Introduction to Computers 1.

Speed: Computers can execute billions of instructions per second, enabling

fast calculations and data processing. This speed is crucial for tasks that require
Computer - are electronic devices capable of performing a wide range of tasks
rapid analysis and response.
by processing and manipulating data according to a set of instructions.
2.Accuracy: Computers are highly accurate in performing calculations and
Components of Computer
executing instructions, as they follow predefined algorithms without human
1. Central Processing Unit (CPU): The CPU is often referred to as the "brain" error or bias.
of the computer. It performs the actual processing of data and instructions,
3.Versatility: Computers can perform a wide variety of tasks by running
executing calculations and managing tasks.
different software applications. They can handle tasks ranging from word
2. Memory : Random Access Memory (RAM): is a type of volatile memory processing and graphic design to scientific simulations and data analysis.
that provides the computer with fast and temporary storage for data that is
4.Storage: Computers can store vast amounts of data, from documents and
currently being used or processed.
images to videos and software. Storage capacities have continuously increased
Read-Only Memory (ROM): This is non-volatile memory that stores over time with advancements in technology.
firmware and essential system instructions. It retains data even when the
5.Diligence: Computers can work tirelessly without getting fatigued or bored,
computer is turned off.
making them ideal for repetitive and time-consuming tasks.
3. Storage Devices: Computers use various storage devices to store data
6. Automation: Computers can automate complex tasks and processes,
persistently, even when the power is turned off.
reducing the need for manual intervention. This is particularly useful in
4. Input Devices: These devices allow users to input data and commands into industrial, manufacturing, and data processing settings.
the computer.
7. Reliability: When properly maintained, computers are reliable tools.
5. Output Devices: Output devices display or present the results of processed However, they can be susceptible to hardware failures and software glitches,
data to the user. necessitating backup systems and data recovery plans.

6. Motherboard: The motherboard is the main circuit board that connects and 8. Consistency: Computers consistently follow instructions, ensuring that the
interconnects all the computer's components. same task executed multiple times yields the same results, which is crucial for
tasks requiring precision.
7. Expansion Cards: These cards are inserted into slots on the motherboard to
add extra functionality to the computer. 9. Multitasking: Modern computers are equipped with multitasking
capabilities, allowing them to run multiple applications and processes
8. Power Supply Unit (PSU): Provides electrical power to the components in simultaneously.
the computer.
10. Connectivity: Computers can communicate with other devices and
9. Cooling System: Computers generate heat during operation, and cooling computers through networks, enabling data sharing, remote access, and
systems (fans, heat sinks, and sometimes liquid cooling) are used to prevent collaborative work.
overheating.
11. Scalability: Computers can be easily upgraded and expanded by adding
more memory, storage, or processing power to accommodate increasing
Characteristics of Computers demands.
12. User Interaction: Computers offer various user interfaces, including 2. Automation: Computers enable automation of repetitive tasks, reducing
graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and command-line interfaces (CLIs), enabling human effort and minimizing errors. This is especially useful in industries like
users to interact with the system and software. manufacturing, data entry, and customer service.
13. Portability: With the advent of laptops, tablets, and smartphones, 3. Storage Capacity: Modern computers can store vast amounts of data,
computers have become more portable, allowing users to carry their computing ranging from documents to multimedia files. This data can be easily accessed
power with them. and organized, making information retrieval efficient.
14. Security Concerns: As computers are interconnected and handle sensitive 4. Data Processing: Computers can process large amounts of data and perform
data, security is a critical concern. Security measures are implemented to complex calculations quickly and accurately. This is essential for scientific
protect against unauthorized access, data breaches, and cyberattacks. research, financial modeling, and data analysis.
15. Upgradability: Many components of a computer can be upgraded, 5. Communication: Computers facilitate communication through various
allowing users to improve performance, replace outdated hardware, and keep means, including email, social media, video conferencing, and instant
up with technological advancements. messaging. They have revolutionized how people connect globally.
16. Customizability: Users can customize their computers with software, 6. Global Information Access: The internet allows computers to access
applications, and settings to suit their specific needs and preferences. information from all over the world. This access to a wealth of knowledge
benefits education, research, and staying informed.
17. Environmental Impact: Computers consume energy and generate heat,
contributing to environmental concerns. Energy-efficient designs and 7. Multitasking: Modern operating systems enable computers to perform
responsible disposal practices are important to minimize their ecological multiple tasks simultaneously. This is crucial for productivity, as users can
footprint. switch between various applications seamlessly.
The future of Information Technology 8. Creativity and Entertainment: Computers provide tools for digital art,
music composition, video editing, and more. They also offer entertainment
It is about adding and adopting to new capabilities that do more in faster ways,
through gaming, streaming, and virtual experiences.
in removing friction and providing strategic business value. IT will involve
smart robots, biometrics and other technologies that use body measurements 9. Education and E-Learning: Computers have transformed education,
and statistical analysis of people’s unique physical and behavioral offering online courses, interactive learning platforms, and digital resources
characteristics. that enhance learning experiences.
IT will also change the functionality of computers and the way they serve the 10. Medical Advancements: Computers play a vital role in medical
needs and expectations of users in various sectors like e-commerce, health, diagnostics, imaging, research, and patient management, leading to more
education, and government. IT is a complex web of systems that store and send accurate diagnoses and better patient care.
information, and it requires educated professionals who develop and
Disadvantages of Computers
implement it.
Dependency: Overreliance on computers can lead to difficulties when systems
Advantages of Computers
fail, potentially causing significant disruptions in various sectors like finance,
Speed and Efficiency: Computers can process information and perform tasks at transportation, and healthcare.
incredibly high speeds, far surpassing human capabilities. This leads to
2. Health Concerns: Prolonged computer use can lead to health issues such as
increased productivity and faster decision-making.
eyestrain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and sedentary lifestyle-related problems.
3. Privacy and Security: Computers store vast amounts of personal and  It is used in scientific research areas for analyzing data obtained from
sensitive data, making them susceptible to hacking, identity theft, and breaches exploring the solar system, satellites, etc.
of privacy. 2. Mainframe Computer are designed in such a way that they can
support hundreds or thousands of users at the same time.
4. Job Displacement: Automation driven by computers can lead to job loss in
 It is also an expensive or costly computer.
certain industries, as machines replace human workers in tasks like
manufacturing and customer service.  It has high storage capacity and great performance.
 It can process a huge amount of data (like data involved in the banking
5. Environmental Impact: The production and disposal of computers sector) very quickly.
contribute to electronic waste, which poses environmental challenges due to  It runs smoothly for a long time and has a long life.
toxic materials and inefficient recycling practices. 3. Minicomputer is a medium size multiprocessing computer. In this
type of computer, there are two or more processors and it supports 4 to
6. Distraction and Addiction: Computers can be a source of distraction,
200 users at one time.
leading to decreased productivity and addictive behaviors, especially with
excessive use of social media and online entertainment.  Its weight is low.
 Because of its low weight, it is easy to carry anywhere.
7. Cybercrime: Computers are vulnerable to various forms of cybercrime,  less expensive than a mainframe computer.
including phishing, malware, ransomware, and online scams, which can result  It is fast.
in financial losses and compromised personal data. 4. Workstation Computer is designed for technical or scientific
8. Digital Divide: Not everyone has equal access to computers and the applications. It consists of a fast microprocessor, with a large amount
internet, creating a digital divide that can exacerbate socioeconomic disparities. of RAM and a high-speed graphic adapter. It is a single-user computer.
It is generally used to perform a specific task with great accuracy.
9. Loss of Human Interaction: Excessive use of computers can lead to a  is expensive or high in cost.
decline in face-to-face social interactions, affecting communication skills and  They are exclusively made for complex work purposes.
interpersonal relationships.  It provides large storage capacity, better graphics, and a more powerful
10. Ethical Concerns: The rise of artificial intelligence raises ethical questions CPU when compared to a PC.
about issues like bias in algorithms, job displacement, and the ethical use of  It is also used to handle animation, data analysis, CAD, audio and
autonomous systems in various contexts. video creation, and editing.
5. Personal Computer (PC) is also known as a microcomputer. It is
EVOLUTION OF COMPUTING basically a general-purpose computer designed for individual use.
TYPES OF COMPUTERS  In this limited number of software can be used.
 It is the smallest in size.
1. Supercomputer the biggest and fastest computers (in terms of speed  It is designed for personal use.
of processing data).  It is easy to use.
 Supercomputers are the computers that are the fastest and they are also 6. Server Computer are computers that are combined data and
very expensive. programs. Electronic data and applications are stored and shared in the
 It can calculate up to ten trillion individual calculations per second, server computer. The working of a server computer is that it does not
this is also the reason which makes it even faster. solve a bigger problem like a supercomputer but it solves many
 It is used in the stock market or big organizations for managing the smaller similar ones.
online currency world such as Bitcoin etc.
 7. Analog Computer are particularly designed to process analog data.
Continuous data that changes continuously and cannot have discrete
values are called analog data.
8. Digital Computer are designed in such a way that they can easily
perform calculations and logical operations at high speed. It takes raw
data as input and processes it with programs stored in its memory to
produce the final output.
9. Hybrid Computer is a combination of both analog and digital
computers. Hybrid computers are fast like analog computers and have
memory and accuracy like digital computers.
10. Tablets and Smartphones are the types of computers that are pocket
friendly and easy to carry is these are handy.
Computer Hardware Hardware refers to the physical components of a
computer.
Types of Computer Hardware

 Input devices
 Output devices
 Storage devices
 Internal component
Computer Software Software is a collection of instructions, procedures, and
documentation that performs different tasks on a computer system.
Types of Computer Software

 System software
 Application software

Difference Between Hardware and Software

INTRODUCTIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEM

An Operating System acts as a communication bridge (interface) between the Process Management is the set of activities involve in creating, scheduling
user and computer hardware. The purpose of an operating system is to provide and terminating processes.
a platform on which a user can execute programs conveniently and efficiently.
Memory Management is the functionality of an operating system which
An operating system is a piece of software that manages the allocation of handles or manages primary memory and moves processes back and forth
Computer Hardware. The coordination of the hardware must be appropriate to between main memory and disk during execution.
ensure the correct working of the computer system and to prevent user
File Management refers to the set of processes and techniques involved in
programs from interfering with the proper working of the system.
creating, organizing, accessing, manipulating and controlling files stored on
The main goal of the Operating System is to make the computer environment storage devices.
more convenient to use and the Secondary goal is to use the resources most
Device Management is responsible in managing device communication
efficiently.
through their respective drivers.
What is an Operating System?
Security uses password protection to protect user data and similar other
An operating system is a program on which application programs are executed techniques. it also prevents unauthorized access to programs and user data.
and acts as a communication bridge (interface) between the user and the
Job Accounting Keeps track of time and resources used by various tasks and
computer hardware. The main task an operating system carries out is the
users, this information can be used to track resource usage for a particular user
allocation of resources and services, such as the allocation of memory, devices,
or group of users.
processors, and information. The operating system also includes programs to
manage these resources, such as a traffic controller, a scheduler, a memory Secondary Storage Management is an important aspect of operating systems.
management module, I/O programs, and a file system. Disks are the mainly used secondary storage devices. They provide the bulk of
secondary storage in operating systems today. The main activity that is
WINDOWS FEDORA
performed in secondary storage management is disk scheduling.
WINDOWS 8 UBUNTU
Networking The OS provides network connectivity and manages
LINUX MAC OS ANDROID communication between computers on a network.
Coordination between other Software and Users Operating systems also
coordinate and assign interpreters, compilers, assemblers, and other software to
the various users of the computer systems.