COMPUTER SCIENCE

CHAPTER # 1 (COMPUTER BASICS/INPUT & OUTPUT DEVICES)

What is Computer?
DEFINITION NO 1:

Computer is an electronic device which takes some input, process it, and produce output.

DEFINITION NO 2:

Electronic machine operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory
• Accepts data
• Manipulates data
• Produces results
• Stores results
PARTS OF COMPUTER:
According to above definition we can divide computer functionality in to three main parts

• Input
• Output
• Process

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

INPUT
Input is any data or instructions entered to the computer. Input can be in the form of audio, video,
graphics and animations and instructions. Instructions can be

• Programs
• Commands
• User response
Programs

Program tells a computer what to do and how to do? These are written instructions in some specific
language.(languages will be describe future)

Commands

Command causes a program to perform a specific action. Like Ctrl+S for saving a Ms.Word Document

User Response

A user response is an action which is or can be done by answering any question from computer like
You want to save that file? User have two options Yes or No, that is depend on the user what to response

PROCESS
Computer data processing is any process that uses a computer program to enter data and summarize,
analyze or otherwise convert data into usable information. The process may be automated and run on
a computer. It involves recording, analyzing, sorting, summarizing, calculating, disseminating and
storing data. Because data is most useful when well-presented and actually informative, data-
processing systems are often referred to as information systems. In computer processing is done by
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
OUTPUT
Output is the data that has been processed in to useful form. The computer takes the input from user
process it and produced output. Output also can be text, Audio, Video, graphics and animations. Output
can be in two forms

• Soft Copy
• Hard Copy

Soft Copy:
When you are writing a document, playing a game, watching a video clip, or reading the latest news.
Soft copy is what you see on the monitor (Screen). Soft copy is temporary; after you have finished with
it, there is nothing solid to hold. You can, however, transfer soft copy to a disk to transport it

Hard Copy:
Hard copy can be touched and carried. Hard copy is usually some form of paper output. It is especially
helpful if you need to have a colleague look at your work or you need to give your work to a supervisor
or teacher.

COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER
There are three main Components of computer.

1. Input devices
2. CPU
3. Output Devices

INPUT CPU OUTPUT

DEVICES DEVICES
INFORMATION PROCESS CYCLE
Computer process data (input) into information (output).A Computer often holds data, information,
and instruction in storage for future use.

The series of input, process, output and storage activities as the information process cycle.

DATA INFORMATION

INPUT CPU OUTPUT

INSTRUCTION

STORAGE
MEDIUM

WHAT IS DATA?

Definition: “Raw facts, figures, events and transactions are called data”
Example:

• Researchers who conduct market research survey might ask member of the public to complete
questionnaires about a product or a service. These completed questionnaires are data.
• NADRA prepared CNIC of Pakistanis by collecting data of people who belongs to Pakistan.
• Some candidates want to take admission in university they will fill admission forms.
Above all are unprocessed and unprepared which is needed to process and work more.

WHY WE NEED DATA

• Facts, statistics used for reference or analysis.

• Numbers, characters, symbols, images etc., which can be processed by a computer.

• Data must be interpreted, by a human or machine, to derive meaning "Data is a representation
of information" *
WHAT IS INFORMATION?

DEFINATION:

• “Meaning full data is called information”

• “Processed data is called information”

WHY WE NEED INFORMATION

• Knowledge derived from study, experience (by the senses), or instruction.

• Communication of intelligence.
• "Information is any kind of knowledge that is exchangeable amongst people, about things, facts,
concepts, etc., in some context."
• "Information is interpreted data"

DATA PROCESS INFORMATION

Detail Example:

Some candidates want to take admission so they will fill an admission form containing data about their
selves. When this data is organized and arranged by eligibility criteria and admission rules a merit list
will be formulated. This merit list is in the form of information of certain students which are eligible
for admission.

Data

Name: Ali, Ayesha, Ahmad, Munir

Marks:10,5,2,8
Process
Merit calculation
If marks >=5
candidate is eli gible

Merit List
Sr No Name Marks
1 Ali 10
2 Ayesha 05
3 Munir 08

Information
REVISION:

Data: Raw Facts, figures, events and transactions are called data

Information: Meaning full data is called information or processed data is called information”

Computer: Computer is an electronic device which takes some input, process it, and produce output.

Components of computer: Input, Output, CPU

WHAT IS INPUT?
Input is any data or instructions entered to the computer. Input can be in the form of audio, video,
graphics and animations and instructions

WHAT ARE INPUT DEVICES?

Any hardware component used to enter data, programs, commands, and user responses into a
computer

Examples

• Key Board
• Mouse
• Digital Camera
• Webcam
• Scanner etc
1) KEYBOARD
Definition:

“Keyboard is an input device, that contain keys user press to enter data or instructions in to the
computer”.

You enter most input data into the computer by using a keyboard. This input method is similar to typing
on a typewriter.

Most typewriter and computer keyboards are QWERTY keyboards. The alphabetic keys are arranged
so that the upper-left row of letters begins with the six letters Q W E R T Y. Designers of other keyboards
claim that their boards are easier to learn than the QWERTY keyboard.

KEYS OF KEYBOARD
Computer keyboards include keys that are designed to perform specific tasks. These keys enable the
user to perform complex tasks easily when using the application. For example, many applications use
a function key to access online help for the user.

Keyboard keys consist of

• Alphabetic keys
• Numerical keys
• Symbols
• Functional keys
• Extra keys
Alphabetic keys contain alphabets from A-Z & a-z

Numerical keys contain numbers 0-9

Symbols keys contain many symbols like !, @, #, $, % etc

Functional keys contain f1-f12, design for special purpose will discuss latter. Extra keys

contain Esc, Alt, Ctrl, Backspace, Enter etc

2) POINTING DEVICES

Definition:

A pointing device is an input device which is used to control a pointer on a screen. Pointer is a small
symbol on a screen.

A pointing device is an input interface (specifically a human interface device) that allows a user to
input spatial (i.e., continuous and multi-dimensional) data to a computer. CAD systems and graphical
user interfaces (GUI) allow the user to control and provide data to the computer using physical gestures
— point, click, and drag — for example, by moving a handheld mouse across the surface of the physical
desktop and activating switches on the mouse. Movements of the pointing device are echoed on the
screen by movements of the pointer (or cursor) and other visual changes.

2.1) MOUSE
Definition:

“Mouse is an input device that fits under palm of hand and Controls movement of pointer, also called
mouse”

The mouse is a palm-size device with a ball built into the bottom. The mouse is usually connected to the computer
by a cable (computer wires are frequently called cables) and may have from one to four buttons (but usually
two). Mice come in many shapes and sizes. When you move the mouse over a smooth surface, the ball rolls,
and the pointer on the display screen moves in the same direction.
With the mouse, you can draw, select options from a menu, and modify or move text. You issue commands by
pointing with the pointer and clicking a mouse button. In addition to minimizing typing errors, a mouse makes
operating a microcomputer easier for beginning.

TYPES OF MOUSE
There are three types of mouse

1. Mechanical mouse
2. Optical mouse
3. Wireless mouse

MECHANICAL MOUSE:
The mouse that contains a metal or rubber ball on its under side. When the ball is rolled in any direction,
sensors inside the mouse detect this motion and move the on-screen mouse pointer in the same direction
(picture above).
OPTICAL MOUSE:
An optical mouse uses a light-emitting (laser) to detect movement relative to the underlying surface.

WIRELESS MOUSE:
Wireless mice usually work via radio frequencies commonly referred to as RF. RF wireless
mice require two components to work properly a radio transmitter and a radio
receiver.
2.2) TOUCHPAD
A touch pad is a device for pointing (controlling input positioning) on a computer display screen. It is
an alternative to the mouse. Originally incorporated in laptop computers, touch pads are also being
made for use with desktop computers. A touch pad works by sensing the user's finger movement and
downward pressure.

2.3) TOUCHSCREEN
A touch screen is a computer display screen that is also an input device. The screens are sensitive to
pressure; a user interacts with the computer by touching pictures or words on the screen.
2.4) DIGITAL PEN
A digital pen is a battery-operated writing instrument that allows the user to digitally capture a
handwritten note or drawing. Typically, a digital pen comes with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cradle
to let the user upload the handwritten notes to a personal computer (PC).

The pen looks like a regular ball-point pen and can be used as such, but requires special digital paper if the user
wishes to digitally capture what he has written. A page of digital paper, which can be purchased in traditional
pad or sticky-note size, has small dots on it that allow the pen to "see" what has been written.

2.5) LIGHT PEN

A light-sensitive stylus wired to a video terminal used to draw pictures or select menu options. The
user brings the pen to the desired point on screen and presses the pen button to make contact. Contrary
to what it looks like, the pen does not shine light onto the screen; rather, the screen beams into the pen.
Screen pixels are constantly being refreshed. When the user presses the button, the pen senses light,
and the pixel being illuminated at that instant identifies the screen location.
3) BIOMETRIC DEVICES
A "biometric device" is any device that measures a biological function or trait. it identifies persons
seeking access to a computing system by determining their physical characteristics through
fingerprints, voice recognition, retina patterns, pictures, weight, or other means.

3.1) VOICE RECOGNITION

A system in which the computer recognizes human speech and transforms the recorded words into
computer-readable digitized text or instruction.

The conversion of spoken words into computer text. Speech is first digitized and then matched against
a dictionary of coded waveforms. The matches are converted into text as if the words were typed on
the keyboard.

3.2) THUMB IMPRESSION

Biometrics can be defined as an automatic method for identification or identity verification of
individuals using physiological or behavioral characteristics.
3.3) FACE RECOGNITION
The ability to recognize people by their facial characteristics. The most advanced technology , which
maps the characteristics of a person's face into a multidimensional face space. The computer can
distinguish the same person with different appearances; for example, with or without glasses, change
of hair style and seasonal skin color changes. It also uses in some secret agencies.

4) MIC/ HEAD PHONE

Both are input devices which are related to audio input. These device is used to enter sound in to the
system for processing. It can be used in chatting, video conferencing, music or whenever we want to
interact with the computer from voice input.
5) DIGITAL CAMERA
A digital camera can be used to take pictures. It can be hooked up to a computer to transfer the pictures
from the camera to the computer. it use light sensitive processing chip to capture pictures or images

We can save these images where ever we want can be a CD, Computer disk, USB drive or can transfer
from one computer to other computer or device.

6) DIGITAL SCANNER
A scanner is used to copy pictures or other things and save them as files on the computer. A scanner is
similar to a photocopier, except that instead of producing a paper copy of the document you place on
it, you get an electronic copy which appears on your computer screen. This is very important input
device use to convert a hardcopy file (printed paper) to a softcopy (image or display file).
WHAT IS OUTPUT?
An output is the data that has been processed in that form which is useful by user or machine for future
processing. Output can be in two forms Soft Copy and Hard Copy. (Describe further)

WHAT ARE OUTPUT DEVICES?

Any hardware component used to show results after processing to any user and it use to send the results
of processing to the user. Output can be text, Audio, Video & graphics.

Examples
• Monitor
• Printer
• Plotter
• Projectors
• Speakers
• Headphone etc

1) MONITOR/DISPLAY DEVICES
Definition:

“Monitor or display devices are used to get output on screen. It is like small television and available
in different sizes and specifications. The text which is displayed on screen is called softcopy (as
defined above)”
TYPES OF MONITOR
There are majorly two type of monitor according to its specification. These are

• Monochrome monitor
• Color monitor

1.1) MONOCHROME MONITOR

Monochrome monitor is based on a single color that can be white, blue, black or gray etc. these type
of monitors is same like the old mobile phones which have a single color in back ground with black
text in display. That is very much useful in these devices where we need simple display. Like some
ATM machines, mobile phones, specific digital devices like PDA, pagers etc

1.2) COLOR MONITOR

Color monitor is such monitor which is based on colors as its name implies. Today mostly monitor are
based on color display rather it is flat panel or tube based monitors. The basic colors in that monitors
are three which are RGB stands for Red, Blue, Green by these basic colors a monitor can generate
many other colors by the combination of these basic colors.

FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS

When we talked about monitor specification and features then there are several factors which we have
to keep in our view. Whenever we want to buy monitor we have to keep these features in our view,
defined as under:

• Color
• Size
• Resolution Pixel Pitch

COLOR

Monitor can view different colors specifically some monitor can view only single color in its
background and black text on its screen these monitors are very simple (as defined above) is called
monochrome monitors.

Monitor work with three basic colors and by these three colors it makes different colors in by
combinations. These colors are RGB, mean Red, Green and Blue. By combinations it can make 256
colors. More colors more exclusive display.

SIZE
Like television monitor is also available in different sizes. The size started from15 inches to 22 inches
monitor.
RESOLUTION
An important characteristic of all monitor screens is its resolution. The screen is divided in to vertical and
horizontal lines and intersecting of these lines make many small boxes and these boxes in used to display
images, called pixels

Each point of light on the screen is called a pixel. The resolution of a screen is the number of pixels that the
screen can display. This is given as the number of pixels across (horizontal resolution) by the number of pixels
down (vertical resolution). For example, 800 x 600. The greater the resolution the better. Modern screens can
display 1024 X 768 or better.

Pixel

2) PRINTERS
The second most common form of computer output is printed documents. Although a computer can
operate perfectly without a printer, it is certainly helpful to the user to have one. People often prefer to
get printouts of the work they have done rather than to look at it on the screen it is considered a form
of hard copy.

2.1) INK JET PRINTERS

Ink jet printers are the most popular type of printer for use at home or in a small business. This is
because they are relatively cheap to purchase and can print in color. Ink jet printers generate output by
squirting tiny jets of ink at the paper to be printed on.

A column of ink jets in the print head moves across the page squirting dots onto the page to make the
image.

Typically ink jet printers can produce 360 or 720 dots per inch (dpi) but these dots are larger than
those that a laser printer makes so the quality although very good is not quite as perfect. Ink-jet printers
can work in black and white or color. Black and white versions cost from Rs 5,000 and color ones from
about 10,000. They are slower than laser printers (3ppm) and cost slightly more to run.

2.2) LASER PRINTERSS

Laser printers are called Page Printers because they print a whole page at a time. A laser beam is used
to draw the image to be printed onto a light sensitive Drum. After the image has been drawn on the
drum a fine powder ink called Toner is put onto it. The toner only sticks where the laser has drawn the
image. The paper then passes over the drum and the toner is transferred onto the paper. Laser printers
produce very high quality output, are very quiet and very fast. Typical home laser printers can print 8
pages per minute (ppm). Some industrial versions print over 40ppm and can print on both sides of a
piece of paper at the same time. The main disadvantage of this type of printer is the high cost. Small
laser printers cost from Rs 3,000 to buy and are more usually about Rs 8,000. Color laser printers cost
Rs 30,000+. Running costs are higher than impact printers but lower than most ink jet printers.
3) PLOTTERS
A plotter, like a printer, produces hard-copy output. Plotters, which produce high-quality color
graphics, are usually categorized by whether they use pens or electrostatic charges to create images. A
continuous-curve plotter is used to draw maps from stored data. Computergenerated maps can be
retrieved and plotted or used to show changes over time. Plotters are generally more expensive than
printers, ranging from about 100,000 to $750,000 (or even more).

4) SPEAKERS/ HEADPHONE
Speakers and headset is used to get audio output. A system's speaker is the component that takes the
electronic signal stored on things like CDs, tapes and DVDs and turns it back into actual sound that we
can hear. In any sound system, ultimate quality depends on the speakers. The best recording, encoded
on the most advanced storage device and played by a top-of-the-line deck and amplifier, will sound
awful if the system is hooked up to poor speakers.
5)MULTIMEDIA/PROJECTORS
A Digital Projector/Multimedia is an electo-optical machine which converts image data from a
computer or video source to a bright image which is then imaged on a distant wall or screen using a
lens system. The cost of a device is not only determined by its resolution, but also by its brightness.
The projector serves the following purposes:

• Visualization of data stored in a computer for presentations

• Demonstration of program products for a large number of prospective customers The
projector replaces the white board as well as written documents.
• Watching moving images from a video tape player or digital video disk player.
• Digital projectors may also be built into cabinets which use a rear projection screen to form a
single unified display device, now popular for "home theater" applications.
 MUHAMMAD ZEESHAN KHAN
Lecturer-Computer Science
University of Peshawar

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