The Basics – What is Information?
Information is data processed for some purpose
Information can only be considered to be 'real' Info if it meets certain criteria i.e.
1. it must be communicated to the recipient
2. it must be in a language that is understood
3. it must be in a suitable form
4. it must be relevant for achieving some purpose
Information-
is any form of communication that provides understandable and useful knowledge for the
person receiving it.
What Is A Computer?
A computer is a general purpose, programmable device that is used for the production and
processing of information
capable of calculating and storing results
What do we mean by general purpose?
Most devices can be described by their function e.g. Washing Machine, DVD Player
, Computers, however, can be used for almost any purpose:
typewriter
video editor
accounts tracker
database / address book
DVD / CD Player
and many others…
Computers Are Programmable
Computers repond to instructions in the form of
programs
Programs are written in order to make computers behave in specific ways i.e. word processor,
systems control
Programs are stored in the Computer memory
How computers process information
Computers accept inputs ( i.e. data)
The input is translated into binary numbers and ‘processed’
The process produces output (i.e information)
This sequence can repeat endlessly: outputs can be inputs!
Illustrating this - the ‘Black Box’ model
Information is data processed for some purpose
Information can only be considered to be 'real' Info if it meets certain criteria i.e.
1. it must be communicated to the recipient
2. it must be in a language that is understood
3. it must be in a suitable form
4. it must be relevant for achieving some purpose
Information-
is any form of communication that provides understandable and useful knowledge for the
person receiving it.
What Is A Computer?
A computer is a general purpose, programmable device that is used for the production and
processing of information
capable of calculating and storing results
What do we mean by general purpose?
Most devices can be described by their function e.g. Washing Machine, DVD Player
, Computers, however, can be used for almost any purpose:
typewriter
video editor
accounts tracker
database / address book
DVD / CD Player
and many others…
Computers Are Programmable
Computers repond to instructions in the form of
programs
Programs are written in order to make computers behave in specific ways i.e. word processor,
systems control
Programs are stored in the Computer memory
How computers process information
Computers accept inputs ( i.e. data)
The input is translated into binary numbers and ‘processed’
The process produces output (i.e information)
This sequence can repeat endlessly: outputs can be inputs!
Illustrating this - the ‘Black Box’ model
