Introduction to

Computing
DR. Nadia Mustaqim Ansari
LECTURE 2: COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER
Recap

 Computer

 Basic operations of a computer

 History of computers

 Generations of computers

 Classification of computers based on data processing

capabilities

 Classification of computers based on number of

users

 Role of computers in society

 Versions of Windows until Windows XP

Versions of Windows
(Extra Slide)
 MS-DOS
 Windows 1.0 – 2.0
 Windows 3.0 3.1
 Windows 95
 Windows 98
 Windows ME – Millennium Edition
 Windows 2000
 Windows XP
 Windows Vista
 Windows 7
 Windows 8
 Windows 10
Components of a
Computer System
 In general, a system is defined as an organization of
parts that are connected together to form a complete
unit.

 A system related to computers is known as a

Computer System.

 A complete computer system consists of four parts:

1. Hardware

2. Software

3. Data

4. User
Components of a
Computer System (cont.)
1. Hardware
 The mechanical devices that make up the
computer are called hardware.
 Refers to any part of a computer system that is
tangible.
 Hardware includes:
• Processors
• I/O Devices
• Memory Units
• Slots
• Ports
• Buses
Components of a
Computer System (cont.)
2. Software
 Software refers to the instructions, programs,
data, and protocols which run on hardware.
 Software is a set of instructions that makes the
computer perform tasks.
 Some programs exist primarily for the
computer's use to help it perform tasks and
manage its own resources while other types of
programs exist for the user, enabling him or
her to perform tasks such as creating
documents.
 The software include:
• System Software
• Application Software
Components of a
Computer System (cont.)

3. Data
 Individual facts or pieces of information that
may not provide any useful information.
 Computer’s processes the given information and
converts to useful information.

4. User
 Computer operators, also known as users.
 No computer is completely autonomous, hence,
requiring the input from the user.
 Even if the computers may run by themselves, the
people still design, build, program, and
Information Processing
Cycle
 It is a set of steps the computer follows to receive
data, process the data according to instructions
from a program, display the resulting information
to the user, and store the results.
 Mathematical operation (2 + 2)

 Logical operation (2 > 1)

 Computers process data (input) into information

(output).
Information Processing
Cycle (cont.)
 Computers carry out processes using instructions,
which are the steps that tell the computer how to
perform a particular task.
 A collection of related instructions organized for a
common purpose is referred to as software.

 This series of input, process, output, and storage

activities is known as the Information Processing
Cycle.
Information Processing
Cycle (cont.)
 The information processing cycle has four
parts, and each part involves one or more specific
components of the computer:

1) Input - During this part of the cycle, the computer

accepts data from some source, such as the user
or a program, for processing.

2) Processing - During this part of the cycle, the

computer’s processing components perform
actions on the data, based on instructions from the
user or a program.
Information Processing
Cycle (cont.)
3) Output - Here, the computer may be required to
display the results of its processing. For example,
the results may appear as text, numbers, or a
graphic on the computer’s screen or as sounds
from its speaker.

4) Storage - In this step, the computer

permanently stores the results of its processing
on a disk, tape, or some other kind of storage
medium.
Motherboard

 The Motherboard also known as Mainboard or

Master Circuit Board is a rigid rectangular card

containing the circuitry that connects the

processor to the other hardware.

 In most personal computers, many internal

devices such as video cards, sound cards, disk

controllers, and other devices are housed on their

own smaller circuit boards, which attach to the

Motherboard (cont.)
Essential Computer
Hardware
 The computer’s hardware falls into one of four
categories:

1) Processor

2) Memory

3) Input and Output

4) Storage
Essential Computer
Hardware (cont.)

1) Processor
 The processor is like the brain of the computer; it
organizes and carries out instructions that come from
either the user or the software.

 A personal computer’s processor is usually a single chip

or a set o f chips contained on a circuit board.

 To process data or complete an instruction, the

computer passes electricity through the circuits.

 Central Processing Unit refers to a computer’s Processor.

 People often refer to computer systems by the type of

CPU they contain, for example, a Core i3 system.
Essential Computer
Hardware (cont.)
Essential Computer
Hardware (cont.)

2) Memory
 Memory is one or more sets of chips that store data
and/or program instructions, either temporarily or
permanently.

 Personal computers use several different types of

memory, but the two most important are:

i. Random Access Memory (RAM)

ii. Read-Only Memory (ROM)

 These two types of memories work in very different
ways and perform distinct functions.
Essential Computer
Hardware (cont.)
i. Random Access Memory (RAM)
 Temporary storage.
 RAM holds data and program instructions while the
CPU works with them.
 When a program is launched, it is loaded into and
run from memory.
 As the program needs data, it is loaded into memory
for fast access.
 Data is both written to and read from this memory.
 Therefore, it is also called Read/Write Memory.
 RAM is made up of a set of chips mounted on a small
circuit board.
 RAM is volatile, meaning that it loses its contents
when the computer is shut off or if there is a power
Essential Computer
Hardware (cont.)

ii. Read-Only Memory (ROM)

 Permanent memory.

 Permanently stores its data, even when the

computer is shut off.

 ROM is called nonvolatile memory because it never

loses its contents.

 ROM holds instructions that a computer needs to

operate.

 Whenever the computer's power is turned on, it

checks ROM for directions that help it start up, and
Essential Computer
Hardware (cont.)
3) Input and Output  Mouse
Devices
 Keyboard
 Input devices accept
 Trackpad
data and instructions
 Joystick
from the user or from
 Scanner
another computer
system.  Microphone

 Output devices return  The output devices

processed data to the include:
user or to another  Monitor
computer system.
 Printer
 The input devices
 Scanner
Essential Computer
Hardware (cont.)
4) Storage
 The purpose of storage is to hold data permanently,
even when the computer is turned off.
 You may think of storage as an electronic file cabinet
and RAM as an electronic worktable.
 There are three main difference between storage
and memory:
 There is more room in storage than in memory, just as
there is more room in a file cabinet than there is on a
tabletop.
 Contents are retained in storage when the computer is
turned off, whereas programs or the data in memory
disappear when you shut down the computer.
 Storage devices operate much slower than memory chips,
but storage is much cheaper than memory.
 There are two main types of computer storage:
magnetic and optical.
Software

 Software is a set of instructions that drive a

computer to perform specific tasks.
 Also known as program.

 These instructions tell the machine’s physical

components what to do; without the instructions, a
computer could not do anything at all.

 When a computer uses a particular program, it is

said to be running or executing that program.

 Two major categories of software:

1) System Software

2) Application Software
Software (cont.)

 System Software
 Any program (hat controls the computer’s hardware or
that can be used to maintain the computer in some way
so that it runs more efficiently.

 There are three basic types of system software:

 Operating System - An operating system tells the

computer how to use its own components.

 Network Operating System - Allows computers to

communicate and share data across a network while
controlling network operations and overseeing the network’s
security.

 Utility - A program that makes the computer system easier

to use or performs highly specialized functions. For example,
Software (cont.)

 Application Software
 Application software tells the computer how to
accomplish specific tasks.

 Thousands of applications are available for many

purposes and for people of all ages. Some of the
major categories of these applications include:
 Word Processing
 Spreadsheets
 Presentations
 Database Management
 Graphics Programs
 Multimedia
Computer Data

 data is any piece of information or fact that, taken

by itself, may not make sense to a person.

 For example, you might think of the letters of the

alphabet as data. Taken individually, they do not
mean a lot. But when grouped into words and
sentences, they make sense; that is, they become
information.
Computer Users

 The user is a critical part of a complete computer

system, especially when a personal computer is
involved.

 The user can take on several roles, depending on

what the user wants to accomplish:
 Setting up the System

 Installing Software

 Running Programs

 Managing Files

 Maintaining the System

Userless Computers

 There are many kinds of computers that require no human

interaction, once they have been programmed, installed, and
started up.

 For example, if you own a car that was built within the last
decade, it almost certainly has an on-board computer that
controls and monitors engine functions.

 More examples of userless computers include:

 Washing Machines

 Security Systems

 Navigation Systems

 Userless computers are typically controlled by their operating

systems. In these devices, the operating system may be
Class Activity 2
1) Which version of windows are we using today?
2) What do you mean by userless computers?
3) Define basic operations of a computer.
4) Define:
i. Motherboard
ii. Processor
iii. RAM
iv. ROM
v. Application software
5) What is the difference between data and
information?
6) Write any three roles of a computer users.
7) Define information processing cycle.
8) A computer system consists of how many parts?
9) What is the difference between application and
system software?