Mastering Computers

MASTERING COMPUTERS MACMILLAN MASTER SERIES Basic Management Biology Chemistry Commerce Computer Programming Computers Data Processing Economics Electronics English Language French German Italian Marketing Mathematics Modern World History Office Practice Physics Principles of Accounts Sociology Spanish Statistics Study Skills MASTERING COMPUTERS G. G. L. WRIGHT M Text and tab1es © G. G. L. Wright, 1982. Il1ustrations © The Macmillan Press Ltd., 1982. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without permission. First edition 1982 Reprinted 1982, 1983 Published by THE MACMILLAN PRESS LTD London and Basingstoke Companies and representatives throughout the world Typeset by Reproduction Drawings Ltd, Sutton, Surrey ISBN 978-0-333-30908-7 ISBN 978-1-349-16744-9 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-16744-9 ISBN 978-0-333-31068-7 (export) This book is also available under the title Basic Computers Studies published by Macmillan Education. The paperback edition of this book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition inc1uding this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. CONTENTS List of Figures Acknowledgements Introduction 1 Introducing the computer 2 The who, what and why of computers 3 How the computer works 4 How peripherals put the computer to work 5 Designing systems for the computer 6 Programming the computer 7 Running programs vii ix xi 1.1 What is a computer? 1.2 The computer as an information processor 1.3 Computers today 2.1 Computers in numerical computation 2.2 Computers in data processing 2.3 Computers in control 2.4 Personal computing 2.5 Information processing 3.1 Data representation 3.2 The processor and programs 3.3 Internal storage 4.1 Backing storage 4.2 Input/output devices 4.3 Terminals 4.4 Data transmission 5.1 Systems analysis 5.2 The importance of ftles 5.3 Project planning 5.4 Systems documentation 5.5 Using packaged systems 6.1 The programrning task 6.2 The program specitication 6.3 Program design 6.4 Coding 6.5 Program testing 6.6 Program documenta ti on 7.1 Preparing data for a program 7.2 Batched data preparation 7.3 Data input at a terminal 7.4 Program execution and systems software 1 2 9 21 24 27 30 32 35 43 49 58 69 90 94 99 109 114 116 121 127 129 129 135 141 145 147 148 149 152 CONTENTS 8 Acquiring computer hardware and software 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 9 Organising a computer 10 Computers and people 11 Computers and the future Suggestions for further reading of signiflcant terms in computing 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 10.1 10.2 lO.3 10.4 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Sources of hardware Financing hardware Selecting a computer Acquiring other equipment Using someone else's computer Acquiring software and services The computer department Accommodating the computer Organising the work Security Computers and employment Computers in education Civil rights and civilliberties Computers and leisure Microprocessors with everything The electronic office The horne computer centre The cashless society The automatie factory 165 168 169 173 175 177 181 186 189 192 195 198 201 204 206 207 209 212 216 219 Glo~ Index 221 225 vii FIGURES 1.1 The computer as an information processing system 1.2 The five functional components of a computer 1.3 The working organisation of a computer 1.4 Examples of programs A family tree of computers 1.5 1.6 A typical mainfram