The Basics of

Computer
 Agenda

1. Full form of Computer 10. Hardware Compounds

2. History of Computer 11. Output Device
3. Generations of Computer 12. Storage Devices
4. What is Computer 13 Types of Memory
5. Basic Organization of Computer 14. How Computer Memory is Measured
6. Data & Instruction 15. Uses of Computers
7. Hardware 16. Computers in Daily Life
8. Software 17. Evaluation
9. Types of Computers
Full form of “COMPUTER”

C : Common

O : Operating

M : Machine

P : Purposely

U : Used for

T : Technological

E : Educational

R : Research
History of Computers
• The father of computers is Charles Babbage.

• He was an English mathematician, philosopher, and mechanical engineer.

• He conceptualized and designed the first mechanical computer, known as the Analytical Engine, in the
mid-1830s.

• Following that, he received 10 years of funding from the British Government for his project.

• He is known for his concept and invention of the Analytical Engine in 1837, which contained an ALU
(Arithmetic Logic Unit), basic flow control, and integrated memory and is hailed as the first general-
purpose computer concept.

• He worked years on it and invented it in 1854.

• The first computer came to use in 1943.

• Babbage's visionary ideas and designs significantly influenced the development of computers, earning
him a lasting legacy in the history of computing.
 Generations of Computers
First Generation Computers 1946 - 1958 Vacuum Tubes

Second Generation Computers 1959 - 1964 Transistors

Third Generation Computers 1965 - 1970 Integrated Circuits

Fourth Generation Computers 1971- 1989 Microprocessors

Fifth Generation Computers Present to Beyond Artificial Intelligence

What is a Computer?

• A Computer is an electronic device that stores, retrieves, and processes

data and can be programmed with instructions.

• It can store, retrieve, and process data.

• You may already know that you can use a computer to type documents,
send emails, play games, and browse the Web.

• You can also use it to edit or create spreadsheets, presentations and

even videos.

• A computer is composed of hardware and software and can exist in a

variety of sizes and configurations.
Basic Organization of a Computer

The computer is an electronic device that performs five major Operations, which include

1. Accepts data or information (Input)

2. Stores data

3. Process data

4. Displays data (Output)

5. Controls and co-ordinates all operations inside a computer

Hardware
• The term hardware refers to the physical components that
make up a computer system including its internal pieces and
connected external devices.

• Hardware components perform a computer's tasks like

calculating data, storing information, processing input, and
providing output.

• Any part of a computer that you can physically touch is

hardware.

• These components are essential for the computer to

function properly.

• All hardware devices, whether internal or external, include

chips on a circuit board to perform a function.
Hardware
• All hardware also requires a way to interface with the rest of
the computer, usually by connecting to a port, socket, or
wireless radio.
• After that, pieces of hardware will include other parts that
help them fulfill their function, like buttons, sensors,
protective cases or even cooling fans to prevent
overheating.

There are two types of Hardware

• Internal Hardware
• External Hardware
Software

• The software is the instructions that make the computer work.

• Software is held either on your computer’s hard disk, CD-ROM, DVD

or on a diskette (floppy disk) and is loaded (i.e. copied) from the
disk into the computer's RAM (Random Access Memory), as and
when required.
Software
What is a Software?
• In a computer system, the software is a set of instructions or
commands that tell a computer what to do.
• In other words, the software is a computer program that provides
a set of instructions to execute a user’s commands and tell the
computer what to do.
• For example MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

Types of Software

It is a collection of data that is given to the computer to complete a

particular task.

• System Software

• Application Software
Types of Computers
Mini and Mainframe Computers
• Very powerful, used by large organizations such as banks to
control the entire business operation.
• Very expensive.
• It was identified in the initial stage

Personal Computers
• Cheap and easy to use.
• Often used as stand-alone computers or in a network.
• May be connected to large mainframe computers within big
companies. Later it was used in all the sectors

Laptop Computer
• Laptop is a personal computer that can be easily moved and
used in a variety of location.
Hardware
Compounds
Input Device

The Mouse
• The mouse is a common pointing device.
• It allows you to move a cursor across the screen by clicking and dragging.
• The left mouse button selects or moves items, while the right mouse button displays
additional menus.

The Keyboard
• An input device (the set of typewriter-like keys) that allows a user to enter characters
(letters, numbers, symbols, etc.) into a computer.

Webcam
• Webcams capture video and audio data, allowing users to participate in video calls,
conferences and online meetings.
Scanners
• Scanners capture image data from physical documents or images and
convert them into digital format.
• They are commonly used for document scanning, photo digitization,
and OCR (optical character recognition).

Trackpad (Or TouchPad)

• A small flat surface on a laptop or other computer that does the same
things as a mouse (a trackpad is a built-in mouse).

Light Pens
• Used to allow users to point to areas on a screen

Joysticks
• A joystick is another pointing device used to move the cursor on a
computer screen. It has a spherical ball at both ends.
• Joysticks are primarily used in CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and
video games.
Output Device
Monitor -VDU (Visual Display Unit)
• Monitors display processed data, including images, videos, text, and audio.
• They arrange microscopic dots called pixels in a rectangular pattern to create
images.
• The sharpness of an image depends on the number of pixels present.

Printers
• Printers produce hard copies of digital content on paper.
• They are commonly used for printing documents, images, and graphics.
• Different types of printers include inkjet printers, laser printers, and dot matrix
printers.

Projector
• Projectors display large images or videos on screens or surfaces.
• They are commonly used in classrooms, conference rooms, and home theaters.
Plotters
• Plotters are specialized output devices used for creating large-
scale drawings, architectural plans, and technical diagrams.
• They use pens or other drawing tools to produce precise lines
and curves.

Speakers and Headphones

• Speakers and headphones are audio output devices.
• They allow us to hear sound produced by the computer, such as
music, videos, or system alerts.

Speech Synthesisers
• Gives you the ability to not only to display text on a monitor but
also to read the text to you
Storage Devices:
How they save data and programs
Hard Disk Drive:
• It is the main data storage device in a computer
• Other common names for a hard disk drive: hard disk, hard drive, fixed
disk, etc.
• A hard disk drive is a spindle of stacked magnetic disks (platters) that
records and stores information (like phonograph records).
• When you install programs or save data on your computer’s hard disk, the
information is written to the hard disk.
• Hard drives can be internal or external.

Floppy Disk

• It drives allow you to save work on small disks and take the data with you.
CD-ROM Disks
• A CD-ROM (Compact Disk read-only memory). It is a type of compact disk that can only be
read, not written to.
• It is a digital storage media that can hold large amounts of data including text, images &
audio.
• CD-ROM is a device that reads CD/DVD. It works just like a CD/DVD player.
• It is placed inside the system unit and it emits take CD/DVD as input.

DVD Drives
• DVD is called a Digital video disk or Digital versatile disk.
• It is a digital optical disk storage format, used to store high-capacity data like high-quality
videos & movies.
• It is also used to store the operating system.

Pen Drive or USB Drive

• A small portable storage device used to store or transfer data for computers. It is often
used for storage, data backup, and transfer of computer files.
• USB stands for Universal Serial Bus.
• Other common names for a USB drive: flash drive, USB stick, pen drive, thumb drive, etc.
Types of Memory
RAM - Random Access Memory

• A type of data storage (memory element) used in computers that

temporarily stores programs and data.
• RAM only holds onto data and programs while the computer is on.
• All information that was stored in RAM is erased when the computer is
turned off.

Types of Random Access Memory (RAM)

• There are basically two types of RAM. They are as follows:

• SRAM (Static Random Access Memory)
• DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)
Types of Memory
ROM – Read Only Memory

• Read Only Memory (ROM) as the name suggests is a special type of memory
chip that holds software that can be read but not written to.

• 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.

• A good example is the ROM-BIOS chip, which contains read- only software.
Often network cards and video cards also contain ROM chips.
How Computer Memory is
Measured
Uses of Computers
• One of the benefits of computers for students in school is making
students prepare for the future

• Maintain Student data in EMIS

• Conduct online Classes for students

• Email sent from BEO/DEO/ Education Department

• Preparing lesson plan by school teacher

• In different profession like, business reports, booking, bill

generation to education, programming or development to
entertainment, etc.
Computers in Daily Life
• Education: Computers help us to find information, write research
papers, and learn online.

• Accounts: Computers help us to manage our finances, pay bills,

and do online transactions.

• Data Storage: Computers help us to store and organize our

personal and professional data.

• Working: Computers help us to communicate, collaborate, and

create with others in various fields and industries.
Computers in Daily Life
• Social Networking and Gaming: Computers help us to connect,
entertain, and relax with our friends and family.

• Government, Science, Health and Medical: Computers help us

to provide public services, conduct research, diagnose and treat
patients, and solve problems.