Students successfully completing ssd2 will be able to

1. Produce

   1. Appropriate system configurations based on the intended use

   2. Informed selections of peripheral devices

   3. Informed selections of software

   4. Backup schedules for computer systems

   5. Batch files and macros

   6. Configurations of operating systems (OS), basic input/output systems (BIOS), Web browsers, and networks

2. Use

   1. Uniform resource locators (URLs) to map to Internet protocol addresses (IP addresses)

   2. Virus protection software

3. Knowledgeably Discuss

   1. Computer hardware (processors, memory, buses), concepts for measuring computation (bits, bytes, megahertz, instructions per second [IPS], storage capacity), and peripheral devices (video cards, keyboards, mouse devices, printers)

   2. Operating system architecture and device management (virtual memory, multitasking)

   3. Software development and engineering

   4. Applications software, including user interfaces, database systems, and Internet applications

   5. Network architecture, such as local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), network topologies, Ethernet cards, modems, network protocols, name resolution, and client/server architectures

   6. The Internet, including services and trends

   7. Maintenance of system integrity, including disk backups, security, and power

   8. Risk management of a computer system, covering viruses, Trojan horses, worms, and encryption

4. Hold Positions

Those who certify in this course will understand the fundamentals of computer systems and networks. This includes the ability to automate simple tasks on the computer, such as designing and creating macros. Students who certify in this course will have the background knowledge and skills to hold positions in computer sales, to work as purchasing coordinators for computer equipment, and to work as computer consultants for small businesses.

*This material is to be used in conjunction with New Perspectives on Computer Concepts 10th Edition—Comprehensive, or 11th Edition —Comprehensive, published by Thomson Course Technology, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. All images with the Thomson Learning logo are used with the permission of Thomson Learning. They may not be copied, scanned, cut, pasted, altered, revised, modified, or adapted in any way without the prior written permission of Thomson Learning.

Unit 1. Computer Systems

Computer Systems are enabled by many subsystems, namely, the hardware subsystem, the software subsystem, and the network subsystem. Understanding how these subsystems work together will help you understand how a computer system works as a whole. In this unit, you will see a high-level view of a computer system broken down into these sub-components and learn about the primary role each of the sub-systems play. You will then learn about each sub-system in subsequent units in this course.

In order to gain insight into the next step of computer advancement, it is also important to know how computers came about, and how they have evolved. And, unless you know how computers can be used, their power may not be apparent. To expand your perspective on the application of computer systems, we include some interesting examples of how computers can be used. Perhaps you will discover a computer-related career path that fits your interest.

After getting the "big picture" about how computers work and how they can be used, you should read about the development of the computing industry and the job outlook in this field in your textbook. Before moving onto the next unit, which delves into the details of hardware systems, we will explain the fundamental concept of computer systems, representing data using numeric encoding.

Reading Sequence: 1.1 Overview of Computer Systems 1.2 Evolution of Computer Systems 1.3 Data Representation in a Computer System

                    

Assessments: Exercise 1

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