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Fundamentals of Computer Programming: Jehangir Arshad Meo

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48 views24 pages

Fundamentals of Computer Programming: Jehangir Arshad Meo

Thank you for the lecture summary. Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions.

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Lecture 2

Fundamentals of Computer
Programming
Jehangir Arshad Meo

Mechanical Engineering Department


COMSATS Institute of Information and Technology Sahiwal
Basics of Computer Organization:
Software vs. Hardware
 A computer is an electronic device,
 Physical equipments that are used
operating under the control of
to interact with software are called
instructions called software.
hardware.

 Instructions are stored in its  Key board , Mouse, Printer etc…


(computer’s) own memory unit
Software
 It is a set of well-organized programs (Instructions).

 Generally there are two categories of software:

1. Application Software
 The kind of software that you use to resolve our problems.

2. System Software
 The kind of software that computer uses to communicate
with user.
Application Software

There are certain general purpose software that we can


call “basic application software”.

These are widely used in nearly all career areas Such as:
Education, Medicine, Industry, Communications,
Security of systems, Database management, Banking,
Advertisement, Weather forecasting, Data analysis
etc….
Basic Application Softwares
System Software
System software enables the application software to
interact with the computer hardware.

System software is basically the “background” software.

The most important system software is the “operating system”.

An operating system (OS) is a collection of software that manages


computer hardware resources and provides common services for
computer programs. The operating system is a vital component of
the system software in a computer system.

System software frees the user to concentrate on solving problems


rather than on the complexities of operating the computer.
System Software
System software deals with the physical
complexities of how the hardware works.

It generally consists of four kinds of programs:

1. Bootstrap loader
2. Diagnostic routines
3. Basic input / output system
4. Operating system
1 - Bootstrap loader:

 It is a program that is stored permanently in the computer’s


electronic circuitry.

 When you turn on your computer, the bootstrap loader


obtains the operating system from your hard disk (or floppy
disk) and loads it into memory.

 A boot loader is a computer program that loads the main operating


system or runtime environment for the computer after completion of
the self-tests.

 This is commonly called booting up the system.


2 - Diagnostic routines:
 They are also programs stored in the computer’s
electronic circuitry.

 They startup when you turn on the machine.

 They test the primary storage, the central processing


unit (CPU), and other parts of the system.

 Their purpose is to make sure the computer and all the


devices are running properly.
3 - Basic Input – Output System (BIOS):
 A set of instructions stored on a ROM CHIP that
handles input-output functions and system
component management (such as power configuration
and interrupt request settings).

 BIOS provides help to the user, to access the software


and hardware of computer.

 E.g.: These programs enable to interpret keyboard


characters and transmit characters to the monitor
or to a floppy disk.
4 - Operating System
 The operating system is a collection of programs
that helps the computer to manage its resources.

 It enables the users to run programs.

 It manages memory, data and files.


Hardware:
 Microcomputer hardware means the physical equipment.

 Hardware Falls into following categories:

1. Input devices
2. System unit
3. Primary Storage
4. Secondary Storage devices
5. Output devices
6. Communication devices
Input Devices
The devices that are used to input the instructions into the computer are called
input devices.

These devices translates the data and programs that is understandable by the
human, into the form that the computer can process.

Most commonly used input devices are:

 Keyboard: just like a type writer keyboard. Used to input text.

 Monitor: Used to display the data.

 Mouse: It directs the insertion point, or cursor on the display screen.

 It has one or more buttons for selecting commands.


 It is also used to draw graphics.
The System Unit(CPU + RAM)
 The system unit is electronic circuitry housed within the computer cabinet. The two main parts of the system unit
are:

1. Central Processing Unit (CPU)


2. Memory (Random Access memory (RAM))

Central Processing Unit (CPU):

1 - Controls and manipulates data to produce information. A microcomputer’s

CPU is contained on a single integrated circuit (IC) or chip. These chips are

called “microprocessors”.

2 - It has two parts ALU( Arithmetic and logic unit and Control unit)

Memory, [Random Access memory (RAM):

Holds data and program instructions for processing of the data.

 It also holds the processed information.

 Memory is sometimes called “temporary” storage because it is lost if the electrical


power is cutoff.

 Memory is located in the system unit on tiny memory chips.


Primary Storage Devices:
RAM (Random Access Memory)

 Memory also called Random Access Memory or RAM. (temporary


memory) is the main memory of the computer.
 Data in the RAM is lost when you turned off your computer.
 Store currently running applications.

ROM (Read Only Memory)

 ROM can store information a much larger in size than RAM.


 It Stores BIOS.
 Slower than RAM.
Secondary Storage
 Like RAM, it also stores data and programs.
 However, it stores “permanently”.
 For microcomputers, the most important kinds of
secondary storage “media” are:

1. Floppy Disks
2. Hard Disks
3. USB (Universal Serial Bus)
4. CDs (Compact Disks)
Floppy Disks
A floppy disk is a portable, inexpensive storage medium
that consists of a thin, circular, flexible plastic disk with a
magnetic coating enclosed in a square-shaped plastic shell.
Structure Of Floppy Disks
Initially = 8-inches wide, then shrank to 5.25 inches, and today
floppy disks are 3.5 inches wide and can typically store 1.44
megabytes of data.

A floppy disk is a magnetic disk, which means that it uses


magnetic patterns to store data.

Data in floppy disks can be read from and written to.

Formatting is the process of preparing a disk for reading and


writing.
Hard Disks
Another form of auxiliary storage is a hard disk. A hard
disk consists of one or more rigid metal plates coated
with a metal oxide material that allows data to be
magnetically recorded on the surface of the platters.

The hard disk platters spin at a high rate of speed,


typically 5400 to 7200 revolutions per minute (RPM).

Storage capacities of hard disks for personal computers


range from 10 GB to 1TB
Compact Discs
A compact disk (CD), also called an optical disc, is a flat
round, portable storage medium that is usually 4.75
inch in diameter.

A CD-ROM (read only memory), is a compact disc that


uses the same laser technology as audio CDs for
recording music. In addition it can contain other types
of data such as text, graphics, and video.

The capacity of a CD-ROM is 650 MB of data.


Different Devices:
Output and Communication Devices
Output devices are pieces of equipment that translate
the processed information from the CPU into a form
that humans can understand.
 Most commonly used output devices are monitors (video
display screens) and printers.

Communication hardware sends and receives data and


programs from one computer or secondary storage
device to another.
 Many microcomputers use a modem. This device converts the
electronic signals from the computer into electronic signals
that can travel over a telephone line.
Post Class Activity
Try to find Applications of computers in various departments/fields.
Find the advantages and drawbacks of the usage of computers in that
fields:

 Medical science
 Automobile industry
 Sports
 Education
 Agriculture
 Screen Media and Movies

You may browse internet to find info

Visit lab and get acquainted with the software we talked about in today’s
lecture.

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