• Laying the Groundwork

  • 1 The Big Picture

• The Information Layer

  • 2 Binary Values and Number Systems

  • 3 Data Representation

• The Hardware Layer

  • 4 Gates and Circuits

  • 5 Computing Components

• The Programming Layer

  • 6 Low-Level Programming Languages and Pseudocode

  • 7 Problem Solving and Algorithms

  • 8 Abstract Data Types and Subprograms

  • 9 Object-Oriented Design and High-Level Programming Languages

• The Operating Systems Layer

  • 10 Operating Systems

  • 11 File Systems and Directories

• The Applications Layer

  • 12 Information Systems

  • 13 Artificial Intelligence

  • 14 Simulation, Graphics, Gaming, and Other Applications

• The Communications Layer

  • 15 Networks

  • 16 The World Wide Web

  • 17 Computer Security

• In Conclusion

  • 18 Limitations of Computing

Chapter 2 described the binary number system in which all information is represented on a computer. Chapter 4 described how we control electricity at a fundamental level to manage binary values. Now we can describe the primary components of a computer that capitalize on these technologies. These primary components are like Lego pieces; they can be combined to build a variety of different computers.

Although these components, such as main memory and the central processing unit (CPU), are often thought of as the most fundamental parts of a computer, we know that they are abstractions of even more fundamental concepts.