fundamentals
fundamentals
A computer is an electronic machine that accepts data, stores and processes data into
information. The computer is able to work because there are instructions in its memory
directing it.
Data: It is s 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.g. 1, 2, 3 …
Information :- Information is the data that has been converted into a more useful or
intelligible form. Information is an organized or classified data, which has some
meaningful information for the receiver. When you enter information in to the computer
it is stored and defined as data where later on this information is processed and comes
out as output data called information.
Basic Structure of Computer
Input:- The original information recorded in one way or another way feed into the
computer is known as Input. The device through which we give the data is known as
input device.
Following are some of the important input devices which are used in a computer −
Keyboard
Mouse
Joy Stick
Light pen
Scanner
Microphone
Magnetic Ink Card Reader(MICR)
Optical Character Reader(OCR)
Bar Code Reader
Optical Mark Reader(OMR)
Computer - Memory
A memory is just like a human brain. It is used to store data and instructions. Computer
memory is the storage space in the computer, where data is to be processed and
instructions required for processing are stored. Memory is primarily of three types −
Primary memory holds only those data and instructions on which the computer is
currently working. It has a limited capacity and data is lost when power is switched off.
It is generally made up of semiconductor device. These memories are not as fast as
registers. The data and instruction required to be processed resides in the main
memory. It is divided into two subcategories RAM and ROM.
Secondary Memory
This type of memory is also known as external memory or non-volatile. It is slower than
the main memory. These are used for storing data/information permanently. CPU
directly does not access these memories, instead they are accessed via input-output
routines. The contents of secondary memories are first transferred to the main
memory, and then the CPU can access it. For example, disk, CD-ROM, DVD, etc.
Cache Memory
Cache memory is a very high speed semiconductor memory which can speed up the
CPU. It acts as a buffer between the CPU and the main memory. It is used to hold
those parts of data and program which are most frequently used by the CPU. The parts
of data and programs are transferred from the disk to cache memory by the operating
system, from where the CPU can access them.
RAM (Random Access Memory) is the internal memory of the CPU for storing
data, program, and program result.
RAM is of two types −
ROM stands for Read Only Memory. The memory from which we can only read but cannot
write on it. This type of memory is non-volatile. The information is stored permanently in such
memories during manufacture.
Memory unit is the amount of data that can be stored in the storage unit. This storage
capacity is expressed in terms of Bytes.
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