Summary

We began this course reviewing the essential components and functions of various computer types. The "classes" of computers were introduced and defined by size, processing power, and bandwidth. It is important to note that each computer type has its own general purpose unique from other computer types. Servers act as local distributors of information. PCs are largely for user interface and access terminals. Mainframes provide mass storage and high-end processing.

The internal components of a computer have variable capacity and power specifications. The CPU processes information, the speed of which is influenced by the bandwidth and clock speed of the computer. The bus is the I/O backbone of a computer's inner processes, transferring information between the internal computer components. Like the CPU, there are a variety of I/O types and performance characteristics. Computer memory holds information based upon the amount of information and frequency the information is needed.

Memory, the CPU, and the bus are internal components used to send information to the outside world via a NIC. A NIC can vary in throughput and have different cable connections.

Further into a computer's inner workings, we examined the operating system and device drivers. A computer's operating system consists of software that manages programs, user interfaces, storage, and internal and external accessories. The operating system is capable of performing multiple tasks, allowing a computer to function seamlessly between various user commands. Device drivers are like mini-operating systems for internal and external accessories, such as disk drive access, network connections, and printer access.

Applications are software that allow a user to be productive. Word processing spreadsheets and databases are the most common application types. Some applications are for single users and others are available to multiusers on a network.

The bottom line is that applications are what the end user interfaces with at the computer. Applications are what you see, rather than the operating system and device driver system that run in the background. The application software uses the underlying operating system to perform lower level functions, such as file access and management.

Management and utility software are a distinct category of software separate from application software. This software is used by network and system administrators for managing and accessing network or computer operating systems. Monitoring data traffic flow, storage backup, remote access, and virus protection are examples of management and utility software.

Finally, we looked at the steps of information processing when data is sent from a local computer to a networked device. It is important to understand these steps for understanding how a computer interfaces with a network.

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