Introduction to Computers

Prepared by:
Hasnan Ahmed
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What Is A Computer?

A computer is an electronic device, operating

under the control of instructions (software)
stored in its own memory unit, that can
accept data (input), manipulate data
(process), and produce information (output)
from the processing. Generally, the term is
used to describe a collection of devices that
function together as a system.

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 Devices that comprise a computer system
Monitor Speaker
(output)
(output) System unit
(processor, memory…)

Printer
(output)

Storage devices
(CD-RW, Floppy,
Hard disk, zip,…)
Mouse
(input)
Scanner Keyboard
(input) (input)

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What Does A Computer Do?

Computers can perform four general

operations, which comprise the information
processing cycle.

 Input
 Process
 Output
 Storage

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What Do Computers Do?
 Input, Process, Output, & Store
data

Input Process Output

Store Data

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 Why Is A Computer So Powerful?
 The ability to perform the information
processing cycle with amazing speed.
 Reliability (low failure rate).
 Accuracy.
 Ability to store huge amounts of data and
information.
 Ability to communicate with other computers.

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 Limitations of Computers

 Depend on users input.

 Computer have no imagination.
 Cannot detect error in logic.
 Only expert user can work on it.
 Cannot take its own decisions.

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 Uses of Computer

PC at Home
Common uses for the computer within the home
 Computer games
 Working from Home
 Banking from Home
 Connecting to the Web

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 Uses of Computer

Office Applications
Stock Control
Stock control is ideal for automation and in many
companies it is now completely computerized. The
stock control system keeps track of the number of
items in stock and can automatically order
replacement items when required.
Accounts / Payroll
In most large organizations the accounts are
maintained by a computerized system. Due to the
repetitive nature of accounts a computer system is
ideally suited to this task and accuracy is
guaranteed.
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 Uses of Computer
Automated Production Systems
Many car factories are almost completely automated and
the cars are assembled by computer-controlled robots. This
automation is becoming increasingly common throughout
industry.
Design Systems
Many products are designed using CAD (Computer Aided
Design) programs to produce exact specifications and
detailed drawings on the computer before producing
models of new products.

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Uses of Computer

Computers in Daily Life

 Accounts

 Games

 Educational

 On-line banking

 Smart ID cards

 Supermarkets

 Working from home (Tele-working)

 Internet
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History of Computers

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Classification of Computers
 According to functionality
 On the basis of Size

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 According to
functionality, Type of
computers are classified as :
 Analog Computer
 Digital Computer
 Hybrid Computer

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 Analog Computer
 An analog computer (spelt analogue in
British English) is a form of computer that
uses continuous physical phenomena such
as electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic
quantities to model the problem being
solved.

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Digital Computer
 A computer that performs calculations
and logical operations with quantities
represented as digits, usually in
the binary number system

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Hybrid Computer (Analog +
Digital)
 A combination of computers those are
capable of inputting and outputting in
both digital and analog signals. A hybrid
computer system setup offers a cost
effective method of performing complex
simulations.

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On the basis of Size:
Types of Computers

Types of Computers

Microcomputer Minicomputer Mainframe Supercomputer

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Microcomputer
 Can be classified into:
 Desktop PCs
 sits on desks, rarely moved, large and bulky.
 Memory capacity, graphics capacity and
software availability vary from one computer to
another Used both for business and home
applications

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Microcomputer
 Portable PCs
 Can be moved easily from place to place
 Weight may varies
 Small PCs are popular known as laptop
 Widely used by students, scientist, reporters,
etc

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 Microcomputer Model
Desktop Laptop Notebook

Subnotebook Palmtop

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Microcomputer
 Advantages
 Small size
 Low cost
 Portability
 Low Computing Power
 Commonly used for personal applications
 Disadvantages
 Low processing speed
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Uses of Microcomputer
 Word Processing
 Home entertainment
 Home banking
 Printing
 Surfing the internet
 etc

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Minicomputer
 Medium sized computer
 Also called the minis
 e.g. IBM36, HP9000, etc
 Computing power lies between
microcomputer and mainframe
computer

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MiniComputer
 Characteristics
 Bigger size than PCs
 Expensive than PCs
 Multi-User
 Difficult to use
 More computing power than PCs
 Used by medium sized business organizations,
colleges, libraries and banks.

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Uses of Minicomputer
 Control of Automated Teller Machine
(ATMs)
 Payroll
 Hospital patients registration
 Inventory Control for supermarket
 Insurance claims processing
 Small bank accounting and customer
details tracking
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Minicomputer
 Advantage
 Cater to multiple users
 Lower costs than mainframes
 Disadvantage
 Large
 Bulky

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 Mainframe
 Known as enterprise
servers
 Occupies entire rooms or
floors
 Used for centralized
computing
 Serve distributed users and
small servers in a computing
network

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 Main Frame
 Large, fast and expensive computer
 Cost millions of dollar
 e.g. IBM3091, ICL39, etc
 Characteristics:
 Bigger in size than minicomputers
 Very expensive
 Support a few hundred users simultaneously (Multi-Users)
 Difficult to use
 More computing power than minicomputers
 Have to be kept in a special air-conditioned room
 Used in big business organizations and government
departments
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 Areas where mainframes are used
 Airline reservation
 Big banks with hundreds of branches located all over
the world
 Big universities with thousands of enrollment
 Natural gas and oil exploration companies
 Space Vehicle control
 Weather forecasting
 Animated Cartoon
 Some mainframes are designed to be extremely fast
and called super computers. It is used for space
launching, monitoring and controlling.
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Mainframe
 Advantage
 Supports many users and instructions
 Large memory
 Disadvantage
 Huge size
 Expensive

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 Supercomputer
 Fastest and expensive
 Used by applications for
molecular chemistry, nuclear
research, weather reports,
and advanced physics
 Consists of several computers
that work in parallel as a
single system

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Super Computer

 Advantage
 Speed

 Disadvantage
 Generate a large

amount of heat
during operation

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 What Are The Primary
Components Of A Computer ?

1. Input Devices
2. Output Devices
3. System Unit
4. Storage Devices
5. Communication Devices

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 1. Input Devices
 Hardware used to enter data and instructions
 Widely used input devices:
1. Keyboard
2. Mouse
3. Microphone
4. Scanner
5. Digital Camera
6. PC Video Camera

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 2. Output Devices
 Hardware that conveys information
to one or more people
 Common output devices:
1. Printer
2. Monitor
3. Speakers

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 3. System Unit
 Case containing electronic
components used to process data.
 Motherboard or Circuit Board.
 2 Components of Motherboard:
1. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
2. Memory

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 CPU & Memory
 Processor
 The electronic component that interprets
and carries out the basic instructions that
operate the computer.
 Memory
 Consists of electronic components that
store
instructions waiting to be executed and
data needed by those instructions
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 4. Storage
 Holds data, instructions, and information for future use
 Storage media
 Physical material on which data, instructions,
and information are stored
 Storage device
 Records and retrieves items to and from
a storage medium
 Examples
 Hard Disks

 USB Flash Drives

 CD

 DVD
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 5. Communications device
• Hardware component that enables a computer to
send and receive data, instructions, and
information
• E.g.: Modem
• Occurs over cables, telephone lines, cellular radio
networks (wireless), satellites (wireless), and
other transmission media.
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 What is Hardware

 Hardware is the general term that is

used to describe physical artifacts of a
technology.

 A computer's hardware consists of electronic

devices; the parts you can see and touch.

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 Input devices
 An input device is any
hardware device that sends data to a
computer, allowing you to interact with
and control it.
 Examples: Keyboard, Mouse, Scanner,
Joystick, Light Pen, Trackball,
Microphone, Stylus, Optical Character
Reader (OCR)
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 Output Devices
 An output device is any device used to send
data from a computer to another device or
user. Most computer data output that is
meant for humans is in the form of audio or
video. Thus, most output devices used by
humans are in these categories.
 Examples include monitors, projectors,
speakers, headphones and printers
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 Storage Devices
 A storage device is any computing
hardware that is used for storing, porting
and extracting data files and objects.
 There are two types of storage devices used
with computers: a Primary Storage device,
such as ”RAM”, and a Secondary
Storage device, such as a ”hard drive”.

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 Processing Unit
 A central processing unit, also called a
central processor or main processor, is the
electronic circuitry within a computer that
carries out the instructions of a computer
program by performing the basic
arithmetic, logic, controlling, and
input/output operations specified by
the instructions

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 What is Software

 Computer software, or simply software,

is a collection of data
or computer instructions that tell
the computer how to work
 There are two main types of software:
systems software and application
software

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 Systems software
 Systems software includes the programs
that are dedicated to managing the
computer itself, such as the operating
system, file management utilities, and
disk operating system (or DOS).

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 Application software
 Application software are often called
productivity programs or end-user
programs because they enable the user to
complete tasks, such as creating documents,
spreadsheets, databases and publications,
doing online research, sending email,
designing graphics, running businesses, and
even playing games!
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