8/13/23, 3:25 PM TutorDAM - About Computers

Science & Technology Centre

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Technology has become an integral part of

our daily life. What would life be without AI,
the internet, WiFi, computers and the
ubiquitous cellphone?

The Modern Digital Computer

This lecture on the Modern Digital Computer focuses on:

1. What a computer is
2. Three basic functions of a computer
3. How computers work
4. Why use computers
5. Types of computers

What is a computer?

Dell Desktop Laptops Apple Mac

A computer is an automatic, electronic data processing machine. It accepts data as input,

transforms these data into information by executing a stored program. Based on this simple
definition, a modern smartphone is also a computer. It is a special computer that allows you
to use radio signals to send and receive voice and text messages, videos, graphs etc.

A computer is any machine that can be programmed to accept data (input), process or
transform that input into useful information called output, and store it away in a secondary
storage device such as a hard disk for later use. The processing of input into output is
directed by the software but performed by the hardware.
A digital computer accomplishes its tasks by counting. Because of how digital
computers work internally they are said to be bi-stable devices ( 0 or 1 ). Digital computers
'speak' the binary language. The binary language is the language of ones and zeros.

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Three Basic Operations of Computers

A computer performs three basic operations. They are:

1. Arithmetic operations ( + addition, - subtraction, * multiplication, / division )
2. Logical or relational operators:

Logical
Explanation
operators
> greater than
< less than
= equal to
>= greater than or equal to
<= less than or equal to
<> not equal to

3. Storage and Retrieval operations

Whenever the response to a question is yes or no / true or false, this is the kind of response
one would get from a logical operation. What is your response to the question- " Is one more
than two ? " If I were to write a computer program to display the answer to this question. The
processing performed on the data would be a logical operation.

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How a computer works

A computer works in four steps:

1. Input: Input is the data before processing. It comes from the mouse, keyboard,
microphone, scanner and other external sensors.
2. Processing : Processing is where input gets transformed into output. The computer's
Central Processing Unit (CPU) is its brain, is responsible for executing instructions and
performing mathematical and logical operations on the input data.
3. Output : Output is the final result after data processing. It can be anything from text,
images, video, to sound and music.
4. Storage : The storage is how the computer retains input data and stores output for later
use. The hard drive is used for long-term and mass data storage while the data set for
immediate processing is stored temporarily in the Random Access Memory (RAM).

Why do we use computers?

1. A computer performs its operations very quickly

2. Computers are accurate
3. Computers work continuously while requiring little maintenance
4. Personal computers are becoming smaller and more powerful while they are more
affordable
5. Computers are versatile. They can be used for business, education, communicating with
others and entertainment

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Types of computers

1. Analog computers
2. Digital or calssical computers
3. Hybrid computers
4. Quantum computers

Analog computers operate on continuous data. They are designed to measure input such
as temperature, pressure, lengths, voltages, currents and speed. An analog machine is
usually a special-purpose device, dedicated to a single task.
Digital computers operate on discrete data. They use bits to count data rather than
measure. Everyday personal computers like the laptop computers and desktop computers
are examples of digital computers.
Hybrid computers process both discrete and continuous data. They accept analog signals
and convert them into a digital form before processing. The processors used at petrol
stations to measure the flow of petrol convert continuous data into a digital form to output the
price of the fuel.
Quantum computers use quantum bits or qubits rather than binary digits to store data. Just
as a bit is the basic unit of information in a classical computer, a qubit is the basic unit of
information in a quantum computer. Quantum computing is a new form of computing. Look at
this youtube 10 minute video to get an idea about what quantum computing is.
Analog computers and quantum computers are outside the scope of these lessons. This site
focuses on classical or digital computers only.

Test Yourself

Choose the correct answer

Questions Options Verify
True
1) Digital computers use bits (0 and 1) Check Answer
False
True
2) Hybrid computers accept discrete data ONLY. Check Answer
False
True
3) Digital computers and quantum computers work with bits Check Answer
False
True
4) Computers cannot perform logical operations Check Answer
False
True
5) The newest type of computers are quantum computers Check Answer
False

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Assignment 1.1

1) Neatly draw a large diagram of a desktop computer using a pencil and label the main
components ( monitor, system unit, keyboard, mouse, DVD drive and power on/off
button).

2) What language do digital or classical computers 'speak'?

3) What are the three basic operations of computers?

4) What are the two main reasons why computers are more popular now than twenty years
ago?

5) List three ways you have used a computer.

6) Computers are ubiquitous. What does that mean?

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