Computer

Computer is an electronic device which calculate. It is a data-processing

machine which accept the input information’s and a series of instructions
from the user and after processing the results will be displayed on the
monitor OR VDU (Visual Display Unit).

INPUT (Data) ------>PROCESSING (ALU) -----> Output/INFORMATION (V.D.U)

C – COMMON
O – OPERATING
M- MACHINE
P – PARTICULARLY or PURPOSELY
U – USED FOR
T – TECHNICAL AND
E – EDUCATIONAL
R - RESEARCH

COMPUTER = HARDWARE + SOFTWARE + LIVEWARE (USER)

Main Components of CPU:

=================================
The major components of a computer system are:
1. Motherboard
2. Processor
3. SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply)
4. RAM/ROM
5. CMOS Battery
6. DVD/CD_ROM Drive
7. Hard Disk/SSD (Solid State Drive)
8. Expansion slot
9. Data cables and power cables
Etc

DATA– Data is a collections of raw facts and figures. It can be a number,

Character, month name, day name, any person’s name, any place
Name, sales and figures etc.

Example: 1,2,3,4 ………………

A,b,c,d, ………….
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday……….
January, February, march…
Etc

PROCESS– The process by which the raw data gets arranged into some
Meaningful form is called process.

INFORMATION– The end product of data processing is called

Information.

Central processing Unit (CPU):

CPU is called the brain and heart of the computer system. It is core part or
central part of the system where data processing will take place. It performs
all internal activities and manages entire computer system.

The three major components of CPU are:

a. Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
b. Control Unit (CU)
c. Memory Unit (MU)
 Characteristics and capabilities of computer
1. Speed
2. Volume
3. Accuracy
4. Diligence
5. Storage
Advantages of computer

1. Better job opportunity

2. Benefit at place of work
3. Better service to the people
4. Faster information retrieval
Etc.
 Uses of computer
1. Education
2. Health care
3. Weather forecasting
4. Railway reservation
5. Post office
6. Bank
7. Scientific research
8. Defence
9. Telecommunication
Etc.

Limitations of Computer
1. Lack of common sense
2. Inability to correct
3. Depend upon human instructions
Etc.
Main components of CPU
1. Mother Board
2. Processor
3. Hard Disk
4. DVD Drive
5. SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply)
6. RAM/ROM
7. CMOS Battery (Complementary Metal Oxide Semi-Conductor)
8. Cooling Fan
9. Expansion Slot
10. Data cables and power cables
Etc.
Types of computer
Digital computer
Digital computer is a computer which accepts data in digital form that
means in 0 and 1 or in binary numbers.

Analog computer
Analog computer is a computer which accepts data in one form and
convert it into another form.

Example: Thermometer, speedometer, blood pressure machine etc.

Hybrid computer
-----------------------
Hybrid computer is a combination of digital and analog computer.

Examples of Hybrid Computers are :

 Electrocardiogram machine
 Gas Pump Station
 Echocardiogram machine (ECG)
  Airlines sector
 Radar systems
 CT scan machine
 Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Depend upon the size and configuration it is classified into 4 types

1. Micro computer
2. Mini computer
3. Mainframe computer
4. Super computer
Etc

Configuration
============
1. Processing speed
2. Memory (RAM)
3. Storage capacity (HDD/SSD) hard disk drive/solid state drive
Etc.

Computer Memory
Memory is a place where we store data. The memory unit of a computer
stores data and programs for current and future use. Entire memory unit of a
computer is mainly classified into following 4 categories:
1. Primary Memory
2. Secondary Memory
3. Cache Memory
4. Register
Primary Memory:
1. Primary memory or main memory of a computer stores data and
programs currently being used.
2. Primary memory is a temporary memory.
3. We cannot store data permanently on a primary memory.
4. Primary memory is very faster than secondary memory.
5. It is made up of semiconductor or transistor etc.
6. Without primary memory computer cannot start.
7. There are two types of primary memories, these are: RAM and ROM.
Etc.

Read Only Memory (ROM):

Rom is present in the form of a chip it is pre-programmed. It is a non-volatile
memory, as it stores information permanently. We can only read the
contents of a ROM.

1. ROM is present in the form of a chip it is pre-programmed.

2. ROM basically contains the instructions to start the computer.
3. ROM is a Non-Volatile memory. The contents of ROM is read by us but
we cannot write into it.
4. Its contents is not erased during power failure or when the computer is
switched off.
ROM is of 3 types
a) PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory)
b) EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)
c) EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)

Random Access Memory (RAM):

1. RAM is a read/write memory.
2. We can read the contents of RAM as well as write into it.
3. RAM is a volatile memory because its contents is erased during power
failure or when we switch of the computer.
4. RAM is power dependant.

RAM is classified into 2 types

a) SRAM (Static RAM)
b) DRAM (Dynamic RAM)

Secondary Memory:
Secondary memory or auxiliary memory used to store bulk of data
permanently for future use.

Characteristics of Secondary memory

1. Secondary memory is a permanent memory.

2. Secondary memory is slower than primary memory.
3. Data storage capacity of secondary memory is more than primary
memory.
4. Secondary memory is a non-volatile memory.

Examples of Secondary Memory are:

1. HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
2. SSD (Solid State Drive)
3. Floppy Disk
4. Compact Disk (CD)
5. Digital Versatile Disk (DVD)
6. Pen Drive/Flash Drive
 7. Memory Stick
Etc.

Units of memory

Computer Hardware
The physical component of a computer is called hardware the things we can
see and touch or the different parts of the computer.

Example:
1. Keyboard
2. Mouse
3. Monitor
4. Hard disk
5. Motherboard
Etc.
Input Device:
The devices used in a computer for taking data and instructions from user
are called input devices or input unit. Various input devices used in modern
computers are:
1. Keyboard
2. Mouse
3. Scanner
4. Joystick
5. Graphics tablet
6. Touch screen
7. Touchpad
8. Trackball
9. Microphone
10. Optical Character Reader (OCR)
11. Magnetic Ink Character Reader (MICR)
12. Light pen
13. Voice Input devices
14. Bar-code Reader
15. Webcam

Output Unit:
The devices used in a computer for producing result after processing of data
are called output devices or output unit. Some examples of output devices
are:
1. Monitor or VDU
Monitor is the standard output device in a computer. Following types
of monitors are there:
a. CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitor
b. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitor
c. LED (Light Emitting Diode) monitor
d. Touch Screen monitor

2. Printers
Printers are used to produce output on papers as printed documents.
There are various types of printers. They are mainly classified into
following two types:

a. Impact printers
b. Non-Impact printers

Impact Printers:
 In impact printers there is a mechanical contact between print-head
and paper. An impact printer causes hammers or pins to strike against
a ribbon and paper to print the text. Types of impact printers are:
a. Dot matrix printers
b. Daisy-wheel printers
c. Line printers
d. Drum printers

Non-Impact Printers:
These printer uses thermal, chemical, electrostatic, laser beam or
inkjet technology for printing. These printers are faster than impact
printers and produce less noise. Types of non-impact printers are:
a. Laser printers
b. Electromagnetic printers
c. Thermal printers
d. Electrostatic printers
e. Inkjet printers

3. Plotters:
Plotters are also used to make print out of computer output, but they
produce more precise and good quality graphics and drawings. Types
of plotters are:
a. Drum plotter / Roller plotter
b. Flatbed plotter / Table plotter
c. Electrostatic plotter

4. Multimedia Projectors:
A projector works same as a monitor but it can produce the output on
a large screen, so that the large number of people can view the
information.

5. Speech Synthesizer:
It converts textual data into spoken sentences through a speaker
attached to a computer.

6. Speaker:
 It receives sound in form of electric current and then converts it into
sound format.

7. Headphones / stereo phones / headsets:

These are the small pair of loudspeakers, which are placed closer to
user’s ear and connected to a media player.