COMPUTER

What is computer?

A computer is a programmable electronic device that accepts raw data as input and processes it
with a set of instructions (a program) to produce the result as output. It renders output just after
performing mathematical and logical operations and can save the output for future use. It can
process numerical as well as non-numerical calculations. The term "computer" is derived from the
Latin word "computer" which means to calculate.

A computer is designed to execute applications and provides a variety of solutions through

integrated hardware and software components. It works with the help of programs and represents
the decimal numbers through a string of binary digits. It also has a memory that stores the data,
programs, and result of processing. The components of a computer such as machinery that
includes wires, transistors, circuits, hard disk are called hardware. Whereas, the programs and data
are called software.

Types of Computers
Computers can be differentiated based on their modes of functioning as well as
their size and functionality. Here they have been divided into different types of
computers without considering any of these factors.

1. Analogue
These are old models of computers that work on the continuous analogue
signals rather than discrete signals. They are not very accurate but
extremely fast.

2. Digital
Computers that use this binary system of counting using electrical pulses
of ON and OFF are known as digital computers. They function on discrete
values and are generally more accurate.

3. Hybrid
Computers that have features of both digital and analogue computers are
known as hybrid computers. The analogue part of a computer handles
very complicated mathematical computations while digital components
handle these numerical and logical systems.

4. Mainframes
Mainframe computers are computers that are accessed simultaneously
by several thousands of people at once. They are used in fields of banking
and telecom where they have to handle millions of requests together in
minimal time.

5. Supercomputers
These massive computers are used in the fields of engineering and
scientific computations. They usually perform over a million instructions
per second.

6. Servers
Servers are large repositories of information. They supply information to
any computer that is on the same network as them. Many people access
servers at the same time so servers need to handle large amounts of
traffic.

7. Workstation
This type of computer that scientists and engineers may be familiar with is
called the workstation. It is generally used in scientific applications and has
a faster microprocessor along with a spacious memory.
8. Microcomputer
This last type of computer is a microcomputer which is nothing but a
personal computer that you use at home. These computers are built for
light use such as listening to music, or playing movies or accessing the
internet.

Basic Parts of a Computer and Their Functions

1. The computer case or system unit

This component holds all of the physical parts of a computer system.

It is usually designed in such a manner to make fitting a motherboard, wiring, and primary and
secondary storage devices as easy as possible. Some are designed so well that it is easy to make
everything look tidy and presentable.

They can also accommodate CD or DVD drives, allowing users to listen to music using compact
discs or watch Blu-ray movies from their computer.
2. Motherboard

The motherboard is the main board mounted directly inside the computer case. All other cards
plug directly into the motherboard, hence its name.

It is a printed circuit board in which the CPU, RAM, drives, power supply, expansion cards, and
more are plugged into it.

Its function involves integrating all the physical components to communicate and operate
together.

A good motherboard offers a wide amount of connectivity options. It also has the least amount of
bottlenecks possible.

3. Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The CPU or central processing unit is basically like the brain of computer systems. It processes all the
information on a computational level.

It takes all the processes from the RAM and processes them to perform the tasks required by the
computer system.

The faster the processor, the more instructions it can execute at any given time.

The central processing unit is usually seated in a socket that utilizes a lever or a latch with a hinged
plate with a cut-out in the center to secure the CPU onto the motherboard.
It has many copper pads underneath it for the socket contacts to push up against them to make
electrical contact.

There are other ways CPUs can be attached to the motherboard.

Here are some common examples:

• ZIF (Zero Insertion Force): Although this is a more desirable socket, they are mostly found
on older computer motherboards. It has a lever-operated mechanism to clamp the pins of
the processor.
• PGA (Pin Grid Array): It is also a ZIF socket with a different pin pitch and count.
• LGA (Land Grid Array): More commonly found on motherboards today. A levered hinged
plate with a center cut-out clamps down on the processor.

4. Random Access Memory (RAM)

RAM is a data storage device that can provide fast read and write access. RAM is volatile memory,
meaning it loses all the stored data when power is lost.

The RAM keeps data ready for the CPU to process. The RAM speed is a big contributor to the
overall speed of a computer system.

It plugs directly into a long slot that has contacts on either side of the slot.

It, too, has a clock speed, just like a processor. So, it can also be overclocked to deliver increased
performance beyond the intended specification.

Certain RAM modules are sold with a heat spreader. It helps dissipate the heat from the individual
memory ICs, keeping them cooler.
5. Graphics Card or Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

A graphics card is an output device that processes the data from the motherboard and sends the
appropriate information to the computer’s screen for display.

You can connect monitors to it using HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA connectors.

It can also be referred to as a video or display card.

A video card takes the burden of all the video processing from the main CPU. This gives a
computer a big boost in performance.

Fans are almost a given because of the large processing requirements for a gaming GPU.

A video card plugs into a PCI Express (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) slot on the
motherboard. It is a serial expansion bus slot capable of high bandwidth in two directions.

A graphics card has a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), the main part of a computer system that
requires cooling.

Memory
Memory is the electronic holding place for the instructions and data a computer needs to reach
quickly. It's where information is stored for immediate use. Memory is one of the basic functions of
a computer, because without it, a computer would not be able to function properly. Memory is also
used by a computer's operating system, hardware and software.

There are technically two types of computer memory: primary and secondary. The term memory is
used as a synonym for primary memory or as an abbreviation for a specific type of primary
memory called random access memory (RAM). This type of memory is located on microchips that
are physically close to a computer's microprocessor.
If a computer's central processer (CPU) had to only use a secondary storage device, computers
would become much slower. In general, the more memory (primary memory) a computing device
has, the less frequently the computer must access instructions and data from slower (secondary)
forms of storage.

Types of computer memory

In general, memory can be divided into primary and secondary memory; moreover, there are
numerous types of memory when discussing just primary memory. Some types of primary memory
include the following

• Cache memory. This temporary storage area, known as a cache, is more readily available to
the processor than the computer's main memory source. It is also called CPU memory because
it is typically integrated directly into the CPU chip or placed on a separate chip with
a bus interconnect with the CPU.

• RAM. The term is based on the fact that any storage location can be accessed directly by the
processor.

• Read-only memory. ROM is a type of computer storage containing nonvolatile, permanent

data that, normally, can only be read and not written to. ROM contains the programming
that enables a computer to start up or regenerate each time it is turned on.

• Programmable ROM. PROM is ROM that can be modified once by a user. It enables a
user to tailor a microcode program using a special machine called a PROM programmer

Software:-
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. It can be
thought of as the variable part of a computer, while hardware is the invariable part.

The two main categories of software are application software and system software. An application
is software that fulfills a specific need or performs tasks. System software is designed to run a
computer's hardware and provides a platform for applications to run on top of.

Other types of software include programming software, which provides the programming tools
software developers need; middleware, which sits between system software and applications;
and driver software, which operates computer devices and peripherals.
Early software was written for specific computers and sold with the hardware it ran on. In the
1980s, software began to be sold on floppy disks, and later on CDs and DVDs. Today, most
software is purchased and directly downloaded over the internet. Software can be found on vendor
websites or application service provider websites.

Control Panel (Windows)

Control Panel is a component of Microsoft Windows that provides the ability to view and change system
settings. It consists of a set of applets that include adding or removing hardware and software,
controlling user accounts, changing accessibility options, and accessing networking settings. Additional
applets are provided by third parties, such as audio and video drivers, VPN tools, input devices, and
networking tools.

Control Panel is a component of Microsoft Windows that provides the ability to view and change system
settings. It consists of a set of applets that include adding or removing hardware and software,
controlling user accounts, changing accessibility options, and accessing networking settings. Additional
applets are provided by third parties, such as audio and video drivers, VPN tools, input devices, and
networking tools.

Hardware
Computers are at the forefront of advancement in modern society. Without devices such as
computers and automated equipment, many modern processes would not be able to take place.
Similarly, many individuals would be at a disadvantage for not utilizing these important machines
to conduct regular tasks as part of their job, or for leisure. Having a concrete understanding of
computer hardware is equally as important as knowing how to operate these impactful devices.
Computer hardware is an umbrella term that refers to the physical components of a
computer. Hardware includes tangible items which can be physically touched or seen, and it is
required for a computer to function. Computer hardware can be classified as internal or external,
which relates to the placement of the physical part in or around the device. Generally, internal
hardware is required for the computer to run, while external hardware enhances the use or
functionality. Examples of internal computer hardware may include a video card, memory, or a
core processing unit (CPU), while external computer hardware examples include a keyboard or a
computer case.
 MICROSOFT POWERPOINTntroduction To
MS PowerPoint
MS PowerPoint is a program that is included in the Microsoft Office suite. It is used to make presentations for
personal and professional purposes.

In this article, we shall discuss in detail the functions and features of a PowerPoint presentation, followed by some
sample questions based on this topic for the upcoming competitive exams.

To learn more about the different programs under Microsoft Office, visit the linked article.

Given below are a few important things that one must know about the development and introduction of Microsoft
PowerPoint:

• The program was created in a software company named Forethought, Inc. by Robert Gaskins and
Dennis Austin.
• It was released on April 20, 1987, and after 3 months of its creation, it was acquired by Microsoft.
• The first version of this program, when introduced by Microsoft was MS PowerPoint 2.0 (1990).
• It is a presentation-based program that uses graphics, videos, etc. to make a presentation more
interactive and interesting.
• The file extension of a saved Powerpoint presentation is “.ppt”.
• A PowerPoint presentation comprising slides and other features is also known as PPT.
Gradually, with each version, the program was more creative and more interactive. Various other features were added
in PowerPoint which massively increased the requirement and use of this MS Office program.

From the examination point of view, MS PowerPoint happens to be a very important topic. Candidates who are
preparing for the various Government exams can visit the Computer Knowledge page and get a list of topics included
in the syllabus and prepare themselves accordingly.
Basics of MS PowerPoint:-
Discussed below are a few questions that one must be aware of while discussing the basics of MS
PowerPoint. Once this is understood, using the program and analysing how to use it more creatively shall
become easier.

MICROSOFT EXCELAn Introduction to MS Excel

MS Excel is a commonly used Microsoft Office application. It is a spreadsheet program which is used to save and
analyse numerical data.

In this article, we bring to you the important features of MS Excel, along with an overview of how to use the program,
its benefits and other important elements. A few sample MS Excel question and answers are also given further below
in this article for the reference of Government exam aspirants.

To learn more about the other programs under Microsoft Office, visit the linked article.

Computer Awareness is an integral part of the syllabus for major competitive exams and questions from MS Excel
may also be asked in these exams. To get the detailed syllabus for Computer Knowledge, candidates can visit the
linked article.

Basics of MS Excel
What is MS Excel?

MS Excel is a spreadsheet program where one can record data in the form of tables. It is easy to analyse data in an Excel
spreadsheet. The image given below represents how an Excel spreadsheet looks like:
 How to open MS Excel?

To open MS Excel on your computer, follow the steps given below:

• Click on Start
• Then All Programs
• Next step is to click on MS Office
• Then finally, choose the MS-Excel option
Alternatively, you can also click on the Start button and type MS Excel in the search option available.

What is a cell?

A spreadsheet is in the form of a table comprising rows and columns. The rectangular box at the intersection point between rows
and columns forms a cell. Given below is an image of a cell:

Formulas in Excel: An Overview

• Choose a cell.

• To enter an equal sign, click the cell and type =.

• Enter the address of a cell in the selected cell or select a cell from the list.

• You need to enter an operator.

• Enter the address of the next cell in the selected cell.

• Press Enter.

The example below shows how we have used the multiplication formula manually with the ‘*’ operator.

Sample Formula: "=A2*B2"

 Fig: Microsoft Excel Formula

This example below shows how we have used the function - ‘PRODUCT’ to perform multiplication. As you can see,
we didn’t use the mathematical operator here.

Sample Formula: "=PRODUCT(A2,B2)"

Fig: Microsoft Excel Function

Excel Formulas and Functions

1. SUM

The SUM() function, as the name suggests, gives the total of the selected range of cell values. It performs the
mathematical operation which is addition. Here’s an example of it below:

Sum "=SUM(C2:C4)"

2. AVERAGE

AVERAGE =AVERAGE(C2, C3, C4)

3. COUNT

COUNT =COUNT(C1:C4)

4. SUBTOTAL

5. MODULUS
 MODULUS =MOD(A2,3)

• The result is stored in B2. We can also directly type “=MOD(10,3)” as it will give the same answer.

Fig: Modulus function in Excel

• Similarly, here, we have divided 12 by 4. The remainder is 0 is, which is stored in B3.

Fig: Modulus function in Excel

6. POWER

The function “Power()” returns the result of a number raised to a certain power. Let’s have a look at the examples
shown below:

Fig: Power function in Excel

As you can see above, to find the power of 10 stored in A2 raised to 3, we have to type:

Power =POWER (A2,3)

This is how power function works in Excel.

7. CEILING

Next, we have the ceiling function. The CEILING() function rounds a number up to its nearest multiple of significance.
 Fig: Ceiling function in Excel

The nearest highest multiple of 5 for 35.316 is 40.

8. FLOOR

Contrary to the Ceiling function, the floor function rounds a number down to the nearest multiple of significance.

Fig: Floor function in Excel

The nearest lowest multiple of 5 for 35.316 is 35.

9. CONCATENATE

This function merges or joins several text strings into one text string. Given below are the different ways to perform
this function.

• In this example, we have operated with the syntax:

CONCATENATE =CONCATENATE(A25, " ", B25)

Fig: Concatenate function in Excel

• In this example, we have operated with the syntax:

"=CONCATENATE(A27&" "&B27)"
 Fig: Concatenate function in Excel

Those were the two ways to implement the concatenation operation in Excel.

Also Read: How to Use Concatenate in Excel?

10. LEN

The function LEN() returns the total number of characters in a string. So, it will count the overall characters, including
spaces and special characters. Given below is an example of the Len function.

11. REPLACE

REPLACE =REPLACE(A15,1,1,"B")

“=REPLACE(A16,1,1, "A2")”

Fig: Replace function in Excel

• Finally, we are replacing Adam with Saam by typing:

“=REPLACE(A17,1,2, "Sa")”
 12. SUBSTITUTE

“=SUBSTITUTE(A20, "I like","He likes")”

Fig: Substitute function in Excel

• Next, we are substituting the second 2010 that occurs in the original text in cell A21 with 2016 by typing
“=SUBSTITUTE(A21,2010, 2016,2)”.

Fig: Substitute function in Excel

• Now, we are replacing both the 2010s in the original text with 2016 by typing “=SUBSTITUTE(A22,2010,2016)”.

Fig: Substitute function in Excel

That was all about the substitute function, let’s now move on to our next function.

13. LEFT, RIGHT, MID

Fig: Left function in Excel

Shown below is an example using the mid function.

 Fig: Mid function in Excel

• Here, we have an example of the right function.

Fig: Right function in Excel

14. UPPER, LOWER, PROPER

Fig: Upper function in Excel

• Now, we have converted the text in A6 to a full lowercase one, as seen in A7.

Fig: Lower function in Excel

• Finally, we have converted the improper text in A6 to a clean and proper format in A7.
 Fig: Proper function in Excel

Now, let us hop on to exploring some date and time functions in Excel.

15. NOW()

The NOW() function in Excel gives the current system date and time.

Fig: Now function in Excel

The result of the NOW() function will change based on your system date and time.

16. TODAY()

The TODAY() function in Excel provides the current system date.

Fig: Today function in Excel

The function DAY() is used to return the day of the month. It will be a number between 1 to 31. 1 is the first day of the
month, 31 is the last day of the month.

Fig: Day function in Excel

The MONTH() function returns the month, a number from 1 to 12, where 1 is January and 12 is December.

Fig: Month function in Excel

The YEAR() function, as the name suggests, returns the year from a date value.
 Fig: Year function in Excel

17. TIME()

The TIME() function converts hours, minutes, seconds given as numbers to an Excel serial number, formatted with a
time format.

Fig: Time function in Excel

18. HOUR, MINUTE, SECOND

The HOUR() function generates the hour from a time value as a number from 0 to 23. Here, 0 means 12 AM and 23 is
11 PM.

Fig: Hour function in Excel

The function MINUTE(), returns the minute from a time value as a number from 0 to 59.

Fig: Minute function in Excel

The SECOND() function returns the second from a time value as a number from 0 to 59.

Fig: Second function in Excel

19. DATEDIF

The DATEDIF() function provides the difference between two dates in terms of years, months, or days.

Below is an example of a DATEDIF function where we calculate the current age of a person based on two given
dates, the date of birth and today’s date.
 Fig: Datedif function in Excel

Now, let’s skin through a few critical advanced functions in Excel that are popularly used to analyze data and create
reports.

20. VLOOKUP

Next up in this article is the VLOOKUP() function. This stands for the vertical lookup that is responsible for looking for
a particular value in the leftmost column of a table. It then returns a value in the same row from a column you specify.

Below are the arguments for the VLOOKUP function:

lookup_value - This is the value that you have to look for in the first column of a table.

table - This indicates the table from which the value is retrieved.

col_index - The column in the table from the value is to be retrieved.

range_lookup - [optional] TRUE = approximate match (default). FALSE = exact match.

We will use the below table to learn how the VLOOKUP function works.

If you wanted to find the department to which Stuart belongs, you could use the VLOOKUP function as shown below:

Fig: Vlookup function in Excel

Here, A11 cell has the lookup value, A2: E7 is the table array, 3 is the column index number with information about
departments, and 0 is the range lookup.
 GUI (Graphical User Interface)
A graphics-based operating system interface that uses icons, menus and a mouse (to click on the
icon or pull down the menus) to manage interaction with the system. Developed by Xerox, the GUI
was popularized by the Apple Macintosh in the 1980s. At the time, Microsoft’s operating system,
MS-DOS, required the user to type specific commands, but the company’s GUI, Microsoft
Windows, is now the dominant user interface for personal computers (PCs). A comprehensive GUI
environment includes four components: a graphics library, a user interface toolkit, a user interface
style guide and consistent applications. The graphics library provides a high-level graphics
programming interface. The user interface toolkit, built on top of the graphics library, provides
application programs with mechanisms for creating and managing the dialogue elements of the
windows, icons, menus, pointers and scroll bars (WIMPS) interface. The user interface style guide
specifies how applications should employ the dialogue elements to present a consistent, easy-to-
use environment (i.e., “look and feel”) to the user. Application program conformance with a single
user interface style is the primary determinant of ease of learning and use, and thus, of application
effectiveness and user productivity.

CUI(Character-based User Interface)

A method for interacting with the computer that displays a fixed set of rows and columns on
screen with monospaced characters and a single font. Common in the days of mainframe and
minicomputer terminals as well as the early days of personal computers (DOS, Apple II, CP/M, etc.),
CUI-based computers were operated by the keyboard, using a combination of function keys, key
sequences and by typing in commands in a prescribed syntax. CUIs were superseded by GUIs
(graphical user interfaces), and although character-based displays are no longer common,
command line interfaces are still included in all major operating systems. Contrast with GUI.
 Chart types
There are many types of charts in IBM® Cognos® Insight for presenting your data in a way that is
meaningful to you and your users.

To choose the appropriate type of chart, first define what you want the chart to communicate, and then
identify the most effective chart to suit that purpose.

Column charts

Column charts are useful for comparing discrete data or showing trends over time.

Column charts use vertical data markers to compare individual values.

Line charts

Line charts are useful for showing trends over time and comparing many data series.

Line charts plot data at regular points connected by lines.

Pie charts

Pie charts are useful for highlighting proportions.

They use segments of a circle to show the relationship of parts to the whole. To highlight actual values, use
another chart type, such as a stacked chart.

Pie charts plot a single data series. If you need to plot multiple data series, use a 100 percent stacked chart.

Bar charts

Bar charts are useful for plotting many data series.

Bar charts use horizontal data markers to compare individual values.

Area charts

Area charts are useful for emphasizing the magnitude of change over time. Stacked area charts are also used
to show the relationship of parts to the whole.

Area charts are like line charts, but the areas below the lines are filled with colors or patterns.

Point charts

Point charts are useful for showing quantitative data in an uncluttered fashion.

Point charts use multiple points to plot data along an ordinal, or non-numeric, axis. A point chart is the same
as a line chart without the lines. Only the data points are shown.

Scatter charts

Scatter charts are useful for showing relationships between two measures.
Scatter charts use colored circles to represent two measures for each dimension. The x-axis represents one
measure, and the y-axis represents a second measure.

For example, you create a scatter chart that shows Cost and Revenue by Product. Your scatter chart consists
of one circle for each Product. Each Product circle is plotted on the chart based on Cost, on the x-axis, and
Revenue, on the y-axis.

Bubble charts

Bubble charts are useful for showing relationships between three measures.

Bubble charts use colored circles of different sizes to show three measures for each dimension. The x-axis
represents one measure, the y-axis represents a second measure, and the size of the bubbles represent a third
measure.

For example, you create a bubble chart that shows Cost, Revenue, and Quantity Sold by Product. Your
bubble chart consists of one circle for each Product. Each Product circle is plotted on the chart based on
Cost, on the x-axis, and Revenue, on the y-axis. The size of the circle represents the Quantity Sold for that
Product.

Combination charts

Combination charts are useful for showing a comparison of two measures over time.

Combination charts include a column chart and a line chart, both on the same x-axis. The column chart
represents one measure, and the line chart represents a second measure. By default, the first measure in the
content pane is represented by the columns and the second measure is represented by the line. If the y-axes
do not have the same range of values, the y-axis on the left of the chart displays values for the columns, and
the y-axis on the right of the chart displays values for the line.

Input & output devices

As computer users, we're the most familiar with the parts of the computer that we interact with
daily: the input and output devices.

Input
The very first computers only accepted "punch cards" as input. Computer scientists had to
carefully punch out their instructions and then feed the cards into the computer.

Output
Once the CPU is done processing the data, it often needs to output a result.

A standard output device is the computer monitor, which displays text, images, and user
interface elements by lighting up thousands of pixels with different colors.

Computer Networking
Computer networking refers to interconnected computing devices that can exchange data and
share resources with each other. These networked devices use a system of rules, called
communications protocols, to transmit information over physical or wireless technologies.

The types of computer networks:-

Local area network (LAN)

A LAN is an interconnected system limited in size and geography. It typically connects computers
and devices within a single office or building. It is used by small companies or as a test network for
small-scale prototyping.

Wide area networks (WAN)

An enterprise network spanning buildings, cities, and even countries, is called a wide area network
(WAN). While local area networks are used to transmit data at higher speeds within close
proximity, WANs are set up for long-distance communication that is secure and dependable.
 CONTENT
• COMPUTER

• MEMORY

• SOFTWARE

• HARDWARE

• MICROSOFT POWERPOINT

• MICROSOFT EXCEL

• GUI AND CUI

• TYPES OF CHART

• INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICE

• NETWORKING