Form 1

Lesson 2 Exploring the computing environment

I. Definition of a Computer:
 A Computer is an electronic device that operates (works) under the control of
programs stored in its own memory unit.
 A computer is an electronic machine that processes raw data to give information as
output.
 An electronic device that accepts data as input, and transforms it under the influence
of a set of special instructions called Programs, to produce the desired output (referred
to as Information).
 A computer automatically accepts data & instructions as input from an Input device,
stores them temporarily in its memory, then processes that data according to the
instructions given, and finally transfers the processed data (Information) to an Output
device.
Explanations;
 A computer is described as an electronic device because; it is made up of
electronic components and uses electric energy (such as electricity) to operate.
 A computer has an internal memory, which stores data & instructions temporarily
awaiting processing, and even holds the intermediate result (information) before it is
communicated to the recipients through the Output devices.
 It works on the data using the instructions issued, means that, the computer cannot do
any useful job on its own. It can only work as per the set of instructions issued.
 A computer will accept data in one form and produce it in another form. The data is
normally held within the computer as it is being processed.
Program:
 A computer Program is a set of related instructions written in the language of the
computer & is used to make the computer perform a specific task (or, to direct the
computer on what to do).
 A set of related instructions which specify how the data is to be processed.
 A set of instructions used to guide a computer through a process.
Data:
 Data is a collection of raw facts, figures or instructions that do not have much
meaning to the
user.
  Data may be in form of numbers, alphabets/letters or symbols, and can be processed
to produce information.
Types Of Data.
- There are two types/forms of data:
a. Digital (discrete) data:
o Digital data is discrete in nature. It must be represented in form of numbers,
alphabets or symbols for it to be processed by a computer.
o Digital data is obtained by counting. E.g. 1, 2, 3 …
b. Analogue (continuous) data:
o Analogue data is continuous in nature. It must be represented in physical
nature in order to be processed by the computer.
o Analogue data is obtained by measurement. E.g. Pressure, Temperature,
Humidity, Lengths or currents, etc
o The output is in form of smooth graphs from which the data can be read.
Data Processing:
 It is the process of collecting all items of data together & converting them into
information.
 Processing refers to the way the data is manipulated (or handled) to turn it into
information.
 The processing may involve calculation, comparison or any other logic to produce the
required result.
 The processing of the data usually results in some meaningful information
being produced.
Information:
 Information is the data which has been refined, summarized & manipulated in the way
you want it, or into a more meaningful form for decision-making.
 The information must be accurate, timely, complete and relevant.
Comparison between Data and Information.

Data Information
1. Unprocessed (raw) facts or figures. 1. It is the end-product of data processing (processed
2. Not arranged. data)
3. Does not have much meaning to the 2. Arranged into a meaningful format.
user. 3. More meaningful to the user.
4. Cannot be used for decision-making. 4. Can be used to make decisions.

II. Characteristics/Features of a Computer.

- Before 20th century, most information was processed manually or by use of simple
machines.
- Today, millions of people are using computers in offices and at home to produce and store
all types of information
- The following are some of the attributes that make computers widely accepted & used in the
dayto-day activities in our society:
1. Speed.
 Computers operate at very high speeds, and can perform very many functions within a
very short time.
 They can perform a much complicated task much faster than a human being.
 The speed of a computer is measured in Fractions of seconds.
- Millisecond - a thousandth of a second (10-3)
- Microsecond - a millionth of a second (10-6)
- Nanosecond - a thousand millionth of a second (10-9)
- Picosecond - a million millionth of a second (10-12)
 The speed of a computer is usually linked to the technology used to build it.
a. 1st Generation computers (1940s & early 1950s).
- The computers were built using Vacuum tubes, and the speed was measured
in Milliseconds. E.g., a computer could perform 5,000 additions & 300
multiplications per second.
b. 2nd Generation computers (1950s & early 1960s).
- Were built using Transistors. Their operation speeds increased & were
measured in Microseconds. E.g., a computer could perform 1 million additions
per second.
c. Mid 1960s. Integrated Circuit (IC), which combined a no. of transistors &
diodes together on a silicon chip, was developed.
- The speed increased to tens of millions of operations per second.
d. In 1971, Intel Corporation produced a very small, single chip called
a Microprocessor, which could perform all the operations on the computer’s
 processor.
- The chip contained about 1,600 transistors.
e. Today’s microprocessors are very powerful, cheaper & more reliable due to
the use of the Large Scale Integration (LSI) & Very Large scale
Integration (VLSI) technologies, which combines hundreds of thousands of
components onto a single chip.
- The computer speeds are now measured in Nanoseconds & Picoseconds.
2. Accuracy:
 Unlike human beings, computers are very accurate, i.e., they never make mistakes.
 A computer can work for very long periods without going wrong. However, when an
error occurs the computer has a number of in-built, self-checking features in their
electronic components that can detect & correct such errors.
 Usually errors are committed by the users entering the data to the computer, thus the
saying Garbage in Garbage Out (GIGO).
 This means that, if you enter incorrect data into the computer and have it processed,
the computer will give you misleading information.
3. Reliability.
 The computer can be relied upon to produce the correct answer if it is given the
correct instructions & supplied with the correct data.
 Therefore, if you want to add two numbers, but by mistake, give the computer a
“Multiply” instruction, the computer will not know that you intended to “ADD”; it
will multiply the numbers supplied.
 Similarly, if you give it the ADD instruction, but make a mistake and enter an
incorrect data; let say, 14 & 83 instead of 14 & 38; then the computer will produce the
“wrong” answer 97 instead of 52. However, note that, 97 is ‘correct’ based on the data
supplied.
 Therefore, the output produced by a computer is only as reliable as the instructions
used & the data supplied.
4. Consistency:
 Computers are usually consistent. This means that, given the same data & the
same instructions, they will produce the same answer every time that particular
process is repeated.
5. Storage:
  A computer is capable of storing large amounts of data or instructions in a very
small space.
 A computer can store data & instructions for later use, and it can produce/ retrieve this
data when required so that the user can make use of it.
 Data stored in a computer can be protected from unauthorized individuals through the
use of passwords.
6. Diligence:
 Unlike human beings, a computer can work continuously without getting tired or
bored.
 Even if it has to do a million calculations, it will do the last one with the same speed
and accuracy as the first one.
7. Automation:
 A computer is an automatic device. This is because, once given the instructions, it is
guided by these instructions and can carry on its job automatically until it is complete.
 It can also perform a variety of jobs as long as there is a well-defined procedure.
8. Versatile:
 A computer can be used in different places to perform a large number of different
jobs depending on the instructions fed to it.
9. Imposition of a formal approach to working methods:
 Because a computer can only work with a strict set of instructions, it identifies and
imposes rigid rules for dealing with the data it is given to process.
III. Parts of a Computer.
 A computer is made up of a collection of different components that are interconnected
together in order to work as a single entity.
 A Computer consists of the following parts/devices: -
1. The System Unit.
2. Input devices.
3. Output devices.
4. Storage devices.
System Unit.
 This is the casing (unit) that houses electronic components such as the ‘brain’ of the
computer called the Central processing Unit (CPU) and storage devices.
 The components in the System unit include: -
o Central Processing Unit (CPU), which is also referred to as Processor.
 o Motherboard.
o Power supply unit.
o Memory storage devices.
o Disk drives, which are used to store, record and read data.
Types of System Units
- There are two makes of System units:
a. Tower style system unit
o This system unit is made to stand alone. They are designed to be placed on the floor.
o Tower style units have more space for expansion than the typical desktop units.
b. Desktop system units
o Desktop units lie on the desk with the monitor resting on top of the system unit.

Features of the System unit.

 It houses the CPU.
 It connects to all peripheral devices using ports.
 It has the computer’s Power switch.
The Central Processing Unit (CPU)
- This is the brain of the computer, and carries out all the processing within the computer.
Input Devices.
 These are the devices used to enter/put data into the computer.
 They accept data for processing & convert it into a suitable form that the computer
can understand.
Examples: Keyboard, Mouse, Joysticks, Light pen, Scanner, etc.
The Keyboard
 The keyboard looks like a typewriter, and has letters, numbers and other keys through
which data is entered into the computer.
 To enter data & instructions into the computer, the user should press the required
keys.
The Mouse
 It is a pointing device that enables the user to issue instructions to the computer by
controlling a special mouse pointer displayed on the screen.
Output Devices.
 Output devices are used to give the end results of data that was entered into the
computer.
 They extract/ disseminate processed data (information) from the computer.
 They accept data from processing devices & convert it into human sensible form.
Examples: Screens (Monitors), Printers, Graph plotters, Speakers, etc

The Monitor
  It is a television like screen used for displaying output. When you type a letter or
number on the keyboard, it shows up on the monitor.
 Note. The monitor enables the user to monitor/track or see what is going on in the
computer.

Printer
 Printers are used to create permanent copies of output on paper.
Memory Storage Devices.
 These are devices used to store programs & data in computers.
 They hold data & programs until they are needed for processing.
 They also hold the results after processing.
 Computer storage is divided into 2:
i. Primary (main) storage.
- This is the storage found within the computer itself. It is used to hold data,
programs & instructions required immediately (or currently being used) by the
Processor.
Examples: Random Access Memory (RAM) & Read Only Memory (ROM).
ii. Secondary (Backing) storage.
- It is used by the computer to store backup information that is not needed
immediately by the Processor. It is also used by the computer to supplement
the computer’s main memory/ internal memory in case of mass storage purposes.
- Secondary storage units provide permanent data storage facilities. They allow
large quantities of information to be stored permanently on some form of magnetic
media such as magnetic tapes or disks.
- The programs & data are transferred to & from the secondary storage units to the
Main memory only when they are required; hence the information is said to
be online to the computer.
Examples of secondary storage devices:
o Hard disk
o Floppy disks.
o Magnetic Tapes.
o Cassette tapes.
o Punched cards.
 o Zip disks.
o Compact disks * Digital Video Disks (DVDs).
Computer Peripherals.
 A computer is basically made up of a system unit and other devices connected to the
system unit called Peripheral devices.
 Peripheral devices are the elements (components) connected to the system unit so as
to assist the computer satisfy its users.
 Peripheral devices are connected to the System unit using special cables called data
interface cables that carry data, programs & information to and from the processor.
The cables are connected to the system unit using connectors called Ports.
Examples of peripheral devices include;
 Monitor,
 Keyboard,
 Mouse
 Printer.
 Modem.
 Speakers.
 Plotter.
IV. Computers classification
Computers can be generally classified by size and power as follows, though there is
Considerable overlap:
• Personal computer: A small, single-user computer based on a microprocessor. In
addition to the microprocessor, a personal computer has a keyboard for entering
data, a monitor for displaying information, and a storage device for saving data.
• workstation : A powerful, single-user computer. A workstation is like a personal
computer, but it has a more powerful microprocessor and a higher-quality
monitor.
• minicomputer : A multi-user computer capable of supporting from 10 to hundreds of
users simultaneously.
• mainframe : A powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds
or thousands of users simultaneously.
• supercomputer : An extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of millions
of instructions per second.
Laptop and Smartphone Computers
LAPTOP: A laptop is a battery or AC-powered personal computer that can be easily
carried and used in a variety of locations. Many laptops are designed to
have all of the functionality of a desktop computer, which means they can
generally run the same software and open the same types of files. However,
some laptops, such as netbooks, sacrifice some functionality in order to be
even more portable.
Netbook: A netbook is a type of laptop that is designed to be even more portable.
Netbooks are often cheaper than laptops or desktops. They are generally less
powerful than other types of computers, but they provide enough power for
email and internet access, which is where the name "netbook" comes from.
Mobile Device: A mobile device is basically any handheld computer. It is designed to
be extremely portable, often fitting in the palm of your hand or in your pocket.
Some mobile devices are more powerful, and they allow you to do many of
the same things you can do with a desktop or laptop computer. These include
tablet computers, e-readers, and smartphones.
Tablet Computers: Like laptops, tablet computers are designed to be portable.
However, they provide a very different computing experience. The most
obvious difference is that tablet computers don't have keyboards or touchpads.
Instead, the entire screen is touch-sensitive, allowing you to type on a virtual
keyboard and use your finger as a mouse pointer. Tablet computers are mostly
designed for consuming media, and they are optimized for tasks like web
browsing, watching videos, reading e-books, and playing games. For many
people, a "regular" computer like a desktop or laptop is still needed in order
to use some programs. However, the convenience of a tablet computer means
that it may be ideal as a second computer.
Smartphones: A smartphone is a powerful mobile phone that is designed to run a
variety of applications in addition to phone service. They are basically small
tablet computers, and they can be used for web browsing, watching videos,
reading e-books, playing games and more.