Intro To Computing
Intro To Computing
LEARNING MODULE
Module No.: 1
I. Learning Objectives:
Please read carefully and understand the whole module of introduction to computing and how
they started and how they work and execute properly.
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LESSON 1
Computer Organization
Key Concepts
o Block Diagram of Computer System
o Central Processing Unit
o Memory Unit
o ALU
o Control Unit
o Input & Output devices
o Input Device Categorizing
Input hardware:
Keyboard
Card Readers
Scanning Devices,
Bar Code Readers,
OCR
OMR,
MICR,
Pointing Device
Mouse & Its Types,
Light Pen,
Touch Devices,
Web Camera,
Microphone,
Joystick,
Digitizing tablet
Outout Devices:
Printers:
o Impact & Non-impact printers
o Dot Matrix,
o Laser,
o Inkjet,
o Thermal Printers,
Plotters,
Monitors:
o CRT,
o TFT,
o Plasma,
LCD Projector,
DLP Projector,
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Speaker
A computer is an electronic device which can process the data. The term
computer is derived from the Latin word “compute”. A computer can perform
following operations:
1. Accept the data and information supplied by the user.
2. Store data and information into the memory.
3. Process the data and information
4. Output the result of the processed data.
You can understand the working of a computer system with its block diagram, which is
shown in following figure:
***Note: The solid lines are used to indicate flow of data whereas the dotted lines
represent the control flow.
A computer system consists of hardware and software both. The hardware has five
different types of functional units
1. Input Unit
2. Memory Unit
3. Control Unit
4. Arithmetic and Logic Unit
5. Output Unit
The input unit is used to accept the data and instructions. The memory unit is used to
store the data and instructions in the computer. The Central Processing Unit (CPU) has
two sections; one is Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) and Control Unit (CU). CPU
processes the data and instructions and finally desired result is displayed with the help
of output unit.
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Basic Operations that are performed in( ALU )Arithmetic Logic Unit
An ALU performs following basic operations:
1. Arithmetic Operations and
2. Logic operations.
Examples of arithmetic operations are:
a. Arithmetic Addition,
b. Arithmetic subtraction,
c. Arithmetic multiplication, and
d. Arithmetic division.
Examples of logic operations are:
Comparisons of values such as AND, OR and NOT.
3. Evaluates conditions,
4. Makes comparisons of numbers, letters and special characters.
Control Unit
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Control unit obviously controls all other parts of a computer system. It acts as a
central nervous system of the computer. It fetches and analyzes the instructions one-
by-one and issues control signals to all other units to perform various operations. It
supervises the operation of all hardware connected to the computer system .
Major task of Control Unit includes:
1. To communicate with other parts of the computer system.
2. To instruct the input unit, where to store the data after receiving it from the user.
3. To control the flow of data and instructions from the memory unit to ALU.
4. To read and interpret the program instructions
5. To direct the computer system to execute stored program instructions
6. To direct the operation of the CPU.
Input & Output Devices
Whenever a particular problem is solved by the computer, you need to enter the data
and instructions to the computer. This requires an input device through which we can
feed the data. After processing this data, the computer has to produce the result, this
need an output device. Thus you can say that the interaction between the user and
computer requires the input and output devices.
You should note that there are several types of input and out devices which can be
connected to the computer for a specific purpose. The most common input device is the
keyboard and the most common output device is monitor (also known as computer
screen).
Input devices allow the user to get data into the computer. Following are
some common examples of input devices:
Examples of Input Devices
7. Keyboard,
8. Mouse,
9. Scanner,
10. Microphone,
11. Light Pen
12. Joystick,
13. Track-pad
14. Barcode Reader,
15. Optical Mark Reader (OMR),
16. Optical Character Reader (OCR),
17. Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR)
18. Digitizer etc.
Output devices are the peripherals used to display the result to the user. Following are
some common examples of output devices:
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Card Readers
Card reader is an input device that reads data from a memory card. Card is a storage
medium which can store the data, and can be used for transferring data from one
computer to another.
Card Reader
Card Reader quickly transfers all your data ± photos, videos, music etc. It supports a
wide variety of formats such as:
1. microSD,
2. microSDHC,
3. SD,
4. SDHC,
5. SDXC and
6. CompactFlash.
Scanning Devices
Scanning devices are used as an input device. An image scanner is the most common
example of scanning device. It is helpful in scanning characters and graphics both. It
scans the image of a photograph or written information and communicates it to the
CPU. A typical scanner uses sensors to acquire complex pictures and photographs.
Scanning devices can translate images of text, drawings, pictures, photographs in a
digital form and can then be stored on a storage media (e.g. CD, DVD, Pen Drive or
Hard Disk), displayed on a monitor, processed by a computer system, , or
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Image Scanner
Scanning devices include:
1. Bar Code Reader,
2. Image Scanner,
3. Optical Character Recognition (OCR),
4. Optical Mark Recognition (OMR),
5. Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR),
6. Fax Machines etc.
OCR
OCR stands for Optical Character Recognition. It is a common method of digitizing
printed texts so that they can be electronically searched, edited, displayed on-line and
stored in a compact form. It uses a scanner and software. The scanner scans an image
of a document of written text and software examines this scanned document and
extracts text from it and then store it in a from that can be processed .
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With the help of OCR, now people no longer need to manually retype important
documents when entering them into electronic databases. Instead, OCR extracts
relevant information and enters it automatically. The result is approx 95% accurate and
it enables efficient information processing in less time.
OMR
OMR stands for Optical Mark Recognition. OMR reader is an input device which is
used to read marks made by a pen or pencil on a printed sheet and then feed it into the
computer. It is generally used in multiple choice question (MCQ) based examination. It
is useful in collecting the answers of examinee in examinations of MCQ pattern. OMR
software is used to capture data from OMR sheets. OMR software is application
software that makes OMR possible on a desktop computer by using an Image scanner
to process surveys, tests, attendance sheets, checklists, and other plain printed papers.
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MICR
MICR stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. MICR reader is used as input
device.
MICR
It uses special ink which contains iron particles that can be magnetized and then read
when the printed numbers pass through a MICR reader. MICR reader will only recognize
numbers printed in a standard font using the magnetic ink as shown in following figure:
MICR characters
MICR technique is often used in banks. The bank details e.g. the account number; the
cheque number and the branch number are pre-printed onto bank cheques in a special
font with the help of magnetic ink. When you receive a cheque and deposit it in your
bank they print the amount and your account details on the cheque in magnetic ink. It
then sent to a clearing bank to be read by another MICR reader and the correct
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amounts are automatically transferred to the mentioned accounts with the help of
computer.
Advantage of MICR
1. The advantage of using MICR is that the magnetic characters can be read very
quickly and accurately by MICR readers.
2. It provides a high level of security, because any attempt to alter the magnetic ink
printout with normal ink will be ignored.
Disadvantages
It is fairly expensive.
***Remember
1. The MICR is a device that can recognise human readable characters printed on
documents such as cheques using a special magnetic ink.
2. The MICR has a magnetic head which can detect the magnetic pattern for each
character.
3. The MICR reader reads these characters by examining their shapes.
4. Characters are printed in a special font.
5. Each character is formed by a 7 x 10 matrix.
Pointing Device
Pointing device is kind of an input device that allows user to control and provide data to
the computer using movement of a hand-held mouse or similar devices.
The use of pointing devices is to control the position of the pointer or cursor and allow
the user to select options displayed on the screen.
Based on the technology used the mouse can be categorize into following two types:
1. Mechanical Mouse,
2. Optical Mouse.
1. Mechanical Mouse
The mechanical mouse builds with a ball inside the mouse and it touches a
surface and rolls with the mouse. The distance and the speed of the ball inside
the mouse determine how far the mouse cursor moves on the screen. Look at
the diagram given below:
2. Optical Mouse
The optical mouse uses special chips to encode data for the computer. It uses
Light Emitting Diode (LED) to detect the underlying surface. Look at the diagram
given below:
Light Pen
A light pen is a pencil shaped light-sensitive pointing input device commonly used to
select text or data on a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) screen. Look at the diagram given
below:
Light Pen
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Why it is used?
It is used to select screen coordinates by detecting the light coming from
illuminated points on the CRT screen. It is useful in graphical applications.
How it works?
When an activated light pen, comes in contact with an illuminated spot on the
screen, it generates an electrical signal which is taken as input to the computer.
The computer then responds to it by displaying more information about the
pointed text/data.
Touch Devices
A touch devices works as both input and output devices for a computer or an
information processing system. It is normally layered on the top of an electronic
visual display, where a user can give input or control it through simply touching
the screen with one or more fingers.
Touch Device
The touch screen devices are very easy to use and operate and do not require
much skill. They are based on either pressure sensitive, electrically sensitive,
photo sensitive material. The user can directly touch the screen with his/her
fingertip. When the user touches the screen, the sensors on the screen detect
the touch of a finger.
Example:
ATM (Automated Teller Machine) used for financial transactions.
***note:
1. Touch screen also called as touch panel.
2. All ATM machines use the touch screen.
Web Camera
Web camera is a small digital device connected to your computer which is
capable of taking pictures as well as high-definition videos and transmits them
over the internet. It is basically an input device that captures digital
images/videos.
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Web camera comes with software that needs to be installed on the computer to
help users record video on or stream it from the Web.
Microphone
A microphone is an audio input device. It is also called as "mic" or "mike". It
captures audio by converting sound waves into electrical signals and then these
signals can be amplified as analog signals or may be converted to digital signals,
which can be processed by some digital audio devices or computer.
***note
1. Sound card is used for digitizing voice input.
2. The process of converting an audio signal into digital form is called digitizing.
Joystick
A joystick is an input device that enables its user to control a character or
machine with the help of a computer program. It looks like a control device such
as flight simulator.
Joystick consists of a small rod known as stick or lever mounted on a rolling boll.
This stick is used to control the cursor available over the CRT screen. When this
stick or lever is operated, its movement is converted into electrical signals which
are then sent to the Central Processing Unit (CPU) for further processing. The
CPU interprets these signals and displays the movement on the CRT screen. It is
mostly used as the game controller.
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In this diagram:
1. Stick
2. Base
3. Trigger
4. Extra Buttons
5. Auto-fire Switch
6. Throttle
7. Hat Switch
8. Suction Cup
****note
The joystick was invented at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by C. B. Mirick
in 1926.
Digitizing Tablet
Digitizing tablet is a small size notebook kind of input device, which enables you
to enter drawings and sketches into a computer. It is also called as digitizer or
graphics tablet. Because of its portability, it can be carried out easily anywhere
we want. It requires a pen called digital pen or stylus. This pen looks like a
simple ballpoint pen but uses an electronic head instead of ink. It support built in
handwriting recognition software which recognizes the data written over the
screen.
Digitizing Table
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A digitizing tablet has a cursor which is called a puck. This puck is similar to a
mouse, except that it has a window with cross hairs for pinpoint placement with
6 buttons. The tablet contains electronics that enable it to detect movement of
the cursor or pen and translate them into digital signals that it sends to the
computer. Each point on the digitizing tablet represents a point on the display
screen. The static nature of digitizing tablets makes them particularly effective
for tracing drawings.
***note
Modern digitizing tablets support a mouse emulation mode, in which the pen or
cursor acts like a mouse.
Output Device
Output devices are the peripherals used to output result to the user.
Printers
The electronic circuit is mainly used to control the mechanical assembly which
consist of a print head, paper mover, sensor, carriage motor and ribbon.
Characteristics of Printer
The basic characteristics of a printer are as follows:
1. Quality,
2. Speed,
3. Memory,
4. Graphics/font and
5. Type (Printing Mechanism)
Types of Printer
Printers are classified into two categories:
1. Serial Printer,
2. Parallel Printer
Serial printers are those printers in which each bit is transmitted from the computer and the
same is received by the printer. Eight bits makes a character. In such type of printers, bit-by-bit
transmission of characters takes place between computer and printer in a single
communication.
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Whereas in case of parallel printer, it has a group of 8 wires to have an interface with the
computer. Each wire is capable to carry one bit of a character at a time, therefore all eight bits
that make a character are transmitted to the printer. Thus we can say parallel transmission is
takes place in case of parallel printers.
Examples of printer
***note
Impact printers are helpful in printing multiple copies at a time.
Dot Matrix
In this type of printers, a character is printed by striking pins against an ink ribbon.
Each pin makes a dot or selected number of dots from a matrix of dots. Pins are
arranged in the form of matrix and combinations of dots, form a character.
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Working Principle
When a print command is given by a computer, the printer is activated to print the
given data/information and then the print head starts moving from the leftmost column
to the rightmost column of a paper. You must know that an inked ribbon between the
print head and the paper is available to print. Look at the pattern of printing a character
through dot matrix printer:
***note
Dot Matrix printers are low cost and high speed printers. But the quality of print is not so good.
Laser
laser printer
Laser printer uses the same technology as copy machines. Laser printers produce very
high quality text and graphics but laser printers are very expensive.
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Inkjet
Inkjet printer uses the principle of the dot matrix printer, but instead of pins, it uses an
array of nozzles which spray jets of ink onto the paper in a series of dots that make the
characters and graphics. A print head scans the paper in horizontal strip, using a motor
assembly to move it from left to right and back. Another motor assembly rolls the paper
in vertical steps. A strip of the image is printed, and then the paper moves on, ready for
the next strip.
Inkjet printer
Inkjet printers are the most affordable colour printers and offers high quality image
print. Printers are expensive in terms of the cost per page is high and these are slow as
compared to laser printer.
Thermal Printers
Thermal Printer is a type of printer that produces a printed image by pushing heated
pins against heat-sensitive paper. When the paper passes over the thermal print head,
the coating turns black in the areas where it is heated and we get the printed image as
a result.
Thermal Printer
Plotters
Plotter is an output device which is used to produce the graphical output. It is basically
a kind of printer that interprets commands from a computer to make line drawings on
paper with one or more automated pens. The plotter can draw continuous point-to-
point lines directly from graphics files or commands.
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*****note
Plotter is useful for plotting graphs, charts and other designs on the paper.
Types of Plotters
1. Flat Bed Plotters
In this type of plotter, the paper on which something has to be plotted is fixed
on a flat rectangular surface. The paper doesn’t move but the pen-holding
mechanism moves across the paper and plots the corresponding graphical
information. The pen holding mechanism is designed to hold more than one pen.
For making any pattern, several pens of different colours are used when and
wherever required. When a command for drawing anything is given to the
plotter, the electronic circuitry activates the pen-holding mechanism and a
specific pen is selected from the pen-holder. Thus plotter plots the pattern
accordingly.
2. Drum Plotter
In this type of plotter, the paper on which anything has to be plotted is placed
over the drum. The drum rotates opposite the direction of pen-holder, which
moves only in the horizontal direction and thus plotter plots the pattern
accordingly.
Advantages of plotters
Disadvantages of plotters
Monitors
****note
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CRT stands for Cathode Ray Tube. A CRT monitor contains millions of small red, green,
and blue phosphor dots that glow when struck by an electron beam that travels across
the screen to create a visible image.
CRT Monitor
In a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), the "Cathode" is a heated filament. The "Ray" is a
stream of electrons generated by an electron gun that naturally pour off a heated
cathode into the vacuum. The heated filament in a vacuum created inside a glass
known as "Tube." As electrons are negative terminal and anode is positive terminal, it
attracts the electrons pouring off the cathode. Screen is coated with phosphor that is an
organic material that glows when struck by the electron beam.
The electron gun generates a beam of electrons which are accelerated by anodes.
Deflecting coils produce an ELF (i.e. Extremely Low Frequency) electromagnetic field
that allows constant direction of the electron beam. CRT has two sets of deflecting
coils, one horizontal and another is vertical. Above figure is showing only one set of
coils for simplicity. The intensity of the beam can be varied. When electron beam strikes
the phosphor-coated screen, it produces a tiny, bright visible spot.
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1. The energy needed for the electron beam of CRT monitors is more than LCD Monitor.
2. CRT monitors generate a lot more heat than the LCD monitors.
3. CRT monitors requires more space.
TFT
TFT stands for Thin Film Transistor. It is a type of display in which each pixel is
controlled by one transistor therefore the current that triggers pixel illumination can be
smaller and therefore can be switched on and off more quickly. Because of each pixel
has its own transistor on the glass itself, it offers more control over the images thus it
deliver sharp images.
Advantage
The TFT technology provides the best resolution of all the flat-panel techniques.
Disadvantage
***Remember
Plasma
Plasma monitor is a display device in which each pixel on the screen is illuminated by an
ionized gas (a mixture of neon and xenon). In this type of monitor, a thin layer of pixels
exists between two transparent glass panels. Each pixel is composed of three gasfilled
cells (one each of red, green and blue colour). A grid of tiny electrodes applies an
electric current to the individual cells, causing the gas in the cells to ionize. This ionized
gas is known as plasma. This emits frequency UV rays, which stimulate the cells
phosphors to glow.
***Remember
LCD Projector
An LCD projector is a type of projector based on Liquid Crystal Displays which can
display images, data or video. An LCD projector works on transmissive technology. A
standard lamp is the light source for an LCD projector. An LCD projector allows the
source light to pass through the LCD panels of three colors. The panels allow some
colors to pass through and block some colors to form the images on the screen.
LCD Projector
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A DLP projector is a type of projector based on Digital Light Processing chip. This Digital
Light Processing chip is called as Digital Micro mirror Device (DMD).
A DLP projector is consists of million tiny mirrors. Each mirror in this chip is capable of
independent adjustment, moving toward or away from the light source to create a dark
or light pixel, however, the image is in gray scale. Color is fed to the DMD by a beam of
light that passes through a spinning color wheel before it reaches the chip. Each
segment of the color wheel delivers one color. After color reaches the DMD, the image
is fed through the lens and onto the projection screen.
1. Components of DLP Projector are not sealed so dust can settle on the color wheel
and affect image quality.
2. Most DLP projectors are not compatible with zoom lenses.
Speaker
Speakers are one of the most common output devices used with computer systems.
The purpose of speakers is to produce audio output that can be heard by the listener.
Speaker
The sound produced by speakers is defined by frequency and amplitude. The frequency
determines how high or low the pitch of the sound is. Speakers convert electromagnetic
waves into sound waves. The speakers receive audio input from a device such as a
computer or an audio receiver. This input may be either in analog or digital form.
Analog speakers simply amplify the analog electromagnetic waves into sound waves.
Since sound waves are produced in analog form, digital speakers must first convert the
digital input to an analog signal, and then generate the sound waves. Speakers typically
come in pairs, which allow them to produce stereo sound. This means the left and right
speakers transmit audio on two completely separate channels. Surround systems may
include four to seven speakers plus a woofer.