Introduction
to Computer
MD. NIAZ MOSTAKIM
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, EEE
LECTURE SHEET -2
Lecture objectives
❑ Hardware
❑ Categories of Computers
❑ Importance of computers in our
society
❑ Define the term “computer system”
❑ Components of computer system
Hardware
Input devices
⚫ Input: The data or information entered into a computer or the process of entering
data or information into the computer for processing, storage and retrieval, or
transmission.
⚫ Keyboards
⚫ Mouse
⚫ Touch screen
⚫ Digital camera
⚫ Scanner
⚫ Point of sale terminals
⚫ Bar code reader, microphones, prerecorded sources lie CD & DVS
Hardware
⚫ Processor/Central Processing Unit (CPU):
A set of electronic circuits that
perform the computer’s processing actions. In microcomputers, the
processor is a microprocessor – a central processor contained on a single
computer chip.
⚫ A chip is a collection of electronic components in a very small,
self- contained package. Chips perform the computer’s
processing actions, including arithmetic calculations and the
generation of lines, images, and sound.
⚫ Examples of chips include sound chips which generate
signals to be output as tones.
System board
⚫ The processor/CPU can take several forms. Microcomputers contain a
specific micro-processor chip as their CPU. This is put into a protective
package, and then mounted onto a board contained within the computer. This
board is called a system board or a mother board.
The system board contains other chips and
circuitry that carry out processing.
Hardware
▣ Memory devices:
Memory is made up of one or more sets of chips that data or program instructions
either temporarily permanently. No processing takes place in memory. Instead,
memory stores data, information and instructions. Memory is divided into two types:
a) Random Access Memory (RAM)
RAM holds data and program instructions temporarily while the CPU
works with them.
RAM is volatile, meaning it holds data only when the power is on. When the
power is off, RAM's contents are lost.
More RAM results in a faster system.
Hardware
b) Read Only Memory (ROM)
Permanent storage of programs.
ROM is called non-volatile memory because it never loses its contents.
Holds instructions that the computer needs to operate.
This type of memory lets you store the data needed to start up or boot the computer
Essential start-up data contained in ROM is a computer BIOS
The BIOS includes instructions on how to load basic computer hardware and includes
a test referred to as a POST (Power On Self Test) that helps verify the computer meets
requirements to boot up properly.
Hardware
b) Read Only Memory (ROM)
Permanent storage of programs.
ROM is called non-volatile memory because it never loses its contents.
Holds instructions that the computer needs to operate.
▣ Memory is measured interms of:
◾ Kilobyte (KB) - 1,000 bytes
◾ Megabyte (MB) - 1,000,000 bytes
◾ Gigabyte (GB) - 1,000,000,000 bytes
◾ Terabyte (TB) - 1,000,000,000,000 bytes.
Hardware
Output Devices
⚫ Output: The results of inputting and processing data and information
returned by the computer, either directly to the person using the system or to
secondary storage.
⚫ Common forms of output are reports, schedules, budgets, newsletter s among
others. Examples of output devices include:
⚫ Printers
⚫ Speakers
⚫ Monitor
⚫ Microphones
⚫ Projectors
Note: Communications devices (such as modems and network interface cards) perform both
input and output, allowing computers to share
Hardware
▣ Storage Devices
◾ The purpose of storage is to hold data permanently, even when the computer is
turned off.
◾ Storage devices hold data not currently being used by the CPU.
◾ Data is commonly stored on a magnetic or optical disk.
◾ A disk drive is a device that reads data from and writes data to a disk. Most new
computers feature a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, and an optical disk drive.
◾ The most common optical storage devices are CDROM and DVD-ROM drives.
Hardware
⚫ Three major distinctions between storage and memory.
⚫ There is more room in storage than in memory.
⚫ 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.
Peripherals
⚫ A peripheral device designates equipment that might be added to a
computer system to enhance its functionality.
⚫ A peripheral device can be attached, either physically or in a wireless
fashion to a computer system.
⚫ Examples:
⚫ Printer
⚫ Digital camera
⚫ Scanner
⚫ Joystick
⚫ Any device that is ready to communicate to a computer is said to be online. One that
is not ready to communicate is said to be offline.
Computer Software
⚫ Software is a set of instructions that drive a computer to perform specific tasks.
⚫ These instructions tell the machine’s physical components what to do.
⚫ A set of instructions is often called a program.
⚫ When a computer is using a particular program, it is
⚫ said to be running or executing the program.
⚫ The two most common types of programs are system software and
application software.
Computer Software
1) System software: Is any program that 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:
a) An operating system tells the computer how to use its own components. All computers require
an operating system.
The OS tells the computer how to interact with the user and
its own devices.
OS controls and ensures that the computer operates in the way intended in a systematic,
reliable and efficient manner.
Examples of operating systems include Windows, Macintosh operating
system and Linux.
Computer Software
b) A network operating system is a specialized operating system for a
network device such as a router, switch or firewall.
⚫ It allows computers to communicate and share data across a network while
controlling network operations and overseeing the network’s security. Example is
Windows server 2008.
c) A utility is a program that makes the computer system easier
to use or performs highly specialized functions.
⚫ Utilities are used to manage disks, troubleshoot hardware problems, and
perform other tasks that the operating system itself may not be able to
do. For example a Symantec antivirus, Partition Magic etc.
Computer Software
2) Application Software: Tells the computer how to accomplish specific tasks,
such as word processing or drawing, for the user. Some of the major categories of
these applications include:
◾ Word processing software for creating text-based documents
◾ Spreadsheets for creating numeric-based documents such as budgets.
◾ Presentation programs for creating and presenting electronic slide
shows.
◾ Graphics programs for designing illustrations or manipulating photographs, movies
etc.
◾ Database management software for building and manipulating
large sets of data such as names, addresses etc.
Data and Information
▣ Data are the words, numbers, symbols and graphics that describe people,
events, things, and ideas. Data becomes information when it is used as the
basis for initiating some action or for making a decision.
▣ Information are the words, numbers, and graphics used as the basis for human actions
and decisions.
▣ A set of data that has been given a name is called a file.
▣ A file that a user can open and use is called document.
▣ A folder is a place where groups of computer files and other
folders can be kept and organized.
Files
⚫ A file is a named collection of data, stored on a storage medium such
as a hard disk.
⚫ There are two types of files
⚫ Data files contains text, images, or other data that can be used
by a program.
⚫ Executable files contains programs or instructions that tell the computer how to
perform a task.
⚫ Filename extensions describe a file’s contents. For example, Executable files
usually end in .exe, word files end in .doc, adobe acrobat
documents end in .pdf etc.
How Computers Represent Data
⚫ The computer reads and stores data of all kinds in form of numbers.
⚫ Computers use the binary number system while humans normally use decimal
number system.
⚫ Binary number system
⚫ Has two distinct digits, 0 and 1
⚫ 0 and 1 combine to make numbers.
⚫ Decimal number system
⚫ Contains ten distinct digits e.g. 0 up to 9.
⚫ Digits combine to make larger numbers.
How Computers Represent Data
⚫ The limitation of a computer to understand the human languages necessitated the changing of
data to binary form, known as coding of data.
⚫ In other words, to make communication possible between a computer and man, data must be
coded in a form understandable to the computer.
⚫ The information also supplied by the computer as a result of processing must be decoded in
the form understandable to the user.
⚫ The responsibility of coding and decoding in a computer system lies with the input and
output devices.
How Computers Represent Data
Digital Data Representation
• The form in which information is conceived, manipulated and recorded.
• Bit (binary digit)
• It is the smallest possible unit of data a computer can recognize
or use.
• Inotherwords, it is the Smallest unit of data representation.
• 0 (off, No) OR 1 (on, Yes).
⚫ Byte
⚫ The Smallest unit of data Storage.
⚫ A byte is 8 bits, about one character of data.
⚫ Half a byte is a nibble.
Bits and Bytes
▣ One bit is a single 0 or 1. ▣ One gigabyte is
1,024 megabytes or
▣ One byte consists of 8 bits. approximately
▣ One kilobyte consists of 1,024 1 billion bytes
bytes approximately
1000 bytes. ▣ One terabyte is
▣ One megabyte is 1,024 1,024 gigabytes or
kilobytes or approximately approximately
1 million bytes. 1 trillion bytes.
Numeric Data Representation
Codes
▣ Numeric data consists
of numbers that
represent quantities and
that might be used in
arithmetic operations
▣ Binary (0, 1) vs.
decimal number system
(0-9)
Character Data Representation
Codes
⚫ Character data is composed of letters, symbols, and
numerals that will not be used in mathematical
operations.
⚫ The following are the most popular text code systems:
⚫ ASCII (American Standard Code for Information
Interchange) uses 7 bits to represent data.
⚫ Extended ASCII uses 8 bits to represent data.
⚫ EBCDIC (extended binary-coded decimal interchange
code) uses 8 bits to represent data (used on old IBM
mainframes)
⚫ Unicode uses 16 bits to represent each letter, number
or symbol.
Components of a computer
system : People
⚫ Users and Creators of ITApplications
⚫ User (End User): The people who use computers in their jobs or personal lives
⚫ Programmer/Analyst: A person who has joint responsibility for determining system
requirements and developing and implementing the systems.
⚫ Computer Engineer: Professional who designs, develops, and oversees the
manufacturing of computer equipment.
⚫ Systems Engineer: Professional who installs and maintains hardware.
Components of a computer
system: Procedure
⚫ Procedure: A step-by-step process or a set of instructions for
accomplishing specific results.
– Operations
– Backup and Recovery
– Security
– Development
Components of a computer
system: Procedure
⚫ Operations Procedure: A procedure that describes how a computer system or application is used,
how often it can be used, who is authorized to use it, and where the results of processing should
go.
⚫ Backup Procedure: A procedure that describes how and when to make extra copies of
information or software to protect against losses.
⚫ Recovery Procedure: An action taken when information or software must be restored.
Components of a computer
system: Procedure
⚫ Security Procedure: A procedure designed to safeguard data centers,
communications networks, computers, and other IT components
from accidental intrusion or intentional damage.
⚫ Security Software: Software that is designed to protect systems and
data.
⚫ Development Procedure: A procedure that explains how computer
literates should describe user needs and develop applications to
meet those needs.
Chapter Review Questions
1. Why are there different types of input devices?
2. Do all computers, regardless of size, have a processing unit? Why or why not?
3. Discuss the relationship between hardware and software.
4. Why do computers use binary numbering system?
5. What is the difference between data and programs?
6. What is the purpose of RAM? What is its relationship with secondary
storage?
7. Why are some devices called peripheral equipment?
8. Why are procedures needed when managing computer systems?
Any Questions?
Thank You