INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS

BY D.LUVAYO

RESEARCH CO-ORDINATOR
THE KAREN HOSPITAL
Objectives

Define computer

List 3 types of computers

List components of computers

Name concept of hardware and software

To differentiate between data and information

Connecting keyboard, mouse, monitor and printer to CPU and checking

power supply.
 DEFINATION
A computer is electronic device or a set of device that work
under the control of stored programs accepting data from
outside and processing it to give information.

N/B
DATA: This are the raw facts and figures fed to a computer.

INFORMATION: This is processed data.

PROCESSING: Procedure used to convert data to

information.
Function of ICT.
• Data capture: Process of compiling information.

• Data processing: This involves converting, analyzing, computing

and producing all forms of data information.

• Generation of information: Involves organizing information into a

useful form.

• Storage of information involves retaining information for future

use.

• Retrieval of information:
• Process by which a computer device is used to find and copy data for
future distribution and processing.
 Manipulation of data

INFORMATIONOUT
INPUT DATA PROCESSING
PUT
 Qualities of a computer

It is a storage device

It is a data processor
It is automatic
It is electrical.
 Advantages of computers

It saves space.

Saves time
Efficient and accurate
Secrecy
Versatility-does same work again and again
Consistency-gives the same result once
supplied with the same data and instruction.
 DISADVANTAGES

• They are expensive

• They cut down employment opportunities
• They need skilled users
• Can loose information if not well manage
• They cannot operate without electricity
• They sometimes cause eye problems
 Where do we apply computers??
We apply computers in many areas. They include:-
Medical diagnosis
Design work
Education
Mathematical and statistical analysis
Business
Browsing internet and emailing
 Information Processing Cycle

Steps followed to process data

• Input
• Processing
• Output
• Storage

Introduction to Computers 10
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
1st GENERATION COMPUTERS 1946-1960

Used vacuum tubes as storage device

for circuit and magnetic drums for memory
Transistors : It can store two different numbers, zero and
 Input
Input: Information provided to the computer by a
person, the environment, or another computer.
Examples of Input
• words and symbols
• numbers
• pictures
• audio signals from a microphone
• signals from another computer
• temperature, speed, pressures, etc. from sensors

Introduction to Computers 22
 Processing
Processing - manipulation of data.
 Data are symbols that represent raw facts, objects, and
ideas about people, places, events, and things that are of
importance in an organization.

 A computer program or software is a series of instructions

that tell a computer how to carry out a processing task.

Examples of Processing
Arithmetic calculations
Sorting a list
Modifying pictures
Drawing graphs
Introduction to Computers 23
 Output

Output - the result produced by a computer after

processing the data.

Output device –displays, prints, or transmits the

results after processing.

Examples of Output
• images on a monitor
• printed documents
• sounds
Introduction to Computers 24
 3 stages of computing
1.Input:
It’s the 1st stage of computing. It refers to any means that moves data from
the outside world into the processor.PCs can support a wide variety of input
devices. They include keyboard,mouse,voice recognition device, sound
cards,modems,scanners,tape drives, flash disks,cd/DVD drives, hard disks,
cameras etc

2.Processing:
2nd stage of computing. Actual manipulation of data by the computers.
3. Output:
3rd stage of computing. All the input and processing of the world won’t do us
any good unless we can get the information back from a computer in a
comprehensive and usable form. Output device come in many forms. They
include:printers,fax machine,cd recordable, sound cards,e.t.c
 Information Processing Cycle

Steps followed to process data

• Input
• Processing
• Output
• Storage

Introduction to Computers 26
 Parts of a Computer System

Computer systems have four parts

• Hardware
• Software
• Data
• User (people)

Introduction to Computers 27
 Computer system

Computer system is made up of the following:

1) Hardware
2) Software
3) Orgware (the users or operators)
PARTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM
1. Computer hardware:
• A computer's hardware consists of electronic devices;
the parts you can see and touch.

• Inotherwords these are tangible parts of a computer.

• The term "device" refers to any piece of hardware used

by the computer, such as a keyboard, monitor, modem,
mouse, etc.

• These are mechanical devices that make up the

computer.

Introduction to Computers 29
Computer Hardware Components

 Display Device (Monitor

or LCD screen)
 System Unit
 Floppy disk drive
 CD ROM drive
 Hard disk drive
 Keyboard
 Mouse
Introduction to Computers 30
Other hardware components
• DVD drive (Digital Versatile Disk)
• CD writer (Compact disk)
• Sound card and speakers
• Modem (Modulate and Demodulate)
• Printers.

Introduction to Computers 31
Peripherals
• A peripheral device designates equipment that might
be added to a computer system to enhance its
functionality.
• Examples:
• Printer
• Digital camera
• Scanner
• Joystick

Introduction to Computers 32
 Parts of a Computer System

2. Computer Software
• Is the set of instructions that makes the computer perform
tasks.

• The software is a part of the computer you cannot touch but

is very important.

• The software is all the programming that makes the

computer run; controlling everything that the computer
does.

• For any computer to function, it needs to have software

installed on it.

Introduction to Computers 33
 3.Data
• Data consists of raw facts, which the computer can
manipulate and process into information that is useful to
people.
• Computerized data is digital, meaning that it has been
reduced to digits, or numbers. The computer stores and
reads all data as numbers.

Introduction to Computers 34
 4. ORGWARE/USERS

• People operating the computer.

• Tell the computer what to do.

 Essential Computer Hardware

A computer’s hardware devices falls into one of the

four categories;
1. Processor
2. Memory
3. Input and Output
4. Storage

Introduction to Computers 36
 Essential Computer Hardware

Processing Devices
• The procedure that transforms raw data into useful information
is called processing.

• The processor is like the brain of the computer.

• Organizes and carries out instructions from either the user or

software.

• Manipulate the data.

• Most computers have several processors.

• Central Processing Unit (CPU) refers to a computer’s

processor.
Introduction to Computers 37
What is a computer

How is data manipulated

3 stages of a computer

Computer system is made up of 4 things name them?

What is a hardware

List 3 categories of hardware

 cpu

All the processes is done in the CPU

It can be divide into three major sections:

1. Control unit:
This carries out instructions and tells the rest what to do. It also carries out all
processing and controls the use of the main storage to store data and instruction.

2. Arithmetic and logic unit:

It carries out all arithmetic and logic operation

3 Main memory:
It holds current data and instructions. It is the main storage of the computer and
thus termed as primary storage
 CPU
CONTROL UNIT
CPU
ARITHIMETIC &
LOGIC

OUTPUT
INPUT screen
MAIN MEMORY
Mouse Printer
Keyboard speakers
RAM
Scanner
Joystic ROM
BACKUP STORAGE
Flashdisk
Cds
Hard disks
 Main memory

It is divide into 2:

1. Read Only Memory(ROM):

 The content of ROM are permanent.
 It most holds permanent programs that the computer needs each time
it is started.(boot system files)

2. Random Access memory(RAM):

 This is the computer working area.
 I t holds current data and instruction.(this memory can always be
upgraded to enhance the performance of the computer.)e.g 2gb
memory can be upgraded to 4 gb memory to make the computer
faster.
Function of ICT.
• Data capture: Process of compiling information.

• Data processing: This involves converting, analyzing, computing

and producing all forms of data information.

• Generation of information: Involves organizing information into a

useful form.

• Storage of information involves retaining information for future

use.

• Retrieval of information:
• Process by which a computer device is used to find and copy data for
future distribution and processing.
 computer networks
LAN (local Area Network): Covers a relatively small geographical area
e.g. a
university campus or office building. Examples include Ethernet and
Wi-Fi.

WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network): Links two or more devices using
wireless communication within a limited area such as a campus or
office building. Some WLANs exist to extend an existing wired network.

WAN (Wide Area Network): Covers a relatively large geographical area

e.g. cities or states.

PAN (personal area network): covers a small area e.g a room. Connect
few devices compared to LAN.
 measures of the physical cyber security

Fencing
Door locking
Use of access control card
Use of CCTV cameras
Use of smoke detectors
Window grills and door grills
CONTROL MEASURES AGAINST VIRUSES.
• Install the latest versions of anti-virus software on the computer

• Restrict the movement of removable storages media such as

flush disks.

• Avoid opening mails attachments from unknown sources.

• Write protect disk after using them.

• Avoid pirated software.

• Use an operating system with security features that protects

your computer
 FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING AN OPERATING SYSTEM.
• Availability in the market- which is readily available in the market.

• Hardware provision and basic design of the computer- must be

supported by the hardware configuration of your computer.

• The application intended for the computer-application/software you

want to use in your computer.

• Reliability and security-must be stable to avoid breaking down often

• User friendly – should be appealing and easy to use.

• Cost- should be cost effective.

• Number of users it can support

Factors to consider when selecting software.

User friendliness
Security
User needs
Reliability
Compatibility
Cost
Documentation
Authenticity
THANK YOU.