Introduction 1

Evolutions of Computer

Introduction to Computing
The electronic computer is one of the most important developments of the twentieth
century. Like the industrial revolution of the nineteenth century, the computer and the
information and communication technology built upon it have drastically changed
business, culture, government and science, and have touched nearly every aspect of our
lives. This workbook introduces the field of computing and details the fundamental
concepts and computer applications.

People use all types and sizes of computers for a

variety of reasons and in a range of places. While
some computers sit on top of a desk or on the
floor, mobile computers and mobile devices are
small enough to carry. Mobile devices, such as
many cell phones, often are classified as
computers.

Computers are a primary means of local and global

communication for billions of people. Consumers
use computers to correspond with businesses,
employees with other employees and customers, students with classmates and
teachers, and family members and military personnel with friends and other family
members. In addition to sending simple notes, people use computers to share photos,
drawings, documents, calendars, journals, music, and videos. Through computers,
society has instant access to information from around the globe. Local and national
news, weather reports, sports scores, airline schedules, telephone directories, maps and
directions, job listings, credit reports, and countless forms of educational material
always are accessible. From the computer, you can make a telephone call, meet new
friends, share opinions or life stories, book flights, shop, fill prescriptions, file taxes, take
a course, receive alerts, and automate your home.

The history of computers dates back to the age when man started using tools for
computations. The whole history of computing can be divided into two periods based on
the technology used in computing devices such as mechanical era and electronic era.

The term computer dates back to the 1600s. However, until the 1950s, the term referred
almost exclusively to a human who performed computations. For human beings, the
task of performing large amounts of computation is one that is laborious, time
consuming, and error prone. Thus, the human desire to mechanize arithmetic is an

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ancient one. One of the earliest devices developed for simplifying human arithmetic was
the abacus already in use in ancient
Mesopotamia, Asian, Indian, Persian, Greco-
Roman, and Mesoamericans societies and
still in use today in many parts of the world.
Comprised of an organized collection of
beads or stones moved along rods or in
grooves, an abacus is, like the modern
computer, a ―digital arithmetic machine, in
that its operations mimic the changes in
digits that occur when humans do basic
arithmetic calculations.

The young French mathematician Blaise

Pascal (1623-1662) invented one of the first
gear-based adding machines to help with the
enormous amount of calculations involved in
the computing of taxes. Operationally, the
decimal version of the ―Pascaline had much
in common with a genre of calculators that
were commonly used by grocery store
shoppers in the U.S. and elsewhere during
the 1950s and 1960s.

In 1822, English mathematician Charles Babbage (1792-

1871) unveiled the first phase of his envisioned
―Difference Engine‖ which also used ten-position gears to
represent decimal digits. It was capable of performing more
complex calculations than the basic arithmetic of an adding
machine like the Pascaline. However, the engineering of the
Difference Engine became so complicated that, for this and
other reasons, Babbage abandoned the project.

There are two main difficulties here, illustrating two key

concepts in computing. First, these devices were
mechanical i.e., they were devices that required physically
moving and interconnected parts. Such a device is almost certain to be slower, more
prone to failure, and more difficult to manufacture than a device that has no moving

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parts. -1.3- In contrast, electronic devices such as vacuum tubes of the sort used in early
radios has, by definition, no moving parts.

GENERATIONS OF MODERN COMPUTER

For simplifying and providing a framework for discussion of the growth of computer
industry, it is customary to break it into generations of growth. Originally, the term
'generation’ was used to distinguish between varying hardware technologies. But since
1968, both hardware and software advances are considered in the generations
classification. These generations represent major advances in computing technology.

There are totally five computer generations known till date. Each generation has been
discussed in detail along with their time period and characteristics. Here, approximate
dates against each generation have been mentioned which are normally accepted.

The following are the main five generations of computers:

First Generation

The period of first generation was 1946-1959.

The computers of first generation used vacuum
tubes as the basic components for memory and
circuitry for CPU (Central Processing Unit).
These tubes, like electric bulbs, produced a lot
of heat and were prone to frequent fusing of
the installations, therefore, were very expensive
and could be afforded only by very large
organizations. In this generation, mainly, batch
processing operating system were used.
Punched cards, paper tape, and magnetic tape
were used as input and output devices.

One of the earliest electronic digital computers,

the ENIAC represented each decimal digit not
with a 10-state mechanical device like a gear
but, rather, with a column of 10 vacuum tubes
which could electronically turn on and off to

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represent the 0-9 counting sequence of a decimal digit without requiring any physical
movement. Engineered by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly at the University of
Pennsylvania from 1943 to 1946, the 30-ton ENIAC required 18,000 vacuum tubes,
consuming enormous amounts of electrical power for its day. This is largely because
ENIAC required 10 vacuum tubes to represent each decimal digit.

In contrast, the first electronic digital computer developed by John Atanasof and
Cliford Berry at Iowa State University from 1937-1942, like all electronic digital
computers today, used a binary – i.e., Base-2 numeral system.

Decimal digits are based on powers of 10, where every digit

one moves to the left represents another power of 10: ones
(100), tens (101), hundreds (102), thousands (103), etc. Thus,
the decimal number “two hundred fifty-five” is written as
“255”, conceiving of it arithmetically as the sum of 2
hundreds, 5 tens, and 5 ones. Thus, to store this number,
ENIAC would only have to turn on 3 vacuum tubes, but
there are still a total of 30 vacuum tubes required just to
represent all of the possibilities of these three digits.

On the other hand, binary digits – also known as “bits“ are

based on powers of 2, where every digit one moves to the
left represents another power of 2: ones (2 0 ), twos (21 ),
fours (102 ), eights (103 ), sixteens (104 ), etc. Thus, in binary
the number “two-hundred fifty-five” would be written in
binary numerals as 11111111, conceived arithmetically as
the sum of 1 one-hundred twenty eight, 1 sixty-four, 1
thirty-two, 1 sixteen, 1 eight, 1 four, 1 two, and 1 one :

Some computers of this generation were:

 ENIAC – Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer
 EDVAC -Electronic Discrete Variable Computer
 UNIVAC - Universal Automatic Computer
 IBM-701
 IBM-650

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Thus, in exchange for the cryptic unfamiliarity of binary representation, computer

engineers gained an efficient way to make electronic digital computers through the use
of two-state electronic devices. Just as radios with vacuum tubes were superseded by
―transistor radios‖ beginning in the 1950s, so this ―first generation of digital
computers based on vacuum tubes eventually gave way to a ―second generation that
used the transistor as an even faster—and considerably smaller – non-moving, on-off
switch for representing the 1 or 0 of a binary digit.

Second Generation

The period of second generation was 1959-

1965. In this generation, transistors were used
that were cheaper, consumed less power,
more compact in size, more reliable and faster
than the first generation machines made of
vacuum tubes. In this generation, magnetic
cores were used as primary memory and
magnetic tape and magnetic disks as
secondary storage devices. In this generation,
assembly language and high-level
programming languages like FORTRAN and
COBOL were used. The computers used batch
processing and multiprogramming operating system.

Some computers of this generation were:

 IBM 1620
 IBM 7094
 CDC 1604
 CDC 3600
 UNIVAC 1108

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Third Generation
The period of third generation was 1965-1971. The
computers of third generation used integrated
circuits (IC's) in place of transistors. A single IC has
many transistors, resistors and capacitors along
with the associated circuitry. The IC was invented
by Jack Kilby. This development made computers
smaller in size, reliable and efficient. In this
generation, remote processing, time-sharing, multi-
programming operating system were used. High-
level languages (FORTRAN-II TO IV, COBOL, PASCAL
PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68 etc.) were used during this
generation.

Some computers of this generation were:

 IBM-360 series
 Honeywell-6000 series
 PDP(Personal Data Processor)
 IBM-370/168
 TDC-316

Fourth Generation

The period of fourth

generation was 1971-1980.
The computers of fourth
generation used Very Large
Scale Integrated (VLSI)
circuits. VLSI circuits having
about 5000 transistors and
other circuit elements and
their associated circuits on a single chip made it possible
to have microcomputers of fourth generation. Fourth
generation computers became more powerful, compact,
reliable, and affordable. As a result, it gave rise to personal
computer (PC) revolution. In this generation, time sharing,

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real time, networks and distributed operating system were

used. All the high-level languages like C, C++, DBASE etc.
were used in this generation.

Some computers of this generation were:

 DEC 10
 STAR 1000
 PDP 11
 CRAY-1 (Super Computer)
 CRAY-X-MP (Super Computer)

Fifth Generation
The period of fifth generation is 1980-till date. In the fifth
generation, the VLSI technology became ULSI (Ultra Large
Scale Integration) technology, resulting in the production
of microprocessor chips having ten million electronic
components. This generation is based on parallel
processing hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence)
software. AI is an emerging branch in computer science,
which interprets means and method of making computers
think like human beings. All the high-level languages like C
and C++, Java, .Net etc. are used in this generation.

AlI includes:
 Robotics
 Neural networks
 Game Playing
 Development of expert systems to make decisions in real life situations.
 Natural language understanding and generation.

Some computer types of this generation are:

 Desktop
 Laptop
 Notebook
 Ultra Book
 Chrome Book

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DIGITAL REVOLUTION
The digital revolution is an ongoing process of social, political and economic change
brought about by digital technology, such as computer and internet. Technology driving
the digital revolution is based on digital electronics and the idea that electrical signals
can represents data, such as numbers, words, pictures and music. Without digital
electronics, computers would be huge machine. Digitization is the process of converting
text, numbers, sound, photos and video into data that can be processed by digital
devices. The digital revolution has evolved through four phases, beginning with big,
expensive, standalone computers a progressing to today’s digital world in which small,
inexpensive digital devices are everywhere.

Phases of Digital Revolution

 Data processing is the computing model for the first
phase of the digital revolution. The concept of large
computers performing tasks based on the input-
processing-output cycle represents were used from
the 1940’s through 1970’s. Example: a batch of
employee time cards is entered into a payroll
computer system; the payroll data is processed to
calculate take-home pay, deductions, and taxes;
paychecks are output.

 Personal Computing, the model for

the second phase of the digital
revolution, is characterized by small,
stand alone computers powered by
local software. Local software refers to
any software that is installed on a
computer hard drive.

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During this phase of the digital revolution, personal computers were not
connected to networks, so they were essentially self-contained units that
allowed users to interact with installed software

 Network Computing, the third

phase of the digital revolution
materialized as computers
became networked and when the
Internet was opened to public
used. A computer network is a
group of computers linked
together to share data and
resources.

As the third phase of the digital revolution unfolded, network technology

became consumer-friendly; allowing homeowners to connected multiple
computers, exchanges files, and most importantly, share an Internet connection.
Internet is a global computer originally developed as a military project, and was
then handed over to the National Science Foundation for Research and academic
use.

When historians look back on the digital revolution, they are certain to identify
the Web as a major transformative influence. The Web (short for World Wide
Web) is a collection of linked documents, graphics, and sounds that can be
accessed over the Internet.

 Cloud computing provides

access to information,
applications, communications
and storage over the Internet.
Before cloud computing, your
computer typically ran software
based locally. E-mail,
documents, photos, and music
all resided on your computer’s
hard disk or flash drive. With
cloud computing, you can use
your browser to access word processing applications that run from the

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Internet, instead of software that you have installed on your local hard
disk.

The expansion of cloud computing is due in part to convergence, a

process by which several technologies with distinct functionalities evolve
to form a single product. Your computer plays movies. Your cell phone has
a camera. Your clock has a radio. Convergence worked its magic on cell
phones, computers, portables media player, digital cameras, GPSs,
watches, and e-book readers. It is important to the digital revolution
because it created sophisticated mobile devices whose owners demand
access to the same services available from full-size computer on their
desks.

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Republic of the Philippines

Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Cabanatuan City

Name: ______________________________ Score: __________

Yr. & Sec. ________________ Date: ___________

Activity # 1
STRICTLY NO ERASURE.

I. Identification: Identify the following. Write your answer on the space

provided before each number. (10 pts.)

______________________1. It is an ongoing process of social, political and economic

change brought about by digital technology, such as computer and internet.

______________________2.The inventor of ICs.

______________________3. Who invented one of the first gear-based adding machines

to help with the enormous amount of calculations involved in the computing of taxes.

______________________4. It is the basic component for memory and circuitry for CPU
in the first generation.

______________________5. It is a collection of linked documents, graphics, and sounds

that can be accessed over the Internet.

______________________6. One of the earliest electronic digital computers, that

represented each decimal digit not with a 10-state mechanical device like a gear but,
rather, with a column of 10 vacuum tubes

______________________7. It is a process by which several technologies with distinct

functionalities evolve to form a single product.

______________________8. It is an emerging branch in computer science, which

interprets means and method of making computers think like human beings.

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______________________9. It provides access to information, applications,

communications and storage over the Internet.

______________________10. It refers to any software that is installed on a computer

hard drive.

II. Enumerate the following: (10 pts.)

A. Phases of Digital Revolution

1.
2.
3.
4.

B. Give the evolution of technologies

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

C. The first electronic digital computers developed by whom?

10.
11.

D. The history of computing can be divided into two periods

12.
13.

E. Who invented ENIAC?

14.
15.

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Chapter 1
ALL ABOUT COMPUTER
What Is a Computer?
Computer can be defined as an electronic device that performs rapid computations and
generates desired output for users based on input data and programs. Computer can
capture, store, retrieve and process data. The data may be numbers, characters, audio,
video, images etc. IT is an advanced electronic device that takes raw data as input from
the user and processes these data under the control of set of instructions (called
program) and gives the result (output) and saves output for the future use. It can
process both numerical and non-numerical (arithmetic and logical) calculations.
Computer allows users to store and process information quickly and automatically. It is a
programmable machine that allows user to store all sorts of information and then
‘process’ that information, or data, or carry out actions with the information, such as
calculating numbers or organizing words.

Data and Information

Computers process data into information.

Data is a collection of unprocessed items,
which include text, numbers, images,
audio, and video. Information conveys
meaning and is useful to people. Many
daily activities either involve the use of or
depend on information from a computer.
As shown in Figure 1-2, for example,
computers process several data items to
print information in the form of a cash
register receipt.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTER

Computer is a versatile device. It can be designed to do any kind of activity provided all
data and instructions are made available to it in digital form. The important
characteristics of computer are:

1. Speed

Modern computers have incredible speed of processing. Computer speed is measured in

units of millisecond (one thousandth of a second), microsecond (one millionth of a
second), nanosecond (one billionth of a second), and picoseconds (one trillionth of a
second). Advanced computers, including recent microcomputers called super
microcomputers, operate in nanoseconds and can carry out millions of instructions per
second (MIPS).

2. Accuracy

Computer can ensure consistently very high degree of accuracy in computations. It

processes data according to the sequence of instructions. Hence, if input data and
procedures are correct, the output will be consistently accurate.

3. Huge storage and fast retrieval

Computer has huge storage capability. For a personal computer, 128 MB RAM is almost a
standard today. The main memory can be upgraded further by inserting RAM chips that
are available in modules of 64 MB, 128 MB and so on. Cache memory is also available in
Pc. Cache memory is faster access memory device and hence it improves processor’s
performance.

Secondary or auxiliary storage devices are used for permanent storage. Modern
computers have enormous secondary storage capacity, e.g., a PC hard disk can store
more than 80 GB of data. Pen drives, DVDs, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes etc. are
other secondary storage devices. A CD-ROM can store 650 MB and more of data on a
single disk. Huge storage and fast retrieval capability makes computer a very special tool
for data processing and communications.

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4. Versatility

Though computers are basically designed to carry out only arithmetic operations, yet
they are capable of performing almost any task that has a series of finite logical steps

5. Fatigue-free

Computer is free from fatigue. It does not get tired of work and never loses
concentration. It can perform basic arithmetic operations with the same degree of speed
and accuracy for any extent of time continuously, with the same amount of efficiency as
the first transaction.

6. Programmable

Computer can be programmed to function automatically and this differentiates it from

any other calculating device. It functions as programmed for any stretch of time until the
condition to terminate is satisfied.

7. Networking Capability

Computers can be interconnected into a network. Network in turn can be connected to

other networks. Networks extend the capability of computers. Networks provide the
basic infrastructure for electronic communications, electronic commerce, and online
trading and information services.

Categories of Computers

Industry experts typically classify computers in six categories: personal computers

(desktop), mobile computers and mobile devices, game consoles, mainframes,
supercomputers, and embedded computers. A computer’s size, speed, processing
power, and price determine the category it best fits. Due to rapidly changing technology,
however, the distinction among categories is not always clear-cut. This trend of
computers and devices with technologies that overlap, called convergence, leads to
computer manufacturers continually releasing newer models that include similar
functionality and features. For example, newer cell phones often include media player,
camera, and Web browsing capabilities. As devices converge, users need fewer devices
for the functionality that they require. When consumers replace outdated computers
and devices, they should dispose them properly.

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 Personal Computers

A personal computer is a computer that can

perform all of its input, processing, output, and
storage activities by itself. A personal computer
contains a processor, memory, and one or more
input, output, and storage devices. Personal
computers also often contain a communications
device. The term, PC-compatible, refers to any
personal computer based on the original IBM
personal computer design. Companies such as
Dell, HP, and Toshiba sell PC-compatible computers. PC and PC-compatible computers
usually use a Windows operating system. Apple computers usually use a Macintosh
operating system (Mac OS). Two types of personal computers are desktop computers
and notebook computers.

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Desktop Computer

A desktop computer is designed so that the

system unit, input devices, output devices,
and any other devices fit entirely on or
under a desk or table. In many models, the
system unit is a tall and narrow tower, which
can sit on the floor vertically — if desktop
space is limited. Some desktop computers
function as a server on a network. Others,
such as a gaming desktop computer and
home theater PC, target a specific audience. The gaming desktop computer offers high-
quality audio, video, and graphics with optimal performance for sophisticated single-
user and networked or Internet multiplayer games. A home theater PC (HTPC) combines
the features of a high-definition video/audio entertainment system with a desktop
computer that is designed to be connected to a television and includes a Blu-ray Disc,
digital video recorder, and digital cable television connectivity. These high-end
computers cost more than the basic desktop computer.

 Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices

A mobile computer is a personal computer you can carry from place to place. Similarly,
a mobile device is a computing device small enough to hold in your hand. The most
popular type of mobile computer is the notebook computer. The following sections
discuss the notebook computer and widely used mobile devices.

Notebook Computers
A notebook computer, also called a laptop
computer, is a portable, personal computer often
designed to fit on your lap. Notebook computers
are thin and lightweight, yet they can be as
powerful as the average desktop computer. A
netbook, which is a type of notebook computer, is
smaller, lighter, and often not as powerful as a
traditional notebook computer. Most netbooks cost
less than traditional notebook computers. An ultra-
thin is another type of notebook computer that is
lightweight and usually less than one-inch thick.

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Some notebook computers have touch screens, allowing you to interact with the device
by touching the screen, usually with the tip of a finger.

On a typical notebook computer, the keyboard is on top of the system unit, and the
monitor attaches to the system unit with hinges. These computers weigh on average
from 2.5 to more than 10 pounds (depending on configuration), which allows users to
transport the computers from place to place. Most notebook computers can operate on
batteries or a power supply or both.

Tablet PC’s

Resembling a letter-sized slate, the Tablet PC, or

tablet computer, is a special type of notebook
computer that you can interact with by touching
the screen with your finger or a digital pen. A
digital pen looks like a small ink pen but uses
pressure instead of ink. Users write or draw on a
Tablet PC by pressing a finger or digital pen on
the screen, and issue instructions by tapping on
the screen. One design of Tablet PC, called a
convertible tablet, has an attached keyboard.
Another design, which does not include a
keyboard, is called a slate tablet and provides
other means for typing. Some Tablet PCs also
support voice input so that users can speak into
the computer.

Tablet PCs are useful especially for taking notes in lectures, at meetings, conferences,
and other forums where the standard notebook computer is not practical.

Mobile Devices

Mobile devices, which are small enough to carry in a pocket, usually do not have disk
drives. Instead, these devices store programs and data permanently on special memory
inside the system unit or on small storage media such as memory cards. You often can
connect a mobile device to a personal computer to exchange information between the
computer and the mobile device.

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Some mobile devices are Internet-enabled, meaning, they can connect to the Internet
wirelessly. With an Internet-enabled device, users can chat; send e-mail and instant
messages, and access the Web. Because of their reduced size, the screens on mobile
devices are small, but usually are in color.
Popular types of mobile devices are smart phones and PDAs, e-book readers, handheld
computers, portable media players, and digital cameras.

Smart Phones and PDAs

Offering the convenience of one-handed

operation, a smart phone is an Internet-enabled
phone that usually also provides personal
information management functions such as a
calendar, an appointment book, an address book,
a calculator, and a notepad. In addition to basic
phone capabilities, a smart phone allows you to
send and receive e-mail messages and access the
Web — usually for an additional fee. Some smart
phones communicate wirelessly with other
devices or computers. Many also function as a
portable media player and include built-in digital
cameras so that you can share photos or videos
with others as soon as you capture the image.
Many smart phones also offer a variety of
application software such as word processing,
spreadsheet, and games, and the capability of
conducting live video conferences. Many smart
phones have keypads that contain both numbers
and letters so that you can use the same keypad
to dial phone numbers and enter messages.

A PDA (personal digital assistant), which often

looks like a smart phone, provides personal
information management functions such as a
calendar, an appointment book, an address book, a calculator, and a notepad. A PDA
differs from a smart phone in that it usually does not provide phone capabilities and may
not be Internet enabled, support voice input, have a built-in camera, or function as a
portable media player. As smart phones and PDAs continue a trend of convergence, it is

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becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between the two devices. This has led
some manufacturers to refer to PDAs and smart phones simply as handhelds.

E-Book Readers

An e-book reader (short for electronic book

reader), or e-reader, is a handheld device that is
used primarily for reading e-books. An e-book, or
digital book, is an electronic version of a printed
book, readable on computers and other digital
devices. In addition to books, users typically can
purchase and read other forms of digital media
such as newspapers and magazines. Most e-book
readers have a touch screen and are Internet-
enabled. These devices usually are smaller than
tablet computers but larger than smart phones.

Handheld Computers

A handheld computer, sometimes referred to as an

Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC), is a computer small enough to
fit in one hand. Many handheld computers
communicate wirelessly with other devices or
computers and also include a digital pen or stylus for
input. Some handheld computers have miniature or
specialized keyboards. Many handheld computers are
industry-specific and serve the needs of mobile
employees, such as meter readers and parcel delivery
people, whose jobs require them to move from place to
place.

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Portable Media Players

A portable media player is a mobile device on which you can

store, organize, and play digital media. For example, you can
listen to music; watch videos, movies, and television shows; and
view photos on the device’s screen. With most, you download
the digital media from a computer to the portable media player
or to media that you insert in the device.

Some portable media players are Internet enabled so that you

can access Web sites and
send e-mail messages directly from the device. Many offer
personal information management functions such as a calendar
and address book, and include a variety of games and other application software.

Digital Cameras

A digital camera is a device that allows users to take

pictures and store the photographed images digitally,
instead of on traditional film. While many digital
cameras look like a traditional camera, some are built
into smart phones and other mobile devices. Although
digital cameras usually have some amount of internal
storage to hold images, most users store images on
small storage media such as memory cards.
Digital cameras typically allow users to review, and sometimes modify images while they
are in the camera. Some digital cameras connect to or communicate wirelessly with a
computer or printer, allowing users to print or view images directly from the printer.

 Game Consoles
A game console is a mobile computing device designed for
single-player or multiplayer video games. Standard game
consoles use a handheld controller(s) as an input device(s);
a television screen as an output device; and hard disks,
optical discs, and/or memory cards for storage. Weighing
on average between two and nine pounds, the compact
size of game consoles makes them easy to use at home, in
the car, in a hotel, or any location that has an electrical

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outlet. Three popular models are Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Nintendo’s Wii (pronounced as
wee), and Sony’s PlayStation 3.

A handheld game console is small enough to fit in one hand, making it more portable
than the standard game console. With the handheld game console, the controls screen,
and speakers are built into the device.

 Mainframe Computers
A mainframe is a large, expensive, powerful
computer that can handle hundreds or thousands of
connected users simultaneously. Mainframes store
tremendous amounts of data, instructions, and
information. Most major corporations use
mainframes for business activities. With mainframes,
enterprises are able to bill millions of customers,
prepare payroll for thousands of employees, and
manage thousands of items in inventory. One study
reported that mainframes process more than 83
percent of transactions around the world.
Mainframes also can act as servers in a network
environment. Servers and other mainframes can access data and information from a
mainframe. People also can access programs on the mainframe using terminals or
personal computers.

 Supercomputers
A supercomputer is the fastest, most
powerful computer — and the most
expensive. The fastest supercomputers are
capable of processing more than one
quadrillion instructions in a single second.
With weights that exceed 100 tons, these
computers can store more than 20,000
times the data and information of an
average desktop computer. Applications
requiring complex, sophisticated
mathematical calculations use
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supercomputers. Large-scale simulations and applications in medicine, aerospace,

automotive design, online banking, weather forecasting, nuclear energy research, and
petroleum exploration use supercomputer.

 Embedded Computers
An embedded computer is a
special-purpose computer that
functions as a component in a
larger product. Embedded
computers are everywhere — at
home, in your car, and at work.
The following list identifies a
variety of everyday products
that contain embedded
computers.

• Consumer Electronics: mobile and digital telephones, digital televisions,

cameras, video recorders, DVD players and recorders, answering machines.
• Home Automation Devices: thermostats, sprinkling systems, security monitoring
systems, appliances, lights.
• Automobiles: antilock brakes, engine control modules, airbag controller, cruise
control.
• Process Controllers and Robotics: remote monitoring systems, power monitors,
machine controllers, medical devices.
• Computer Devices and Office Machines: keyboards, printers, fax and copy
machines.

Because embedded computers are components in larger products, they usually are
small and have limited hardware. These computers perform various functions,
depending on the requirements of the product in which they reside. Embedded
computers in printers, for example, monitor the amount of paper in the tray; check
the ink or toner level, signal if a paper jam has occurred, and so on.

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The basic function of a computer:

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

STORE

 The computer accepts input. Computer input is whatever is entered or fed into a
computer system. Input can be supplied by a person (such as by using a
keyboard) or by another computer or device (such as a diskette or CD-ROM).
Some examples of input include the words and symbols in a document, numbers
for a calculation, and instructions for completing a process, pictures, and so on.

 The computer performs useful operations, manipulating the data in many ways.
This manipulation is called processing. Examples of processing include
performing calculations, sorting lists of words or numbers, modifying documents
and pictures according to user instructions, and drawing graphs. A computer
processes data in the CPU.
o Process: A systematic series of actions a computer uses to
manipulate data.

 The computer stores data. A computer must store data so that it is available for
processing. Most computers have more than one location for storing data (the
hard drive or C:\, and the floppy drive or A:\). The place where the computer
stores the data depends on how the data is being used. The computer put the
data in one place while it is waiting to be processed and another place when it is
not needed for immediate processing. The storage of data in the computer is
called ‘online storage’ while the storage of data on computer tapes, diskettes or
CD-ROMs is called ‘offline storage’.

 The computer produces output. Computer output is information

that has been produced by a computer. Some examples of computer output

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include reports, documents, music, graphs, and pictures. Output can be in

several different formats, such as paper, diskette, or on screen.

 A computer receives data as input, processes it, stores it and then

produces output.

COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER

Computer System
All of the components of a computer system can be summarized with the simple
equations.

COMPUTER SYSTEM = HARDWARE + SOFTWARE + USER

A computer system is made up of three major components:

Hardware, Software and Peopleware. The physical units of a computer system excluding
the third component), constitute its hardware. Hardware consists of mechanical,
electrical and electronic parts of the system. Sets of programmed instructions constitute
the software. Peopleware is the people element in the system.

COMPUTER SYSTEM
.

HARDWARE SOFTWARE PEOPLEWARE

Computer System

 HARDWARE

A computer, like human brain, receives data and instructions, stores them and
processes the data according to the instructions given to it. It receives data from
input devices, stores them in memory and displays them through an output

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device. The physical devices that make up a computer are referred to as

hardware. Computer hardware can be broadly' classified into two: CPU and
peripherals. The CPU is perhaps the most important part of a computer. The
other hardware pieces like input devices, output devices, etc. are called
peripherals.

1. Central Processing Unit (CPU)

CPU is the brain of a computer. It has an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) to perform
arithmetical and logical operations. It has a control unit to co-ordinate the
activities of the CPU and main memory for primary storage.

HARDWARE

CPU PERIPHERALS

CU ALU MAIN STORAGE

INPUT DEVICE OUTPUT DEVICE SECONDARY

STORAGE

2. COMPUTER PERIPHERALS

The input/output and storage devices surround the central processing unit (CPU).
Hence, they are called the peripheral devices. They are usually the
electromechanical devices connected to the CPU that exchange data and
programs with the CPU. The users interact with the CPU through these devices.
Thus, they act as interface between users and the CPU. The interaction is difficult
because of the language barrier. The CPU uses machine language, which is
difficult for most users. The input- output (I/0) devices help in taking the
translated version of the input to the machine's memory and similarly, to render
the processed symbols into the language of the user. During the first two
decades of commercial use of computers, 110 operations were performed
mostly by punching holes on cards and paper tape with a special device. More
direct and convenient I/0 devices have been developed since then. The
peripherals connected directly to the CPU are called online devices and devices
not directly connected are called offline devices.

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These peripherals can be further divided into input devices, output devices and
secondary storage devices.

 INPUT DEVICES

Input devices allow the user to input data and instructions to the computer.
There are a variety of input devices. Direct entry of data generally requires a
keyboard. Any resource required for the functioning of a process, in the course of
which it will be transformed into one or more outputs. It may also use other
devices for direct data entry like a touch sensitive screen, voice recognition
system and scanners.

o Keyboard

Keyboard is the most popular input device for direct entry of data and
instructions into computer. The standard QWERTY keyboard is used for
computer. The enhanced keyboard has 101 keys.

1875, Christopher Latham Sholes invented the first practical typewriter

and the QWERTY keyboard still in use today and he is also known as “The
Father of the typewriter”

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The computer keyboard is very much like the electronic typewriter

keyboard. But it has additional keys. Computer keyboard has three types
of keys:

• Alphanumeric keys for typing character and numeric data

• Punctuation keys like comma, period, colon, semicolon, question mark
etc.
• Special keys like function keys, control keys, arrow keys, caps lock etc.

 Alt key – Short for Alternate, this key is like a second control key.

 Arrow Keys – Most keyboards have four arrow keys that enable
you to move the cursor (or insertion point) up, down, right, or left.
Used in conjunction with the Shift or Alt keys, the arrow keys can
move the cursor more than one position at a time, but this
depends on which program is running.

 Backspace key – Deletes the character just to the left of the cursor
(or insertion point) and moves the cursor to that position.

 Caps Lock Key – A toggle key that, when activated, causes all
alphabetic characters to be uppercase.

 Ctrl key – Short for Control, this key is used in conjunction with
other keys to produce control characters. The meaning of each
control character depends on which program is running.

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 Delete Key – Sometimes labeled Del, deletes the character at the

current cursor position, or the selected object, but does not move
the cursor. For graphics-based applications, the Delete key deleted
the character to the right of the insertion point.

 Enter Key – Used to enter commands or to move the cursor to the

beginning of the next line. Sometimes labeled Return instead of
Enter.

 Esc Key – Short for Escape, this key is used to send special codes
to devices and to exit (or escape) from programs and tasks.

 Function Keys – Special keys labeled F1 to F12. These keys have

different meaning depending on which program is running.

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o Mouse
A mouse is a small hand-held 'point
and click' device that is connected
to the CPU through a cable.
Douglas Engelbart invented mouse
in 1963 at Stanford Research
Institute. Xerox Corporation's Palo Alto Research Center enhanced its
capabilities by adding analogue to digital conversion. In the early 1970's.
With the adoption of Graphical User Interface technology, mouse became
an essential input device for computer later in the 1980's.

There are three types of mouse: mechanical, optomechanical and

optical.
 Mechanical mouse has a trackball at its bottom. It can be rolled
across a flat and smooth surface to control the position of the
cursor on the screen. By pointing and clicking on icons and menu
options displayed on the screen, it is easy for the user to control
the computer with a mouse. Mechanical sensors within the
mouse detect the direction the ball is rolling and move the screen
pointer accordingly.
 Optomechanical mouse is more or less the same as the
mechanical mouse, but it uses optical sensors to detect motion of
the ball.
 Optical mouse uses a laser to detect the mouse movement. The
mouse requires to be moved along a special mat with a grid so
that the optical mechanism has a frame of reference. Optical
mouse is more expensive than the other two.

Common terms used with mouse directions/ actions:

• Point placing the cursor (arrow) on top of a screen object

by moving the mouse.

• Click pointing at an object and quickly clicking/pressing

the (left) mouse button; then letting go.

• Double Click pointing at an object and (left) clicking twice

rapidly.

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• Drag pointing at an object pressing and holding down

the mouse button; moving the mouse to “drag” the
object and releasing the button when the object is
in a new place.

• Select pulling down a menu by clicking on the menu

name; moving the pointer down to the command
you want and then release.

• Rollover Move the pointer over an object without clicking.

This allows “rollover text” if available, which
describes the function of the object or give
additional information, to appear.

Most current models of the PC

mouse have left and right buttons.
Different menus become available
if you “click” or “right-click” on a
file or pull-down menu. The user
has options to set which menu
appears with a left or right click, as
well as the appearance of the
pointer on the screen, the speed
of scrolling, etc. The cursor
typically takes the shape of an
arrow when you use it to point
and click, and an hourglass to
indicate a program is loading or
operating. The cursor returns to an
arrow when you can take the next step. Again, the user has the option of
resetting the shape of the mouse pointer.

Mouse properties, including speed of action, type of movement and screen

appearance can be reset using:
 Start - Control Panel- Appearance and Personalization- Personalization and
selecting- Changing Mouse Pointer.

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o Light Pen
Light pen consists of a stylus connected by a cable
to the computer terminal. When the stylus is
brought into contact with the screen, a dot appears
there on the screen. By moving the stylus on the
screen, lines and curves can be drawn on the
screen that can be stored and used as input.
o Trackball
Trackball was originally built into the
keyboard. Running a hand over the trackball
made the cursor on the screen to move.
The cursor is used to make selection from a
menu displayed on the computer screen.

o Joystick
Joystick is a small vertical stick attached to a
trackball for easier mechanical movements.
It is used mainly in game programs.

o Scanners
Scanners are direct-entry input devices. As
the data entry is automatic, the scanners
ensure more accurate data entry. These
scanners include optical scanners and
magnetic ink character readers. The optical
scanners use light for sensing input and
they include OCR, OMR and Barcode reader.

o Barcode Reader
Barcode is a set of small bars of varying
thickness and spacing printed on the
packages of products, on the back cover
pages of books, tags etc. The barcode
reader uses an optical scanner to read
product code and converts it into
electrical pulses. The device is connected
to a computer and the information read

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is passed to the computer in digital form for automatic bill generation and
updating of files.

o Voice Recognition Systems

A special microphone is used to capture voice

.input. It converts the voice into electrical pulses
and then into digital signals for onward
transmission to a computer for processing. A voice
recognition system is provided with digital patterns
of a limited vocabulary of words and phrases.

o Digital Cameras

Digital cameras are used to capture

images and they can record the images
on reusable floppy disks. Images are
used with a digitizer for input to the
computer. Once the image input is
stored in computer, the image can be
used in any application.

 OUTPUT DEVICES
Output device displays result of the computer processing for user. These are the
devices that allow information to be represented that is given out to the user,
such as a display screen or printer.

o Visual Display Unit or Monitor

Visual display units (VDUs) are

television-like screens that provide the
user-interface in the form of display of
text, numbers and images. The VDUs
may be monochrome or color. The
support of monochrome or color and

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clarity of display depend on the type of video monitor and the video
adapter installed in the microcomputer.

o Speaker and Audio Response Systems

Computer can produce verbal output

where the output or response can be
standardized as replies to special
requests for information. The unit
analyses the input and delivers the verbal reply by assembling the
responses from pre-recorded words and phrases.

o Printers

Printers are purely output devices. They produce hard copy output.
Computer printers vary widely in their technologies and capabilities. They
can be classified in a number of ways. First, they can be classified into
three broad groups: character printers, line printers and page printers.
The character printers print one character at a time. Dot matrix printer
(DMP), daisy wheel printer, thermal printer and inkjet printer are the
various types of character printers. Drum printer and chain printer are
line printers. Laser printer and magnetic printer are page printers.

They can also be classified into impact and non-impact printers based on
the basis of the printing mechanism. The impact printing technology uses
some mechanical pressure to produce images on paper. The impact
printers include dot matrix printer, daisy wheel printer and chain printer.
It is possible to take multiple copies of output with impact printers. Non-
impact printers do not use mechanical force to produce output on paper
and hence they can produce only single copy output.

 Dot Matrix Printer (DMP)

DMP prints
one character
at a time as a
set of dots
produced by
the pins on the

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print head. It uses a nine or twenty-four pin print head. The pins
or printing wires are aligned into the shape of the character to be
printed before the print head strikes the ribbon. The impact of the
strike produces character shapes on paper. The speed of DMP is
measured in character per second (CPS). A normal dot matrix
printer with nine or twenty-four pin print head can produce
output ranging from 50 to 600 characters per second. It produces
lot of noise when working.

 Inkjet Printer

Inkjet is a non-
impact printer
and is quiet when
working. It sprays
ink particles
through its
nozzle. On
leaving the
nozzle, the tiny
particles of ink
get electrically charged. Inkjet printers are as cheap as dot matrix
printers, but their operating costs are far higher than those of dot
matrix printers. However, they give much better quality than
DMPs. They are available in black and white and color.

 Laser Printer

Laser printer is a high-

end printer. It is more
expensive than inkjet
printers and its
operating costs are also
higher than inkjet
printers. It uses the
same technology as that

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of Xerox copier machines and it can produce both character and

graphic output. It gives the best quality output.

 Drum Printer

It is a line printer. It has

a drum that rotates at
high speed. A set of
characters is embossed
on the drum. It prints
one line of characters at
a time. The hammer for
a particular character
position is activated when that character on the drum passes
under it to produce character impression on paper.

 Magnetic Printer

In a magnetic printer, a
drum coated with
magnetic material
captures the image of
the page to be printed.
These magnetic spots
attract dry ink particles, which are then pressurized and
transferred to paper to produce output.

 Graphic Plotters

Plotters are used for

plotting graphs and
designs on paper.

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Architects and designers use plotters to produce blueprints of

their designs on paper. It is a specialized output device for
preparing computer drawn charts and graphs. The most popular
type of plotter is the flat bed device. It plots on paper (or other
material) that is spread on a flat bed.

 STORAGE DEVICES

1. Primary Memory (Main Memory)

Memory is used to store the information (programs and data) that the
computer is currently using. It is sometimes called main or primary memory.

Types of Memory:

o Random Access Memory (RAM) This means that any location in memory
may be accessed in the same amount of time as any other location.
Memory access means one of two things, either the CPU is reading from
a memory location or the CPU is writing to a
memory location. When the CPU reads from a
memory location, the contents of the memory
location are copied to a CPU register. When the
CPU writes to a memory location, the CPU
copies the contents of a CPU register to the
memory location, overwriting the previous
contents of the location. The CPU cannot carry
out any other operations on memory locations.

It is a form of short term or volatile memory. Information stored in short

term storage is lost when the computer is switched off (or when power
fails e.g. if you pull out the power lead!). There is therefore a requirement
for permanent or long term storage which is also referred to as secondary
storage or auxiliary storage. This role is fulfilled by disk and tape storage.

It is also known as temporary holding area for data, application program

instructions, and the operating system. It is also known as a “Waiting
Room” for the computer’s processor. It holds raw data waiting to be
processed as well as the program instructions for processing that data.

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RAM is of two types

• Static RAM (SRAM) The word static indicates that the memory retains
its contents as long as power is being supplied. However, data is lost
when the power gets down due to volatile nature. SRAM chips use a
matrix of 6-transistors and no capacitors. Transistors do not require
power to prevent leakage, so SRAM need not have to be refreshed on a
regular basis.

Characteristic of the Static RAM

 It has long life
 There is no need to refresh
 Faster
 Used as cache memory
 Large size
 Expensive
 High power consumption

• Dynamic RAM (DRAM) DRAM, unlike SRAM, must be continually

refreshed in order to maintain the data. This is done by placing the
memory on a refresh circuit that rewrites the data several hundred times
per second. DRAM is used for most system memory because it is cheap
and small. All DRAMs are made up of memory cells which are composed
of one capacitor and one transistor.

Characteristics of the Dynamic RAM

 It has short data lifetime
 Need to be refreshed continuously
 Slower as compared to SRAM
 Used as RAM
 Lesser in size
 Less expensive
 Less power consumption

 Read-Only-Memory (ROM) is used to store programs that are

essential for the
proper operations of
computer system.
ROM is non-volatile.

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Many computers especially microcomputers come equipped with

ROM chips that contain the operating system and application
programs. Programs stored in ROM chips are often called
firmware; that is, software built into the hardware.

A Read-Only-Memory is one in which information is permanently stored.

This memory cannot be written into. It can only be read. When power is
switched off, the contents of ROM remain unchanged.

Note: RAM is empty and doesn’t contain any instruction for the microprocessor to execute. Now
ROM plays its parts. ROM contains a small set of instruction called the ROM BIOS (basic
input/output system). These instructions tell the computer how to access the hard disk, find the
operating system, and load it into RAM. After the operating system is loaded, the computer can
understand your input, display output, run software, and access your data .

2. Secondary Memory (Storage Devices)

Secondary storage is thus, supplementary to primary storage. It is, therefore, also

called auxiliary storage. It has larger storage capacity and is cheaper than
primary storage. But access to secondary storage is slower than that to primary
storage. The secondary storage devices may be serial access or direct access
devices.

o Magnetic Disks
Magnetic disks are made of rigid metals or synthetic plastic material. The
disk platter is coated on both the surfaces with magnetic material and
both the surfaces can be used for storage. The magnetic disk provides
direct access and is popular for both small and large computer systems.
The magnetic disk comes in two forms: hard disks and floppy disks.

 Hard drive: The storage area within the computer itself, where
megabytes of space are available to store bits of
information. Also known as a hard disk.

 Diskette. A small, removable, flexible mylar plastic

disk covered with a thin layer of a magnetic

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substance, onto which digital data can be recorded and stored.

Also known as a floppy disk.

o Magnetic Tape
Magnetic tape is serial access storage medium. It can store large volume
of data at low costs. The conventional magnetic tape is in reels of up to
3600 feet made of mylar plastic tape. A continuous plastic strip covered
with magnetic oxide; the tape is divided into parallel tracks onto which
data may be recorded by selectively magnetizing parts of the surface, or
spots, in each of the tracks.

o Optical storage
Optical storage technology uses light as the medium for representing
data. It uses reflecting surfaces and laser technology to read and write
data on a disk. Also known as a laser disk. Commonly used optical storage
devices include CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW and DVD.

 Compact Disc-Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM). Is a type of optical

disk capable of storing large amounts of data -- up to 1GB,
although the most common size is 650MB (megabytes). A single
CD-ROM has the storage capacity of 700 floppy disks,
enough memory to store about 300,000 text pages.

 Compact Disk –Recordable (CD-R). It can be used to write data on

it once. The data on it can be retrieved as and when needed.

 Compact Disk Re-writable (CD-RW).Is an optical disk that can be

rewritten many times. The data stored on it can be read, erased
and re-written as frequently as needed.

 Digital Versatile Disk or Digital Video Disk (DVD). Is a large

capacity secondary storage device. It stores seven times CD
capacity on a single side. Double-sided or dual layer DVDs are also
available with much larger storage capacity. DVD uses a 5-inch disc
for storage. Single layer, single-sided DVD has a storage capacity of
4.7 GB. With double-layer, double sided disc, it can store 17 GB of
data on a single disk.

o Solid State Storage

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Solid State Storage (sometimes called flash memory) is a technology that

stores data in erasable, rewriteable circuitry, rather than on spinning disks
or streaming tape. It contains a grid work of circuitry. Each cell in the grid
contains two transistors that act as gates.

 Flash Drive (Pen Drive)secondary storage device based on flash

memory, enabling easy transport of data from
one computer to another, Compact device of
the size of a pen, comes in various shapes and
stylish designs and may have different added
features; Plug-and-play that simply plugs into a
USB (Universal Serial Bus) port of a computer,
treated as removable drive.

 Memory Card (SD/MMC) is a flat, solid state storage medium

commonly used to transfer files from digital
cameras and media player to computers.
Similar to Flash Drive but in card shape Plug-
and-play device that simply plugs into a port of
a computer, treated as removable drive Useful in electronic
devices like camera and music player.

 Processing Unit (PU)

o CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brain of a computer. It has an

arithmetic logic unit (ALU) to perform arithmetical and logical operations.
It has a control unit to co-ordinate the activities of the CPU and main
memory for primary storage. The chip or chips at the heart of a computer
that enable it to process data. It is also known as a processor.

Chip: A small piece of

semi-conducting
material (such as
silicon) about 1
centimeter (¼ inch)
square on which an
integrated circuit is
embedded. An
integrated circuit is a number of electronic components joined

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together to form a path for electricity. Central processing unit

chips contain the circuits representing the CPU.

o GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is a single-chip processor primarily used

to manage and boost the performance of video and graphics. GPU
features include
 2-D or 3-D graphics

 Digital output to flat panel display monitors

 Texture mapping

 Application support for high-intensity graphics software such

as AutoCAD

 Rendering polygons

 Support for YUV color space

 Hardware overlays

 MPEG decoding

These features are designed to lessen the work of the CPU and produce
faster video and graphics.

A GPU is not only used in a PC on a video card or motherboard; it is also

used in mobile phones, display adapters, workstations and game
consoles.
The first GPU was developed by NVidia in 1999 and called the GeForce
256. This GPU model could process 10 million polygons per second and
had more than 22 million transistors. The GeForce 256 was a single-chip
processor with integrated transform, drawing and BitBLT support, lighting
effects, triangle setup/clipping and rendering engines.

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Generally the GPU is connected to the CPU and is completely separate

from the motherboard. The random access memory (RAM) is connected
through the accelerated graphics port (AGP) or the peripheral component
interconnect express (PCI-Express) bus. Some GPUs are integrated into
the north bridge on the motherboard and use the main memory as a
digital storage area, but these GPUs are slower and have poorer
performance.

Internal Component

o Motherboard

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It is the main circuit board of a microcomputer. The motherboard

contains the connectors for attaching additional boards. Typically, the
motherboard contains the CPU, BIOS, memory, storage
interfaces, serial and parallel ports, expansion slots, and all the
controllers required to control standard peripheral devices, such as
the display screen, keyboard, and disk drive. Collectively, all these chips
that reside on the motherboard are known as the motherboard's chipset.

o CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor)

CMOS is
an on-
board,
battery
powered
semiconductor chip inside the computer that
stores information. This information ranges from
the system time and date to system hardware
settings for your computer. The picture shows an
example of the most common CMOS coin cell
battery used to power the CMOS memory

o Expansion Slots

An expansion slot is a socket on the

motherboard that is used to insert
an expansion card (or circuit board),
which provides additional features
to a computer such as video, sound,
advanced graphics, Ethernet or
memory.

The expansion card has an edge connector that fits precisely into the
expansion slot as well as a row of contacts that is designed to establish an

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electrical connection between the motherboard and the electronics on

the card, which are mostly integrated circuits.

o AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port)

An interface
specification
developed by Intel
Corporation. AGP is
based on PCI, but is
designed especially for
the throughput deman
ds of 3-D graphics.
Rather than using the PCI bus for graphics data, AGP introduces a
dedicated point-to-point channel so that the graphics controller can
directly access main memory. The AGP channel is 32 bits wide and runs at
66 MHz. This translates into a total bandwidth of 266 MBps, as opposed
to the PCI bandwidth of 133 MBps. AGP also supports two optional faster
modes, with throughputs of 533 MBps and 1.07 GBps. In addition, AGP
allows 3-D textures to be stored in main memory rather than video
memory.

o Network Card

Network interface card (NIC) is a computer circuit board

or card that is installed in a computer so that it can be
connected to a network.

o Graphic Card

The video card is an expansion card that

allows the computer to send graphical
information to a video display device
such as a monitor, TV, or projector.

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o Memory Slots

A memory slot, memory socket,

or RAM slot is what allows computer
memory (RAM) to be inserted into
the computer. Depending on
the motherboard, there may be 2 to
4 memory slots (sometimes more on
high-end motherboards) and are what determine the type of RAM used
with the computer.

The most common types of RAM are SDRAM and DDR for desktop
computers and SODIMM for laptop computers, each having various types
and speeds. The picture above is an example of what memory slots may
look like inside a desktop computer. In this picture, there are three open
available slots for three memory sticks.

o Cooling Fan

A computer fan is any fan inside, or

attached to, a case used for active
cooling, and may refer to fans that draw
cooler air into the case from the outside,
expel warm air from inside, or move air
across a heat sink to cool a particular component.

o Power Supply

Power supply unit or PSU, is a

component that supplies power to
a computer. Most personal
computers can be plugged into standard
electrical outlets. The power supply
then pulls the required amount of
electricity and converts the AC current
to DC current. It also regulates the voltage to eliminate spikes and surges
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common in most electrical systems. Not all power supplies, however, do an

adequate voltage-regulation job, so a computer is always susceptible to large
voltage fluctuations.

o Ports

It is a physical docking point

using which an external
device can be connected to
the computer. It can also be
programmatic docking point
through which information
flows from a program to
computer or over the
internet.

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Republic of the Philippines

Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Cabanatuan City

Name: ______________________________ Score: __________

Yr. & Sec. ________________ Date: ___________

Activity # 1
STRICTLY NO ERASURE.

I. Identification: Identify the following. Write your answer on the space

provided before each number. (20 pts.)

______________________1. It is an electronic device that manipulates data.

______________________2. It can perform all of its input, processing, output, and

storage activities by itself.

______________________3. It is a collection of unprocessed items, which can

include text, numbers, images, audio, and video.

______________________4. It is a portable, personal computer often designed to

fit on your lap.

______________________5. A device that can connect to the Internet wirelessly.

______________________6. It is a device that allows users to take pictures and

store the photographed images digitally.

______________________7. It is a mobile computing device designed for single-

player or multiplayer video games.

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______________________8. It is very large and expensive computer capable of

supporting hundreds, or even thousands of users simultaneously.

______________________9. It controls access to the hardware, software, and other

resources on a network.
______________________10. It is a special-purpose computer that functions as a
component in a larger product.

II. Enumerate the following: (20 pts.)

A. Characteristics of a Computer
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

B. Categories of Computer
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

C. Basic Functions of a Computer

14.
15.
16.
17.

D. Examples of Mobile Phone or Mobile device

18.
19.
20.

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Republic of the Philippines

Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Cabanatuan City

Name: ______________________________ Score: __________

Yr. & Sec. ________________ Date: ___________

Activity # 2

STRICTLY NO ERASURE.

I. Identification: Identify the following. Write your answer on the space

provided before each number. (20 pts.)

___________________1.These are the physical devices that make up a computer.

___________________2.A device that allows the user to input data and instructions to
the computer.
___________________3. Inventor of mouse.

___________________4.The other hardware pieces like input devices, output devices,

etc. are called?
___________________5.The enhanced keyboard has _____ keys.

___________________6. A device that displays the result of the computer processing

for user.
___________________7. It produces hard copy output

___________________8. A type of mouse that uses a laser to detect the mouse

movement.

___________________9. A television-like screen that provides user-interface in the form

of display of text, numbers and images.

___________________10. Known as direct-entry input device.

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II. Matching Type: Match Column A to Column B (10 pts.)

________ 1. It is used for plotting graphs and A.

designs on paper.

________ 2. It produces verbal output where the B.

output or response can be standardized as replies to
special requests for information. C.

________ 3. It is a small hand-held 'point D.

ick' device that is connected to the CPU through a cable.

________ 4. A device used to capture images and

they can record the images on reusable floppy disks. E.

F.
________ 5. It is a small vertical stick attached to a
trackball for easier mechanical movements.

________ 6. A special microphone used to capture G.

voice.
H
________ 7. It prints one character at a time as a set
of dots produced by the pins on the print head.

________8. The most popular input device for direct I

entry of data and instructions into computer.
J
________ 9. It consists of a stylus connected by a
cable to the computer terminal.
K.
________ 10. It has a drum that rotates at high
speed. A set of characters is embossed on the drum.

Republic of the Philippines

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Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology

Cabanatuan City

Name: ______________________________ Score: __________

Yr. & Sec. ________________ Date: ___________

Activity # 3
STRICTLY NO ERASURE.

I. Identification: Identify the following. Write your answer on the space

provided before each number. (30 pts.)

___________________ 1. The secondary storage devices may be _________

___________________ 2. or _______ devices.

___________________3. It is a temporary holding area for data, application program

instructions, and the operation system.

___________________4. Secondary storage that provides direct access and it is

popular for both small and large computer system.

___________________5. A storage technology that uses light as medium for

representing data.

___________________6. It has an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) to perform arithmetical

and logical operations.

___________________7. It is the main circuit board of a microcomputer.

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___________________8. Allows computer memory (RAM) to be inserted into the

computer.

___________________9. It is a storage technology that stores data in erasable,

rewriteable circuitry, rather than on spinning disks or streaming tape.

___________________10. An optical disk with double-layer, double sided disc, that can
store up to 17 GB of data on a single disk.

___________________11. Also known as auxiliary storage.

___________________12. Storage device that is plug- and-play by simply plugging into

a USB port of a computer, treated as removable drive.

___________________13. It is a computer circuit board or card that is installed in a

computer so that it can be connected to a network.

___________________14. It is a physical docking point in which an external device can

be connected to the computer.

___________________15. It is an expansion card that allows the computer to send

graphical information to a video display device such as a monitor, TV, or projector.

II. Acronyms: (20 pts.)

1. RAM - ________________________________________________________.

2. NIC - _________________________________________________________.

3. DVD - _________________________________________________________.

4. CMOS - ________________________________________________________.

5. AGP - ________________________________________________________.

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6. CD-R - _________________________________________________________.

7. CPU - __________________________________________________________.

8. PSU - __________________________________________________________.

9. GPU - ______________________________________________________.

10. ROM - _________________________________________________________.

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Chapter 2
DATA REPRESENTATION
DATA REPRESENTATION BASICS

What is data representation? Data representation refers to the form in which data is
stored, processed, and transmitted. For example, mobile phones, iPods and computers
store numbers, text, music, photos and videos in formats that can be handled by
electronic circuitry. Those formats are data representations.

HOW DOES A COMPUTER PROCESS INFORMATION?

When data is input into a computer, the numbers or words we understand are translated
into a binary numbers system. Binary is the language of computers. Everything you type,
input, output, send, retrieve, draw and so on is, in the end, converted to the computer’s
native language: binary.

o Binary number system: A numerical system wherein each digit

stands for a power of two. The binary system uses only two
symbols, 0 and 1, to represent values.

The number system that we use in our day-to-day life is the

decimal number system. Decimal number system has base 10
as it uses 10 digits from 0 to 9. In decimal number system, the
successive positions to the left of the decimal point represent
units, tens, hundreds, thousands and so on.

Bits and Bytes

When referring to computerized data, the value represented

by each switch's state—whether the switch is turned on or off
—is called a bit (a combination of binary digit). A bit is the
smallest possible unit of data a computer can recognize or
use. To represent anything meaningful (in other words, to
convey information), the computer uses bits in groups.

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A group of eight bits is called a byte. Half of a byte is called a nibble. With one byte, the
computer can represent one of 256 different symbols or characters because the eight 1s
and Os in a byte can be combined in 256 different ways.

The value 256 is more than the number of symbols; it is the number of patterns of 0 and
1 that can be created using eight bits. This number can be obtained using a calculation:
There are two possible states for a switch, on and off. In a byte, there are eight switches.
To calculate the number of patterns, raise 2 to the number of bits: 2s = 256. Table 1
shows the first 9 powers of 2.

The byte is an extremely important unit because there are enough different eight-bit
combinations to represent all the characters on the keyboard, including all the letters
(uppercase and lowercase), numbers, punctuation marks, and other symbols.

Text Codes

Early programmers realized that they needed a standard text code that was agreeable to
all of them. In such a system, numbers would represent the letters of the alphabet,
punctuation marks, and other symbols. This standard code system would enable any
programmer or program to use the same combinations of numbers to represent the
same individual pieces of data. The four most popular text code systems invented are
the following:

 EBCDIC. EBCDIC (pronounced as EB-si-dic) stands for Extended Binary Coded

Decimal Interchange Code. EBCDIC is an eight-bit code that defines 256
symbols. It is still used in IBM mainframe and midrange systems, but it is rarely
encountered in personal computers.

 ASCII. ASCII (pronounced as AS-key) stands for the American Standard Code for
Information Interchange. Today, the ASCII character set is by far the most
commonly used in computers of all types. Table 2 shows the 128 ASCII codes.
ASCII is an eight-bit code that specifies characters for values from 0 to 127.

 Extended ASCII. Extended ASCII is an eight-bit code that specifies the characters
for values from 128 to 255. The first 40 symbols represent pronunciation and
special punctuation. The remaining symbols are graphic symbols.

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 Unicode. The Unicode Worldwide Character Standard provides up to four bytes

—32 bits—to represent each letter; number, or symbol. With four bytes, enough
Unicode codes can be created to represent more than 4 billion different
characters or symbols. This total is enough for every unique character and
symbol in the world, including the vast Chinese, Korean, and Japanese character
sets and those found in known classical and historical texts. In addition to world
letters, special mathematical and scientific symbols are represented in Unicode.

One major advantage that Unicode has over other text code systems is its

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compatibility with ASCII codes. The first 256 codes in Unicode are identical to the
256 codes used by the ASCII and Extended ASCII systems.

This work of manipulating, storing and processing the data takes place in the Central
Processing Unit, the computer’s main memory. The CPU consists of an arithmetic and
logic unit, or ALU, a control unit, and a set of registers.

 The arithmetic and logic unit is the portion of the CPU where arithmetic and
logical operations take place.

 The control unit is the part of the CPU that supervises the general operations of
the computer.

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 The registers are devices that hold data inside the computer’s memory long
enough to execute a particular function, such as indexing, calculating, sorting or
otherwise manipulating data. They are the CPU’s own internal memory.

Data travels from one part of the computer to another through a kind of path known as
a bus.

o Bus: The channel or path that lets the parts of a computer

communicates with each other.

Similar to a school bus for school children, a computer data bus picks up a load of data
from one of the components on the main computer board and then transfers the data to
another component on the main computer board. The main circuit board of a
microcomputer is also known as the motherboard. The motherboard is the principal
board that has connectors for attaching devices to the bus. Typically, it contains the CPU,
memory and basic controllers for the system. The data bus is really a series of electrical
circuits that connect the various electrical elements on the main board.

The data are input into the computer and processed in the CPU. They travel along the
bus to be stored in the computer’s memory. The amount of memory available is
described in bytes of information, referring to the combination of bits representing
characters. The higher the number of bytes the more memory the computer has.

Today’s computers hold ‘megabytes’ or even ‘gigabytes’ of data. A megabyte is a unit of

one million bytes; a gigabyte is one billion bytes, and a terabyte is one trillion bytes. If a
computer has a memory of 64 megabytes, then it can hold 64 million bytes of
information.

CONVERSIONS
We have discussed the meaning of Decimal Number System. It uses ten digits, 0, 1,
2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9, therefore has a base of 10. The Binary Number System uses only
two digits, 0 and 1, so it has a base of 2. Hexadecimal means 16. The Hexadecimal
Number System uses 16 digits 0-9 and A to F.

Weight is the value of each digit position. Decimal Weights represents the value of
each digit position of a decimal number such as Units (10 0), Tens (101), Hundredths (102),
Thousandths (103), etc. Binary Weights are enumerated as units (2 0), two (21), fours (22),
Eights (23), and so on.

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1. Binary to Decimal Conversion

Steps:
a. Write the Binary number downwards
b. Multiply each digit with the corresponding binary weights starting with UNITS
at the bottom of the list.
c. Add the products. The sum is the corresponding decimal number.

Example: Convert 1110102 To Decimal

Solution:

1 x 25= 32
1 x 24 = 16
1 x 23= 8
0 x 22= 0
1 x 21= 2
0 x 20= 0

58
1110102 = 5810
2. Decimal To Binary Conversion

Steps:
a. Divide decimal number by 2.
b. Write the quotient and the remainder.
c. Divide the quotient by 2.
d. Repeat steps b and c until the quotient is 0.
e. Write the digits from bottom to top. The resulting string will be the binary
number.

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Example: Convert 8210 to Binary

Solution:

2 82
2 41 r 0
2 20 r 1
2 10 r 0
2 5 r 0
2 2 r 1
2 1 r 0
0 r 1

8210 = 10100102
3. Hexadecimal To Binary Conversion

To convert Hexadecimal number to Binary, the Table of Equivalences should be

used.

TABLE OF EQUIVALENCES

HEXADECIMAL BINARY DECIMAL

0 0000 0
1 0001 1
2 0010 2
3 0011 3
4 0100 4
5 0101 5
6 0110 6
7 0111 7
8 1000 8
9 1001 9
A 1010 10
B 1011 11
C 1100 12
D 1101 13
E 1110 14

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F 1111 15
Steps:
a. Write the digits of the hexadecimal number 4 separately.
b. Using the Table of Equivalences, write the corresponding binary equivalent
under each digit.
c. Cross-out the unnecessary zeroes. The UNNECESSARY ZEROES can be found
at the leftmost digit.
d. Write binary digits as a string.

Example: Convert 2AF016To Binary

Solution:

2 A F 0
0010 1010 1111 0000

2AF016 = 101010111100002

4. Binary To Hexadecimal Conversion

Steps:
a. Group the digits of the binary number from the last digit by 4’s
b. If the last group is less than 4 digits, add zeros to the left to make it 4.
c. From the table of Equivalences, write below the corresponding
hexadecimal number equivalent of each group.
d. Write the hexadecimal digits as a string.

Example: Convert 1011001012To Hexadecimal

Solution:

1 0110 0101

0001 0110 0101

1 6 5

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1011001012 = 16516
5. Hexadecimal To Decimal Conversion

Steps:
a. Write the hexadecimal number downward. If the hexadecimal digit is a
letter, change it first to its corresponding decimal number.
b. Multiply each digits with the corresponding hexadecimal weights starting
with units is at the bottom of the list.
c. Add the products. The sum is the corresponding decimal number.

Example: Convert 34B16 to Decimal

Solution:

3 x 162 = 768
4 x 161 = 64
B=11 x 160 = 11
843

34B16 = 84310
Binary Arithmetic
Binary arithmetic is essential part of all the digital computers and many other digital
system.

Binary Addition
It is a key for binary subtraction, multiplication, division. There are four rules of binary
addition.

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In fourth case, a binary addition is creating a sum of (1 + 1 = 10) i.e. 0 is written in the
given column and a carry of 1 over to the next column.

Example − Addition
Subtraction
Subtraction and Borrow, these two words will be used very frequently for the binary
subtraction. There are four rules of binary subtraction.

Example − Subtraction

Multiplication

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Binary multiplication is similar to decimal multiplication. It is simpler than decimal

multiplication because only 0s and 1s are involved. There are four rules of binary
multiplication.

Example − Multiplication

Republic of the Philippines

Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Cabanatuan City

Name: ______________________________ Score: __________

Yr. & Sec. ________________ Date: ___________

Activity # 1
STRICTLY NO ERASURE.

I. Identification: Identify the following. Write your answer on the space

provided before each number. (20 pts.)

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_______________________ 1.It is the language of computers.

_______________________2.It is the smallest unit of information held in a computer.

_______________________ 3. It is an eight-bit code that defines 256 symbols.

_______________________4. Data travels from one part of the computer to another

through a kind of path known as a ____.

_______________________5. It is a unit of one million bytes.

_______________________6. It is an eight-bit code that specificies characters for values

from 0 to 127.
_______________________7. A number system that has base 10 as it uses 10 digits
from 0 to 9.

_______________________8. It is worldwide character standard provides up to four

bytes—32 bits—to represent each letter; number, or symbol.

_______________________9. It is the principal board that has connectors for attaching

devices to the bus.

_______________________10. It is a half of a byte.

Republic of the Philippines

Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Cabanatuan City

Name: ______________________________ Score: __________

Yr. & Sec. ________________ Date: ___________

Activity # 2
I. Conversion:

A. Decimal To Binary Conversion

1. 45810 =__________________________2

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2. 12010 = __________________________2

3. 85310 = __________________________2

4. 24810 = __________________________2

B. Binary To Decimal Conversion

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1. 11000112 = __________________________10
2. 1110012 = ___________________________10
3. 100010002 = _________________________10

4. 1100011102 = ________________________10

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Republic of the Philippines

Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Cabanatuan City

Name: ______________________________ Score: __________

Yr. & Sec. ________________ Date: ___________

Activity # 3
A. Decimal To Hexadecimal Conversion

1. 102410 = __________________________16

2. 89510 = ___________________________16

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B. Hexadecimal to Binary Conversion

1. F3E16 = _______________________________________2

2. A7B616 = _______________________________________2

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3. 23F16 = __________________________________________ 2

3. A2FE16 = __________________________________________2

Republic of the Philippines

Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Cabanatuan City

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Name: ______________________________ Score: __________

Yr. & Sec. ________________ Date: ___________

Activity # 4
Compute the following Binary arithmetic.

1. 110011
+ 011011

2. 100010
+ 001100

3. 1011100
+ 1001100

4. 1111000
- 011110

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5. 111100
- 001100

Republic of the Philippines

Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology

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Cabanatuan City

Name: ______________________________ Score: __________

Yr. & Sec. ________________ Date: ___________

Activity # 5
Convert the High level Language to Machine Language using the Extended ASCII
Code.

Example: B I T

B = 1000010 I = 1001001 T = 1010100

 Convert your Nickname to Binary or Machine Language.

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Chapter 3
Computer Software

Computer needs to be given instructions to perform any task. A set of instructions for a
specific task is termed a routine and a complete set of instructions to execute a related
set of tasks is a program.

Software, also called a program, consists of a series of related instructions, organized for
a common purpose, that tells the computer what tasks to perform and how to perform
them. You interact with a program through its user interface. The user interface controls
how you enter data and instructions and how information is displayed on the screen.
Software today often has a graphical user interface. With a graphical user interface (GUI)
(pronounced as gooey), you interact with the software using text, graphics, and visual
images such as icons. An icon is a miniature image that represents a program, an
instruction, or some other object. You can use the mouse to select icons that perform
operations such as starting a program. Computer programs or software can be divided
into two major categories: systems software and applications software.

Computer Software

SYSTEM SOFTWARE APPLICATION SOFTWARE

System management programs General-purpose programs

System support programs Application specific programs
System development programs

Application Software

Application software consists of programs designed to make users more productive and/
or assist them with personal tasks. A widely used type of application software related to
communications is a Web browser, which allows users with an Internet connection to
access and view Web pages or access programs. Other popular application software
includes word processing software, spreadsheet software, database software, and

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presentation software. Many other types of application software exist that enable users
to perform a variety of tasks. These include personal information management, note
taking, project management, accounting, document management, computer aided
design, desktop publishing, paint/image editing, photo editing, audio and video editing,
multimedia authoring, Web page authoring, personal finance, legal, tax preparation,
home design/landscaping, travel and mapping, education, reference, and entertainment
(e.g., games or simulations, etc.).

Types of Application Software:

 Spreadsheets

Computer spreadsheet software transforms a computer screen into a ledger

sheet, or grid, of coded rows and columns. Users can enter numeric or
textual data into each grid location, called a cell. In addition, a formula can be
entered into a cell to obtain a calculated answer displayed in that cell’s
location. With spreadsheets, users can also develop and use macros, which
are sequences of commands that can be executed with just one simple
instruction.

 Data Management

Data management software supports the storage, retrieval, and

manipulation of related data. There are two basic types of data
management software: simple filing programs patterned after traditional,
manual data-filing techniques, and database management programs that
take advantage of a computer’s extremely fast and accurate ability to store
and retrieve data in primary and secondary storage. File based management
software is typically very simple to use and is often very fast, but it offers
limited flexibility in how the data can be searched. Database management
software has the opposite strengths and weaknesses.

 Word Processing

Word processing software allows the user to manipulate text rather than
just numbers. Modern word processors contain many productive writing and
editing features. A typical word processing software package consists of an

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integrated set of programs including an editor program, a formatting

program, a print program, a dictionary, a thesaurus, a grammar checker, a
mailing list program, and integrated graphics, charting, and drawing
programs. WYSIWYG (an acronym for What You See Is What You Get,
pronounced “wiz-e-wig”) word processors have the added advantage of
displaying the text material on the screen exactly—or almost exactly—as it
will look on the final printed page (based on the type of printer connected
to the computer). Word processing software enables users to be much more
productive because the software makes it possible to create and modify the
document electronically in memory.

 Desktop Publishing

Desktop publishing software represents a level of sophistication beyond

regular word processing. In the past, newsletters, announcements,
advertising copy, and other specialized documents had to be laid out by
hand and then type set. Desktop software allows microcomputers to
perform these tasks directly. Photographs, diagrams, and other images can
be combined with text, including several different fonts, to produce a
finished, camera-ready document.

 Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

It is software, used for designing items for manufacturing, allows designers

to design and “build” production prototypes in software, test them as a
computer object under given parameters (sometimes called computer-aided
engineering, or CAE), compile parts and quantity lists, outline production
and assembly procedures, and then transmit the final design directly to
machines.

 Multimedia

Multimedia software combines at least two media for input or output of

data. These media include audio (sound), voice, animation, video text,
graphics, and images. Multimedia can also be thought of as the combination
of spatial-based media (text and images) with time-based media (sound and
video).

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 INTERNET BROWSER

A web browser is a software application which enables a user to display and interact with
text, images, videos, music, and other information that could be on a website. Text and
images on a web page can contain hyperlinks to other web pages at the same or different
website. Web browsers allow a user too quickly and easily access information provided on
many web pages at many websites by traversing these links. Web browsers format HTML
information for display so the appearances of a web page many differs between browsers.

Protocols and Standards

Web browsers communicated with web servers primarily using HTTP (hypertext transfer
protocol) to fetch web pages. HTTP allows web browsers to submit information to web
servers as well as fetch web pages from them. Pages are identified by means of a URL
(uniform resource locater), which is treated as an address, beginning with “http://” for
HTTP access.

The file format for a web page is usually HTML (hyper-text markup language) and is
identified in the HTTP protocol. Most web browsers also support a variety of additional
formats, such as JPEG, PNG, and GIF image formats, and can be extended to support more
through the use of plug ins. The combination of HTTP content type and URL protocol
specification allows web page designers to embed images, animations, video, sound, and
streaming media into a web page, or to make them accessible through the web page.

POPULAR BROWSERS
 Firefox

Firefox is a
very popular
web browser.
One of the
great things
about Firefox
is that it is
supported on
all different OSs. Firefox is also open source which makes its support group a

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very large community of open source developers. Firefox is also known for
its vast range of plug ins/add-ons that let the user customize in a variety of
ways. Firefox is a product of the Mozilla Foundation. The latest version of
Firefox is Firefox 3.

Some of Firefox’s most prominent features include: tabbed browsing, a spell

checker, incremental find, live bookmarking, a download manager, and an
integrated search system that uses the user’s favorite search engine. Like
mentioned before, one of the best things about Firefox is its vast amount of
plug ins/add-ons.

 Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer
(IE - created by
Microsoft) is a
very prominent
web browser for
the Windows OS.
IE is the most
popular web
browser. It comes
pre-installed on
all Windows
computers. The latest version of IE is IE7 with IE8 in beta. IE was designed to
view a broad range of web pages and to provide certain features within the
OS.

IE almost fully supports HTML 4.01, CSS Level 1, XML 1.0, and DOM Level 1.
It has introduced a number of proprietary extensions to many of the
standards. This has resulted in a number of web pages that can only be
viewed properly using IE. It has been subject to many security vulnerabilities
just like Windows has. Much of the spyware, adware, and viruses across the
Internet are made possible by exploitable bugs and flaws in the security
architecture of IE. These are drive-by downloads come into play
(see computer security lesson for more details on that).

 Safari

Safari (created by Apple) is a

very popular web browser

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among Apple computers. Safari is also the native browser on the iPhone and
iPod touch. Safari is available for Windows, but has not reached a very high
level of Windows users since. In May 2008 Safari controlled 6.25% of
marketshare among all web browsers.

 Opera

Opera (created
by the Opera
Software
company) is
another fairly
popular web
browser. It
handles common
Internet-related
tasks. Opera also
includes features such as tabbed browsing, page zooming, mouse gestures,
and an integrated download manager. Its security features include phishing
and malware protection, strong encryption when browsing secure web sites,
and the ability to easily delete private data such as cookies and browsing
history. Opera runs on Windows, OS X, and Linux.

 How to change my browser's home page

There are many Internet browsers, all with a number of versions each.
Therefore, it is difficult to show steps for all of them. The following
sections contain information on how to change the homepage for those
that are the most popular. With a little intuition, you should be able to
change your the default home page; even if your version isn't listed. To
proceed, select your browser from the list below and follow the steps.

o Internet Explorer

1. Open the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser.

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2. Click Tools in the upper right-hand corner.

3. Select Internet Options from the dropdown menu.
4. Under the general tab, type the URL of the web page you want to
set.
5. Click Apply.
6. Click Ok.
o Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the Mozilla Firefox browser.

2. Click the Menu in the top right-hand corner of the screen

3. Select Options from the dropdown menu.
4. Under the General Tab in the Home Page field, type the URL of
the web page you want to set.
5. Click Ok.

o Chrome

1. Open the Chrome browser.

2. Click Menu in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
4. Within Settings, check the box next to Show Home button.
5. Click Change next to the address shown below the Show Home
Button.

Tip: If you would like the page you have open set as your home page, click the Use Current button.

Tip: To see if your new home page has en set correctly, click Home icon.

SYSTEM SOFTWARE
System software is consists of programs that control or maintain the operations of the
computer and its devices. System software serves as the interface between the user, the
application software, and the computer’s hardware. It comprises programs designed to
coordinate the operations of the computer system. It manages the hardware, software

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and data resources of the computer system. It includes three types of programs: system
management programs, system support programs and system development programs.

 System Support Programs

These are programs that support efficient operation of a computer. They provide a
variety of support services to users and management of computer system. These
support services include utility programs, security monitors and performance
monitors. Utility software consist of programs that are very frequently requested by
many application programs like programs for transferring data from one medium to
another, formatting disk, backing up and sorting of files.

 Utility Software
A utility program allows a user to perform maintenance-type tasks usually
related to managing a computer, its devices, or its programs. For example, you
can use a utility program to transfer digital photos to an optical disc. Most
operating systems include several utility programs for managing disk drives,
printers, and other devices and media. You can also buy utility programs that
allow you to perform additional computer management functions.

Examples of utility programs are antivirus software, backup software and disk
tools. Let's look at each of these in a bit more detail.
 Antivirus or anti-virus software (often abbreviated as AV),
sometimes known as antimalware software, is computer software
used to prevent, detect and remove malicious software. Antivirus
(or anti- virus)software is used to safeguard a computer from
malware, including viruses, computer worms, and Trojan horses.
Antivirus software may also remove or prevent spyware and
adware, along with other forms of malicious programs. Free
antivirus software generally only searches your computer using
signature-based detection which involves looking for patterns of
data that are known to be related to already-identified malware.
Paid antivirus software will usually also include heuristics to catch
new, or zero-day threats, by either using genetic signatures to
identify new variants of existing virus code or by running the file in

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a virtual environment (also called a sandbox), and watching what it

does to see if it has malicious intent.
Definition of computer virus A computer virus is a program or
piece of code that is loaded onto your computer without your
knowledge and runs against your wishes. Viruses can also replicate
themselves. All computer viruses are man-made. A simple virus
that can make a copy of itself over and over again is relatively easy
to produce. Even such a simple virus is dangerous because it will
quickly use all available memory and bring the system to a halt. An
even more dangerous type of virus is one capable of transmitting
itself across networks and bypassing security systems.
In computers, a virus is a program or programming code that
replicates by being copied or initiating its copying to another
program, computer boot sector or document. A computer virus is a
program designed to harm or cause harm on an infected computer.
Its spreads through e-mail attachments, portable devices, websites
containing malicious scripts and file downloads. A computer virus
attaches itself to the host files and always activate whenever you
open the infected files. The virus can replicate itself and then infect
the other files on your computer causing more damage.
Types of computer virus
o Resident Viruses This type of virus is a permanent
which dwells in the RAM memory. From there it can
overcome and interrupt all of the operations
executed by the system: corrupting files and
programs that are opened, closed, copied, renamed
etc.
o Multipartite Viruses Multipartite viruses are
distributed through infected media and usually hide
in the memory. Gradually, the virus moves to the
boot sector of the hard drive and infects executable
files on the hard drive and later across the computer
system.
o Direct Action Viruses The main purpose of this virus
is to replicate and take action when it is executed.
When a specific condition is met, the virus will go

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into action and infect files in the directory or folder

that it is in and in directories that are specified in
the AUTOEXEC.BAT file PATH.
This batch file is always located in the root directory
of the hard disk and carries out certain operations
when the computer is booted.
o Overwrite Viruses Virus of this kind is characterized
by the fact that it deletes the information contained
in the files that it infects, rendering them partially or
totally useless once they have been infected.
The only way to clean a file infected by an overwrite
virus is to delete the file completely, thus losing the
original content.
o Boot Virus This type of virus affects the boot sector
of a floppy or hard disk. This is a crucial part of a 34
disk, in which information on the disk itself is stored
together with a program that makes it possible to
boot (start) the computer from the disk.
o Directory Virus Directory viruses change the paths
that indicate the location of a file. By executing a
program (file with the extension .EXE or .COM)
which has been infected by a virus, you are
unknowingly running the virus program, while the
original file and program have been previously
moved by the virus. Once infected it becomes
impossible to locate the original files.
o Encrypted Viruses This type of viruses consists of
encrypted malicious code, decrypted module. The
viruses use encrypted code technique which make
antivirus software hardly to detect them. The
antivirus program usually can detect this type of
viruses when they try spread by decrypted 35
themselves.
o Network Virus Network viruses rapidly spread
through a Local Network Area (LAN), and sometimes

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throughout the internet. Generally, network viruses

multiply through shared resources, i.e., shared
drives and folders.
o Worms A worm is technically not a virus, but a
program very similar to a virus; it has the ability to
self-replicate, and can lead to negative effects on
your system and most importantly they are detected
and eliminated by antiviruses.
o Trojans or Trojan Horses Another unsavory breed of
malicious code (not a virus as well) are Trojans or
Trojan horses, which unlike viruses do not
reproduce by infecting other files, nor do they self-
replicate like worms.

 Backup software helps in the creation of a backup of the files on

your computer. Most computer systems use a hard disk drive for
storage. While these are generally very robust, they can fail or
crash, resulting in costly data loss. Backup software helps you copy
the most important files to another storage device, such as an
external hard disk. You can also make an exact copy of your hard
disk.
Increasingly, backup software uses cloud storage to create backups.
This typically means you pay a fee to use the storage space of a
third party and use their backup software to manage which files
are going to be backed up.
 Disk tools include a range of different tools to manage hard disk
drives and other storage devices. This includes utilities to scan the
hard disks for any potential problems, disk cleaners to remove any
unnecessary files, and disk defragmenters to re-organize file
fragments on a hard disk drive to increase performance. Disk tools
are important because a failure of a hard disk drive can have
disastrous consequences. Keeping disks running efficiently is an
important part of overall computer maintenance.

 System Development Programs

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These programs help users and system developers in designing and building systems.
They help in developing programs and procedures and prepare programs for
computer processing. These include language translators, programming tools and
Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) packages. Language translator is a piece
of system software that translates application programs written in a high level
language such as C,C++ and FORTRAN into machine language. The language
translators may be assemblers, compilers or interpreters. It has made programming
easier, more enjoyable, and portable across computers.

 Compiler and Interpreter: High level languages are widely used. They have
been developed to enable the users to program the machines in a language
similar to the language of the users. For example BASIC, Pascal, C and Java use
scientific notations and subroutines in programming formats that are similar
to mathematical formulas and equations. On the other hand, COBAL contains
business jargons widely used in business.

 Compiler is a program that translates programs written in high

level language into machine language. A program written by a
programmer in a high level language is called a source program.
The source program when converted into machine language by a
compiler is referred to as an object program. Unlike the assembler,
the compiler generates several machine language instructions for
each source statement. A compiler can be made to interface with
several different computers. It is not written for any specific
computer. A user can write programs that can be adapted to
several computing systems. Thus, the user can formulate problems
efficiently without precise knowledge of computer architecture.
Compilers are complex programs compared to assembler and they
require more storage space than assemblers. An assembler or a
compiler produces the object program, which is loaded into the
computer memory before execution.

 Interpreter is a translator program that differs from the assembler

or the compiler on several significant points. The interpreter does
not prepare an object program. It translates and immediately
executes each instruction of the source program. Thus an
interpretive language is also an interactive language; it enables the
user to load one instruction into the computer at a time and have it

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translated and executed. This process allows the programmer to

check the results immediately. The interpreter is also a debugging
tool and is useful during the program development stage. In the
interpretive mode, the execution time of the program is extended,
but the program developmental effort and the program
development time are decreased

Comparisons of Compiler and Interpreter:

Compiler Interpreter
Compiler prepares an object program from Interpreter translates and immediately executes
source program each instruction of the source program
It is a debugging tool and is useful during program
Debugging is complex and time consuming
developing stage
Lower execution time Higher execution time

Requires higher program developmentRequires less program development effort and

effort and time time

 System Management Programs

These programs manage the hardware, software and data resources of the computer
system. It includes operating system, database management system (DBMS) and
telecommunication monitors. An operating system is a set of programs that
coordinates all the activities among computer hardware devices. It provides a means
for users to communicate with the computer and other software . DBMS is a set of
programs that controls creation, maintenance and use of database. It allows different
applications to share data and programs concurrently. It also secures data in the
database from misuses. DB2, Oracle, MS SQL Server etc. are some of the examples of
database management systems.

 OPERATING SYSTEM

An Operating system is basically an

intermediary agent between the user
and the computer hardware.

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 Manages the computer’s resources (hardware, abstract resources,

software)
 It’s a resource allocator.

 It is also used to control programs to prevent errors and improper

computer use.

 It is interrupt driven.

Tasks performed by an operating system:

o Process Management

A process is an executing program. It has its code, data, a certain set of

resources allowed to it, and one or more flows of execution through the
code. The OS manages the allocation of resources to these processes, and
also provides system calls to manage these processes.

o Memory Management

Memory must be shared between the OS and an application program. The

OS must manage the allocation of memory to processes and control the
memory management hardware that determines which memory locations
a process may access.

o File System Management

Computers process information that must be transmitted, processed, or

stored. File systems are an abstract organized collection of file system objects.
The OS provides primitives to manipulate these objects.

o Device Management

Information is sent through a computer’s input and output devices. Processes

access these devices using the system call interface. The OS tries to manage
said devices in a manner that makes them efficiently shared among all
processes requiring them. A system call is a programming interface to the
services provided by the OS, typically written in C/C++.

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Operating System categories and characterized using the following term:

 Single-user OS expects to deal with one set of input devices those that can be
controlled by one user at a time

 Multiuser OS allows a single, centralized computer to deal with simultaneous

input, output and processing request from many users.

 Server OS provides tools for managing distributed networks, e-mails servers,

and Web hosting sites.

 Desktop OS is designed for a desktop or notebook personal computer.

 Handheld OS is designed for devices, such as smart phones and tablets

computer.

 Interfaces

It can be defined as the combination of hardware and software that helps people
and computer communicate with each other. A computer’s user interface includes a
display device, mouse, and keyboard that allow viewing and manipulating computing
environment. Originally, computers had a command-line interface that required users
to type memorized commands to run programs and accomplish tasks. Command-line
user interface can be accessed from most operating systems, including Windows and
Mac OS.

Most computer today feature a graphical user interface, abbreviated as GUI and
pronounced as “gooey” or “gee you eye”. A graphical user interface provides a way to
point and click a mouse to select menu options and manipulate graphical objects
displayed in the screen.

Types of an Operating System

 DISK OPERATING SYSTEM

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DOS is a master’s program that co-ordinate the flow of information between

computer and the disk, floppy or hard disk.MS-DOS is the brand name of the disk
operating system manufactured by the Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft has given
license to IBM to supply its DOS and when IBM supplies it, the DOS is known as
PC-DOS. MS-DOS is like a translator between computers and users. It is basically a
set of programs, which enables the user to communicate with the CPU, the disk
drives and the printer, and manage these resources efficiently.

Lay out:
Directory
CI
C:\
CT
A
Root Directory
B Sub-directories

Commands in DOS

 Dir This command lists the contents of a directory in the hard disk
or floppy disk.

Other options are:

 Dir/p The /p option is used to list the contents page wise, one
screen at a time.
 Dir/w This option lists contents width wise.
 Dir [drive] to list the contents of another directory.
Example dir a: This command lists all the files in drive A
while remaining in drive C.
 Dir *. <extension> This lists all files with the extension specified
Example dir *.exe lists all files with extension 'exe'.

 MD or MKDIR, This command is used to create a directory.

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Syntax: MD <DIRECTORY NAME>

 CD This command is to change from one directory to another.

Syntax: CD <SUB DIRECTORY NAME>

If you create a subdirectory in the directory EMPLOYEE such as salary by giving

the command: MD EMPLOYEE
and then typing
CD EMPLOYEE
MD SALARY
CD SALARY
Now, DOS will show the prompt as: C:\EMPLOYEE\SALARY>
If you want to go back one directory, the command is: CD..

 RD This command removes a subdirectory.

Syntax: RD <SUBDIRECTORY NAME>

But this command will work only if the subdirectory SALARY is empty and the
command is issued from outside the Salary subdirectory; that is, all files should
be deleted before removing the subdirectory by DEL command and move to its
parent directory.

 IPCONFIG This command will display the list of IP in your computer.

 UNIX

UNIX was developed by AT&T's Bell Labs in 1969 by Kenneth Thompson and
Dennis Ritchie, system engineers at AT&T's Bell Labs. It went through many
revisions and gained in popularity until 1977, when it was first made commercially
available by Interactive Systems Corporation . It is widely used in multi-user

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systems. It is a powerful operating system with multitasking, 78 Computer

Software multiprogramming and interactive features.

 OS/2

IBM's OS/2 Warp (Operating System 2) is a 32-bit operating system. It supports

multitasking and can run programs written for OS/2 and other operating systems
like MS DOS and MS Windows. Introduced by IBM in late 1994. It can run all
applications written for DOS and MS Windows.

OS/2 Warp is bundled with a bonus pack that includes a number of applications
like a word processor, a spreadsheet, personal information manager and easy
Internet access and other online services.

 Windows

Microsoft works on the first version of a new operating system. Interface

Manager is the code name and is considered as the final name, but
Windows prevails because it best describes the boxes or computing “windows”

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that are fundamental to the new system. Windows is announced in 1983, but it
takes a while to develop.

Microsoft Windows uses DOS operating system. It employs graphic user interface
(GUI) technology. A GUI acts as a translator allowing the user and the computer to
communicate with each other in a way that is easy for both to understand. The
users can activate programs from windows by clicking on icons or symbols
appearing on the monitor. An icon is a picture appearing on the screen that
represents an action or application that the computer can implement. It requires
a mouse to run. Multiple windows open multiple applications that are invoked.
Windows is a highly integrated environment in which different applications have
the same 'look and feel', so users familiar with one application can easily work in
other applications. Example, the icons for printing and saving file are the same in
Excel, Word, Access and PowerPoint.

Windows Versions

 1982 – 1985 Windows 1.0

On

November 20, 1985, two years after the initial announcement,

Microsoft ships Windows 1.0. Now, rather than typing MS-DOS
commands, you just move a mouse to point and click your way
through screens, or “windows.” Bill Gates says, “It is unique
software designed for the serious PC user.”

 1987 – 1990 Windows 2.0 – 2.11

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On

December 9, 1987 Microsoft releases Windows 2.0 with desktop

icons and expanded memory. With improved graphics support, you
can now overlap windows, control the screen layout, and use
keyboard shortcuts to speed up your work.

 1990 – 1994 Windows 3.0 – Windows NT

On May 22, 1990, Microsoft announces Windows 3.0, followed
shortly
by

Windows 3.1 in 1992. Taken together, they sell 10 million copies in

their first two years, making this the most widely used Windows
operating system yet. The scale of this success causes Microsoft to
revise earlier plans. Virtual Memory improves visual graphics. In
1990 Windows starts to look like the versions to come.

 1995 – 1998 Windows 95

On
August
24,
1995,

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Microsoft releases Windows 95, selling a record-setting 7 million

copies in the first five weeks. It’s the most publicized launch
Microsoft has ever taken on. Television commercials feature the
Rolling Stones singing "Start Me Up" over images of the new Start
button. The press release simply begins: “It’s here.”

This is the era of fax/modems, email, the new online world, and
dazzling multimedia games and educational software. Windows 95
has built-in Internet support, dial-up networking, and new Plug and
Play capabilities that make it easy to install hardware and software.
The 32-bit operating system also offers enhanced multimedia
capabilities, more powerful features for mobile computing, and
integrated networking.

 1998 – 2000 Windows 98 , Windows 2000, Windows ME

Released on June 25, 1998, Windows 98 is the first version of

Windows designed specifically for consumers. PCs are common at
work and home, and Internet cafes where you can get online are
popping up. Windows 98 is described as an operating system that
“Works Better, Plays Better.”

With Windows 98, you can find information more easily on your PC
as well as the Internet. Other improvements include the ability to
open and close programs more quickly, and support for reading
DVD discs and universal serial bus (USB) devices. Another first

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appearance is the Quick Launch bar, which lets you run programs
without having to browse the Start menu or look for them on the
desktop.

 2001 – 2005 Windows XP

On

October 25, 2001, Windows XP is released with a redesigned look

and feel that's centered on usability and a unified Help and
Support services center. It’s available in 25 languages.

For Microsoft, Windows XP will become one of its best-selling

products in the coming years. It’s both fast and stable. Navigating
the Start menu, taskbar, and Control Panel are more intuitive.
Awareness of computer viruses and hackers increases, but fears
are to a certain extent calmed by the online delivery of security
updates. Consumers begin to understand warnings about
suspicious attachments and viruses. There’s more emphasis on
Help and Support.

 2006 – 2008 Windows Vista

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Windows Vista is released in 2006 with the strongest security

system yet. User Account Control helps prevent potentially harmful
software from making changes to your computer. In Windows Vista
Ultimate, BitLocker Drive Encryption provides better data
protection for your computer, as laptop sales and security needs
increase. Windows Vista also features enhancements to
Windows Media Player as more and more people come to see their
PCs as central locations for digital media. Here you can watch
television, view and send photographs, and edit videos.

 2009 – 2011 Windows 7

Windows 7 is released for the wireless world of the late 2000s.

Laptops are outselling desktops, and it's become common to
connect to public wireless hotspots in coffee shops and private
networks in the home.

Windows 7 includes new ways to work with windows—like Snap,

Peek, and Shake—that improves functionality and makes the
interface more fun to use. It also marks the debut of Windows
Touch, which lets touchscreen users browse the web, flip through
photos, and open files and folders.

 2012 – 2013 Windows 8

Windows 8 is
a re-imagined
operating
system, from
the chipset to

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the user experience, and introduces a totally new interface that

works smoothly for both touch and mouse and keyboard. It
functions as both a tablet for entertainment and a full-featured PC
for getting things done. Windows 8 also includes enhancements of
the familiar Windows desktop, with a new taskbar and streamlined
file management.

Windows 8 features a Start screen with tiles that connect to

people, files, apps, and websites. Apps are front and center, with
access to a new place to get apps—the Windows Store—built right
in to the Start screen.

 2013 Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 advances the Windows 8 vision of providing a

powerful collection of apps and cloud connectivity on great
devices; it’s everything people loved about Windows 8, plus some
enhancements.

Windows 8.1 combines Microsoft's vision of innovation with

customer feedback on Windows 8 to provide many improvements
and new features: more Start screen personalization options that
sync across all devices, the option to boot directly to the desktop,
Bing Smart Search so you can find what you're looking for across
the PC or the web, a Start button to navigate between the desktop
and Start Screen, and more flexible options for viewing multiple
applications at once on one or all screens. There are also several
new built-in apps such as Bing Food & Drink, Bing Health & Fitness,
and great utility apps like Reading List, Calculator, and Alarms.
Many of the great apps shipped in Windows 8 are back and even

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better, making your experience more enjoyable right from the

start.

Windows desktop

The windows desktop is the base of operations for using your computer. It
displays small pictures called icons that helps you access software,
documents and the components of your computer system.

 Desktop icons can represent

Desktop
programs, documents, folders
Icons
or other electronic tools
 Start Button displays the Start
menu, which lists programs Start Menu
installed on your computer.
 Taskbar contain the Start
button and Notification area. Taskbar icons
Taskbar buttons help you keep
track of program s that are in
use.

Managing Files in Windows

Two key programs for file management are available with windows:

(1) My Computer
(2) The Windows Explorer.

Each of these programs gives a picture of the files – documents, data and program
files that are stored on the various computer disks. You have a choice of “VIEWS”
or ways of displaying the information, using large or small icons, with or without
details. Either program can be used to copy, move, delete and open programs and
documents. My Computer looks at a particular location on the computer and
displays all the folders and files.

Windows Explorer provides, in addition, a tree diagram structure to indicate the

storage relationships among files and folders. Windows HELP and Support can be
accessed from the Start Menu on the Task Bar. It provides a tutorial with exercises

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for practice on use of Windows as well as help on specified tasks, such as copying
and moving files, and creating shortcuts to programs and files.

My Computer: View button

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In this example of My Computer, the disks and folders are displayed as large
icons. You can switch the type of display using the “VIEWS” button on the menu
bar.

By right-clicking on a drive
and selecting “Properties”
you get the following:

The Windows
Explorer:

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The left-hand side of the explorer window The right-hand side of the explorer lists the files and
displays a tree-diagram of the disk drives, sub-folders in the selected drive\directory.
with folders displayed.
In this example, the VIEW has been set on“Details.” A
Clicking on the + beside a folder or disk small icon to represent the file application type is
drive will display all subfolders. followed by the full file name.The file size, type and
date/time saved are also listed.
An open folder on the left indicates the
folder whose contents are displayed on the By clicking a column heading bar (Name, Size, Type or
right-hand side of the screen. Modified) you can sort the file listing alphabetically
(Name), by Size, by type of file, or by date/time last
saved. A second click reverses the order. This feature
makes it easy to find files.

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 Linux

The Linux open

source operating system, or
Linux OS, is a freely
distributable, cross-
platform operating system
based on Unix that can be
installed on PCs, laptops, net
books, mobile and tablet
devices, video game consoles,
servers, supercomputers and more.

The Linux OS is frequently packaged as a Linux distribution for both desktop and
server use, and includes the Linux kernel (the core of the operating system) as well as
supporting tools and libraries. Popular Linux OS distributions include Debian, Ubuntu,
Fedora, Red Hat and openSUSE.

 Android

Android is a Linux-based open

source software stack that comes
along with operating system,
middleware, native mobile
applications, along with set of API
libraries for building third party
applications. It was designed
primarily for touchscreen mobile
devices such as smart phones,
tablets and now its focus has spread
wider across other embedded systems. Initially developed by Android Inc.,(founded in
2003 and is based in Palo Alto, California) which operated as subsidiary of Google and
later purchased by Google in 2005.Android was publicly announced in 2007 and first
phone was sold on October 2008.

Android is free to use, improvable, and designed with multiple hardware

implementations, it is open source and the code was released under Apache license. It
is a software bunch comprising not only operating system but also middleware and
key applications. It is one of the most widely used OS. Android has a large community

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for developing their own applications, written primarily on customized Java

Programming language. Anyone with basic knowledge in java can start developing

Android applications. Android OS version varies from 1.0 to 4.2 Jellybean (July 2012).
Notice carefully you can see all the OS names are desserts, but still the naming reason
is not released by Google and the names are alphabetically ordered, starting from 1.5
Cupcake to 5.0 Lollipop (C-L).

 IOS

Originally known as the iPhone OS, the iOS is

the name of the operating system that runs
on Apple iPhone, iPad, and le iPad Touch
devices given to the devices by Steve
Jobs during the 2010 WWDC. The iOS is one
of the most used platforms for mobile
devices, only slightly edged out
by Android from Google. The user interface of
iOS is based on the concept of direct
manipulation, using multi-touch gestures.
Interface control elements consist of sliders,
switches, and buttons. Interaction with the OS
includes gestures such as swipe, tap, pinch,
and reverse pinch, all of which have specific

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definitions within the context of the iOS operating system and its multi-touch
interface. Internal accelerometers are used by some applications to respond to
shaking the device (one common result is the undo command) or rotating it in three
dimensions (one common result is switching from portrait to landscape mode).

Apple provides major updates to the iOS operating system approximately once a year
via iTunes and also, for devices that came with iOS version 5.0 or later, over the air.
The latest version is iOS 8, which is available for the iPhone 4S, iPhone 5,iPhone
5C, iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad 2, the third and fourth generation iPad,
the first and second generation iPad Air, the first, second and third generation iPad
Mini, and the fifth generation iPod Touch. The OS update was released on September
17, 2014.

People ware
Every day, people around the world rely on different types of computers for a variety of
applications. To illustrate the range of uses for computers, this section takes you on a
visual and narrative tour of five categories of users:

• Home user
• Small office/home office (SOHO) user
• Mobile user
• Power user
• Enterprise user

 Home User
In an increasing number of
homes, the computer no longer
is a convenience. Instead, it is a
basic necessity. Each family
member, or home user, spends
time on the computer for
different reasons that include
personal financial
management, Web access, communications, and entertainment.

On the Internet, home users access a huge amount of information,

conduct research, take college classes, pay bills, manage investments,

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shop, listen to the radio, watch movies, read books, file taxes, book airline
reservations, make telephone calls, and play games. They also
communicate with others around the world through e-mail, blogs, instant
messages, and chat rooms using personal computers, smart phones, and
other mobile devices.

 Small Office/Home Office User

Computers assist small
business and home office
users in managing their
resources effectively. A small
office/home office (SOHO)
includes any company with
fewer than 50 employees, as
well as the self-employed who
work from home. Small offices include local law practices, accounting
firms, travel agencies, and florists. SOHO users typically have a desktop
computer to perform some or all of their duties. Many also have smart
phones or other mobile devices to manage appointments and contact
information.

SOHO users access the Internet — often wirelessly — to look up

information such as addresses, directions, postal codes, flights (Figure 1-
31a), and package shipping rates or to send and receive e-mail messages
or make telephone calls. Many have entered the e-commerce arena and
conduct business on the Web. Their Web sites advertise products and
services and may provide a means for taking orders. Small business Web
sites sometimes use a Web cam to show the world a live view of some
aspect of their business.

 Mobile User
Today, businesses and schools are
expanding to serve people across
the country and around the world.
Thus, increasingly more employees
and students are mobile users, who
work on a computer or mobile
device while away from a main
office, home office, or school.

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Examples of mobile users are sales representatives, real estate agents,

insurance agents, meter readers, package delivery people, journalists,
consultants, and students.

Mobile users often have mobile computers and/or mobile devices. With
these computers and devices, the mobile user connects to other
computers on a network or the Internet, often wirelessly accessing
services such as e-mail and the Web. Mobile users can transfer
information between their mobile device and another computer, such as
one at the main office or school. For entertainment, the mobile user plays
video games on a handheld game console and listens to music or watches
movies on a portable media player.

 Power User
Another category of user,
called a power user, requires
the capabilities of a
workstation or other type of
powerful computer. Examples
of power users include
engineers, scientists,
architects, desktop publishers,
and graphic artists. Power users often work with multimedia, combining
text, graphics, audio, and video into one application. These users need
computers with extremely fast processors because of the nature of their
work.

The power user’s workstation often contains industry-specific software.

For example, engineers and architects use software to draft and design
floor plans, mechanical assemblies, or vehicles. A desktop publisher uses
software to prepare marketing literature. A graphic artist uses software to
create sophisticated drawings. This software usually is expensive because
of its specialized design.

 Enterprise User
An enterprise has hundreds or
thousands of employees or
customers that work in or do

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business with offices across a region, the country, or the world. Each
employee or customer who uses a computer in the enterprise is an
enterprise user. Many large companies use the words, enterprise
computing, to refer to the huge network of computers that meets their
diverse computing needs. The network facilitates communications among
employees at all locations.

Users access the network of servers or mainframes through desktop

computers, mobile computers, and mobile devices. Enterprises use
computers and the computer network to process high volumes of
transactions in a single day. Although they may differ in size and in the
products or services offered, all generally use computers for basic business
activities.

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Republic of the Philippines

Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Cabanatuan City

Name: ______________________________ Score: __________

Yr. & Sec. ________________ Date: ___________

Activity # 1
STRICTLY NO ERASURES

I. Identification: Identify the following. Write your answer on the space

provided before each number. (20 pts.)

__________________________1. It is known as computer program.

__________________________2.
2 types of Software
__________________________3.

__________________________4. It is a software that helps user carry out a task.

__________________________5. An application software that supports the storage,

retrieval, and manipulation of related data.

__________________________6. An application software that represents a level of

sophistication beyond regular word processing.

__________________________7. An application software that represents a level of

sophistication beyond regular word processing.

__________________________8. A software that manage and coordinates the operations

of the computer system.

__________________________9. System software that helps manage, maintain and control

computer resources.

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__________________________10. A software that helps protect a computer system from

viruses.

II. Enumerate the following: (15 pts.)

A. Types of System Software

1.
2.
3.

B. Tasks performed by an Operating System

4.
5.
6.
7.

C. Types of Software
8.
9.

D. Examples of Application Software

10.
11.
12.

E. Examples of Utility Programs

13.
14.
15.

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Republic of the Philippines

Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Cabanatuan City

Name: ______________________________ Score: __________

Yr. & Sec. ________________ Date: ___________

Activity # 2
I. Identification: Identify the following.

__________________ 1. HTTP stands for?

__________________2. It is a software application which enables a user to display and

interact with text, images, videos, music, and other information that could be on a website.

__________________3. It is a very prominent web browser for the Windows OS.

__________________4. It is also the native browser on the iPhone and iPod touch.

__________________5. A file format for a web page.

__________________6. It allows web browsers to submit information to web servers as well

as fetch web pages from them.

__________________7. It is a product of the Mozilla Foundation.

__________________ 8. A malware that is self-replicating program designed to carry

out some unauthorized activity on a victim’s computer.

__________________ 9. A type of malware that secretly gathers personal information

without the victim’s knowledge, usually for advertising and other commercial purposes.

_________________10. URL stands for?

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Republic of the Philippines

Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Cabanatuan City

Name: ______________________________ Score: __________

Yr. & Sec. ________________ Date: ___________

Activity # 3
I. Identification: Identify the following. Write your answer on the space
provided before each number. (20 pts.)

________________1. An OS that was developed by AT&T’s Bell Labs in 1969.

________________2. A 32-bit operating system.

________________3. It acts as a translator allowing the user and the computer to

communicate with each other in a way that is easy to understand.

________________4. An open source operating system.

________________5. Part of a window that contains the start button and notification
area.
________________6. It provides a tree diagram structure to indicate the storage
relationships among files and folders.

________________7.
Two type of User interface
________________8.

________________9. Interface that provides a way to point and click a mouse to

select menu options and manipulate graphical objects displayed on the screen.

________________10. Dos command will display the list of IP in your computer.

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II. Enumerate the following

A. Example of OS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

B. Different version of android

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

C. Types of Malware

16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

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