Course on Computer Concepts is a basic tutorial on computer literacy.

This tutorial enables the learner to use computer for basic things like
sending and receiving emails, browsing internet, preparing databases,
making presentations, etc. This course also helps to prepare
candidates for NIELIT CCC examination.

Audience
This tutorial is designed on Course on Computer Concepts (CCC)
which covers the entire updated syllabus prescribed by NIELIT. It
comprises eight chapters on the fundamental concepts of computer.
Each chapter provides clear idea of computer concepts in detail with
the help of real time applications and screenshots. The language used
in the entire tutorial is quite simple and easy to understand. The
tutorial starts with basic concepts of computer and then explains
about Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint of MS office 2013 version.
In the fifth and sixth chapters, it covers knowledge about Internet
usage in our day-to-day life. The application of digital financial
services is discussed in the last chapter which describes the usage of
internet facility in financial sectors. So anyone who wants to get basic
to intermediate level knowledge on the above topics are the targeted
audience for this tutorial.
Prerequisites
To be able to follow this tutorial, you do not need any prior knowledge
on computers. It is a basic course which starts from the
fundamentals. One having basic knowledge and understanding of
English language can easily complete this tutorial.

In today's world, we use computers for all our tasks. Our day-to-day
activities: paying bills, buying groceries, using social media, seeking
entertainment, working from home, communicating with a friend,
etc., can all be done using a computer. So it is important not only to
know how to use a computer, but also to understand the components
of a computer and what they do.
This topic explains all concepts related to computer in detail, from
origin to end. The idea of computer literacy is also discussed, which
includes the definition and functions of a computer. You learn about
the components of a computer, the concept of hardware and software,
representation of data/information, the concept of data processing
and applications of IECT.
What is a Computer?
A computer is an electronic device that accepts data from the user,
processes it, produces results, displays them to the users, and stores
the results for future usage.

Data is a collection of unorganized facts & figures and does not

provide any further information regarding patterns, context, etc.
Hence data means "unstructured facts and figures".

Information is a structured data i.e. organized meaningful and

processed data. To process the data and convert into information, a
computer is used.

Functions of Computers
A computer performs the following functions −
Receiving Input
Data is fed into computer through various input devices like keyboard,
mouse, digital pens, etc. Input can also be fed through devices like
CD-ROM, pen drive, scanner, etc.

Processing the information

Operations on the input data are carried out based on the instructions
provided in the programs.

Storing the information

After processing, the information gets stored in the primary or
secondary storage area.
Producing output
The processed information and other details are communicated to the
outside world through output devices like monitor, printer, etc.
Sr. No. Computer Concepts & Description

History of Computers
The history of the computer dates back to several years. There are five prominent
1
generations of computers. Each generation has witnessed several technological advances
which change the functionality of the computers.

Characteristics of Computer System

2 Characteristics of Computer System involve Speed, Accuracy, Diligence, Versatility,
Reliability, Automation, Memory.

Basic Applications of Computer

Computers play a role in every field of life. They are used in homes, business,
3
educational institutions, research organizations, medical field, government offices,
entertainment, etc.

Components of Computer System

4 Computer systems consist of three components as shown in below image: Central
Processing Unit, Input devices and Output devices.

Input Devices – Keyboard and Mouse

5
Input devices help to get input or data from user.

Other Input Devices

6
There are few other input devices which help to feed data to the computer.

Output Devices
7
Output devices help to display output to user

Computer Memory
8 Computer memory refers to storage area where data is stored. It is of two types Primary
Memory & Secondary Memory.

Concept of Hardware and Software

9 The term hardware refers to mechanical device that makes up computer.
Software can be categorized into two types - System software & Application software

Programming Languages
The languages that are used to write a program or set of instructions are called
10
"Programming languages". Programming languages are broadly categorized into three
types - Machine level language, Assembly level language, High-level language.

11 Representation of Data/Information
Computer does not understand human language. Any data, viz., letters, symbols,
pictures, audio, videos, etc., fed to computer should be converted to machine language
 first. Computers represent that data into different forms.

Data Processing & Data Processing Stages

12 Data processing is a process of converting raw facts or data into a meaningful
information.

Applications of IECT
13
IECT stands for Information Electronics and Communication Technology.

Summary
In this chapter, we discussed different components of a computer, and
familiarized ourselves with concept of hardware and software,
representation of data/information, concept of data processing, and
applications of IECT.

Computer Concepts - History of Computers

The history of the computer dates back to several years. There are
five prominent generations of computers. Each generation has
witnessed several technological advances which change the
functionality of the computers. This results in more compact,
powerful, robust systems which are less expensive. The brief history
of computers is discussed below −
First Generation (1940-1956)
The first generation computers had the following features and
components −
Hardware
The hardware used in the first generation of computers was: Vacuum
Tubes and Punch Cards.
Features
Following are the features of first generation computers −
It supported machine language.
It had slow performance
It occupied large size due to the use of vacuum tubes.
It had a poor storage capacity.
It consumed a lot of electricity and generated a lot of heat.
Memory
The memory was of 4000 bits.
Data Input
The input was only provided through hard-wired programs in the
computer, mostly through punched cards and paper tapes.
Examples
The examples of first generation computers are −
ENIAC
UNIVACTBM 701
Second Generation (1956-1963)
Several advancements in the first-gen computers led to the
development of second generation computers. Following are various
changes in features and components of second generation computers
−
Hardware
The hardware used in the second generation of computers were −
Transistors
Magnetic Tapes
Features
It had features like −
Batch operating system
Faster and smaller in size
Reliable and energy efficient than the previous generation
Less costly than the previous generation
Memory
The capacity of the memory was 32,000 bits.
Data Input
The input was provided through punched cards.
Examples
The examples of second generation computers are −
Honeywell 400
CDC 1604
IBM 7030
Third Generation (1964-1971)
Following are the various components and features of the third
generation computers −
Hardware
The hardware used in the third generation of computers were −
Integrated Circuits made from semi-conductor materials
Large capacity disks and magnetic tapes
Features
The features of the third generation computers are −
Supports time-sharing OS
Faster, smaller, more reliable and cheaper than the previous
generations
Easy to access
Memory
The capacity of the memory was 128,000 bits.
Data Input
The input was provided through keyboards and monitors.
Examples
The examples of third generation computers are −
IBM 360/370
CDC 6600
PDP 8/11
Fourth Generation (1972-2010)
Fourth generation computers have the following components and
features −
Hardware
The Hardware used in the fourth generation of computers were −
ICs with Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) technology
Semiconductor memory
Magnetic tapes and Floppy
Features
It supports features like −
Multiprocessing & distributed OS
Object-oriented high level programs supported
Small & easy to use; hand-held computers have evolved
 No external cooling required & affordable
This generation saw the development of networks and the
internet
It saw the development of new trends in GUIs and mouse
Memory
The capacity of the memory was 100 million bits.
Data Input
The input was provided through improved hand held devices,
keyboard and mouse.
Examples
The examples of fourth generation computers are −
Apple II
VAX 9000
CRAY 1 (super computers)
Fifth Generation (2010-Present)
These are the modern and advanced computers. Significant changes
in the components and operations have made fifth generation
computers handy and more reliable than the previous generations.
Hardware
The Hardware used in the fifth generation of computers are −
Integrated Circuits with VLSI and Nano technology
Large capacity hard disk with RAID support
Powerful servers, Internet, Cluster computing
Features
It supports features like −
Powerful, cheap, reliable and easy to use.
Portable and faster due to use of parallel processors and Super
Large Scale Integrated Circuits.
Rapid software development is possible.
Memory
The capacity of the memory is unlimited.
Data Input
The input is provided through CDROM, Optical Disk and other touch
and voice sensitive input devices.
Examples
The examples of fifth generation computers are −
IBM
Pentium
PARAM

Characteristics of Computer System

The characteristics of the computer system are as follows −

Speed
A computer works with much higher speed and accuracy compared to
humans while performing mathematical calculations. Computers can
process millions (1,000,000) of instructions per second. The time
taken by computers for their operations is microseconds and
nanoseconds.

Accuracy
Computers perform calculations with 100% accuracy. Errors may
occur due to data inconsistency or inaccuracy.

Diligence
A computer can perform millions of tasks or calculations with the
same consistency and accuracy. It doesn’t feel any fatigue or lack of
concentration. Its memory also makes it superior to that of human
beings.

Versatility
Versatility refers to the capability of a computer to perform different
kinds of works with same accuracy and efficiency.

Reliability
A computer is reliable as it gives consistent result for similar set of
data i.e., if we give same set of input any number of times, we will
get the same result.
Automation
Computer performs all the tasks automatically i.e. it performs tasks
without manual intervention.

Memory
A computer has built-in memory called primary memory where it
stores data. Secondary storage are removable devices such as CDs,
pen drives, etc., which are also used to store data.

Basic Applications of Computer

Computers play a role in every field of life. They are used in homes,
business, educational institutions, research organizations, medical
field, government offices, entertainment, etc.

Home
Computers are used at homes for several purposes like online bill
payment, watching movies or shows at home, home tutoring, social
media access, playing games, internet access, etc. They provide
communication through electronic mail. They help to avail work from
home facility for corporate employees. Computers help the student
community to avail online educational support.
Medical Field
Computers are used in hospitals to maintain a database of patients’
history, diagnosis, X-rays, live monitoring of patients, etc. Surgeons
nowadays use robotic surgical devices to perform delicate operations,
and conduct surgeries remotely. Virtual reality technologies are also
used for training purposes. It also helps to monitor the fetus inside
the mother’s womb.

Entertainment
Computers help to watch movies online, play games online; act as a
virtual entertainer in playing games, listening to music, etc. MIDI
instruments greatly help people in the entertainment industry in
recording music with artificial instruments. Videos can be fed from
computers to full screen televisions. Photo editors are available with
fabulous features.

Industry
Computers are used to perform several tasks in industries like
managing inventory, designing purpose, creating virtual sample
products, interior designing, video conferencing, etc. Online
marketing has seen a great revolution in its ability to sell various
products to inaccessible corners like interior or rural areas. Stock
markets have seen phenomenal participation from different levels of
people through the use of computers.

Education
Computers are used in education sector through online classes, online
examinations, referring e-books, online tutoring, etc. They help in
increased use of audio-visual aids in the education field.

Government
In government sectors, computers are used in data processing,
maintaining a database of citizens and supporting a paperless
environment. The country’s defense organizations have greatly
benefitted from computers in their use for missile development,
satellites, rocket launches, etc.

Banking
In the banking sector, computers are used to store details of
customers and conduct transactions, such as withdrawal and deposit
of money through ATMs. Banks have reduced manual errors and
expenses to a great extent through extensive use of computers.

Business
Nowadays, computers are totally integrated into business. The main
objective of business is transaction processing, which involves
transactions with suppliers, employees or customers. Computers can
make these transactions easy and accurate. People can analyze
investments, sales, expenses, markets and other aspects of business
using computers.

Training
Many organizations use computer-based training to train their
employees, to save money and improve performance. Video
conferencing through computers allows saving of time and travelling
costs by being able to connect people in various locations.

Arts
Computers are extensively used in dance, photography, arts and
culture. The fluid movement of dance can be shown live via
animation. Photos can be digitized using computers.

Science and Engineering

Computers with high performance are used to stimulate dynamic
process in Science and Engineering. Supercomputers have numerous
applications in area of Research and Development (R&D). Topographic
images can be created through computers. Scientists use computers
to plot and analyze data to have a better understanding of
earthquakes.

Components of Computer System

Computer systems consist of three components as shown in below
image: Central Processing Unit, Input devices and Output devices. Input
devices provide data input to processor, which processes data and
generates useful information that’s displayed to the user through
output devices. This is stored in computer’s memory.

Central Processing Unit

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is called "the brain of computer" as
it controls operation of all parts of computer. It consists of two
components: Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), and Control Unit.
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
Data entered into computer is sent to RAM, from where it is then sent
to ALU, where rest of data processing takes place. All types of
processing, such as comparisons, decision-making and processing of
non-numeric information takes place here and once again data is
moved to RAM.

Control Unit
As name indicates, this part of CPU extracts instructions, performs
execution, maintains and directs operations of entire system.
Functions of Control Unit
Control unit performs following functions −
It controls all activities of computer
Supervises flow of data within CPU
Directs flow of data within CPU
Transfers data to Arithmetic and Logic Unit
Transfers results to memory
Fetches results from memory to output devices
Memory Unit
This is unit in which data and instructions given to computer as well
as results given by computer are stored. Unit of memory is "Byte".
1 Byte = 8 Bits

Input Devices – Keyboard and Mouse

Input devices help to get input or data from user. Some of input
devices are −

Name Characteristics Image

The keyboard was first peripheral device to be used

with computers.
Keyboard
It helps to input text and numbers into computer.
It consists of 104 keys and 12 functional keys.

A mouse is an input device which is also called as

pointing device because it helps to point data on
Mouse screen.
It also helps to select, highlight content and drag-
drop controls.
There are few other input devices which help to feed data to the
computer. They are as follows −

Input Devices Characteristics Image

A trackball is also a pointing device which

Trackballs will work like a mouse. It is mainly used for
gaming and entertainment purpose.
 A digital pen is another input device which is
mostly used with tablets, PDAs, etc.
Digital Pens
A digital pen is also called as a Stylus which
helps to write or draw data over pad.

Scanners transform printed material and

photographs into a digital representation.
Scanners
After scanning of printed material, page is
represented in memory as an array of pixels.

Barcode reader helps to read information

which is printed as bars in back of goods or
items.
Barcode Readers
Barcode readers are most widely used input
devices which we can see in most of products
in our day to day life.

Voice recognition system interprets or

Voice Recognition
receives dictation or spoken commands to
System
authorize user.

A touch screen is an input device which uses

Touch screen sensors to sense touch of users to get input
data.

Computer Concepts - Output Devices

Output devices help to display output to user. Some of output devices
are −
Output
Characteristics Image
Devices

A monitor is most common type of output device.

It is also called as "Visual Display Unit".
The inputs given by keyboard or any other input devices will get
Monitor
displayed on monitor.
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) and Flat panel display monitors are
commonly used monitors.

Printers are most common type of output devices which are used to take
a hard copy of any digital document.
The two types of printers are impact and non-impact printers.
Printers
Non-impact printers such as laser and inkjet printers are less noisy,
more reliable and faster and also offer high quality compared to impact
printers.

Sound systems are output devices which are used to get multimedia
Sound
content such as voice, music, etc., as output. Some of examples of
Systems
sound systems are speakers, headphones, and microphones.

Computer Concepts - Computer Memory

Computer memory refers to storage area where data is stored. It is of
two types −
Primary Memory
Secondary Memory
Primary Memory
Primary memory is the main memory of computer present in
motherboard. Primary memory is of two types as shown in the image
below.
Random Access Memory
RAM is referred as temporary memory, in which, information stored is
lost once computer is turned off. It is a volatile memory. Instructions
written in this memory can be modified; hence it is also known as
programmable memory. The two types of RAM are Static RAM (faster
and costlier) and Dynamic RAM.

Functions of RAM are as follows −

It stores data till it gets processed.
It stores instructions for data processing.
It acts as a working space where data processing takes place
and intermediate results are stored.
It stores processed data/results before it is sent to output
devices.

Read Only Memory

ROM is referred as permanent memory, in which information stored is
available even if computer is turned off. Instructions stored in this
memory can only be read and cannot be modified. Mostly ROM has a
start-up instruction which is executed every time when computer is
switched on. Types of ROM are PROM (Programmable Read Only
Memory), EPROM (Erasable PROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable
PROM) and flash memory.
The below table jots down the major differences between RAM and
ROM −
Sr.No RAM ROM

1 It is volatile memory. It is non-volatile memory.

The contents are temporary; data is lost The contents are permanent; data is not lost
2
when electricity supply is lost. even when power is switched off.

3 Available in small storage capacity. Available in high storage capacity.

4 Processing speed is high. Processing speed is low.

Generally, operating system supporting

5 User-defined programs can be stored.
programs can be stored.

6 Cost is very high. Cost effective.

It comes in different types such as PROM,

7 It is of two types, SRAM and DRAM.
EPROM, EEPROM and flash memory.

Secondary Memory
Sometimes when data to be processed is large, it cannot fit in primary
memory as it is limited, in such cases, we use supplement memory or
secondary memory. Secondary memory helps to store information
permanently and is non-volatile. Examples of secondary storage
memory are compact disk, floppy disk, pen drive, external hard drive,
etc.

Concept of Hardware and Software

The concept of hardware and software is explained in detail below −
Hardware
The term hardware refers to mechanical device that makes up
computer. Computer hardware consists of interconnected electronic
devices that we can use to control computer’s operation, input and
output. Examples of hardware are CPU, keyboard, mouse, hard disk,
etc.

Hardware Components
Computer hardware is a collection of several components working
together. Some parts are essential and others are added advantages.
Computer hardware is made up of CPU and peripherals as shown in
image below.
Software
A set of instructions that drives computer to do stipulated tasks is
called a program. Software instructions are programmed in a
computer language, translated into machine language, and executed
by computer. Software can be categorized into two types −
System software
Application software
System Software
System software operates directly on hardware devices of computer.
It provides a platform to run an application. It provides and supports
user functionality. Examples of system software include operating
systems such as Windows, Linux, Unix, etc.

Application Software
An application software is designed for benefit of users to perform one
or more tasks. Examples of application software include Microsoft
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Oracle, etc.

Differences between Software and Hardware are sorted out below −

Sr.No. Software Hardware
 It is a collection of programs to bring
It includes physical components of computer
1 computer hardware system into
system.
operation.

It includes numbers, alphabets, It consists of electronic components like ICs,

2 alphanumeric symbols, identifiers, diodes, registers, crystals, boards, insulators,
keywords, etc. etc.

Software products evolve by adding new Hardware design is based on architectural

3 features to existing programs to support decisions to make it work over a range of
hardware. environmental conditions and time.

It will vary as per computer and its built- It is mostly constructed for all types of
4
in functions and programming language. computer systems.

It is designed and developed by

The hardware can understand only low-level
5 experienced programmers in high-level
language or machine language.
language.

The hardware works only on binary codes 1’s

and 0’s.

It is represented in any high-level

6 language such as BASIC, COBOL, C,
C++, JAVA, etc.

The software is categorized as operating

The hardware consists of input devices, output
7 system, utilities, language processor,
devices, memory, etc.
application software, etc.

Computer Concepts - Programming Languages

A program is a set of instructions that help computer to perform tasks.
This set of instructions is also called as scripts. Programs are executed
by processor whereas scripts are interpreted. The languages that are
used to write a program or set of instructions are called "Programming
languages". Programming languages are broadly categorized into three
types −
Machine level language
 Assembly level language
High-level language
Machine Level Language
Machine language is lowest level of programming language. It handles
binary data i.e. 0’s and 1’s. It directly interacts with system. Machine
language is difficult for human beings to understand as it comprises
combination of 0’s and 1’s. There is software which translate
programs into machine level language. Examples include operating
systems like Linux, UNIX, Windows, etc. In this language, there is no
need of compilers and interpreters for conversion and hence the time
consumption is less. However, it is not portable and non-readable to
humans.

Assembly Level Language

Assembly language is a middle-level language. It consists of a set of
instructions in a specific format called commands. It uses symbols to
represent field of instructions. It is very close to machine level
language. The computer should have assembler to translate assembly
level program to machine level program. Examples include ADA,
PASCAL, etc. It is in human-readable format and takes lesser time to
write a program and debug it. However, it is a machine dependent
language.
Assembly Language Machine Code
SUB AX, BX 0010101110000011
MOV CX, AX 100010111001000
MOV DX, 0 10111010000000000000000
High-level Language
High-level language uses format or language that is most familiar to
users. The instructions in this language are called codes or scripts. The
computer needs a compiler and interpreter to convert high-level
language program to machine level language. Examples include C++,
Python, Java, etc. It is easy to write a program using high level
language and is less time-consuming. Debugging is also easy and is a
human-readable language. Main disadvantages of this are that it
takes lot of time for execution and occupies more space when
compared to Assembly- or Machine-level languages. Following is a
simple example for a high level language −
if age < 18 {
printf("You are not eligible to vote");
} else{
printf("You are eligible to vote");
}

Representation of Data/Information
Computer does not understand human language. Any data, viz.,
letters, symbols, pictures, audio, videos, etc., fed to computer should
be converted to machine language first. Computers represent data in
the following three forms −

Number System
We are introduced to concept of numbers from a very early age. To a
computer, everything is a number, i.e., alphabets, pictures, sounds,
etc., are numbers. Number system is categorized into four types −
Binary number system consists of only two values, either 0 or 1
Octal number system represents values in 8 digits.
Decimal number system represents values in 10 digits.
Hexadecimal number system represents values in 16 digits.
Number System

System Base Digits

Binary 2 01

Octal 8 01234567

Decimal 10 0123456789

Hexadecim 0123456789ABCDE
16
al F

Bits and Bytes

Bits − A bit is a smallest possible unit of data that a computer can
recognize or use. Computer usually uses bits in groups.
Bytes − group of eight bits is called a byte. Half a byte is called a
nibble.

The following table shows conversion of Bits and Bytes −

Byte Value Bit Value

1 Byte 8 Bits

1024 Bytes 1 Kilobyte

1024 Kilobytes 1 Megabyte

1024 Megabytes 1 Gigabyte

1024 Gigabytes 1 Terabyte

1024 Terabytes 1 Petabyte

1024 Petabytes 1 Exabyte

1024 Exabytes 1 Zettabyte

1024 Zettabytes 1 Yottabyte

1
1024 Yottabytes
Brontobyte

1024 1
Brontobytes Geopbytes

Text Code
Text code is format used commonly to represent alphabets,
punctuation marks and other symbols. Four most popular text code
systems are −
EBCDIC
ASCII
Extended ASCII
Unicode
EBCDIC
Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code is an 8-bit code
that defines 256 symbols. Given below is the EBCDIC Tabular column
ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange is an 8-bit code
that specifies character values from 0 to 127.
ASCII Tabular column
ASCII Code Decimal Value Character

0000 0000 0 Null prompt

Start of
0000 0001 1
heading

0000 0010 2 Start of text

0000 0011 3 End of text

End of
0000 0100 4
transmit

0000 0101 5 Enquiry

0000 0110 6 Acknowledge

0000 0111 7 Audible bell

0000 1000 8 Backspace

0000 1001 9 Horizontal tab

0000 1010 10 Line Feed

Extended ASCII
Extended American Standard Code for Information Interchange is an
8-bit code that specifies character values from 128 to 255.
Extended ASCII Tabular column

Unicode
Unicode Worldwide Character Standard uses 4 to 32 bits to represent
letters, numbers and symbol.
Unicode Tabular Column

Data Processing & Data Processing Stages

Data processing
Data processing is a process of converting raw facts or data into a
meaningful information.
Stages of Data Processing
Data processing consists of following 6 stages −

Collection
Collection of data refers to gathering of data. The data gathered
should be defined and accurate.
Preparation
Preparation is a process of constructing a dataset of data from
different sources for future use in processing step of cycle.
Input
Input refers to supply of data for processing. It can be fed into
computer through any of input devices like keyboard, scanner, mouse,
etc.
Processing
The process refers to concept of an actual execution of instructions. In
this stage, raw facts or data is converted to meaningful information.
Output and Interpretation
In this process, output will be displayed to user in form of text, audio,
video, etc. Interpretation of output provides meaningful information to
user.
Storage
In this process, we can store data, instruction and information in
permanent memory for future reference.