COMPUTER BASICS
Azaruddin khan
Au skill academy-JODHPUR
What is aComputer?
An electronic device that stores, retrieves,
and processes data, and can be
programmed with instructions. A
computer is composed of hardware and
software, and can exist in a variety of
sizes andconfigurations.
Hardware &Software
The term hardware refers to the physical
components of your computer such as the
system unit, mouse, keyboard, monitor etc.
The software is the instructions that makes
the computer work. Software is held either
on your computers hard disk, CD-ROM,
DVD or on a diskette (floppy disk) and is
loaded (i.e. copied) from the disk into the
computers RAM (Random Access Memory),
as and whenrequired.
Types ofComputers
Mini and MainframeComputers
Very powerful, used bylarge
organisations such an banks to control
the entire business operation. Very
expensive!
Personal Computers
Cheap and easy to use. Often used as
stand-alone computers or in a network.
May be connected to large mainframe
computers within big companies.
Hardware Components
Input Devices -- "How to tell it what to do“
- A keyboard and mouse are the standard way to
interact with the computer. Other devices include
joysticks and game pads used primarily forgames.
Output Devices -- "Howitshowsyouwhatitisdoing"
- The monitor (the screen) is how the computer
sends information back to you. A printer is also an
outputdevice.
Hardware Components
INPUT DEVICES
• TheMouse
• Used to ‘drive’ MicrosoftWindows
• TheKeyboard
• The keyboard is still the commonest
way of entering information into a
computer
• TrackerBalls
• an alternative to the traditional mouse
and often used by graphicdesigners
Hardware Components
INPUT DEVICES
• Scanners
• A scanner allows you to scan printed material
and convert it into a file format that may be
used within thePC
• TouchPads
• A device that lays on the desktop and responds
topressure
• LightPens
• Used to allow users to point to areas on a
screen
• Joysticks
• Many games require a joystick for the proper
playing of thegame
Hardware Components
OUTPUT DEVICES
• VDU
• The computer screen is used for outputting
information in an understandableformat
• Printers
• There are many different types ofprinters.
• In large organizations laser printers are
most commonly used due to the fact that
they can print very fast and give a very
high qualityoutput.
Hardware Components
OUTPUT DEVICES
• Plotters
• A plotter is an output device similar to a
printer, but normally allows you to print
larger images.
• Speakers
• Enhances the value of educational and
presentationproducts.
• Speechsynthesisers
• Gives you the ability to not only to display
text on a monitor but also to read thetext
toyou
Hardware Components
Storage Devices -- "How it saves data
andprograms“
- Hard disk drives are an internal,
higher capacity drive which also stores the
operating system which runs when you power
on thecomputer.
- "Floppy" disk drives allow you to save
work on small disks and take the data with
you.
Hardware Components
Hard Disks
• Speed:
• Veryfast!
• The speed of a hard disk is often quoted as"average
access time" speed, measuredinmilliseconds. The
smaller this number the faster thedisk.
• Capacity:
• Enormous! Often40/80Gigabytes. A Gigabyte is
equivalent to 1024Megabytes.
• Cost:
• Hard disks costs are falling rapidly and normally
represent the cheapest way of storingdata.
Hardware Components
Diskettes (FloppyDisks)
• Speed:
• Veryslow!
• Capacity:
• Normally 1.44Mbytes.
• Cost:
• Verycheap.
Hardware Components
CD-ROM Disks
• Speed:
• Much slower thanharddisks. The original
CD-ROM speciation is given a value of 1x
speed, and later, faster CD-ROMs are
quoted as a multiple of thisvalue.
• Capacity:
• Around 650 Mbytes andmore
Hardware Components
DVD Drives
• Speed:
• Much faster than CD-ROM drives but
not as fast as harddisks.
• Capacity:
• Up to 17Gbytes.
• Cost:
• Slightly higher than CD-ROMdrives.
Main Parts ofComputer
Memory--
"Howtheprocessorstoresandusesimmediat
e data“
• RAM-RandomAccessMemory
• The main 'working' memory used by thecomputer.
• When the operating system loads from disk whenyou
first switch on the computer, it is copied intoRAM.
• As a rough rule, a Microsoft Windows based computerwill
operate faster if you install more RAM. Data and
programs stored in RAM are volatile (i.e. the information
is lost when you switch off thecomputer).
Hardware Components
Memory
• ROM –Read Only Memory
• Read Only Memory (ROM) as the name suggests is aspecial
type of memory chip that holds software that can be read
but not writtento.
• A good example is the ROM-BIOS chip, which containsread-
onlysoftware.
• Often network cards and video cards also contain ROM
chips.
Hardware Components
How Computer Memory IsMeasured
• Bit
• All computers work on a binary numbering system, i.e. they
process data in one'sorzero's. This 1 or 0 level of storage is
called abit.
• Byte
• A byte consists of eightbits.
• Kilobyte
• A kilobyte (KB) consists of 1024bytes.
• Megabyte
• A megabyte (MB) consists of 1024kilobytes.
• Gigabyte
• A gigabyte (GB) consists of 1024megabytes.
Hardware Components
Microprocessors --"The brain of the computer“
- PCs primarily use microprocessors (sometimes called the chip).
The older Intel versions include the 386, 486 and now the Pentium
line.
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is normally an Intel
Pentium (or equivalent) and it is one of the most important
components within your computer.
• It determines how fast your computer will run and is
measured by its MHzspeed.
• Thus a 600 MHz Pentium is much faster than say a
400MHz PentiumCPU.
• It is the CPU that performs all the calculations within the
computer.
Hardware Components
Some of theFactors
That Impact on a Computer's Performance
• CPU speed
• RAM size
• Hard disk speed andcapacity
Software Component
Operating systemssoftware
The operating system is a special type of program that loads
automatically when you start your computer.
The operating system allows you to use the advanced features of
a modern computer without having to learn all the details of how
the hardware works
The link between the hardware and you, the user
Makes the computer easy to use without having to understand bits
and bytes!
Software Component
Applications software
An application program is the type of program that
you use once the operating system has been loaded.
Examples include word-processing programs,
spreadsheets anddatabases
Software Component
Application Software
• Word processingapplications
• MicrosoftWord
• Lotus WordPro
• WordPerfect
• Spreadsheets
• Microsoft Excel
• Lotus123
• Database
• MicrosoftAccess
• LotusApproach
Software Component
Application Software
• Payroll
• Sagesoftware
• Presentationtools
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• LotusFreelance
• Desktoppublishing
• AbodePhotoshop
• Multimediaapplications
• Microsoft's Encarta CD-ROM based
encyclopaedias
InformationNetwork
• LAN
• A LAN (Local Area Network) is a system whereby
individual PCs are connected together within a
company ororganization
• WAN
• A WAN (Wide Area Network) as the name implies
allows you to connect to other computers over a
wider area (i.e. the wholeworld).
InformationNetwork
Uses ofNetwork
If ten people are working together within an office it
makes sense for them all to be connected.
• In this way the office can have a single printer
and all ten people can print to it.
• In a similar way other devices such as modems or
scanners can beshared.
• Even more useful is the ability to share
information when connected to anetwork.
Computer Accessories
• Modem
• Short for “MODulate/DEModulate”. The modem
sends information from your computer across the
telephonesystem.
• The modem at the other end of the phone line,
converts the signal back into a format that can be
used by the receivingcomputer.
Uses ofComputer
PC atHome
Common uses for the computer within the home
• Computergames
• Working from Home
• Banking from Home
• Connecting to theWeb
Uses ofComputer
Computers inEducation
• CBT (Computer BasedTraining)
• Computer Based Training (CBT) offers a low cost
solution to training needs where you need to train
a large amount of people on a singlesubject.
• These programs are normally supplied on CD-ROM
and combine text, graphics andsound.
• Packages range from general encyclopaedias right
through to learning a foreignlanguage.
Uses ofComputer
Office Applications
• Automated ProductionSystems
• Many car factories are almost completely automated and the
cars are assembled by computer-controlledrobots.
• This automation is becoming increasingly common
throughoutindustry.
• DesignSystems
• Many products are designed using CAD (Computer Aided
Design) programs to produce exact specifications and
detailed drawings on the computer before producing models
of newproducts.
Uses ofComputer
Office Applications
• StockControl
• Stock control is ideal for automation and in many companies
it is now completelycomputerized.
• The stock control system keeps track of the number of items
in stock and can automatically order replacement items
whenrequired.
• Accounts / Payroll
• In most large organizations the accounts are maintained by
a computerizedsystem.
• Due to the repetitive nature of accounts a computer system
is ideally suited to this task and accuracy isguaranteed.
Uses ofComputer
Computers in DailyLife
• Accounts
• Games
• Educational
• On-linebanking
• Smart IDcards
• Supermarkets
• Working from home(Tele-working)
• Internet
Create a Good WorkingEnvironment
• Frequentbreaksawayfromthecomputer
• Appropriate positioning of screens, chairsand
keyboards
• Provisionofadequatelightingandventilation.
Health & SafetyPrecautions
• Makesurethatcablesaresafelysecured
• Makesurethatpowerpointsarenotoverloaded
• Also be awareof:
• Repetitive Strain Injury(RSI)
• Glare fromscreens
• Badposture
Value ofBackup
• The most important thing that you store
onyourcomputerisinformation.
• Often the contents of a hard disk can
represent years ofwork.
• Iftheharddiskstopsworkingonedayyou
couldloseallthoseyearsofwork.
• For this reason it is VITAL that you take
regular backups of the information thatis
stored on thecomputer.
Value ofBackup
• Organize your computer for moreefficient
backups
• Complete vs. incrementalbackups
• Use 'off-site'storage
Value ofBackup
• Usepasswords
• Understand the Importance ofshutting
down your computerproperly
• UseaUPS(Un-interruptiblePowerSupply)
Likes&DislikesofComputer
• Things computerlike:
• Goodventilation
• Cleanenvironment
• Stable, vibration freesurface
• Things computer don’tlike:
• Dust
• Drinking and eating over the keyboard
• Heat, Cold orMoisture
• Don’t place objects on top ofmonitors.
• Don’t place floppy disks nearmonitors.
Computer Virus
• What are computerviruses?
• Viruses are small programs
that hide themselves on your
disks (both diskettes and
your harddisk).
• Unless you use virus
detection software the first
time that you know that you
have a virus is when it
activates.
• Different viruses are
activated in differentways.
Computer Virus
• How do viruses infectPCs?
• Viruses hide on a disk and when you
access the disk (either a diskette or
another hard disk over a network) the
virus program will start and infect
yourcomputer.
• The worst thing about a computer
virus is that they can spread from one
computer to another, either via use of
infected floppy disk, or over a
computer network, including the
Internet.
Computer Virus
• How to prevent virusdamage
• There are a number of third party anti-
virus productsavailable.
• Most of these are better than the rather
rudimentary products available within
DOS and Windows, but of course you do
have to pay forthem!
• The main thing about your virus checker
is that it should be kept up todate.
• Many companies supply updated disks on
a regular basis or allow you to receive
updates through an electronic, on-line
bulletinboard.
SoftwareCopyright
• Be aware on software copyrightissues
• Freeware
• Shareware
• What about software that you find on
theInternet?
• Software sitelicenses
SoftwareCopyright
• If your computer system holds
information about individuals then you
have a moral and legal duty to treat
that information withrespect.
• In a free society you have a right to
ensure that information held about
you is notabused.
• In many countries this right is
enshrined under data protectionlaws
Now Let us start our Computers
and getgoing
