COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

Parts of a modern PC and how they

are configured

MR BOB MKANDAWIRE
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INTRODUCTION:
LECTURE: Bob Mkandawire
SUBJECT: Computer Application
Email: [email protected]

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Definition of a computer
• A computer is a device that accepts information (in the form of
digitalized data) and manipulates it for some result based on a
program or sequence of instructions on how the data is to be
processed.
• A computer is a data processing machine which accepts data as input,
processes it, stores it and produces output.

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Computing Terminology

• Data
Data is anything in a form suitable for use with a computer.

• Information
Refer to processed data.

• Program
This is a series of Computer instructions.

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Three Basics Kinds of Computer

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Analog Computer

Analog computers are used to process analog data. Analog data is of

continuous nature and which is not discrete or separate.
• Such type of data includes temperature, pressure, speed, weight,
voltage, depthetc.
• These quantities are continuous and having an infinite variety of
values

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Digital Computer

• A Digital Computer works with digit store present numerals, letters or

other special symbols.
• Digital Computers operate on inputs which are ON-OFF type and its
output is also in the form of ON-OFF signal.
• Normally, an ON is represented by a 1 and an OFF is represented by a
0.
• A digital computer can be used to process numeric as well as non-
numeric data.

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Hybrid Computer

• A hybrid is a combination of digital and analog computers.

• It combines the best features of both types of computers, i-e. It has
the speed of analog computer and the memory and accuracy of
digital computer.
• Hybrid computers are used mainly in specialized applications where
both kinds of data need to be processed. Therefore, they help the
user, to process both continuous and discrete data.

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Computer Operations

• The computer is an electronic machine that performs the following

five basic operations:
• –Input
• –Process
• –Output
• –Store
• –Control

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Computer Operations
• Input
• It is the process of capturing or acquiring the information, or it is the
process of accepting data or information, by using input the computer
can do any process.
• Information or data that is entered into a computer or computer
device using an input device.

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Input

• Data is gathered
• Manually
• Automatically
• Both

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Types of Computer Input

• Data
–the raw facts given to the computer.
• Programs
–the sets of instructions that direct the computer.
• Commands
–special codes or key words that the user inputs to perform a task.
• •User response
–the user's answer to the computer's question.

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Processing

• It is the transformation process to convert the input into output.

• A process is an instance of running a program.
• It cause the computer to follow instructions from the Memory.
• Perform by Central Processing Unit (CPU).

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Processing

• The CPU has three parts:

–Arithmetic/Logic Unit(ALU)
–Control Unit
–Input/Output Unit(I/O)

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Processing

• Arithmetic/Logic Unit(ALU)
The part of a computer that performs all arithmetic computations, such
as addition and multiplication, and all comparison operations.

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Control Unit

• The control unit is the circuitry that controls the flow of data through
the processor, and coordinates the activities of the other units within
it.

• Input/ Output Unit(I/O Unit)

The computer components that control input and output devices

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Computer Output

• It is the result, which comes from the transformation process or it is

the outcome of the process.
• Anything that comes out of a computer.
• Example:
–Report
–Music
–Graphic
–Video clip

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Types of Computer Output

Hard copy
–Printed on paper or other permanent media.
Soft copy
–A soft copy is the unprinted digital document file.
–Displayed on screen or by other non-permanent means.
–It can be transported from one computer to another.

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Categories of Output

Text documents
–reports, letters, memo.
Graphics
• –charts, graphs, pictures
Multimedia
• –combination of text, graphics, video, audio

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Storing

• It is the process of storing or retaining the data or information or

instructions, so that the user can retain and retrieve it whenever
required.
• Capability to store information after processing.
• Storage are used to store programs and data when they are not being
used in memory

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Controlling

• It is the process of directing the manner and sequence in which all the
operations are to be performed

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Hardware vs. Software
• Hardware is any part of your computer that has a physical structure,
such as the computer monitor or keyboard.
• Software is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do.
It is what guides the hardware and tells it how to accomplish each
task.

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System Unit
• The system unit is the core of a computer system.
• The most important of these components is the central processing
unit (CPU), or microprocessor, which acts as the "brain" of your
computer.
• Another component is random access memory (RAM), which
temporarily stores information that the CPU uses while the computer
is on.
• Almost every other part of your computer connects to the system unit
using cables.

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Computer Case

• Where all of the components are stored.

• The computer case serves mainly as a way to physically mount and
contain all of the actual computer components.
• Cases typically come bundled with a power supply.
• Two types of casing:
–Tower
–Desktop

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Computer Casing

• Two types of casing:

–Tower
–Desktop
• Desktop and tower computers are two different styles of computer
case that use desk space in varying ways.
• Desktop computers are designed to lay flat on the desk, while towers
stand upright.

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• Power Supply
• Used to sends power to all of the other hardware so they
can operate.
• Two types of power supply:
–AT (Advanced Technology)
–ATX (Advanced Technology Extended)

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