ANALYTICAL ABILITY AND DIGITAL

AWARENESS

MODULE II
COMPUTER BASICS
By Jyakshi Sharma
 Digital Computer
Digital computer is most commonly used type of computer .

 It is defined as a device that operates upon information or data. It is a

computer that performs calculations and logical operations with quantities
represented as digit, usually in the binary number system.
Example-Laptops,Desktops.

The first electronic digital computer, developed in the late 1940s by John
Vincent. It was used primarily for numerical computations.
 Block Diagram of Digital Computer

 Block diagram of a computer gives you the pictorial

representation of a computer that how it works inside .
In computer's block diagram, we will see how computer
works from feeding the data to getting the result.
 The architecture of the computer is designed in such a
way that to complete any instruction, the computer
divides that instruction into its blocks so that that
instruction is completed block-wise.
 The method of making a computer block-wise is called a
block diagram of a computer.
Components of Block Diagram of Computer System

 There are mainly four components or blocks

in the computer, in which the computer
divides any given instruction.
1. Input Unit
2. CPU
3. Storage Unit
4. Output Unit
 Components of Block Diagram
1. Input Unit

 Input device is the medium of communication

between the user and the computer.
 Computers need to receive data and
instruction in order to solve any problem.
Therefore, we need to input the data and
instructions into the computers.
 Input devices are all those computer
components that are used to enter/feed
information into the computer system.
 All the input devices perform the following
functions
• Input device accepts and collects the data and
instructions from the user.
• Input unit converts the user instruction to the
Machine language, which the computer understands.
• After that, the input unit sends that instruction or
data to the main memory of the computer for
processing.
• Supply the converted data to the computer system
for further processing
 Examples of input Devices
• Keyboard
We use the keyboard to input text data into the computer.
Text data like - alphabet data - A, B, C, and numeric data - 1,
22, 985.
• Mouse
With the mouse, we give instructions to open any
application or file on the computer screen.
• ScannerWith the help of a scanner, we convert any hard
copy data into soft copy data and enter that data into the
computer.
 2. Output Unit

The computer system is linked or connected to the outside world

with the help of output devices.

The output devices produce or generate the desired result

according to our input. These devices convert the processed data
from a machine coded form data into a human-readable form
from binary code.

These devices have various features which are given below:

• These devices receive or accept the data in the binary form.
• The output devices convert the binary code into the human-
readable form.
• These devices produce the converted result and show to the user.
 Examples of Output Devices
• Monitor Output - Whatever is visible on the monitor screen is
output. For example - you gave the instruction to play the video
and the video is played, the output is the video showing on your
monitor screen.
• Printer Output - The printer is used to take out the soft copy
that is on your computer into the hard copy.
• Projector
An output device that can take the display of a computer
screen and project a large version of it onto a flat surface.
Projectors are often used in meetings and presentations to help
make sure everyone in the room can view the presentation.
 3. Storage Unit/Memory Unit
Storage Unit: The data storage is the core function and
fundamental of the computer components.  Memory/storage unit
is used to store data and instructions temporarily or permanently in
the computer system. The input data, intermediate result and the
final result are stored in the storage unit. The storage unit of a
computer system are divided into two main categories.

1. Primary Storage
2. Secondary Storage
 Types of Storage Unit
a) Primary Storage:
 This memory is generally used to hold the program being currently executed in the
computer. It temporarily stores the input data, calculation result.
 The primary memory is volatile in nature. The data is lost, when the computer is switched
off.
 In order to store the data permanently, the data has to be transferred to the secondary
memory.
 It comprises only of internal memory.
b) Secondary Storage:
 The primary storage is not able to store data permanently for future use. So some other
types of storage technology is required to store the data permanently for long time, it is
called secondary or auxiliary storage
 It is non volatile in nature and and can stores several programs, documents, data bases etc.
 The programs that you run on the computer are first transferred to the primary memory
then whenever the results are saved, they get stored in the secondary memory.
 It comprises of both internal and external memory.
 4. Central Processing Unit
• Central Processing Unit: The CPU is like the brain
of the computer system. The combination of The
Control Unit (CU) and Arithmetic Logic Unit
(ALU) of the computer are together known as
the Central Processing Unit (CPU). It performs
the following functions:
• • It performs all calculations.
• • It takes all decisions.
• •It controls all units of the computer.
 Arithmetic Logical Unit:
• Arithmetic Logical Unit: The actual processing
of the data and instructions are performed by
ALU. ALU performs all arithmetic operations
such as addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division, etc .It also uses logic operations for
comparison by using AND,OR,NOT, = etc.
 Control Unit:
• Control Unit: This section of CPU is used to control the entire
working of a computer system. This unit also controls the
transfer of data between memory and input/output devices or
I/O devices.
• The control unit is generally referred as the central nervous
system of the computer that control and synchronizes its
working. It acts like the supervisor of the computer.
• CU fetches instructions from memory, decodes the instruction,
interprets the instruction to know what the task are to be
performed and sends suitable control signals to the other
components to perform for the necessary steps to executes the
instruction.
 Classification of Computers
• Computers are broadly classified into four
categories according to their sizes and types-
1. Microcomputers
2. Mini Computer
3. Mainframe Computer
4. Super Computers
Classification of Computers
 1. Microcomputers

• Microcomputers are small, low-cost and

single-user digital computer. They consist of
CPU, input unit, output unit, storage unit and
the software. They are also called personal
computer systems.
• Examples of micro computer- desktop
computers, laptop, tablet, smart phones and
notebook.
 2. Mini Computer

• Minicomputers are digital computers, generally used

in multi-user systems. They have high processing
speed and high storage capacity than the
microcomputers.
• Minicomputers can support 4–200 users
simultaneously. The users can access the
minicomputer through their PCs or terminal. They
are used for real-time applications in industries,
research centers, etc.
• Example- PDP 11, IBM (8000 series).
 3. Mainframe Computers

• Mainframe computers are multi-user, multi-programming

and high performance computers. They operate at a very
high speed, have very large storage capacity and can
handle the workload of many users. They are generally
used in centralized databases.
• They are usually used by big organizations for bulk data
processing
• Mainframe computers are used in organizations like banks,
insurance companies etc. where many people require
frequent access to the same data. Some examples of
mainframes are CDC 6600 and IBM ES000 series.
 4. Super Computers

• Supercomputers are the fastest and the most

expensive machines.
• Supercomputers are built by interconnecting
thousands of processors that can work in parallel.
• Supercomputers are used for highly calculation-
intensive tasks, such as, weather forecasting,
nuclear research, Space exploration.
• Example of supercomputers are IBM Roadrunner
and PARAM(India’s first super computer).
 MEMORY SYSTEM

• Computer memory is the storage space in

the computer, where data is to be
processed and instructions required for
processing are stored.
• It is basically divided into three main
types-
1. PRIMARY Memory
2. SECONDARY Memory
3. CACHE Memory
• A memory unit refers to the amount of
memory/storage that is used to measure or
represent data.
• The storage capacity of the memory is
expressed in various units of memory.
Generally this storage capacity is measured in
terms of bytes. 
Memory units
Classification of Memory
 Cache Memory

• It is supplementary memory system that temporarily

stores frequently used instructions and data for
quicker processing by the central processing unit
(CPU) of a computer.
• Cache holds a copy of only the most frequently used
information or program codes stored in the main
memory so that they are immediately available to the
CPU when needed.  
• Cache memory is an extremely fast memory type that
acts as a buffer between RAM and the CPU.
 Computer - Software
• Software comprises the entire set of programs,
procedures, and routines associated with the
operation of a computer system.
• It instructs the computer about the tasks to be
performed.
 TYPES OF SOFTWARE

• The two major types of computer software

are:
• System software
• Application software
 System software

• System software provides basic functionality to the

computer.
• This type of software interacts with the computer's
hardware, such as its processor and provides a
framework for users to use other applications on their
computers.
• It is an interface between hardware and application
software. 
• As system software runs at the primary level in your
computer, it is called low-level software.
• Some examples of system software include:
• Operating Systems like Microsoft Windows or
mac OS
• Utility Software like  antivirus software
• Firmware
• Device Drivers