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A Computer Can Process Data

Computer is an electronic device that processes data under a set of instructions called a program. It takes in raw data as input, processes it, and provides results as output which can be saved for future use. Charles Babbage is considered the grandfather of computers for designing the Analytical Engine, one of the first mechanical computers. A computer performs five basic functions: input, storage, processing, output, and control.

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158 views

A Computer Can Process Data

Computer is an electronic device that processes data under a set of instructions called a program. It takes in raw data as input, processes it, and provides results as output which can be saved for future use. Charles Babbage is considered the grandfather of computers for designing the Analytical Engine, one of the first mechanical computers. A computer performs five basic functions: input, storage, processing, output, and control.

Uploaded by

Mario Tolo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is Computer?

Computer is an electronic device that is designed to work with Information.The term


computer is derived from the Latin term ‘computare’, this means to
calculate.Computer can not do anything without a Program. The Word
'Computer'usually refers to the Center Processor Unit plus Internal memory.

Computer is an advanced electronic device that takes raw data as input from the user
and processes these data under the control of set of instructions (called program) and
gives the result (output) and saves output for the future use. It can process both
numerical and non-numerical (arithmetic and logical) calculations.The basic
components of a modern digital computer are: Input Device,Output Device,Central
Processor. A Typical modern computer uses LSI Chips.

Charles Babbage is called the "Grand Father" of the computer.The First mechanical
computer designed by charles Babbage was called Analytical Engine. It uses read-
only memory in the form of punch cards.

A computer can process data, pictures, sound and graphics. They can solve highly
complicated problems quickly and accurately. performs basically five major computer
operations or functions irrespective of their size and make. These are

1) it accepts data or instructions by way of input,

2) it stores data,

3) it can process data as required by the user,

4) it gives results in the form of output, and

5) it controls all operations inside a computer.

Fig : Basic computer Operations

Input: This is the process of entering data and programs in to the computer system.
You should know that computer is an electronic machine like any other machine
which takes as inputs raw data and performs some processing giving out processed
data. Therefore, the input unit takes data from us to the computer in an organized
manner for processing.
Storage: The process of saving data and instructions permanently is known as
storage. Data has to be fed into the system before the actual processing starts.
It is because the processing speed of Central Processing Unit (CPU) is so fast
that the data has to be provided to CPU with the same speed. Therefore the
data is first stored in the storage unit for faster access and processing. This
storage unit or the primary storage of the computer system is designed to do
the above functionality. It provides space for storing data and instructions.

The storage unit performs the following major functions:

• All data and instructions are stored here before and after processing.

• Intermediate results of processing are also stored here.

Processing: The task of performing operations like arithmetic and logical


operations is called processing. The Central Processing Unit (CPU) takes data
and instructions from the storage unit and makes all sorts of calculations
based on the instructions given and the type of data provided. It is then sent
back to the storage unit.

Output: This is the process of producing results from the data for getting
useful information. Similarly the output produced by the computer after
processing must also be kept somewhere inside the computer before being
given to you in human readable form. Again the output is also stored inside the
computer for further processing.

Control: The manner how instructions are executed and the above operations
are performed. Controlling of all operations like input, processing and output
are performed by control unit. It takes care of step by step processing of all
operations inside the computer.

FUNCTIONAL UNITS

In order to carry out the operations mentioned in the previous section the
computer allocates the task between its various functional units. The computer
system is divided into three separate units for its operation. They are

1) arithmetic logical unit

2) control unit.

3) central processing unit.


Arithmetic Logical Unit (ALU)  Logical Unit

Logical Unit :After you enter data through the input device it is stored in the
primary storage unit. The actual processing of the data and instruction are
performed by Arithmetic Logical Unit. The major operations performed by the
ALU are addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, logic and comparison.
Data is transferred to ALU from storage unit when required. After processing
the output is returned back to storage unit for further processing or getting
stored.

Control Unit (CU)

The next component of computer is the Control Unit, which acts like the
supervisor seeing that things are done in proper fashion. Control Unit is
responsible  for  co ordinating various operations using time signal. The control
unit determines the sequence in which computer programs and instructions
are executed. Things like processing of programs stored in the main memory,
interpretation of the instructions and issuing of signals for other units of the
computer to execute them. It also acts as a switch board operator when several
users access the computer simultaneously. Thereby it coordinates the activities
of computer’s peripheral equipment as they perform the input and output.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The ALU and the CU of a computer system are jointly known as the central
processing unit. You may call CPU as the brain of any computer system. It is
just like brain that takes all major decisions, makes all sorts of calculations
and directs different parts of the computer functions by activating and
controlling the operations.

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