2025-2026

Computer Science
Lecture 1

Introduction to Computer

Lecturer: Dr. Salwa Adel Alagha

Department of Electrical Engineering First Year / 2025-2026 By: Dr. Salwa Adel Alagha

Lecture 1

1. Computer:
There are many important aspects to be discussed about both computer
hardware and software because they both include very important
components which influence the performance of the computer system and the
way in which users can work with their computers.

2. Hardware:
Computer Hardware, is the physical components of computer, refers to
objects that you can actually touch.
 Internal components: of the computer itself including the Central
Processing Unit (CPU) and related microchips, keyboards, monitors,
case and drives (hard, CD, DVD, floppy, optical, tape, etc...).
 Peripheral components: or devices include mouse, printers, modems,
scanners, digital cameras and cards (sound, color, video) etc... Together
they are often referred to as a personal computer.

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Department of Electrical Engineering First Year / 2025-2026 By: Dr. Salwa Adel Alagha

Lecture 1

3. Software:
Computer Software, is a set of computer programs, procedures, and
documentation that tells a computer what to do or how to perform a task.

Types of Software are:

 System software: It includes operating
systems, which govern computing
resources. There are lots of Operating
Systems (OS) available recently, include the
Windows versions, Windows XP, Unix,
Linux, Windows Vista, etc.
 Programming languages: Define the syntax and semantics of computer
programs. Newer applications are often written in more modern programming
languages such as Basic, FORTRAN, Pascal, C, C++, and Matlab …… etc.
 Application software: Application software, like educational,
(commercial) business and medical fields, computer games.
 Test-ware: It is any software for testing hardware or a software package.

4. Data and Information:

Data: Data is a collection of raw, unorganized facts and details like text,
observations, figures, symbols and descriptions of things etc. data does not
carry any specific purpose and has no significance by itself. Data is measured
in terms of bits and bytes – which are basic units of information in the
context of computer storage and processing.

Information: Information is processed, organized and structured data. It

provides context for data and enables decision making.

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Department of Electrical Engineering First Year / 2025-2026 By: Dr. Salwa Adel Alagha

Lecture 1

 For example, a single customer’s sale at a restaurant is data – this becomes

information when the business is able to identify the most popular or least
popular dish.
 For example, of information would be a computer. A computer uses
programming scripts, formulas, or software applications to turn data into
information.

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Department of Electrical Engineering First Year / 2025-2026 By: Dr. Salwa Adel Alagha

Lecture 1

5. Information Electronics and Communication Technology IECT:

IECT encompasses the study, design, and application of electronic
devices and systems for processing, transmitting, storing, and retrieving
information. An IECT is a combination of electrical engineering, computer
science, and telecommunications.
IECT is a broader term for Information Technology (IT), which includes
information, data processing, information life cycle and its importance in a
day to day life, communication technologies, internet, advanced wired or
wireless networks, internet, data transformation, cell phones, computers,
application and software’s middleware, social networking, audio and video
conferencing and related different application areas, where multimedia highly
utilizes to access, retrieve, store, transmit, and manipulate data/information in
a digital form

 E-governance
E-governance is an application of
Information Electronics and
Communication Technology
which is especially designed for
the effective governance system
for people. The main goal of
IECT tools is to improve
government operations, service
delivery, and effective
communication with citizens, transparency and efficiency in government
institutions. Communication refers to the sharing of information between
parties like common people, government, business, etc.

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Department of Electrical Engineering First Year / 2025-2026 By: Dr. Salwa Adel Alagha

Lecture 1

 Multimedia and Entertainment

Multimedia refers to combination of text, audio, video, graphics,
animation, etc. It is one of applications of IECT. Multimedia is used to
improve quality of presentation by incorporating information, graphics,
animation, and motion, etc.
 Telecommunications
 Internet of Things (IoT)
 E-commerce and Digital Marketing
 Education and E-learning
 Healthcare and Telemedicine
 Financial Services
 Transportation and Logistics
 Entertainment and Media
 Energy Management and Sustainability
 Public Safety and Security

6. Input and Output Devices

An input/output device, often known as an IO device, is any hardware
that allows a human operator or other systems to interface with a computer.
Input/output (I/O) device is a piece of hardware that can take, output, or
process data. It receives data as input and provides it to a computer, as well as
sends computer data to storage media as a storage output.
 Input Devices
Input devices are the devices that are used to send signals to the
computer for performing tasks. The receiver at the end is the CPU (Central
Processing Unit), which works to send signals to the output devices. Some of
the classifications of Input devices are:
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Department of Electrical Engineering First Year / 2025-2026 By: Dr. Salwa Adel Alagha

Lecture 1

 Keyboard
The keyboard is the most frequent and widely used input device for
entering data into a computer. Keyboard layout is similar to that of
a typical typewriter.

 Mouse
A mouse is an input device, used to move a little cursor across the
screen while clicking and dragging. Left mouse button used to
select or move items, while the right mouse button, clicked and
displays extra menus.

 Joystick
A joystick is a pointing device that is used to move the cursor on a
computer screen. A spherical ball is attached to both the bottom and
top ends of the stick.

 Scanner
A scanner is an input device that functions similarly to a
photocopier. The scanner collects images from the source and
converts them to a digital format that may be saved on a disc.

 Bar Code Reader

A bar code reader is a device that reads data that is bar-coded. Bar-
coded data is commonly used to mark things, number books, and so
on. It could be a handheld scanner or part of a stationary scanner.

 Microphone
 microphone works as an input device that receives input voice
The
signals and also has the responsibility of converting it also to
digital form. It is a very common device that is present in every
device which is related to music.

 Web Camera
A webcam is an input device, it is either built inside the
computer (laptop) or attached through a USB connection. A web
camera records a video image of the scene.

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Department of Electrical Engineering First Year / 2025-2026 By: Dr. Salwa Adel Alagha

Lecture 1

 Output Devices
Output Devices are the devices that show us the result after giving the
input to a computer system. Output can be of many different forms like text,
image, graphic, audio, video, etc. Some of the output devices are listed below.

 Monitor
Monitor, also known as Visual Display Units (VDUs), is a computer’s
primary output device. It creates images by arranging small dots,
known as pixels, in a rectangular pattern. The amount of pixels
determines the image’s sharpness.

 Printer
Printer is output device that allow to print information on paper, like
Character printer, Line printer, Impact printer, Inkjet printer, and Laser
printer.

 Speaker
Speaker is device that produce sound after getting a command from a
computer. Nowadays, speakers come with wireless technology also
like Bluetooth speakers.

 Plotter
Plotter is a device that helps in making graphics or other images to give
a real view. A graphic card is mandatorily required to use these devices.

 Headphone
Headphone is just like a speaker, which is generally used by a single
person or it is a single-person usable device. These are also called
headsets having a lower sound frequency.