CSCA0101 Computing Basics

Computing Terminology
Data
• Data is anything in a form suitable for use with a computer.

Information
• Refer to processed data.

Program
• Computer instructions.

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CSCA0101 Computing Basics

Three Basics Kind of Computer

Computer

Analogue Digital Hybrid

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Analogue Computer

• An analog computer or analogue computer is a type of computer that

uses the continuously changeable aspects of physical phenomena such
as electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic quantities to model the problem being
solved.

• Analog computers are used to process analog data. Analog data is of

continuous nature and which is not discrete or separate.
• Such type of data includes temperature, pressure, speed weight, voltage,
depth etc.

• These quantities are continuous and having an infinite variety of values.

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Analogue Computer - Example

TR-10 desktop analog

computer of the late 1960s
and early 70s
 Analogue Computer - Example

A 1960 Newmark analogue computer, made up of five units. This

computer was used to solve differential equations and is currently
housed at the Cambridge Museum of Technology.
 Analogue Computer - Example

HITAC (HItachi Transistor Automatic Computer) Shown here is a picture of

the Hitachi (model 303E). Hitachi analog computers were likely most famous
as large flight simulators for Japanese defense systems through the 1950s and
into the 60s.
Analogue Computer - Example
Analogue Computer - Example
 CSCA0101 Computing Basics

Digital Computer

• A Digital Computer works with digits to represent numerals, letters or

other special symbols.
• Digital Computers operate on inputs which are ON- OFF type and its
output is also in the form of ON- OFF signal.
• Normally, an ON is represented by a 1 and an OFF is represented by
a 0.
• A digital computer can be used to process numeric
as well as non-numeric data.

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 CSCA0101 Computing Basics
Hybrid Computer

• A hybrid is a combination of digital and analog computers.

• It combines the best features of both types of computers, i-e. It has
the speed of analog computer and the memory and accuracy of
digital computer.
• Hybrid computers are used mainly in specialized applications where
both kinds of data need to be processed. Therefore, they help the
user, to process both continuous and discrete data.

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Hybrid Computer - Example

Polish Hybrid computer WAT 1001

 Hybrid Computer - Example

Hybrid AD4 computer, Applied Dynamics Four analogue computer from 1966 which
has an analogue and digital component
 Hybrid Computer - Example

Richard Dluzniak at the hybrid computer, 1975.

Swinburne University of Technology
 ARCHITECTURE OF COMPUTER SYSTEM
Computer is an electronic machine that makes performing any task very easy.
 COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER SYSTEM
Computer system has five basic units that help the computer to perform
operations, which are given below:

1. Input Unit
2. Output Unit
3. Storage Unit
4. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
5. Control Unit (CU)
Input Unit

Input unit connects the external environment with internal computer system. It
provides data and instructions to the computer system. Commonly used input
devices are keyboard, mouse, etc.

Input unit performs following tasks:

 Accept the data and instructions from the outside environment.
 Convert it into machine language.
 Supply the converted data to computer system.
Output Unit
It connects the internal system of a computer to the external environment. It provides the results of any
computation, or instructions to the outside world. Some output devices are printers, monitor etc.

Storage Unit
This unit holds the data and instructions. It also stores the intermediate results before these are sent to
the output devices. It also stores the data for later use.
The storage unit of a computer system can be divided into two categories:

 Primary Storage: This memory is used to store the data which is being currently executed. It is
used for temporary storage of data. The data is lost, when the computer is switched off. RAM is
used as primary storage memory.

 Secondary Storage: The secondary memory is slower and cheaper than primary memory. It is used
for permanent storage of data. Commonly used secondary memory devices are hard disk, CD etc.
Arithmetic Logical Unit
 All the calculations are performed in ALU of the computer system.

 The ALU can perform basic operations such as addition, subtraction, division, multiplication
etc.

 Whenever calculations are required, the control unit transfers the data from storage unit to
ALU.

 When the operations are done, the result is transferred back to the storage unit.

Control Unit
 It controls all other units of the computer. It controls the flow of data and instructions to and from the
storage unit to ALU.

 Thus it is also known as central nervous system of the computer.

Processors (CPU)

 The control unit and ALU are together known as CPU.

 The processor, also called the central processing unit (CPU).

 CPU is the brain of computer system.

 It performs following tasks:

 It performs all operations.
 It takes all decisions.
 It controls all the units of computer.

 On a personal computer, all functions of the processor usually are on a single chip. Some computer
and chip manufacturers use the term microprocessor to refer to a personal computer processor chip.

 Most processor chip manufacturers now offer multi-core processors. A multi-core processor is a
single chip with two or more separate processor cores. Multi-core processors are used in all sizes of
computers.
Are multi-core processors better than single-core processors?
 Each processor core on a multi-core processor generally runs at a slower speed
than a single-core processor, but multi-core processors typically increase
overall performance. For example, although a dual-core processor does not
double the processing speed of a single-core processor, it can approach those
speeds.

 The performance increase is especially noticeable when users are running

multiple programs simultaneously, such as antivirus software, spyware
remover, email program, Internet messaging, media player, and photo editing
software. Multi-core processors also are more energy efficient than separate
multiple processors, requiring lower levels of power consumption and emitting
less heat inside the case.
CPU or Processor = CU + ALU

Computer = CPU + Main Memory

Computer System = Computer + Peripherals

Peripherals = I/P + O/P

Machine Cycle

For every instruction, a processor repeats a set of four basic operations, which comprise a
machine cycle: (1) fetching, (2) decoding, (3) executing, and, if necessary, (4) storing.

1. Fetching is the process of obtaining a program or an application instruction or data item from
memory.

2. Decoding refers to the process of translating the instruction into signals the computer can execute.

3. Executing is the process of carrying out the commands.

4. Storing, in this context, means writing the result to memory (not to a storage medium).
Steps of Machine Cycle

Figure 2-3
Computer Operations
Types of Computer Input

• Data
– the raw facts given to the computer.
• Programs
– the sets of instructions that direct the computer.
• Commands
– special codes or key words that the user inputs to perform a task.
• User response
– the user's answer to the computer's question.
Computer Operations
Computer Output

• It is the result, which comes from the transformation process or it is the

outcome of the process.
• Anything that comes out of a computer.
• Example:
– Report
– Music
– Graphic
– Video clip
 CSCA0101 Computing Basics

Computer Operations
Types of Computer Output

• Hard copy
– Printed on paper or other permanent media.
• Soft copy
– A soft copy is the unprinted digital document file.
– Displayed on screen or by other non-permanent means.
– It can be transported from one computer to another.
CSCA0101 Computing Basics

Computer Operations
Types of Computer Output

Hard copy Soft copy

Computer Operations

Categories of Output

• Text documents
– reports, letters, memo.
• Graphics
– charts, graphs, pictures
• Multimedia
– combination of text, graphics, video, audio
Hardware vs. Software

• Hardware is any part of your computer that has a physical

structure, such as the computer monitor or keyboard.

• Software is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what

to do. It is what guides the hardware and tells it how to accomplish
each task.
CSCA0101 Computing Basics
Basic Computer Configuration
Basic Computer Components
 CSCA0101 Computing Basics

Basic Computer Components

System Unit

• The system unit is the core of a computer system.

• The most important of these components is the central processing unit
(CPU), or microprocessor, which acts as the "brain" of your computer.
• Another component is random access memory (RAM), which temporarily
stores information that the CPU uses while the computer is on.
• Almost every other part of your computer connects to the system unit
using cables.
 CSCA0101 Computing Basics

Basic Computer Components

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• The CPU, or the Central Processing Unit, is the

brain of the computer and the single most important
chip in the computer.
• The CPU performs the system's
calculating and processing.
Basic Computer Components
Computer Memory

• Also known as Random Access Memory (RAM)

• Computer memory is used to store information in electronic devices.
Basic Computer Components
Motherboard
• The main circuit board of the computer.
• All key internal and external components of the computer plug into the Motherboard.

Motherboard

Components directly attached to the motherboard

include:
• CPU
• Chipset
• Random-Access Memory (RAM)
• Read-Only Memory (ROM)
• BIOS (Basic Input Output System)
• Buses
• Ports
The Motherboard
CSCA0101 Computing Basics

Basic Computer Components

Motherboard
 CSCA0101 Computing Basics

Basic Computer Components

Hard disk

• It used to store computer data and program.

• It can hold more data and are faster than floppy disks.
Basic Computer Components
Optical Disc Drive

• An optical storage technology that

stores and plays back data.
• Some drives can only read from
discs, but recent drives are
commonly both readers and
recorders.
Basic Computer Components
Video card

• A board that plugs into a personal

computer to give it display
capabilities.
• The display capabilities of a
computer, however, depend on
both the logical circuitry (provided
in the video adapter) and the
display monitor.
CSCA0101 Computing Basics

Basic Computer Components

Sound card

• A circuit board that plugs into your Motherboard that

adds audio capability to your computer, providing
high quality stereo output to the speakers.
Basic Computer Components
Modem

• Short for modulator-demodulator.

• A modem is a device or program that enables a
computer to transmit data over, for example,
telephone or cable lines.
 CSCA0101 Computing Basics

Basic Computer Components

Monitor

• The part of a computer that allows you to see what the computer is
processing.
Basic Computer Components
Other Components

• Input Devices
– Keyboard, mouse
• Output Devices
– Printer, speakers
• Operating System
– Windows, MacOS, Linux