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This booklet contains notes related to
Computer fundamentals and
information processing. The notes
follow the CSEC syllabus for the 2020
Information Technology exam.

CSEC IT Class
June 2020 Sitting
1-869-661-2282
[email protected]
What is a computer?
A computer is an electronic machine that can solve different problems, process data,
store and retrieve data and perform calculations faster and more efficient than humans.

Advantages of using computers

 They can perform calculations much more quickly and accurately than humans.
 Large amounts of data can be stored in a small amount of space.
 Computers can work continuously and perform repetitive tasks well
 Computers can simulate things that would take too long, be too dangerous, or
simply be impossible for humans to attempt.

Disadvantages of using computers

 Can cause redundancy in the workplace.
 Computers make it easy for people to misuse information.
 Computers can breakdown.
 Introducing computers in the workplace is expensive.
 There are health risks associated with excessive or improper use of computers.

What is a computer system?

A computer system is a basic, complete and functional computer, including all the
hardware and software required to make it work. It should have the ability to receive
user input, process data, and use the processed data to create information for storage
and/or output.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. Explain the concept of Information Technology (IT)

The equipment (hardware and computer programs or software) that allow us to
access, retrieve, convert, store, organize, manipulate and present data and
information. IT may also refer to the use of such equipment and programs to
produce the information.

Information Technology is the use and study of computers in the application of

data. IT covers both theoretical and practical topics.

Communications Technology (CT) is the term used to describe

telecommunications equipment through which data and information can be
 accessed. Examples of ICT equipment are phones, faxes, scanners, modems and
computers.

2. Distinguish among the major types of computer systems in terms of

processing speed, storage and portability

Supercomputer
The fastest computer in the world that can process a significant amount of data
very quickly. The computing performance of a super computer is measured very
high as compared to a general-purpose computer the computing Performance of
a supercomputer is measured in FLOPS (that is floating-point operations per
second) instead of MIPS. The supercomputer consists of tens of thousands of
processors which can perform billions and trillions of calculations per second,
or you can say that supercomputers can deliver up to nearly a hundred
quadrillion FLOPS.

These computers are most massive concerning size. A most powerful

supercomputer can occupy few feet to hundreds of feet. The supercomputer
price is very high, and they can vary from 2 lakh dollar to over 100 million
dollars.

Examples of supercomputer CRAY, ROADRUNNER, JAGUAR

Supercomputer
Mainframe
Very large capacity computers with several CPUs capable of supporting
hundreds or even thousands of users simultaneously. Those such as the IBM
zEnterprise mainframe are built with spare components to prevent breakdowns.
Data flows between peripherals and communications devices. Users may
connect to the mainframe remotely and only the system administrators will have
direct access to the physical computer. Primary and secondary storage are
therefore extremely large. Organisations such as banks, airlines, universities
and government departments use mainframes – they are very expensive to buy,
and need full-time staff for their operations, maintenance and upgrades.

Mainframe

Desktop system
This also called a computer, personal computer or desktop system. It fits on an
office desk and is easy to buy, upgrade and maintain. Its tasks are for a single
user. Memory sizes are increasing but it is not uncommon to find primary
storage sizes of 8 GB (RAM) and hard-disk sizes of 1 TB. Most computers now
contain multiple processors working at speeds of 3 GHz. Their main use is for
office and school work, games and entertainment, Internet access and data
communication (including email). They can be linked in a network with more
powerful computers.

Desktop system
Mobile devices
 These are also called hand-held devices and include laptops, notebooks,
netbooks, tablets, smartphones, e-readers and game consoles. They are similar
to personal computers but are smaller, lighter and contain batteries so that they
are not restricted to being connected to electrical outlets.

Embedded devices
These are dedicated computer systems designed for one or two specific
functions. They are therefore embedded as part of a complete hardware device
called an embedded device. They consume very little processing power and
may or may not be able to connect to the internet. The main aim is to increase
the reliability and performance of the device. Embedded devices can be found
in digital watches, printers, washing machines, banking ATM machines and
even four-wheel drive vehicles and large installations such as traffic lights.
Some embedded devices have no user interface, while others may use simple
menu systems or touch screens.

3. Explain the functions of the major hardware components of a computer

system

Input – any form of information sent to a computer for processing.

The Central Processing Unit (CPU)

This is the part of the computer that does all the processing. It controls the
transfer of data between memory and other devices that make up the computer
system. The CPU consists of:

 The Control Unit (CU)

 The Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU)
 Small very fast areas of memory. The smallest and fastest memory is in
the form of registers. There is also cache, which is larger and slower
than the registers but is still much faster than the RAM.
 CPU

The Control Unit

This is the part of the CPU which controls the operations of the CPU. It is used:
 To direct the operations of the internal processor components
 To control the flow of programs and data in and out of the primary
memory
 To read and interpret program instructions
 To control the flow of information to and from all components of the
computer system

The Arithmetic/Logic Unit

 Performs arithmetic operations.
 Performs logical operations.

Storage devices – devices that allow you to store instructions/information to be

used later.

Types of Storage
I. Primary Storage (Immediate Access Storage)
This is the area in a computer in which data is stored for quick access by
the computer’s processor. Primary storage is also known as main
memory. There are two types of primary storage:

i. Random Access Memory (RAM)

The contents in RAM are temporary and are lost when the
computer is turned off. (The data is volatile.) RAM is used to store
the instructions and data for currently running programs and the
operating system.
 RAM chips
ii. Read Only Memory (ROM)
This is permanent and the data stored in it is not lost when the
computer is turned off (non-volatile). ROM is used to store data
that must not be lost even when the computer is turned off, such as
the commands which start up the computer. These instructions are
programmed into the ROM chips by the manufacturer.

ROM chips

II. Secondary storage media (Backing storage, auxiliary storage)

Non-volatile memory that is not directly accessible by the CPU, because it
is not accessed by the input/output channels. (It is an external device).
Secondary storage devices can hold large amounts of data and can be used
on different computer systems. Examples include:

 Hard disks

 Magnetic tapes
  Flash drives

 Memory card

 Optical disks (CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray)

III. Units of storage

Bit – a unit of storage that has two possible values, o and 1. It is the smallest
unit. The name was derived from binary digit.

Nibble – a group of 4 bits

Byte – a group of 8 bits

Units of storage
Term Symbol Approximate bits Actual bits
kilobyte KB 1,000 210 (1,024)
megabyte MB 1,000,000 220 (1,048,576)
gigabyte GB 1,000,000,000 230 (1,023,741,824)
terabyte TB 1,000,000,000,000 240 (1,099,511,627,776)

Word – the size of data or instruction the CPU can handle in any cycle

Word length/ word size – the number of bits in a word

Address content – the data or instruction that is stored to a given address

Character – any digit, letter or symbol

Motherboard
This is the most essential part of a computer system. It holds together any of the
crucial components of a computer, including the CPU, memory and connectors
for input and output devices.

Motherboard

Tower/system unit
The rectangular box to which most other components that make up the computer
system are housed.

System unit

Peripheral device
These are the devices that make up the computer system apart from the
motherboard, its associated electronics and main memory. Peripheral devices
include input devices, output devices and storage devices.

Input devices are devices that allow us to give instructions to the computer.
Examples include:
 Optical mark reader (OMR)
 Character readers (OCR, MICR)
 Mouse
  Joystick
 Barcode reader
 Document scanner
 Light pen
 Touch terminals
 Voice response units
 Pads and tablets
 Biometric systems
 Sensors
 Remote control
 Sound capture
 Pointing devices
 Webcam
Output devices are devices used to send information from a computer to a user.
Examples include:
 Visual display units
 Printers
 Plotters
 Audio output devices
 Microfilm
Storage devices are devices used to store information permanently or
temporarily. Examples include:
 Magnetic tape
 Floppy disk
 Hard disk
 Optical disks
 Flash drive
 Flash memory cards
4. Explain how the major hardware components of a computer system
interrelate

Computer System - The complete computer made up of the CPU, memory and
related electronics (main cabinet), all the peripheral devices connected to it and
its operating system.
 The major functions of a computer system include input, processing, output and
storage.

Hardware – The physical components of a computer system.

Software – Instructions or data. Anything that can be stored electronically.

Data – This is raw and unprocessed and has no meaning.

Information – processed data. It has context, structure and meaning.

Input – Giving the computer instructions.

Processing – working on the given instructions.

Output – the information given after the instructions have been worked on.

Storage – saving information for later use.

5. Evaluate the relative merits of cloud storage and local storage.

Cloud storage - is the process of storing digital data in an online space that
spans multiple servers and locations, and it is usually maintained by a hosting
company.

Pros
 All you need is an Internet connection to access your data
 You don’t have to store your data in a physical form
 Free versions are available for storing small amounts of data

Cons
  If you want to store a lot of information, you’ll probably have to pay for
storage
 Third-party storage is vulnerable to theft and hardware failure
 Cloud storage requires an Internet connection for access
 IT teams need to be able to use cloud provider tools to ensure complete
security of sensitive data
 Risk management gurus note that teaming up with a cloud provider
means you rely on them for availability and security.
Local storage – is the process of storing digital data on physical storage
devices, such as hard disc drives (HDDs), solid state drives (SSDs), or external
storage devices, such as thumb drives or discs.
Pros
 Inexpensive
 Easy to use
 The data is under your control
 Accessing data stored on local storage is much quicker than uploading
and downloading it to and from the cloud.
 You have complete control over how the data is stored, who has access,
and information security protocols
Cons
 Your data isn't accessible unless you have the hardware with you
 External hard drives or CDs can fail or break
 Can be stolen
 The hardware and infrastructure costs are high and adding on more
space and upgrading only adds to the price tag.