Table of Contents

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About the Tutorial....................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

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Table of Contents................................................................................................................................ i

1. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─
OVERVIEW ........................................................................ 1

Functionalities of a Computer ...............................................................................................................

1

Advantages of Computers .....................................................................................................................

1

Disadvantages of Computers .................................................................................................................

3

2. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─
APPLICATIONS .................................................................. 4

3. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─
GENERATIONS .................................................................. 8

First Generation Computers ..................................................................................................................

8

Second Generation Computers ............................................................................................................

10

Third Generation Computers ...............................................................................................................

11

Fourth Generation Computers .............................................................................................................

12

Fifth Generation Computers ................................................................................................................

13

i
4. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ TYPES .............................................................................
15

5. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ COMPONENTS ................................................................

18

6. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT ...........................................

20

7. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ INPUT DEVICES ...............................................................

22

8. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ OUTPUT DEVICES ...........................................................

29

Monitors..............................................................................................................................................
29

Printers ................................................................................................................................................
30

9. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ MEMORY ........................................................................

36

Cache Memory ....................................................................................................................................

36

Primary Memory (Main Memory) ........................................................................................................

37

Secondary Memory .............................................................................................................................

38

10. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY ...........................................

39

Static RAM (SRAM) ..............................................................................................................................

39

Dynamic RAM (DRAM) ........................................................................................................................

40

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11. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ READ ONLY MEMORY .....................................................
41

12. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ MOTHERBOARD .............................................................

43

13. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ MEMORY UNITS .............................................................

45

14. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ PORTS ............................................................................

46

15. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ HARDWARE ....................................................................

49

16. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ SOFTWARE .....................................................................

51

System Software .................................................................................................................................

51

Application Software ...........................................................................................................................

52

17. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ NUMBER SYSTEM ...........................................................

53

Decimal Number System .....................................................................................................................

53

Binary Number System ........................................................................................................................

54

Octal Number System ..........................................................................................................................

54

Hexadecimal Number System ..............................................................................................................

55

18. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ NUMBER CONVERSION ..................................................

56

Decimal to Other Base System .............................................................................................................

56

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 Other Base System to Decimal System ................................................................................................
57

Other Base System to Non-Decimal System .........................................................................................

58

Shortcut Method ─ Binary to Octal ......................................................................................................

59

Shortcut method ─ Octal to Binary ......................................................................................................

59

Shortcut Method ─ Binary to Hexadecimal ..........................................................................................

60

Shortcut Method ─ Hexadecimal to Binary ..........................................................................................

60

19. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ DATA AND INFORMATION ..............................................

61

20. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ NETWORKING ................................................................

63

21. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ OPERATING SYSTEM .......................................................

67

22. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ INTERNET AND INTRANET ..............................................

69

23. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ HOW TO BUY A COMPUTER?..........................................

71

24. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS ─ AVAILABLE COURSES ......................................................

74

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 1. ComputerFundamentals─ Overview

Today’s world is an information-rich world and it has become a necessity for everyone to
know about computers. A computer is an electronic data processing device, which accepts
and stores data input, processes the data input, and generates the output in a required
format.

The purpose of this tutorial is to introduce you to Computers and its fundamentals.

Functionalities of a Computer

If we look at it in a very broad sense, any digital computer carries out the following five
functions:

Step 1 - Takes data as input.

Step 2 - Stores the data/instructions in its memory and uses them as required.

Step 3 - Processes the data and converts it into useful information.

Step 4 - Generates the output.

Step 5 - Controls all the above four steps.

Advantages of Computers

Following are certain advantages of computers.

High Speed
• Computer is a very fast device.
0
• It is capable of performing calculation of very large amount of data.

• The computer has units of speed in microsecond, nanosecond, and even the
picosecond.

5
 •

• It can perform millions of calculations in a few seconds as compared to man who will
spend many months to perform the same task.
Accuracy
• In addition to being very fast, computers are very accurate.

• The calculations are 100% error free.

• Computers perform all jobs with 100% accuracy provided that the input is
correct.
Storage Capability
• Memory is a very important characteristic of computers.

• A computer has much more storage capacity than human beings.

• It can store large amount of data.

• It can store any type of data such as images, videos, text, audio, etc.

Diligence
• Unlike human beings, a computer is free from monotony, tiredness, and lack of
concentration.

• It can work continuously without any error and boredom.

• It can perform repeated tasks with the same speed and accuracy.

Versatility
• A computer is a very versatile machine.

• A computer is very flexible in performing the jobs to be done.

• This machine can be used to solve the problems related to various fields.

• At one instance, it may be solving a complex scientific problem and the very next
moment it may be playing a card game.

Reliability
• A computer is a reliable machine.
• Modern electronic components have long lives.
• Computers are designed to make maintenance easy.

Automation
• Computer is an automatic machine.

6
 • Automation is the ability to perform a given task automatically. Once the computer
receives a program i.e., the program is stored in the computer memory, then the
program and instruction can control the program execution without human
interaction.

Reduction in Paper Work and Cost

• The use of computers for data processing in an organization leads to reduction in
paper work and results in speeding up the process.

• As data in electronic files can be retrieved as and when required, the problem of
maintenance of large number of paper files gets reduced.

• Though the initial investment for installing a computer is high, it substantially

reduces the cost of each of its transaction.

Disadvantages of Computers

Following are certain disadvantages of computers.

No I.Q.
• A computer is a machine that has no intelligence to perform any task.
• Each instruction has to be given to the computer.
• A computer cannot take any decision on its own.

Dependency
• It functions as per the user’s instruction, thus it is fully dependent on humans.

Environment
• The operating environment of the computer should be dust free and suitable.

No Feeling
• Computers have no feelings or emotions.

• It cannot make judgment based on feeling, taste, experience, and knowledge unlike
humans.
In this chapter, we will discuss the application of computers in various fields.

Business
A computer has high speed of calculation,
diligence, accuracy, reliability, or versatility
which has made it an integrated part in all
business organizations.

7
 2. ComputerFundamentals─ Applications

Computer is used in business organizations for:

• Payroll calculations
• Budgeting
• Sales analysis
• Financial forecasting  Managing employee database  Maintenance of
stocks, etc.

Banking
Today, banking is almost totally dependent on
computers.

Banks provide the following facilities:

• Online accounting facility, which includes

checking current balance, making
deposits and overdrafts, checking interest
charges, shares, and trustee records.

• ATM machines which are completely

automated are making it even easier for
customers to deal with banks.
Insurance
Insurance companies are keeping all records
upto-date with the help of computers. Insurance
companies, finance houses, and stock broking
firms are widely using computers for their
concerns.

Insurance companies are maintaining a database

of all clients with information showing:

• Procedure to continue with policies

• Starting date of the policies
• Next due installment of a policy
• Maturity date  Interests due
• Survival benefits
• Bonus

Education
The computer helps in providing a lot of facilities in the education system.

8
 • The computer provides a tool in the education system known as CBE (Computer
Based Education).

• CBE involves control, delivery, and

evaluation of learning.

• Computer education is rapidly increasing

the graph of number of computer
students.

• There are a number of methods in which

educational institutions can use a
computer to educate the students.

• It is used to prepare a database about performance of a student and analysis is

carried out on this basis.

Marketing
In marketing, uses of the computer are following:

• Advertising - With computers,

advertising professionals create art and
graphics, write and revise copy, and print
and disseminate ads with the goal of
selling more products.

• Home Shopping - Home shopping has

been made possible through the use of
computerized catalogues that provide
access to product information and permit
direct entry of orders to be filled by the
customers.

Healthcare
Computers have become an important part in hospitals, labs, and dispensaries. They are
being used in hospitals to keep the record of patients and medicines. It is also used in
scanning and diagnosing different diseases. ECG, EEG, ultrasounds and CT scans, etc. are
also done by computerized machines.

Following are some major fields of health care in which computers are used.

• Diagnostic System - Computers are used to collect data and identify the cause of
illness.

• Lab-diagnostic System - All tests can be

done and the reports are prepared by
computer.

9
 • Patient Monitoring System - These are used to check the patient's signs for
abnormality such as in Cardiac Arrest, ECG, etc.

• Pharma Information System - Computer is used to check drug labels, expiry

dates, harmful side effects, etc.

• Surgery - Nowadays, computers are also used in performing surgery.

Engineering Design
Computers are widely used for Engineering purpose.

One of the major areas is CAD (Computer Aided Design) that provides creation and
modification of images. Some of the fields are:
• Structural Engineering - Requires stress
and strain analysis for design of ships,
buildings, budgets, airplanes, etc.

• Industrial Engineering - Computers deal

with design, implementation, and
improvement of integrated systems of
people, materials, and equipment.

• Architectural Engineering - Computers

help in planning towns, designing
buildings, determining a range of buildings on a site using both 2D and 3D drawings.

Military
Computers are largely used in defence. Modern
tanks, missiles, weapons, etc. Military also
employs computerized control systems. Some
military areas where a computer has been used
are:

• Missile Control
• Military Communication
• Military Operation and Planning
• Smart Weapons

Communication
Communication is a way to convey a message, an idea, a picture, or speech that is received
and understood clearly and correctly by the
person for whom it is meant. Some main areas in
this category are:

• E-mail
• Chatting
• Usenet
• FTP
• Telnet

10
 • Video-conferencing

Government
Computers play an important role in government services. Some major fields in this
category are:

• Budgets
• Sales tax department
• Income tax department
• Computation of male/female ratio
• Computerization of voters lists
• Computerization of PAN card
• Weather forecasting

11
 3. ComputerFundamentals─ Generations

Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology a computer is/was being

used.
Initially, the generation term was used to distinguish between varying hardware
technologies. Nowadays, generation includes both hardware and software, which together
make up an entire computer system.

There are five computer generations known till date. Each generation has been discussed in
detail along with their time period and characteristics. In the following table, approximate
dates against each generation has been mentioned, which are normally accepted.

Following are the main five generations of computers.

Sr. Generation & Description
No.

1 First Generation
The period of first generation: 1946-1959. Vacuum tube based.

Second Generation
2 The period of second generation: 1959-1965. Transistor based.

Third Generation
3 The period of third generation: 1965-1971. Integrated Circuit based.

Fourth Generation
4 The period of fourth generation: 1971-1980. VLSI microprocessor based.

Fifth Generation
5 The period of fifth generation: 1980-onwards. ULSI microprocessor based.

First Generation Computers

The period of first generation was from 1946-1959. The computers of first generation used
vacuum tubes as the basic components for memory and circuitry for CPU (Central
Processing Unit). These tubes, like electric bulbs, produced a lot of heat and the installations
used to fuse frequently. Therefore, they were very expensive and only large organizations
were able to afford it.

12
In this generation, mainly batch processing operating system was used. Punch cards, paper
tape, and magnetic tape was used as input and output devices. The computers in this
generation used machine code as the programming language.

The main features of the first generation are:

• Vacuum tube technology

• Unreliable
• Supported machine language only
• Very costly
• Generated a lot of heat
• Slow input and output devices
• Huge size
• Need of AC
• Non-portable
• Consumed a lot of electricity

13
Some computers of this generation were:

• ENIAC
• EDVAC
• UNIVAC
• IBM-701
• IBM-650

Second Generation Computers

The period of second generation was from 1959-1965. In this generation, transistors were
used that were cheaper, consumed less power, more compact in size, more reliable and
faster than the first generation machines made of vacuum tubes. In this generation,
magnetic cores were used as the primary memory and magnetic tape and magnetic disks as
secondary storage devices.

In this generation, assembly language and high-level programming languages like

FORTRAN, COBOL were used. The computers used batch processing and multiprogramming
operating system.

The main features of second generation are:

• Use of transistors
• Reliable in comparison to first generation computers
• Smaller size as compared to first generation computers
• Generated less heat as compared to first generation computers
• Consumed less electricity as compared to first generation computers
• Faster than first generation computers

14
 • Still very costly
• AC required
• Supported machine and assembly languages

Some computers of this generation were:

• IBM 1620
• IBM 7094
• CDC 1604
• CDC 3600
• UNIVAC 1108

Third Generation Computers

The period of third generation was from 1965-1971. The computers of third generation used
Integrated Circuits (ICs) in place of transistors. A single IC has many transistors, resistors,
and capacitors along with the associated circuitry.

The IC was invented by Jack Kilby. This development made computers smaller in size,
reliable, and efficient. In this generation remote processing, time-sharing, multi-
programming operating system were used. High-level languages (FORTRAN-II TO IV, COBOL,
PASCAL PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68 etc.) were used during this generation.

The main features of third generation are:

• IC used
• More reliable in comparison to previous two generations
• Smaller size
• Generated less heat
• Faster

15
 • Lesser maintenance
• Costly
• AC required
• Consumed lesser electricity  Supported high-level language

Some computers of this generation were:

• IBM-360 series
• Honeywell-6000 series
• PDP (Personal Data Processor)
• IBM-370/168
• TDC-316

Fourth Generation Computers

The period of fourth generation was from 1971-1980. Computers of fourth generation used
Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits. VLSI circuits having about 5000 transistors and
other circuit elements with their associated circuits on a single chip made it possible to have
microcomputers of fourth generation.

Fourth generation computers became more powerful, compact, reliable, and affordable. As a
result, it gave rise to Personal Computer (PC) revolution. In this generation, time sharing,
real time networks, distributed operating system were used. All the high-level languages like
C, C++, DBASE etc., were used in this generation.

The main features of fourth generation are:

• VLSI technology used

16
 • Very cheap
• Portable and reliable
• Use of PCs
• Very small size
• Pipeline processing
• No AC required
• Concept of internet was introduced
• Great developments in the fields of networks
• Computers became easily available

Some computers of this generation were:

• DEC 10
• STAR 1000
• PDP 11
• CRAY-1(Super Computer)  CRAY-X-MP(Super Computer)

Fifth Generation Computers

The period of fifth generation is 1980-till date. In the fifth generation, VLSI technology
became ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology, resulting in the production of
microprocessor chips having ten million electronic components.

This generation is based on parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence)

software. AI is an emerging branch in computer science, which interprets the means and
method of making computers think like human beings. All the high-level languages like C
and C++, Java, .Net etc., are used in this generation.

17
AI includes:

• Robotics
• Neural Networks
• Game Playing
• Development of expert systems to make decisions in real-life situations
• Natural language understanding and generation

The main features of fifth generation are:

• ULSI technology
• Development of true artificial intelligence
• Development of Natural language processing
• Advancement in Parallel Processing
• Advancement in Superconductor technology
• More user-friendly interfaces with multimedia features
• Availability of very powerful and compact computers at cheaper rates

Some computer types of this generation are:

• Desktop
• Laptop
• NoteBook
• UltraBook
• ChromeBook

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 4. ComputerFundamentals─ Types

Computers can be broadly classified by their speed and computing power.

Sr. Type Specifications
No.

1 PC (Personal It is a single user computer system having moderately

Computer) powerful microprocessor

2 Workstation It is also a single user computer system, similar to personal

computer however has a more powerful microprocessor

3 Mini Computer It is a multi-user computer system, capable of supporting

hundreds of users simultaneously.

4 Main Frame It is a multi-user computer system, capable of supporting

hundreds of users simultaneously. Software technology is
different from minicomputer.

5 Supercomputer It is an extremely fast computer, which can execute

hundreds of millions of instructions per second.

PC (Personal Computer)
A PC can be defined as a small, relatively inexpensive computer designed for an individual
user. PCs are based on the microprocessor technology that enables manufacturers to put an
entire CPU on one chip. Businesses use personal
computers for word processing, accounting,
desktop publishing, and for running spreadsheet
and database management applications. At
home, the most popular use for personal
computers is playing games and surfing the
Internet.

Although personal computers are designed as

single-user systems, these systems are normally
linked together to form a network. In terms of
power, now-a-days high-end models of the
Macintosh and PC offer the same computing
power and graphics capability as low-end workstations by Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-
Packard, and Dell.

Workstation
Workstation is a computer used for engineering applications (CAD/CAM), desktop publishing,
software development, and other such types of applications which require a moderate
amount of computing power and relatively high quality graphics capabilities.

19
Workstations generally come with a large, high-resolution graphics screen, large amount of
RAM, inbuilt network support, and a graphical
user interface. Most workstations also have mass
storage device such as a disk drive, but a special
type of workstation, called diskless workstation,
comes without a disk drive.

Common operating systems for workstations are

UNIX and Windows NT. Like PC, workstations are
also single-user computers like PC but are
typically linked together to form a local-area
network, although they can also be used as
stand-alone systems.

Minicomputer
It is a midsize multi-processing system capable of supporting up to 250 users
simultaneously.

Mainframe
Mainframe is very large in size and is an expensive computer capable of supporting
hundreds or even thousands of users simultaneously. Mainframe executes many programs
concurrently and supports many simultaneous execution of programs.

20
 5. ComputerFundamentals─ Components

Supercomputer
Supercomputers are one of the fastest computers currently available. Supercomputers are
very expensive and are employed for specialized applications that require immense amount
of mathematical calculations (number crunching).

For example, weather forecasting, scientific simulations, (animated) graphics, fluid dynamic
calculations, nuclear energy research, electronic design, and analysis of geological data
(e.g. in petrochemical prospecting).

All types of computers follow the same basic logical structure and perform the following five
basic operations for converting raw input data into information useful to their users.
Sr. No. Operation Description

1 Take Input The process of entering data and instructions into the
computer system.

2 Store Data Saving data and instructions so that they are available for
processing as and when required.

21
 3 Processing Data Performing arithmetic, and logical operations on data in
order to convert them into useful information.

4 Output The process of producing useful information or results for

Information the user, such as a printed report or visual display.

5 Control the Directs the manner and sequence in which all of the above
workflow operations are performed.

Input Unit

This unit contains devices with the help of which we enter data into the computer. This unit
creates a link between the user and the computer. The input devices translate the
information into a form understandable by the computer.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

CPU is considered as the brain of the computer. CPU performs all types of data processing
operations. It stores data, intermediate results, and instructions (program). It controls the
operation of all parts of the computer.

CPU itself has the following three components:

• ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)

• Memory Unit
• Control Unit

22
 Output Unit
The output unit consists of devices with the help of which we get the information from the
computer. This unit is a link between the computer and the users. Output devices translate
the computer's output into a form understandable by the users.

What are the devices of a computer?

The physical, touchable, electronic and mechanical parts of a computer are
called the hardware which is composed of different devices attached to the
computer.

The following list represents a basic set of devices found in most Personal
Computers.

1. System Unit- The main part of a microcomputer, sometimes called the

chassis. It includes the following parts: Motherboard, Microprocessor, Memory
Chips, Buses, Ports, Expansion Slots and Cards.

Figure4. Tower Type System Unit

2. Motherboard / Mainboard / System Board- The main circuit board of a

computer. It contains all the circuits and components that run the computer.

23
 Figure5. Modern Motherboard

3. CPU (Central Processing Unit) - The processor is the main “brain” or “heart”
of a computer system. It performs all of the instructions and calculations that are
needed and manages the flow of information through a computer.

Figure6. Examples of CPU (Intel Core 2 Duo and AMD Athlon)

4. Primary storage- (internal storage, main memory or memory) is the

computer's working storage space that holds data, instructions for processing and
processed data (information) waiting to be sent to secondary storage. Physically,
primary storage is a collection of RAM chips.

Two (2) Types of Memory

a. ROM – (Read Only Memory) ROM is non-volatile, meaning it holds data even
when the power is ON or OFF.
b. RAM – (Random Access Memory) RAM is volatile, meaning it holds data only
when the power is on. When the power is off, RAM's contents are lost.

Figure 7 .Examples of RAM

5 . Expansion Bus - A bus is a data pathway between

several hardware components inside or outside a
computer. It does not only connect the parts of the CPU to
each other, but also links the CPU with other important
hardware.
Figure 8 .Expansion Bus

24
 6. Adapters- Printed-circuit boards
(also called interface cards) that
enable the computer to use a
peripheral device for which it does not
have the necessary connections or
circuit boards. They are often used to
permit upgrading to a new different
hardware.

Figure 9. Adapter (Network Adapter)

7. Power Supply Unit (PSU) - Installed in

the back corner of the PC case, next to the
motherboard. It converts 120vac (standard
house power) into DC voltages that are used
by other components in the PC.

Figur1 . Power
e 0 supply

8. Hard Disk Drive (HDD) - Also known as hard

drive, is a magnetic storage device that is
installed inside the computer. The hard drive is
used as permanent storage for data. In a
Windows computer, the hard drive is usually
configured as the C: drive and contains the Figure1 .Hard
operating system and applications.

9. Optical Drive- An optical drive is

a storage device that uses lasers to read
data on the optical media. There are
three types of optical drives: Compact
Disc (CD), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)
and Blu-ray Disc (BD).

Figure12. CD ROM

10. Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) - Designed to

optically access data stored on a DVD. A laser
moves back and forth near the disk surface and
accesses data at a very fast rate.

25
What are the input and output devices of a computer?

The devices attached to a personal computer can be classified into two- the
input and output devices. Input Device is composed of a device that accepts data
and instructions from the user or from another computer system. While, output
device is any piece of computer hardware that displays results after the computer
has processed the input data that has been entered.

Two (2) Types of Input Devices

1. Keyboard Entry – Data is inputted to the computer through a keyboard.

Keyboard - The first input device developed for the PC. Data is transferred to
the PC over a short cable with a circular 6-pin Mini-din connector that plugs
into the back of the motherboard.

2. Direct Entry – A form of input that does not require data to be keyed by someone
sitting at a keyboard. Direct-entry devices create machine-readable data on
paper, or magnetic media, or feed it directly into the computer’s CPU.

Three Categories of Direct Entry Devices

1. Pointing Devices - An input device used to move the pointer
(cursor) on screen.
• Mouse - The most common 'pointing device' used in
PCs. Every mouse has two buttons and most have
one or two scroll wheels.

• Touch screen- A display screen that is sensitive to the touch of a finger or

stylus. Used in myriad applications, including ATM machines, retail
pointof-sale terminals, car navigation and industrial controls. The touch
screen became wildly popular for smart phones and tablets.

Figure16. Touch Screen Devices

26
 • Light Pen - A light-sensitive stylus wired to a video terminal used to draw
pictures or select menu options. The user brings the pen to the desired
point on screen and presses the pen button to make contact.
• Digitizer Tablet - A graphics drawing tablet used for sketching new
images or tracing old ones. Also called a "graphics tablet," the user
contacts the surface of the device with a wired or wireless pen or puck.
Often mistakenly called a mouse, the puck is officially the "tablet
cursor."

2. Scanning Devices- A device that can read text or

illustrations printed on paper and translates the
information into a form the computer can use.
Voice- Input Devices - Audio input devices also known as speech
or voice recognition systems that allow a user to send audio
signals to a computer for processing, recording, or carrying out
commands. Audio input devices such as microphones allow
users to speak to the computer in order to record a voice
message or navigate software.

Output Devices
1. Computer Display Monitor- It displays information in visual form, using text and
graphics. The portion of the monitor that displays the information is called the
screen or video display terminal.

Types of Monitor
a. CRT Monitors - Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) were the only type of displays for use
with desktop PCs. They are relatively big (14" to 16" deep) and heavy (over 15
lbs).

27
b. LCD Monitors – Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology has been used in laptops
for some time. It has recently been made commercially available as monitors
for desktop PCs.

c. LED Monitors (Light Emitting Diode) - A display and lighting technology used in
almost every electrical and electronic product on the market, from a tiny on/off
light to digital readouts, flashlights, traffic lights and perimeter lighting.

2. LCD Projectors- utilize two sheets of polarizing material

with a liquid crystal solution between them. An electric
current passed through the liquid causes the crystals to
align so that light cannot pass through them. Each
crystal, therefore, is like a shutter, either allowing light
to pass through or blocking the light.

3. Smart Board - A type of display screen that has a touch

sensitive transparent panel covering the screen, which is similar to a touch
screen.

4. Printer - A device that prints text or illustrations on paper.

Types of printer
a) Ink-Jet or Bubble-Jet Printer - spays ink at a sheet of paper. Ink-jet printers
produce high-quality text and graphics.

b) Laser Printer - Uses the same technology as copy machines. Laser printers
produce very high quality text and graphics.

c) LCD and LED Printer- Similar to a laser printer, but uses liquid crystals or
lightemitting diodes rather than a laser to produce an image on the drum.

d) Line Printer - Contains a chain of characters or pins that print an entire line at
one time. Line printers are very fast, but produce low-quality print.

28
 Figure 28.Types of Printer

(e) Thermal Printer- An inexpensive printer that works by pushing heated pins
against heat-sensitive paper. Thermal printers are widely used in calculators
and fax machines.

5. Speakers - Used to play sound. They may be built into the

system unit or connected with cables. Speakers allow you to
listen to music and hear sound effects from your computer.

What is a Storage Device? Figure 29.

Aside from the devices attached on a PC, there are also the so called storage
devices that perform a special task in computing system. Storage device is any
apparatus for recording computer data in a permanent or semi-permanent form.

29
 Types of storage devices
Floppy diskette- is a random access, removable data storage medium that can be
used with personal computers. The term usually refers to the magnetic medium
housed in a rigid plastic cartridge measuring 3.5 inches square and about
2millimeters thick. Also called a "3.5-inch diskette," it can store up to 1.44
megabytes (MB) of data.

Compact disc (CD) – also called optical disc is a nonmagnetic, polished metal disk
used to store digital information. The disc is read by the CD- ROM.
Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)- an optical disc technology with a 4.7 gigabyte storage
capacity on a single-sided, one-layered disk, which is enough for a 133-minute
movie.
Jump drive and USB flash drive- is a plug-and-play portable storage device that uses
flash memory and is lightweight enough to attach to a key chain. A USB drive can
be used in place of a floppy disk, Zip drive disk, or CD.
Hard drive- is the main, and usually largest, data storage device in a computer. The
operating system, software titles and most other files are stored in the hard disk
drive.
LS-120- is a drive which supports a special floppy diskette which can store up to
120MB of information as well as being backwards compatible and still supporting
the standard 1.44MB floppy diskettes.

Zip drive-is a small, portable disk drive used primarily for backing up and archiving
personal computer files.

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