Introduction
Having introductory knowledge on computers and/or information technology is of vital importance for everyone.
Nowadays, the life of every one relies on information more than ever before. Computers and millions of jobs have become interrelated because workers rely on computers for needed information.
In this chapter, you will learn basic concepts and principles of information, data processing, computers, and computer systems and the application of IT in data and information organization.
Computer generated Information has become a vital resource in today's world.
It is necessary for each of your personal use. Information is also very important for institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and societies at large but it is rarely possible to have such kind of resource without having computers. In this chapter, you will learn the meaning, importance, sources and categories of information in general and computer generated information in particular, different application areas of computers; the components of computer systems and what information technology is and its applications. 1.1 Definition of terms and concepts What is data? To understand more about what information is, it is better to relate it with data that is used in the production of information. The meaning of data varies like that of information.
Try to understand the following definition of data and then relate it with the meaning of information. Data is a collection of raw facts that represent figures, or details about people, objects, places, ideas or events.
Data is a fact or figure collected from measurements or 5 observations about people, events or objects. To illustrate data in detail let us take the administrative function of a certain institution. In many institutions, the following activities are common:- Workers are paid salary, raw materials are ordered, finished goods are supplied, etc. The details (e.g. Name, Age, Sex Salary, Tax, Pension, Deductions, Net salary, Remark, etc.) of each employee and facts and figures about each material and product of the institution are referred to as data.
In a library environment, to identify a certain book, the following could be considered as details (data): Title, Author, Publication date, Edition, Publisher, Place of publication, unique number
(Call number) of the book, etc. Data can be defined as un processed information (information which is not organized, analyzed, or classified).One can associate data with raw facts, symbols or figures.
What is Information?
Course Description ............................................................................................................... 0 Course Objectives ............................................................................................................... 0 Introduction to the course ..................................................................................................... 1 How to study this course .................................................................................................... 2 Chapter one: Introduction to computer overview ............................................................ 3 Objectives: ...................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Definition of terms and concepts ........................................................................ 4
What is data? .............................................................................................................. 4
What is Information? .................................................................................................... 5
What is Knowledge? ................................................................................................... 6 Sources of Information ............................................................................................... 7 Characteristics of information ....................................................................................... 8 Factors that measure the quality of information ............................................................. 9 Constituents of Information Technology ..................................................................... 10
What is technology? .................................................................................................. 10
What is Information Technology (IT)? .................................................................... 10
What is a computer? ................................................................................................. 11 Historical development of computers ...................................................................... 11
Data processing .......................................................................................................... 15
Table1 B ......................................................................................................................... 17 Applications of IT ....................................................................................................... 18 Information System .................................................................................................... 18
What is system? .............................................................................................................. 18 Components and purpose of information system ......................................................... 19 1.2 Methods of data processing.......................................................................... 19 1.3 Characteristics of computers ........................................................................ 21
Additional Characteristics of computers ...................................................................... 22 Application of Computers ........................................................................................... 23 1.5 Classification of computers ........................................................................... 28
Types of computers .................................................................................................... 28 Generations of computers ........................................................................................... 32 1.6 Computer system component ....................................................................... 36 1.7 Computers and the Legal system .................................................................. 63
EXERCISE 1.1.......................................................................................................... 64
Chapter two: Operating system ....................................................................................... 70 Objectives: .................................................................................................................... 70 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 71 2.1 Introduction to Ms-windows .............................................................................. 71
Starting MS Windows and working with windows ...................................................... 72
How do you start MS Windows? .............................................................................. 72
To start MS Windows ............................................................................................... 72 2.2 Icons and desktop................................................................................................ 73 2.3
Mouse operations ................................................................................................ 74
Elements of a window................................................................................................. 75
Menus, Toolbars and Dialog boxes of a Window ........................................................ 78 Windows Applications ................................................................................................ 81 Running windows applications ................................................................................... 81 Installing and removing application software .............................................................. 83 Copying and moving information ............................................................................... 84
Using the keys on the keyboard ................................................................................ 84 To Copy and Paste information: .............................................................................. 85
Viewing the content of the clipboard........................................................................... 86 Exiting an application ................................................................................................. 86 2.4 Working with folders and files ..................................................................... 86
Managing files ............................................................................................................ 86 2.5 Windows explorer ......................................................................................... 89 2.6 Customizing the desktop ............................................................................... 91 2.7 Customizing the taskbar ............................................................................... 91 2.8 Customizing the start menu .......................................................................... 93 2.9 Accessories utility programs ........................................................................... 94 2.10
Getting online help and support ................................................................. 100
SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 100
CHECK LIST ........................................................................................................... 101
SELF TEST EXERCISE ........................................................................................ 101
Chapter three: Ms-Words ............................................................................................. 104 Objectives: .................................................................................................................. 104 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 105 3.1 Working on word document: creating, saving, closing, opening ............... 105 3.2
Editing and formatting word document ..................................................... 110 3.3
Working with tables ............................................................................................ 120 3.4Working with graphics and drawings ................................................................... 122 Symbols and Characters in Microsoft Office ............................................................. 126 Character Map .......................................................................................................... 128 3.5 Creating header/footer, endnote, footnote ................................................. 135
Page Numbers .......................................................................................................... 136 3.6 Mail merge operations ................................................................................ 136 3.7
Printing ........................................................................................................ 138
SELF-TEST EXERCISES...................................................................................... 141
Chapter Four: Ms-Excel ............................................................................................... 147 Objectives: .................................................................................................................. 147 4.1 Introduction................................................................................................. 148 4.2
Creating, saving, closing, opening a work book ......................................... 149 4.6
Working with charts and graphics ............................................................. 163 4.7 Page properties and printing ...................................................................... 165
SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 167
SELF TEST EXERCISE ........................................................................................ 167
Chapter Five: Ms-Access............................................................................................... 173 Objectives: .................................................................................................................. 174 5.1 Introduction................................................................................................. 174
Working on basics of MS Access .............................................................................. 175 5.2 Creating Tables ............................................................................................. 178 5.3
Creating Queries ......................................................................................... 187 5.4
Creating Forms ........................................................................................... 190 5.5
Creating Reports ......................................................................................... 198
Printing Reports ..................................................................................................... 200 2.6 Working on Legal Databases ...................................................................... 201
SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 205 SELF-TEST EXERCISE ........................................................................................ 206
Chapter six: Ms- PowerPoint ........................................................................................ 212 Objectives.................................................................................................................... 212 6.1 Introduction................................................................................................. 212
Definitions ................................................................. 21
Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.2 Creating, saving, closing, and opening a presentation ..................................... 214
Content inserted from other sources .......................................................................... 215 Creating a presentation using suggested content ........................................................ 216 Creating a presentation using blank slides ................................................................. 216 Create a presentation using a design template ........................................................... 217 Creating a new presentation from an existing one ..................................................... 218
To Save a presentation .............................................................................................. 218
File formats for saving presentations ................................................................................ 219 Open a file ................................................................................................................ 220 6.3 Editing slides ............................................................................................... 221 6.4
Using animations and multi media in presentation ......................................... 221
Add a movie or animated GIF to a slide .................................................................... 221 Preview a movie or animated GIF in a presentation .................................................. 225 Using Microsoft Windows Media Player for movies ................................................. 125
Loop a sound or movie ............................................................................................. 225 Handouts .................................................................................................................. 226 Previewing your handout .......................................................................................... 226 Handout master......................................................................................................... 226 Additional layout options .......................................................................................... 226
About right-to-left presentations ............................................................................... 227
Print notes pages ....................................................................................................... 227