Basic Computer Organization:

Functions of CPU, I/O Units,

A standard fully featured desktop configuration has basically four types of featured
Devices (I/O Units, Memory)
1. Input Devices 2. Output Devices 3. Memory 4. Storage Devices

1. Introduction to CPU
2. CPU
3. The Arithmetic / Logic Unit (ALU)
4. The Control Unit
5. Main Memory
6. External Memory
7. Input / Output Devices
8. The System Bus
CPU OPERATION
The fundamental operation of most CPUs
- To execute a sequence of stored instructions called a program.
1. The program is represented by a series of numbers that are kept in some kind of
computer memory.
2. There are four steps that nearly all CPUs use in their operation: fetch, decode,
execute, and write back.
3. Fetch:
o Retrieving an instruction from program memory.
o The location in program memory is determined by a program counter (PC)
o After an instruction is fetched, the PC is incremented by the length of the
instruction word in terms memory units.
INPUT DEVICES
Anything that feeds the data into the computer. This data can be in alpha-numeric
form which needs to be keyed-in or in its very basic natural form i.e. hear, smell,
touch, see; taste & the sixth sense…feel?
Typical input devices are:
1. Keyboard
2. Mouse
3. Joystick
4. Digitizing Tablet
5. Touch Sensitive Screen
6. Light Pen
7. Space Mouse
8. Digital Stills Camera
9. Magnetic Ink Character
10. Optical Mark Reader
Recognition (MICR) (OMR)
11. Image Scanner
12. Bar Code
The Keyboard is the standard data input and operator control device for a
computer. It consists of the standard QWERTY layout with a numeric keypad and
additional function keys for control purposes.
The Mouse is a popular input device. You move it across the desk and its
movement is shown on the screen by a marker known as a 'cursor'. You will need
to click the buttons at the top of the mouse to select an option.
Track ball looks like a mouse, as the roller is on the top with selection buttons on
the side. It is also a pointing device used to move the cursor and works like a
mouse. For moving the cursor in a particular direction, the user spins the ball in
that direction. It is sometimes considered better than a mouse, because it requires
little arm movement and less desktop space. It is generally used with Portable
computers.
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) is used to recognize the
magnetically charged characters, mainly found on bank cheques. The magnetically
charged characters are written by special ink called magnetic ink. MICR device
reads the patterns of these characters and compares them with special patterns
stored in memory. Using MICR device, a large volume of cheques can be
processed in a day. MICR is widely used by the banking industry for the
processing of cheques.
The joystick is a rotary lever. Similar to an aircraft's control stick, it enables you to
move within the screen's environment, and is widely used in the computer games
industry.
A Digitizing Tablet is a pointing device that facilitates the accurate input of
drawings and designs.
A drawing can be placed directly on the tablet, and the user traces outlines or
inputs coordinate positions with a hand-held stylus.
A Touch Sensitive Screen is a pointing device that enables the user to interact
with the computer by touching the screen. There are three types of Touch Screens:
pressure-sensitive, capacitive surface and light beam.
A Light Pen is a pointing device shaped like a pen and is connected to a VDU.
The tip of the light pen contains a light-sensitive element which, when placed
against the screen, detects the light from the screen enabling the computer to
identify the location of the pen on the screen.
Light pens have the advantage of 'drawing' directly onto the screen, but this can
become uncomfortable, and they are not as accurate as digitizing tablets.
The Space mouse is different from a normal mouse as it has an X axis, a Y axis
and a Z axis. It can be used for developing and moving around 3-D environments.
Digital Stills Cameras capture an image which is stored in memory within the
camera. When the memory is full it can be erased and further images captured. The
digital images can then be downloaded from the camera to a computer where they
can be displayed, manipulated or printed.
The Optical Mark Reader (OMR) can read information in the form of numbers
or letters and put it into the computer. The marks have to be precisely located as in
multiple choice test papers.
OUTPUT DEVICES:
Output devices display information in a way that you can you can understand. The
most common output device is a monitor. It looks a lot a like a TV and houses the
computer screen. The monitor allows you to 'see' what you and the computer are
doing together.
Brief of Output Device
Output devices are pieces of equipment that are used to get information or any
other response out from computer. These devices display information that has been
held or generated within a computer. Output devices display information in a way
that you can understand.
The most common output device is a monitor.
Types of Output Device
Printing: Plotter, Printer
Sound: Speakers
Visual: Monitor
A Printer is another common part of a computer system. It takes what you see on
the computer screen and prints it on paper.
There are two types of printers;
Impact Printers and Non-Impact Printers.
Speakers are output devices that allow you to hear sound from your computer.
Computer speakers are just like stereo speakers. There are usually two of them and
they come in various sizes
STORAGE DEVICES
The purpose of storage in a computer is to hold data or information and get that
data to the CPU as quickly as possible when it is needed. Computers use disks for
storage: hard disks that are located inside the computer, and floppy or compact
disks that are used externally.
Computers Method of storing data & information for long term basis i.e. even after
PC is switched off.
It is non - volatile
 Can be easily removed and moved & attached to some other device
Memory capacity can be extended to a greater extent
• Cheaper than primary memory
Storage Involves Two Processes
a) Writing data
b) Reading data