COMPUTER SYSTEM

Definition: Is a collection of entities(hardware,software and liveware) that are designed to receive, process, manage and present
information in a meaningful format.

COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER SYSTEM

 Computer hardware - Are physical parts/ intangible parts of a computer. eg Input devices, output devices, central processing
unit and storage devices
 Computer software - also known as programs or applications. They are classified into two classes namely - sytem software and
application software
 Liveware - is the computer user. Also kwon as orgwareor the humanware. The user commands the computer system to execute
on instructions.

a) COMPUTER HARDWARE

Hardware refers to the physical, tangible computer equipment and devices, which provide support for major functions such as input,
processing (internal storage, computation and control), output, secondary storage (for data and programs), and communication.

HARDWARE CATEGORIES (Functional Parts)

A computer system is a set of integrated devices that input, output, process, and store data and information. Computer systems are
currently built around at least one digital processing device. There are five main hardware components in a computer system: Input,
Processing, Storage, Output and Communication devices.

1. INPUT DEVICES

Are devices used for entering data or instructions to the central processing unit. Are classifie according to the method they use to enter
data.

a) KEYING DEVICES
Are devices used to enter data into the computer using a set of Keys eg Keyboard, key-to- storage and keypad.

i) The keyboard

Keyboard (similar to a typewriter) is the main input device of a computer . It contains three types of keys-- alphanumeric keys, special
keys and function keys. Alphanumeric keys are used to type all alphabets, numbers and special symbols like $, %, @, A etc. Special
keys such as <Shift>, <Ctrl>, <Alt>, <Home>, <Scroll Lock> etc. are used for special functions. Function keys such as <Fl>, <F2>,
<F3> etc. are used to give special commands depending upon the software used e.g.F5 reloads a page of an internet browser. The function
of each and every key can be well understood only after working on a PC. When any key is pressed, an electronic signal is produced. This
signal is detected by a keyboard encoder that sends a binary code corresponding to the key pressed to the CPU. There are many types of
keyboards but 101 keys keyboard is the most popular one.

How the keys are organized

The keys on your keyboard can be divided into several groups based on function:

 Typing (alphanumeric) keys. These keys include the same letter, number, punctuation, and symbol keys found on a traditional
typewriter.
 Special (Control) keys. These keys are used alone or in combination with other keys to perform certain actions. The most
frequently used control keys are CTRL, ALT, the Windows key, and ESC.
 Function keys. The function keys are used to perform specific tasks. They are labelled as F1, F2, F3, and so on, up to F12. The
functionality of these keys differs from program to program.
 Cursor Movement (Navigation) keys. These keys are used for moving around in documents or WebPages and editing text.
They include the arrow keys, HOME, END, PAGE UP, PAGE DOWN, DELETE, and INSERT and ARROW KEYS.
 Numeric keypad. The numeric keypad is handy for entering numbers quickly. The keys are grouped together in a block like a

conventional calculator or adding machine.

B. POINTING DEVICES
Are devices that enter data and instructions into the computer using a pointer that appears on the screen. The items to be entered
are selected by either pointing to or clicking on them.e.g mice, joystick, touch sensitive screen, trackballs

i) THE MOUSE
A mouse is a small device used to point to and select items on your computer screen. Although mice come in many shapes, the typical
mouse does look a bit like an actual mouse. It's small, oblong, and connected to the system unit by a long wire that resembles a tail and
the connector which can either be PS/2 or USB. Some newer mice are wireless.

A mouse usually has two buttons: a primary button (usually the left button) and a secondary button. Many mice also have a wheel
between the two buttons, which allows you to scroll smoothly through screens of information.
When you move the mouse with your hand, a pointer on your screen moves in the same direction. (The pointer's appearance might change
depending on where it's positioned on your screen.) When you want to select an item, you point to the item and then click (press and
release) the primary button. Pointing and clicking with your mouse is the main way to interact with your computer. There are several
types of mice: Mechanical mouse, optical mouse, optical-mechanical mouse and laser mouse.

Basic parts

A mouse typically has two buttons: a primary button (usually the left button) and a secondary button (usually the right button). The
primary button is the one you will use most often. Most mice also include a scroll wheel between the buttons to help you scroll through
documents and WebPages more easily. On some mice, the scroll wheel can be pressed to act as a third button. Advanced mice might have
additional buttons that can perform other functions.

Holding and moving the mouse

Place your mouse beside your keyboard on a clean, smooth surface, such as a mouse pad. Hold the mouse gently with your index
finger resting on the primary button and you thumb resting on the side. To move the mouse, slide it slowly in any direction. Don't
twist it—keep the front of the mouse aimed away from you. As you move the mouse, a pointer (see picture) on your screen moves
in the same direction. If you run out of room to move your mouse on your desk or mouse pad, just pick up the mouse and bring it
back closer to you.
 Pointing to an object
often reveals a descriptive message about it.The pointer can change depending on what you're pointing at. For example, when you point
to a link in your web browser, the pointer changes from an arrow to a hand with a pointing finger .

Most mouse actions combine pointing with pressing one of the mouse buttons. There are four basic ways to use your mouse buttons:
clicking, double-clicking, right-clicking, and dragging.

Clicking (single-clicking)

To click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then press and release the primary button (usually the left button).

Clicking is most often used to select (mark) an item or open a menu. This is sometimes called single-clicking or left-clicking.

Double-clicking

To double-click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then click twice quickly. If the two clicks are spaced too far apart, they might
be interpreted as two individual clicks rather than as one double-click.
Double-clicking is most often used to open items on your desktop. For example, you can start a program or open a folder by double-
clicking its icon on the desktop.

Right-clicking

To right-click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then press and release the secondary button (usually the right button).

Right-clicking an item usually displays a list of things you can do with the item. For example, when you right-click the Recycle Bin on
your desktop, Windows displays a menu allowing you to open it, empty it, delete it, or see its properties. If you are unsure of what to do
with something, right-click it.

C) SCANNING DEVICES
Are devices that capture an object or a document directly from the source. They are classifie according to the technology used to capture
data e.g. Scanners and Document readers.
i) Scanners
Used to capture a source document and converts it into an electronic form.
Example are - FlatBed and HandHeld scanners.

ii) Document readers

Are documents that reads data directly from source document and convey them as input in the form of electronic signal. e
Types of Document Readers
i) Optical Mar Reader (OMR)

ii) Barcode readers

iii) Optical Character Readers

b) Magnetic Readers
Reads data using magnetic ink.t uses principle of magnetism to sense data which have been written using magnetised ink.

THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT ( C P U)

Is the brain or the heart of a computer. Is also known as processor and consist of three units namely -
i) Control Unit ( C U)
ii) Arithmetic logic Unit ( A L U)
iii) Main Memory unit ( M M U)

The system unit is the core of a computer system. Usually it's a rectangular box placed on or underneath your desk. Inside this box are
many electronic components that process data. 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. The information stored in RAM is erased when the computer is turned off.
Almost every other part of your computer connects to the system unit using cables. The cables plug into specific ports (openings),
typically on the back of the system unit. Hardware that is not part of the system unit is sometimes called a peripheral device. Peripheral
devices can be external such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, monitor, external Zip drive or scanner or internal, such as a CD-ROM drive,
CD-R drive or internal modem. Internal peripheral devices are often referred to as integrated peripherals. There are two types according
to shape: tower and desktop.

Tower System Unit Desktop System Unit

A motherboard (mainboard, system board, planar board or logic board) is the main printed circuit board found in computers and
other expandable systems. It holds many of the crucial electronic components of the system, such as the central processing unit (CPU)
and memory, and provides connectors for other peripherals.

Motherboard

TYPES OF PROCESSORS
I) Comples Instruction Set Computers (CISC)
ii) Reduced Instruction Set Computers (RISC)

FUNCTIONS OF CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

- Process data
- Control sequence of operaions within the computers
- It gives command to all parts of a computer
- It control the use of the main memory in storing of data and instructions
- it provides temporary storage (RAM) and permanent storage(ROM) of data

THE CONTROL UNIT

Is the center of operations for the computer system, it directs the activities of the computer system.
Funlctions of Control Unit

Introduction

 The fundamental architecture of the computer system rests on solid foundation that has changed only slightly and gradually over
the past 50 years

 Understanding this architecture allows for easy understanding of future developments and advances in the computer architecture
as it is more likely to build on this foundation

 In this chapter the following topics are covered:

o The IPO(S) model

o Components of the computer system

o Brief history of the computer architecture

The IPO(S) Model

 The computer system is a collection of hardware and software components working together to perform a complete computing
environment

 A computing program can be modeled as a process performing 4 main operations:

o Input

o Processing

o Output

o Storage

 This process modeling is known as the Input-Process-Output (Storage) - IPO(S) model

 See Figure 1.3 in page 10 for an illustration

o Program receives an input, from an input device (e.g. keyboard, mouse, disk, etc.)
 o Performs some processing on the input

o Produces an output to an output device (e.g. screen, printer, etc.)

o And/or store the output to a storage device (e.g. RAM, disk, etc.)

 Modern programming uses the Object-Oriented technique for modeling computing work

 Objects are entities that are described by their properties and the actions that they can perform

 However, IPO(S) is still a valid modeling technique and it is commonly used

Input

 Computer systems include methods for accepting input (data and instructions) from inside and outside the system

 Example of input devices include:

o Keyboard

o Mouse

o Disk file

o Network

Processing

 Computer systems has the ability to process, change, and transform data

 Basic data processing operations include:

o Arithmetic calculations

o Logical calculations

o Data movement

o Data storage and retrieval

o Data sorting
 o Text searching and matching

Output

 Computer systems has the ability to send processed data to outside the system in a form that can be understood by the outside
word

 Example of output devices include:

o Screen

o Printer

o Network

Storage

 Computer systems has the ability to store data and programs temporarily and permanently

 Computer systems provide a hierarchy of storage mechanism

o Memory for short-term and temporary storage

o Secondary storage devices (e.g. Hard Disk) for long-term and permanent storage

Components of the Computer System

 The computer system consists of 4 primary components to implement the IPO(S) model

o Hardware component

o Software component

o Data component

o Communication component

 The hardware, communication, system software, and data representation components makes up the architecture of the computer
system

 The data content and the application software are not part of the architecture
The Hardware Component

 The hardware forms the tangible physical part of the system

 Hardware devices are provided for

o Accept input data performed by input devices, examples: keyboard, mouse

o Present output data performed by output devices, examples: screen, printer

o Process data performed by the Central Processing Unit (CPU)

o Store data

 Memory to store programs and data while processing (i.e. temporary storage)

 Secondary storage devices to hold programs and data permanently

 The collection of CPU, Memory, Secondary storage devices, Input devices, and Output devices forms the hardware component of a
computer system

 Large and small computers only differ in the speed and capacity of the above components

 Detailed coverage of the Hardware Component is provided in chapters 6 through 12

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

 CPUs vary in their design, complexity, performance, capability, and computing power

 Modern CPUs typically supports advanced computing features (e.g. pipeline, cache memory, etc.)

 However, a simplistic organization view of a typical CPU consists mainly of 3 primary sub-units:

o Arithmetic/Logic unit (ALU)

 Perform logical and arithmetic operations

o Control unit (CU)

 Decode instructions

 Control and manage instruction execution

 Control data movement within the CPU

 o Interface unit

 Interconnect the CPU with memory, I/O devices, and possibility other CPUs

 Interface for moving instructions and data between the CPU and other devices

Memory

 Also called primary storage or working storage, or Random Access Memory (RAM)

 Main purpose is to store programs and data for access by the CPU while processing

 Store program concept is a computing concept where programs and data are stored in memory while processed by the CPU

 Memory consists of large number of storage cells, sequentially numbered, and individually addressable

 The basic size of the cell is typically 8-bits (i.e. byte)

 Neighboring cells can be grouped to store complex or large size data type

The Software Component

 Software consists of programs that tell the computer system what to do

 Software is categorized into 2 different types

o System software also known as the Operating System (OS)

o Application software

 The operating system is an essential part of the computer architecture

 It is the first piece of software to be executed when the computer system is turned on

 It consists of a set of programs and utilities to manage the operations of the computer system

 The Operating System architecture is covered in chapters 14 through 19 (only chapters 14 and 16 are covered in this course)
The Data Component

 Data processing can be considered as the principle existence of computers

 Computers store and process data in binary (i.e. 1’s and 0’s)

 However, data can take on many different formats (e.g. numeric, text, graphic, video, voice, etc.)

 The data component is covered in chapters 2 through 5

The Communication Component

 The communication component is a set of hardware and software to tie computer systems together into a data network

 Data networks enables computers to:

o Share data and programs

o Work collectively to perform a certain task (i.e. distributed processing)

 The software part of the communication component is called protocols

 Protocols defines the rules that makes it possible for each computer to understand what the other computers are saying

 The communication component will not be covered in this course

The Computer System

 It is interesting to note that the basic architecture of the computer is remarkably similar regardless the name, size, or the type of
the system

 In a general term, every computer consists of

o CPU for processing (i.e. executing instructions)

o Memory for storing programs and data during processing

o I/O devices for data input and output

 If we compare the IBM S/390 with a laptop Personal Computer, we will notice the difference to be one of magnitude and not
concept
 This similarity allow the different types of computers to communicate, share data, and work together

 Computers are used be categorized based on their size:

o Mainframe

o Minicomputer

o Workstation

o Personal Computer

 In recent years, this division became less significant

 Computers are now often described by their capabilities and applications:

o WEB server

o Database and mining server

o Desktop and Laptop computers

o Parallel super computer

Computer Architecture History

 It is difficult to precisely determine the date of the computer invention

 However, computers have passed through lengthy and extensive evolution process that dates back to approximately 200 years ago

 Blaise Pascal invented a calculating machine in 1642

 In 1801, Joseph Marie Jacquard invented a loom that used punched card to control pattern drawing into cloths

 In the same period, Charles Babbage, and English mathematician, invented a calculating machined called the analytical engine

 The analytical engine resembles the modern computer in many conceptual ways

o Implements the IPO concept

o Has input data mechanism

o Has memory for storing programs

 o Has “CPU” for executing the program called mill

o Has mechanism for printing output data

 In the same period, George Boole, invented the binary logic theory called Boolean Logic

 Modern digital computers and electronic hardware are based on the Boolean logic concept

 In late 1930 and early 1940 many independently developed models of the modern digital computer

 The Mark I machine was built in 1937 using thousands of binary switches (huge electronic boxes)

 In 1939, the first totally electronic digital computer, called ABC, was built

 The ABC machine was built off electronic vacuum tubes and was binary-based

 The ABC machines architecture consists of

o Arithmetic/logic unit perform addition and subtraction arithmetic

o Rotating drum memory capable of storing 30 binary numbers each with 50 bits

o Punch card numeric data input (each card stores 5 15-digit decimal numbers)

 Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) was built between 1943 and 1946 by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert
with the following features:

o Memory with storage of 20 numbers with 20-digits each

o ROM capable of storing additional 100 numbers

o Decimal arithmetic calculations

o Vacuum tube binary switching

o Punch card input

o Printing device

o Contains 18,000 vacuum tubes, occupy 15,000 square feet, and weighted more than 30 tons

 ENIAC is generally considered as the first all-electronic digital computer

 In 1945, John von Neumann, propose few fundamental improvements to the ENIAC design

o Memory that can hold both code and data

o Binary processing and storage of data to simplify the computer design

o CPU that includes an ALU, memory, and CU components

o I/O handling mechanism

o Instruction set

 John von Neumann improvements provided the foundation for the modern computer architecture

 In 1951-1952 EDVAC and IAS computers was build based on John von Neumann concepts

 The success of EDVAC and IAS led to the development of the first commercial computer by IBM

 Modern computer design still reflect the work done on the ABC, ENIAC, EDVAC, and IAS concepts

 Today small, sophisticated, and high performance computers was made possible by the invention of the transistor and the
integrated circuit

 New inventions in the computer technology is mainly concerned with improving the performance and capacity of the computer and
not necessary changing the basic architecture

 Operating system software advancements was made to take advantage of improvements in the hardware technology

 Operating systems went through many important improvements:

o From early mainframe single-user batch processing

o To today’s interactive, multi-tasking, multi-user, multi-processing, networked, distributed processing, graphical user
interface, and multimedia