FOREST INDUSTRIES

TRAINING INSTITUTE
(FITI)

INSTRUCTOR NAME: Mr. KIGAILE, IDRISA H.

Computer Application
Lecture 1 - Basic Concepts of Computers:
 Introduction to Computing

After completing this section, students will be able to: -

• define computer
• define types of computers
• describe importance of computer
• describe usage of computer
• know about components of computer and their applications
 Introduction to Computer

• In the modern era, computers are an essential part of our

everyday existence. That means computers are present in
almost every field, making our day-to-day tasks easier and
faster.
• Nowadays, computers can be seen in banks, shops, schools,
hospitals, railways, and many more places, including our
home
 What is a Computer?

• Is a programmable machine that receives input, stores and

manipulates (processing) data/information and provides
output in a useful format.
 Data and Information

• All computer processing requires data, which is a collection of raw

facts, figures and symbols, such as numbers, words, images, video
and sound, given to the computer during the input phase.
• Computers manipulate data to create information. Information is
data that is organized, meaningful, and useful.
• During the output Phase, the information that has been created is
put into some form, such as a printed report.
• The information can also be put in computer storage for future use.
 What Does A Computer Do?

Computers can perform four general operations, which comprise

the information processing cycle.

• Input
• Process
• Output
• Storage
 Applications of computers
• Business and Finance: Computers are used for accounting, payroll processing,
inventory management, financial analysis, and electronic transactions.
• Education: Computers are used for research, teaching aids, e-learning platforms,
interactive educational software, and student assessment.
• Healthcare: Computers are used for patient record management, medical
imaging (MRI, CT scans), monitoring systems, drug discovery, and medical
research.
• Entertainment: Computers are used for gaming, multimedia production
(audio/video editing), streaming services, virtual reality (VR), and augmented
reality (AR).
• Communication: Computers are used for email communication, instant
messaging, video conferencing, social media platforms, and VoIP (Voice over
Internet Protocol).
 Applications of computers
• Science and Engineering: Computers are used for simulations, data
analysis, modeling, CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Manufacturing), and
scientific research.
• Government: Computers are used for administrative tasks, data collection
and analysis, law enforcement, national security, and public services.
• Agriculture: Computers are used for crop management, precision
farming, weather forecasting, agricultural research, and livestock
management.
• Transportation: Computers are used for traffic control systems,
navigation (GPS), airline reservations, vehicle management systems, and
logistics optimization.
• Manufacturing: Computers are used for process automation, robotics,
quality control, inventory management, and supply chain optimization.
 Assignment

Briefly Discuss how computer is Applied in

Education, Government , Transportation,
Business and Finance, Entertainment and
Health sectors with examples
 HOW COMPUTER
WORKS

Input Process Output

storage
 Generations of Computer

• First Generation (1946 - 1959): During the first generation,

computers were based on electronic valves (Vacuum Tubes). Some
popular computers of first-generation are ENIAC, EDVAC, UNIVAC, etc.
• Second Generation (1959 - 1965): During the second generation,
computers were based on Transistors. Some popular computers of
second-generation are IBM 1400, IBM 1620, IBM 7000 series, etc.
• Third Generation (1965 - 1971): During the third generation,
computers were based on Integrated Circuits (ICs). Some popular
computers of the third generation are IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP, etc.
 Generations of Computer

• Fourth Generation (1971 - 1980): During the fourth generation,

computers were based on very large scale integrated
(VLSI) circuits. Some popular computers of fourth-generation are
STAR 1000, CRAY-1, CRAY-X-MP, DEC 10, etc.
• Fifth Generation (1980 - Present): The fifth generation is still
ongoing. The computers are based on multiple technologies, such
as ultra large scale integration (ULSI), artificial intelligence
(AI), and parallel processing hardware. The fifth generation of
computers includes Desktop, Laptop, NoteBook, etc.
 Computer Classifications

The computer systems can be classified on the following basis:

1. On the basis of size.
2. On the basis of functionality.
3. On the basis of data handling.
On the basis of size - Supercomputers

• Most powerful
• Fastest
• Most expensive
• Several million dollars each

• Used only by
• Governmental agencies
• Large international corporations

• Supercomputers actually play an important role in the field of computation, and are used for intensive
computation tasks in various fields, including quantum mechanics, weather forecasting, climate
research, oil and gas exploration, molecular modeling, and physical simulations.
• Throughout the history, supercomputers have been essential in the field of the cryptanalysis.
eg: PARAM, jaguar, roadrunner
 On the basis of size - Mainframes

• Very powerful

• Very fast

• Used by large corporations and governmental agencies

• Operated by computer specialist

• bulk data processing such as statistics, census data processing,

transaction processing
 On the basis of size

Minicomputers
• Size of filing cabinet

• Used by small and medium size companies and institutions

• Operated by computer specialist

• Terminals allow many people to use

 On the basis of size

• Personal Computers (PC)

• Also called Microcomputers
• Available in desktop size, notebook size and handheld
• Can be IBM, IBM Compatible or Apple
• is a small
• relatively inexpensive computer with a microprocessor as its CPU.
• It includes a microprocessor, memory, and minimal I/O circuitry mounted on a single
printed circuit board.
 Classification on the basis of
functionality
• Servers : Servers are nothing but dedicated computers
which are set-up to offer some services to the clients. They
are named depending on the type of service they offered. Eg:
security server, database server.

• Workstation : Those are the computers designed to

primarily to be used by single user at a time. They run multi-
user operating systems. They are the ones which we use for
our day to day personal / commercial work.
 Classification on the basis of
functionality
• Information Appliances : They are the portable devices which are designed
to perform a limited set of tasks like basic calculations, playing multimedia,
browsing internet etc. They are generally referred as the mobile devices. They
have very limited memory and flexibility and generally run on “as-is” basis.
• Embedded computers : They are the computing devices which are used in
other machines to serve limited set of requirements. They follow instructions
from the non-volatile memory and they are not required to execute reboot or
reset. The processing units used in such device work to those basic
requirements only and are different from the ones that are used in personal
computers- better known as workstations.
Classification on the basis of data
handling
• Analog : is a computer that operates on continuous data.
• Digital : This is the most commonly used type of computers.
• Digital computers process data that is discrete in nature.
• Their operation is based on 2 states, “ON” & “OFF” or on digits “1” & “0
• Hybrid : A computer that processes both analog and digital data,
Hybrid computer is a digital computer that accepts analog signals,
converts them to digital and processes them in digital form.
Characteristics of Computer

•Speed
•Accuracy
•Diligence
•Storage Capability
•Versatility
 Computer Components

Any kind of computers consists of HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE.

 HARDWARE

• Input devices.
• Central Processing Unit (containing the control unit and the
arithmetic/logic unit).
• Memory.
• Output devices.
• Storage devices.
 HARDWARE - Input devices.

• Keyboard • Graphics Tablet

• Mouse • Scanner
• Touchscreen • Microphone
• Trackpad • Webcam
• Joystick • Gamepad
 HARDWARE

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• A CPU is brain of a computer. It is responsible for all functions and
processes.

The CPU is comprised of three main parts :

• Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
• Control Unit (CU)
• Registers
 HARDWARE- CPU

Arithmetic Logic Unit (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

Registers :
• Stores the data that is to be executed next,
• very fast storage area.
 HARDWARE - CPU
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.
 HARDWARE - Memory

Primary Memory
• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Read Only Memory (ROM)
 HARDWARE - Memory

Random Access Memory (RAM)

• Temporary storage
• It is volatile in nature
• Stores data randomly
• Processor accesses these data randomly from the RAM
storage.
 HARDWARE - Memory

ROM (Read Only Memory):

• permanent form of storage.
• It is not volatile in nature
• No Data Modification
 HARDWARE - Memory

Cache Memory
• high-speed memory,
• which is small in size but faster than the main memory (RAM).
• The CPU can access it more quickly than the primary memory.
• So, it is used to synchronize with high-speed CPU and to
improve its performance.
 CACHE MEMORY

CACHE
MICROPROCESSO
R MEMOR RAM
Y
 HARDWARE - Memory

Secondary Memories
• Stores data and programs permanently :its retained after the
power is turned off
• Hard drive (HD)
• Optical Disk
• Flash Disk
 HARDWARE – storage Devices

Hard drive (HD)

• Built into machine
• Made up of stack of platters
• Can store much more than floppy drives
• 40 gigabytes should be minimum
• Can access info much faster than floppy drive
 HARDWARE – storage Devices

Optical media storage

Are CD or DVD. When your burn a CD, you are storing songs
and music on the CD so that you can listen to it later. If you
are burning a DVD, you are storing a video on it so that you
can watch it later
 HARDWARE – Output Devices

Output Devices
• Monitor (or Display)
• Printer
• Speaker
• Headphones
• Projector
 Assignments

Explain the Basic 3 types of

monitors ?
Explain the Basic 3 types of
Printers ?
 Computer Software

Is the collection of computer programs and related data that provide the
instructions telling a computer what to do. Computer software is the key to
productive use of computers. E.g. Windows 10

Software can be categorized into two types:

• System software
• Application software.
 System software

• It is a set of programs that control and manage the resources

and operations of computer hardware.
• Acts as the computer hardware and application software
interface.
• It also enables application programs to run correctly.
• The system software is not meant to perform a specific task,
thus, it is called general-purpose software
 Features of System Software

• High speed. System software must be as efficient as possible to provide an effective platform
for higher-level software in the computer system.
• Hard to manipulate. It often requires the use of a programming language, which is more
difficult to use than a more intuitive user interface (UI).
• Written in a low-level computer language. System software must be written in a computer
language the central processing unit (CPU) and other computer hardware can read.
• Close to the system. It connects directly to the hardware that enables the computer to run.
• Versatile. System software must communicate with both the specialized hardware it runs on
and the higher-level application software that is usually hardware-agnostic and often has no
direct connection to the hardware it runs on.
 Types System software

• Operating Systems (OS)

• Device Drivers (Audio drivers , Printer drivers , Network
interface card (NIC) drivers , Audio drivers)
• System Libraries (WinAPI , Java API , glibc)
• Utility Programs
• Firmware
• Compilers and Interpreters:
 Types System software
Firmware
• Software embedded in hardware devices that provides low-
level control and operation.
• Firmware resides on devices such as motherboards, network
cards, routers, and printers, and it is responsible for
initializing hardware components during boot-up and
providing basic functionality.
There are mainly two main types of firmware chips:
• BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) chip.
• UEFI (Unified Extended Firmware Interface) chips.
 Types System software

Compilers and Interpreters:

• Software tools used in software development to translate
high-level programming languages into machine code that
can be executed by the CPU.
• Compilers translate entire programs ahead of time, while
interpreters translate and execute code line-by-line at
runtime.
 Types System software

Utility Programs
Utility programs are software tools designed to perform specific
tasks related to system management, optimization,
maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• examples
• (Antivirus software, Disk Cleanup , Disk Defragmenter ,
Backup software)
 Types System software

Utility Programs
various system management tasks,
• disk cleanup,
• disk defragmentation,
• backup and recovery,
• system monitoring,
• security scanning,
• and troubleshooting.
 Types System software

System library software

• System library software, also known as system libraries or
system-level libraries, consists of collections of reusable code
modules and functions provided by an operating system or
development environment.
examples
• WinAPI , Java API , glibc
 Types System software

Driver software
• Driver software, also known as device drivers or simply
drivers, is software that allows a computer's operating system
to communicate with and control hardware devices.
• Example
• (Audio drivers , Printer drivers , Network interface card (NIC)
drivers , Audio drivers)
 System Software

Operating system software

• The operating system is the core software component of your computer.
• It performs many functions; a computer is described as consisting of
several component parts including your monitor, keyboard, mouse, and
other parts.
• The operating system provides an interface to these parts using what is
referred to as "drivers". This is why sometimes when you install a new
printer or other piece of hardware, your system will ask you to install more
software called a driver
 System Software

Examples of Operating System

• Windows (e.G., Windows 10)
• Macos (e.G., Macos catalina)
• Linux (e.G., Ubuntu, fedora, centos)
• Android (for mobile devices)
• Ios (for iphones and ipads)
• Chrome OS (for chromebooks)
 System Software

Operating System Function

File Management
Memory Management
Security:
Process Management
Device Management
 Computer Software

Application Software
Application Software consists of programs that tell a computer how to produce
information. Are installed on computers to give users the ability to do specific
tasks.
Some of the more commonly used packages are:
 Word processing
 Electronic spreadsheet
 Database
 Presentation graphics
 System Software Application Software
System Software maintains the
system resources and gives the Application software is built for
path for application software to specific tasks.
run.
While high-level languages are
Low-level languages are used to
used to write the application
write the system software.
software.
While it’s a specific purpose
It is general-purpose software.
software.
Without system software, the While Without application
system stops and can’t run. software system always runs.
System software runs when the
While application software runs
system is turned on and stops
as per the user’s request.
when the system is turned off.
 Assigment
1. Explain the Uses of System Software

2. Discuss atleast three Application Software under these

categories
 Word processing
 Electronic spreadsheet
 Database
 Presentation graphics
Thank You