Computer Basic Fundamentals

Computer fundamentals:

The word computer is derived from the Latin word “compute” which means to calculate.

Definition:

Computer is an electronic device which accept the data and give the Output to the User
User :

He is the person who uses the computer.

Data :

It consist of fact, figure and statistical information given by the user.

Information :

The processed data is called information. It can be used directly

Computer form four basic operation

1) Input: computer accept data from the user through input device.

2) Storage : it store the data until it is ready to use.

3) Processing: it process the data by applying arithmetic and logical manipulation. The brain of
computer CPU is responsible for processing the data.

4) Output:- it returns the processed data in the from of information to the user thought output
device

Merits of the computer /Advantages

Speed:- speed of the computer is very high.

Repetition:- It repeats any task any number of times.

It does not make any mistakes and the result is accurate.

Storage: It can store a lot of information and the information stored can be accessed at any time.

Demerits of the computer

1) User: Computer cannot perform anything by itself. It needs the help of a user.
2) Language: Computer cannot understand the languages like English, Kannada etc.
3) Common Sense: Computer does not have common sense.

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 Basic structure of computer

Control Unit

Input Unit Output Unit

Memory Unit

ALU

The structure includes mainly 5 parts. They are:

1. Input Unit (I/p).

2. Control Unit (CU).

3. Memory Unit (MU).

4. Arithmetic Logic Unit.

5. Output Unit (o/p)

1) Input Unit :
 Input are used to provide the data to the computer.
 Input devices are:-
 Keyboard
 Mouse
 Scanner
 Joystick

1. KEY BOARD :

It is one of the most commonly used input device. There are 104 or 108 standard keys on the
keyboard.

1) Function key:-

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These are used in various operation and the operation depend on the application software. F1 to
F12.

2) Alphanumeric key:-

Alphabet and Number (A B C…….Z and 0,1,2 up to 9)

3) Special key:-

Special keys are used to perform some special task. Special task include. (Enter key, Backspace
key, Home key, shift key, page down, page up …………..)

2. MOUSE :

Mouse is a one of the most popularly used input devices. Mouse is used as pointing device.
Mouse is used to move the cursor from one place to another.

3. Scanner:

A scanner is an input device which is used to scan the information, image, photo etc . The
scanned photos can be uploaded to any document

4. Joystick :

A joystick is a track which is mounted on a spherical ball which moves in a socket. The stick can be
moved left, right forward or backward.

Control Unit :

It helps in executing the program and performs the actual processing on data.

This unit man mainly control all the other unit

Memory Unit :

The function of memory unit is to store data and instruction.

Memory unit can be divided into two categories.

Two types of memory

1. Internal memory Or Primary Memory

2. External memory Or Secondary Memory

1. Internal memory or primary memory

This memory is located inside the computer in the form of chips that is Integrated circuits

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RAM :

Whatever we type thought keyboard that program or data will be transferred to RAM. In this
memory we cannot store data and instructions permanently .Data and instructions can be written
and read from it. But when we working on the computer , if power fail or if we switch off the
computer, all the Data and instructions are lost.There for it is called “Volatile Memory”

ROM:

The ROM chip is programmed or Inbuilt memory which is programmed by the manufacture
at the time of manufacturing Rom chip. When power fails or if we switch off the computer,
the program will remain the intact. There for it is called “Non-Volatile Memory”

TYPES OF ROM:
1. PROM:- (Programmable Read Only Memory )
2. EPROM:- (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory )
3. EEPROM:- (Electrical Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory

External Memory:

Secondary storage is characterized by the low cost per bit stored. But, it generally has an operating
speed lower than that of primary storage. Secondary memory is also also called auxiliary memory.
computers main memory quickly and it is very costly as it is made up of semiconductor technology.

Types External Memory :

1. Hard disk

2. Floppy disk

3. Compact disk

1). Hard Disk :

Hard Disk Is The Largest External Memory Of The Computer System. Normally It Is Kept Inside The
CPU Cabinet. The Hard Disk Is Made From The Magnetic Disk. Even When The Power Is Off The
Data In The Hard Disk Remains Intact. Hard Disk Capacity Is Usually Measured In Giga Bytes.

2).Floppy disk :

It is the plastic disk, coated with magnetic material and enclosed with in a plastic slave. Floppy disk
is the most convenient way of storing data as it can be moved easily from one location to another.
Floppy disk are portable and comparatively very cheap. But it is less durable and stores very less
amount of data
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3).Compact disk:

The disk used for data storage are known as compact disk read only memory (CDROM).
Information on CDROM is written buy creating pits on the disk surface by shining a laser beam.
This is divided into sectors. This disk is created with a magnetic compound.

Output device are:

Output devices is one through which results of the computations are obtained. Some of the output
devices are printers, recorder etc. both input and output devices serve as an interface between
main and the machine. Output unit displays the information with the help of output device.
Computer process data and provides information in binary form. Output unit converts
this binary information into human acceptable or readable form.

1. Monitor

2. Printer

3. Speaker

Monitor:

Monitor is the primary soft copy output device that is also called as visual display unit (VDU)This
VDU is used to display the processed information on the screen. Monitor is an output device but
now it is called input and output device, because both the input and output device are connected
together.

Monitor is a standard output devices. Which shows the output information. Monitor is also one of
the important parts of computer, because without monitor, system can't work. so that this is the
standard output device.

Three types of computer monitors:

 CRT Monitors

 LCD Monitors

 LED Monitors

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CRT MONITERS :

CRT stands for Cathode Ray Tube. These are all old model monitors. main disadvantages are
heavy weight, occupy more place, high power consumption, high radiation and supports
low resolution. These are all main reasons to prefer LCD or LED monitors.

LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display.

The main advantage of LCDs are light weighty, occupy less place, 12v power consumption,
low radiation and supports high resolutions

LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display.

The main advantage of LCDs are light weighy, occupy less place, 12v power consumption,
low radiation and supports high resolutions

PRINTER :

Printer is an output device that produce the processed information in printed hardcopy
format. It is used to print the information. There are several printers that are used for
different types of applications. Printers may designed for different types of

IMFACT PRINTER:

Impact printer creates characters by striking a print page with a printer hammer. Impact
Printer work similar to conventional Typewriter. These printers touch the print head to
the paper.

Eg: Dot-matrix Printers, Line Printer, Chain Printer, Drum Printer, Daisy Wheel Printer.

Non - impact printer

Non impact printer processes other than hammers to form characters on a print page. This
are noiseless and more versatile and offer better quality outputs.

This printers do not touch the print head to the paper

Eg: Ink jet printer, laser printer etc

Basic components:
Hardware and software.

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 Hardware.

 Software.

Hard ward :-

It includes all the physical part of a computer which execute all assigned task. Hardware can
be seen and touched. Hardware means all the items like electrical and elecronicle device of
the computer are called hardware of the computer.

Eg: mouse, keyboard , monitor, printer.

Software :

Software is defined as group of program or collection of program’ which are interlinked to

each other. It is a series of instruction and data that are carefully organized to execute task
from simple to complex.

This instruction are written using computer programming languages such as basic, COBOL,
C, C++

Classification of software

1. Application software
2. System software

3. Utility software

4. Computers language

1. Application Software

Application is set of program created to perform the particular task.

This is the area where the user actually works that allows the user of the computer to do
specialized works like Tally, ms-word, ms-excel

 Application package :-
It include word, excel, PowerPoint, tally,

Application language: it include programs like C, C++, JAVA etc

2.System Software:

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System software controls the operations and manages the resources of a computer and
manages the resources of a computer. It includes the operating system. It includes the
operating system,device-dri9ver etc

Eg: MS DOS, UNIX, WINDOWS 98 etc

Operating system

It is most important software. As CPU is the central part of the hardware, operating system
is the central part of the software. It is most important program that runs on a computer
which helps in running the other programs. Operating system can be consider as an
interface between human and computer.

Generation Of Computer:

Computer were actually developed in 1940. the abacus is a first computer. Charles Babbage
is known as father of computer he develop machine to perform differential equations call a
“Difference Engine” It perform calculation and print the result automatically.

1). First Generation Computer

This computer were developed in the period from 1946 to 1995. they used to vacuum tubes
as the active electronic component. The computer were built using stored program concept

Characteristic

1. This computer are very costly

2. They were bulky in size
3. They were not easy to carry on one place to another
4. It had slow operating speed
5. Limited programming facilities
6. It produced large amount of the heat because thousand of vacuum tubes

2). Second Generation Computer

These computers were developed in the period from 1956 to 1963.this computer used
germanium transistors as the active switching electronic device.

Characteristics :-

1. Smaller in size.
2. Transistors are used in the place of vacuum tubs.
3. This had grater than first generation.
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 4. They did not produce much heat.
5. They were less expensive.
6. They were easy to carry from one place to another.

3). Third Generation Computer

This computer replaced with transistor with integrated circuits. Several transistor are
placed one single chip called semi conductor.

Characteristic

1. Smaller in size
2. They were easy to carry
3. They were very speed computer and gave the accurate result
4. Very less power consumption
5. Powerful CPU’s with capacity of 1 MIPS(million instruction per second)

4). Fourth Generation Of Computers:

These computers used micro-processor chips. These were developed from 1976 onwards.
These computers used large scale integrated circuits(LSI) and very large scale integrated
circuits (VLSI).

Eg: ICL 2900, HCL Horizon III etc.

Characteristics:-

1. Use of high speed micro processor as CPU.

2. User friendly and highly reliable systems.
3. They were smaller in size.
4. They were very speed and gave the accurate result.
5). Fifth Generation Computer

These computers were developed in the period from 1990 onwards. They had computing
capabilities and are increasing at a higher rate.

Characteristics

1. These were smaller in size.

2. They were easy to carry.
3. They were speed and gave the accurate result.
Characteristics of computer

High speed: The speed of computer is very high. Computers can perform millions of
instructions per second. This is generally measured in KIPS(kilo instructions per second)
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Accuracy: Accuracy of computer is very high. Computer does not make any mistake. The
information or output given by the computer is always right.

Storage capacity: It has huge storage capacity. It is measured in terms of bytes. Data or
information can be stored permanently. We can store a lot of information in the computer.

Continuous process: We can work for a long time in a computer. Computers can be made to
work for any number of hours at exactly the same level of accuracy.

Diligence: Computers do not suffer from stress and tiredness. If we send thousand of
calculations to the computer to perform, it will display the result within second with
accuracy.

Timeliness: Information is not relevant unless received at the right time. Computers with
capabilities of speed and accuracy to a greater extent.

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