Computer Skills

Chapter 1:
1
Introduction to
Computer
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
3 Functionalities of a computer
Any digital computer carries out five functions in gross
terms:
 Takes data as input.
 Stores the data/instructions in its memory and use
them when required.
 Processes the data and converts it into useful
information.
 Generates the output
 Controls all the above four steps
 Functionalities of a
4
computer(Contd.)

Processing

Data Information
5 Computer Components

 Hardware
 Software
6 Hardware

 Computer hardware is the collection of

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

 Computer Programs
 instructions and data
9 Computer Units

1.Input Unit
2.Central processing Unit
3.Primary Memory Unit
4.Secondary storage Unit
5.Output Unit
10 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
11 Computer Units
12 Input Devices
13 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
14 Central Processing Unit

 CPU
 known as microprocessor or processor
 It is responsible for all functions and processes
15 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.
16 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
17 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.
18 Registers

 Registers: Stores the data that is to be

executed next, "very fast storage area".
19 Primary Memory
 1. RAM.
 2.ROM
20 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.
21 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.
22 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
23 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.
24 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
25 Floppy Disk
26
A 5MB Memory Card From 1956
Invented by the IBM Company
27 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.
28 RAM V.s Hard Disk

 What are the differences between RAM

as a main memory and HDD as a
Secondary Memory.
29 RAM V.s Hard Disk
30 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.
31 Output devices Examples

Monitor LCD Projection Panels

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

1. A monitor

CRT: Cathode Ray Tube

LCD: Liquid crystal display most
familiar these days
33 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
34
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
35 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
36 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,
37
38 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.
39 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
40 Characteristics of Computer

1.Speed
2.Accuracy
3.Diligence
4.Storage Capability
5.Versatility
41 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.
42 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.