1.1 Using IT to meet business needs Flashcards
(74 cards)
Name 4 components of a desktop computer system
Monitor
Main Case
Keyboard
Mouse
What is a Monitor?
Computer monitors are output devices used to display the tasks being worked on by the user.
Give 4 examples of a portable computer system
Laptop
Netbook
Tablet
Smartphone
What is a Netbook?
A netbook computer is smaller than a laptop and often has a lower specification. They are often smaller and lighter than laptops.
Give a use of a netbook in business
Netbooks can be used for accessing email, instant messaging, live web chat, browsing the internet and most office tasks.
What is a Laptop?
A laptop is a portable version of a desktop computer.
Give a use of a laptop computer in business
Laptops allow the user to carry out most office tasks while away from the office. A wireless connection allows the user to access email, instant messaging, live web chat, browsing the internet and viewing photographs.
What is a Tablet?
Tablet computers are portable devices that usually have no pointing device or physical keyboard. A touchscreen allows the user to move a pointer or use an on-screen keyboard to carry out tasks.
Give a use of a tablet in business
Tablet computers can be used to access email, instant messaging, live web chat, and also for browsing the internet and viewing photographs.
What is a Smartphone?
A smartphone combines a voice telephone, a personal digital assistant, a web browser, a calendar and diary, a digital camera, a GPS system, a media player, and the ability to run ‘apps’ to carry out tasks.
Give an example of an Input Device:
Keyboards and keypads
Mouse
Microphone
Touchpad
Remote control
Scanner
Bar code reader
Magnetic strip reader
Chip & pin reader
Touchscreen
Sensors
Cameras
What is a keyboard, and what is it used for in business?
Keyboards are used to input characters while typing or entering commands.
Keyboards are used in offices for typing letters, memos and emails.
A keyboard would also be used to enter data into a database or spreadsheet.
Commands to instruct the computer to carry out a task are also entered via a keyboard.
What is a mouse, and what is it used for in business?
A mouse is an input device and is used to move the onscreen pointing device to wherever the user wants on the screen. Mouse buttons are used to select options or to choose from a menu.
In an office, a mouse would be used to choose from a menu and select the choice with a click.
A mouse can be connected with a wire, or wirelessly by e.g. Bluetooth®.
What is a scanner, and what is it used for in business?
Scanners are used to digitise documents or other printed materials for use in a computer. Printed documents can be scanned and converted by optical character reading into documents that can be edited in a word processor. Images can be scanned for use in e.g. newsletters or posters.
A leisure centre might use a scanner to capture an identity document of a new member for their records.
What is a bar code reader, and what is it used for in business?
Bar code readers may be used to capture a bar code on items for sale in a shop, so that the details of the item can be looked up in a database. Matrix code readers (including smartphones) can be used to read the data from matrix codes.
What is a magnetic strip reader, and what is it used for in business?
Magnetic strip readers are used to read the data from the strips on membership cards and bank cards.
They are also found on chip & pin reading devices in case the bank card has no chip, or where the chip cannot be read because it is damaged.
What is a chip and pin reader, and what is it used for in business?
They are used to read the data from the chip in bank cards.
There is also a keypad for entering the numbers in a PIN code.
What is a camera, and what is its use in business?
A camera has light sensors that convert light into electrical signals that can be digitised by computers and stored as images.
A leisure centre might use a digital camera to capture images of members for inclusion on membership cards. Cameras are also used in video conferencing and security systems.
What is a sensor, and what is its use in business?
Sensors convert physical parameters such as light or temperature into electrical signals that can be digitised by a computer.
Sensors can be used to measure the temperature of a swimming pool in a leisure centre or of a food chiller cabinet or freezer in a supermarket.
Sensors can also detect the presence of people at a door, or be used to trigger security alarms.
Give an example of an Output Device:
Monitor
Touchscreen
Printer
Speakers, headphones and head sets
Data or digital projectors
Plotter
What is a touchscreen?
Touchscreens are both input and output devices. Found in smartphones and tablet computers, as well as whiteboards, touchscreens are used
to input characters and commands allowing the user to carry out tasks without needing access to a full-sized keyboard.
What is a printer, and what is its use in business?
Printers produce hard copy of documents, images and other output from a computer system. They are used for printing documents such as letters, memos and leaflets.
What are speakers, and what is their use in business?
These produce sounds allowing users to hear audio files, music, movie soundtracks, and the voices of others in e.g. video conferences. Speakers are found in earphones and headsets.
What is a data projector, and what is its use in business?
Data (digital) projectors project and enlarge a computer display for viewing by an audience of several people.
They are used to show presentations to e.g. staff and members of a leisure centre.

