IM Intro To ICT Part 2

Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SYSTEM
1.0 Objectives
1.1 Introduction –Computer?
1.2 Evolution of Computers
1.3 Classification of Computers
1.4 Applications of Computers
1.5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Computers
1.6 Similarities Difference between
computer and Human
1.7 A Computer System
1.8 Components of a Computer System
1.9 Summary
1.10 Check your Progress - Answers
1.11 Questions for Self – Study
1.12 Suggested Readings
1.0 OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter you will be able to:

 Learn the concept of a system in general and the computer system in specific.

 Learn and understand how the computers have evolved dramatically within a
very short span, from very huge machines of the past, to very compact designs
of the present with tremendous advances in technology.
  Understand the general classifications of computers.
  Study computer applications.
 Understand the typical characteristics of computers which are speed,
 accuracy, efficiency, storage capacity, versatility.
  Understand limitations of the computer.
  Discuss the similarities and differences between the human and the computer.
 Understand the Component of the computer.
1.1 INTRODUCTION- Computer
Today, almost all of us in the world make use of computers in one way or the
other. It finds applications in various fields of engineering, medicine, commercial,
research and others. Not only in these sophisticated areas, but also in our daily lives,
computers have become indispensable. They are present everywhere, in all the dev ices
that we use daily like cars, games, washing machines, microwaves etc. and in day to
day computations like banking, reservations, electronic mails, internet and many more.
The word computer is derived from the word compute. Compute means to
calculate. The computer was originally defined as a super fast calculator. It had the
capacity to solve complex arithmetic and scientific problems at very high speed. But
nowadays in addition to handling complex arithmetic computations, computers perform
many other tasks like accepting, sorting, selecting, moving, comparing various types of
information. They also perform arithmetic and logical operations on alphabetic, numeric
and other types of information. This information provided by the user to the computer is
data. The information in one form which is presented to the computer is the input
information or input data.
Introduction to Computer System/1

Information in another form is presented by the computer after performing a process on it.
This information is the output information or output data.
The set of instructions given to the computer to perform various operations is

called as the computer program. The process of converting the input data into the
required output form with the help of the computer program is called as data
processing. The computers are therefore also referred to as data processors
Therefore a computer can now be defined as a fast and accurate data

processing system that accepts data, performs various operations on the data, has the
capability to store the data and produce the results on the basis of detailed step by step
instructions given to it..
The terms hardware and software are almost always used in connection with the
computer.
• The Hardware:
The hardware is the machinery itself. It is made up of the physical
parts or devices of the computer system like the electronic Integrated Circuits (ICs),
magnetic storage media and other mechanical devices like input devices, output devices
etc. All these various hardware are linked together to form an effective functional unit.
The various types of hardware used in the computers, has evolved from vacuum tubes
of the first generation to Ultra Large Scale Integrated Circuits of the present generation.
• The Software:
The computer hardware itself is not capable of doing anything on its

own. It has to be given explicit instructions to perform the specific task. The computer
program is the one which controls the processing activities of the computer. The
computer thus functions according to the instructions written in the program. Software
mainly consists of these computer programs, procedures and other documentation used in
the operation of a computer system. Software is a collection of programs which utilize and
enhance the capability of the hardware
.
Check your Progress - 1.1
1. Fill in the blanks.
a. The set of instructions to perform various operations is called
a …………………
b. Compute means to …………. of the computer.
c. Mechanical devices are a type of..................
2. Answer in brief.
a. Define a computer.
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b. What is software?
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Computer Fundamentals/2
1. 2 EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS
The computers of today are vastly different in appearance and performance as
compared to the computers of earlier days. But where did this technology come from and
Where is it heading? To fully understand the impact of computers on today’s world and the
promises they hold for the future, it is important to understand the evolution of computers.
1.2.1. The First Generation:

The first generation computers made use of:
 Vacuum tube technology,
 Punched cards for data input,
 Punched cards and paper tape for output,
 Machine Language for writing programs,
 Magnetic tapes and drums for external storage.
The computers of the first generation were very bulky and emitted large amount
of heat which required air conditioning. They were large in size and cumbersome to handle.
They had to be manually assembled and had limited commercial use. The concept of
operating systems was not known at that time. Each computer had a different binary coded
program called a machine language that told it how to operate.
Punched cards Paper tape Vacuum tube
Fig. 1.1 The first Generation Computer technology
The Abacus, which emerged about 5000 years ago in Asia Minor and is still in
use today, allows users to make computations using a system of sliding beads arranged
on a rack. Early merchants used Abacus to keep trading transactions.
Abacus Pascaline
Fig. 1.2 the first Generation Computers
Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician invented the first mechanical

machine, a rectangular brass box, called Pascaline which could perform addition and
subtraction on whole numbers. This was in the seventeenth century. Colmar, a
Frenchman invented a machine that could perform the four basic arithmetic functions of
addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Colmar’s mechanical calculator,
“Arithmometer”, presented a more practical approach to computing. With its enhanced
versatility, the “Arithmometer” was widely used until the First World War, although later
inventors refined Colmar’s calculator, together with fellow inventors, Pascal and Leibniz,
he helped define the age of mechanical computation.

Charles Babbage a British mathematician at Cambridge University invented
the first analytical engine or difference engine. This machine could be programmed
by instructions coded on punch cards and had mechanical memory to store the results.
For his contributions in this field Charles Babbage is known as ‘the
father of modern digital computer.
Some of the early computers included:
Mark I –
This was the first fully automatic calculating machine. It was designed by
Howard Aiken of Harvard University in collaboration with IBM. This machine was an
electronic relay computer. Electromagnetic signals were used for the movement of
mechanical parts. Mark I could perform the basic arithmetic and complex equations.
Although this machine was extremely reliable, it was very slow (it took about 3-5 seconds
per calculation) and was complex in design and large in size.
Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) –

This computer developed by John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry was the world’s
first general purpose electronic digital computer. It made use of vacuum tubes for internal
logic and capacitors for storage.
ENIAC (Electronic Numeric Integrator and Calculator) –
The first all electronic computer was produced by a partnership between the
US Government and the University of Pennsylvania. It was built using 18,000 vacuum
tubes, 70,000 resistors and 1,500 relays and consumed 140 kilowatts of electrical power.
The ENIAC computed at speed about thousand times faster than Mark I. However, it
could store and manipulate only a limited amount of data. Program modifications and
detecting errors were also difficult.
Fig. 1.3 ENIAC

EDVAC –
In the mid 1940’s Dr. John von Neumann designed the Electronic Discrete
Variable Automatic Computer with a memory to store both program and data. This
was the first machine which used the stored program concept. It had five distinct units -
arithmetic, central control, memory, input and output. The key element was the central
control. All the functions of the computer were co-ordinate through this single source,
the central control. The programming of the computers was done in machine language
UNIVAC • I –
Remington Rand designed this computer specifically for business data
processing applications. The Universal Automatic Computer was the first general
purpose commercially available computer.
Fig 1.4 UNIVAC
1.2.2 The Second Generation:
In the second generation computers:
 Vacuum tube technology was replaced by transistorized technology,
 Size of the computers started reducing,
 Assembly language started being used in place of machine language,
 Concept of stored program emerged,
 High level languages were invented.
This was the generation of Transistorized Computers. Vacuum tubes

were replaced by transistors. As a result, the size of the machines started shrinking.
These computers were smaller, faster, more reliable and more energy efficient. The first
transistorized computer was TX-0. The first large scale machines that took advantage of
the transistor technology were the early supercomputers, Stretch by IBM and LARC by
Sperry Rand. These machines were mainly developed for atomic energy laboratories.
Typical computers of the second generation were the IBM 1400 and 7000 series,
Honeywell 200 and General Electric.
Fig 1.5 Transistors
IBM 1401 was universally accepted throughout the industry and most large
businesses routinely processed financial information using second generation
computers. The machine language was replaced by assembly language. Thus the long
and difficult binary code was replaced with abbreviated programming code which was
relatively easy to understand.
The stored program concept and programming languages gave the
computers flexi bility to finally be cost effective and productive for business use. The
stored program concept implied that the instructions to run a computer for a specific
task were held inside the computer’s memory and could quickly be modified or replaced
by a different set of instructions for a different function. High level languages like COBOL,
FORTRAN and AL- GOL were dev eloped. Computers started finding vast and varied
applications. The entire software industry began with the second generation computers.
1.2.3. The Third Generation:
The third generation computers were characterized by:

 Use of Integrated circuits,
 Phenomenal increase in computation speed,
 Substantial reduction in size and power consumption of the machines,
 Use of magnetic tapes and drums for external storage,
 Design-of Operating systems and new higher level languages,
 Commercial production of computers.
This generation was characterized by the invention of Integrated Circuits (ICs).

The 1C combined electronic components onto a small chip which was made from
quartz.

Fig 1.4 i) Integrated Circuit ii) Integrated Circuit
Later, even more components were fitted onto a single chip, called a
semiconductor. This reduced the size even further. The weight and power consumption
of computers decreased and the speed increased tremendously. Heavy emphasis was
given to the development of software. Operating systems were designed which allowed
the machine to run many different programs at once. A central program monitored and
co-ordinate the computer s memory. Multiprogramming was made possible, whereby the
machine could perform several jobs at the same time. Computers achieved speeds of
executing millions of instructions per second. Commercial production became easier and
cheaper. Higher level languages like Pascal and Report Program Generator (RPG) were
introduced and applications oriented languages like FORTRAN, COBOL, and PL/1 were
developed.
1.2.4. The Fourth Generation:

The general features of the fourth generation computers were:
  Use of Very Large Scale Integration,
  Invention of microcomputers,
  Introduction of Personal Computers,
  Networking,
 Fourth Generation Languages.
Fig. 1.7 VLSI
The third generation computers made use of ‘Integrated Circuits that had 10-
20 components on each chip, this was Small Scale Integration (SSI).
The Fourth Generation realized Large Scale Integration (LSI) which could fit
hundreds of components on one chip and Very Large Scale integration (VLSI) which
squeezed thousand of components on one chip. The Intel 4004 chip, located all the
components of a computer (central processing unit, memory, input and output controls)
on a single chip and microcomputers were introduced. Higher capacity storage media
like magnetic disks were developed. Fourth generation languages emerged and
applications software’s started becoming popular.
Computer production became inexpensive and the era of Personal
Computers (PCs) commenced. In 1981, IBM introduced its personal computer for use in
office, home and schools. In direct competition, the Macintosh was introduced by Apple
in 1984. Shared interactive systems and user friendly environments were the features of
these computers.
As the computers started becoming more and more powerful, they could be
linked together or networked to share not only data but also memory space and software.
The networks could reach enormous proportions with local area networks. A global web
of computer circuitry, the Internet, links the computers worldwide into a single network
of information.
1.2.5 The Fifth Generation:

Defining the fifth generation computers is somewhat difficult because the field
is still in its infancy. The computers of tomorrow would be characterized by Artificial
Intelligence (At). An example of Al is Expert Systems. Computers could be developed
which could think and reason in much the same way as humans. Computers would be
able to accept spoken words as input (voice recognition).
Many advances in the science of computer design and technology are coming
together to enable the creation of fifth generation computers. Two such advances are
parallel processing where many CPUs work as one and advance in superconductor
technology which allows the flow of electricity with little or no resistance, greatly
improving the speed of information flow.
Check your Progress -1.2
1. Match the following.
A B
a) Very Large scale Integration I) Second Generation
b) Vacuum Tube Technology II) Fifth Generation

c) Stored Program III) Fourth Generation
d) Superconductor Technology IV) First Generation
e) Semiconductor Technology v) Third Generation
2. Write True or False

A. Expert system is an example of artificial Intelligence.
B. The world’s first general purposes electronic digital computer was the Abacus.
C. The first generation computers used machine language for programming.

D. Charles Babbage designed the Analytical Engine .
E. Personal Computer (PC) was developed in the first generations.
1. 3 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
Computers are broadly classified into two categories depending upon the
logic used in their design as:
1.3.1 Analog computers:

In analog computers, data is recognized as a continuous
measurement of a physical property like voltage, speed, pressure etc. Readings on a
dial or graphs are obtained as the output, ex. Voltage, temperature; pressure can be
measured in this way.

1.3.2 Digital Computers:
These are high speed electronic devices. These devices are
programmable. They process data by way of mathematical calculations, comparison,
sorting etc. They accept input and produce output as discrete signals representing high
(on) or low (off) voltage state of electricity. Numbers, alphabets, symbols are all
represented as a series of 1s and Os.
Digital Computers are further classified as General Purpose Digital

Computers and Special Purpose Digital Computers. General Purpose computers can be
used for any applications like accounts, payroll, data processing etc. Special purpose
computers are used for a specific job like those used in automobiles, microwaves etc.
Another classification of digital computers is done on the basis of their capacity to access
memory and size like:
• Small Computers:
I) Microcomputers: Microcomputers are generally referred to as Personal
Computers (PCs). They have Smallest memory and less power. They are widely
used in day to day applications like office automation, and professional applications,
ex. PC-AT, Pentium etc.
II) Note Book and Laptop Computers: These are portable in nature and are
battery operated. Storage devices like CDs, floppies etc. and output devices like printers
can be connected to these computers. Notebook computers are smaller in physical size
than lap top computers. However, both have powerful processors, support graphics, and
can accept mouse driven input.
Microcomputer
Notebook or Laptop Handheld Computer
Fig. 1.8 Small Computers
III) Hand Held Computers:

These types of computers are mainly used in applications like
collection of field data. They are even smaller than the note book computers.
• Hybrid Computers: Hybrid Computers are a combination of Analog and Digital
computers. They combine the speed of analog computers and accuracy of digital
computers. They are mostly used in specialized applications where the input data is in
an analog form i.e. measurement. This is converted into digital form for further
processing. The computers accept data from sensors and produce output using
conventional input/output devices.
• Mini Computers: Mini computers are more powerful than the micro computers. They
have higher memory capacity and more storage capacity with higher speeds. These
computers are mainly used in process control systems. They are mainly used in
applications like payrolls, financial accounting, Computer aided design etc. ex. VAX,
PDP-11
•Mainframe Computers: Main frame computers are very large computers which
process data at very high speeds of the order of several million instructions per
second. They can be linked into a network with smaller computers, micro computers
and with each other. They are typically used in large organizations, government
departments etc. ex. IBM4381, CDC
• Super Computers: A super computer is the fastest, most powerful and most
expensive computer which is used for complex tasks that require a lot of
computational power. Super computers have multiple processors which process
multiple instructions at the same time. This is known as parallel processing. These
computers are widely used in very advanced applications like weather forecasting,
processing geological data etc. ex. CRAY-2, NEC - 500, PARAM.

1. Fill in the blanks
a. Personal computers are also called as ………………….
b. Combination of Analog and Digital computers are called as ……………..
c. In a ………..computer number and characters are represented as a series of 0’s
and 1’s.
2. Answer in brief
1. What is parallel processing?
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2. What is analog computer?
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3. Write 1-2 lines on mainframe computers.
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1.4 APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTERS
Today computers find widespread applications in all activities of the modern world.
Some of the major application areas include:
1.4.1 Scientific, Engineering and Research:

This is the major area where computers find vast applications. They are
used in areas which require lot of experiments, mathematical calculations,

weather forecasting, and complex mathematical and engineering applications. Computer
Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) help in designing
robotics, automobile manufacturing, automatic process control dev ices etc.
1.4.2 Business:
Record keeping, budgets, reports, inventory, payroll, invoicing, accounts
are all the areas of business and industry where computers are used to a great extent.
Database management is one of the major area where computers are used on a large
scale. The areas of application here include banking, airline reservations, etc. where
large amounts of data need to be updated, edited, sorted, searched from large
databases.
1.4.3 Medicine:
Computerized systems are now in widespread use in monitoring patient
data like , pulse rate, blood pressure etc. resulting in faster and accurate diagnosis.
Modern day medical equipment are highly computerized today. Computers are also
widely used in medical research.
1.4.4 Information:
This is the age of information. Television, Satellite communication, Internet,
networks are all based on computers.
1.4.5 Education:
The use of computers in education is increasing day by day. The students
develop the habit of thinking more logically and are able to formulate problem solving
techniques. CDs on a variety of subjects are available to impart education. On line
training programs for students are also becoming popular day by day. All the major
encyclopedias, dictionaries and books are now available in the digital form and therefore
are easily accessible to the student of today. Creativity in drawing, painting, designing,
decoration, music etc. can be well developed with computers.
1.4.4 Games and Entertainment:
Computer games are popular with children and adults alike. Computers
are nowadays also used in entertainment areas like movies, sports, advertising etc.
1.5 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF COMPUTERS
Advantages of Computers:
1.5.1 Speed:
The speed of a computer is measured in terms of the number of
instructions that it can perform or execute in a second. The speeds of computers are
measured in milli-seconds (10~3 sec), micro-seconds (10*4 sec), and nano-seconds
(10~9sec). Computers are superfast machines and can process millions of instructions
per second. Smaller computers can execute thousands of instructions per second, while
the more complex machines can execute millions of instructions per second.
1.5.2 Accuracy:
Computers are very accurate. They are capable of executing hundreds

of instructions without any errors. They do not make mistakes in their computations.
They perform each and every calculation with the same accuracy.
1.5.3 Efficiency
The efficiency of computers does not decrease with age. The computers
can perform repeated tasks with the same efficiency any number of times without
exhausting there selves. Even if they are instructed to execute millions of instructions,
they are capable of executing them all with the same speed and efficiency without
exhaustion.
1.5.4 Storage Capability

Computers are capable of storing large amounts of data in their storage
devices. These dev ices occupy very less space and can store millions of characters in
condensed forms. These storage devices typically include floppy disks, tapes, hard
disks, CDs etc, the data stored on these devices can be retrieved and reused whenever
it is required in future
1.5.5 Versatility
Computers are very versatile. They are capable not only of performing
complex mathematical tasks of science and engineering, but also other non-numerical
operations fielding air-line reservation, electricity bills, data base management etc.
Limitations of Computers:
Although the computers of today are highly intelligent and sophisticated
they have their own limitations. The computer cannot think on its own, since it does not
have its own brain. It can only do what is has been programmed to do. It can execute
only those jobs that can be expressed as a finite set of instructions to achieve a specific
goal. Each of the steps has to be clearly defined. The computers do not learn from
previous experience nor can they arrive at a conclusion without going through all the
intermediate steps. However the impact of computers on today’s society in phenomenal
and they are today an important part of the society.
Check your Progress - 1.4 & 1.5
Select the appropriate option

a. The number of instructions a computer can process in a given time is called its
(i) Versatility (ii) Speed
(iii) Efficiency (iv) Accuracy
Answer the following:

a) Give any one application of modern day computers
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b) State in brief one or two limitations of computers.
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1.4 Similarities and Difference

between Human and Computer
Computer is a very effective and efficient machine which performs several

activities in few minutes, which otherwise would have taken several days if performed
naturally. Besides there would have been a doubt about the accuracy, finish etc. The
computer may be faster; more accurate but it cannot compete with human brain.
However there are some similarities between the human and the computer which would
make the computer more understandable.

Human Computer
# Like human beings has ears, Computers have input devices such as keyboard,
nose, eyes etc. scanner, touch screen, mouse etc to get information.
# Like we remember things Computer also stores information.
#We recollect certain information The computer also retrieves information when times,
as required.
#We express ourselves by Computer expresses through screen, Printouts etc

speech, writing etc which We call as output.
with the help of software, computer

#When we watch, hear, learn
also can analyze Information and draw
certain things
conclusions.
and analyze.
The computer brain is known as CPU conclude

#The place where we store,
information is known as the brain (Central Processing
analyze,
Unit) where it analyses information.
The computer has storage devices like floppies, hard disks, compact disks to store and
retrieve information.
However computer does not understand emotions, it does not understand

meaning beyond words, it cannot read between the lines like the human. We learn many
things unknowingly, certain things knowingly; we call it as upbringing. But computers can
learn everything only knowingly. We learn many things on our own, but computer has to
be taught to do everything.
Select the appropriate option
a. Keyboard is
(i) Input device (ii) CPU
(iii) Output dev ice (iv) Storage device
b. The part of computer similar to the human brain is

(i) Floppy disk (ii) Printer
(iii) Central processing unit (iv) Mouse
1. 7 A COMPUTER SYSTEM
Any system is defined as a group of integrated parts which are
designed to achieve a common objective. Thus, a system is made up of more than one
element or part, where each element performs a specific function and where all the
elements (parts) are logically related and are controlled in such a way that the goal
(purpose) of the system is achieved.
A computer is made up of a number of integrated elements like

- The central processing unit,
- The input and output devices and
- The storage devices.
Each of these units performs a specific task. However, none of them can
function independently on their own. They are logically related and controlled to achieve a
specific goal. When they are thus integrated they form a fully fledged computer system.
1. 8 COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM
The basic parts of computer system are:
 Input Unit
 The Central Processing Unit
 Output Unit
Fig. 1.9 Central Processing Unit
The Input Unit:
Input dev ices are the dev ices which are used to feed programs and data to the
computer. The input system connects the external environment with the computer system.
The input dev ices are the means of communication between the user and the computer
system. Typical input devices include the keyboard, floppy disks, mouse, microphone, light
pen, joy stick, magnetic tapes etc. The way in which the data is fed into the computer through
each of these devices is different. However, a computer can accept data only in a specific
form. Therefore these input devices transform the data fed to them, into a form which can be
accepted by the computer. These devices are a means of communication and inter 1 station
between the user and the computer systems.
Thus the functions of the input unit are :
 accept information (data) and programs.

 convert the data in a form which the computer can accept.
 provide this converted data to the computer for further processing.
The Central Processing Unit:

This is the brain of any computer system. The central processing unit or CPU
is made of three parts:

  The control unit.
  The arithmetic logic unit
 Te primary storage unit
The Control Unit :

The Control Unit controls the operations of the entire
computer system. The control unit gets the instructions from the programs stored in
primary storage unit interprets these instruction an subsequently directs the other units
to execute the instructions. Thus it manages and coordinates the entire computer
system.
The Arithmetic Logic Unit:

The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) actually executes the
instructions and performs all the calculations and decisions. The data is held in the
primary storage unit and transferred to the ALU whenever needed. Data can be moved
from the primary storage to the arithmetic logic unit a number of times before the entire
processing is complete. After the completion, the results are sent to the output storage
section and the output devices.
The Primary Storage Unit:

This is also called as Main Memory. Before the actual
processing starts the data and the instructions fed to the computer through the input
units are stored in this primary storage unit. Similarly, the data which is to be output from
the computer system is also temporarily stored in the primary memory. It is also the area
where intermediate results of calculations are stored. The main memory has the storage
section that holds the computer programs during execution. Thus the primary unit:
  Stores data and programs during actual processing

  Stores temporary results of intermediate processing
 Stores results of execution temporarily
1.8.3 Output Unit:

The output devices give the results of the process and computations to
the outside world. The output units accept the results produced by the computer, convert
them into a human readable form and supply them to the users. The more common output
devices are printers, plotters, display screens, magnetic tape drives etc.

a. The primary storage unit is also called as …………………
b. Arithmetic logic unit is a part of …………………………
c. The unit of the computer which gives t h e results of the process and
computations is the ……………
2. Answer in brief
a. Define a system.
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b. Write the functions of the input unit.
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1.9 SUMMARY
A computer is a fast and accurate data processing system which accepts
data, performs various operations on the data, has the capacity to store data and process
the data with the set of instructions given to it. The data is the information provided by
the user to the computer and the set of instructions to perform the operation on data is
the computer program.
The hardware of the computer is the physical parts of the machine like
monitor, keyboard, disks etc. whereas the software is the various programs, procedures
and other documentation which is used to operate the hardware efficiently.
Classification of computers done on the basis of the logic used in their

design as analog and digital computers. Analog computers recognize data as a
continuous movement of a physical property. Digital computers recognize data a series
of discrete signals representing high or low voltage state of electricity. Hybrid computers
are a combination of analog and digital computers. Digital computers are further
classified according to their speed and capacity of memory and size as micro computers,
notebook or laptops, Mini computers, Main frames and Super computers.
The typical characteristics of the computer are its superfast speed, the
accuracy of each and every calculation, and its consistent efficiency. It has tremendous
storage capacity and can store large volumes of data. It is versatile in the sense that it
can be used in a vast range of applications from complex scientific problems to a child’s
game. A system is a group of integrated elements which are logically related to achieve
the goal of the system each element performs a specific task assigned to it.
A computer system is made up of:
Input Unit: which accepts input data The Central Processing Unit: This is made up of
the Control unit, the Arithmetic and Logic Unit and the Primary Storage Unit. This unit
controls the entire computer system.
Output Unit: This unit gives the results of the computation to the user. The evolution or
development of computers is characterized by generations of computers. The first
generation had very large and complex machines which made use of the vacuum tube
technology. Invention of transistors in the second generation reduced the size of the
computers and the concept of stored program emerged, as well as higher level
languages were introduced. The third generation was characterized by Integrated
Circuits and commercial production of computers. The fourth generation saw the
invention of microcomputers with Very Large Scale Integration, Networking and
introduction of personal computers. The fifth or the present generation has seen
advances in parallel processing and superconductor technologies.
Computers today, find applications in vast and varying fields like

scientific, engineering and research, medicine and business, education and games,
entertainment. The computers however have a serious drawback that they can only do
what they are programmed to do since they have no brain. They cannot arrive at a
conclusion without going through all intermediate steps.
1.11 QUESTIONS FOR SELF - STUDY

1. Define the terms: data, program, hardware and software.
2. List and explain in brief the characteristics of computers.
3. Define a System. What constitutes a computer system?
4. Write short notes on Fourth Generation of Computers, Limitations of computers.
5. Explain the classification of computers on the basis of their capacity to access
memory and size.
6. List the applications of computers.
1. 12 SUGGESTED READINGS
 Computer Fundamentals
Concepts, Systems & Applications – P.K Sinha
REFERENCE
 http://www.tutorialspoint.com/
Chapter-2
Input Devices and Output Devices
2.0 Objectives
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Input Devices
2.3 Output Device
2.4 Summary
2.5 Check Your Progress - Answers
2.4 Questions for Self - Study.
2. 0 OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter you will be able to:

 Explain the definitions of peripheral devices.
 Describe different types of input dev ices like punched cards, keyboards,
 mouse, digitizers and scanners and output devices like printers, plotters, video
display terminals and microfilms, their broad design, their features advantages
 and disadvantages.
 Discuss the common peripheral devices, their physical appearances and the
mode of operation of these dev ices. The student would be able to use these
devices in the practical efficiently.
2.1 INTRODUCTION
As seen earlier, computer hardware is made up of the physical parts of the

computer system like the electronic ICs, magnetic storage media and the mechanical
devices.
The devices which are a means of communication between the computer and the outside
world are called as peripheral devices.
Those peripheral devices which supply information i.e. data and progr ms from
the outside world to the computer are the input devices. Those peripheral devices
which give information from the computer to the user or store them in secondary storage
devices, like floppy disks or tapes for future use are called output devices.
The processors which are required to convert the input data into machine
readable form and to convert the output generated by the computer into human readable
form are known as input/output (I/O) interfaces. There are two concepts related to the
way in which data is input to the computer:
1. On-line Data Input : Here data is directly transferred to the computer
2. Off-line Data Input : - Here the data is not immediately transferred to the
computer.
2.2 INPUT DEVICES
The various types of input devices most commonly used are :

2.2.1 Punch Cards :
Data is recorded onto punch cards or punch tapes using standard codes, like the
Hollerith code. The pattern of these holes is interpreted by a card reader device and
converted into machine readable form. A punch card machine is used to transcribe the
data onto the card.
Input Devices and Output Devices / 19
Fig. 2.1 Punch Card and a Keyboard
Characteristic of punch card
  they are cheaper

 they are reliable.
Disadvantage of punch card

The major drawback of these cards is that they cannot be reused. Also the
cards have to be handled and stored carefully. Even if a single card is misplaced or the
arrangement of the cards gets disturbed it becomes very difficult to rearrange them and
to detect there problem. Punched cards require large storage space since they cannot
be folded.
2.2.2 Keyboard
The keyboard is one of the most commonly used input device. The computer
keyboard is similar to a typewriter keyboard. The keyboard has keys made up of letters,
numbers, symbols and special function keys.
A display screen or monitor (Cathode Ray Tube) is used to display the data
entered by the operator with the keyboard. This monitor can also display the results of
processing as well as messages generated by the computer. A special symbol, called
a cursor, indicates the position on the screen. There are special keys on the keyboard
which allow the cursor to move in up, down, left and right directions. Other special keys
on the keyboard include keys like Tab, Del, Ctrl, Ins, PgUp, PgDn etc.
The keys on the keyboard include :

A-Z : Used to enter alphabets
0-9 : Used to enter numbers
Up, Down, Left, Right(Arrow Keyes): To Move the cursor in the specified direction
F1-F12 : Special Function Keys
PgUp/PgDn : To move cursor up or down by one page enter:
To move cursor to a new line
Shift : A Special key To Select the other option shown normal character on the same
key Num Lock : Activates the keypad on the right side of the keyboard. In the normal
mode this numeric pad works as per the function written below the number on the key
Advantages of the keyboard :

 It is very easy to use a keyboard
  It offers a number of facilities
 Editing or changing the input data is very easy with the help of the
 keyboard
 It is relatively Inexpensive
2.2.3 Mouse
The mouse is a pointing device. The mouse is used to control and manipulate
cursor movement on the monitor. The mouse usually has three or four buttons on it and
a roller ball which signals the movements made by the mouse on a flat surface. These
movements are transferred to the system. The mouse is rolled on a flat surface by the
user. It can be used independently, but normally it is used in conjunction with the
keyboard to improve the efficiency of the input operation. The mouse can be used to
select data. Also the mouse makes it possible to move fast from one par of the screen
to the other.
The various types of mouse in use are
 Mechanical mouse
Computer Fundamentals / 20
 Optical mouse
 Opt mechanical mouse
Fig. 2.2 Mouse

2.2.4 Light Pen
The light pen is a picking dev ice. The light pen contains a photocell placed in a small
tube. This photocell detects the presence of light on the CRT (monitor). The tip of the
pen is moved on the surface of the screen to write or sketch data. The light pen is
especially useful in Computer Aided Design (CAD) applications.
Fig 2.3 Light Pen
2.2.5 Joy Stick

The position and speed with which the joystick is moved is converted into digital
signals by the use of a lever. These signals are then sent to the computer system. This
in turn controls the movement of the cursor on the screen. The joystick is mainly used in
video games applications.
2.2.4 Track Ball
The track ball uses
a hard sphere to control
cursor movement. The bail
can be rotated in any
direction by hand and this is
translated into a digital
signal to control the cursor
movement on the screen.
Fig 2.4 Track ball

2.2.7 Touch screen:
A touch panel is a transparent plate which is fitted over the CRT. Input is
registered when a finger or any other object comes in contact with the plate.
There are two types of touch panels:
  Optical touch panels
 Electric touch panels
Fig. 2.5 Touch Screen

2.2.8 Digitizer :
A digitizer converts a graphical or pictorial data into digital form which can be
directly entered and stored in a computer. A digitizer is also called as a graphics tablet.
There are two types of digitizers :
Fig 2.4 A Scanner, a Graphics tablet (digitizer)
• Image scan digitizer and flat bed digitizer

In the image scan digitizer the entire image is scanned and reproduced
automatically. Therefore the image scan digitizers are more powerful as compared to
flat bed digitizers. Flat bed digitizers are mainly used in simple drawings, graphs etc.
whereas image scan digitizers are used for photographs and pictures.
2.2.9 Scanner :
Scanner is able to directly enter text and images into the computer memory.
Therefore the duplication work of entering data is eliminated and this also results in
increased accuracy. The speed of data entry also increases. There are two types of
scanners :
1. Optical Scanners
2. Magnetic Ink Character Recognition devices
a) Optical Scanner:
The optical scanner uses a light source and sensor for reading the information on the
paper. It can read characters, pictures, graphics from the paper. The common types
of optical scanners are:
1. The Optical Mark Reader (OMR): This is capable of reading pre specified
marks made by pencils or pens with the help of light. Light is focused on the page that
is to be scanned. The reflected light pattern is detected by the device. These types of
scanners are normally used where the data is preprinted for applications.
eg. answer papers of the objective tests where the answers are marked with pencils
or preprinted forms.
2. Optical Character Reader :The Optical Character Reader (OCR) can read
alphabets, characters and numbers printed on paper. These characters can be either
handwritten or typed. However special fonts are required to be used while typing. In
case of handwritten data, the characters have to be of standard predefined size. The
OCR reads each character as a collection of pixels. The light which is reflected from
the page to be scanned is converted into binary data. OCRs are available in various
sizes and speeds. These devices are expensive and are mainly used in processing
where the data volumes are large.
Fig 2.7 Bar Code Reader
Bar code reader is a device which reads bar coded data. Data which is coded in the form
of light or dark lines (bars) is a bar code. Bar code readers are normally used in
applications like labeling of products in retail shops, super markets etc. A laser beam
scanner is used to read the bar code.
The most commonly used bar code is the Universal Product Code (UPC). In this code
the bars are coded as 10 digits. The first five digits define the manufacturer or supplier,
and the remaining five digits denote the actual product of the manufacturer.
b) Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR):

A special type of input device, this mainly finds application in banking areas. A magnetic
ink is used to encode the characters to be read. This ink contains iron oxide particles.
When a cheque is presented in the bank, the amount is encoded by the bank employee
in the lower right corner and the cheque is then processed with MICR. Special character
sets like E13B and CMC7 are used by these devices to encode data. The E13B has four
special character and the digits 0-9. The CMC7 has five special characters, digits 0-9,
and all alphabets.
The advantages of using MICR are that they speed up data entry, and even
roughly handled cheque can be processed relatively easily. However among the
limitations are that special type of magnetic ink is required for .encoding characters and
only a limited number of digits and characters are available for encoding.
2.2.10 Voice Recognition Systems :

This system allows the user to talk with the computer. The Voice Recognition System
consists of a microphone or telephone into which the operator speaks. The speech is
converted into electrical signals. The signal is input as the voice of the operator. This is
matched with an already entered pre-stored pattern of words called vocabulary. When the
closest match is found the word is recognized. Since each operator may have a different style
of speaking, all Voice Recognition systems are highly operator dependent. Also a separate
vocabulary for each operator is required to be maintained. The advantages of the Voice
Recognition systems are that they reduce the cost of data entry. Also the operator can move
freely while talking into the computer.
Check your Progress- 2.1 & 2.2
1. Fill in the blanks

a) ……………… is an example of a picking device.
b) ………………. is an example of a pointing device.
c) A digitizer is also as a ……………
2. Give the full form of the following.
a) MICR b) OCR c) OMR
A B
a) Punch card 1) Computer games
b) Bar code 2) Output devices
c) Joy stick 3) Hollerith Code
d) Floppy Disk 4) Universal Product Code (UPC)

2.3 OUTPUT DEVICES
The output device allows the compute to communicate with the outside world by
accepting data from the computer and transforming it into user readable form.
The various types of output devices are :

2.3.1 Printers:
A printer produces the output from the computer on the paper. It is the most commonly
used output device. The printers produce a hard copy i.e. a permanent copy of the
results which can be stored and read later. Printers are classified as :
a) Impact Printer
b) Non Impact Printer
a) Impact Printer
Impact printers are similar to typewriters. They use hammer to strike a character against an
inked ribbon and the impact of the hammer causes the image of the character to be printed
on paper. E.g. Dot matrix printers, line printers, daisy wheel printers,
Advantages of impact printers:
  Their functioning is relatively easy

  Multiple copies can be produced at the same time with the help of carbon paper.
 Impact printers are noisy in operation and are subject to wear and tear of
mechanical parts.
Types of impact printers :
1) Dot Matrix Printers

Dot matrix printer prints each character as a pattern of dots. The printer has a printer
head with a matrix of pins (needles). Typical heads have a matrix of 7 rows and 9
columns. These pins produce a pattern of dots to form the individual characters.
Fig. 2.8 A dot matrix printer, a daisy wheel and a daisy wheel
printer
These printers are relatively low in cost and print at speeds of 50-500
characters per second. The programmer can also define the shape of characters for
this printer. Therefore it is possible to print many special characters, characters in
various sizes as well as charts and graphs on such printers. Dot matrix printers are very
commonly used in most computer systems.
2) Daisy Wheel Printer :

These printers are also called as letter quality printers. These printers have a
daisy wheel with a number of petals. A character is embossed on each wheel. There is
a motor which spins the wheel at a fast rate. When the desired character is brought to
the correct position, a hammer strikes the petal to produce the output. Thus these
printers are impact printers. The letter quality of these printers is much superior as
compared to the dot matrix printers. But they are slow and typically print in the range of
10-50 characters per second.
3) Line Printer:
Line printers are very fast printers which print at speed of 200-2500 lines per minute.
These printers are impact printers and normally have 132 print positions per line.
Different types of character set are available for different printers. Line printers are
normally used in applications where large volumes of data are to be printed.
Fig 2.9 A Line printer
The two types of line printers are :

(i) Drum printers
This consists of a metallic cylinder. On the surface of this drum there are
characters in bands. Each column or band on the drum contains all the characters.
Opposite to each band there is a hammer located behind the paper. The drum rotates at
a fast rate. The hammer strikes the paper along with the inked ribbon and produces the
output. One line is printed in each revolution of the printer.
(ii) Chain printers
In the chain printers there is one print hammer for each print position on a line. There is
a fast moving chain called the print chain. W hen this chain rotates, the print hammer and the
inked ribbon strike the paper against the proper character on the chain.
b) Non Impact Printer

They use thermal, chemical, electrostatic and inkjet technologies for printing as against
the hammer mechanism of impact printers. E.g. Laser printers, DeskJet printers.
Ink Jet Printer:

Ink jet printer is a non impact printer. It prints characters by spraying ink from tiny
nozzles onto the paper. A special type of ink which has a high iron content is used. This
ink is charged electrically when it comes out of the nozzle. This ink is absorbed by the
paper and dries instantly. The output of the ink jet printer is of a superior quality. Also it
is possible to obtain colored output. A number of character styles and sizes are available.
However, being a non impact printer it is not possible to prepare carbon copies with this
printer.
Fig 2.10 An Ink Jet Printer

Laser Printers : These printers are used where a very superior quality output
is desired. The image is created on a photo sensitive drum ; with a laser
beam. The laser is turned on and off when it moves back and forward across the drum. It
leaves a negative charge on the drum to which a positively charged black toner powder sticks.
When the paper rolls by the drum, the ink is transferred to the paper. Laser
printers have a buffer memory to store entire pages and hence their speed is v ery fast.
The biggest advantage of these printers is that no mechanical movement is involved,
therefore
they are noiseless in operation. However there are comparatively expensive.
2.3.2 Plotter :
A plotter is an output device used in applications where printouts of graphs and
drawings are required. Plotters are of two types :
Fig 2.11 plotter
1) Flat bed i.e. X-Y plotter:

This plotter plots on a paper which is fixed on a rectangular flatbed table. One recording
pen moves in the x direction and one in the y direction to plot on the paper. Color plotting
is al so possible by using pens of different colors.
2) Drum Plotter:
In this plotter the paper on which the output is to be obtained, is placed over a drum.
The drum rotates back and forth to produce motion. The pen is mounted horizontally
across the drum and the horizontal motion of the pen is achieved with the help of the
pen holder. The drum and the holder move simultaneously to produce output. Multi
coloured printing is possible by changing the pens.
The speed of plotters is very slow. Therefore normally the output is first sent to some
secondary storage device like a magnetic tape and then directed to the plotter.
2.3.3 Video Display Terminal:
Fig 2.12 : Screen - Flat Panel Display & Monitor
• CRT:
An electron beam is moved across a phosphor coated screen to produce the image.
The CRT can be monochrome or colored. This screen normally has 25 lines and 80
characters.
• Flat Panel Display :
The most common flat panel display is the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). This does not
have a picture tube. The other type of display is the gas plasma screen.
• The Video Display Terminal:

The most popular output device in direct access processing is the Video Display
Terminal. These terminals display information instantaneously. The monitor and the
keyboard together are called a terminal. The types of terminals are :
Dumb Terminal:
This is a combination of a keyboard and monitor which can send or receive
data, but cannot process the data.
Smart Terminal: A smart terminal has an inbuilt microprocessor. It can perform

arithmetic, logic and control functions. They also have some memory capacity. So
they can store the data before sending to the processor. They can also control the
cursor movement.
Intelligent Terminal: This type of terminal also has an inbuilt microprocessor which
can be programmed by the user. These terminals also have limited processing
capability. They can communicate with other terminals and processors.
2.3.4 Computer Output Microfilm (COM):

This technology is used to record the computer output as microscopic filmed images.
Information is recorded on a roll of microfilm. A microfilm recorder displays the
information onto a screen. An inbuilt camera then takes pictures of this information. A
microfilm reader is used to view this information. COM devices are normally used in
application where there are large volumes of data.
COM devices are much faster than the normal printers. Also since the size of these films
is very small the space required for storage is very less as compared to printed output.
However since COM systems are highly sophisticated they are relatively expensive and
are mainly used where there are high volumes of data.

Answer in brief.
a. What is a terminal? Name any two types of terminals.
.......................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................
b. W hat is an impact printer? Name one impact printer.
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
2.4 SUMMARY
The devices of the computer system which are a means of communication

between the computer system and the outside world are called as peripheral devices.
Those devices which accept data from the user are input devices, and those devices
that give information from the computer to the user or store it in secondary storage dev
ices for later use are output devices.
Input Output Interfaces are the processors which convert the data input by the
user into a form which can be understood by the computer and also convert output
generated by the computer into a human readable form. Data can be entered in the

computer directly i.e. online or after first preparing it and entering later i.e. offline.
The various input devices are:
1. Punched cards - data is first recorded into these cards using standard codes and
then fed to the computer with a card punch machine. Though cheap, their major
drawbacks are that they cannot be reused and require large storage space.
2. Keyboard - is the most commonly used device for on line data entry. It is very
easy to use, inexpensive and allows on-line data editing.
3. Mouse -is a pointing device used along with a keyboard to control cursor
movement, select data etc. Light pen, joystick and track ball are also similar devices
used for cursor control.
4. A digitizer - This converts pictorial data into a digital form which can be directly
entered and stored in a computer.
5. A scanner can directly enter text and images into computer memory using light
source or magnetic ink recognition.
6. A voice recognition system converts the speech of the operator into electrical
signals for data entry.
Output Devices:
The common output devices are :
1) Printer - these are of two types
: impact and non impact.
Impact printers produce output on paper and use a hammer to strike a character against
a ribbon.
Non impact printers use thermal, chemical, electrostatic and inkjet technologies to
produce output. Some of the commonly used printers are dot matrix, Line printers, Drum
printers, Ink jet printers and laser printers.
2) Plotter: Plotters are mainly use for output of graphs and drawings. The
common plotters are Flat Bed Plotters and Drum Plotters.
3) Video Display Terminals : Some of the popular video output devices are
the monitor, Liquid Crystal Display, and a terminal which is a combination of a monitor
and keyboard together.
4) Computer Output Microfilm: These are highly sophisticated output devices

which record computer output as microscopic filmed images.
2. 4 QUESTIONS FOR SELF - STUDY
1. Define : Peripheral Devices, Input Devices, Output Devices

2. Write Short notes on: Punched Cards, Keyboard, Optical Scanner, Plotter.
3. What are impact printers? Describe any two types of impact printers.
4. What is COM?
5. Describe the various types of computer terminals.
2.7 SUGGESTED READINGS

References

 

Chapter: 3
Primary Storage and Secondary

Storage Devices
3.0 Objectives
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Primary Storage
3.3 Secondary Storage Devices
3.4 Summary
3.5 C heck Your Progress- Answers
3.0 OBJECTIVES
This chapter “Primary Storage and Secondary Storage Devices” will enable you to
 Explain what is a storage unit and the criteria according to which the
different types of storage are ranked.
 Describe various types of storage devices and their storage capacities.
 Discuss various concepts related to memory of the computer
3.1 INTRODUCTION
Storage Unit: A storage unit is that part of the computer system which is used to
store the data and instructions to be processed. There are two types of storage:
1) Primary storage
2) Secondary storage.
Primary memory is also known as internal memory. This is a section of the CPU which
holds program instructions, input data and intermediate results. Primary memory is also
known as main memory.
Secondary storage is a memory that is stored external to the computer. It is

used mainly for permanent and long term storage of programs and data.
3.1.1 Characteristics of Storage units:

The storage units have special characteristics which decide the :
 Speed of operation of the computer,
 Its efficiency,
 Cost and
 The amount of data which the computer can store.
The storage unit of the computer is graded according to the following
characteristics (whether primary or secondary):
• Access time:
This is the time required to locate and retrieve a particular data from the storage unit.
A fast access to data and programs always yields higher efficiency.
• Storage Capacity:
Storage capacity is the amount of data that can be stored by a storage unit. Large
capacity of data storage is always desirable.
As seen earlier, the smallest unit of data which the computer understands is the bit. A
group of 8 bits forms a byte. The storage capacity of a computer system is defined in
Primary Storage and Secondary Storage Devices /31

terms of bytes or words. One kilobyte (1 KB) is 2^ or 1024 bytes,
eg. 4 KB memory implies that it can store 4 x 1024 bytes or characters.
Storage capacities of primary and secondary units are measured in Kilobytes,
megabytes, gigabytes.
• Cost:
Low cost storage media are always desirable.
Thus, storage units with faster access time, higher storage capacity and low costs
are the ones which are considered to be of a superior nature.
3.2 PRIMARY STORAGE
Primary storage is characterized by faster access time, less storage capacity

and higher costs as compared to secondary storage units. Primary storage or main
memory is that part of the computer system which stores the programs, data and
intermediate results during the program execution.
A primary storage comes as an integral part of all computer systems. It
comprises of a number of small locations. Each location has a unique number assigned
to it. This is called as the address of the location and it is used to identify the location.
Each location has a capacity to store a fixed number of bits. The number of bits that a
location can store is called as word length. Each location contains the same number of
bits.
Normally, primary memory size ranges from a few kilobytes on small computers
to several thousand kilo bytes and megabytes on larger machines.
The primary storage is volatile. Whenever the power is turned off the data is
lost. Primary storage is also called Random Access Memory (RAM). RAM means it is
possible to randomly select and use any storage location for storage and retrieval of
data. RAM is also called a read/write memory because data can both be read from and
written onto these units. When the power is switched off the data stored in the RAM is
lost.
Fig 3.1 Organization of Primary storage unit
• ROM: ROM is Read Only Memory. In this type of memory the data is permanently
stored. The information can only be read and new data cannot be written onto this
memory. However the contents of the ROM are not lost even when the power is turned
off i.e. this memory is non-volatile. Such memories are also called as field stores, or
permanent stores.
There are a number of high level functions which are required to be performed
by the computer system. Such functions are performed by writing special programs
called micro programs. Micro programs generally execute the low level machine
functions. These programs are mainly used as a substitute for hardware. Such programs
can be stored on ROMs and be used again and again. This results in reducing the
hardware of the system. ROM helps to increase the
efficiency of the CPU as it can perform specialized tasks. ROM comes in the form of a
chip. Once information is stored on a ROM chip it cannot be changed or altered.
 PROM: PROM is Programmable Read Only Memory. These are ROMs which can be
programmed. A special PROM programmer is used to enter the program on the PROM.
Computer Fundamentals /32

Once the chip has been programmed, information on the PROM cannot be altered.
PROM is non v olatile ie. data is not lost when power is switched off.
• EPROM : Another type of memory is the Erasable Programmable Read Only
Memory.
It is possible to erase the data which has been previously stored on an EPROM and
write new data onto the chip.
 Cache Memory:
This is a very special type of high speed memory. This memory cannot be
accessed by the user. The main function of this cache memory is to make the programs
and data available to the CPU very fast.
Access time of memory is generally very high as compared to the execution
time of the GPU. Therefore a cache, which is a very small but fast memory, is used
between the CPU and the main memory. This memory also called a high speed buffer.
A cache stores those segments of programs and data which are frequently needed. It
makes available this data to the CPU at a very fast rate thus increasing the efficiency.
 Registers :
Registers are used to retain information temporarily. These are special memory units
which are not actual parts of the main memory, but allow efficient mov ement of
information between the various units of the computer system. The registers receive
 information, hold it temporarily and make it available as and when required.
A computer uses a number of registers, where each register performs a specific
function. Some of the common registers are :
1. Memory Address Register (MAR): The function of this register is to hold the
address of the current or active memory location.
2. Memory Buffer Register (MBR): This register holds the contents of the address
from which data is read or to which data has been written.
3. Program Control Register : It holds the address of the next instruction to
be executed.
Accumulator Register: It holds the initial data, the intermediate results and the
final data of the program under execution.
4. Instruction Register: This register holds the current instruction being executed.
Input/output Register: The function of this register is to communicate with the
Input/output devices.
The storage capacity of primary storage is limited. It is normally not sufficient to

accommodate all the data. Therefore secondary storage medium is used to store large
volumes of data. The cost of secondary memory is much less as compared to primary
memory, however access time of primary memory is very fast. The data stored on
secondary storage is transferred to the primary storage as and when required.
Secondary storage is also called auxiliary memory. Secondary storage is used for
storing copies of data and programs. This is a non volatile memory and is stored external
to the computer.

1. Answer in 1-2 words:
a. Name the two types of storage:
.............................................................................................................
b. Name the characteristics according to which the storage devices are ranked
.............................................................................................................
c. Give e the names of any two registers used by the computer:
............................................................................................................
2. Give the full form of:
a. RAM b.ROM c. PROM d. EPROM

3.3 SECONDARY STORAGE DEVICES
Information stored on secondary storage devices can be accessed in two ways:
 Sequential Access and


 Direct Access:
3.3.1 Sequential Access Devices:
Sequential or serial access

In sequential access data can be accessed only in the sequence in which it
has been stored. Typical sequential access storage device is the magnetic tape. These
types of devices are useful in applications like pay slip printing where the data is to be
accessed one after the other.
Types of Access Devices:
a) Punch Paper Tape:
Punched paper tapes were the early devices of data storage. Data is coded onto a paper
tape as a combination of punched holes across the width of the tape. Each row on the tape
represents one character. The data has to be coded on the tapes using special coding
systems. The punched paper tapes are a low cost storage medium and their storage capacity
is unlimited. However, the paper is susceptible to wear and tear and mishandling. Nowadays,
punched paper tapes are rarely being used wear and tear and mishandling. Nowadays,
punched paper tapes are rarely being used.
Fig. 3.2 Sequential Access Devices: Paper tape, magnetic tapes
b) Magnetic Tape:
A magnetic tape is a ribbon of Mylar which is coated with a thin layer of iron
oxide material on one side. This tape is stored on a cassette or cartridge, or reel .The
iron oxide material can be magnetized and the data is recorded on the tape in the form
of magnetized and non-magnetized spots. A magnetic tape drive is used to read data
from the tape or write information to the tape. The tape drive has a read/write head to
access or store information respectively.
Magnetic tape is a read write device where the data can be written as well as
erased and new data recorded on the same area. The tape is divided into vertical
columns and horizontal rows. The columns are called frames and the rows are called
tracks. Special computer codes are used for recording data on the tape. One character
is recorded on each frame. Most modern tapes have 9 tracks, and use the EBCDIC code
for data representation. The actual number of characters that can be stored on an inch
of a tape is known as the density of the tape.
The storage capacity of magnetic tapes is very large. This capacity is measured in
terms of bytes per inch. Most common tape densities are 800 bpi, 1400 bpi. Nowadays tapes
with much higher densities of the order of 4000 bpi are also available.
The records in a tape can be of any size. Also all the records in a given file need
not be same in length. Thus the tapes can store fixed length and v variable length
records. In between two consecutive records the computer automatically keeps a
fraction of the tape blank. This blank space is called the Interlock gap, While reading
from the tape, the drive takes a finite amount of time to physically stop when the end of

the record is reached. Therefore this interlock gap is created to avoid loss of any data
of the subsequent record that may have been stored
while the drive mechanism comes to a halt.
Advantages of Magnetic Tapes:
- High data density and virtually unlimited storage
- Low in cost
- Easy to handle and portable from one computer to another.
Limitations are:
- Support only Sequential access
- Tapes are sensitive to dust; humidity and temperature, hence require proper
storage facilities.
3.3.2 Direct Access Storage Devices

Random or direct access
In random access the data at any location on the storage unit can be accessed
directly without having to follow the sequence in which it has been stored. Typical dev
ices that support direct access are the magnetic disk and magnetic drum.
a) Magnetic Disk: A magnetic disk is a thin metallic/Mylar platter circular in shape. It is
coated on both sides with magnetic material. A number of these disks are mounted on
a disk pack, on a central shaft. Thus all the disks in the disk pack move at the same
speed, simultaneously in the same direction. These disks are also called as hard disks
or fixed disks. Hard disk can be permanently installed in the drive or can also be in the
form of a removable cartridge. The data are recorded as magnetic spots on the coating
of the disk. The presence of a magnetic spot represents1 and the absence represents
a 0. The standard binary code, 8 -bit EBCDIC is used for recording data on the disk.
Information is stored on both the surfaces of the disk. Each disk is divided into a number
of concentric circles called tracks. All the corresponding tracks in all the surfaces are
together called a cylinder. Information is not stored on the outer surface of the upper
plate and the lower surface of the bottom plate.
In some of the disks the outer tracks contain more data bits since the outer
circumference is greater. However, in most of the disks each track stores the same
number of characters. This means that the inner tracks, with a smaller circumference
are more densely packed than the outer tracks.
Magnetic disk is a random or direct access storage device. The data is read
from or written onto the disk surface with the use of read/write heads. These heads are
of flying type. They do not come in actual contact with the surface of the disk.
There are two types of disk systems:
1) Moving head System:
This consists of one read/write head for each disk surface. This head is mounted on an

access arm which moves in and out. Thus each head moves horizontally across the
surface of the disk and can access each track individually.
2) Fixed head System:
In this system the access arm does not move. A large number of read/write heads one for
each track are distributed over the surface of the disk. In this system the data access
becomes very fast. However, extra space is needed to accommodate all the heads. The time
required to access the data stored on the disk depends upon the following factors:
•The seek time - the time required for positioning the read/write head over the
appropriate track
•The latency time - the time required to spin the required data under the head. This
time is also called the search time.
b) Floppy Disks :
Floppy disks are made up of flexible Mylar coated with iron oxide. This disk is
enclosed in a square plastic jacket to protect the surface of the disk from dust. A floppy disk
is to be inserted in the floppy disk drive of the computer system to read or write information.
The read/write head of the drive makes a direct contact with the floppy disk.
Fig 3.4
While accessing or storing data, Floppy disks come in various sizes

  8 inch floppy disks
  51/4 inch floppy disks
 31/2 inch floppy disks
A floppy disk can be single sided or double sided i.e data can be written on a
Fig. 3.4 Floppy disks: 51/4 inch and 31/2 inch single side or on both the sides. A double
sided disk drive is required to read data from
a double sided disk. This disk drive has two heads, one for each side. A single
sided drive has only one head. Floppy disks can also be single side double density and
double side double density depending upon their storage capacity.
Floppy disks are a very popular storage medium since they are small in size,
relatively cheap and can store data on line. Floppy disks are also very portable. They
can be carried form one place to another very easily.
c) Winchester Disk: In a Winchester, the disks are permanently enclosed in a

sealed container. The disks are coated with a special lubricant to reduce friction with
the read/write head. This technology allows for an increase in the number of tracks on
the disk, and higher storage density. Winchester disks are fast and highly reliable.
They are used extensively in micro computers.
d) Magnetic Drum: This is a cylinder whose outer surface is coated with a thin
layer of magnetic material. A motor rotates on the cylinder at a constant speed. Data is
recorded on the tracks of the drum as magnetized spots. A set of stationary read/write
heads are positioned slightly away from the surface of the drum. Data is read from and
written onto this drum with the help of these heads. The drum rotates are relatively fast
speeds of the order of a several thousand rotations per minute. Magnetic drums have
faster data transfer rates as compared to disks. However their storage capacity is
limited. Magnetic drums are rarely used today.

3.3.3 Optical Devices
a) Optical Disk: An optical disk is made up of a rotating disk which is coated with a
thin reflective metal. To record data on the optical disk, a laser beam is focused on the
surface of the spinning disk. The laser beam is turned on and off at varying rates! Due
to this, tiny holes (pits) are burnt into the metal coating along the tracks. W hen data
stored on the optical disk is to be read, a less powerful laser beam is focused on the
disk surface. The storage capacity of these devices is tremendous; the Fig. 3.5 Optical
disk access time is relatively fast. The biggest drawback of the optical disk is that it is
a permanent storage device. data once written cannot be erased. Therefore it is a
read only storage medium. A typical example of the optical disk is the CD-ROM.
Fig 3.5
 Optical Card :
The optical card has an optical laser encoded strip which can store
approximately 2 megabytes of data. These cards are the size of a credit card. Optical
cards find use only in specific areas like storing credit records or medical histories of
people.
 Optical Tape :
Optical tapes are similar to magnetic tapes in appearance. However optical

laser techniques are used to write data on the tapes. Like optical disks optical tapes too
are read only storage devices.

Answer in 1-2 Sentences:
a. What are the methods with which the data on the secondary storage devices can
be accessed?
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
....
b. Name any two sequential access devices.
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
....
c. Name any two direct access storage devices.
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
....
d. Name any two optical devices. Name the factors which determine the time
required to access data stored on the disk.
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................

3.4 SUMMARY
The storage unit is that part of the computer system which stores the data and
instructions. The two types of storage are primary storage and secondary storage. The
characteristics of the storage unit are access time, storage capacity and cost.
Primary storage is an integral part of all computer systems. Primary storage is
also called as Random Access Memory. This memory is volatile. The data stored on this
memory is lost when the power is turned off. There are special types of memories which
come in the form of chips. Micro programs which perform low level machine functions
and which are used as a substitute for hardware are stored on such chips. Such
memories are called field stores or permanent stores or Read Only Memory (ROM).
Data can be permanently stored in this type of memory. Other similar memories are
PROM, EPROM. Cache memory is a special type of high speed memory. Special
memory units are used in computers which are not a part of the main memory. These
units hold data temporarily. These units are called registers, eg. Memory Address
Register, Instruction Register etc.
Secondary storage devices are used to store large amounts of data. Secondary
storage devices are cheaper as compared to primary storage. However their data
access time is less. Secondary storage is non volatile and stored external to the
computer. There are two ways in which data can be accessed from the secondary
devices,: sequential access and random access. Punched paper tape, magnetic tape is
sequential access devices. Punched paper tapes are nowadays rarely being used.
Magnetic tapes can store unlimited data and have a high data density. They are also
low in cost and portable. But since information can be accessed only sequentially, they
are slow.
Direct access or random access devices allow the access of data from any
storage location randomly, without having to follow the sequence in which it has been
stored. Magnetic disk is made of a thin Mylar platter and coated on both sides by
magnetic material. Data is recorded as magnetic spots on this disk. A number of such
disks are mounted on a disk pack. Each disk is divided into a number of concentric
circles called tracks. All the corresponding tracks in all the surfaces together are called
as a cylinder. These disks are also called hard disks and can be permanently installed
in a disk drive in the computer. Floppy disks are made of flexible mylar coated with iron
oxide. The floppy disks come in various sizes like 8 inch, 5 inch, 3 inch. Floppy disks
are relatively cheap and can store data online. They are also very portable. Winchester
disks are permanently enclosed in a sealed container. A magnetic drum is a cylinder
whose outer surface is coated with magnetic material. The drums have faster data
transfer rate as compared to disks. However their storage capacity is limited.
Optical laser techniques are used to write data onto optical dev ices like optical
disks, optical tapes and optical cards. The storage capacities of these dev ices are
tremendous. But these are permanent storage devices.
1. Discuss what storage units are. What are the types of storage units?
Describe the characteristics of the storage units.
2. Discuss what is volatile and non-volatile memory.
3. Define registers. Write in short about the most commonly used registers
in the computer systems.
4. Explain the methods by which data on a secondary storage device can
be accessed.
5. Describe any two sequential access devices.
6. Describe any two direct access storage devices.
7. What are moving head systems and fixed head systems?
8. Discuss any two types of optical storage devices.

Concepts, Systems & Applications – P.K Sinha
References
Chapter 4
Computer Software, Programming

Languages and Program Development
4.0 Objectives
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Classification of Software
4.3 Programming Languages
4.4 Program Development Process
4.5 Summary
4.8 Suggested Reading’s
4.0 OBJECTIVES
Friends after studying this lesson, you will be able to :

 State the definition of software, the classification of software viz Application
 Discuss various programming languages and their evolution from Machine

Language to Fourth Generation languages, through assembly and high level
 languages.
 Describe translators and their types
 Discuss program development process and the various stages in
the development of a computer program.
4.1 INTRODUCTION
As is already seen, a computer cannot do anything on its own. It has to be provided a

detailed set of instructions to perform a specific task to achieve a desired goal, this set of
instructions, which are written in the form which is understood by the computer, is known as
a computer program. The program controls the processing of the computer.
4. 2 CLASSIFICATION OF SOFTWARES
Software means a set of programs, procedures and other associated

documentation which describes what the program does and how it is to be used.
Hardware and software both have to work together. A number of software’s can be run
on the same hardware to perform different types of jobs. The software acts as an interface
between the user and the computer.
Software is mainly classified into:
 Application Software
 System Software
4.2.1 Application Software:

Application software is a program or a set of programs which are written to carry
out a specific application.eg. Payroll, financial accounting etc. Nowadays special
application software or packages for specialized areas like drawing, engineering,
manufacturing, banking, and publishing are available. The set of programs which
together make an application package are called application programs.
Computer Software, Programming Languages and Program Development /71

4.2.2 System Software :
The systems software controls the working of the computer system. It helps the
user to use the computer by allowing him to communicate with the system. System software
controls the working of other software’s, hardware, hardware devices like printers, memory,
CPU etc. Thus, they make the operation of the computer more efficient. The programs
included in system software are systems programs. Without the systems programs, it would
not be possible for the application programs to work on the computer. The systems software
is generally provided by the manufacturer of the computer hardware. Without the systems
software the hardware would not work.
4.2.3 Utility Software:
These are a set of programs or tools which are used in program development
or for performing limited tasks, eg. scandisk.
4.2.4 Firmware:
With the advances in technology it is now possible to make the software
available on ROM (Read Only Memory) chips. These chips, which form a part of the
software, have the programs in them. Thus programs available on hardware are called
Firmware. Today not only systems software, but even some dedicated application
programs are being made available on firmware.
A B
1. Application Software a. Program to control system working of computer
2. Firmware b. Scandisk
3. Systems Software c. payroll
4. Utility Software d. Software available on Rom chips
2. Answer in 1-2 sentences.

What is software?
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................
4.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
A programming language is a means of communication for the user to

communicate with the computer system. The programming language is a set of
instructions which tells the computer what to do. This is a language which is understood
by both man and machine. There are a number of programming languages. However
all these languages are designed to perform at least certain basic instructions and
operations; These instructions and operations are :
- Input/output operations,
- Arithmetic operations - mathematical operations like addition, subtraction,
- Logical operations - Comparison for equality, inequality etc.
- Movement of instructions and data to and from the CPU.
To use the programming language, the programmer has to strictly follow the rules of
the language including all commas, punctuation marks etc. otherwise the program will
not be understood by the computer. Thus, although the programming languages are
much smaller and simpler than the natural languages, they have to be used with the
greatest accuracy.
4.3.1 Types of programming languages

a) Machine Language
b) Assembly Language
c) High Level Language
a) Machine Language:
This is the only language which is understood by the computer. This is the language
nearest to the machine. In this language the programs are written in binary code i.e. the
instructions are made only by a combination of binary digits 0 and 1. Machine language
may vary from machine to machine depending upon the computer architecture. Machine
languages execute the fastest since they are immediately understood by the computer.
No translation
of the programs is required. Also they make efficient use of primary memory. But it is
very difficult to program in this binary or machine language. It is also very tedious and
time consuming, since all the instructions have to represent as a series of Os and 1 s.
Therefore there is always a possibility of errors.
b) Assembly Language:
The Os and 1 s of the machine language were substituted by letters and symbols in
assembly languages. The assembly languages use mnemonics (memory aid) in place of
operation codes. The language uses symbols instead of numbers to write programs. A
program written using such symbols in the assembly language is called the source program.
The program written in assembly language has to be converted into machine language for
use by the computer. This is achieved with the help of the assembler. The assembler is a
system program which is supplied by the manufacturer. It converts the assembly program
into a machine readable program and the resulting program is called the object program.
Thus the input to the assembler is the source program and the output of the assembler is the
object program. The assembler translates each assembly language instruction into a
corresponding machine code.
It is relatively easy to write programs in assembly language as compared to machine

language. They can be also modified relatively easily. However, like the machine
language, assembly languages are also hardware dependant. When the machine
changes, the program has to be changed.
Since the machine language and assembly language both are dependent on the
hardware, they are referred to as low level programming languages. Both these
languages require a deep understanding of the internal structure of the computer.
1. High Level Languages :

Higher level languages make use of English like words and statements and
mathematical symbols for instructions. Higher level languages make programming
easier, since they are relatively easy to learn. Less time is required to write programs
in high level languages. The programmer is not required to know the detailed working
of the computer system in order to program in a high level language. They are machine
independent. Higher level languages are also known as problem oriented languages.
However a high level language is not directly understood by the computer. It is required
to be translated into machine language. Therefore they generally execute more slowly
and require more memory than the same program written in assembly language.
The programs which are used to translate programs written in high level
language into machine language are known as translators. The types of translators
are:
I) Compiler
II) Interpreter
I) Compiler:
The compiler translates the entire source program into machine language
program at once. The source code remains intact. Once a program is compiled it can
be run as many times as required, without being required to be recompiled. A compiler
can translate only those programs which have been written in the language for which it
is designed. Also each machine has to have its own compiler.
A compiler is a program which normally resides on the secondary storage
device. It gets loaded into the CPU when the source program is to be translated. A
compiler checks for errors like illegal symbols, statements etc. during compilation and
gives out a list of error messages at the end of execution. This is a very valuable aid to
the programmer to correct the programs. However, the compiler is incapable of
detecting any logical errors in the program.
II) Interpreter:
The interpreter is the program which translates a high level language
program into machine language as follows :
- it takes one statement from the high level language program
- translates it into a machine instruction and the instruction is immediately executed.
Since the program is translated statement by statement, the machine level program of
the source program is not stored anywhere in memory.
Therefore, the program has to be interpreted every time when it has to be run.
Thus no object code is generated. The interpreted programs are generally slower than
compiled programs. However, if any changes are made in the source program it can
interpret only those statements and it is not required to compile the entire program
again. Interpreters are relatively easy to write and smaller in size as compared to
compilers.
Thus assemblers, compilers and interpreters are systems software which translate
the source program into object program i.e. program which can be understood by the
computer. These translators are also known as language processors.
c) Fourth Generation Languages (4 GL) :

Programming languages are sometimes classified with generations - from the lowest
to the highest.
The First Generation - Machine Language
The Second Generation - Assembly Language
The Third Generation - High4.evel Language
Unlike procedural languages which require that a programmer writes all the
steps to complete the program and generate output, which are related to a more
structural approach towards programming. It is the first standardized language.
 BASIC:
BASIC stands for Beginners All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. The
language was developed by Prof. John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz in USA. It irrelatively
easy to learn. Programs written in BASIC language are interpreted. It resembles
FORTRAN in many ways, but can also be effectively used in business applications. Thus
it can be used for both business and scientific applications. BASIC is one of one most
popular language for use in microcomputer systems.
 COBOL :
Common Business Oriented Language was designed especially for
business applications. A COBOL program is constructed from sentences, paragraphs,
sections and divisions. A COBOL program must have four divisions: the identification
division, the environment division, data division, and the procedure division. Thus
COBOL is a self documenting language. It is one of the most widely used commercial
languages.
 RPG :
Report Generator is a general purpose, business oriented language designed to
generate output reports. The language was developed by IBM and was launched for use
on the IBM 1401 computer. It is best suited for applications where large data files have
to be read and extensive reports are to be output. It has limited mathematical capability
and is not suited for scientific applications.
 PASCAL :
PASCAL has been named after the French mathematician Blaise Pascal; It allows the
programmer to structure the programming language. The features of PASCAL allow it
to be used for both scientific and business applications. It is a very powerful language.
It is implemented on several computers including microcomputers and minicomputers
and is also widely used to teach programming to students and beginners.
 C:
C was designed and developed at Bell Laboratories USA. It is a block structured
language which allows the use of various concepts of structured programming. C also
has the advantage of being able to manipulate internal processor registers of the
computer. Thus it has some powers of the assembly language. C is also very portable.
C is the most popular language used for systems programming like designing compilers
and operating systems.
 LISP:
LISP stands for list processing. This language is mostly used in non numeric
applications which require logical rather than numerical operations. Therefore it is widely
used in games, pattern recognition and artificial intelligence.
Check Your Progress - 4.3

A B
(i) COBOL a. Formula Translation
(ii) BASIC b.
Non numeric applications (iii) C c.
Structured Programming
(iv) FORTRAN d.
needs an interpreter
(v) LISP e. widely used language for systems programming
(vi) PASCAL f. Self documenting language

4.4 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
While writing a computer program, it is absolutely necessary to write .each and

every instruction in the correct sequence. The logical control of element within the
computer program is the most important aspect of programming.
The various stages in the development of a computer program are :

  Problem Definition
  Program Design
  Coding
  Debugging
  Testing
  Documentation
 Maintenance
4.4.1 Problem Definition:

The first step in the process of program development is the thorough
understanding and identification of the problem for which is the program or software is
to be developed. In this step the problem has to be defined formally. All the factors like
Input/output, processing requirement, memory requirements, error handling, interfacing
with other programs have to be taken into consideration in this stage.
4.4.2 Program Design:
The next stage is the program design. The software developer makes use of
tools like algorithms and flowcharts to develop the design of the program.
 Algorithm:
An algorithm represents the logic of the processing to be performed. It is a sequence of
instructions which are designed in such a way that if they are executed in the specified
sequence, the desired goal is achieved. It is imperative that the result be obtained after
execution of a finite number of steps.
In an algorithm,
- Each and every instruction has to be precise and clear.
- The instruction has to be executed in a finite time.
- When the algorithm terminates the desired result should be achieved.
  Flowchart :
A flowchart is a pictorial representation of the algorithm. It represents the
steps involved in the procedure and shows the logical sequence of processing using
boxes of different shapes. The instruction to be executed is mentioned in the boxes.
These boxes are connected together by solid lines with arrows, which indicate the flow
of operation.
The first step in the design of a program is the algorithm. The algorithm is then
represented in the form of a flowchart and the flowchart is then expressed in the
computer language to actually prepare the computer program.
Fig. 4.2 Symbols used in a
flowchart.
The symbols used in the flowchart are:
Terminal (Start/Stop):
The symbol denotes the beginning, ending and halt operation in the program
logic. Thus it is the first and the last Symbols! in any nov-chart to indicate the start and
stop of the process.
Input/output:
Indicates when an input or output operation is to performed in the process.
Processing:
This represents the arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction etc, and
the movement of data in the process
Decision:
The decision symbol is used to represent a point where one or more alternatives
is possible. The criteria for decision making are written in the decision box. On each
path the condition for which the particular path is to be followed has to be written. During
the execution the appropriate path will be followed depending upon the result of the
decision.
Flow lines:
These indicate the flow of operation ie. The sequence of instruction execution. Flow
lines are normally drawn with arrowhead indicating the direction of flow of the program.
Connectors:
A connector is used to indicate the logic flow from one page to another when
the flowchart becomes very long. Connectors do not represent any operation. They are
mainly used in the flowchart for clarity and convenience.
Types of logic used in the flowchart:
Sequential Execution: In this logic the instructions are executed one after the other
sequentially.
Transfer of control: This is a logic which is used when the option to be chosen depends
upon the result of the decision. The control is transferred to a particular path if the result
of the decision branches to that path.
Looping: In looping or repetitive logic, an instruction or a number of instructions are

executed more than once. The instructions are executed till the decision criteria is true.
The decision criteria can be placed before the loop or after the loop depending upon the
statements which are to be executed in the loop.

Let us see some examples of writing algorithms and flowcharts.
(1) Write an algorithm and develop a flowchart to convert the temperature input
in Celsius scale to Fahrenheit scale.
Solution :
First write a detailed stepwise algorithm to do the

conversion Step 1: Start.
Step 2: Input temperature in Celsius (C).
Step 3: Convert to Fahrenheit (F) using the formula F = 9/5 * C + 32.
Step 4: Print the temperature in Fahrenheit (F).
Step 5: Stop.
Next on the basis of this step wise algorithm develop the flowchart using the
appropriate flowchart symbols as follows:
Fig 4.3
(2) Write an algorithm and flowchart to read two numbers A and B and
compare them. If
A is greater than B print, A is greater than B else print B is
greater than A. Algorithm :
Step 1: Start.
Step 2: Input values of A and B.
Step 3: Compare values of A and B (Is A >
B?).
Step 4: If yes then print “A is greater than B”.
Step 5: If no, the print “B is greater than A”.
Now draw the flowchart for the above.
Other techniques which can be useful in designing of the program are:
Modular Programming:
Using this method the entire program is divided into smaller manageable
modules so that the smaller modules can be designed, coded and debugged
separately.
Top-Down Design:
Here the overall problem is first defined in terms of general subtask. These
subtasks are divided into further sub tasks.
4.4.3 Coding:
Once the design process is complete, the actual computer program is written,
i.e. the instructions are written in a computer language. Coding is generally a very small
part of the entire program development process and also a less time consuming activity
in reality. In this process all the syntax errors i.e. errors related to spelling, missing
commas, undefined labels etc. are eliminated. For effective coding some of the
guidelines which are applied are
  Use of meaningful names and labels of variables,
  Simple and clear expressions,
  Modularity with emphasis on making modules generalized,
  Making use of comments and indenting the code properly,
 Avoiding jumps in the program to transfer control.
4.4.4 Debugging:
At this stage the errors in the programs are detected and corrected. This stage
of program development is an important process. Debugging is also known as program
validation.
Some common errors which might occur in the programs include:

 Un initialization of variables,

 Reversing of order of operands,

  Confusion of numbers and characters,
 Inverting of conditions eg jumping on zero instead of on not zero.
The tools or methods which can be used to debug the programs include:
 Simulator -This is a computer program which simulates the execution of the
 program on another computer.
 Logic Analyzers: This test instrument detects the states of digital signals
during each clock cycle and stores them in memory. It then displays this data
 on the monitor.
 Breakpoints: This is introduced in the program to halt the execution at some
intermediate point. At this point, the values of the various inputs, outputs,
 variables etc. can be checked.
 Software interrupts: This is an instruction which saves the current value of the
program counter and then branches to a specific memory location. At this
 location there is the debugging program which displays the status information.
 Memory dump: This gives a listing of the current contents of a section of the
memory. Memory dumps are common in most simulator programs, and
 microcomputer systems.
 Trace routine: This program prints the current status of the processor at
specified intervals.
4.4.5 Testing (Validation):

The program is tested on a number of suitable test cases. A test plan of the
program has to be done at the stage of the program design itself. This ensures a thorough
understanding of the specifications. The most trivial and the most special cases should
be identified and tested. It is always useful to include the maximum and minimum values
of all variables as test data.
4.4.4 Documentation:
Documentation is a very essential step in the program development.
Documentation help$ the users and the people who maintain the software. This ensures
that future modification if required can be done easily. Also it is required during
redesigning and maintenance.
4.4.7 Maintenance:
Updating and correction of the program for changed
conditions and field experience is accounted for in maintenance.
Maintenance becomes essential in following situations:
- Change in specification,
- ChangelrY equipment,
- Errors which are found during the actual execution of the
program. Modularity, structured programming, thorough testing
and debugging and proper documentation greatly reduce the time
and cost of maintenance of the software.
1. Answer in 1-2 words.
a. Name any two stages in the development
of a computer program.
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
b. Name any two tools used to develop the program design,
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
c. Name and draw any two symbols used in
flowchart,
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
d. List any two methods used for debugging the program.
...........................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
e. List any two situations where the maintenance stage of program
development becomes essential.
..........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
2. Write algorithms and draw flowcharts for the
following:
a) Input the marks of five subjects of a student. Calculate
the percentage and print the grades as follows:
Grade A for 90% and above, grade B for percentage greater than or
equal to 75 and less than 90 and grade C for percentage less than
75. b) Find the area and perimeter of a rectangle given the sides s1
and s2.
4.5 SUMMARY
A set of programs, procedures and associated documentation together

constitute the computer software. The computer software is classified as :
Application Software : These carry out specific applications like payroll, financial
accounting etc.
Systems Software : This set of programs controls the execution of the computer
system. It controls the functions of the other software’s, and hardware.
Utility software : These are program tools used in program development or to

perform limited tasks.
Firmware : These are programs available on hardware i.e. ROM

chips.
Programming languages : A language is a set of instructions which tells the

computer what to do. All languages perform the basic operations of input/output,
arithmetic and logic operations and data movement from and to the CPU.
The broad categories of programming languages are:

Machine Language : The only language understood by the computer, it is a language
of
Os and 1s. It is machine dependant and difficult for the user to
learn.
Assembly Language : Assembly language uses mnemonics to write the

program code. This is then converted into machine language by the assembler.
High Level Languages : They make use of English like words and statements and
are easy to learn. They are translated into machine language with the use of compilers
and interpreters. Some of the commonly used high level languages are FORTRAN,
BASIC, COBOL, RPG, PASCAL, C, LISP etc.
Fourth Generation Languages : These are non procedural languages. They are
normally used in conjunction of a data base and its data dictionary.
The various stages in the development of a computer

program are:
Problem Definition : Thorough understanding and identification of the problem for
which a program is to be written.
Program Design : Tools like algorithms and flowcharts are used to design the program.
The techniques employed in design are modular-programming, top-down design.
Coding : At this stage, the actual program is written using a computer

language.
Debugging : Here the errors in the program are detected and

corrected.
Testing : A test plan for the program which has been done at the design stage is
applied here to test the program on a number of suitable test cases.
Documentation : This stage ensures that further modifications, redesign and

maintenance can be made easy to the user who maintains the software.
Maintenance : Updating and correction of programs is covered in

maintenance.
Thus a computer program is not just writing code in a computer language, but
a detailed procedure of going through the various stages of definition, design, coding,
debugging, testing, documentation and maintenance.
1. Describe the kinds of software.

2. What is a programming language? What are the types
of programming languages? Describe each in brief.
3. What are translators? Describe the types of translators.
4. Describe in brief any two commonly used high level languages.
5. What are the steps in the program development? Describe any two.
6. Write short note on Algorithms and flowcharts.
7. Describe in brief the tools used for debugging computer programs.
8. Explain what is maintenance of a computer program and
when it becomes necessary.
4.8 SUGGESTED READING’S


REFERENCES
Chapter 5
Introduction to Operating Systems
5.0 Objectives
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Definition
5.3 Computer Processing Techniques,
5.4 Summary
5.0 OBJECTIVES
Friends, after studying the chapter “Operating Systems” You will be able to:
 Define an operating system and understand the functions of the system
 Discuss terms like resident and transient programs, throughput,
 response time etc.
 Explain the different processing techniques
5.1 INTRODUCTION
The operating system acts as an interface between the humans and the computer.
the operating system ensures smooth and efficient operation of a computer.
5. 2 DEFINITION
An Operating system is defined as an integrated set of programs which

manage the various resources and operations of a computer system. The operating
system acts as an interface between the humans and the computer. The operating
system ensures smooth and efficient operation of a computer.
 Memory management: Allocation of main memory and other storage to the
 system programs and the user data and programs.
 Input/output management: Management of the input/output devices and
 their assignment to the various programs that are being executed
 File management: The files have to be stored in various storage devices. They
have to be transferred from one storage device to another. This is taken care
 of by the Operating System.
 Data security and integrity: The data and programs have to be handled in
 such a way that they do not interfere with each other.
 Assigning priority to jobs: The operating system is the one which has to
 decide and allot priority to the jobs which are to be executed.
 Interpret commands and detect errors: Each of these functions are
performed by a program or a set of programs and all the programs together
make the operating system. Normally, there is one control program of the
operating system that resides in the main memory of the computer. This
program is known as the resident program. The other programs known as
transient programs or service programs reside on the disk and are accessed
as and when required. The total amount of work performed by the operating
 system over a period of time is known as throughput.
 The response time is the time interval between the time the user submits request
and the -time he receives the response. Response time is also known as
Introduction To operating Systems/85

turnaround time the efficiency of a computer system depends upon the
throughput and the response time.
 Functions of the Operating Systems : The operating systems
are designed to perform the following functions :

 Processor management: A process is a program in execution. The processor
is a hardware device which processes a sequence of instructions. Assigning
of processors to the different tasks being executed by the computer is
processor management.

a) A.............................is a program in
execution.
b) The control program of the operating system which resides in the main
memory of the
Computer is known as the..............................
c) The total amount of work performed by the operating system over a period of
time is the.................
d) Response time is also known as........................
2. Answer in 1-2 Sentences
a. List any two functions of an operating
system.
.............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
b. On what factors does the efficiency of the operating system depend?
.............................................................................................................................
5.3 COMPUTER PROCESSING TECHNIQUES
5.3.1 Batch Processing:
In batch processing, a numbers of jobs are collected by the operator offline and when
a batch of jobs gets collected they are input to the computer for processing. The jobs
are then processed without user intervention.
Typical applications of batch processing include applications like payroll,
preparation of bills etc. where the information is not to be updated freq 5.2.2
Spooling: Spooling is used to improve the processing speed of batch processing.
Spooling means Simultaneous Peripheral Output on Line. The process of storing input
data and output results on secondary storage is known as spooling. The input data is
stored on magnetic disks and is fed to the CPU when it is not too busy. The processor
then processes the data and the resulting output is again stored on secondary storage
device. Thus in spooling, the magnetic storage media acts as a buffer between the
memory and the input/ output devices.
In many computers special purpose input/output processors which can function
independent of the CPU are provided, thus leaving the main processor free once the
program execution is over. The I/O processors then print the spooled data from the
tape or disk on the printer. Thus spooling improves the efficiency of use of memory
and CPU.
5.3.3 Multiprogramming:
In multiprogramming the CPU is capable of running more than one program
concurrently. More than one programs can reside in the main memory at any given time,
however the processor is able to execute only one instruction at a time. The, operating
speed of the CPU is much faster than that of the I/O devices. Therefore when one program
is busy with I/O operations, the CPU is able to allocate time to other programs instead of
remaining idle. Thus a number of users can share CPU time.
A number of programs can reside in the main memory of the computer system.
The place in memory where a program resides is known as partition. Depending upon
the operating system, the actual number of partitions in the memory and the number of
programs that can reside simultaneously is decided. Thus in multiprogramming it is
possible to run a number of programs in much less time than would be required to
execute them one after the other.
Multiprogramming increases both the throughput and response time of the
computer system. However operating systems which can support multiprogramming
are required to have high memory capacity and at the same time effective mechanism
of protecting the memory.
5.3.4 Multiprocessing:
In multiprocessing systems, two or more CPUs are connected together.
Therefore it is possible to execute instructions from different programs at the same
time. Thus more than one instruction can be executed simultaneously. The idle time of
the computer reduces, since there is not user intervention in between jobs.
The disadvantages of batch processing are:
 The data has to be first accumulated and then processed. Therefore there is a
possibility of delay in execution of jobs,

 It is not possible to change priority of jobs. If both jobs have the same priority,
one of them has to wait in the batch till the complete execution of the other.
Execute different instructions of the same program. Different multiprocessing
systems use different types of memory configurations. Some systems have a Common
main memory for all the CPUs, in some systems each system has its own main memory
while in still others each CPU can have its own memory as well as share a common
memory with other processors.
Multiprocessing systems require a very complex and sophisticated operating
system to coordinate all the activities of the multiple CPUs and other devices.
Multiprocessing systems are also very expensive.
5.3.5 Time Sharing:
In time sharing, it is possible for multiple users to run more than one application
at the same time on the computer. This is accomplished by providing a=separate
;
terminal to each user. All these terminals are connected to the main computer. The
GPU time is divided among all the users on a scheduled basis. The time that each user
gets is called a time slice. The CPU switches from one user to the another, and e|^cutes
a part of the process in the time slice. This process continues till the job is executed. In
time sharing, like in multiprogramming only one program is in control of the CPU at any
given time.
In time sharing environment, it is not always possible that all the programs of
all the users reside in the main memory. Only the control program and some programs
reside in the main memory. The remaining programs are loaded from the secondary
memory as and when they are to be executed.
5.3.4 On line Processing:

In on line processing the transaction data is directly sent to secondary on-line storage devices by
the CPU without sorting, from the point where data is generated. The accessing and retrieval of
data is very fast. In these systems-devices are directly connected to the

CPU for input or inquiry.
5.3.5 Real Time Processing:
Real time processing is an on line processing system where the records are
updated and data is processed as soon as the transaction takes place-Real time
systems allow the users to communicate with the computer during the processing itself.
Typical examples of real time systems are the air line reservation market systems etc.
In real time systems a number of terminals may be linked to a single CPU. A number
of remote stations are connected to the computer with communication lines and several
stations operate simultaneously. The transactions update records. In off line
processing, the data processing is not directly controlled by the CPU. I n minicomputers
a number of terminals are used to enter the data onto a secondary storage like a tape
or disk. The data is validated, and then entered into the main CPU in batch mode for
processing.

Match the following.
A B
(i) Batch Processing a. Multiple user, multiple applications at same time
(ii) Spooling b. Multiple CPUs connected together
(iii) Multiprogramming c. off line data collection
(iv) Multiprocessing d. Simultaneous Peripheral Output Online
(v) Time Sharing e. multiple program execution at same time
5.4 SUMMARY
An Operating System is defined as an integrated set of programs which manage
the various resources and operations of a computer system. It is the interface between the
user and the computer. The functions of the operating system are
Processor Management: It assigns the processor to the various tasks which are being
executed by the computer.
Memory Management : Allocation of main memory and other storage to all the
programs and data.
Input/output Management: Management of I/O devices and their assignment to
various programs.
File Management: Managing the storage and transfer of files from various storage
devices.
Data Security and Integrity: Ensure that data and programs do not interfere with one
another.
Assign Priorities to various jobs which are to be executed and interpret
the various commands and detect and report errors.
A resident program is the control program of the operating system which
resides in the main memory of the computer system. Transient programs reside on
secondary storage devices and are accessed as and when required. The total amount
of work performed by the operating system over a period of time is known as
throughput. The time Interval between the time the user submits a request and receives
the response is known as response time or turnaround time. Throughput and response
time determine the efficiency of the operating system.
Computer Processing Techniques:

Batch Processing : A number of jobs are collected offline and the input to the
computer when a batch is complete. The jobs are then processed without user
intervention. In batch processing it is not possible to change the priority of jobs which
are once batched. Spooling : Spooling means Simultaneous Peripheral output on line.
The process of storing input data and output results on secondary storage dev ices is
spooling. The secondary storage media acts as a buffer between the memory and
input/output devices.
Multiprogramming: In this mode of processing, the CPU is capable of running more
than one program concurrently. Since a number of programs can reside in main
memory at any giv en time a number of users can share the CPU. Multiprogramming
increases both the throughput and efficiency of the computer system.
Multiprocessing : In a multiprocessing system two or more CPUs are connected
together. Thus more than one instruction can be executed simultaneously. It is also
possible to execute instructions from different programs at the same time.
Time Sharing : In time sharing, a separate terminal is provided for each user. All such
terminals are connected to the main computer. The CPU time is divided among all the
users.
On line Processing : In this processing, transaction data is directly sent to on-line
storage devices. Thus access and retrieval of data is very fast.
Off line Processing: In offline data processing, the data processing is not
directly controlled by the CPU. The data is first entered onto secondary storage devices
like a tape of disk. It is later validated and then entered into main CPU in a batch mode
for processing.

1. What is an operating system?
2. Discuss the functions of the operating system.
3. Define the terms response time and throughput.
4. What are resident programs and transient programs?
5. Write short notes on Batch processing and Spooling.
6. What is multiprogramming?
7. Discuss multiprogramming
8. Differentiate between on line processing and off line processing.


Chapter 6
Popular Operating System

6.0 Objectives
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Operating System
6.3 Unix Operating System
6.4 MS-DOS-Disk Operating System
6.5 Windows XP
6.4 Windows Vista
6.5 Windows 8
6.6 Linux
6.9 Summary
6.10 Check your Progress –Answers
6.11 Questions for Self –Study
6.0 OBJECTIVES
Friends, this chapter gives a brief introduction of some popular operating

systems. After learning this chapter you will be able to discuss the following operating
systems
 UNIX
 MS-DOS
  Windows XP
  Windows Vista
  Windows 8
 Linux
6.1 INTRODUCTION
An operating system, which is a kind of system software and the programs of it provides
interaction between user and computer components. There are various Operating
systems available.
6.2 OPERATING SYSTEM

An operating system is a software component of a computer system that is responsible
for the management of various activities of the computer and the sharing of computer
resources. It hosts the several applications that run on a computer and handles the
operations of computer hardware. Users and application programs access the services
offered by the operating systems, by means of system calls and application
programming interfaces. Users interact with operating systems through Command Line
Interfaces (CLIs) or Graphical User Interfaces known as GUIs. In short, operating
system enables user interaction with computer systems by acting as an interface
between users or application programs and the computer hardware. Here is an overview
of the different types of operating systems.
Types of Operating System.
Real-time Operating System:

It is a multitasking operating system that aims at executing real-time applications.
Real-time operating systems often use specialized scheduling algorithms so that they
can achieve a deterministic nature of behavior. The main object of real-time operating
systems is their quick and predictable response to events. They either have an event-
driven or a time-sharing design. An event-driven system switches between tasks based
of their priorities while time-sharing operating systems switch tasks based on clock
interrupts.
Popular Operating System/93

Multi-user and Single-user Operating Systems:
The operating systems of this type allow a multiple users to access a computer
system concurrently. Time-sharing system can be classified as multi-user systems as
they enable a multiple user access to a computer through the sharing of time. Single-
user operating systems, as opposed to a multi-user operating system, are usable by a
single user at a time. Being able to have multiple accounts on a Windows operating
system does not make it a multi-user system. Rather, only the network administrator is
the real user. But for a Unix-like operating system, it is possible for two users to login at
a time and this capability of the OS makes it a multi-user operating system
Multi-tasking and Single-tasking Operating Systems:

When a single program is allowed to run at a time, the system is grouped under
a single-tasking system, while in case the operating system allows the execution of
multiple tasks at one time, it is classified as a multi-tasking operating system. Multi-
tasking can be of two types namely, pre-emptive or co-operative. In pre-emptiv e
multitasking, the operating system slices the CPU time and dedicates one slot to each
of the programs. Unix-like operating systems such as Solaris and Linux support pre-
emptive multitasking.
Distributed Operating System:

An operating system that manages a group of independent computers and
makes them appear to be a single computer is known as a distributed operating
system. The development of networked computers that could be linked and
communicate with each other, gave rise to distributed computing. Distributed
computations are carried out on more than one machine. When computers in a group
work in cooperation, they make a distributed system.
Embedded System:
The operating systems designed for being used in embedded computer
systems are known as embedded operating systems. They are designed to operate on
small machines like PDAs with less autonomy. They are able to operate with a limited
number of resources. They are very compact and extremely efficient by design.
Windows CE, FreeBSD and Minix 3 are some examples of embedded operating
systems.
The operating systems thus contribute to the simplification of the human

interaction with the computer hardware. They are responsible for linking application
programs with the hardware, thus achieving an easy user access to the computers.
6.3 UNIX OPERATING SYSTEM

Unix (officially trademarked as UNIX, sometimes also written as UNIX with
small caps) is a computer operating system originally developed in 1949 by a group
of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian
Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna. Today’s Unix systems are split into
various branches, developed over time by AT&T as well as various commercial
vendors and non-profit organizations.
UNIX operating systems are widely used in both servers and workstations. The
UNIX environment and the client-server program model were essential elements in the
development of the Internet and the reshaping of computing as centered in networks
rather than in individual computers. Both Unix and the C programming language were
developed by AT&T and distributed to government and academic institutions, which
led to both being ported to a wider variety of machine families than any other operating
system. As a result, UNIX became synonymous with “open systems”.
UNIX was designed to be portable, multi-tasking and multi-user in a time-sharing
configuration. Unix systems are characterized by various concepts: the use of plain text for
storing data; a hierarchical file system; treating devices and certain types of inter-process
communication (IPC) as files; and the use of a large number of software tools, small
programs that can be strung together through a command line interpreter
using pipes, as opposed to using a single monolithic program that includes all of the
same functionality. These concepts are known as the Unix philosophy.
Under Unix, the “operating system” consists of many of these utilities along with
the master control program, the kernel. The kernel provides services to start and stop
programs, handles the file system and other common “low level” tasks that most
programs share, and, perhaps most importantly, schedules access to hardware to avoid
conflicts if two programs try to access the same resource or dev ice simultaneously. To
mediate such access, the kernel was given special rights on the system, leading to the
division between user-space and kernel-space.
6.3.1 Components
List of Unix programs
The Unix system is composed of several components that are normally
packaged together. By including — in addition to the kernel of an operating system —
the dev elopement environment, libraries, documents, and the portable, modifiable
source-code for all of these components, Unix was a self-contained software system.
This was one of the key reasons it emerged as an important teaching and learning tool
and has had such a broad influence. The inclusion of these components did not make
the system large — the original V5 UNIX distribution, consisting of copies of all of the
compiled binaries plus all of the source code and documentation occupied less than
10MB, and arrived on a single 9-track magnetic tape.
The names and file system locations of the Unix components have changed
substantially across the history of the system. Nonetheless, the V5 implementation is
considered by many to have the canonical early structure:
 Kernel — source code in /user/sys, composed of several sub-components:
 conf — configuration and machine-dependent parts, including boot code
 dev — device drivers for control of hardware (and some pseudo-hardware)
 Sys — operating system “kernel”, handling memory management, process
 scheduling, system calls, etc.
 h — header files, defining key structures within the system and important system-
specific invariables
Development Environment — Early versions of Unix contained a development
environment sufficient to recreate the entire system from source code:
 cc — C language compiler (first appeared in V3 Unix)
 as — machine-language assembler for the machine
 ld — linker, for combining object files
 lib — object-code libraries (installed in /lib or /usr/lib) libc, the system library with C
run-time support, was the primary library, but there have always been additional
libraries for such things as mathematical functions (libm) or database access. V5
Unix introduced the first version of the modern “Standard I/O” library stdio as part
of the system library. Later implementations increased the number of libraries
 significantly.
 make — build manager (introduced in PWB/UNIX), for effectively automating the
build process
 include — header files for software development, defining standard interfaces and
system invariants
 Other languages — V5 Unix contained a Fortran-55 compiler, a programmable
arbitrary- precision calculator (bc, dc), and the awk “scripting” language, and later
versions and implementations contain many other language compilers and toolsets.
Early BSD releases included Pascal tools, and many modern Unix systems also
include the GNU Compiler Collection as well as or instead of a proprietary compiler
 system.
 Commands — Unix makes little distinction between commands (user-level
programs) for system operation and maintenance (e.g. cron), commands of
general utility (e.g. grep), and more general-purpose applications such as the text
formatting and typesetting package. Nonetheless, some major categories are:

 sh — The “shell” programmable command line interpreter, the primary user
interface on Unix before window systems appeared, and even afterward (within a

“command window”).
 Utilities — the core tool kit of the Unix command set, including cp, ls, grep,
find and many others. Subcategories include:

  System utilities — administrative tools such as mkfs, fsck, and many others
 User utilities — environment management tools such as passwd, kill,
and others.

 Document formatting — Unix systems were used from the outset for document
preparation and typesetting systems, and included many related programs such as
nroff, troff, tbl, eqn, refer, and pic. Some modern Unix systems also include
 packages such as TeX and Ghostscript.
 Graphics — The plot subsystem provided facilities for producing simple vector plots
in a device-independent format, with device-specific interpreters to display such
files. Modern UNIX systems also generally include X11 as a standard windowing
 system and GUI, and many support OpenGL.
 Communications — Early UNIX systems contained no inter-system
communication, but did include the inter-user communication programs mail and
write. V5 introduced the early inter-system communication system UUCP, and
systems beginning with BSD release 4.1c included TCP/IP utilities.

 The ‘man’ command can display a manual page for any command on the
 system, including itself.
 Documentation — Unix was the first operating system to include all of its
documentation online in machine readable form. The documentation included:
 man — manual pages for each command, library component, system call, header
 file, etc.
 doc — longer documents detailing major subsystems, such as the C language.
6.3.2 Features of Unix Operating System

1. The Unix system had significant impact on other operating systems. It was written
in high level language rather than assembly language
2. Unix had a drastically simplified file model compared to many contemporary
operating systems, treating all kinds of files as simple byte arrays. The file system
hierarchy contained machine services and devices (such as printers, terminals, or disk
drives.
3 Making the command interpreter an ordinary user-level program, with additional
commands provided as separate programs, was another Multics innovation
popularized by Unix. The Unix shell used the same language for interactive commands
as for scripting.
4.Over time, text-based applications have also proven popular in application areas, such
as printing languages (PostScript, ODF), and at the application layer of the Internet
protocols, e.g., Telnet, FTP, SSH, SMTP, HTTP, SOAP and SIP.
5.Unix popularized syntax for regular expressions that found widespread use. The Unix
programming interface became the basis for a widely implemented operating system
interface standard (POSIX, see above).
8. Unix provided the TCP/IP networking protocol on relatively inexpensive computers,
which contributed to the Internet explosion of worldwide real-time connectivity, and which
formed the basis for implementations on many other platforms. This also exposed
numerous security holes in the networking implementations.
6.3.3 Free Unix-like operating systems

In 1963, Richard Stallman announced the GNU project, an ambitious
effort to create a free software Unix-like system; “free” in that everyone who
received a copy would be free to use, study, modify, and redistribute it. The GNU
project’s own kernel development project, GNU Hurd, had not produced a
working kernel, but in 1992 Linus Torvalds released the Linux kernel as free
software under the GNU General Public License. In addition to their use in the
Linux operating system, many GNU packages — such as the GNU
Compiler Collection (and the rest of the GNU toolchain), the GNU C library
and the GNU core utilities — have gone on to play central roles in other free
Unix systems as well.
Linux distributions, comprising Linux and large collections of compatible software
have become popular both with individual users and in business. Popular distributions
include Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Fedora, SUSE Linux Enterprise, openSUSE, Debian
GNU/Linux, Ubuntu, Mandriva Linux, Slackware Linux and Gentoo.
6.4 DOS [DISK OPERATING SYSTEM]
In July 1960 IBM assigned Microsoft to develop a 16-bit operating system for
the personal computer for the fee of 166,000 dollars. Although the company Digital
Research of Gary Kildall already had with CP/M 66 such a 16-bit version, but by
circumstances no contract has been established with IBM. Microsoft did not have yet
any operating system; Microsoft licensed CP/M from Digital Research in November
1955 for 50,000 dollars.
The command interpreter is integrated in the file command.com with the internal
commands for MS-DOS. Together with the file io.sys for simple device routines like the
access to the monitor, keyboard, fixed storage disks and interfaces as well as the booting
code these form the base operating system. DOS works very hardware near.
1966 was MS-DOS established and had reached measured on the market
share a monopoly in the DOS market. The number of the MS-DOS installations grew
worldwide to about 60 million and surpassed all other systems with that amount. Almost
every software company offered standard applications like word processing, calculation
or also special solutions like measurement tools, CAD (Computer Aided Design) or
image processing for MS-DOS. The PC manufacturers designed her systems
compatible to MS-DOS except for few manufacturers.
6.4.1 Small reference of internal DOS commands

del, erase - delete files
rd, rmdir - delete directories
dir - show content of directories
cd, chdir - change current directory cls - clear the screen
md, mkdir - create a directory copy - copy of one or several files
ren, rename - rename of files or directories type - shows the content of text files set -
shows the DOS environment variables or defines a new one ver - shows the DOS
version number
vol - shows the name of the storage drive
6.4.2 Small reference of external DOS commands

attrib - shows the attributes of files or set one of those
fdisk - partitioning or modify of the hard disk
move - move of files
mem - shows the occupancy of working memory tree - shows the directory structure
format - format of storage drives
I. Fill in the blanks

1. Users interact with operating systems through
.......................... or..........................
2. ..........................often use specialized scheduling algorithms so
that they can achieve a deterministic nature of behavior.
3. MS DOS 1.0 consists of about ..........................lines assembler code.
4. ..........................command shows the directory structure in DOS
5. ..........................Command shows the content of text file.
II Abbreviate the following
6. Personal Digital Assistant. : ..........................
5. International Business Machine. : ..........................
6. Business All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. : ..........................

6.5 WINDOWS XP
Windows XP is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on

personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, and media
centers. The name “XP” is short for “experience”. Windows XP is the successor to both
Windows 2000
6.5.1 Editions of Windows

XP
The two major editions are Windows XP Home Edition, designed for home
users, and Windows XP Professional, designed for business and power-users. XP
Professional contains advanced features that the average home user would not use.
However, these features are not necessarily missing from XP Home. They are simply
disabled, but are there and can become functional. These releases were made
available at retail outlets that sell computer software, and were preinstalled on
computers sold by major computer manufacturers.
Microsoft also released Windows XP Embedded, an edition for specific
consumer electronics, set-top boxes, kiosks/ATMs, medical devices, arcade video
games, point-of-sale terminals, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) components.
In July 2006, Microsoft released Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, a thin client
version of Windows XP Embedded which targets older machines (as early as the
original Pentium). It is only available to Software Assurance customers. It is intended
for corporate customers who would like to upgrade to Windows XP to take advantage
of its security and management capabilities, but can’t afford to purchase new hardware.
Languages
Windows XP is available in many languages. In addition, MUI packs and Language
Interface Packs translating the user interface are also available for certain languages.
ATMs
Automated teller machine (ATM) vendors NCR Corporation and Diebold Incorporated
have both adopted Microsoft Windows XP as their migration path from OS/2. Diebold
initially shipped XP Home Edition exclusively, but, following extensive pressure from
customer banks to support a common operating system, switched to support XP
Professional to match their primary competitor, NCR Corporation
6.5.2 New and updated features Features new to Windows XP

Windows XP introduced several new features to the Windows line, including:
 Faster start-up and hibernation
 sequences
 The ability to discard a newer device driver in favor of the previous one (known
 as driver rollback), should a driver upgrade not produce desirable results
 A new, arguably more user-friendly interface, including the framework for
 developing themes for the desktop environment
 Fast user switching, which allows a user to save the current state and open
applications of their desktop and allow another user to log on without losing that
 information
 The ClearType font rendering mechanism, which is designed to improve text
 readability on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and similar monitorsU
 Remote Desktop functionality, which allows users to connect to a computer running
Windows XP Pro from across a network or the Internet and access their
 applications, files, printers, and devices.
 Support for most DSL modems and IEEE 602.11 connections, as well as
networking over FireW ire, and Bluetooth.
6.5.3 User interface

Windows XP features a new task-based graphical user interface. The Start
menu and
Windows indexing service were redesigned and many visual effects were added,
including:
 A translucent blue selection rectangle in Explorer

 Drop shadows for icon labels on the

desktop
 Task-based sidebars in Explorer windows (“common tasks”)

 The ability to group the taskbar buttons of the windows of one application into
 one button
 The ability to lock the taskbar and other toolbars to prevent accidental changes

 The highlighting of recently added programs on the Start
 menu
 Shadows under menus (Windows 2000 had shadows under mouse pointers,
but not menus)
The Windows 2000 “classic” interface can be used instead if preferred. Several
third party utilities exist that provide hundreds of different visual styles. Microsoft
licensed technology from Window Blinds creator Star dock to create its visual styles in
XP.
6.5.4 System requirements
Fig 6.2
Designed for Windows XP computer hardware logo
System requirements for Windows XP Home and Professional editions

as follows:
For many workloads that involve Web browsing, e-mail, and
other activities, 64 MB of RAM will provide [the] user experience
equivalent or superior to that of Windows Me running on the same
hardware.”
6.5.5 Service packs

Microsoft occasionally releases service packs for its Windows operating systems
to fix problems and add features. Each service pack is a superset of all previous service
packs and patches so that only the latest service pack needs to be installed, and also
includes new revisions. Older service packs need not be removed before application of
the most recent one. The service pack details below only apply to the 32-bit editions.
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition was based on Windows Server 2003 Service Pack
1 and claimed to be “SP1” in system properties from the initial release. It is updated by
the same service packs and hot fixes as the x64 edition of Windows Server 2003.
Service Pack 1
Set Program Access and Defaults was added in Service Pack 1.
Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows XP was released on September 9, 2002. It

contains post-RTM security fixes and hot-fixes, compatibility updates, optional
.NET Framework support, enabling technologies for new devices such as Tablet PCs,
and a new Windows Messenger 4.5 version. The most notable new features were USB
2.0 support and a Set Program Access and Defaults utility that aimed at hiding various
middleware products. Users can control the default application for activities such as
web browsing and instant messaging, as well as hide access to some of Microsoft’s
bundled programs. This utility was first brought into the older
Windows 2000 operating system with its Service Pack 3. This Service Pack supported
SATA and hard drives that were larger than 135GB (46-bit LBA support) by default.
Service Pack 2
Windows Security Center was added in Service Pack 2.
Windows XP, including a firewall, improved Wi-Fi support, such as W PA

encryption compatibility, with a wizard utility, a pop-up ad blocker for Internet Explorer
6, and Bluetooth support. The new welcome screen during the kernel boot removes
the subtitles “Professional”, “Home Edition” and “Embedded” since Microsoft
introduced new Windows XP editions prior to the release of SP2. The green loading
bar in Home Edition and the yellow one in Embedded were replaced with the blue bar,
seen in Professional and other versions of Windows XP, making the boot-screen of
operating systems resemble each other. Colors in other areas, such as Control Panel
and the Help and Support tool, remained as before. Service Pack 2 also added new
security enhancements, which included a major revision to the included firewall that
was renamed to Windows Firewall and is enabled by default, additionally; security-
related improvements were made to e-mail and web browsing. Windows XP Service
Pack 2 includes the Windows Security Center, which provides a general overview of
security on the system, including the state of antivirus software, Windows Update, and
the new Windows Firewall. Third-party anti-virus and firewall applications can interface
with the new Security Center.
Service Pack 3
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) was released to manufacturing on April 21,

2006 and to the public via both the Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update
on May 6, 2006. It began being automatically pushed out to Automatic Update users
on July 10, 2006. A feature set overview which details new features available
separately as standalone updates to Windows XP, as well as back ported features from
Windows Vista has been posted by Microsoft. A total of 1,154 fixes have been included
in SP3. Service Pack 3 can be installed on systems with Internet Explorer versions 6
or 5.

Fill in the blanks
1. The two major editions of W indows XP are .....................and .....................
2. Windows XP’s .....................edition are used in laptops and notebooks.
3. Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows XP was released on .....................
4. Service Pack 3 can be installed on systems with Internet Explorer .....................
5. .....................GB Hard disk or higher is required for loading Windows XP.
6.4 WINDOWS VISTA

6.4.1 New or changed features
Windows Vista revised and incorporated new features and functionalities
not present in its predecessors, especially those from W indows XP.
Windows Aero:
The new hardware-based graphical user interface is named Windows Aero,
which Jim Allchin stated is an acronym for Authentic, Energetic, Reflective, and Open.
The new interface is intended to be cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing than those
of previous Windows versions, including new transparencies, live thumbnails, live icons,
and animations, thus providing a new level of eye candy.

Laptop users report, however, that battery life is shortened with the feature enabled.
 Windows Shell:
The new Windows shell is significantly different from Windows XP, offering a new
range of organization, navigation, and search capabilities. Windows Explorer’s task
pane has been removed, integrating the relevant task options into the toolbar. A
“Favorite links” pane has been added, enabling one-click access to common
directories. The address bar has been replaced with a breadcrumb navigation
system. The preview pane allows users to see thumbnails of various files and view
the contents of documents. The details pane shows information such as file size and
type, and allows viewing and editing of embedded tags in supported file formats. The
Start menu has changed as well; it no longer uses ever-expanding boxes when
navigating through Programs. The word “Start” itself has been removed in favor of a
blue Windows Pearl.
 Instant Search:
Windows Vista features a new way of searching called Instant Search, which is
significantly faster and more in-depth (content-based) than the search features found
in any of the previous versions of Windows.
  Windows Sidebar:
A transparent panel anchored to the side of the screen where a user can place
Desktop Gadgets, which are small applets designed for a specialized purpose (such
as displaying the weather or sports scores). Gadgets can also be placed on other
parts of the desktop.

 Windows Internet Explorer 5:

New user interface, tabbed browsing, RSS, a search box, improved printing, Page
Zoom, Quick Tabs (thumbnails of all open tabs), Anti- Phishing filter, a number of
new security protection features, Internationalized Domain Name support (IDN), and
improved web standards support. IE5 in Windows Vista runs in isolation from other
applications in the operating system (protected mode); exploits and malicious
software are restricted from writing to any location beyond Temporary Internet Files
without explicit user consent.

 Windows Media Player 11, a major rev amp of Microsoft’s program for playing and
organizing music and video. New features in this version include word wheeling (or
“search as you type”), a new GUI for the media library, photo display and
organization, the ability to share music libraries over a network with other Windows
 Vista machines, Xbox 360 integration, and support for other Media Center Extenders.
 Backup and Restore Center: Includes a backup and restore application that gives
users the ability to schedule periodic backups of files on their computer, as well as
recovery from previous backups. Backups are incremental, storing only the changes
each time, minimizing disk usage. It also features Complete PC Backup (available
only in Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise versions) which backs up an entire
computer as an image onto a hard disk or DVD. Complete PC Backup can
automatically recreate a machine setup onto new hardware or hard disk in case of
any hardware failures. Complete PC Restore can be initiated from within Windows
Vista or from the Windows Vista installation CD in the event the PC is so corrupt that
 it cannot start up normally from the hard disk.
 Windows Mail: A replacement for Outlook Express that includes a new mail store
that improves stability, and features integrated Instant Search. It has the Phishing
Filter like IE5 and Junk mail filtering that is enhanced through regular updates via
Windows Update.
Windows Mobility Center:
 Windows Mobility Center is a control panel that centralizes the most relev ant
information related to mobile computing (brightness, sound, battery level / power
scheme selection, wireless network, screen orientation, presentation settings, etc.).
 Windows Meeting Space replaces NetMeeting. Users can share applications (or
their entire desktop) with other users on the local network, or over the Internet
using peer-to-peer technology (higher versions than Starter and Home Basic can
take advantage of hosting capabilities, Starter and Home Basic editions are
limited to “join” mode only)

 Shadow Copy automatically creates daily backup copies of files and folders.
Users can also create “shadow copies” by setting a System Protection Point using
the System Protection tab in the System control panel. The user can be presented
multiple versions of a file throughout a limited history and be allowed to restore,
delete, or copy those versions. This feature is available only in the Business,
Enterprise, and Ultimate editions of Windows Vista and is inherited from Windows
Server 2003.
Windows Update with Windows Ultimate Extras
 Windows Update: Software and security updates have been simplified, now
operating solely v ia a control panel instead of as a web application. Windows
Mail’s spam filter and Windows Defender’s definitions are updated automatically
via Windows Update. Users who choose the recommended setting for Automatic
Updates will have the latest drivers installed and available when they add a new
device.

 Parental controls: Allows administrators to control which websites, programs
and games each Limited user can use and install. This feature is not included in
the Business or Enterprise editions of Vista.

 Windows SideShow: Enables the auxiliary displays on newer laptops or on
supported Windows Mobile devices. It is meant to be used to display device
gadgets while the computer is on or off.

 Speech recognition is integrated into Vista. It features a redesigned user
interface and configurable command-and-control commands. Unlike the Office
2003 version, which works only in Office and WordPad, Speech Recognition in
Windows Vista works for any accessible application. In addition, it currently
supports several languages: British and American English, Spanish, French,
German, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified) and Japanese.

 New fonts, including several designed for screen reading, and improved Chinese
(Yahei, JhengHei), Japanese (Meiryo) and Korean (Malgun) fonts. ClearType
has also been enhanced and enabled by default.

 Improved audio controls allow the system-wide volume or volume of individual
audio dev ices and even indiv idual applications to be controlled separately. New
audio functionalities such as Room Correction, Bass Management, Speaker Fill
and Headphone virtualization have also been incorporated.

 Problem Reports and Solutions, a control panel which allows users to view
previously sent problems and any solutions or additional information that is
available.

 Windows System Assessment Tool is a tool used to benchmark system
performance. Software such as games can retrieve this rating and modify its
own behavior at runtime to improve performance. The benchmark tests CPU,
RAM, 2-D and 3-D graphics acceleration, graphics memory and hard disk
space.

 Windows Ultimate Extras: The Ultimate edition of Windows Vista provides, via
Windows Update, access to some additional features. These are a collection of

additional MUI language packs, Texas Hold ‘Em (a Poker game) and Microsoft
Tinker (a strategy game where the character is a robot), BitLocker and EFS
enhancements which allow users to back up their encryption key online in a Digital
Locker, and Windows Dream scene, which enables the use of videos in MPEG
and W MV formats as the desktop background. On April 21, 2006, Microsoft
launched two more Ultimate Extras; three new Windows sound schemes, and a
content pack for Dream scene. Various Dream Scene Content Packs have been
released since the final version of Dream Scene was released.
 Reliability and Performance Monitor includes various tools for tuning and
monitoring system performance and resources activities of CPU, disks,
network, memory and other resources. It shows the operations on files, the
 opened connections, etc.
  Removed Features
Some notable Windows XP features and components have been replaced or
removed in Windows Vista, including Windows Messenger, NTBackup, the
network Messenger Service, HyperTerminal, MSN Explorer, Active Desktop, and
the replacement of NetMeeting with Windows Meeting Space. Windows Vista also
does not include the Windows XP “Luna” visual theme, or most of the classic color
schemes which have been part of Windows since the Windows 3.x era. The
“Hardware profiles” startup feature has also been removed, along with support for
older motherboard technologies like the EISA bus, APM and Game port support
(though on the 32-bit version game port support can be enabled by applying an
older driver). IP over FireWire (TCP/IP over IEEE 1394) has been removed as
well. The IPX/ SPX Protocol has also been removed, although it can be enabled
by a third-party plug-in.

State whether the following statements true or false
1. Windows Vista includes version 3.0
of the .NET Framework,
2. Windows Vista features a new way of
searching called Quick Search.
3. Parental controls allows administrators to control
which websites, programs and games each Limited
user can use and install.
4. Speech recognition system is
not integrated into Vista.
5. Windows vista has provided, a companion program
to Windows Movie Maker that provides the ability to
create video DVDs based on a user’s content.
6.5 WINDOWS 6
Windows 6 is a version of Microsoft Windows (an operating system
developed by Microsoft) for use on personal computers, including home and business
desktops, laptops, tablets, and home theater PCs. Development of Windows 6 started
before the release of its predecessor, Windows 5, in 2009.
Windows Explorer, which has been renamed File Explorer, now
includes a ribbon in place of the command bar. File operation dialog boxes have been
updated to provide more detailed statistics, the ability to pause file transfers, and
improvements in the ability to manage conflicts when copying files. A new "File History"
function allows incremental revisions of files to be backed up to and restored from a
secondary storage device, while Storage Spaces allows users to combine different
sized hard disks into virtual drives and specify mirroring, parity, or no
redundancy on a folder-by-folder basis.
Task Manager has also been redesigned, including a new processes tab with
the option to display fewer or more details of running applications and background
processes, a heat map using different colors indicating the level of resource usage,
network and disk counters, grouping by process type (e.g. applications, background
processes and Windows processes), friendly names for processes and a new option
which allows users to search the web to find information about obscure processes.
Additionally, the Blue Screen of Death has been updated with a simpler and modern
design with less technical information displayed
Removed Features
Several notable features have been removed in Windows 6, beginning with the
traditional Start menu. Support for playing DVDs has been removed from Windows
Media Player due to the cost of licensing the necessary decoders (especially for devices
which do not include optical disc drives at all) and the prevalence of streaming services
such as Netflix. For the same reasons, Windows Media Center will no longer be included
by default on Windows 6, but the software (which also includes support for DVD
playback) can be purchased in the "Pro Pack" (for the base version of Windows 6, which
also upgrades the system to Windows 6 Pro) or "Media Center Pack" (for Windows 6
Pro) add-ons. Windows 6 will still support third-party DVD playback software.
Backup and Restore, the former backup app of Windows, is deprecated. It still
ships with Windows 6 and continues to work on preset schedules, but is pushed to the
background and can only be accessed through a Control Panel applet called "Windows
5 File Recovery”. Shadow, a component of Windows Explorer that
once saved previous versions of changed files, no longer protects local files and
folders. It can only access previous versions of shared files stored on a Windows
Server computer. The subsystem, on which these components
worked, however, is still available for other software to use.
6.6 LINUX OPERATING SYSTEM
Linux (commonly pronounced) is a generic term referring to Unix-like

computer operating systems based on the Linux kernel. Their development is
one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software
collaboration; typically all the underlying source code can be used, freely
modified, and redistributed by anyone under the terms of the GNU GPL and
other free software licenses.
Linux is predominantly known for its use in servers, although it is installed on a
wide variety of computer hardware, ranging from embedded devices and
mobile phones to supercomputers. Linux distributions, installed on both
desktop and laptop computers, have become increasingly commonplace in
recent years, partly owing to the popular Ubuntu distribution and the
emergence of net books. The name “Linux” ( listen (help·info)) comes from the
Linux kernel, originally written in 1991 by Linus Torvalds
6.6.1 User interface

Users can control a Linux-based system through a command line
interface (or CLI), a graphical user interface (or GUI), or through controls
attached to the associated hardware (this is common for embedded

systems). For desktop systems, the default mode is usually graphical user
interface.
A Linux system typically provides a CLI through a shell, which is the
traditional way of interacting with a Unix system. A Linux distribution
specialized for servers may use the CLI as its only interface. A “headless
system” run without even a monitor can be controlled by the command line via
a remote-control protocol such as SSH or telnet.
Most low-level Linux components, including the GNU user land, use the
CLI exclusively. The CLI is particularly suited for automation of repetitive or
delayed tasks, and provides v ery simple inter-process communication. A
graphical terminal emulator program is often used to access the CLI from a
Linux desktop.
6.6.2 Servers and supercomputers
Fig 6.3
Linux distributions have mainly been used as server operating

systems, and have risen to prominence in that area.
Components of IBM Roadrunner, the world’s fastest supercomputer
2006, which runs Linux. Linux distributions are the cornerstone of the LAMP
server-software combination (Linux, Apache, MySQL, Perl/PHP/Python) which
has achieved popularity among developers, and which is one of the more
common platforms for website hosting.
Linux distributions are also commonly used as operating systems for
supercomputers: as of June 2009, out of the top 500 systems, 443 (66.6%)
run a Linux distribution.
6.9 SUMMARY
An operating system is a software component of a computer system

that is responsible for the management of various activities of the computer
and the sharing of computer resources. There are meagerly 5 types of
Operating System Real-time Operating System, Multi-user and Single-user
Operating Systems, Multi-tasking and Single-tasking Operating Systems
Distributed Operating System, Embedded System.
1. Unix was designed to be portable, multi-tasking and multi-user in a time-
sharing configuration. Unix systems are characterized by various concepts: the
use of plain text for storing data; a hierarchical file system; treating devices and
certain types of inter-process communication (IPC) as files; and the use of a
large number of software tools, small programs that can be strung together
through a command line interpreter using pipes, as opposed to using a single
monolithic program that includes all of the same functionality.
2. Disk Operating System works very hardware near, The command

interpreter is integrated in the file command.com with the internal commands for
MS-DOS. MS- DOS established and had reached measured on the
market share a monopoly in the DOS market. The number of the MS-DOS
installations grew worldwide to about 60 million and surpassed all other systems
with that amount. Almost every software company offered standard applications
like word processing, calculation or also special solutions like measurement
tools, CAD (Computer Aided Design) or image processing for MS-DOS.
3. Windows XP is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use
on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, and
media centers. The two major editions are Windows XP Home Edition,
designed for home users, and Windows XP Professional, designed for
business and power-users. Microsoft occasionally releases service packs for
its Windows operating systems to fix problems and add features. Each service
pack is a superset of all previous service packs and patches so that only the
latest service pack needs to be installed, and also includes new revisions.
Older service packs need not be removed before application of the most recent
one.
4. Windows Vista is a line of operating systems developed by Microsoft for use
on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet
PCs, and media center PCs. W indows XP, the longest time span between
successive releases of Microsoft Windows desktop operating systems.
5. Linux (commonly pronounced) is a generic term referring to Unix-like
computer operating systems based on the Linux kernel. Linux distributions,
installed on both desktop and laptop computers, have become increasingly
commonplace in recent years, partly owing to the popular Ubuntu distribution and
the emergence of notebooks.
I. Answer the following Questions

1. What is an operating system ? Explain types of operating systems.
2. Write a note on Unix operating system.
3. Briefly explain Windows XP operating system.
4. Explain editions of Windows XP operating System.
5. What is DOS? Explain some Dos Internal and External Commands
6. Discuss features of Windows Vista.
7. Write a note on desktop versions of Linux.
8. Explain the System Requirements for loading Windows Vista.
II.Write Short Notes on the following:
1. Service Packs
2. Embedded Device Operating System
3. Components of Unix OS
4. 2036 year problem in Linux.
6.11 SUGGESTED READING’S
 Computer Fundamentals Concepts, Systems & Applications –

P.K Sinha
REFERENCES
  http://en.wikipedia.org,
 http://learning-unix.blogspot.in,
 http://www.mywikibiz.com (Links)

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Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SYSTEM

After studying this chapter you will be able to:

1.1 INTRODUCTION- Computer

Introduction to Computer System/1

The set of instructions given to the computer to perform various operations is

Therefore a computer can now be defined as a fast and accurate data

The computer hardware itself is not capable of doing anything on its

1.2.1. The First Generation:

Punched cards Paper tape Vacuum tube

Fig. 1.1 The first Generation Computer technology

Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician invented the first mechanical

Introduction to Computer System/3

Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) –

Fig. 1.3 ENIAC

Fig 1.4 UNIVAC

This was the generation of Transistorized Computers. Vacuum tubes

Fig 1.5 Transistors

1.2.3. The Third Generation:

The third generation computers were characterized by:

This generation was characterized by the invention of Integrated Circuits (ICs).

Introduction to Computer System/5

1.2.4. The Fourth Generation:

Fig. 1.7 VLSI

1.2.5 The Fifth Generation:

b) Vacuum Tube Technology II) Fifth Generation

2. Write True or False

C. The first generation computers used machine language for programming.

1.3.1 Analog computers:

Introduction to Computer System/7

Digital Computers are further classified as General Purpose Digital

Notebook or Laptop Handheld Computer

Fig. 1.8 Small Computers

III) Hand Held Computers:

Check your Progress - 1.3

1.4 APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTERS

1.4.1 Scientific, Engineering and Research:

Introduction to Computer System/9

1.5 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF COMPUTERS

Computers are very accurate. They are capable of executing hundreds

1.5.4 Storage Capability

Check your Progress - 1.4 & 1.5

Select the appropriate option

Answer the following:

1.4 Similarities and Difference

Computer is a very effective and efficient machine which performs several

Introduction to Computer System/11

# Like we remember things Computer also stores information.

#We express ourselves by Computer expresses through screen, Printouts etc

with the help of software, computer

The computer brain is known as CPU conclude

However computer does not understand emotions, it does not understand

Check your Progress - 1.4

Select the appropriate option

b. The part of computer similar to the human brain is

Any system is defined as a group of integrated parts which are

A computer is made up of a number of integrated elements like

1. 8 COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM

The basic parts of computer system are: