Theory Book
COMPUTER
APPLICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY
CAPS
, MTN SOUTH AFRICA, THROUGH MTN SA FOUNDATION
IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF CAT AND IT DIGITAL BOOKS.
As an organisation rooted in technology, we believe in providing a new bold digital world to
communities we operate in. This unique digital book provides the fundamental knowledge necessary
for a sound grounding from which to make practical use of the complete and indispensable
application-oriented information regarding Computer Applications Technology (CAT) and Information
Technology (IT). It is a foundational reference for today’s secondary school learners and teachers alike –
as well as for the next generation of CAT and IT students.
Computer Applications Technology Grade 10 Theory Book
ISBN: 978-1-928388-60-9
First published in 2019 © 2019. Copyright in the text remains with the contributors.
Restrictions
You may not make copies of this book in part or in full – in printed or electronic or audio
or video form – for a profit seeking purpose.
Rights of other copyright holders
All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that materials included are not already copyrighted to
other entities, or in a small number of cases, to seek permission from and acknowledge copyright
holders. In some cases, this may not have been possible. The publishers welcome the opportunity to
redress this with any unacknowledged copyright holders.
,Contents
Term 1 Unit 2.2 Posture and ergonomics__________________ 29
Social implications: Correct typing posture_______ 29
Chapter 1 Concepts of computing______________________________ 1 Ergonomics___________________________ 30
Introduction___________________________________ 1 Prevention____________________________ 31
Unit 1.1 Information and communication technology_______ 2 Activity 2.3___________________________ 31
ICT systems used in everyday life______________ 2 Revision activity______________________________ 32
Activity 1.1____________________________ 4 At the end of the chapter________________________ 33
Unit 1.2 Data and information______________________ 5
The GIGO principle_______________________ 6 Chapter 3 File management___________________ 34
The information-processing cycle______________ 6
Introduction__________________________________ 34
Activity 1.2____________________________ 7
Unit 3.1 Basic concepts of file management___________ 35
Unit 1.3 Computers and ICT_______________________ 9
Folders______________________________ 36
Activity 1.3___________________________ 10
File path_____________________________ 37
Unit 1.4 Types of computers______________________ 12 Activity 3.1___________________________ 38
Multi-purpose devices____________________ 12 Organising files and folders_________________ 39
Dedicated (embedded) devices______________ 14 Using a file manager (This PC)_______________ 39
Unit 1.5 Economic benefits of computers_____________ 15 Activity 3.2___________________________ 46
Activity 1.4___________________________ 15 Unit 3.2 File types____________________________ 48
Revision activity______________________________ 17 Text files_____________________________ 48
At the end of the chapter________________________ 18 Document files_________________________ 49
Locked document files___________________ 50
Web pages___________________________ 50
Term 2
Archives and compressed files______________ 50
Chapter 2 Using a computer__________________ 19 Presentation files_______________________ 51
Spreadsheet files_______________________ 51
Introduction__________________________________ 19
Database files_________________________ 52
Unit 2.1 Operating a computer____________________ 20
Image files___________________________ 52
Switching the computer on_________________ 20
Animation files_________________________ 53
Using the mouse_______________________ 20
Video files____________________________ 53
Using the keyboard______________________ 21
Sound files___________________________ 54
Using the desktop_______________________ 22
Portable document format (PDF)_____________ 54
Activity 2.1___________________________ 24
Activity 3.3___________________________ 54
Getting to know Windows__________________ 26
Revision activity______________________________ 55
File management_______________________ 27
Activity 2.2___________________________ 28 At the end of the chapter________________________ 56
, Chapter 4 File and print management___________ 57 Unit 5.5 Green computing_______________________ 82
Introduction__________________________________ 57 Going green when printing_________________ 82
Activity 5.5___________________________ 83
Unit 4.1 File management skills____________________ 58
Creating shortcuts_______________________ 58 Revision activity______________________________ 83
Taking screenshots______________________ 60 At the end of the chapter________________________ 84
Activity 4.1___________________________ 61
Unit 4.2 File compression_______________________ 62 Chapter 6 Extended hardware concepts__________ 85
Compressing and decompressing files and folders__ 62 Introduction__________________________________ 85
Activity 4.2___________________________ 63
Unit 6.1 More about input devices__________________ 86
Unit 4.3 Print management______________________ 64 Pointing devices________________________ 86
Adding a new peripheral___________________ 64 Digital camera_________________________ 87
Changing the default printer________________ 65 Scanning and reading devices_______________ 87
Basic printing__________________________ 65 Video input devices______________________ 90
Printer queue management_________________ 66 Audio input devices______________________ 91
Activity 4.3___________________________ 66 Biometric input devices___________________ 91
Revision activity______________________________ 66 Activity 6.1___________________________ 93
At the end of the chapter________________________ 67 Unit 6.2 More about output devices_________________ 94
Audio output__________________________ 94
Chapter 5 Hardware_________________________ 68 Other output__________________________ 94
Activity 6.2___________________________ 95
Introduction__________________________________ 68
Unit 6.3 Storage media and devices_________________ 96
Unit 5.1 What is hardware?______________________ 70
Activity 6.3___________________________ 96
Ports and connectors_____________________ 70
Adapters and convertors__________________ 71 Unit 6.4 Processing devices______________________ 97
Activity 5.1___________________________ 71 Motherboard__________________________ 97
Central Processing Unit (CPU)_______________ 97
Unit 5.2 Input devices__________________________ 72
Memory_____________________________ 98
Common input devices___________________ 72
Activity 6.4___________________________ 99
Pointing devices________________________ 73
Activity 5.2___________________________ 74 Unit 6.5 Caring for your PC and storage devices________ 100
Unit 5.3 Output devices_________________________ 75 Revision activity_____________________________ 101
Common output devices__________________ 75 At the end of the chapter_______________________ 103
Activity 5.3___________________________ 77
Unit 5.4 Storage devices________________________ 78 Chapter 7 Computer software________________ 104
Concepts used in storage capacity____________ 78 Introduction_________________________________ 104
Common storage devices__________________ 78
Unit 7.1 Basic software concepts__________________ 105
Capacity and robustness of storage devices______ 80
Application software____________________ 105
Connecting peripherals___________________ 80
Accessories__________________________ 106
Activity 5.4___________________________ 81
System software_______________________ 109
Activity 7.1__________________________ 109
Unit 7.2 Operating system______________________ 110
The role of the operating system____________ 110
The operating system and GUI______________ 110
COMPUTER
APPLICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY
CAPS
, MTN SOUTH AFRICA, THROUGH MTN SA FOUNDATION
IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF CAT AND IT DIGITAL BOOKS.
As an organisation rooted in technology, we believe in providing a new bold digital world to
communities we operate in. This unique digital book provides the fundamental knowledge necessary
for a sound grounding from which to make practical use of the complete and indispensable
application-oriented information regarding Computer Applications Technology (CAT) and Information
Technology (IT). It is a foundational reference for today’s secondary school learners and teachers alike –
as well as for the next generation of CAT and IT students.
Computer Applications Technology Grade 10 Theory Book
ISBN: 978-1-928388-60-9
First published in 2019 © 2019. Copyright in the text remains with the contributors.
Restrictions
You may not make copies of this book in part or in full – in printed or electronic or audio
or video form – for a profit seeking purpose.
Rights of other copyright holders
All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that materials included are not already copyrighted to
other entities, or in a small number of cases, to seek permission from and acknowledge copyright
holders. In some cases, this may not have been possible. The publishers welcome the opportunity to
redress this with any unacknowledged copyright holders.
,Contents
Term 1 Unit 2.2 Posture and ergonomics__________________ 29
Social implications: Correct typing posture_______ 29
Chapter 1 Concepts of computing______________________________ 1 Ergonomics___________________________ 30
Introduction___________________________________ 1 Prevention____________________________ 31
Unit 1.1 Information and communication technology_______ 2 Activity 2.3___________________________ 31
ICT systems used in everyday life______________ 2 Revision activity______________________________ 32
Activity 1.1____________________________ 4 At the end of the chapter________________________ 33
Unit 1.2 Data and information______________________ 5
The GIGO principle_______________________ 6 Chapter 3 File management___________________ 34
The information-processing cycle______________ 6
Introduction__________________________________ 34
Activity 1.2____________________________ 7
Unit 3.1 Basic concepts of file management___________ 35
Unit 1.3 Computers and ICT_______________________ 9
Folders______________________________ 36
Activity 1.3___________________________ 10
File path_____________________________ 37
Unit 1.4 Types of computers______________________ 12 Activity 3.1___________________________ 38
Multi-purpose devices____________________ 12 Organising files and folders_________________ 39
Dedicated (embedded) devices______________ 14 Using a file manager (This PC)_______________ 39
Unit 1.5 Economic benefits of computers_____________ 15 Activity 3.2___________________________ 46
Activity 1.4___________________________ 15 Unit 3.2 File types____________________________ 48
Revision activity______________________________ 17 Text files_____________________________ 48
At the end of the chapter________________________ 18 Document files_________________________ 49
Locked document files___________________ 50
Web pages___________________________ 50
Term 2
Archives and compressed files______________ 50
Chapter 2 Using a computer__________________ 19 Presentation files_______________________ 51
Spreadsheet files_______________________ 51
Introduction__________________________________ 19
Database files_________________________ 52
Unit 2.1 Operating a computer____________________ 20
Image files___________________________ 52
Switching the computer on_________________ 20
Animation files_________________________ 53
Using the mouse_______________________ 20
Video files____________________________ 53
Using the keyboard______________________ 21
Sound files___________________________ 54
Using the desktop_______________________ 22
Portable document format (PDF)_____________ 54
Activity 2.1___________________________ 24
Activity 3.3___________________________ 54
Getting to know Windows__________________ 26
Revision activity______________________________ 55
File management_______________________ 27
Activity 2.2___________________________ 28 At the end of the chapter________________________ 56
, Chapter 4 File and print management___________ 57 Unit 5.5 Green computing_______________________ 82
Introduction__________________________________ 57 Going green when printing_________________ 82
Activity 5.5___________________________ 83
Unit 4.1 File management skills____________________ 58
Creating shortcuts_______________________ 58 Revision activity______________________________ 83
Taking screenshots______________________ 60 At the end of the chapter________________________ 84
Activity 4.1___________________________ 61
Unit 4.2 File compression_______________________ 62 Chapter 6 Extended hardware concepts__________ 85
Compressing and decompressing files and folders__ 62 Introduction__________________________________ 85
Activity 4.2___________________________ 63
Unit 6.1 More about input devices__________________ 86
Unit 4.3 Print management______________________ 64 Pointing devices________________________ 86
Adding a new peripheral___________________ 64 Digital camera_________________________ 87
Changing the default printer________________ 65 Scanning and reading devices_______________ 87
Basic printing__________________________ 65 Video input devices______________________ 90
Printer queue management_________________ 66 Audio input devices______________________ 91
Activity 4.3___________________________ 66 Biometric input devices___________________ 91
Revision activity______________________________ 66 Activity 6.1___________________________ 93
At the end of the chapter________________________ 67 Unit 6.2 More about output devices_________________ 94
Audio output__________________________ 94
Chapter 5 Hardware_________________________ 68 Other output__________________________ 94
Activity 6.2___________________________ 95
Introduction__________________________________ 68
Unit 6.3 Storage media and devices_________________ 96
Unit 5.1 What is hardware?______________________ 70
Activity 6.3___________________________ 96
Ports and connectors_____________________ 70
Adapters and convertors__________________ 71 Unit 6.4 Processing devices______________________ 97
Activity 5.1___________________________ 71 Motherboard__________________________ 97
Central Processing Unit (CPU)_______________ 97
Unit 5.2 Input devices__________________________ 72
Memory_____________________________ 98
Common input devices___________________ 72
Activity 6.4___________________________ 99
Pointing devices________________________ 73
Activity 5.2___________________________ 74 Unit 6.5 Caring for your PC and storage devices________ 100
Unit 5.3 Output devices_________________________ 75 Revision activity_____________________________ 101
Common output devices__________________ 75 At the end of the chapter_______________________ 103
Activity 5.3___________________________ 77
Unit 5.4 Storage devices________________________ 78 Chapter 7 Computer software________________ 104
Concepts used in storage capacity____________ 78 Introduction_________________________________ 104
Common storage devices__________________ 78
Unit 7.1 Basic software concepts__________________ 105
Capacity and robustness of storage devices______ 80
Application software____________________ 105
Connecting peripherals___________________ 80
Accessories__________________________ 106
Activity 5.4___________________________ 81
System software_______________________ 109
Activity 7.1__________________________ 109
Unit 7.2 Operating system______________________ 110
The role of the operating system____________ 110
The operating system and GUI______________ 110
