Chapter 2

Computer system
75
Introduction
◼ Computer system refers to a collection of
components that are linked to process,
store and manage information.

76
Functional organisation of the elements

◼ The computer system is organised into three

elements.
 Hardware – consists of the mechanical,
electrical and electronic part of a computer.
 Software – it is a set of computer programs that
guides the computer in each and every activity
that happens inside the computer during data
processing.
 Live ware – refers to users who are computer
knowledge and hence can properly utilize the
computer hardware and software. 77
Input device
◼ These are devices which accept data and pass
them into the computer.
 Keying devices – keyboard use to type data
into the computer.
 Pointing devices
◼ Mouse
◼ Track ball

◼ Joy stick

◼ Light pen

 Scanning devices – they are devices that

capture data into the computer directly. 78
Types of keying devices 1
◼ Flexible keyboard – is
a more portable
keyboard that can be
folded and packed in
to bag.

◼ Ergonomic board – is
specially designed to
provide comfort and
alleviate wrist strain.
79
Types of keying devices 2
◼ Keypad – is a miniature
keyboard used on
portable devices such
as PDAs, laptops and
mobile phones.

◼ Braille keyboard – is a
keyboard designed for
use the blind. It
consists of key
identified by raised dots.
80
Mouse (Pointing device)
◼ This is for enter data
or instructions by
controlling a pointer
on the screen.

81
Trackball (Pointing device)
◼ Trackball – It uses a
sphere located on top
that is rotated by
hand to control cursor
movement.

82
Joy stick (Pointing device)
◼ It looks like a car gear
lever which can be
moved sideways,
upwards, downward
to no space control
the position of cursor.

83
Light pen (Pointing device)
◼ It is a hand held pen
like device that has a
light sensitive point.

84
Classification of scanners
◼ Optical scanners – they capture data using
light.
 Optical Mark Recognition (OMR)
 Optical Bar Recognition
 Optical Character/Image Scanner (OCR)

◼ Magnetic scanners – they capture data

using magnetic technology.
 Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
 Magnetic Stripe Recognition
85
Optical Mark Recognition (OMR)
(Optical scanner)
◼ This scanner uses mark –
sensing to scan and
translate the locations of a
series of pen or pencil
marks into computer
understandable form used
in marking K.C.S.E. multiple
choice exam, questionnaire
etc.

◼ Application of OMR
 Multiple choice exam.
 Market research
questionnaires.
 Payroll data entry.
 Traffic surveys. 86
Advantages and disadvantages of OMR

Advantages Disadvantages
◼ Has low error rates. ◼ Mark readers are
relatively slow.
◼ Conspicuous errors
are easily corrected. ◼ Verification of marked
data is difficult.
◼ Data captured at
source, hence ◼ Not widely used in
minimising amount business.
of manual work.
87
Optical Bar Recognition (OBR)
(Optical scanner)
◼ They scan and translate a
bar code into machine
understandable mode.
Used in supermarket,
wholesale shops etc.

◼ Application of OBR
 On labels and on
shelves for stocktaking.
 Printed on shop goods
e.g. supermarkets.
 In libraries. 88
Advantages and disadvantages of OBR
Advantages Disadvantages
◼ Bar codes can only
◼ Bar codes can be be read machines.
printed by normal ◼ Only numbers can be
printing methods. coded in this way.
◼ They are relatively
◼ The type of item or fixed, so they are
price does not have unsuitable for
to be repeatedly recording prices
written/typed. which can frequently
change.
89
Optical Character/Image Scanner (OCR)
(Optical scanner)
◼ It is used to scan
characters and
images i.e. can be
used to scan real
objects.

◼ Application of OCR
 Used in billing

90
Advantages and disadvantages of OCR
Advantages Disadvantages
◼ Data is captured at ◼ Optical readers are
source hence errors expensive.
are limited.
◼ It’s an easier method ◼ OCR may require
to use. redesigning quite
◼ Document design is frequently.
less complicated.
◼ Characters can be ◼ Only certain font is
read by people. acceptable.
91
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
(Magnetic scanner)
◼ This scanner is able
to detect characters
written in special
magnetic ink. It is
used in banks to read
cheques, credit cards
etc.

◼ Application of MICR
 Bankingindustry for
cheques.
92
Advantages and disadvantages of MICR

Advantages Disadvantages
◼ It’s fast, accurate
and automatic. ◼ MICR system is
limited to only 14
◼ The code are both characters.
machine and human
readable. ◼ MICR system is
based on magnetism
◼ Reduces forgery i.e. and can easily be
it’s difficult to forge. damaged.
93
Magnetic Stripe Recognition
(Magnetic scanner)
◼ A magnetic stripe is a thin
magnetic tape, often
found at the back of a
plastic card e.g. ATM
card. The magnetic stripe
is used to recognise the
data in such cards.

◼ Application of magnetic
stripes
 On credit cards.
 On bank cards.
 As tags on clothes.
 As a phone card.
94
Advantages and disadvantages of magnetic stripes

Advantages Disadvantages

◼ Simple to produce. ◼ Data can be changed

or erased by
◼ Not easy damaged. magnetic fields.

◼ Stores fairly large

numbers of
characters.
95
Speech recognition devices
◼ This is a type of input method where
microphone is used to enter data in form of
spoken words into the computer.

◼ Application area of speech recognition

 Security and access control e.g. office security for
room access, house/car security.
 Quality control and automatic in factories i.e.
speech input used to order robots.
 Automated materials handling – in airports to direct
luggage to appropriate conveyor belt.
 Voice activated toys and games. 96
Advantages and disadvantages of speech recognition
Advantages Disadvantages
◼ No keyboards in ◼ Homophones – some
necessary i.e. very fast.
words sound the same.
◼ Useful in situations
where ◼ Recognition is slow.
 hands or eyes are ◼ Limited vocabularies.
busy handling
◼ Background noise can
documents etc.
 People are moving
disrupt the data entered.
around, since ◼ Speaker variability i.e. the
wireless microphone speed, pitch, loudness,
can be used.
pronunciation of
◼ Can be used from
remote locations via the individuals.
telephone.
97
Types of other digital devices
(Touch screen and digital camera)
◼ Touch screen – this
device recognises the
location of a contact
on the screen through
a built-in grid of
sensing lines and
sensors.
◼ Digital camera – they
are used to take
electronic pictures of
an object.
98
Types of other digital device
(Digitizers)
◼ It has graphic tablet
on which the user
writes on using a
device similar to a
pen (stylus). The
stylus moves on the
tablet and the drawing
is directly reflected on
the screen.

99
Types of other digital devices
(Interactive whiteboard)
◼ An interactive whiteboard
also as a smartboard, is a
large interactive display
that connects to a
computer. The computer
display is projected onto
the board’s surface,
where users control the
computer and write using
a pen or finger. The
board is typically
mounted to a wall or on a
floor stand.
100
 Selecting an input device
◼ Factors to consider while selecting an input device
 Cost
 Volume
 Reliability
 Accuracy
 Mode of operation
 Appropriateness

101
Output device
◼ Output devices are peripheral devices that
a computer uses to give out information
produces after processing.

 Soft copy – refers to the intangible mainly

displayed on the screen to through devices
like speakers.
 Hard copy – refers to tangible output
produced on papers e.g. by printers, potters
etc.
102
Examples of soft copy devices
◼ Monitor (Visual Display Unit) VDU – it
displays information on its screen thus
helping the user monitor operations
carried out by the computer.

103
Types of monitors
◼ Monochrome monitor
– it displays image
and text in only one
colour mostly black
and white.

◼ Colour monitor – it
displays images and
text in multiple
colours.
104
Types of displays screen (CRT)
Characteristics
◼ The screen of CRT is
curved slightly
outward.
◼ They are not portable.
◼ They consume a lot of
power.
◼ They are cheap.
NB; CRT means
Cathode Ray Tubes
105
Types of display screen
(flat panel displays)
Characteristics
◼ The screen is flat.
◼ They are portable.
◼ Consume less power
◼ Occupy less space.
◼ Are expensive.
◼ Providers high quality
output.

106
Example of flat panel displays 1
◼ Liquid Crystal Display
(LCD) – they have
tiny liquid crystals that
reflect light falling on
them from
environment.
◼ Thin Film Transistors
(TFT) – it provides
high quality output
(text and graphics).
107
Example of flat panel displays 2
◼ Electro Luminescent
(EL) – they glow rise
to an
electroluminescent
display, images are
clearer than LCD.
◼ Gas plasma – they
use gas that emits
light when electric
current is passed
through them.
108
Graphic adapter/video card
◼ Graphic adapter it’s a piece of circuit
board that connects a monitor to a
computer and allows the computer to
show images and text on its screen.

109
Examples of graphic adapters
◼ Monochrome Displays Adapter (MDA) – it
displays text only in one colour.
◼ Hercules Graphic Card (HGC) – displays both
text and images in one colour.
◼ Colour Graphic Adapter (CGA) – displays text
and images using up to 16 colours.
◼ Enhanced Graphic Adapter (EGA) – displays
text and images using 16 colours.
◼ Video Graphic Arrays (VGA) – offers 256 colours.
◼ Super Video Graphic Array (SVGA) – offers over
256 colours. 110
Advantages and disadvantages of VDU

Advantages ◼ Disadvantages

◼ The display of output ◼ Can lure computer

is almost operator into not
instantaneous. keeping hardcopy
records.
◼ Minimises paperwork.
◼ Screen might not
allow the viewing of
the full array of data.
111
Sound output
◼ Sound output is in form of spoken words. Speakers
are used to output the sound form computers e.g.
music, warnings, videos etc.

◼ Application of sound output

 Learning aids e.g. computer aided learning.
 Lifts – messages can be used in lifts to greet
visitors and tell them the floor they are in.
 Emergency messages i.e. public address
systems, in cars when running out of petrol,
household e.g. vacuum ‘cleaners tub is
overloaded’.
 Text to speech translation for blind. 112
Advantages of sound output
Advantages Disadvantages
◼ No reading id
necessary. ◼ Not suitable for noisy
◼ Useful in situations situations.
where you can’t look
or where you are ◼ Inappropriate for
busy. lengthy or permanent
◼ Fast, natural output. information.
◼ People grow fond of
“computer speak”.
113
Data projectors
◼ They are used to output
from a computer onto a
plain white screen like a
wall or whiteboard. It is
a creative way of
presenting computer
output to an audience.
This technology is
gradually replacing the
traditional overhead
projectors.
114
Light Emitting Diodes
◼ They are light emitting components that
display light when an electric current is
passed through them. It is used mainly for
warnings e.g. the red and green light
displayed by the system unit to help the
user know whether it is ON or OFF.

115
Hardcopy output devices
◼ Hardcopy devices are devices that
produce output on paper in form of text or
graphics.

116
Example of hardcopy
◼ Printers – produce a hard copy of
information on papers.
◼ Plotters – it’s a type of hard copy output.
They are used mainly in the field of
engineering and architecture for producing
graphical output on paper.
◼ Computer output on microform – the com
devices record computer output (image or
text) on to photographic film which can be
viewed later by special microfilm readers.
117
Classification of printers
◼ Printers are categorised as follows;
 How they produce characters on paper.
◼ Impact printers – they provide prints by printing
head element coming into actual contact with the
stationery through inked ribbon.
◼ Non-impact printers – they provide prints by the
print head elements not coming into actual contact
with the stationery, but other means e.g. thermal.
 The speed at which they print.
◼ Character printers – they produce one character at
a time e.g. daisy wheel, dot matrix etc.
◼ Line printers – they produce one line at a time e.g.
drum, chain etc.
◼ Page printers – they produce an entire page at
once e.g. laser printer. 118
Differences between impact and non-impact

Impact Non-impact

Slow Faster

Use inked ribbons Use thermal or

electrostatic principles
Cheaper Costly

Noisy Quiet

Multiple copy production Multiple copy production

possible almost impossible 119
Types of impact printers 1
◼ Dot matrix printer –
it’s an impact
character printer that
provides character
prints in terms of dots.
The printing head
element is made up of
a set of arranged
needles, which are
activated depending
on the character to be
formed for printing. 120
Types of impact printers 2
◼ Daisy wheel printer – it
has a wheel petals on
which characters are
mounted. When printing,
the wheel rotates allowing
petals to hit a ribbon with
different character.
◼ Golf ball printer – the
character images are
incorporated on the
surface of a gold ball like
print head, which is either
rotating or pivoted.
121
Types of impact printers 2
◼ Drum printer – it provides
one whole line print at a
time. The characters are
incorporated on circular
bands that move round
the surface of the drum
surface.
◼ Chain printer – it’s an
impact line printer that
incorporates engraved
characters printing slugs
at high constant speed
past printing positions.
122
Types of non-impact printers 1
◼ Inkjet printer – this
printer forms
characters by
spraying ink form tiny
nozzles through an
electrical field that
arranges the charged
ink particies into
characters.

123
Types of non-impact printers 2
◼ Thermal printer – it’s
non-impact character
printer that provides
character prints using
heat principles.
◼ Electrostatic printer –
it’s a non-impact that
uses electrostatic
charges to form
characters in a line on
a special paper. 124
Types of non-impact printers 3
◼ Laser printer – it
prints by passing a
laser beam back and
forth over a rotating
drum.

◼ Photo printer – are

special purpose
printers designed to
print photos.
125
Selecting a printer
◼ Factors to consider when selecting a printer
 Initialcost and subsequent costs of
maintenance.
 Volume of printing expected reports.
 Nature of reports to be generated.
 Range of capability for selected printers e.g.
multiple copier, print styles etc.
 Interface with the computer system.
 Speed.
 Quality of prints.
126
Type of plotters
◼ Flat bed plotters
◼ Drum plotter
127
Computer output on microform (COM)

◼ The com devices record computer output

(images or text) on to photographic film
which can be viewed later by special
microfilm readers.

◼ Applications of COM
 Libraries for book catalogues.
 Local authorities to retain town plans, maps,
statistics etc.
 Companies to store personal and customers
records.
128
Types of microform
◼ Microfilm - the output
is usually on a roll of
film.

◼ Microfiche – the
output is on a page of
film on which data
images are arranged
in a grid of patterns.
129
Advantages and disadvantages of COM
Advantages
◼ Saves on stationery and space.
◼ Faster than printing.
◼ Non-bulky hence portable.
◼ Contents on COM are not easily read using naked
eyes hence guaranteed security.
◼ Have got larger life span compared to paper output.
Disadvantages
◼ Are expensive.
◼ Cause eye-strain.
◼ Additional equipments needed to read to contents.
130
Review questions 1-1
1. What is a computer system?
2. Differentiate between a computer and a
computer system.
3. A scanner used at points of sale terminals in
supermarkets is an example of a ( )
scanner.
4. The automated input technique where keying
of input data is eliminated is sometimes
referred to as ( ).
5. The type of scanner used to grade multiple
choice examination is called ( ). 131
Review questions 1-2
6. Name three factors one would consider when selecting
data entry method, and give a reason why each is
important.
7. Describe three different optical and two magnetic
scanning techniques used for input; give an example
of the use of each.
8. Explain how banks use MICR scanners for cheque
processing.
9. Describe two situations in which speech recognition
devices may be useful as a method of data entry.
10. Optical scanning of the universal product code is now
widely used as input method. Give an example of a
place where it is used and explain how it is used.
132
 Answer of review questions 1
1. A computer system refers to hardware, software and liveware that work
together to process and manage information.
2. A computer is made up both hardware and software while a computer
system integrates hardware, software and user.
3. Barcode reader.
4. Data capture.
5. Optical mark reader (OMR).
6. The user’s needs, Type of data to be input, Volume of data entry, Cost,
availability, etc.
7. Optical – OMR, OBR and OCR.
Magnetic – MICR and Magnetic strip.
8. Special magnetic characters are written on cheques that can only be
detected by MICR reader.
9. For people with special needs (disabilities), In language translator programs,
Voice tags for voice dialling.
10. Supermarket and superstores. To capture price of goods from bar codes.
133
 Review questions 2
1. Differentiate between soft copy and hard copy.
2. What is the difference between a CRT monitor and a flat-panel
display.
3. Give three examples of flat-panel monitors available in the
market today.
4. Name four criteria used when selecting a printer.
5. Distinguish between impact and non-impact printers and give
two examples of each.
6. State one advantage and one disadvantage of laser and inkjet
printers respectively.
7. Give two advantages of sound output devices.
8. Karuri Road Construction Company (KRCC), intends to buy an
output device they can use to produce road maps. Which
device would one advice the company to buy and why? 134
Answer of review questions 2-1
1. Hardcopy is intangible information, e.g. printout on paper
like letters, while softcopy is intangible information, e.g.
screen display or music.
2. CRT monitor uses a cathode ray tube while a flat panel
does not. CRT has protruding back while flat panel does
not.
3. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Thin Film transistor (TFT),
Gas plasma display and Electro luminescent (EL).
4. Cost, print quality, availability, speed, purpose and print
technology.
5. Impact printer – print by striking mechanism and are
noisy, e.g. dot matrix and daisy wheel.
Non-impact printer – print by either laser, ink or thermal
transfer mechanism, e.g. laser jet, inkjet and thermal
135
printers.
Answer of review questions 2-2
6. Advantage of:
Laser printers – cheap running cost, good print quality.
Inkjet printers – cheap to purchase, cheaper multiple
colours printing, high quality print.
Disadvantage of:
Leaser printers – expensive to purchase, expensive
multi-colour printing.
Inkjet printers – expensive to buy cartridges (run),
water based print easily fades.
7. Enable reception of output even when a few meters
away from computer, Makes computing interesting and
entertaining, Suitable for the blind and people with
poor sight.
8. A plotter – it draws lines and big charts. 136
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