HISTORY OF COMPUTER

Technical Terms:

 Computer- literally means to compute or to calculate. It is a general term for electronic devices which process data
to generate the desired information.
 Electronic- worked or produced by devices built or made according to the principles of electronics.
 Manual- worked or operated by the hand.
 data- any information given to a computer.( e.g. numbers, text, and graphics)

THE EARLIEST COMPUTING DEVICES

The earliest data processing equipment were all manual-mechanical devices due to the absence of electricity and
adequate industrial technology.

1. Abacus- it is the first manual data processing device developed in China in the 12th century A.D.

2. Napier’s Bones- invented by John Napier a Scottish mathematician. His “bones” are a set of eleven rods with
numbers marked on them in such a way that by simply placing the rods side by side, products and quotients are obtained.

3. Oughtred’s Slide Rule- invented by William Oughtred , a slide rule consists of two movable rulers placed side by
side, sliding the rulers one can quickly multiply and divide.
4. Pascal’s Calculator- invented by Blaise Pascal, a machine that could add and subtract numbers containing up to
eight digits.

5. Leibniz’s Calculator- invented by Gottfried Leibniz, a calculator that utilized the same techniques for addition
and subtraction as Pascal’s device but could also perform multiplication and
division as well as extract square roots.

6. Babbage’s Analytical Engine- developed by Charles Babbage, frequently called “the father of modern
computer “, it is a machine designed to use two types of cards- one, called operation cards, to indicate the
specific functions to be performed, and the other, called the variable cards, to specify the actual data.

7. Hollerith’s Punched-Card Machine- completed by Herman Hollerith, it is the first commercially successful data
processing machine that could sort 300 cards per minute.

LESSON 4
 COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
All computers, no matter how different they are in sizes and features, are composed of three general
components. These are the hardware, software and peopleware.

COMPUTER

HARDWARE SOFTWARE PEOPLEWA

RE

I. HARDWARE
- The physical parts of the computer.
- These are the parts that we can actually see and touch.
- Ex. monitor, keyboard, and mouse

COMPUTER HARDWARE DEVICES

Primary
PrimaryMemory
Memory
Arithmetic
ArithmeticLogic UnitUnit
Logic
Control Unit
Control Unit

PROCESSING

 Keyboard  Printer
 Mouse  Monitor
 CD- ROM/  Speaker
HARD
DVD-ROM WARE O  Headphone
Drive I
U
 Camera N
T
P
P
U
U
T
T
STORAGE

Primary Storage
Secondary Storage
A. INPUT DEVICES
- These refer to devices that interact with the computer because they accept instructions from the users.

Two types of Input devices:

1. Basic Input Devices
2. Specialized Input Devices

 BASIC INPUT DEVICES

- commonly used in personal computers, the keyboard and the mouse.

1. Keyboard
-used to enter data into the computer.
-it has a standard layout of letters, numbers and punctuation known as QWERTY.

Five (5) main parts of keyboard:

1. Alphanumeric keys – keys of letters and numbers.

2. Numeric keypad – a calculator-like at the right side of the keyboard.
3. Functions keys – have different meanings and functions depending on which program is running.
4. Arrow keys – are used for moving the cursor or insertion point right, left, up and down.
5. Special keys – produced no character once pressed but can take affect a certain command for a program.

Function keys
Special keys

Numeric
keypad

Arrow keys
Alphanumeric keys

1. Mouse
- a pointing device which sits on your surface and is held and moved with your hand.
-control the mouse pointers, allowing you to freely navigate different objects around the screen.
Four (4) main parts of mouse:

1. Left mouse button – frequently used button

2. Right mouse button – occasionally used button for special actions
3. Scroll wheel – used to move up or down the display screen, equivalent of using the Page Up or Page Down keys or scroll bar.
4. Palm rest – where your palm rest while using the mouse.

Right mouse button Palm rest

Scroll wheel Left mouse button

 SPECIALIZED INPUT DEVICES

1. Glidepad/Touchpad
-a touch sensitive pad that acts like a
computer mouse that moves pointer or cursor
with the use of finger.

2. Game controllers
-used for gaming purposes allowing the user
to control the different characters on specific
games.

3. Touchscreen
-a computer display that is sensitive to
pressure making it possible for the user to
send commands by touching pictures or
words on the screen.
4. Scanner
-an electronic device which converts pictures
or printed text into digital format

5. Digital Camera
-a small and portable device designed to
capture and store pictures in digital format.

6. Barcode Reader
-an electronic device for reading printed
barcodes from the item bought.

7. Trackball
-looks like an inverted mouse, since the ball
is located at the top of the device and is
rotated using the finger.

8. Remote Control
-often used to control a device by sending
radio or infrared signals over short distances.

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[Link] DEVICES
- A computer processing device is the device that is used to process the inputted data, prepares the result
accordingly and produces the output. The processing device is responsible for controlling the whole
computer system. The processing device is also known as the CPU found in the system unit.

The system unit has two sets of parts:

1. External Parts – parts that are found outside the System Unit.
2. Internal Parts – parts that are found inside the System Unit.
1
 EXTERNAL PARTS
2
1. CD ROM Slot – this is where the compact disk is inserted. 3
2. Floppy Disk Slot – this is where the floppy disk is inserted. 5
3. Casing – this is a cover that protects the internal parts of the system unit
4. LED Light – these are the light indicator in front of the system unit. 6
5. Reset Switch – this restarts the computer without turning it off.
6. Power Switch – this switches the computer on and off. 4

 INTERNAL PARTS

1. Power Supply
-provides power to the computer
2. Fan
- keeps the microprocessor,
power supply and system unit
from overheating.

3. CD ROM Drive
- designed to read and write data
on to optical disk.

4. Hard Disk Drive

- contains magnetic platters
within a sealed case which acts as
a storage area of the computer
that store the operating system
and other data.

5. Floppy Disk Drive

- reads and writes data onto a 3
½ floppy disk.

6. Motherboard
3. Motherboard
-the circuit board that includes all the
-necessary
it holds many of the
chips and crucial
slots to make
electronic
thecomponents of the system, such
computer run.
as the central processing unit (CPU)
and memory, and provides connectors for
other peripherals.
7. Network Interface Card
- used to allow computers to
communicate over a computer
network.

8. Video Card
- an adapter card used in
processing and displaying
information in the monitor.

9. Sound Card
- enable the computer to output
sound through speakers.

10. Central Processing Unit (CPU)

- also called microprocessor
which processes instructions to
perform specific task initiated by
the user.

THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

Central Processing Unit (CPU)
 the brain of the computer
 the main component of the computer built on a single chip or Integrated Circuit (IC)
 performs all the processing of the input data

The roles of Central Processing Unit

The illustration below explains how the processing of data is done by the computer.

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

The result of the processing

Data is being input by the user Data is being processed by the cycle is shown by the output
using input device CPU device

STORAGE

Data is being stored as wished

by the user in storage device

As shown above, the input device accepts data from the user, the CPU processes that data and the output device
produces useful information for the user. Storage device can be used to hold the data for a longer period of time.

STORAGE DEVICES
Storage Devices

These are the parts of the computer where data are stored.

2 CLASSIFICATIONS OF STORAGE

1. Primary Memory
 A. Random Access Memory (RAM) – also called read/write memory, it stores data and instructions
temporarily. The data disappears as soon as the power source is
switched off.

B. Read Only Memory (ROM) – the data in ROM can be read by the computer but it cannot be change.
The ROM does not lose its content even if the power supply is
switched off.

2. Secondary Memory
A. Hard Disk – it stores your computer Operating System (OS), the programs that are installed in your
computer and most of your files. In the Windows operating system, the hard disk
is often labeled as Drive C.
 B. Optical Discs (CD,DVD,BLU-RAY DISC) - these are removable discs that can store large amounts of
information. Data is saved in optical discs through a process
called “burning”.

C. Magnetic Tape - it is a recording medium that consists of a thin tape with a coating of fine magnetic
material. It is used as a storage device in making copies of audio and video.

D. Flash Drive - also called jump drive, pen drive and thumb drive, it is a small flash memory drive
with a USB (universal Serial Bus) connection.

E. Floppy Disk – also called a diskette ,it contains a flexible magnetic disc that holds data. You need a
floppy disk drive usually called Drive A to read a floppy disk. It is not widely used
now due to its limited storage capacity (1.44 megabytes).

OUTPUT DEVICES
Output Devices
  shows the result of the processing cycle
 display output for the user
 convert electronic information produced by the computer system into readable and audible form

TWO TYPES OUTPUT DEVICES

1. BASIC OUTPUT DEVICES

A. Monitor
- shows the processed data in softcopy on a
screen.
softcopy – a type of information that
we cannot actually hold.

B. Printer
- produces a hardcopy version of processed
data.
hardcopy – a type of information that
we can actually hold.

3 types of printer
1. ink jet
2. laser
3. dot matrix

C. Speaker
- produced audible data.
- attached to computers for the output of
sound
2. SPECIALIZED OUTPUT DEVICES

A. Projector
- shows the processed data in softcopy on a
wide screen.
- it is best for giving lectures to a bid crowd so
that everybody can see the presentation
properly.

B. Plotters
- used for printing big posters, architectural
drawings and billboards.

C. Modem
- used to give raw data to the device like
computer or telephone.

D. Braille Screen
- a special type of output device which is a
touch-sensitive screen intended for blind and
visually impaired computer users.
- combines a computer display, voice output
and interactive functionality.

E. Voice Synthesizer
- used to imitate the human voice
All input and output devices are connected to and from the system unit. The interconnection is usually found at the back of the
system unit. There you can find pins or holes resembling in circle, rectangle or parallelogram shapes which come into different color
codes. These pins and holes are slots called PORTS which are intended for the connection of the different devices. The different
ports found at the back of the system unit are:

It is a connection for
It is also known as Personal peripherals such as
System 2 port where the
It is the slot that provides mouse and keyboard devices modem or storage
electricity to the computer. are connected to. system.

It is also known as Video It is also known as Network

Graphics Array Port which Interface Card which allows
It allows cable to connect allows computer to be computer to connect to a
the computer to a printer. connected to a monitor. network.

It is also known as audio

It is also known as Universal ports which allow the
Serial Bus Port which connects MEASURING A COMPUTER MEMORY
peripherals such as mouse,
connection of speakers
digital camera and joysticks. and microphones.
 Computers read and calculate data as electronic signals. That is why modern computers are called digital
because all information is stored as a string of zero(0) and one(1). Zero (0) represents the “off” signal and one (1)
represents the “on” signal.

In computing, these 0s and 1s arte what we call bits, short for binary digits. So computers use the binary system
in order to process any data using the states; 1 and 0.

A character, say letter “A”, conventionally has 8 bits. That is, once a user strikes letter A on the keyboard, the
keyboard actually sends series of bits (specifically eight 1s and 0s) to be processed by the CPU and send it to the monitor
where the user can see the letter “A”.

A user types letter “A”

10101010 A

“HELLO WORLD”

01001000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111 00100000 01010111 01101111 01110010 01101100 01100100

This is also why a user who inputs data using a computer is called encoder. He/she gives codes into the computer. The role of the CPU
now is to decode the signals the keyboard has given to it.

If a user inputs more than one character, a novel for example, we now have lots of bits and bytes on the memory of the computer.

The following table explains the size and measurements of data.

UNIT EQUIVALENT COMPARABLE TO:

1 Byte 8 bits A letter/number/symbol
1 Kilobyte (KB) 1,024 bytes About 140 words; half page of typed text
1 Megabyte (MB) 1,048,576 bytes About 500 pages of texts or one large book

1 Gigabyte (GB) 1,024 megabyte A whole shelf of books

1 Terabyte (TB) 1,099,511,627,776 bytes A bookstore filled with books.

SOFTWARE
Software – refers to the program inside your computer.
 - provides instruction for a computer.

CATEGORIES OF SOFTWARE

A. SYSTEM SOFTWARE – controls the programs inside your computer.

- needed to control the operations of computer including managing memory
and peripherals, booting, transferring data from memory to disk,
rendering text onto a display device and more.

CLASSIFICATIONS OF SYSTEM SOFTWARE

1. OPERATING SYSYTEM – directs all the activities and sets all the rules for how the hardware and application software
work together.
ex: Mac OS, Ubuntu, Microsoft Windows, Linux DOS, MS DOS and UNIX

TWO INTERFACES OF OPERATING SYSYTEM

1. CLI (Command Line Interface)

- In this interface, the user types in the command.

ex: DOS, MS DOS and UNIX.

2. GUI (Graphical User Interface)

- This interface provides graphical representations of files, folders, commands and programs.
- It makes the computer easier to use.

ex: Mac OS, Ubuntu and Microsoft Windows

2. UTILITY SOFTWARE – is system software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize or maintain a
computer.

1. Virus Protection - software that scans, search and remove viruses from your computer.
2. Disk Compression – software or hardware that compresses or decompresses data when needed
3. Disk Clean-up – provides help to the user by searching for files that can be safely deleted to save space in the hard
disk.

4. File Compression – software that makes files smaller than their original size to decrease the amount of disk space it
occupies.

B. APPLICATION SOFTWARE – software used to do specific and useful task for the user.

TYPES OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE

1. Word Processor – used to create documents such as letters, reports, manuals, calendars and specialized
documents such as Web Pages.
 ex: Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Ami Pro, WordStar and MultiMate

2. Spreadsheet Application – used to store numeric data that can be used in calculations.

ex: Microsoft Excel, Lotus 123 and Quattro Pro

3. Presentation Software – used to create professional-looking presentations that can may contain text, drawing,
pictures, sounds, video, etc
ex: Microsoft PowerPoint, Corel Presentation and Lotus Freelance Graphics
4. Database Application – used to store and manage large quantities of data organized as records, fields and files using the
computer. ex: Microsoft Access, Lotus Approach and dBase Plus

5. Desktop Publishing Application – used to create newspapers, newsletters, brochures, certificates, invitations and similar types of
publications ex: Microsoft Publisher and Adobe PageMaker

6. Graphics Editing Software– used to create, scan and edit images and digital photographs on your computer

ex: Adobe Photoshop, Corel Photo Paint and Corel Draw

7. Multimedia Software– used to present data in more than one medium such as combining text, graphics, animation, audio and
video. ex: Microsoft Movie Maker, Flash and Power director

8. Web Browser– used to access and view websites and its web pages.
ex: Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome

Icons

EXPLORING AND USING THE ELEMENTS OF WINDOWS

Mouse
Pointer
Understanding Windows Elements
Once you power on the computer, you start Windows on your screen. It is similar to Figure 9.3.1 below. Other
Window screen seems to look different but the same basic components will still appear.
Desktop

Shortcut
s

Start Quick Launch Bar Taskbar Notification

Button Area

Fig. 9.3.1
1. Desktop - the area that occupies the entire background of the screen. Wallpaper is the background design of the
desktop.
2. Quick Launch bar - consists frequently used programs in the form of icons intentionally customized to have an easy
access with just one click. It is located just after the start button.

3. Icons are small pictures found on the desktop which are symbols representing programs, applications, or files. The
table below shows the different common desktop icons with their descriptions.
 Descriptions Common Desktop
Icons
My Computer icon - shows the hardware and components connected to the
hardware. You can access anything saved in the computer or storage
devices attached to the computer.

4. Mouse pointer attached to the computer

Drive Icons- are icons for storage devices - the

My Documents icon - the default storage for save files. It also includes all
My Pictures, My Music and My Videos Folder

Recycle Bin - serves as electronic trash bin of Windows that stores files,
folders, graphics and web pages you have deleted. These items
remain in the Recycle Bin until you empty it. You can also retrieve or
restore the items you have deleted

Google Chrome is used to browse the World Wide Web (www) or your local
intranet or to connect you to the Internet

Shortcut icon - a type of icon that offers quick access to files, folders, or
programs. You can identify a shortcut icon if it has a small arrow at
the bottom left part of it

example of shortcut icon

and used commands. Below are different appearances of mouse pointer that you will able to see as you work along
with Windows.

Normal Select Move Unavailable

Busy
Vertical Resize Text Select
Busy
 Horizontal Resize Link Select

Techniques on Using Mouse

a. Pointing – moving your mouse on a top of an object of Windows, for example icons and menus
b. Clicking – pressing once the left button of the mouse
c. Right-clicking – pressing once the right button of the mouse
d. Double-clicking – pressing twice the left button of the mouse in a quick succession
e. Dragging – pressing and holding the left button of the mouse and moving upward, downward, or sideward
f. Right-dragging – pressing and holding the right button of the mouse and moving upward, downward, or
sideward
5. Start button used to access programs and windows on your computer
6. Taskbar - a long rectangular band found at the lower part of the desktop where the Start Button is located. If a window
is present on the desktop, a button for it will appear on the taskbar. This indicates that an application or folder is open.
The figure below shows an example of a task bar:

Start Button Button of the opened window Notification Area

` Fig. 9.3.2

Notification Area - commonly referred to as System Tray. It is displayed near the right edge of the taskbar that shows
information about the status of the computer.
Minimize Maximize
Title bar button button
Close
button

Menu bar
bar
Toolbar

Border

Parts of a Window Scroll

bar
Most of the contents of window are different but they consist of common parts. They always appear on the desktop which is
the main work area of your screen. Most windows have the following basic parts:

Status Bar
Bar Fig. 10.1.2 Parts of a Typical Window
Application Icon

Parts of a typical window

1. Title bar – displays the name of the document and program.

2. Application Icon – the button at the left side of the title bar which accesses the application menu that would enable the
window to restore, move, size, minimize, maximize or close.

3. Minimize, Maximize and Close buttons – buttons which hide, enlarge and close the window

4. Menu bar – contains list of available menus which are items or options that you can click to make choices in a program.

5. Toolbar – band of icons that is useful for quickly accessing commands.

6. Scroll bar – lets you scroll the contents of the window to see information that is currently out of view.

7. Border – the frames of the window. You can drag these with your mouse pointer to change the size of the window. By doing
this, you are resizing your window manually.

8. Status bar – shows the present condition of the window.

 INTERNET

Internet – is an electronic communication structure connecting people all around the world. A global Web of computers, the Internet
allows individuals to communicate with each other. Often called the World Wide Web, the Internet provides a quick and easy
exchange of information and is recognized as the central tool in this Information Age.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNET

1. Electronic Mail (e-mail)

E-mail is fast, easy, inexpensive and saves paper.
2. Information
It serves as an electronic library, but the internet gives you access to information on any subject way more faster and
convenient.
3. Entertainment
The internet also offers different forms of entertainment, such as radio, television broadcasts, videos and music. You can also
play interactive games with other people around the world.
4. Communication
The internet allows you to communicate through typed messages and over the video in real time. You can even join
discussion groups on the internet to meet people around the world with similar interest.
5. Online Shopping
You can order products over the internet while sitting at home.

THINGS NEEDED TO ACCESS THE INTERNET

1. Computer
Any computer can be used to connect to the internet.

2. Programs
Special programs are used to be able to connect to the internet such as web browser.

3. Modem (modulator-demodulator)
A modem serves in exchanging information between a computer and the internet.

4. Telephone Line
Telephone lines are needed to travel all internet information.

5. Internet Service Provider (ISP)

ISP is a company that provides access to the internet i.e. PLDT, Globe, Smart

ELEMENTS OF INTERNET

1. World Wide Web (WWW)

World Wide Web is a way of accessing and presenting information in a multimedia rich form. The information is
Presented on one page at a time and each page contains highlighted links called hyperlinks.

2. Internet Browser
An Internet browser is a software program that enables you to access and navigate the Internet by viewing Web
pages on your computer i.e. Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox
3, Web Site
A site or area on the World Wide Web that is accessed by its own Internet address is called a Web site. A Web site can be a
collection of related Web pages. Each Web site contains a home page and may also contain additional pages. Each Web site is
owned and updated by an individual, company, or organization. Because the Web is a dynamically moving and changing entity,
many Web sites change on a daily or even hourly basis.
i.e. youtube, google., facebook

4. Web Page
Comparable to a page in a book, the basic unit of every Web site or document on the Web is a page.

5. Home Page
Home page also refers to the home or main page of that particular Web site.

6. Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

URL is an address that defines the route to a file on the web.
i.e. [Link]

PARTS OF A WEB BROWSER (Internet Explorer)

1. Title Bar - it contains the name of the Web site

2. Menu Bar - the Menu Bar is the horizontal band that contains commands and options that can be chosen. In Internet Explorer,
these selections are File, Edit, View, Favorites, Tools, and Help.

3. Address Bar – it is where the URL or the address of the website is being typed.

4. Tool Bar

As its name implies, this is the area where a lot of work gets done. The Tool Bar is much like the Menu Bar stretching from left
to right across the top of your screen just under the Address Bar. Because the Tool Bar is the workhorse of bars, it is larger and
contains many useful icons divided into three areas.

a. Back/Forward Icon - The first icon on the Tool Bar is the Back Icon. It is used t to return to a Web page or Web site you
enjoyed earlier.

b. Stop Icon– it is used to stop the page you have selected from downloading.
c. Refresh Icon – it is used to reload the latest version of the page you are viewing.
d. Home Page Icon - take you to the specific page you have set as your browser's ho