FATIMA JINNAH WOMEN UNIVERSITY

Introduction to Information and Communication

Technology
(BCS-142)

Department of Computer Science.

FATIMA JINNAH WOMEN UNIVERSITY
RAWALPINDI
www.fjwu.edu.pk
FATIMA JINNAH WOMEN UNIVERSITY
Department of Computer Science.
 FATIMA JINNAH WOMEN UNIVERSITY
Department of Computer Science.

EXPERIMENT 1 – BASIC CONCEPTS OF COMPUTER

INTRODUCTION:
A computer is a programmable machine designed to perform arithmetic
and logical operations automatically and sequentially on the input given by
the user and gives the desired output after processing. Computer
components are divided into two major categories namely hardware and
software. Hardware is the machine itself and its connected devices such as
monitor, keyboard, mouse etc. Software is the set of programs that make
use of hardware for performing various functions
OBJECTIVES
 identify the basic components of a computer
 explain the importance of various units of a computer
 differentiate between system software and application software
 explain the importance of the operating system
 appreciate the need for computer security
INPUT UNIT:
This unit is used for entering data and programs into the computer system
by the user for processing.

Basic computer Organization

 FATIMA JINNAH WOMEN UNIVERSITY
Department of Computer Science.

STORAGE UNIT:
The storage unit is used for storing data and instructions before and after
processing.
OUTPUT UNIT:
The output unit is used for storing the result as output produced by the
computer after processing.
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. CPU includes Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and control
unit (CU).
ARITHMETIC LOGIC UNIT:
All calculations and comparisons, based on the instructions provided, are
carried out within the ALU. It performs arithmetic functions like addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division and also logical operations like greater
than, less than and equal to etc.
CONTROL UNIT:
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.
LAB TASK – I:
List down the input and output devices
INPUT DEVICES:
 Keyboard
 Mouse
 Trackballs
 Joystick
 Cameras
 Microphones
 Scanners
 Barcode Readers
 FATIMA JINNAH WOMEN UNIVERSITY
Department of Computer Science.

 Touchpads
 Pens
OUTPUT DEVICES:
 Monitors
 Printers
 Plotters
 Speakers
 Headphones
 Projectors
 Film Recorder
 Speech Generating Devices
 Sound Card
 Visual Display Unit

INPUT DEVICES:
An input device is any peripheral (a piece of computer hardware
equipment) used to provide data and control signals to an
information processing system such as a computer or other
information appliance.

Input devices:-
1. Keyboard:
A computer keyboard is an input device used
to enter characters and functions into the
computer system by pressing buttons, or
keys. Explore the description, parts, layout,
and function of computer keyboards and
discover how they work with different
languages and as virtual keyboards.

2. Mouse:
A mouse is a small device that a computer
 user pushes across a desk surface in order to
point to a place on a display screen and to
select one or more actions to take from that
position.

3. Trackballs:
A trackball is a computer cursor control device
used in many laptop computer keyboards and
older versions of computer mice. The device
comprises a ball held by a socket containing
sensors to detect a rotation of the ball about
two axes like an upside-down mouse with a
ball in it.

4. Joystick:
A joystick is a hand-held input device used to
control the movement or actions of a digital
object on a computer screen. It typically
consists of a handle or a lever that can be
tilted or pushed in different directions to
provide input to a computer or a gaming
console.

5. Cameras:
A video camera that faces the user. Webcams
are built into laptops but are separate units
that attach to the monitor of a desktop
computer. A Webcam is used for video calling
and taking selfies.

6. Microphone:
The function of a microphone in a computer
is to pick up sound, just like a microphone
used by a singer on stage, and convert the
audio sound waves into electrical signals.
From there, these electrical signals travel to
the sound card, where they are converted into
 digital signals, able to be processed by the
computer.

7. Scanner:
A scanner is a device that captures images
from photographic prints, posters, magazine
pages and similar sources for computer
editing and display. Scanners work by
converting the image on the document into
digital information that can be stored on a
computer through optical character
recognition (OCR).

8. Barcode Reader:
Barcode readers capture and translate
barcodes into numbers and/or letters for
translation by computer. Barcode scanners
can be connected to a computer through a
serial port, keyboard port or interface device
called a wedge.

9. Touchpad:
A touchpad or track pad is a type of pointing
device. Its largest component is a tactile
sensor: an electronic device with a flat surface
that detects the motion and position of a
user's fingers, and translates them to a
position on a screen, to control a pointer in a
graphical user interface.

10.Pens:
In computing, a stylus (or stylus pen) is a
small pen-shaped instrument whose tip
position on a computer monitor can be
detected. It is used to draw, or make
selections by tapping.
 OUTPUT DEVICES:
An output device is any piece of computer hardware equipment
used to communicate the results of data processing carried out by
an information processing system (such as a computer) to the
outside world.

Output devices:-
1. Monitor:
A monitor is an electronic output device used
to display information being entered and
processed on a computer. The primary use of
a monitor is to display images, text, video,
and graphics information generated by the
computer via a computer's video card.

2. Printer:
A printer is a device that accepts text and
graphic output from a computer and transfers
the information to paper, usually to standard-
size, 8.5" by 11" sheets of paper. Printers
vary in size, speed, sophistication and cost.

3. Plotter:
A plotter is a printer that interprets commands
from a computer to make line drawings on
paper with one or more automated pens.
Unlike a regular printer, a plotter can draw
continuous point-to-point lines directly from
vector graphic files or commands.

4. Speaker:
Speakers are standard output devices used
with computer systems that enable the
listener to listen to a sound as an outcome.
Some speakers are used once they have
 been linked to a computer, while others may
be connected to any type of sound system.

5. Head Phones:
Headphones are a pair of small speakers
used for listening to sound from a computer,
music player or other such electronic device.
Headphones originally consisted of one
speaker for each ear, connected by a band
over the head.

6. Projector:
A projector or image projector is an optical
device that projects an image onto a surface,
commonly a projection screen. More
scientifically it can be stated as, a projector is
an output device that can take images
generated by a computer or Blu-ray player
and reproduce them onto a screen, wall, or
other surface.

7. Film Recorder:
A film recorder is a graphical output device
for transferring images to photographic film
from a digital source.

8. Speech Generating Device:

Speech-generating devices (SGDs)
are hand-held electronic devices that play
pre-recorded words. They can help autistic
children communicate.

9. Sound Card:
A sound card is a computer component
responsible for generating and recording
audio. It enables users to connect analog
speakers, headphones and microphones to
their computer. Most modern computers have
 a built-in sound card in the motherboard.

10.Visual display unit:

Visual Display Unit which is an abbreviation
of VDU which stands for Visual Display Unit.
VDUs are devices that are capable of
displaying computer images to a computer
monitor. These images are created by a
processor or graphics card within your
computer.

LAB TASK – II:

Explain the general form of (a) Computer software (b) Application Software
Computer Software:-
Computer software, or simply software, is a part of a computer system
that consists of data or computer instructions, in contrast to the physical
hardware from which the system is built. Computer software includes
computer programs, libraries and related non-executable data.

Computer software is a set of instructions, data or programs used to

operate computers and execute specific tasks. It is the opposite of
hardware, which describes the physical aspects of a computer. Software is
a generic term used to refer to applications, scripts and programs that run
on a device.

Computer software
Application Software:-
An application program (app or application for short) is a computer
program designed to perform a group of coordinated functions, tasks, or
activities for the benefit of the user. Examples of an application include a
word processor, a spreadsheet, an accounting application, a web browser,
a media player or a photo editor.

Application software is a type of computer program that performs a

specific personal, educational, and business function. Each application is
designed to assist end-users in accomplishing a variety of tasks, which
may be related to productivity, creativity, or communication.

 Application Software

Embedded Software:-
Embedded software is specialized programming in a chip or
on firmware in an embedded device to controls its functions. Hardware
makers use embedded software to control the functions of various
hardware devices and systems.

Embedded software controls device functions in the same way that a

computer’s operating system controls the function of software applications.
Almost any device can contain embedded software – from those so simple
you might not imagine they had computer control, like toasters and light
bulbs, to complex tracking systems in missiles.
Embedded System