Computer Application in Business

Module 1 – Introduction to computer system and its

application

XIM UNIVERSITY
DR. ITISHREE NAYAK
What is a Computer!
⮚Programmable Electronic device that can perform various tasks
⮚The tasks are of 4 categories - Accept input data, process data, produce output,
and store the data or result.
⮚Computers have become an integral part of human life
⮚While computers have improved the quality of human life, it has also certain
drawbacks
Characteristics of a computer
⮚ Speed – A very fast device. Computers can process millions of instructions per second
thus carrying out even complex tasks in fractions of seconds
⮚ Accuracy – Consistently high degree of accuracy
⮚ Versatility – Can perform tasks ranging from simple operations to navigating satellites
⮚ Diligence – Free from human factors such as tiredness, monotony, absentmindedness, etc.
Helps in carrying out a large volume of repetitive jobs
⮚ Storage and retrieval capacity – Vast storage capacity, uses auxiliary memory systems to
extend the storage capacity. Can retrieve the stored information at any point in time
⮚ Automation – Can be programmed to carry out a large number of tasks on its own

⮚ No Intelligence – cannot detect various kinds of human errors

⮚ No feeling – Cannot prevent inappropriate usage
Evolution of Computers
First Generation (1940-1956):
⮚used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory
⮚Huge in size, taking up the space of almost an entire room
⮚Costly to operate
⮚Used a large amount of electricity and produced lots of heat leading to malfunction
⮚Used machine language
⮚Examples - Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC) and Electronic Numerical Integrator and
Computer (ENIAC).
Generations of computers (cntd.)
Second Generation (1956 – 1963):
⮚Transistors replaced vacuum tubes
⮚Reduced size, cost, and space
⮚Energy efficient
⮚Faster computational power
⮚Still produced heat leading to malfunctions
⮚Used assembly languages like COBOL, FORTRAN, ALGOL
Generations of computers (cntd.)
Third Generation (1964 – 1971):
⮚Integrated circuits replaced transistors
⮚Much reduced size, cost, and space
⮚Much faster computational power
⮚Introduced keyboards and monitors
⮚Examples are IBM-360 and CDC-6400
Generations of computers (cntd.)
Fourth Generation (1972 – present):
⮚Used microprocessor (thousands of integrated circuits were built on a single chip)
⮚Considerably reduced the size of computers
⮚Could be linked to form a network
⮚Personal computers and laptops use this technology
⮚Graphic user interface is one of the primary advances of this period
Generations of computers (cntd.)
Fifth Generation (Present and future):
⮚Advances in computer architecture – parallel processing (use two or more microprocessors to
run tasks simultaneously)
⮚Application of artificial intelligence
⮚Understand natural language (human language)
⮚Speed – remarkable improvement of speed, accuracy and reliability (in comparison with the
fourth generation computers)
Types of Computer
Computers can be divided based on 3 parameters – Purpose, Size & Capacity, Technology
Purpose
⮚General Purpose Computers
⮚Special Purpose Computers
Size and capacity
⮚Micro computer (personal computers, laptops)
⮚Mini Computer/Midrange computers (small organizations)
⮚Mainframes (large organizations)
⮚Supercomputer (more than one CPU, used in defense and similar activities)
Data handling or the technology used
⮚Analog Computers (Obsolete)
⮚Digital Computers (current computers)
⮚Hybrid Computers (mix of both the above)
Computer Architecture
Set of rules and methods by which a system operates. These rules state how the hardware and
software should join together and interact to work.

Input Processing Output

Computer Architecture (Cntd)
Central Processing Unit

Control unit

Arithmetic/logic
unit
Input Device Output Device

Enter data and Communicates the

instructions to the CPU output to the users
- Keyboard, mouse, - Computer monitors,
touch screen, voice Memory unit printer, voice responses
recognition
Computer Architecture (Cntd)
Type of Memory
⮚Primary memory/Main memory/Random access memory(RAM)
⮚Secondary memory
⮚Cache memory
⮚Read only memory
Components of Computer
⮚Hardware
⮚Physical elements that constitute a computer
⮚Input Device, Storage, CPU, Output Device
⮚Software
⮚Programs or apps comprising all the instructions that direct the hardware in
performing the task
⮚Classified into two groups
⮚System software – interface between computer hardware and the user (operating system, drivers,
language processors)
⮚Application software – used by the end users (web browser, word/spreadsheet/presentations,
emails)
Operating system
⮚A program that interfaces between the user and the computer hardware.
Manages the overall functioning of computer and execution of application
programs
⮚Manages the computer’s resources like memory, CPU, disk drives,
printers, etc.
⮚Manages and controls the allocation of the system's resources among
different tasks and users
⮚Increases the efficiency of the system’s resources
⮚Resides in the hard-disk drive, loaded into memory after PC starts
Operating system Start-up
⮚The CPU starts and fetches instructions into RAM from the BIOS, which is
stored in the ROM.
⮚The BIOS starts the monitor and keyboard and does some basic checks to make
sure the computer is working properly. For example, it will look for the RAM.
⮚The BIOS then starts the boot sequence. It will look for the operating system.
⮚The BIOS will fetch the operating system from the hard drive and load it into
the RAM.
⮚The BIOS then transfers control to the operating system.
Operating System Functions (cont)
⮚Providing User Interface – It provides the necessary platform for the user to interact with the
computer for carrying out necessary tasks (handling files, running programs, etc.).
▪ Graphic user interface
▪ Command line interface

⮚Process Management - A process runs when a program is executed (by the user or internally). A
process needs CPU time, memory, files, etc. to complete the task. The operating system allocates
resources to process, creates and deletes the process after completion of the tasks, manages the
sharing and exchange of information through processes, and creates synchronization through
processes.
⮚File management – Creating, renaming, copying, deleting, retrieving, closing, reading, writing,
and setting the attributes of a file are all done by the operating system. It gets the files from the
hard disk (Secondary memory) and loads into RAM.
Operating system functions (cont)
⮚Memory Management – Instructions and data for running a program need to get stored in
primary memory (main memory/RAM) for the CPU to access. The operating system moves
processes back and forth between the main memory and disk during execution. It decides about
the allocation and reallocation of memory by a process.

⮚Other Utility functions – Search files, antivirus scanning, diagnosing and repairing system
problems
Operating system - examples
⮚MS DoS (single-user system)
⮚Microsoft Windows
⮚Mac OS (supports Apple’s Macintosh line of personal computers)
⮚Unix (multiuser operating system)
⮚Linux (Open source)
⮚Mobile operating system – Apple iOS and Google Android
Computer Network
Two or more computers connected to share files and resources and allow communication. It is a
group of devices such as computers and printers connected together to a hub or switch.
The first computer-to-computer link was established in 1969.
Types of Networking
Personal area network (PAN) – Primarily used for one individual and connect a
handful of devices (computer, smartphone, Bluetooth, printer).
Local area network (LAN) – Most common form of network. a LAN connects a
group of computers or devices together across a local area. It is used in offices to
connect computers across buildings. The connections can be wired or wireless
(WLAN)
Wide area network (WAN) – Same as LAN but across a large area
Virtual private network (VPN) – Tool for ensuring your internet privacy. It
encrypts your connection and hides your identity (IP address) while surfing the
internet
Uses of Computer network
⮚Resource sharing – Sharing of the printer, programs, and data across computer systems
irrespective of the physical location of the systems.
⮚Client-server model of operation – A server is the central computer used to store information
and maintained by the system administrator. Clients are the machines that connect to this server
to access the information stored on the server.
⮚Intranet – A private network is created for a specific organization. Only the staff/member of that
organization have access to it. No one from the outside world can access it.
⮚Extranet – It is that part of the private network which some of the outside users can access (e.g.,
vendors for an IT project)
Intranet
Benefits of Networking for organization
⮚Reduced cost for the organization through sharing of resources
⮚Share files in the electronic form to reduce printing costs and paper waste
⮚Ease of operation
⮚Sharing of files across users
⮚Ease of data backup
⮚Share software with multi-user licenses
⮚Security
⮚Confidentiality
⮚Person-to-person communication (email, chat, video conferencing)
⮚Integrated operations across the organization

⮚Access to the internet

Programming in computer
Algorithm
Flowchart
Programming languages
Algorithms
⮚A set of steps defined to solve any problem
⮚Developed before the actual coding is done
⮚Acts as a blueprint for coding
⮚Written in natural language (English) so that non-programmers can understand
it
⮚Has a set of inputs
⮚Has a finite number of steps
⮚Produces desired output
Algorithm
Q. Write an algorithm to calculate the average of 3 numbers (X, Y, Z).
1. Read X, Y, Z
2. Calculate Average = Sum (X, Y, Z)/3
3. Print Average

Q. Write an algorithm to find if a number is even or odd

1. Print “Enter the number”
2. Read N
3. Calculate R = modulo (N/2)
4. If R = 0 print “N is Even” and Go to step 6
5. Else print “N is Odd” and Go to step 6
6. Stop
Algorithm
Q. Write an algorithm to find the maximum of 3 numbers

1. Print “Enter 3 numbers”

2. Read X, Y, Z
3. Find If X > Y
4. If Yes, find if X > Z Else go to step 6
5. If Yes, Print X Else go to step 8
6. Find if Y>Z
7. If yes, print Y Else go to step 8
8. Print Z
Flowchart
⮚Diagrammatic representation of the program logic. Program logic is the order in which
the computer executes the statements in a program
⮚Sequence of operation to be performed to arrive at a solution
⮚The operations are placed in boxes and are connected by arrows, in the order of
execution
⮚Flow chart are widely used to facilitate better understanding of methods, processes or
systems
Flow Chart Symbols

Start
Decision

Input/Output
Flow Line

Process
Connector

Stop
Example: Draw a flow chart that accepts name as input and
print name as “My Name is …”

START

DISPLAY NAME “ ENTER NAME”

ACCEPT NAME

PRINT “My Name is”, NAME

STOP
CW Example: Draw a flow chart to find and print the largest of three
distinct numbers X, Y and Z START

ACCEPT X, Y, Z

YES NO
X>Y

NO NO YES
X>Z Y>Z

YES

PRINT Z PRINT Y
PRINT X

STOP
Draw a flowchart to group the employees
based on their year of experiences

If year of experience is < 3, display Junior manager

If year of experience is >=3 but less than 8, display middle manager, If

year of experience is >=8, display senior manager.

Programming Language
⮚Python (simple syntax, easy to learn)
⮚Javascript
⮚Java
⮚C
⮚C++
⮚R
How a computer program runs
The following two programs are used to convert the computer program from high level
language to machine language.
⮚Compiler - A compiler translates a program in a single run. It takes less time. The
translated program is then executed to carry out the necessary task.
⮚Interpreter - It translates and executes programming language statements one by
one. It takes more time than the compiler.
Computer Application
Application of IT in various domains of life
Information Technology is all around us, improving our lives
◦ Education
◦ Training
◦ Entertainment
◦ Shipping
◦ Manufacturing
◦ Journalism
◦ Financial and Investments
◦ Taxation and Accounting
◦ Health and Medicine
Application of IT in Personal life
▪Personal Communication (email, chat, call)
▪Entertainment (movies, shows, music)
▪Web surfing for learning
▪Interactive gaming
▪Online shopping
▪Product comparison
▪Online banking/ stock market
▪Day-to-Day living
Application of IT in Business life
▪Internal Communication, video conferencing, messaging
▪Computer network
▪Corporate website, intranet, extranet
▪Physical Security
▪Data security
▪Customer service
▪Daily operations
▪Ecommerce
▪Marketing
▪Identifying problems and implementing solutions
Examples on IT Careers
Database Administration ► IT project Managers
Managing corporate database ► Management Consulting - provide consulting
for organizations
Information Security Jobs
► Computer Forensics Expert - extracts
Network Administration
computer evidence for
Configure and operate a computer network detecting/preventing /prosecuting crimes
IT Analyst ► IT Sales - people on frontline to sell products
Translate business requirements into technical ► Software product development
specification
IT programming