and has no copyright restrictions.

Networks - collection of computers and devices connected together via communications media and devices such as cables telephone lines, modems, or other means. A network could sometimes be wireless. When your computers are networked together users can share resources, such as hardware devices, software programs, data, and information.

Internet - is the world's largest network. a worldwide collection of networks that links together millions of computers by means of modems, telephone lines, wireless technology, and other communications devices and media.

Categories of Computers

Personal Computers - a computer that can perform all of its input, processing, output, and storage activities by itself; that is. it contains at least one input device, one output device, one storage device, memory, and a processor.

Minicomputers - Users often access a minicomputer via a terminal, which is a device with a monitor and keyboard. Such terminals - sometimes called dumb terminals because they have no processing power - cannot act as stand-alone computers and must be connected to the minicomputer to operate. A minicomputer also can act as a server in a network environment. In this case, personal computers access the minicomputer.

Mainframe Computers - a large, expensive, very powerful computer that can handle hundreds or thousands of connected users simultaneously. Mainframes can store tremendous amounts of data, instructions, and information, which users can access with terminals or personal computers.

Supercomputers - the fastest, most powerful computer - and the most expensive because it is capable of processing more than 64 billion instructions in a single second, supercomputers are used for applications requiring complex, sophisticated mathematical calculations.

Examples of computer usage

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What is a collection of equipment that processes data to create information?

What is the computer component that processes data to create information?

Which of the following is an information system that captures and processes data?

Which of the following is a collection of program?