Chapter1

Introduction to
Computers
1
 What is computer?

Computer is electronic devices that can

follow instructions to accept input,
process the input and then produce
information.

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Look inside the SOFTWARE
computer

HARDWARE

3
Computers are made of
1. HARDWARE
2. SOFTWARE

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‫‪Hardware‬‬

‫غير مطلوبة فقط للفهم‬ ‫‪5‬‬

 Hardwar
e
The parts of computer itself (tangible
objects ) including :
 CPU (or Processor) and Primary
memory (or Main Memory)
 Input devices i.e the keyboard and
mouse
 Output devices
 Storage devices
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 The Case (System Unit or System
Cabinet)

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 Hardware

1. Central Processing Unit (CPU)

2. Input units
3. Output units
4. Memory (Main or Primary
Memory & Secondary or
Auxiliary Memory)
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omponents of a Computer System
Central
Central Processing
Processing Unit
Unit
Data (CPU)
(CPU)
control unit (CU)

Memory output
Arithmeti
c RAM units
Input
logic
units ROM
Unit
(ALU)

Auxiliar Information
y /Knowledge
9
Memory
 Hardware Organization
Input Devices ...

CPU

memory

motherboard

hard drive
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 Input Devices

• Translate data from form that

humans understand to one that the
computer can work with
• Most common are keyboard and
mouse
Selector Buttons

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 Examples of Input Devices
1. Keyboard (QWERTY keyboard, ATMs keyboard)
ATM: automatic teller machine
2. Mouse
3. Scanner
4. Pre-storage Devise (Disk, CD’s, …
etc.)
5. Optical mark recognition (Light Pin ,
Bar code scanners)
6. Microphone
7. Joystick .
See Page 4 in text book
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Examples of Input Devices(2)

8. Point and Draw devices

9. Trackball
10. Touchpad
11. Touch screen
12. Magnetic stripes and smart
cars.
13. Digital Cameras
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14
Hardware Organization
CPU

memory

hard drive
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‫غير مطلوبة فقط للفهم‬
Hardware Organization

CPU

memory

motherboard

hard drive
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 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• A specific chip or the processor

a CPU's performance is determined
by the rest of the computers
circuitry and chips.
• The Central Processing Unit (CPU)
performs the actual processing of
data
• The speed (clock speed) of CPU
measured by Hertz (MHz)

17
The CPU consists of :

 Control Unit (CU)

 Arithmetic and Logical Unit
(ALU)
 Some Registers

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The Control Unit (CU) :
coordinates all activities of the
computer by:

• Determining which operations to

perform and in what order to carry
them out.
• The CU transmits coordinating control
signals to other computer components.

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The ALU :
consists of electronic circuitry to
perform:

• Arithmetic operations (addition,

subtraction, multiplication and
division)
• Logical operations (and, or, not, …)
and to make some comparisons
(less-than, equal, … etc.)
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Hardware Organization

CPU

memory

motherboard

hard drive
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‫غير مطلوبة فقط للفهم‬
Primary Memory

• Memory (fast, expensive, short-

term memory): Enables a
computer to store, at least
temporarily, data, programs, and
intermediate results.

• Two general parts:

1.RAM
2.ROM
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 RAM (Main Memory)
• its a primary storage or random access memory
(RAM).
• it temporarily holds data and programs for use
during processing (volatile)
• Any information stored in RAM is lost when the
computer is turned off.
• RAM is the memory that the computer uses to
temporarily store the information as it is being
processed. The more information being processed
the more RAM the computer needs.
• RAM consists of locations or cells. Each cell has a
unique address which distinguishes it from other
cells.

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ROM: Read Only Memory

ROM is part of memory

 Programmed at manufacturing time
 Its contents cannot be changed by users
 It is a permanent store

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 Secondary Storage
 Stores data and programs permanently:
its retained after the power is turned off
 Examples
• Hard Drive (Hard Disk)
Located outside the CPU, but most often contained
in the system cabinet
• Floppy Disk
• Optical Laser Discs
CD-ROM, CD-RW, and DVD

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Kinds of Disk Drives

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 Common Secondary Media
• Diskettes
– Data represented as magnetic spots on
removable flexible plastic disks
– Most common size is 3 1/2 inches, in a rigid
plastic case
– Disk drive holds the diskette, reads or
retrieves the data and writes or stores data

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 Common Secondary Media
• Hard drive

– Data is represented magnetically as

with diskettes
– Normally more than one rigid platter
in a sealed unit
– These disks are not removable
– Significantly more capacity and faster
operating than diskettes
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Hardware Organization

CPU

memory

motherboard

hard drive
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‫غير مطلوبة فقط للفهم‬
 Common Secondary Media
 Optical Laser Discs
• CD ROM & DVD’s
• Data is represented as pits and lands
• Some kinds are read only (CD-ROM) and
some Kinds are rewritable (CD-RW)
• Significantly more capacity and faster
operating than diskettes

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DVD: Digital Video Disk
 Hardware Organization
CPU

memory

hard drive
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Output …
 CPU
Output Devices

Pieces of equipment that translate

the processed information from the
CPU into a form that humans can
understand.
at ed
n
rm ss
io
fo ce
in Pro

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 Output Devices

 Monitors
 Printers
 Dot matrix printers
 Ink jet printers
 Laser printers
 Sound Blasters (Sound Card By Creative
Lab)
 Controlling other devices
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 Software

The instructions that tell the

computer what to do
1. Application Software - helps end-
users perform general purpose
tasks
2. System Software - enables
application software to interact
with the computer
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 System Software
The most important

System Software
is the

Operating System

:Examples of operating systems

Windows XP, DOS, Apple, UNIX

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 System Software

• The software that controls

everything that happens in a
computer.
• Background software, manages
the computer’s internal resources

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Resources examples : CPU, RAM , I/O devices, …
Application Software – Basic Tools

• Word processors– example:

Microsoft word
• Spreadsheets-- example:
Microsoft Excel
• Database managers-- example:
Microsoft Access
• Graphics-- example: Photoshop

Spreadsheets: Computer software that allows the user to 37

enter columns and rows of numbers in a accounting book like
 Units of Measurements

 Bit (Binary Digit)(takes two values: 1 or 0)

 Byte = 8 bits

 KB (Kilo-byte) = 1024 bytes

 MB (mega-byte) = 1024 KB
 GB (giga-byte) = 1024 MB
 TB (Tera-byte) = 1024 GB

Remark: 1024=210

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 Four Kinds of Computers
1. Microcomputers 2. Minicomputers

3. Mainframe computers 4. Supercomputers

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• Microcomputer =>Personal
Computer => PC
• There are 3 types of the
Microcomputers :
1.Laptop
2.Desktop
3.Workstation

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• Personal Computer: A small, single-user
computer based on a microprocessor.
• Workstation: A powerful, single-user
computer. A workstation is like a
personal computer, but it has :
 a more powerful microprocessor and,
 in general, a higher-quality monitor.

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 Minicomputer, Mainframe,
and Supercomputer
• Minicomputer: A multi-user computer
capable of supporting up to hundreds of
users simultaneously.
simultaneously
• Mainframe: A powerful multi-user
computer capable of supporting many
hundreds or thousands of users
simultaneously.
simultaneously
• Supercomputer: An extremely fast
computer that can perform hundreds of
millions of instructions per second. 42
 Minicomputers
• Desk-sized
• More processing speed
and storage capacity than
microcomputers
• General data processing
needs at small companies
• Larger companies use
them for specific purposes

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Mainframe Computers
• Larger machines with
special wiring and
environmental controls
• Faster processing and
greater storage than
minicomputers
• Typical machine in large
organizations

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 Supercomputers
• The most powerful of the four
categories
• Used by very large organizations,
particularly for very math-intensive
types of tasks

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Supercomputers

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haracteristics of Computers

1- Store a large amount of data and

information for a long
period of time.

2- process data and information in high

accuracy level .

3- Speed in processing data

information. 47
Understanding the difference between
Data, Information and Knowledge:

Data Information
Computer
Knowledge

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 Data:
Data is the name given to basic facts such as
names and numbers.
 Information:
Information is data that has been converted
into a more useful or intelligible form.
 Knowledge:
Knowledge arrangement of information and
classifying information of the same type or the
same topic.
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• e. g.

-2 4 0 -3 10 (data)
data
|| sort
\ /
-3 -2 0 4 10
(information)
information

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Processing data produces
information, and processing
information produces
knowledge.

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Computer Viruses

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 Computer Viruses

• A computer virus is an application

program designed and written to
destroy other programs.

• It has the ability to:

 Link itself to other programs
 Copy itself (it looks as if it repeats
itself)
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 Examples of Viruses

 Monkes
 ABC
 Crabs
 CIH

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 Viruses and Virus
Protection
• A virus program
• Infects programs,
documents, databases and
more …
• It is man-made
• It can hide and reproduce
• It can lay dormant (inactive)
and then activate

Anti-virus programs can hel 55

Sources of Computer Viruses

• Three primary sources

• The Internet
• Via downloads and
exchanges
• Diskettes
• Exchanging disks
• Computer networks
• Can spread from one
network to another
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 How do you know if you
have a virus?

• Lack of storage capability

• Decrease in the speed of executing
programs
• Unexpected error messages
• Halting the system

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 Virus Protection

•The software package distributed with

new PCs always includes an antiviral
program. The best way to cope with
viruses is to recognize their existence
and use an antiviral, or antivirus
program.

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