COMPUTER+LITERACY

=**About Computers and How to Use Them Efficiently**=

**Computer Storage:**
The purpose of storage in a computer is to hold data or information and get that data to the CPU as quickly as possible when it is needed
 * CPU**: Central Processing Unit (the brain of the computer)
 * Hard Drive Size**: Capacity for storing programs, photos, video, music and other electronic information.
 * System Memory (RAM - R**andom **A**ccess **M**emory**)**: The memory a computer uses to run its operating system, applications and active data files. Greater amounts of RAM improve speed and enable more applications to run at once.

Stored in your computer permanently, (can not be erased unless you erase it) Memory Measurements
 * Long-Term Storage**
 * Bit
 * Smallest “piece” of information
 * Each 0 or 1
 * Byte
 * 8 bits – one character
 * Kilobyte
 * Exactly 1,000 bytes
 * 2 kb = one research paper
 * 50 kb = one picture
 * **M**egabyte
 * Approximately 1 **m**illion bytes
 * +1 floppy disk
 * Gigabyte
 * Approximately 1 billion bytes
 * **T**erabyte
 * Approximately 1 **t**rillion bytes

Internal:

1. PowerSupply 2. Video Card 3. Sound Card 4. Modem 5. Motherboard 6. CD-ROM Drive 7. Hard drive 8. Floppy Drive (obsolete with introduction of flashdrive 9. RAM 10. CPU 11. BIOS

Binary Code:
When you learn most types of computer programming, you will touch upon the subject of binary numbers. Although this is a simple concept once explained, it is not always obvious how to read them. To understand binary numbers, let's first look at our normal system of base 10 numbers. Let's take the number 345 for example. This is a three digit number. We know that the farthest right number, 5, represents the 1's column, and there are 5 ones. The next number from the right, the 4, represents the 10's column. There are 4 clicks in the 10s column, which we interpret as forty. Finally, the third column that contains the 3 represents the 100s column, and we know it to be three hundred.


 * Binary works in the same way.** **Each column represents a value, and when you have enough you move to the next column.** The difference is that in our base 10 system we need to have 10 before we move to the next column. We can have any value 0-9, but once it goes above that, we add a column. **In base two, you can only have 0 or 1 before moving on to the next column.**

The number one is represented as 1 in both base ten and binary, so let's move on to the number two. In base ten this is represented as a 2, however in binary we can only have a 0 or a 1 before moving on to the next column. The number 2 is written as 10. This means 1 in the 2s column and 0 in the 1s column.



Let's take a look at the number three. Obviously in base ten it is written as 3. In base two (binary) it is written as 11. This means a 1 in the 2s column and a 1 in the 1s column. 2+1 = 3.

Each slot represents a value that is double the last value. The chart on this page helps to demonstrate this. The values of slots, starting on the right are 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, etc.

Now that we know how binary works, reading it is simply a matter of doing some simple math.

1001 Since we know the value's each of these slots represent, then we know this number represents 8 + 0 + 0 + 1. In base ten this would be the number 9. 11011 Again we can calculate what this is in base ten by adding the values of each slot. In this case it would be 16 + 8 + 0 + 2 + 1. This would be the number 27.
 * Let's try a few:**



Binary Code Converter

**COMPUTER BASICS LESSONS: **
The follow lessons are from this Web site: @http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computerbasics

The lessons below are each a printer friendly .pdf format, but you are **NOT** being asked to print them for class! They can all be saved and accessible right to your flashdrive, so WAIT until you are instructed to save a lesson in class or on the Homework Page - there are more lessons here than we will be learning, so saving them all will not be productive for you! If you are interested in a particular lesson, feel free to read it!

1: Getting to Know Computers: 2: Understanding Operating Systems: 3: Understanding Applications: 4: Web Apps and the Cloud:
 * Introduction**

5: Basic Parts of a Desktop Computer: 6: Buttons, Sockets and Slots on a Desktop Computer: 7: Inside a Desktop Computer:
 * All About the Desktop Computer**

8: Laptop Computers and Netbooks: 9: Getting to Know Mobile Devices:
 * Laptop Computers and Mobile Devices**

10: Setting Up a Computer: 11: Beginning to Use Your Computer: 12: Getting to Know the OS: 13: Connecting to the Internet:
 * Getting Started**

14: Computer Safety and Maintenance: 15: Basic Troubleshooting Techniques:
 * Doing More with Computers**