Using Computers for Projects

USING COMPUTERS FOR PROJECTS YOU WILL LEARN TO… ❚ Install basic computer software. ❚ Elaborate spreadsheets to create documents with text, numbers and charts. ❚ Prepare multimedia presentations. ❚ Work with programs and mobile applications to edit images, audio and video. ❚ Use augmented reality in your presentations. ❚ Create, format and print text documents. Which computer programs do you use? What do you do with them? What professions require an advanced level of computer skills? Where can you study ICT? What types of courses can you take? + + www FINAL TASK www Digital mural The English Department is going to celebrate Book Day. They have asked you to design a poster, mural or digital presentation to promote reading. To make your project more interesting, you are going to include images, audio, video and augmented reality. What do you have to do? 1 Choose a topic, such as an author, time period or genre. 2 Make a rough outline for your presentation on paper. 3 Plan the steps and assign tasks to people in your group. 4 Install the programs or applications that you will use to edit texts, images, audio and video. 5 Present your finished project to the class. Technical specifications Combine different types of media, such as texts, images, audio and video. Include a graphic, such as a chart or table, with information about reading or education in general. Project presentation As a group, create a video to tell a short story. Include a recording of yourself reading a poem. You will present your project to other groups or to the entire school. Create a printable version of your work in PDF format. Optionally, you can print and display your work where Include an example of augmented reality in your work. others can see it. Before you begin… Answer 1. What computer presentation programs have you used? Is there a similar application for mobile devices? 2. Have you ever used a mobile phone to record yourself on video? How did you do it? Did you edit the video afterwards? 3. Have you ever used a computer to edit photos? Have you ever edited audio files? Using computers for projects 5 1. COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE A computer has physical parts that we can touch, such as the keyboard or mouse. TOXIC SUBSTANCES INSIDE These parts are called hardware. Computers also use programs to process data. COMPUTERS These are called software. Computers contain toxic We can classify the functions of a computer into four steps: input, storage, substances, so we must dispose of them correctly. processing and output. Various elements play a role in each step: Specialised companies take ❚❚Peripheral devices are used for input and output. These devices are connected apart computers to recycle to a central unit, which receives, stores and presents data. certain parts. ❚❚Information storage takes place in storage devices, such as the hard drive. Toxic Components substances ❚❚Information processing takes place in the central processing unit (CPU). This lead soldered joints contains memory as well as microprocessors that control the computer and casings, wires, carry out commands. PVC supports A computer processes and stores information in various forms, such as text, motherboard lithium numbers, images and audio. If we change the colour of an image, manipulate battery numbers, or highlight words in a text, we are processing information. selenium, electronic cadmium, components mercury lead, mercury, monitor chrome Parts of a personal computer 6 www+ 1.1. The motherboard and peripheral connections If you open the outer case of a computer, you will see the motherboard. All the parts of a computer are attached to the motherboard, either directly or indirectly. BIOS RAM slots IDE connectors SATA CPU socket connectors Buses Understand Chipset 1. What do you think the cables in the picture are used for? PCI slots Input / Output ports PCI-Express slots Motherboard POWER SUPPLY In addition to the CPU and memory, the following parts are attached to the UNIT motherboard: ❚❚Expansion slots allow us to add new components, such as a modem, sound card, network card or graphics card. ❚❚IDE/ATA connectors and SATA connectors link the hard drive, CD and DVD drives to the motherboard. ❚❚The chipset is a group of integrated circuits that control the flow of information in the motherboard. ❚❚Input/output slots Computers require electricity. They use a power supply unit 1.2. Connecting external devices that transforms 230 volts of mains AC power to low-voltage The installation of any device in a computer involves two steps: DC power, usually between 1.5 1. The physical connection, which can be made in various ways: and 12 volts. ❚❚Using one of the expansion slots, especially for sound and graphic cards. ❚❚Using special connectors on the motherboard, like the hard drive and the DVD drive, for example. ❚❚Using external side ports. For example, USB ports allow us to connect and disconnect devices without having to restart the computer. 2. The installation of special control programs called drivers, which let the Key concepts device communicate with the operating system. However, most devices are automatically recognised by the operating system, which then installs the The parts of a computer can be necessary drivers. These are known as plug and play devices. classified as follows: ❚❚ Input and output peripherals ❚❚ Memory devices ❚❚ Central processing unit Using computers for projects 7 2. THE OPERATING SYSTEM The operating system is the first thing we use when we turn on a computer and the last thing we use when we turn it off again. Different computers operate with various types of software, such as word processors, graphic design programs or games, but they always require some type of operating system. 2.1. What tasks does an operating system perform? CTRL + ALT + DEL An operating system creates a convenient work space where users have easy access to applications, as well as information about the parts of the computer In Windows, we access the Task system. Manager by pressing Ctrl + Alt Types of software + Del, all at the same time. If we press those keys twice, the ❚❚Operating system. The operating system manages system resources, making operating system will restart. them available to users and other programs. The most common operating Linux has a similar application systems are Windows, Windows Phone, Linux, Android, Mac Os and iOs. They called System Monitor. allow us to work with the hardware and software of both computers and mobile devices. ❚❚Applications. There are many types of applications, such as word processors (Word or Writer), spreadsheets (Excel, Calc), presentation programs (Powerpoint, Impress), data bases (Access, Base), art programs (Paint, Paint Shop Pro, Draw), antivirus programs, file compressors, web browsers, online email readers and games. ❚❚Programming languages. You can use programming languages to create new programs and applications. These languages can also be used to write new operating systems. Desktop background Icons Toolbar Windows desktop Linux desktop Understand 2. What are the differences between an operating system, an application and a programming language? Find out what operating systems are available nowadays. 8 www+ 2.2. How does an operating system open a program? To open an application, such as a word processor, you use the mouse or trackpad Key structure to send a command to the operating system. After that, the operating system follows a series of steps. Non-defining relative clauses 1. The operating system locates the application, which is stored in the computer’s The operating system locates hard drive. A copy of the program is sent to the RAM (Random Access Memory) the application, which is stored and displayed on the screen. in the computer’s hard drive. 2. The word processor is now active. The operating system transmits information The information goes to the RAM, where it is stored. from the mouse and keyboard, and this information goes to the RAM, where it is stored. The program also sends information to the computer’s microprocessor. 3. When your document is finished, click on the Save icon. The operating system transfers information from the memory to the hard drive. Understand 4. If you click on the Print icon, the word processor sends a command to the 3. Explain how we can find out operating system, which translates your document into a format that the the following information about a computer: the printer can understand and use. type of microprocessor it 5. When we close the word processor, the operating system erases our document has; the amount of memory from the RAM. This frees up memory space for other applications. it has; the amount of free space on its hard drive. RAM operating system software Analyse 4. Do you think a computer hard drive could function without an operating system? Why/Why not? 5. Answer the following questions about the microprocessor operating system of your computer: a) How can you see the files that are saved on the hard drive? b) In the hard drive, how Flowchart of a computer system can you find all the files with the .txt extension? 2.3. Functions of an operating system c) How can you open an application? ❚❚ Managing the microprocessor d) How can you copy a file The operating system tells the microprocessor which tasks must be performed. from the hard drive to a If we have several applications open at the same time, the operating system Secure Digital (SD) card? controls how much time the microprocessor should dedicate to each task. More e) What other actions urgent tasks, such as sending error messages or virus alerts, have top priority. can you perform with your computer? ❚❚Managing memory and information storage The operating system makes memory space available for different applications. ❚❚Creating a convenient user interface and workspace Key concepts Operating systems help users communicate more easily with computers.

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