OPEN COURSE

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS
AND OFFICE AUTOMATION

Raseena Hydros
Dept Of Computer Science
MTM College,Veliyancode
Module 1-Introduction to Computers:

Types of Computers - DeskTop, Laptop, Notebook and Netbook.

Hardware: CPU, Input / Output Devices, Storage Devices
– System - Software - Operating Systems, Programming Languages, Application Software -
Networks - LAN, WAN - Client -Server.
COMPUTER COMPONENTS
All types of computers follow the same basic logical structure and perform the
following five basic operations for converting raw input data into information
useful to their users.

1. Take Input: The process of entering data and instructions into the
computer system
2. Store Data: Saving data and instructions so that they are available for
processing as and when required.
3. Processing Data:Performing arithmetic, and logical operations on data in
order to convert them into useful information.
4. Output information:The process of producing useful information or
results for the user, such as a printed report or visual display
5. Control the workflow:Directs the manner and sequence in which all of
the above operations are performed

:
Computer - CPU(Central Processing Unit)

● CPU is considered as the brain of the computer.

● CPU performs all types of data processing operations.
● It stores data, intermediate results, and instructions (program).
● It controls the operation of all parts of the computer.

CPU itself has following three components.

● Memory or Storage Unit
● Control Unit
● ALU(Arithmetic Logic Unit)
CPU
Memory or Storage Unit
This unit can store instructions, data, and intermediate results. This unit supplies information to other units of the computer
when needed.
It is also known as internal storage unit or the main memory or the primary storage or Random Access Memory (RAM).

Control Unit
This unit controls the operations of all parts of the computer but does not carry out any actual data processing operations.

ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)

This unit consists of two subsections namely,
● Arithmetic Section
● Logic Section

Arithmetic Section
Function of arithmetic section is to perform arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. All
complex operations are done by making repetitive use of the above operations.

Logic Section
Function of logic section is to perform logic operations such as comparing, selecting, matching, and merging of data.
HARDWARE
Hardware represents the physical and tangible components of a computer, i.e. the components that can be
seen and touched.
Examples of Hardware are the following −
● Input devices − keyboard, mouse, etc.
● Output devices − printer, monitor, etc.
● Secondary storage devices − Hard disk, CD, DVD, etc.
● Internal components − CPU, motherboard, RAM, etc.
 INPUT DEVICES

Input device enables the user to send data, information, or control

signals to a computer.Following are some of the important input
devices which are used in a computer −

● Keyboard:The keyboard is a basic input device that is used

to enter data into a computer or any other electronic device
by pressing keys.
● Mouse:The mouse is a hand-held input device which is
used to move cursor or pointer across the screen.
● Joy Stick:A joystick is also a pointing input device like a
mouse. It is made up of a stick with a spherical base
● Trackball:Trackball is an input device that is mostly used
in notebook or laptop computer, instead of a mouse.
● Scanner:The scanner uses the pictures and pages of text as
input. It scans the picture or a document.
INPUT DEVICES
● Microphone:The microphone is a computer input device that is used to input
the sound.
● Magnetic Ink Card Reader(MICR):MICR computer input device is designed
to read the text printed with magnetic ink.
● Optical Character Reader(OCR):OCR computer input device is designed to
convert the scanned images of handwritten, typed or printed text into digital
text
● Bar Code Reader:Bar Code Reader is a device used for reading bar coded data
(data in the form of light and dark lines)
● Optical Mark Reader(OMR):OMR is a special type of optical scanner used to
recognize the type of mark made by pen or pencil.
● Light pen:A light pen is a computer input device that looks like a pen. The tip
of the light pen contains a light-sensitive detector that enables the user to point
to or select objects on the display screen.
OUTPUT DEVICES
❏ Monitors:
The monitor is the display unit or screen of the computer. It is the main output device that displays the processed data or
information as text, images, audio or video.There are different types of monitors like CRT,LCD,LED,Plasma monitor
❏ Graphic Plotter:
A plotter produces vector graphics drawings. Plotters draw lines on paper using a pen, or in some applications
❏ Printer:Printer is an output device, which is used to print information on paper
There are two types of printers −Impact Printers &Non-Impact Printers
1. Impact Printers :Impact printers print the characters by striking them on the ribbon, which is then pressed on the paper
Eg: Daisy Wheel Printer,Dot Matrix Printer
2. Non-Impact Printers:Non-impact printers print the characters without using the ribbon. These printers print a complete
page at a time, thus they are also called as Page Printers
eg:Laser Printer,Inkjet Printer
❏ Projector:A projector is an output device that enables the user to project the output onto a large surface such as a big
screen or wall
❏ Speaker:A computer speaker is an output hardware device that connects to a computer to generate sound
 OUTPUT DEVICES
The output device displays the result of the processing of raw data that is entered in the computer through an input device.
There are a number of output devices that display output in different ways such as text, images, hard copies, and audio or video.
Some of the popular output devices are:
● Monitor
● Plotter
● Printer
● Projector
● Speaker
Storage Devices
Computer Storage contains many computer components that are used to store data.
It is traditionally divided into primary storage, secondary storage

Primary Storage
Primary storage is also known as the main memory and is the memory directly
accessible by the CPU. Some primary storage devices are −
ROM
ROM is read only memory. This memory cannot be changed, it can only be read as
required. Since ROM is unchangeable memory, it is used by data and programs that
are frequently required and seldom changed, like the system boot program
RAM
RAM is random access memory. It is volatile i.e. the data in RAM is lost when the
power is switched off. RAM is the major form of primary memory as it is quite fast.
However, it is also quite expensive.
Cache Memory
Cache is used to store data and instructions that are frequently required by the CPU
so it doesn't have to search them in the main memory. This is a small memory that is
also very fast.
 Storage Devices
Secondary Storage

Secondary or external storage is not directly accessible by the CPU. They are non volatile
ie;the dada is not lost when power is switched off.The data from secondary storage needs to
be brought into the primary storage before the CPU can use it. Secondary storage contains a
large amount of data permanently.The different types of secondary storage devices are −
Hard Disk
Hard disks are the most famously used secondary storage devices. They are round, flat
pieces of metal covered with magnetic oxide. They are available in many sizes ranging from 1
to 14 inch diameter.
Floppy Disk
They are flexible plastic discs which can bend, coated with magnetic oxide and are covered
with a plastic cover to provide protection. Floppy disks are also known as floppies and
diskettes.
Memory Card
This has similar functionality to a flash drive but is in a card shape. It can easily plug into a
port and removed after its work is done. A memory card is available in various sizes such as
8MB, 16MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB etc.
Storage Devices

Flash Drive
This is also known as a pen drive. It helps in easy transportation of data from one system to another. A pen drive is quite
compact and comes with various features and designs

CD-ROM
This is short for compact disk - read only memory. A CD is a shiny metal disk of silver colour. It is already pre recorded and the
data on it cannot be altered. It usually has a storage capacity of 700 MB
Software
Software is a set of programs that enables the hardware to perform a specific task. All the programs that run
the computer are software.A program consists of a set of instructions which are used to perform a specific
task in an orderly manner
There are two types of software −

● System Software
● Application Software
 Software
System Software
● The system software is a collection of programs designed to operate, control, and extend the processing capabilities of the
computer itself.
● System software is generally prepared by the computer manufacturers.
● These software products comprise of programs written in low-level languages, which interact with the hardware at a very
basic level.
● System software serves as the interface between the hardware and the end users.
Some examples of system software are Operating System, Compilers, Interpreter, Assemblers, etc
Here is a list of some of the most prominent features of a system software −
● Close to the system
● Fast in speed
● Difficult to design
● Difficult to understand
● Less interactive
● Smaller in size
● Difficult to manipulate
● Generally written in low-level language
 Software

Application Software
● Application software is a set of programs designed to perform a specific task.
● It does not control the working of a computer as it is designed for end-users.
● A computer can run without application software.
● Application software can be easily installed or uninstalled as required.
● It can be a single program or a collection of small programs
Examples of Application software are the following −
Payroll Software,Inventory Management Software,Income Tax Software,Railways Reservation Software,Microsoft Office Suite
Features of application software are as follows −
● Close to the user
● Easy to design
● More interactive
● Slow in speed
● Generally written in high-level language
● Easy to understand
● Easy to manipulate and use
H/W Vs S/W
Programming Languages

A program is a set of instructions that help computer to perform tasks..

The languages that are used to write a program or set of instructions
are called "Programming languages".
Programming languages are broadly categorized into three types −
● Machine level language
● Assembly level language
● High-level language
Machine Level Language

● Machine language is lowest level of programming language.

● It handles binary data i.e. 0’s and 1’s. It directly interacts with system.
● Machine language is difficult for human beings to understand as it comprises combination of 0’s and 1’s.
● There is software which translate programs into machine level language.
● In this language, there is no need of compilers and interpreters for conversion and hence it is fast.
● However, it is not portable and non-readable to humans.
Assembly Level Language

● Assembly language is a middle-level language. It consists of a set of instructions in a specific format called
commands.
● It uses symbols to represent field of instructions. It is very close to machine level language.
● The computer should have assembler to translate assembly level program to machine level program.
Examples include ADA, PASCAL, etc.
● It is in human-readable format and takes lesser time to write a program and debug it. However, it is a machine
dependent language.

Assembly Language Machine Code

SUB AX, BX 0010101110000011
MOV CX, AX 100010111001000
MOV DX, 0 10111010000000000000000
High Level Language

● High-level language uses format or language that is most familiar to users.

● The instructions in this language are called codes or scripts.
● The computer needs a compiler and interpreter to convert high-level language program to machine level language.
Examples include C++, Python, Java,PHP etc.
● It is easy to write a program using high level language and is less time-consuming.
● Debugging is also easy and is a human-readable language.
● Main disadvantages of this are that it takes lot of time for execution and occupies more space when compared to
Assembly- or Machine-level languages.
● Following is a simple example for a high level language −

if age < 18 {
printf("You are not eligible to vote");
} else{
printf("You are eligible to vote");
}
Computer Network

A computer network is a group of computers linked to each other that enables the computer to
communicate with another computer and share their resources, data, and applications.

A computer network can be categorized by their size. A

computer network is mainly of four types:

● LAN(Local Area Network)

● PAN(Personal Area Network)
● MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)
● WAN(Wide Area Network)
LAN(Local Area Network)

● Local Area Network is a group of computers connected to each

other in a small area such as building, office.
● LAN is used for connecting two or more personal computers
through a communication medium such as twisted pair, coaxial
cable, etc.
● It is less costly as it is built with inexpensive hardware such as hubs,
network adapters, and ethernet cables.
● The data is transferred at an extremely faster rate in Local Area
Network.
● Local Area Network provides higher security.
PAN(Personal Area Network)

● Personal Area Network is a network arranged within an individual

person, typically within a range of 10 meters.
● Personal Area Network is used for connecting the computer devices
of personal use is known as Personal Area Network.
● Personal computer devices that are used to develop the personal
area network are the laptop, mobile phones, media player and play
stations.
MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)

● A metropolitan area network is a network that covers a larger

geographic area by interconnecting a different LAN to form a
larger network.
● Government agencies use MAN to connect to the citizens and
private industries.
● In MAN, various LANs are connected to each other through a
telephone exchange line.
WAN(Wide Area Network)

● A Wide Area Network is a network that extends over a large

geographical area such as states or countries.
● A Wide Area Network is quite bigger network than the LAN.
● A Wide Area Network is not limited to a single location, but it spans
over a large geographical area through a telephone line, fibre optic
cable or satellite links.
● The internet is one of the biggest WAN in the world.
● A Wide Area Network is widely used in the field of Business,
government, and education.
● eg:Mobile Broadband: A 4G network is widely used across a region
or country.
Client And Server

Client
In computing, a client is a piece of computer hardware or software that
accesses a service made available by a server as part of the client–server
model of computer networks.

Examples of client include laptops,desktop computers,smartphones,web

browsers( A software application used to access information on the World Wide Web)
etc.

Server
A server is a computer or system that provides resources, data, services, or
programs to other computers, known as clients, over a network. In theory,
whenever computers share resources with client machines they are
considered servers.

Examples of servers include web servers, mail servers, and file servers.
Client And Server

Client and Server model

● A client and server networking model is a model in which computers
such as servers provide the network services to the other computers
such as clients to perform a user based tasks. This model is known
as client-server networking model.
● In client Server Request Service from server through network.
● Server provides request services as Response.
● Different protocols like TCP/IP,FTP,HTTP etc used for communication
between client and server
Client And Server
Advantages of Client-server networks:

● Centralized: Centralized back-up is possible in client-server networks, i.e., all the data is stored in a server.
● Security: These networks are more secure as all the shared resources are centrally administered.
● Performance: The use of the dedicated server increases the speed of sharing resources. This increases the performance of the
overall system.
● Scalability: We can increase the number of clients and servers separately, i.e., the new element can be added, or we can add a
new node in a network at any time.

Disadvantages of Client-Server network:

● Traffic Congestion is a big problem in Client/Server networks. When a large number of clients send requests to the same server
may cause the problem of Traffic congestion.
● A specialist network operating system is needed
● The server is expensive to purchase
● If any part of the network fails a lot of disruption can occur
Previous Year Questions

2020

1. Which is the part of a computer that one can touch and feel ? (a) Hardware. (b) Software. (c) Output. (d) Programs.
(1)
2. Program which acts as a interface between a user and the hardware is called ….(1)
3. Explain hardware and software.(3)
4. What is a computer network ?(3)
5. What is the difference between System software and application software ? (5)
6. Write short note on storage devices. (5)

2019

1. Which laptop offers the basic computer functionalities in a smaller light weight more portable device
2. Name the system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provide common
service for computer programs
3. Name the providers of Service or resource in Client Server Model
4. Give an Example of Input Device
5. Name a commonly used Output device
6. Define Computer Hardware
7. Give Some Disadvantages of Client Server Model
8. What are different Components of CPU.Explain
9. Write a Short note on Computer Languages With Example
2018
Previous Year Questions

2018

1. Network used to share information across several building is ……

2. ……...printer is commonly used for desktop publishing
3. ISP stands for ….
4. Linux is an example of ….software
5. LAN stands for ….
6. Inkjet printer is a …..device
7. What do you mean by Server
8. What do you mean by Operating system
9. Differentiate between Hardware and Software
10. Write a Short Note on any 4 input Devices

2017

1. …..is an example of Application Software a)Linux b)Windows c)Unix d)MS Word

2. A Collection Of related Web Page is called …… a)Web Site b)WEb Book c)Facebook d)Web Engine
3. Which of the following is not a high level Language a)COBOL b)C d=c)Assembly Language d)Java
4. …. Is an Optical Storage Device a)CD b)Floppy c) Hard Disk d)None
5. What is Browser
6. What is Hardware
7. With a neat Diagram explain the components of CPU
8. Explain the Following Type of Computer 1.Desktop 2.Laptop 3.Notebook 4,Netbook