Basic Computer Concepts in Radiology Informatics

RADIOLOGY INFORMATICS

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Session 1 : Utilize basic concepts of computer system in operating a computer

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students are expected to be able to:

Describe basic principles of computer (input devices, types, characteristics, performance, Layout, keyboard)

Identify key steps in maintaining health and safety when using computer Describe computer components and its functions (physical, hard and soft ware, motherboard, CPU, mouse, RAM) ICT makes life better

INTRODUCTION

A Computer is simply defined as an electronic device which has the ability to handle data (Information).

With a Computer, data (Information) can be Processed, Stored, retrieved as well as Transferred.

• Principle characteristics of a Computer includes;
• It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well defined manner.
• It can execute a prerecorded list of instructions (a program.)
• It can quickly store and retrieve large amount of data.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTER

• Speed: – As you know computer can work very fast. It takes only few seconds for calculations that we take hours to complete. You will be surprised to know that computer can perform millions (1,000,000) of instructions and even more per second.
• Accuracy: – The degree of accuracy of computer is very high and every calculation is performed with the same accuracy.

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Basic Computer Concepts in Radiology Informatics

• Diligence: – A computer is free from tiredness, lack of concentration, fatigue, etc. It can work for hours without creating any error. If millions of calculations are to be performed, a computer will perform every calculation with the same accuracy. Due to this capability it overpowers human being in routine type of work.
• Versatility: – It means the capacity to perform completely different type of work. You may use your computer to prepare payroll slips. Next moment you may use it for inventory management or to prepare electric bills.

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Basic Computer Concepts in Radiology Informatics

• Power of Remembering: – Computer has the power of storing any amount of information or data. Any information can be stored and recalled as long as you require it, for any numbers of years. It depends entirely upon you how much data you want to store in a computer and when to lose or retrieve these data.
• No IQ: – Computer is a dumb machine and it cannot do any work without instruction from the user. It performs the instructions at tremendous speed and with accuracy. It is you to decide what you want to do and in what sequence. So a computer cannot take its own decision as you can.

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Basic Computer Concepts in Radiology Informatics

• No Feeling: – It does not have feelings or emotion, taste, knowledge and experience. Thus it does not get tired even after long hours of work. It does not distinguish between users.
• Storage: – The Computer has an in-built memory where it can store a large amount of data. You can also store data in secondary storage devices such as floppies, which can be kept outside your computer and can be carried to other computers.

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CLASSIFICATION/TYPES OF COMPUTERS

Computers can be generally classified by size and power as follows; though there is considerable overlap.

• Super-computers

Mainframe Computers:

• Mini-computers
• Workstation
• Microcomputers

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Classification of Computers…

SUPER-COMPUTER

Is a large, powerful and extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of millions of instructions per second.

It is a very expensive machine and employed for specialized applications that require immense amounts of mathematical calculations. E.g. Weather forecasting, Scientific simulations, Fluid dynamic calculations, Nuclear energy research e.t.c.

• It uses its power to execute a single program faster than others.

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Classification Of Computers…

MAINFRAME COMPUTER

Is a large and powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds or thousands of instructions simultaneous.

• Usually, it is used by large and complex Organization.
• Mainframe uses its power to execute many programs concurrently.

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Classification of Computers…

MINI-COMPUTER

Is a mid-sized and moderate powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds of users simultaneous.

It is mostly used by mid sized Organization.

These large Computers can connect several users via the Intelligent Terminal (E.g. a PC) or Dumb Terminal ICT makes life better

Classification of Computers…

Workstation Computer.

It is also the single user system which is similar to personal computer but have more powerful microprocessor The example of workstation

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Classification of Computers…

PERSONAL COMPUTER

A Personal Computer (PC) is a small inexpensive single-user computer designed for an individual user.

One of the first and most popular PC was Apple II, introduced in 1977 by Apple Computers.

In 1981, IBM inverted its first PC known as IBM PC, which quickly became the PC of choice. And most other PC’s manufacturers fell by the sideway.

Therefore, after the release of the first Personal Computer by IBM, the term PC came to mean IBM Personal Computer, while other Personal Computers referred to a PC-compatible.

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Generally, a Personal Computer has two major parts, i.e. Hardware and Software.

HARDWARE

Hardware is simply defined as any physical component of a Computer system.

Hardware is further divided into four categories, i.e. Input device, Processing device, Output device and Storage device.

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Main Parts of a PC…

Input Device

Is a Computer component which used to feed information into a Computer system.

Examples; Keyboard, Mouse, Scanner, Digital Camera, Microphone, Touch pads, Joystick, Webcam, Light pen e.t.c.

Modem Scanner Mouse

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Main Parts of a PC…

Processing Device

Is a Computer component that used to manipulate data in a Computer system.

Examples; Central Processing Unit (CPU), Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), System Board e.t.c.

• Microprocessor RAM Mother board

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Main Parts of a PC…

• Output device
• Is a Computer component which used to display the processed information to the user.
• Examples; Monitor, Printer, Plotter, Speaker, Projection device e.t.c.

Plotter Printer Speaker Monitor

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Main Parts of a PC…

• Storage device (Secondary Memory device)

Is a Computer component that used to store information permanently for future use.

Example; Floppy Disk (Diskette), Hard Disk, Compact Disk (CD-ROM, CD-R & CD-RW), Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), Flash Disk, Tape Backup e.t.c

Hard Disk Flash Disk Floppy Disk Tape Backup

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Main Parts of a PC…

DISK DRIVES

Is simply described as a component that used to read/ write data from/ into a storage device.

• Examples;
• Floppy Drive i.e. 3½ Floppy (A:)
• or 5¼ Floppy (B:)
• Hard Disk Drive i.e. Local Disk (C:)
• Compact Disk Drive i.e. CD Drive (D: or E:)
• Flash Drive i.e. Removable Disk (F:)

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PERFORMANCE OF COMPUTER

MEASURING MEMORY CAPACITY

It is important to realize that the term Digital Computer refers to the fact that ultimately the Computer works in Binary Number system ( i.e. 0 and 1) where humans work in Denary Number system (i.e. 0 – 9).

Hence the measurement of Memory capacity of a storage device is Bits (i.e. BInary DigiTS).

• 8 Bits = 1 Byte = 1 Character
• 1024 Bytes = 1 Kilobyte.
• 1024 Kb = 1 Megabyte
• 1024 Mb = 1 Gigabyte
• 1024 Gb = 1 Terabyte.

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THE SYSTEM PROPERTIES SCREEN

• Right click on “My Computer” icon

Click on “Properties” command

Note: A System Properties dialog box will appear. Under General tab you will see the information about your Computer, Example; Type of Operating System, Size of RAM, Type of Processor and Clock speed.

• Click on “Ok” when you finish.

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Main Parts of a PC…

SOFTWARE

• Is simply described as a set of instructions which tells the Computer what and how to do.
• Generally, there two major types of software, i.e.
• Operating System and 2.Application Software.

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SWITCH ON A COMPUTER

• Make sure all cables are well connected.
• Identify Power buttons for System Unit and that of Monitor.
• Switch ON the Power button for System Unit followed by that of Monitor.
• Wait for Operating System to be loaded in RAM
• NOTE:

You might be required to choose OS you want.

You might be required to LOG IN by providing Username and Password given to you by System Administrator.

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SWITCHING OFF A COMPUTER

• Position mouse pointer on a “Start” button, then press left mouse button once.
• Move a mouse pointer over a “Shut Down” command, then press left mouse button once.

NOTE: Shut Down Window will appear.

Position mouse pointer at the down arrow in the text box, then press left mouse button once.

• Move mouse pointer on the “Shut Down” option, then press left mouse button once.
• Move mouse pointer on “Ok” button, then press left mouse button once.

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USING COMPUTER MANAGING FILES

WINDOWS SCREEN

• A Windows screen is referred to a Desktop.
• A Desktop contains various icons and Taskbar
• ICON

Is any object that can represent a file, a folder, a program or a drive.

The main icons on Desktop includes; My Documents, My Computer, My Network Places, Recycle Bin and Internet Explorer.

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Windows Screen…

TASKBAR

• Is simply a bar that lies at the bottom of the Desktop.
• It displays Start button, Quick launch, Running application and System tray.

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WORKING WITH MOUSE

• The following are the terms used when working with a Mouse.
• POINT: Means moving a mouse pointer over the object.

CLICK: Means pressing left mouse button once. This will select (Highlight) the object.

DOUBLE CLICK: Means quickly pressing the left mouse button twice. This will open the object.

• RIGHT CLICK: Means pressing right mouse button once. This will display a Pop up menu.
• DRAGGING: Means moving an object to another location using mouse.

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FILES AND FOLDERS

FOLDERS/ DIRECTORIES

• A Folder is an electronic container that stores files.
• Creating a Folder on Desktop
• Right click on a blank area of the Desktop
• Highlight on “New” command.
• Click on “Folder” option
• Type folder’s name
• Press “Enter” key

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Files and Folders….

• Creating Folders in other locations.
• Open the location you wish to create a new folder. E.g. Drive (C:)
• Right click on a blank area.
• Select “New” command
• Click on “Folder” option
• Type a name of your folder

Press “Enter” key

Note: If the location is one of the drives, start by opening My Computer, then open the drive.

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Files and Folders….

• Creating a Subfolder
• Open a Parent (Main) folder.
• Right click on a blank area.
• Select “New” command
• Click on “Folder” option
• Type a new name.
• Press “Enter” key
• Note: A Subfolder is a folder that stored within other folder.
• : A Parent folder is a folder that stores subfolders.

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Files and Folders….

• FILES
• A File is simply the collection of related information stored under one name.

You can create a file by using any application program.

A file is identified using three factors i.e. File name, File location and File extension (File type) File extension consists of three letters, separated from the file name by a period (.).

• Example; Utandawazi.doc, Maisha.rtf, Mazingira.txt, Pension.xls, Frag.jpg e.t.c.
• .doc – document files (Microsoft word)
• .rtf – rich text format files (WordPad application)
• .xls – Excel files (Microsoft Excel)

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Files and Folders….

• Creating a File.
• Open the program you wish to create a file.
• Type (Enter) your information (i.e. Data)
• Save your file.
• Opening a Simple Editing Program
• Click on “Start” button.
• Select “Programs” command.
• Select “Accessories” option.
• Click on the program you want. E.g. Notepad, WordPad e.t.c.

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Files and Folders….

• Working with a Keyboard.
• The keys in a keyboard are divided into several categories as follows;
• Function keys: Used in special operations. E.g. F1 – F12
• Numerical keys (Keypad): Used to type numbers, operators e.t.c.
• Character keys: Used to type letters, numbers, symbols e.t.c.

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Working with keyboard…

• Special keys: Used for special purposes.
• Space bar (Long) key: Used to provide a space between words during typing.
• Enter (Return) key: Used to moves cursor to a second line.

Caps Lock key: Used to switch between uppercase and lowercase.

Shift key: – Used to switch between uppercase and lowercase when Caps key is OFF. Also is used to access a second character when a key has two characters.

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Working with keyboard…

• Backspace key: Used to delete (erase) characters at the left side of the cursor position.
• Cursor control keys: Used to control movements of cursor.
• Arrow keys: Used to move cursor one character to the direction of arrow.
• Home key: Used to move cursor direct to the beginning of line.
• End key: Used to move cursor to direct to the end of line.
• Delete key: Used to erase (delete) characters at the right side of the cursor position.

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Files and Folders….

• Saving a New file.
• Click on “File” menu
• Click on “Save” or “Save As…” command
• Note: You will see a Save As dialog box.
• Select the location, under Save In text box. E.g. Desktop, My Document, 3 ½ Floppy (A:)
• Type a name of the file, under File Name text box.
• Specify the file extension, under File type text box.
• Click on “Save” button.

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Files and Folders….

• Opening an Existing (Saved) file.
• Click on “File” menu
• Click on “Open” command
• Note: You will see a Open dialog box.
• Select the location, under Look In text box. E.g. Desktop, My Document, 3 ½ Floppy (A:)
• Click on a name of the file you wish to open.
• Click on “Open” button.

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Health and Safety in Using Computers

Eye Strain

• Staring at a screen for long hours is not good for your eyes.

Reducing Discomfort

Provided you have a modern monitor most of these problems can be reduced dramatically, if not eliminated. Increase monitor size, zoom in on the text, Monitor position and Brightness and contrast ICT makes life better

Back and Wrist Problems

One of the major problems arising when using a computer is the increase in the number of back problems and repetitive strain injury (RSI), which damages the wrists.

Bad Posture

• Two major aspects can improve the potential risk:
• o Designing a good work area for your computer
• o Sitting correctly

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Electrical Safety

• Although the computer processor works at a very small current, power into the computer
• and its peripheral devices such as printers, monitors, are at normal household voltages.

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ASSIGNMENT 1

• Describe six factors which affects the computer performance

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