Computer Skills

Chapter 01:

1
2 Computer
 A computer is an electronic device, operating under
the control of instructions stored in its own memory
that can accept data (input), process the data
according to specified rules, produce information
(output), and store the information for future use
 Functionalities of a computer(Contd.)
3

Processing

Data Information
4 Computer Components

 We can divide computer in

Hardware and Software
 Hardware
 Software
5 Hardware

 Computer hardware is the collection of physical

elements”Tangible objects” that constitutes a
computer system.
 The actual machinery, wires, transistors, and
circuits … etc.
6 Hardware:
7 Software

 A set of instructions and its associated

documentations that tells a computer
what to do or how to perform a task.
 system software
 application software
8 Software
9 Computer Units

1.Input Unit
2.Central processing Unit
3.Primary Memory Unit
4.Secondary storage Unit
5.Output Unit
10

Hardwar pats of
system unit
11 Input Devices
 Input device is any peripheral (piece of computer
hardware equipment to provide data and control
signals to an information processing system such
as a computer or other information appliance.
 Input device Translate data from form that humans
understand to one that the computer can work
with. Most common are keyboard and mouse
12 Computer Units
13 Input Devices
 The Keyboard - Standard Keyboard Layout

Most keyboards have keys arranged in five groups:

1. Alphanumeric keys

2. Numeric keypad

3. Function keys

4. Modifier keys

5. Cursor-movement keys
 The Keyboard - Standard Keyboard Layout

• A standard computer keyboard has about 100 keys.

• Most keyboards use the QWERTY layout, named for the first six
keys in the top row of letters.
 ACADEMIC RECORDS
Password * * * * *
ENTER Invalid Password
17 Example of Input Devices

Keyboard Mouse (pointing device) Microphone

Touch screen Scanner Webcam
Touchpads MIDI keyboard
Graphics Tablets Cameras Pen Input
Video Capture Hardware Microphone Trackballs
Barcode reader Digital camera Joystick
Gamepad Electronic Whiteboard

Note: The most common use keyboard is the QWERTY keyboard.

Generally standard Keyboard has 104 keys
18 Central Processing Unit

 CPU
 known as microprocessor or processor
 It is responsible for all functions and processes
 Computer Ports?

 On computer, a port is
generally a specific place for
being physically connected to
some other device, usually
with a socket or plug which
we call Connectors

Typical Computer Port found behind a desktop PC

20 CPU Components

 The CPU is comprised of three main parts

1. ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)
2. Control Unit (CU)
3. Registers: Stores the data that is to be executed next.
21 ALU
 Executes all arithmetic and logical operations.
 Arithmetic calculations like as addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division.
 Logical operation like compare numbers, letters, or
special characters
22 Control Unit (CU)

Control Unit (CU): controls and co-ordinates computer components.

 Read the code for the next instruction to be executed.
 Increment the program counter so it points to the next instruction.
 Read whatever data the instruction requires from cells in memory.
 Provide the necessary data to an ALU or register.
 If the instruction requires an ALU or specialized hardware to
complete, instruct the hardware to perform the requested operation.
23 Registers

 Registers: Stores the data that is to be executed

next, "very fast storage area".
24
25 Primary Memory
1. RAM: Random Access Memory: is a memory scheme within the
computer system responsible for storing data on a temporary basis,
so that it can be promptly accessed by the processor as and when
needed.
 It is volatile in nature, which means that data will be erased once
supply to the storage device is turned off.
 RAM stores data randomly and the processor accesses these data
randomly from the RAM storage.
 RAM is considered "random access" because you can access any
memory cell directly if you know the row and column that
intersect at that cell.
26 Primary Memory

2. ROM (Read Only Memory): ROM is a permanent

form of storage. ROM stays active regardless of
whether power supply to it is turned on or off. ROM
devices do not allow data stored on them to be
modified.
27 Secondary Memory

 Stores data and programs permanently

 its retained after the power is turned off
 Main Examples
1. Hard Disk
2. Optical Disk
3. Flash memory
28 Hard Disk

 Called Disk drive or HDD

 stores and provides relatively quick access to large
amounts of data.
 Stores data on an electromagnetically charged
surface or set of surfaces.
Industry Watch

"Google Chrome OS will not support hard-

disk drives. SSDs will lead to a fast boot
time." — Sundar Pichai, VP of Product
Management, Google Inc.

Computerworld, November 2009

"SSD could ultimately replace

hard disk drives."
— Hu Yoshida, CTO, Hitachi Data Systems

Network World, January 2010

 Time to read all data: 10s sec
CPU (80 GB/s)
Memory Bus
RAM
(100s GB)
hours
Ethernet (1 GB/s)
(1 GB/s)*
PCI
SSD
(600 MB/s)* (TBs)
SATA
10s of hours
(50-100 MB/s)* HDD
(10s TBs)

* multiple channels 30
Storage Evolution
1950s 1960s 1970s

First tape drive Disk data Cassette tape Floppy disks

storage 5.25" and 3.5"

1980s 1990s 2000s

Thinner
and more
efficient
Hard disk CD and USB drives Solid state
drives DVD and flash drives
memory cards
 What is a Solid-State Drive (SSD)?

A solid-state drive (SSD) is a new generation of storage device used in computers.

SSDs replace traditional mechanical hard disks by using flash-based memory,
which is significantly faster. Older hard-disk storage technologies run slower,
which often makes your computer run slower than it should. SSDs speed up
computers significantly due to their low read-access times and fast throughputs.

For decades, data was stored primarily on mechanical hard drives. These traditional
hard disk drives (HDDs) are mostly based on moving parts, like a read/write head
that goes back and forth to gather data. This makes HDDs the likeliest computer
hardware component to fail. The new solid-state drives work completely differently.
They use a simple memory chip called NAND flash memory, which has no moving
parts and near-instant access times.

Source: Principled Technologies, 2009

SSDs have specific benefits in the following areas:
•Gaming: Gaming computers have always pressed the limits of current computing
technology, justifying relatively expensive equipment for the benefit of gaming
performance. That is particularly true for storage, as modern blockbuster games constantly
load and write files (e.g. textures, maps, levels, characters).
•Mobility: SSDs have low power requirements, thus contributing to better battery life in
laptops and tablets. SSDs are also shock resistant, which reduces the chances of data loss
when mobile devices are dropped.
•Servers: Enterprise servers need SSDs to get fast reads and writes in order to properly
serve their client PCs.
 Comparison chart
34
HDD SDD
Stands for Hard Disk Drive Solid State Drive
Speed HDD has higher latency, longer read/write times, SSD has lower latency, faster
and supports fewer IOPs (input output operations read/writes, and supports more
per second) compared to SSD. IOPs (input output operations per
second) compared to HDD.
Heat, Electricity, Hard disk drives use more electricity to rotate the Since no such rotation is needed in
Noise platters, generating heat and noise. solid state drives, they use less
power and do not generate heat or
noise.
Components HDD contains moving parts - SSD has no moving parts; it is
essentially a memory chip.
Weight HDDs are heavier than SSD drives. SSD drives are lighter than HDD
35 Can I replace HDD with SSD in laptop?
 Replacing a hard drive with an SSD is one of the best
things you can do to dramatically improve the performance
of your older computer. ... If you have just one drive in
your laptop or desktop, you could replace an HDD or
small SSD with a one terabyte SSD for less than JOD100
36 Optical Disk & Flash

 an optical disc drive (ODD) is a disk drive that uses laser light to
store data.
 There are three main types of optical media: CD, DVD, and Blu-ray
disc
CD “Compact Disk” can store up to 700MB
DVD “ Digital Video Disk “ can store up to 8.4 GB
Blu-ray disc. can store up to 50 GB
37 3. Flash Disk

 A storage module made of flash memory chips. A Flash disks have

no mechanical platters or access arms, but the term "disk" is used
because the data are accessed as if they were on a hard drive. The
disk storage structure is emulated.
38 RAM V.s Hard Disk

 What are the differences between RAM as a main

memory and HDD as a Secondary Memory.
 RAM V.s Hard Disk
39
RAM Hard Disk (Hard Drive)

Memory Storage

Smaller amount (typically 2GB- 8 GB) Much larger amount (typically SOGB to 1000 GB)

Temporary storage of file and program* Permanent storage of files and programs

A little like your real desktop - has only your only your current work Like a file cabinet - has long-term storage of work ((it’s safe
on it (which could be ruined by a spill of coke or coffee) from spills')
Contents remain when you turn off the power to the
computer (they don’t disappear unless you purposely delete
Contents disappear when you turn off power to the computer
them)

Contents disappear when the computer

Contents remain when the computer crashes
crashes

Consists of cnps (microprocessors) Consists of hard disks (platters)

When you want to use a program. a temporary copy is put Into RAM
Molds the original copy of the program permanently
and that's the copy you use
40 Output Unit
 An output device is any piece of computer
hardware equipment used to communicate the
results of data processing carried out by an
information processing system (such as a
computer)
 converts the electronically generated information
into human-readable form.
41 Output devices Examples

Monitor LCD Projection Panels

Printers (all types) Computer Output Microfilm (COM)
Plotters Speaker(s)
Projector
42 Output devices Examples

1. A monitor

CRT: Cathode Ray Tube

LCD: Liquid crystal display most familiar
these days
43 Output devices Examples

2. Printer:
 transfers data from a computer onto paper

Printer types:
1-Laser Printer.
2-Ink Jet Printer.
3-Dot Matrix Printer
44
Software
 Software is a generic term for organized
collections of computer data and instructions, often
broken into two major categories two major
categories:
1. system software
2. application software
45 System software
 Known as Operating System
 is responsible for controlling, integrating, and
managing the individual hardware components of a
computer system
 Windows is an example of OS.
 example of System Software:
 1) Microsoft Windows
 2) Linux
 3) Unix
 4) Mac OSX
 5) DOS
46 Application software
 is used to accomplish specific tasks other than just running
the computer system.
 It may consist of:
 a single program, such as an image viewer;
 a small collection of programs (often called a software package) that
work closely together to accomplish a task, such as a spreadsheet or
text processing system;
 a larger collection (often called a software suite) of related but
independent programs and packages that have a common user
interface or shared data format, such as Microsoft Office,
47 Application Software System Software
Application software. also Known as an Computer software, or just software is a general
application or an “app", is computer software term primarily used for digitally stored data
designed to help the user to perform specific such as computer programs and other kinds of
tasks information read and written by computers App
Introduction: comes under computer software though it has a
wide scope now

1. Opera (Web Browser) 1. Microsoft Windows

2. Microsoft Word (Word Processing)
2. Linux
3. Microsoft Excel (Spreadsheet software).
4. MySQL (Database Software) 3. Unix
5. Microsoft PowerPoints (Presentation 4. Mac OSX
Example: Software) 5. DOS
6. Adobe Photoshop (Graphics Software)

Users always Interact with application software Generally. users do not Interact with system
Interaction: while doing different activities software as it works in the background.

Application software cannot run without the System software can run independently of the
Dependency: presence of the system software. application software.
48 Unit of Measurements - Storage
Storage Units

Bit BIT 0 or 1

Byte B 8 bits

Kilobyte KB 1024 bytes

Megabyte MB 1024 kilobytes

Gigabyte GB 1024 megabytes

Terabyte TB 1024 gigabytes

49 Size example
• 1 bit - answer to an yes/no question
• 1 byte - a number from 0 to 255.
• 90 bytes: enough to store a typical line of text from a book.
• 4 KB: about one page of text.
• 120 KB: the text of a typical pocket book
• 3 MB - a three minute song (128k bitrate)
• 650-900 MB - an CD-ROM
• 1 GB -114 minutes of uncompressed CD-quality audio at 1.4 Mbit/s
• 8 -16 GB - size of a normal flash drive
50
 A. 10B is equivalent 10 * 8 = 80 bits
 B. 3MB is equivalent to how many Bits?
 Answer:
• 3 *1024 = 3072 KB
• 3072*1024 = 3145728 B
• 3145728 * 8 = 25165824 bits
51 Unit of Measurement -Speed

 The speed of CPU measured by unit called Hertz

(Hz)
 1 Hz represent 1 cycle per second.
 The speed of CPU is known as Computer Speed.
52 Unit of Measurement -Speed

CPU SPEED MEASURES

1 hertz or Hz 1 cycle per second
1 MHz 1 million cycles per second or 1000 Hz
1 GHz 1 billion cycles per second or 1000 MHz
53 Computer Classification

 Computers can be classified by size and power to:

1. Personal computer (PCs)
2. Workstation:
3. Minicomputer
4. Mainframe:
5. SuperComputer
54 Computer Classification
 Personal computer (PCs): a small, single-user
computer based on a microprocessor. In addition to the
microprocessor, a personal computer has a keyboard for
entering data, a monitor for displaying information, and a
storage device for saving data.
 Workstation: a powerful, single-user computer. A
workstation is like a personal computer, but it has
a more powerful microprocessor and a higher-
quality monitor.
55 Computer Classification
 Minicomputer: multi-user computer capable of
supporting from 10 to hundreds of users simultaneously.
 Mainframe: powerful multi-user computer capable of
supporting many hundreds or thousands of users
simultaneously.
 Supercomputer: an extremely fast computer that can
perform hundreds of millions of instructions per second.
56 Computer Classification
 Compare between the previous type of computers
based on
 Price
 Processing Speed
 Storage Capacity
 Powerful
 Single-user or Multi-user
 Computer Size
 Companies size
 57 Laptop computer
 is a portable computer.
 personal computer that can be easily carried and used in a
variety of locations.
 run the same software and applications in PCs

Netbook Computer
-A netbook is a type of laptop that is designed to be even more
portable.
-Cheaper and less powerful than laptops or desktops.
-They are generally less powerful than other types of computers,
but they provide enough power for email and internet access,
which is where the name "netbook" comes from.
58 Mobile Devices
 A mobile device is basically any handheld computer.
 It is designed to be extremely portable.
 Some mobile devices are more powerful
 Types:
1.Tablet Computers
2.Smartphones
59 Tablet Computers

 designed to be portable.
 The most obvious difference is that tablet
computers don't have keyboards or touchpads.
 Best used for tasks like web browsing, watching
videos, reading e-books, and playing games.
60 Smartphones

 a powerful mobile phone

 designed to run a variety of applications in
addition to phone service.
 Compare it with the tablet?
 Internet access is an important feature of
smartphones. (3G or 4G)(Wi-Fi Service)
61 Data, Information and Knowledge

 Data:
 Facts and figures which relay something specific
 but which are not organized in any way and which
provide no further information regarding patterns
 unstructured facts and figures
62 Data, Information and Knowledge

 Information:
 For data to become information, it must be
contextualized, categorized, calculated and
condensed. (Processing)
 it is data with relevance and purpose.
63 Data, Information and Knowledge

 Knowledge:
 Knowledge is closely linked to doing and implies
know-how and understanding.
 Processing Information
64 Data, Information and Knowledge

 Data: symbols
 Information: data that are processed to be useful;
provides answers to "who", "what", "where", and
"when" questions
 Knowledge: application of data and information;
answers "how" questions
65 Data, Information and Knowledge
66 Data, Information and Knowledge

 Processing data produces

information, and processing
information produces knowledge.
67 Characteristics of Computer

1.Speed
2.Accuracy
3.Diligence
4.Storage Capability
5.Versatility
68 Characteristics of Computer

 Speed :The computer can process data very fast,

at the rate of millions of instructions per second
 Accuracy: Computer provides a high degree of accuracy. For
example, the computer can accurately give the result of division
of any two numbers up to 10 decimal places.
 Diligence: When used for a longer period of time, the
computer does not get tired or fatigued. It can perform long and
complex calculations with the same speed and accuracy from the
start till the end.
69 Characteristics of Computer
 Storage Capability: Large volumes of data and
information can be stored in the computer and also
retrieved whenever required. A limited amount of data can
be stored, temporarily, in the primary memory. Secondary
storage devices like floppy disk and compact disk can
store a large amount of data permanently.
 Versatility: Computer is versatile in nature. It can perform
different types of tasks with the same ease. At one
moment you can use the computer to prepare a letter
document and in the next moment you may play music or
print a document.
70 Computer Viruses

 Viruses:
 E-mail viruses:
 Trojan horses:
 Worms:
71 Viruses

 A computer virus is an application program designed and

written to destroy other programs.
 A virus is a small piece of software that piggybacks on real
programs
 virus might attach itself to a program such as a spreadsheet
program
 and it has the chance to reproduce (by attaching to other
programs)
 Viruses

• Delete files on your hard drive

• Format your hard drive
Viruses • Take control of your computer
can: • Look for sensitive information
• Shut down or change your
computer’s security programs
73 E-mail viruses:

 e-mail virus travels as an attachment to e-mail messages

 Replicates itself by automatically mailing itself to dozens
of people in the victim's e-mail address book.
74 Trojan horses

 simply a computer program

 The program claims to do one thing (it may claim
to be a game) but instead does damage when you
run it
75 Worms

 A worm is a small piece of software that uses

computer networks and security holes to replicate
itself.
 worm scans the network for another machine that
has a specific security hole.
76 Malicious Software

 How do you know if you have a virus?

 Functions slower than normal
 Responds slowly and freezes often
 Restarts itself often
 See uncommon error messages, distorted menus, and
dialog boxes
 Notice applications fail to work correctly
 Fail to print correctly
 Tips to avoid viruses and lessen their impact?
77
1. Delete e-mails from unknown or suspicious,
untrustworthy (unreliable) sources, especially
those with files attached to an e-mail.
2. Never open a file attached to an e-mail unless
you know what it is, even if it appears to come
from a friend.
3. Download files from the Internet only from
legitimate and reputable sources.
4. Update your antivirus software at least every two
weeks as over 200 viruses are discovered each
month.
5. Backup your files periodically
78 How to Purchase a Desktop Computer

 Determine the specific software to use on your computer

 Know the system requirements of the operating system
 Look for bundled software
 Avoid buying the least powerful computer available
 Consider upgrades to the mouse, keyboard, monitor, printer,
microphone, and speakers
79 How to Purchase a Desktop Computer
 Determine whether to use a broadband or dial-up connection to access the
Internet
 Use a worksheet to compare computers, services, and other considerations
• If you are buying a new computer, you have several purchasing options:
buying from a school bookstore, a local computer dealer, a local large
retail store, or ordering by mail via telephone or the Web
• If you are buying a used computer, stay with name brands such as Dell,
Apple, HP, and Gateway
• If you have a computer and are upgrading to a new one, then consider
selling or trading in the old one
80 How to Purchase a Desktop Computer

 Be aware of hidden costs

 Consider more than just price
 Avoid restocking fees
 Consider purchasing an extended warranty or
service plan
 1.3 An Example System
81

What does it all mean??

The microprocessor is the
“brain” of the system. It
executes program instructions.
This one is an Intel i7 running
at 3.9GHz.
 1.3 An Example System
This system has 32GB of (fast) synchronous dynamic RAM
(SDRAM)

2 levels of cache memory

the level 1 (L1) cache is smaller and faster than the L2 cache.
Note that these cache sizes are measured in KB and MB.
 1.3 An Example System

Hard disk capacity determines the amount of data and size of

programs you can store.

This one can store 1TB. 7200 RPM is the rotational speed of
the disk. Generally, the faster a disk rotates, the faster it can
deliver data to RAM. (There are many other factors involved.)

84
 1.3 An Example System

ATA advanced technology attachment, which describes how the hard disk interfaces with
(or connects to) other system components

DVD can store about 4.7GB

of data. This drive supports
rewritable DVDs, +/-RW, that
can be written to many times..
16x describes its speed.

85
 1.3 An Example System

Ports allow movement of data between a system and its

external devices.

This system has ten ports.

86
 1.3 An Example System

System buses can be augmented by dedicated I/O buses.

PCI, peripheral component interface, is one such bus.

This system has two PCIe (PCI express) devices:

a video card and a sound card.

87
 1.3 An Example System
Active matrix technology uses one transistor per picture
element (pixel). The resolution of a monitor determines the
amount of text and graphics that the monitor can display.

Super VGA (SVGA) tells us this monitor has a

resolution of 1280 × 1024 pixels.

The video card contains memory

and programs that support the
monitor.

88
 Purchase a Desktop Computer
89

 Minimum Specifications
 The current minimum computer
specifications to ensure the ability to run the
basic software most end users operate is:
 Processor - dual core @ 2.4 GHz (i5 or i7
Intel processor or equivalent AMD)
 RAM - 8 GB
 Hard disk Drive - 320 GB
 Monitor - 19" LCD
 Operating System - Windows 10
90

Purchase a Desktop
Computer