QUESTION & ANSWERS

FUNDAMENTALS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

UNIT – II : Basic Computer Organization

1. Explain in detail about the basic Computer organization with block

diagram

Basic Computer Organization:

The block diagram of the computer system have the following three units, each
functional unit corresponds to their basic operations performed as described in details.

(a) Input unit

(b) Central processing unit

(c) Output unit

(a) Input Unit

• Accept data and instructions from the outside world.

• Convert it to a form that the computer can understand

 • Supply the converted data to the computer system for further processing

• The input unit is used to send information or instructions or commands to the

computer. The data received from the input unit is immediately stored in main
memory and then processed.

Following are the some of the input device.

(i) Keyboard

(ii) Mouse

(iii) Light pen

(iv) Joystick

(v) OCR (Optical Character Recognizer)

(vi) MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognizer)

(vii) OMR (Optical Mark Recognizer)

(b) Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• It performs all calculations and all decisions.

• It controls and co-ordinates all units of the computer

• It interprets instructions of a program

• It stores data temporarily and monitors external requests.

The CPU is sub-divided into the following sub-system.

(i) Control unit

(ii) Arithmetic and logical unit

(iii) Memory unit

(a) Primary storage

(b) Secondary storage.

(i) Control unit

The control unit instructs the computer how to carry out program instructions. It
directs the flow of data between memory and arithmetic logical unit.
 The input unit does not know when to receive data and where to put the data in the
storage unit after receiving it similarly, the control unit instructs the input unit where
to store the data after receiving it from the user.

In the same way, it controls the flow of data and instructions from the storage unit to

ALU during program execution the control unit fetches instructions from the
primary memory, decodes them to determine the operations required, and then sets up
instructions execution.

Eg. To add two numbers or to read a character from a keyboard. A number of

registers are associated with the control unit.

(ii) Arithmetic and Logical Unit

Arithmetic and logical unit performs all the arithmetic and logical operations.
Arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication and logical operations,
such as comparisons are performed in ALU.

All calculations are performed in the arithmetic and logical unit (ALU) of the
computer ALU also does comparisons and take decision.

Example: it can check if the number A is less than equal to or greater than the
number B. once the calculations or the logical operation is performed by ALU, then
the result is transferred to the storage unit.

(iii) Memory unit

Memory is the part of computer which holds data for processing and other
information it is also called as main memory or primary memory.

A device that stores program instructions or data used by the CPU when
performing a given function.

Memory is a device, which is used to store information temporarily/ permanently,

it is the place where the information is safely kept. Secondary memory, such as disk
storage, is functionality considered I/O because it is accessed through the I/O system.
(a) Primary storage

The primary storage is also called as “main memory” stores and access
information very fastly. This is generally used to hold the program being currently
executed in the computer, the data being received from the input unit, the
intermediate and final results of the program. Primary storage is also known as
system memory, internal, temporary and “RAM”

▪ Installed on the main computer board (motherboard)

▪ Typically comprised of ICs (integrated circuits)
▪ Fast access – usually in the order of nano seconds

(b) Secondary storage

The secondary storage is also known as Auxiliary Storage it may store several
programs, documents, databases etc.
The program that we want to run on the computer is first transferred to the
primary memory before it can run. Similarly, after running the program if need to
save the result, we will transfer them to the secondary storage.

The secondary memory is slower and cheaper than the primary memory. Some of
the commonly used secondary memory devices are Floppy diskette, Zip diskette,
Hard disk and Magnetic disks and Tapes etc.

(c) Output unit

Devices used to get the response or result of a process from the computer is
called output unit is the communication between the user and the computer.

The output unit of a computer provides the information and results of a

computation to the outside world.

Computers do not work in the decimal system; they work in the binary system.
Therefore if required, the output unit also converts the binary data into a form that
users can understand.

Commonly used output devices are.

▪ Visual display unit (VDU) or monitor

▪ Printer
▪ Computer output microfilm
▪ Plotter.
2. Discuss briefly about the role of I/O devices in a computer system.

An input/output (I/O) device is any hardware used by a human operator or other

systems to communicate with a computer. As the name suggests, input/output devices are
capable of sending data (input) to a computer and receiving data from a computer (output).

Input devices allow users to interact with a computer by providing data or commands. Some
common input devices include keyboards, mouse, microphones, webcams, and scanners.

Output devices allow users to see, hear, or otherwise perceive the results of the computer's
processing. Some common output devices include monitors, printers, speakers, and
headphones.

I/O devices are essential for the operation of any computer system. They allow users to
interact with the computer and provide the computer with the data it needs to function.

3. Explain input units and the types of input devices

Input Unit
This part of the computer encapsulates devices with the help of which the user feeds
data to the computer. It creates an interface between the user and the computer. The input unit
or devices transform the information into a form acceptable to the computer.

An input unit in a computer is any piece of hardware that sends data to the computer,
allowing you to interact with and control it. The data may be in the form of text, commands,
images, audio, or video.

Input Devices of Computer

A piece of hardware/equipment that enables the user to enter data into a computer is called an
input device. Some of the commonly used input units used in a computer system are as
follows:

1. Keyboard
2. Mouse
3. JoyStick
4. Light pen
5. Track Ball
6. Scanner
7. Graphic Tablet
8. Microphone
9. Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR)
10. Optical Character Reader (OCR)
11. Barcode Reader
12. Optical Mark Reader (OMR)

4. Discuss briefly about the input device- keyboard, terminals and its
types.
The keyboard is the most basic and very commonly used input device which
helps to input data to the computer. The layout of the buttons in a normally used
keyboard is similar to the traditional typewriter, but there are a few additional keys
provided by different manufacturers for performing additional functions.

Normally available keyboards in the market were of two sizes 84 keys and 101/102
keys, but now keyboards with 104 keys or 108 keys are also possible for Windows
and Internet.
 Computer terminals are devices that combine a keyboard and a display screen to
communicate with a computer. They can be classified into different types based on their
ability to process data:

 Dumb terminals: These terminals can only interpret a limited number of control codes
and cannot process special escape sequences. They are also known as glass Teletypes because
they have similar functionality to a mechanical Teletype.

 Smart terminals: These monitors can process a limited amount of information.

 Intelligent terminals: These devices have a central processing unit (CPU) and main
memory to perform special display functions. Examples include AT&T Display Phones and
information kiosks.

Here are some other types of computer terminals:

 3270 terminals: These IBM display stations are used to communicate with IBM and other
manufacturers' mainframes.

Here are some types of keys on a computer keyboard:

 Character keys: These keys are used to type letters and other characters.

 Function keys: These keys are controlled by the operating system and are multipurpose.

 Cursor keys: These keys are controlled by the operating system and are used to move the
cursor on the screen.

 Numeric keypad: This keypad is similar to a calculator and is used to enter numbers.

 Special keys: These keys include the space bar, caps lock, and enter keys.

 Navigation keys: These keys include the arrow keys and page up/down.

5. What is a pointing device? Give examples

It is an input device that is used to point or click a specific portion or parts on the
screen. When we scroll using the mouse, it points the cursor at a specific portion.
Pointing devices points and controls the cursor on the screen. A pointer device drags,
clicks, and selects a specific portion of the screen. For example, if we have a device like a
mouse, we can easily select a specific portion or drag any part on the screen. In other
words, we say that it is a pointing device that controls the movement of the cursor on the
screen. Pointing devices such as a mouse, joystick, OCR, touchpad, trackball, etc.

Types of Pointing Device

Here is the list of some types of pointing devices:-
 Mouse: A mouse is a pointing device used in laptops and computers that is
connected to the keyboard. In the mouse, there are left- or right-click buttons,
and a wheel button is also present that is responsible for up and down. The
mouse can easily control the screen and perform many tasks.

 Joystick: The joystick is responsible for handling the object on the screen. Using
a joystick is used to control many applications, such as games, virtual reality, etc.
It is an input device that transforms mechanical movement into electrical output
and then controls machines or games. We easily move the joystick from one
direction to another.

 Trackball: Trackball is controlled by the cursor, that's why we say cursor

control device. In trackball, we roll the ball with our thumbs and fingers without
moving our arms. In trackball, buttons are present that are responsible for
selecting an item or object, dropping, and dragging.

 Touchpad: Touchpad is a portable device that is present in laptops and portable

devices. The shape of the touchpad is a rectangular surface. Its touch looks
sensitive while touching the surface. It is easy to use, first click on the touchpad
surface to select, then drop and drag the specific part on the screen.

 Digital Pen: Digital pen is the conversion of analog data to digital data. If we
write the content in a digital pen, it captures it and converts it into digital format.
We write content on paper with a digital pen and it is visible on our computer
screen.
6. Discuss briefly about scanner and its types

A scanner is an input device, which works very much like a photocopy

machine. It can be used when some information on paper is to be transferred to the
hard disk of the computer in digital format for further manipulation.

The scanner captures high-resolution images from the source which are then
converted into a digital format that can be saved on the disk and shared digitally.
These digital images can be edited before they are printed.

How Does a Scanner Work?

Different versions from different companies may have slight variations in the
working and design but the core principle remains the same among all the scanners.
The document is placed on the scanner and the lid is closed after which a light
source is used to illuminate the document from below. A scan head which comprises
of mirror, lens, filter and CCD (Charge-coupled device) array is then moved across
the document with the help of a belt and a stepper motor. A stabilizer is used to keep
the scan head stable. A pass means that the scan head has completed one complete
scan of the entire document. The image of the document is then reflected by an
angled mirror on another secondary mirror. Secondary mirror reflects the image onto
a lens. The lens focuses the image on the CCD array through a filter. The
arrangement of the lens and CCD array may differ from scanner to scanner. Most
scanners utilize a three pass method where different color filters (red, green or blue)
are used between the lens and CCD array to generate the image. After all the three
passes are complete the software assembles all the three filtered images into a single
full-color image.

Types of Scanner
There are several types of Scanner that are mentioned below.
i) Drum Scanner
The drum scanner rotates scanned page around a drum for faster scanning. It
scans with a photomultiplier tube rather than a charge-coupled device which is used
in flatbed scanners.
The drum scanners use photomultiplier tubes which are excessively sensitive to
light. The image is mounted on the glass tube available in the scanner and when the
scanning start the light is moved on top of the image while the photomultiplier tubes
(PMT) pick up its reflection and process it. Drum scanners are generally known for
their high resolution.

ii) Flatbed Scanner

It is the most commonly used type of optical scanner which is readily
available in the market. The documents are placed on a flat surface by lifting the
cover and then the lid is closed after placing the documents. It is easy to operate and
user friendly. It can be used to scan a wide variety of documents such as books,
magazines and images. Some flatbed scanners also come equipped with Bluetooth or
wireless technologies as well as automatic feeders which makes the process easy and
simple.

iii) Sheet-fed Scanner

The main characteristic of a sheet-fed scanner is that they are specifically
designed to handle loose sheets of paper. These scanners are great in scanning
enormous amount of paper sheets. They are generally a little smaller than flatbed
scanners and feature a lesser image resolution. They are mainly used by business and
offices who have a limited amount of space. Sheet-fed scanners are fast in terms of
paperweight and size (pages per minute). They are equipped with a feeder tray
which automatically feeds into the scanner.

iv) Handheld Scanner

It is a portable handheld device that works similarly to a flatbed scanner.
Instead of inserting the document as its is done in flatbed, here, the scanner is
dragged over the document to be scanned. Handheld scanners are preferred over
flatbed scanner as they are very compact, easy to use and offer greater flexibility .
They are mainly used in shopping stores and storage houses to evaluate goods by
scanning barcodes.
7. What is a voice recognition system?
Voice recognition is a type of input method where a microphone is used to
enter data in form of spoken words into the computer. This method is mostly suitable
for the handicapped especially those with impaired hands.

A microphone is the input device for a voice recognition system. Voice recognition
systems use a microphone to translate a person's voice into an electrical signal and
then digitize it. The system then interprets the voice command and carries out the
instructions given.

How does a microphone work?

A microphone consists of a diaphragm, a coil or capacitor, and a magnet. When sound
waves hit the diaphragm, it vibrates, and this vibration is converted into an electrical
signal through the interaction between the diaphragm, coil, and magnet.

8. What is a vision input system?

Vision Input System is one of the latest input devices that recognize the vision, image,
which appear in the range of its lens. These arcs especially used to design industrial robots.

i) PC based vision systems

The classical PC-based machine vision systems have an industrial computer at its
heart that manages and communicates with all the other peripheral devices like
cameras and lights. After processing the inputs from cameras and analyzing the
information via the software, the computer communicates the decisions to the other
devices. When the application requirements demand high processing power, a number
of cameras, or dedicated FPGA processors, PC based vision systems come into the
picture.

Features:
 Solutions based on PC systems offer the highest degree of flexibility.
 High performance and computing power.
 Occupy a significant amount of space and are quite expensive.
 Recommended for complex applications that demand multiple inspection tasks to
be carried out at a fast rate.

ii) Smart camera-based vision systems

Smart cameras consist of a sensor, processor, and I/O in a compact
arrangement, generally no bigger than a standard industrial camera. These solutions
offer a simple and intuitive interface that facilitates easy operations with minimal
training. To configure machine vision systems for inspection tasks, a computer needs
to be connected to the smart camera via a network interface. This connection,
however, is not required during the runtime. A major advantage of smart cameras is
their compact design and easy communication of results.

Features:
 The simplest and most cost-effective vision systems are based on smart cameras.
 Recommended for simpler applications.
 Easy to set up and deliver the basic functionalities of vision systems in a compact
form.

9. How touch screen works as both input and output device.

A touch screen is the only device which works as both an input and an output
device. You view the options available to you on the screen (output) and you then use
your finger to touch the option that you have chosen (input).
Touch screens work particularly well with a menu driven interface. For example, a
cashpoint (ATM) at a bank would first of all ask which service you want. You touch
the option 'withdraw cash' on the screen. You are then presented with another choice,
'how much cash do you want to withdraw?'. Once you have chosen how much, you
then get other options such as 'do you want a receipt?'.

Another major use of touch screens are on smart phones and modern tablet computers.
Each 'app' is accessed by an icon on the touch screen.

Touch screens are easy to use and are often found in public places such as cashpoints
at banks, ticket collection terminals at theatres or airports, information centres at
museums.

Touch screens are not commonly used to input large amounts of data because they are
not very accurate and they would be tiring on the hands to use for long periods of
time.

10. What is the role of output unit? Explain in detail about the output
devices.

This part of the computer encapsulates devices with the help of which the user
receives the information from the computer. Output unit transform the output from the
computer into a form understandable by the users.

An output device is any piece of hardware that receives data from the computer.
Usually, this data is used to display information to the user in some form.

Output Devices
A piece of hardware/equipment that presents the result of the entered input, once it is
processed, is called an output device. Several output devices display output in various
ways such as images, text, hard copies, and audio/video.
Some of the commonly used output units used in a computer system are as follows:

1. Monitor/Display Screen
2. Printer
3. Speakers/Headphones
4. Projector
5. Plotter

1. Monitors
Monitors or Visual Display Unit (VDU), are the primary output devices of a
computer system. It generates images from tiny dots, termed pixels that are arranged
in a well-defined rectangular form. The depth and sharpness of the image depend upon
the number and size of the pixels.
2. Printers
A printer is a very commonly practiced output device, which is used to print
information on paper. There are two types of printers:

1. Impact Printers
2. Non-Impact Printers

i) Impact Printers
It is a type of printer that works by direct contact of an ink ribbon with paper.
These printers are typically loud but remain in use today because of their unique
ability to function with multipart forms. An impact printer has mechanisms
resembling those of a typewriter.

Example of Impact Printers, Dot-matrix printers, Daisy-wheel printers, and line

printers.

a) Dot Matrix Printer

The dot matrix printer is another type of impact printer and resembles the daisy
printer. It consists of pins with characters attached to them. These characters are made
of small dots hence the name. these pins are arranged in single or multiple vertical
rows.

The pinhead (containing all the pins) moves and strikes against the ink cloth onto the
paper. In this manner, characters get printed. This type of printer is outdated as well
due to low-quality print and high cost.
The only advantage of these printers is their ability to print multiple copies of text at
the same time by carbon copying.

ii) Non-Impact Printers

It is a type of printer that does not hit or impact a ribbon to print. They used
laser, xerographic, electrostatic, chemical and inkjet technologies. Non-impact
printers are generally much quieter. They are less likely to need maintenance or
repairs than earlier impact printers.

Example of Non-Impact Printers is Inkjet printers and Laser printers.

a) Inkjet Printers
The inkjet printer is the second type of non-impact printer. By spraying
drops of liquid ink over the paper, it produces output. The print -head of an
inkjet printer may spray very tiny droplets of ink. It is made up of a print
cartridge loaded with liquid ink. It has small nozzles in the shape of a matrix.
The combination of nozzles, similar to a dot matrix printer, is triggered to form
the shape of a character or image on the paper by spraying liquid ink. The
resolution of these printers ranges from 300 to 720 dpi.

Inkjet printers are less expensive than laser printers. They are also slower and
produce lower-quality prints than laser printers. They are, however, speedier
and offer better print quality than dot-matrix printers. Inkjet printers print at
speeds ranging from 1 to 6 pages per minute.

Projector
A projector is an optical output device that can take images produced by a computer
and project or present them onto a screen or surface called a projector. In the older
version of projectors, images were created by shining the light through a small
transparent lens on the projector; however, the new version of projectors uses laser
technology for the same. Projectors are most commonly used in offices, classrooms,
auditoriums, theatres to watch presentations, videos, or pictures generated from a
computer or laptop.

Speakers
Computer speakers are the most popular output devices used with a computer to listen
to sound. These speakers receive audio as input either in analog or digital form and
generate sound as an output. With the advancement of technology, speakers are now
available with wireless and Bluetooth facilities as well.

Headphones
The headphones or earphones or headsets are hardware output tools that are
either plugged into the computer or can be wireless. They offer the same function as a
speaker, the only difference is the frequency of sound. With speakers, the sound can
be detected over a larger distance while utilizing headphones, the sound is only
audible to the individual using them. Headphones are available in multiple shapes and
sizes.
11. What is a Plotter? Explain its types.

Plotters
A plotter is a computer output device that is primarily used to produce high-quality
drawings, designs, and graphics. It is different from other printers as it uses one or
more pens or markers to draw continuous lines on paper or other suitable materials,
rather than using dots or pixels to create images.
Types of Plotter
There are various types of plotter available for various applications, requirements
and projects. Following are the types of plotter:
a) Electrostatic Plotters
b) Pen Plotters
C) Inkjet Plotters
d) Cutting Plotters
e) Drum Plotters
f) Flatbed Plotters

Advantages of Plotter
Plotters have several advantages that make them suitable for specific tasks and
industries in every field:
 Precision and Accuracy: Plotters are well known for their precision and
accuracy, making them perfect for applications that demands detailed, précised
and error-free drawings.
 Large Formats: Plotters are good in handling oversized drawings, diagrams and
maps. They can handle large paper sizes and media. Large format plotters and
wide format plotters are best suitable for this purpose.
 Vector-Based Graphics: Plotters can scale images without loss of quality which
means they use vector graphics and point-to-point drawing lines, ensuring that
drawings remain sharp and clear at any size and that gives the high quality
images.
 Multicolored Output: Plotters are capable of printing high-quality and précised
images and diagrams with the help of automated multicolored pens.
 Cutting Capabilities: Cutting plotters are versatile tools which uses knives to
cut pieces from materials including vinyl’s, papers, plastic, fabrics, etc.
 Durability: Plotters are much more durable as compared to printers and are
designed for long-term commitments and withstand the demands of professionals
and industries.

12. What is a Sound Card? Explain its uses.

The sound card is a part of a computer that produces and records sound. Users
may use it to connect analogue microphones, speakers, and headphones to their
computers. A sound card is often integrated into the motherboard of a contemporary
computer. Since computers are digital technologies and sound is inherently
analogue, creating audio on them may be difficult. The human ear is also extremely
sensitive to even the smallest variations in sound.

Uses of Sound Card

 Sound for gaming: Users may also utilize an external sound card to enhance
surround sound and positional audio for the greatest gaming experiences.
 Production of music: Recording studios can enhance their output by utilizing
external sound cards. Those who wish to begin producing their own music can
also utilize it. They may be utilized for both amateur and expert music creation.
 Audio recording: The card has a microphone input port that may be used to
record sounds such as voices, instruments, and other noises.
 Voice recognition systems: Users with visual impairments should be able to
utilize speech recognition systems with the assistance of an auditory interface.