INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS ★ The Central Processing Unit (CPU)

★ Computers are electronic devices performs the actual processing of

that can follow instructions to accept data
input, process the input and then The speed (clock speed) of CPU
produce information. ★ measured by Hertz (MHz)
★ Microprocessors are miniaturized
Computers are made of devices that often implement stored
1. HARDWARE program CPUs.
2. SOFTWARE ★ The CPU consists of :
❑ Control Unit (CU)
Input Devices ❑ Arithmetic and Logical Unit (ALU)
★ Translate data from form that ❑ Some Registers
humans understand to one that the
computer can work with The Control Unit (CU) :
★ Most common are keyboard and coordinates all activities of the
mouse computer by:
★ Examples: ★ Determining which operations to
1. Keyboard (QWERTY perform and in what order to carry
keyboard, ATMs keyboard) them out.
ATM: automatic teller ★ The CU transmits coordinating
machine control signals to other computer
2. Mouse components.
3. Scanner
4. Pre-storage Device (Disk, The ALU :
CD’s, … etc.) consists of electronic circuitry to
5. Optical mark recognition perform:
(Light Pin, Barcode ★ Arithmetic operations (addition,
scanners) subtraction, multiplication and
6. Microphone division)
7. Joystick ★ Logical operations (and, or, not, …)
8. Point and Draw devices and to make some comparisons
9. Trackball (less-than, equal, … etc.)
10. Touchpad
11. Touch screen Primary Memory
12. Magnetic stripes and smart ★ Memory (fast, expensive, short-term
cars. memory): Enables a computer to
13. Digital Cameras store, at least temporarily, data,
programs, and intermediate results.
Central Processing Unit (CPU) ★ Two general parts:
★ A specific chip or the processor's 1.RAM
CPU's performance is determined by 2.ROM
the rest of the computer's circuitry
and chips.
Random Access Memory (RAM) – Disk drive holds the diskette, reads or
★ it's a primary storage or random retrieves the data and writes or stores data
access memory (RAM).
★ it temporarily holds data and • Hard drive
programs for use during processing – Data is represented magnetically as with
(volatile) diskettes
★ Any information stored in RAM is – Normally more than one rigid platter in a
lost when the computer is turned off. sealed unit
★ RAM is the memory that the – These disks are not removable
computer uses to temporarily store – Significantly more capacity and faster
the information as it is being operating than diskettes
processed. The more information
being processed the more RAM the Optical Laser Discs
computer needs. CD ROM & DVD’s
★ RAM consists of locations or cells. ● Data is represented as pits and
Each cell has a unique address lands
which distinguishes it from other ● Some kinds are read only
cells. (CD-ROM) and some Kinds are
rewritable (CD-RW)
Read Only Memory (ROM) ● Significantly more capacity and
is part of memory faster operating than diskettes
★ Programmed at manufacturing time ● DVD: Digital Video Disk
★ Its contents cannot be changed by
users Output Devices
★ It is a permanent store - Pieces of equipment that translate
the processed information from the
Secondary Storage CPU into a form that humans can
Stores data and programs understand.
permanently: its retained after the power is - Monitors
turned off - Printers
Examples ➢ Dot matrix printers
★ Hard Drive (Hard Disk) - Located ➢ Inkjet printers
outside the CPU, but most often ➢ Laser printers
contained in the system cabinet - Sound Blasters (Sound Card By
★ Floppy Disk Creative Lab)
★ Optical Laser Discs - e.g. CD-ROM, - Controlling other devices
CD-RW, and DVD
Software
Common Secondary Media - The instructions that tell the
• Diskettes computer what to do
– Data represented as magnetic spots on 1. Application Software - helps
removable flexible plastic disks end-users perform general purpose
– Most common size is 3 1/2 inches, in a tasks
rigid plastic case
 2. System Software - enables Microcomputer =>Personal Computer =>
application software to interact with PC
the computer.
- The most important System There are 3 types of the
Software is the Operating Microcomputers :
System 1.Laptop
- Examples of operating 2.Desktop
systems: Windows XP, DOS, 3.Workstation
Apple, UNIX
- The software that controls ★ Personal Computer: A small,
everything that happens in a single-user computer based on a
computer. microprocessor.
- Background software, ★ Workstation: A powerful, single-user
manages the computer’s computer. A workstation is like a
internal resources personal computer, but it has :
➢ a more powerful microprocessor
Application Software – Basic Tools and,
● Word processors– example: ➢ in general, a higher-quality
Microsoft word monitor.
● Spreadsheets example: Microsoft
Excel ● Minicomputer: A multi-user
● Database managers-- example: computer capable of supporting up
Microsoft Access to hundreds of users simultaneously.
● Graphics-- example: Photoshop - Desk-sized
● Spreadsheets: Computer software - More processing speed and
that allows the user to enter columns storage capacity than
and rows of numbers in an microcomputers
accounting book like format. - General data processing
needs at small companies
Units of Measurements - Larger companies use them
▪ Bit (Binary Digit)(takes two values: 1 or 0) for specific purposes
▪ Byte = 8 bits
▪ KB (Kilo-byte) = 1024 bytes ● Mainframe: A powerful multi-user
▪ MB (mega-byte) = 1024 KB computer capable of supporting
▪ GB (giga-byte) = 1024 MB many hundreds or thousands of
▪ TB (Tera-byte) = 1024 GB users simultaneously.
Remark: 1024=210 - Larger machines with special
wiring and environmental
Four Kinds of Computers controls
1. Microcomputers - Faster processing and greater
2. Minicomputers storage than minicomputers
3. Mainframe computers - Typical machine in large
4. Supercomputers organizations
 ● Supercomputer: An extremely fast Sources of Computer Viruses
computer that can perform hundreds • The Internet
of millions of instructions per - Via downloads and exchanges
second. • Diskettes
- The most powerful of the four - Exchanging disks
categories • Computer networks
- Used by very large - Can spread from one network to
organizations, particularly for another
very math-intensive types of
tasks How do you know if you have a virus?
● Lack of storage capability
★ Data - is the name given to basic ● Decrease in the speed of executing
facts such as names and numbers. programs
★ Information - is data that has been ● Unexpected error messages
converted into a more useful or ● Halting the system
intelligible form.
★ Knowledge - arrangement of Virus Protection
information and classifying - The software package distributed
information of the same type or the with new PCs always includes an
same topic. antiviral program. The best way to
cope with viruses is to recognize
Computer Viruses their existence and use an antiviral,
- A computer virus is an application or antivirus program.
program designed and written to
destroy other programs.
• It has the ability to:
➢ Link itself to other programs
➢ Copy itself (it looks as if it repeats itself)
- Examples of Viruses
● Monkes
● ABC
● Crabs
● CIH

Viruses and Virus Protection

- A virus program Infects programs,
documents, databases and more …
- It is man-made
- It can hide and reproduce
- It can lay dormant (inactive) and
then activate
Anti-virus programs can help