CPS1 : INTRODUCTION TO

COMPUTING
COURSE DESCRIPTION
• This course introduces students to the
fundamental concepts in computing.
• It takes students through computer hardware
and software.
• Data processing and information needs
through an organization.
• Historical development and social implications
in information technology form an integral
part of the course.
• Legal and ethical issues will also be
considered
COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students should be able to:

• Identify how a computer system works

• how hardware and software components work to

execute instructions, run applications and manage

information as components of information system

• Distinguish between the various types of files
and how the computer organizes it files
• Explain how computers impact the way
individuals interact with their world
• Explain why information is so important today
and how they are transforming organization
and their management
• Identify ethical issues such as privacy,
appropriate use of technology, copyright issues,
virus protection and computer etiquette
Reading Materials
• Brain,W. & Dennis, M,R.(2000). The C
Programming Language. Second Edition,
Prentice Hall.
• Appleman, D.(2000). How computer
programming works, Apress .
 Unit 1
What is a computer?
• The computer is an electronic device
• takes input from the user
• processes these data under the control of a
set of instructions (called program)
• gives the result (output)
• saves for future use..
• It can process both numerical
• non-numerical (arithmetic and logical)
calculations

Block diagram of a computer

Characteristics of a computer
• Speed: – As you know computer can work
very fast. Microsecond (6-10 part of a second)
or Nanosecond (10 to the power -9 part of a
second).
• Accuracy: – The degree of accuracy of
computer is very high
• Diligence: – A computer is free from tiredness,
lack of concentration, fatigue
• Versatility: – It means the capacity to perform
completely different type of work.
• Storage: – The Computer has an in-built
memory where it can store a large amount of
data.
Advantages of computer
• Multitasking
• Speed
• Accuracy
• Data Security
Disadvantage of Computer
• Virus and hacking attacks
• Online Cyber Crimes
• Reduction in employment opportunity
Uses of Computer
• Education

• Health and Medicine

• Science

• Business

• Government

• Recreation and Entertainment

• Scoreboard
 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
Computers are classified based on
• Purposes
• Types / Functionality
• Size or data processing speed
Classification based on purposes
According to purpose, computers are either:
• general purpose
• specific purpose.
• General purpose computers
– They are designed to perform a range of tasks.
– They have the ability to store numerous programs,
but lack in speed
– Example laptops, Desktop computers
• Specific purpose computers
– They are designed to handle a specific problem or
to perform a specific task.
– A set of instructions is built into the machine.
– Traffic lights, watches, Signal alert devices ( Alarm
devices)
Classification based on Types / Data handling
According to data handling, computers are classified as
• Analog
• Digital
• Hybrid.
Analog computers
• Analog computers work on the principle of
measuring, in which the measurements obtained are
translated into data.
• An analog computer (spelt analogue in British
English) is a form of computer that uses continuous
physical phenomena such as electrical, mechanical,
or hydraulic quantities to model the problem being
solved. Example : Car speedometer, Voltmeter
Digital Computer
• Digital computers are those that operate with
information, numerical or otherwise,
represented in a digital form.
• Such computers process data into a digital
value (in 0s and 1s).
• They give the results with more accuracy and
at a faster rate.
• Example: Television, Air conditioners, Mobile
phones
Hybrid computer
• Hybrid computers incorporate the measuring
feature of an analog computer and counting
feature of a digital computer.
• For computational purposes, these computers
use analog components and for storage,
digital memories are used.
• Example: Money Counting machine, Fuel
dispenser
Classification based on size or data processing
speed
Under this topic, computers are broadly classified by
their speed and computing power. This helps to
classify computer into five.
• PC (Personal Computer) or Micro-Computers

• Workstation

• Mini-Computer

• Main Frame
PC (Personal Computer) or Micro-Computers
• A Personal Computer can be defined as a small,
relatively inexpensive computer designed for an
individual user.
• Although personal computers are designed as single-
user systems, these systems are normally linked
together to form a network.
• Businesses use personal computers for word processing,
accounting, desktop publishing, and for running
spreadsheet and database management applications.
At home, the most popular use for personal
computers is playing games and surfing the
Internet. Examples:
• Desktop Computer: a personal or micro-
computer sufficient to fit on a desk.
• Laptop Computer: a portable computer,
complete with an integrated screen and
keyboard. It is generally smaller in size than a
desktop computer
• Palmtop Computer/Digital Diary /Notebook
/PDAs: This is a hand-sized computer.
Palmtops have no keyboard but the screen
serves both as an input and output device.
Workstation
• A workstation is a computer intended for individual
use that is faster and more capable than a personal
computer.
• It's intended for business or professional use (rather
than home or recreational use).
• Workstations and applications designed for them
are used by small engineering companies,
architects, graphic designers, and any organization,
• requires a faster microprocessor,

• a large amount of random access memory

(RAM),
• high-speed graphics adapters.

• UNIX operating system, which is often used as

the workstation operating system.
• Among the most successful makers of this kind
of workstation are Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-
Packard, DEC, and IBM.
Computers typically classified as a workstation
have these five features:
1. ECC RAM.
• Error-correcting code memory makes your
system more reliable.
• It fixes memory errors before they affect your
system, preventing crashes and saving you
downtime.
2. Multiple Processor Cores.
More processor cores mean more processing
abilities.
3. RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks).
• RAID uses multiple internal hard drives to store
and process your data.
• There are several different types of RAID
systems.
• Depending on the type of system, you can get
multiple drives processing your data, or you can
get mirrored drives, meaning that if one drive
fails the other will still function
4. SSD.
• Solid State Drives work differently than
conventional hard-disk drives.
• There are no moving parts, so there is less
chance of a physical failure.
• They are also faster.

• The downside is that they are more expensive

and have a smaller storage capacity than that
of “regular” drives.
5. Optimized GPU.
• All computers need to output to a screen.
• Having a higher end GPU (Graphics Processing
Unit) means that your CPU will have to do less
work processing the screen output.
• The downside is that high-end GPUs are
expensive.
Minicomputers

• A minicomputer is also known as mini.

• A minicomputer is a computer which has all the features

of a large size computer, but its size is smaller than those.

• A minicomputer lies between the mainframe and the

microcomputer because its size is smaller than the former

one and larger than the latter one.

• A minicomputer is also called as a mid-range

computer.

• Minicomputers are mainly multi-users systems

where more than one user can work

simultaneously. Minicomputer examples: IBM’s

AS/400e, Honeywell200, TI-990.

• Minicomputer can support multi-users at a time or you

can say that minicomputer is a multiprocessing system.

• Also, the power of processing of minicomputers is not

larger than the power of mainframe and supercomputers.

• These minicomputers can do time-sharing, batch

processing, and online processing.

• The main distinguishing characteristics of

minicomputers have been their relative lower cost,

their applications, and the types of software packages

that have been available with them on delivery.

• The types of minicomputer are- tablet PC, Desktop

minicomputers, cell phones, notebooks, high-end mP3

players.
Mainframe computers

• Mainframes serve most often as information

stores and processors.

• An army of smaller computers is connected to

the mainframe. These smaller computers are

not in the same room; they may be connected

through phone lines across the world

• People use the smaller computers and get

information from and send information to the

mainframe.

• When you connect to an online information

service or a commercial e-mail service from your

personal computer, you are often connecting to a

mainframe.
Super-Computer

• A supercomputer is the fastest computer in the world

that can process a significant amount of data very

quickly.

• The computing Performance of a supercomputer is

measured in FLOPS (floating-point operations per

second) instead of MIPS (Million Instructions Per

• They have evolved from grid to cluster system of

massively parallel computing.

• Cluster system computing means that machine

uses multiple processors in one system instead of

arrays of separate computers in a network.

• The fastest supercomputer in the world was the

Sunway TaihuLight
Uses of Supercomputer

• They’re used for scientific simulations and

research.

• The military uses supercomputers for testing new

air crafts, and weapons.

• These machines are also used for encrypting the

• Scientists use them to test the impact of

nuclear weapon detonation.

• Hollywood uses supercomputers for the

creation of animations.

• In entertainment, supercomputers are used

for online gaming.

What is Data ?

• Data – raw facts and figures

• Historical records, census counts, voting

registers, etc

• Lowest level of abstraction in hierarchy

• Knowledge, information, data

Information

Processed data, organized in a meaningful way

such that it is a resource to recipient.

Characteristics of Information

Factual Information

• A statement of a thing that is done or that exists.

• This consists of facts.

• They are usually Short and non-explanatory.

• They are not often found in reference material.

Example God is omnipotent

Analytical Information
• This is a response to the Interpretation of
factual information.
• Involves analysis of facts.
• The Interrelations among, implications of,
reasons for which is produced Usually by
experts.
• They are found in books and periodical
articles.
• Example :Looking at the birth and death
statistics, there are more females than males
in Ghana.
Subjective information

• This is when information is understood from only

one point of view.

• It cconsists of opinions or personal viewpoints.

• They are found in books, periodical articles,

editorials, reviews.

• Example: I hate pickles

Objective information
• This is understood by reviewing many
different points of views.
• Such information are non-judgmental and
balanced reporting.
• All sides of a topic are presented.
• They are found in encyclopedias, news
articles.
• Example: It is believed that many females like
ice cream
Sources of Information
Primary information
• This refers to information in its original form
or state.
• The source of the information is not previously
published.
• They are Eye witness accounts, diaries, letters.
Secondary Information

• This is information about a primary source. The

source is re-packaged from original source

• The secondary source of information re-states, re-

arranges, examines or interprets primary information.

• Examples are : Index to newspaper articles,

bibliography of an author’s work

Tertiary information

• A distillation of primary and secondary

information leads to secondary information

• Examples are: Bibliography of critical works of

an author
Information as a resource

• Value lies in its utilization

• Forms a major base of knowledge growth

• Aids in decision-making

• Helps with

– Design of products

– General development

– Packaging products
Data vs. Information
Data Processing

• Process of converting data into useful

information

• Data processing system

• The activities equipment and personnel

involved
• Data Process Information

PROCESS INFORMATION
DATA
Stages of Data Processing

• Data Collection

This is when data are obtained and gathered

from their source. Example from questionnaire,

observation, experimentation
• Data Preparation

This is when the data is made ready for further use.

This includes classifying, coding, editing of the data

• Data input

The data is then passed to persons or department

responsible for processing of the data

• Data processing

Data manipulated by sorting, calculating,

updating, etc. This usually follows a set of

working procedures or instructions

• Information output

Produced in the desired or suitable format

Data Processing Cycle
Output as input
• Output data may be used as input. At a later
date or for another process