❖ A Computer is an electronic device that operates (works) under the control of programs stored in its

own memory unit. ❖ A computer is an electronic machine that processes raw data to give information
as output. ❖ An electronic device that accepts data as input, and transforms it under the influence of a
set of special instructions called Programs, to produce the desired output (referred to as Information). A
computer automatically accepts data & instructions as input from an Input device, stores them
temporarily in its memory, then processes that data according to the instructions given, and finally
transfers the processed data (Information) to an Output device. Explanations;  A computer is described
as an electronic device because; it is made up of

 electronic components and uses electric energy (such as electricity) to operate.  A computer has an
internal memory, which stores data & instructions temporarily awaiting processing, and even holds the
intermediate result (information) before it is communicated

 to the recipients through the Output devices.  It works on the data using the instructions issued,
means that, the computer cannot do any useful job on its own. It can only work as per the set of
instructions issued. A computer will accept data in one form and produce it in another form. The data is
normally held within the computer as it is being processed.

Program:

❖ A computer Program is a set of related instructions written in the language of the computer & is used
to make the computer perform a specific task (or, to direct the computer on what to do). ❖ A set of
related instructions which specify how the data is to be processed. ❖ A set of instructions used to guide
a computer through a process.

Data:

Data is a collection of raw facts, figures or instructions that do not have much meaning to the user.

Data may be in form of numbers, alphabets/letters or symbols, and can be processed to produce
information.

TYPES OF DATA.

There are two types/forms of data:

a). Digital (discrete) data:

Digital data is discrete in nature. It must be represented in form of numbers, alphabets or symbols for it
to be processed by a computer.
Digital data is obtained by counting. E. 1, 2, 3 ...

b). Analogue (continuous) data:

Analogue data is continuous in nature. It must be represented in physical nature in order to be processed
by the computer.

Analogue data is obtained by measurement. E. Pressure, Temperature, Humidity, Lengths or currents, etc

The output is in form of smooth graphs from which the data can be read.

The speed increased to tens of millions of operations per second. d). In 1971, Intel Corporation produced
a very small, single chip called a Microprocessor, which could perform all the operations on the
computer’s processor. The chip contained about 1,600 transistors. e). Today’s microprocessors are very
powerful, cheaper & more reliable due to the use of the Large Scale Integration (LSI) & Very Large scale
Integration (VLSI) technologies, which combines hundreds of thousands of components onto a single
chip. The computer speeds are now measured in Nanoseconds & Picoseconds.

2. Accuracy:

Unlike human beings, computers are very accurate, i., they never make mistakes. A computer can work
for very long periods without going wrong. However, when an error occurs the computer has a number
of in-built, self-checking features in their electronic components that can detect & correct such errors.
Usually errors are committed by the users entering the data to the computer, thus the saying Garbage in
Garbage Out (GIGO). This means that, if you enter incorrect data into the computer and have it
processed, the computer will give you misleading information.

3. Reliability.

The computer can be relied upon to produce the correct answer if it is given the correct instructions &
supplied with the correct data. Therefore, if you want to add two numbers, but by mistake, give the
computer a “Multiply” instruction, the computer will not know that you intended to “ADD”; it will
multiply the numbers supplied. Similarly, if you give it the ADD instruction, but make a mistake and enter
an incorrect data; let say, 14 & 83 instead of 14 & 38; then the computer will produce the “wrong”
answer 97 instead of 52. However, note that, 97 is ‘correct’ based on the data supplied. Therefore, the
output produced by a computer is only as reliable as the instructions used & the data supplied.

4. Consistency:

Computers are usually consistent. This means that, given the same data & the same instructions, they
will produce the same answer every time that particular process is repeated.
5. Storage:

A computer is capable of storing large amounts of data or instructions in a very small space.

A computer can store data & instructions for later use, and it can produce/ retrieve this data when
required so that the user can make use of it.

Data stored in a computer can be protected from unauthorized individuals through the use of
passwords.

6. Diligence:

Unlike human beings, a computer can work continuously without getting tired or bored. Even if it has to
do a million calculations, it will do the last one with the same speed and accuracy as the first one.

7. Automation:

A computer is an automatic device. This is because, once given the instructions, it is guided by these
instructions and can carry on its job automatically until it is complete. It can also perform a variety of
jobs as long as there is a well-defined procedure.

8. Versatile:

A computer can be used in different places to perform a large number of different jobs depending on the
instructions fed to it.

9. Imposition of a formal approach to working methods:

Because a computer can only work with a strict set of instructions, it identifies and imposes rigid rules
for dealing with the data it is given to process.

Review Questions.

What is a Computer?

Why is a computer referred to as an electronic device?

Define the following terms as used in computer science. a). Data. b). Programs. c). Data processing. d).
Information.

(a) Briefly explain the two forms of data. (b) Give THREE differences between Data and Information.

The speed of a computer is measured in ___________.

What does the term GIGO stands for?

List and explain 4 salient features/ properties of a computer.

List FIVE advantages of a computerized system over a manual system.

The Central processing unit (CPU)

This is the brain of the computer, and carries out all the processing within the computer.

Input devices.

These are the devices used to enter/put data into the computer.

They accept data for processing & convert it into a suitable form that the computer can understand.

Examples: Keyboard, Mouse, Joysticks, Light pen, Scanner, etc.

The Keyboard

The keyboard looks like a typewriter, and has letters, numbers and other keys through which data is
entered into the computer.

To enter data & instructions into the computer, the user should press the required keys.

The Mouse

It is a pointing device that enables the user to issue instructions to the computer by controlling a special
mouse pointer displayed on the screen.

Output devices.

Output devices are used to give the end results of data that was entered into the computer.

They extract/ disseminate processed data (information) from the computer.

They accept data from processing devices & convert it into human sensible form.
Examples: Screens (Monitors), Printers, Graph plotters, Speakers, etc

The Monitor

It is a television like screen used for displaying output. When you type a letter or number on the
keyboard, it shows up on the monitor.

Note. The monitor enables the user to monitor/track or see what is going on in the computer.

Printer

Printers are used to create permanent copies of output on paper.

Memory storage devices.

These are devices used to store programs & data in computers.

They hold data & programs until they are needed for processing.

They also hold the results after processing.

Computer storage is divided into 2:

i). Primary (main) storage.

This is the storage found within the computer itself. It is used to hold data, programs & instructions
required immediately (or currently being used) by the Processor. Examples: Random Access Memory
(RAM) & Read Only Memory (ROM).

ii). Secondary (Backing) storage.

It is used by the computer to store backup information that is not needed immediately by the Processor.
It is also used by the computer to supplement the computer’s main memory/ internal memory in case of
mass storage purposes. Secondary storage units provide permanent data storage facilities. They allow
large quantities of information to be stored permanently on some form of magnetic media such
Magnetic tapes or disks.

The programs & data are transferred to & from the secondary storage units to the Main memory only
when they are required; hence the information is said to be online to the computer.

Examples of secondary storage devices:

Hard disk * Floppy disks. * Magnetic Tapes.

Cassette tapes. * Punched cards. * Zip disks.

Compact disks * Digital Video Disks (DVDs).

Computer peripherals.

A computer is basically made up of a system unit and other devices connected to the system unit called
Peripheral devices.

Peripheral devices are the elements (components) connected to the system unit so as to assist the
computer satisfy its users.

Peripheral devices are connected to the System unit using special cables called data interface cables that
carry data, programs & information to and from the processor. The cables are connected to the system
unit using connectors called Ports.

Examples of peripheral devices include;

Monitor, - Keyboard, - Mouse

Printer. - Modem. - Speakers.

Plotter.

Review Questions.

List down the components that make up a computer.

Clearly draw and label the main physical parts of a simple computer system.
What are computer peripherals?

(a). Name and explain the two main divisions of computer storage. (b). Give two common examples of
secondary storage devices.

Name two output devices.

(a). Explain the term System unit. (b). Name some of the components found in the System unit. (c). Give
three features of a computer’s System Unit.

Why is the screen also called a Monitor?

What is a Mouse in relation to computing?

The tubes consumed a lot power, and generated a lot of heat during processing due to overheating.

The computers constantly broke down due to the excessive heat generated, hence were short-lived, and
were not very reliable.

They also used Magnetic drum memories.

Cards were used to enter data into the computers.

Their internal memory capacity was limited. The maximum memory size was approx. 2 KB (2,000 bytes).

The computers used big physical devices in their circuitry; hence they were very large in size, i. the
computer could occupy several office blocks. For example, ENIAC occupied an area of

about 150m 2 - the size of an average 3-bedroom house. They were very slow - their speed was
measured in Milliseconds. E., ENIAC (the earliest electronic computer) could perform 5,000 additions per
second & 300 multiplications per second. The computers were very costly - they costed millions of
dollars.

Examples of 1ST Generation computers:  ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Calculator) built in
1946 for use in World War II. It contained 18,000 Vacuum tubes.

 EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) developed in 1945 by Dr. John Von
Neumann. It was the first computer that used instructions stored in memory.
 UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer).  IBM 650.  LEO (Lyon’s Electronic Office).

2 ND Generation computers (1957 – 1963).

The 2nd generation computers used tiny, solid-state electronic devices called Transistors. The transistors
were relatively smaller, more stable & reliable than vacuum tubes.

Transistor

The computers consumed less power, produced less heat, were much faster, and more reliable than
those made with vacuum tubes.

They used Magnetic core memories.

RAM Memory size expanded to 32 KB. Their operation speed increased to between 200,000 – 300,000
instructions per second. Their speeds were measured in Microseconds. E., a computer could perform 1
million additions per

second, which was comparatively higher than that of the 1st generation computers.

The computers were smaller in size & therefore, occupied less space compared to the 1st G computers.

They were less costly than the 1st G computers.

Examples of 2nd Generation computers:

 NCR 501, IBM 300, IBM 1401, IBM 7070, IBM 7094 Series & CDC-6600 Mainframe computers.  ATLAS
LEO Mark III.  UNIVAC 1107.  HONEYWELL 200.

3 RD Generation computers (1964 – 1979).

Used electronic devices called Integrated Circuits (ICs), which were made by combining thousands of
transistors & diodes together on a semiconductor called a Silicon chip.

Integrated circuit

The processing speed increased to 5 Million instructions per second (5 MIPS).

The storage capacity of the computers (i., the RAM memory sizes) expanded to 2 MB.

They were smaller in size compared to 2nd generation computers.

The computers used a wide range of peripheral devices.

The computers could support more than user at the same time. They were also able to support remote
communication facilities.

Magnetic disks were developed for storage purposes.

The 1st microcomputer was produced during this period (1974).

Examples of 3rd Generation computers:  IBM 360, 370;  ICL 1900 Series;  8-bit Microcomputers &
PDP-11 Mainframe computers.

4 TH Generation computers (1979 – 1989).

The 4th generation computers used Large Scale Integrated (LSI) circuits & Very Large Scale Integrated
(VLSI) circuits. These circuits were made by compressing more tiny circuits and transistors into even
smaller space of the silicon chip.

Very Large integrated circuit

The computers were small, and very fast. Their processing speeds increased to 50 Million instructions
per second.

Had large storage capacity, i., their memory sizes expanded to several hundred Megabytes.

Memories used included Magnetic disks, Bubble memories & Optical disks.

Examples of 4th Generation computers:  IBM 308 and 4300;  Amdahl 580  Honeywell DPS- 
Burroughs 7700, and the 16-bit & 32-bit microcomputers. The first microcomputer was called Apple II.

FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE TYPE OF COMPUTER.

Type of processor (Central processing unit – CPU)

Microcomputers use microprocessors, which are manufactured on a single chip, as their CPU. In larger
computers such as supercomputers, mainframe & minicomputers, the processing is carried out by a
number of separate, high-speed components instead of a single processor.

Processing speed.

Every computer has a clock that drives its operations. Larger computers have faster clocks and therefore
can process many instructions per second compared to small computers, which have slower clocks.

Amount of Main memory (RAM).

All computers have some amount of RAM (Random Access memory), which is used to hold the
instructions required to perform a task. Larger computers have more RAM and therefore can handle
large volumes of data & also support many and sophisticated programs which might require large
memory sizes.

Storage capacity of the Hard disk.

The storage capacity is the amount of space that is available for storing the instructions required to
manipulate data. Larger computers have higher storage capacities than microcomputers.

Cost of the computer.

The cost of computers is directly related to the size. Microcomputers are less costly compared to
minicomputers, mainframes or Supercomputers.

Speed of Output devices.

The speed of an output device is determined by the amount of information that can be printed in a
specified amount of time. The speed of microcomputer output device is less than that of the larger
computers in that: For a microcomputer, the speed of its output device is measured by the number of
characters printed per second (cps). For larger computers, their output devices are faster and their
speeds are measured depending on the number of lines or pages printed per minute (lpm / ppm).

Number of users who can access the computer at the same time.

Most microcomputers can support only 1, 2 or 3 users at the same time. However, they can be
networked to share resources. Larger computers can support hundreds of users at the same time.

Review Questions.

Briefly explain five factors that can be used to determine the type of a computer.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS

Computers can be classified according to the following factors:

Physical size & processing power.

Purpose for which they are designed.

Functionality (Method/ mode of operation).

A. CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO PHYSICAL SIZE.

Computers can be classified into 5 main groups according to their size as:  Supercomputers. 
Mainframe computers.  Minicomputers.  Microcomputers.  Portable computers (Laptops, Notebooks
& Palmtops).

Supercomputers.

Supercomputers are the fastest, largest, most expensive & also the most powerful computers available.
They are very fast in processing. They can perform many complex calculations in a fraction of a second.
Most Supercomputers use multiple processors. In this case, a single task is split among the processors for
faster execution. However, all the processors are controlled by a single central processor.
Supercomputers generate a lot of heat, & therefore require special cooling systems. Sometimes, the
whole CPU is deeped in a tank containing liquid Fluorocarbon to provide cooling. Supercomputers are
very large & heavy, and are usually kept under special environmental conditions (i., in a special room).
They are operated by computer specialists. A Supercomputer can be operated by over 500 users at the
same time.

Areas where supercomputers are used: Supercomputers are mainly used for complex scientific
applications that involve many calculations & require a lot of computational power. Some of the
applications that use supercomputers include;  Weather forecasting.  Petroleum research. 
Defence and weapon analysis.  Aerodynamic design and simulation. Note. These tasks use large
amounts of data, which need to be manipulated within a very short time. Examples of Supercomputers:
 CRAY T3D, NEC-500.

Mainframe computers.

Mainframes are less powerful & less expensive than supercomputers. They are big in size but smaller
compared to Supercomputers. Are powerful computers with very high capacities of Main storage. They
also have a large backing storage capacity. Have a very high processing speed, i., can process large
amounts of data very quickly.

Microcomputers are smaller in size & also cheaper than minicomputers. Their design is based on Very
Large Scale Integration (VLSI) that confines several physical components into an IC.

They are less powerful than minicomputers & their internal memory is smaller than that of
minicomputers.

Areas where microcomputers are used:

Microcomputers are commonly used in:

 Training and learning institutions such as schools.  Small business enterprises, and 
Communication centres as terminals.

Microcomputers have become very popular because of the following reasons:

Are cheaper than both mini & mainframe computers.

Are very fast (i. have high processing speeds).

Small in size, hence they occupy less space in an office.

Are more energy efficient (i., consume less power).

Are more reliable than the early Mainframe computers.

Examples:

 IBM PCs such as Apple Macintosh, Dells, Compaq, etc.

Laptops & Notebooks.

A Laptop is a PC sufficiently small & light such that a user can use it comfortably on his/her lap. It is
designed to be used by placing it on the lap.

Laptops are very small in size & are portable. They are small enough to fit inside a briefcase; still leaving
room for other items.

A Laptop computer operates mainly on electricity or by rechargeable batteries.

Laptops normally have in-built disk drives & Flat screens (Liquid Crystal Displays).

Can only support a limited number of peripheral devices.

Have limited storage capacities.

Note. The smaller computers like Laptops tend to be more expensive than Desktop computers because
of the following reasons:

The technology of producing smaller devices is expensive.

They are convenient because they are portable.

They have advanced power management capabilities (they consume less power since a laptop can
operate on rechargeable batteries).

Palmtops.

Palmtops are small enough to fit in the pocket, and can be held in the palm when being used.

Have limited storage capacities.

Palmtops are mainly used as Personal Organizers, with some minimal programs for calculations, Word
processing, Spreadsheets, & E-mail.

Example of a Palmtop; Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

Desktop computer.

This is the name given to any computer designed to be used when placed on a desk in an office
environment.

They are not portable.

Examples of desktop computers:

Home computer. This is a low-cost microcomputer of limited capability designed for domestic use. It has
programs that are used typically for computer games or controlling family finances.

Personal computer (PC). This is a microcomputer designed for independent use by an individual at work
or in the home mainly for business purposes.

A PC can support only 1 user at a time.

PCs are mostly used in offices, schools, business premises, and at home for various applications like
computer literacy, Games, Database management, Accounting, Word processing, Telecommunications,
etc.

A PC can be connected to a mini & mainframe computer so as to enable the user access the facilities
offered by the larger machines.

Workstation. A workstation is usually a desktop computer with all the facilities but interlinked to a
network. A typical workstation works in a similar way to a Personal computer. However, it is more
advanced than a typical PC in the following ways: i). It is larger & more powerful than a PC. E.,
workstations use 32-bit microprocessors, while PCs use 16-bit microprocessors. ii). It has in-built
capabilities for its interconnection & operation with other computers, i., it is fully connected to a
computer network as any other computer on the network in its own right. iii). It has high resolution
graphics. iv). It has a Multi-tasking operating system, i. it is able to run multiple applications at the same
time.

An Embedded computer.

This is a computer that is within another device or system but is not accessed directly. E., there are
embedded computers operating within Petrol pumps, Watches, Cameras & Video recorders.

B. CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO PURPOSE.

Digital computers can be classified further according to the tasks they perform either as:  General-
purpose.  Special purpose  Dedicated computers.

General-purpose computers.

General-purpose computers are designed to perform a wide variety of tasks. They use specifically written
instructions (programs) to carry out the desired processing tasks. Example; A single computer can be
used to process documents, perform calculations, process the Payroll, simulate the loading on a bridge,
process Insurance policies, and play games, among others. The programs used in a general-purpose
computer are exchangeable. This means that, to perform a particular task, the appropriate set of
instructions required to perform that particular task are loaded into the computer memory.

Their operation is based on 2 states, “ON” & “OFF” or on digits “1” & “0”. Therefore, any data to be
manipulated by a digital computer must first be converted to digital form.

Their output is usually in form of numbers, alphabets, & symbols.

Digital computers are usually general-purpose computers; hence, they are widely used in different areas
for data processing.

Most of the devices found at homes today are digital in nature.

Digital computers are less accurate, i. may not solve all your problems since the facilities provided are
generalized.
Examples:

 A Television with a button which is pressed to increase or decrease the volume.  Digital watches. 
Calculators.  Microcomputers. They are said to be digital because they posses the ALU.

Analogue computers.

An Analogue computer is a computer that operates on continuous data.

They carry out their data processing by measuring the amount of change that occurs in physical
attributes/quantities, such as changes in electrical voltage, speed, currents, pressure, length,
temperature, humidity, etc.

An Analogue computer is usually a special-purpose device that is dedicated to a single task. For example,
they are used in specialized areas such as in: - Scientific or engineering experiments, - Military weapons,
- Controlling manufacturing processes like monitoring & regulating furnace temperatures and pressures.
- Weather stations to record & process physical quantities, e., wind, cloud speed, temperature, etc.

The output from analogue computers is in form of smooth graphs produced by a plotting pen or a trace
on a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) from which the information can be read.

Note: Analogue computers usually use one characteristic, e. a length, to give information about another
physical characteristic, such as weight.

Analogue computers are very accurate & efficient since they are dedicated to a single task.

They are very fast since most of them use multiple processors.

Examples of analogue devices:

 The computer used to control a flight simulator for training pilots.

The computer responds to the Cockpit simulator control movements made by the pilot to physically
change the environment so that the pilot feels as if he were controlling an actual aeroplane.

 A Bathroom scale.

It uses the weight of a person to move a pointer smoothly/continuously over calibrated scale, which
shows the person’s weight.

 Thermometer.

It uses a volume of Mercury to show temperature. The Thermometer is calibrated to give an exact
temperature reading.

 Speedometer.

In Speedometer, the rotation of the wheel is converted to a voltage, which causes a pointer to rotate
over a dial calibrated in Km/h or Miles/h.

 A Petrol pump measures the rate of flow of Gasoline (petrol) & converts the volume delivered to 2
readings; one showing the volume & the other showing the cost.  A Post-office scale converts the
weight of a parcel delivered into a charge for posting.  A Monitor with knobs that are rotated to
increase brightness.  A Television with knobs that are rotated to increase or decrease the volume.  A
Radio with a knob that slides in a slot to increase volume.

Hybrid computers.

Hybrid computers are designed to process both analogue & digital data. They combine both the
functional capabilities of the digital and analogue computers. Hybrid computers are designed by
interconnecting the elements of a digital computer & analogue computer directly into one processor,
using a suitable interfacing circuitry. Hybrid computers are more expensive. Example; In a hospital
Intensive Care Unit, an analogue device may be used to measure the functioning of a patient’s heart,
temperature and other vital signs. These measurements may then be converted into numbers and send
to a digital device, which may send an immediate signal to the nurses’ station if any abnormal readings
are detected.
Comparison between a Computer and Calculator.

Computer

Costly due to the technology used.

Bigger in size.

Operate at very high speeds.

Are more accurate – they give up to over 10 decimal places of accuracy.

Flexible – can be used in solving any problem.

Work under the control of programs.

Support a variety of peripherals, e. keyboard, mouse, light pen, printer, etc.

Have large internal memory of several KB’s.

Support large Backing storage media.

A computer can support several people at the same time.

Have got telecommunication capabilities.

Require well-monitored environmental conditions.

Calculators

Cheaper – they imitate simple computer technology.

Comparatively smaller.

Slower than computers.

Less accurate – most calculators give up to 8 dp of accuracy.

Mostly used for numerical calculations involving arithmetic/ mathematical operations

Calculators are non-programmable, but if programmable, the range is limited.

They only use Display units & Keyboards of limited capabilities.

their internal memory is very small. Most calculators only use Registers for temporary storage during
calculations.

Some calculators have got some sort of fixed Backing store, though very limited.

A calculator can serve only 1 user at a time.

Have no telecommunication capabilities.

Do not require well-monitored environmental conditions.

Review Questions.

State three methods of classifying computers. In each case, list the different types of computers.

What is a Personal computer?

Differentiate the following types of computers. a). Supercomputer and Mainframe computer.

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COMPUTER SCIENCE NOTES CBC CURRICULUM LEVEL: GRADE 7 TERM 1 PREPARED BY: TR.
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