COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS AND OFFICE AUTOMATION
UNIT: II
Basic organization and N/W fundamentals: Computer
Organization: Functional components – Input/Output devices,
Storage types, Memory hierarchy.
Types of Computers: Micro, Mini, Mainframe, and
Supercomputers.
Networking Fundamentals: Definition, need for networks, types
(LAN, WAN, MAN), topology (Star, Ring, Bus).
Internet Basics: IP Address, Domain Name, Web Browser,
Email, WWW.
Input Devices: An input device is used to feed input into the computer.
These devices are categorized into different groups as given below
Figure: Classification of Input Devices
Keyboard: The keyboard is the main input device to communicate with a
computer. They are similar to the keyboards of type writers with some
additional keys. Using keyboard the user can type a document, use
shortcuts to access menus and play games etc.
Pointing Devices: A pointing device is used to control the movement of
the pointer or cursor on the screen. They are used to select items on
the screen, to draw pictures etc. Different types of pointing devices are
given below. They are
1. Mouse
2. Trackball
3. Track pad
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UNIT: II
Mouse: Mouse is most popular pointing device used in Graphical User
Interface (GUI). It is used to control the movement of the pointer or
cursor on the screen.
Trackball: The track ball is the upside-down mouse where the ball
rotates in its place within a socket. It is usually attached to the
keyboard of notebook computers. The ball in the trackball can be
moved with the thumb, fingers or the palm of the hand. The user rolls
the ball and places the cursor at appropriate position on the screen and
then clicks one of the buttons near the trackball for the required action.
Track pad: The track pad is also known as touch pad which is a small
sensitive area. The user has to slide his or her finger across the surface
of the pad to point to a specific object on the screen. The surface
translates the motion and position of the finger to a relative position on
the screen.
Handheld Devices: Handheld devices is a pocket-sized computing
device. Examples of handheld devices are smart phones, PDA’s etc.,
some of the popular input devices used for handheld devices are
1. Joystick
2. Stylus Pen
3. Touchscreen
Joystick: Joystick is also a pointing device which is widely used in
computer games and Computer Aided Designing (CAD)/ Computer Aided
Manufacturing(CAM) applications. It consists of a hand held lever that
moves in all directions to control the movement of the pointer on the
screen. The cursor of the mouse stops moving when the mouse is not
moving but in case of joystick the cursor continues to move in the
direction pointed by joystick. To stop the movement the user must
return the joystick to its initial position.
Stylus Pen: A Stylus is a pointing device which is similar to a pen. It is
used to select a displayed menu item or draw pictures on the monitor
screen.
Touchscreen: A touch screen is a computer display screen that also acts
as an input device. The user can touch the screen either by using a
finger or stylus. The touchscreen facilitates the users to select the items
displayed on the screen.
Optical Devices: Optical devices, also known as data-scanning devices
which uses light as a source of input for detecting or recognizing
different objects such as characters, marks, codes and images. The
optical device converts these objects into digital data and sends it to
the computer for further processing.
1. Barcode Readers
2. Scanners
3. Optical Character Recognition(OCR)
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UNIT: II
4. Optical Mark Recognition(OMR)
5. Magnetic Ink Character Reader(MICR)
Barcode Readers: Bar Code Reader is a input device used for reading
information stored in the bar code. It consists of a scanner, a decoder,
and a cable used to connect the reader to a computer. Bar coded data
contains light and dark lines as shown in the figure. Bar Code Reader
translates the bar code into alpha numeric information.
Scanners: Scanner is an input device which works more like a
photocopy machine. It captures images, printed text or hand written
text and converts them into digital images which are stored in the
computer for further processing.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR): Optical Character recognition
(OCR) is the process of converting printed materials into text or word
processing files that can be easily edited and stored.
Optical Mark Recognition (OMR): OMR is a special type of optical
scanner used to recognize the type of mark made by pen or pencil. It is
used where one out of a few alternatives is to be selected and marked.
It is specially used for checking the answer sheets of examinations
having multiple choice questions.
Magnetic Ink Character Reader (MICR): MICR input device is used in
banks to process cheques every day. The bank's code number and
cheque number are printed on the cheques with a special type of ink
that contains particles of magnetic material which are readable through
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR).
Audio- Visual devices: Audio-visual input devices are devices that
capture audio (sound) and/or visual (i.e. image or video) inputs and
store them into the computer for further processing. Different
audio/visual input devices are
1. Microphone
2. Digital Camera
3. Webcam
Microphone: A microphone is an audio input device that allows users to
input audio into their computers.
Digital Camera: A Digital camera is an input device that captures
images or videos. It converts images or videos into 1’s and 0’s and
stores them on a memory card. When the digital camera is connected to
a computer then the images or videos are transferred into computer for
further processing.
Webcam: Webcam is a hardware camera connected to a computer that
allows anyone connected to the Internet to view either still pictures or
motion video of a user or other object.
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UNIT: II
Output Devices: An output device is any device used to send results
from a computer to outside world. Basically, output devices are
electromechanical devices that accept digital data from the computer
and convert them into human-understandable format. Output devices
are classified into two types based on the type of the output they
produce.
Figure: Classification of Output Devices
Softcopy Devices: Softcopy output devices produce an electronic
version of an output i.e. output stored on hard disk, CD or pen drive or
output produced on the monitor. These output can be viewed only when
the computer is ON. It is easy to edit soft copy output, searching for
data in softcopy output is easy and fast and is easy to transfer softcopy
output.
Monitor: Monitor is the most important softcopy output device of a
computer system. Computer monitors are similar to television screens
but they display information at a much higher quality.
Projector: A projector is an output device that can take images
generated by a video
source and reproduce them on a large screen. Basically the projector
receives a video signal from some external device such as a DVD player
or a computer and projects that signal onto a screen. To display the
image on the large screen, the projector first displays that image onto a
small screen inside the projector itself, which is then projected onto the
large screen using a bright light and lens. The lens is shaped in such a
way that it takes the small image and turns into a dramatically larger
one.
Speakers: Speakers are audio output devices which allow the users to
enjoy music, movie from computer. Headphones are small audio output
devices that can fit in or on the ear and produces the same quality
sound as the speakers but only audible to the listener. Headset is
another audio output device which contains a separate microphone
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COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS AND OFFICE AUTOMATION
UNIT: II
which allows the user to talk and listen at the same time using the same
device.
Hardcopy Devices: Hardcopy output devices produces a physical form of
an output i.e. output printed on a paper. These output can be viewed
without having a computer. It is difficult to edit hard copy output,
searching for data in hard copy output is time taking and difficult and is
it costly to distribute hard copy output.
Printers: - A printer is an output device that takes text and graphics
form computer and prints on to a paper.
Plotters: A plotter is a printing device that is usually used to print
graphics with high print quality. They are widely used to draw maps, in
scientific applications, in CAD, CAM and Computer Aided Engineering
(CAE). Plotters are more expensive than printers.
Storage types: Storage is used to store programs and data. Computer
storage can be divided into two groups depending on how long the data
is stored. They are
1. Primary Memory
2. Secondary Memory
Primary Memory: Primary memory is also known as main memory. In
any computer there are two types main memory. They are
1. Random Access Memory (RAM) and
2. Read Only Memory (ROM).
Random Access Memory (RAM): RAM is a Random Access Memory
because any cell can be directly accessed if the address of the cell is
known. It is also called read/write memory. It is a volatile memory i.e.
the data is lost when power is off. It stores the instructions and data
when the program is executing. It is very expensive and can store
limited data. Primary memory is directly accessible by the CPU so the
speed of access is very fast when compared to secondary memory.
Read Only Memory (ROM): ROM stores the data permanently on chips.
They are non-volatile i.e. the data is retained in it even after the
computer is turned off. These chips are designed for applications in
which data is only read. ROM stores Basic Input and Output System
(BIOS) which is used to boot up the computer when it is turned on.
Secondary Memory: Secondary memory is a non-volatile memory i.e. it
stores the data even when power is OFF. It is in expensive and can store
large volume of data. Secondary memory is not directly accessible by
the CPU. The data access speed of secondary memory is very low when
compared to main memory. Example of storage device are magnetic
tapes, floppy disks, optical disks, flash memory devices and the external
hard disk.
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UNIT: II
Memory Hierarchy: Computer uses different types of memory as
memory hierarchy to increase the processing speed and to reduce the
overall cost of the system. The memory hierarchy is shown in the figure
below. As we move from bottom to top the memory becomes more
expensive, less access time, smaller in size, less capacity and stores the
data only when power is ON. AS we move from top to bottom the
memory becomes less expensive, more access time, bigger in size,
more capacity and stores the data even when power is OFF.
Registers: Registers are located inside the processor and are directly
accessible by the CPU. Each register is capable of storing one word of
data. It is group of flip-flops connected together to store the data. Each
flip flop is capable of storing I bit of data. Registers are the fastest
among all types of memory.
Cache Memory: Cache memory is an additional memory attached to the
computer to increase the speed of processing. It is an intermediate
memory between resisters and main memory. Cache memory stores
the frequently used statements and data.
Primary Memory: Primary memory is a volatile memory i.e. the
contents are lost as soon as the power is OFF. It stores the instructions
and data when the program is executing. When a program is to be
executed then it is to be loaded into the main memory along with the
data. It is very expensive and can store limited data. Primary memory is
directly accessible by the CPU so the speed of access is very fast when
compared to secondary memory.
Hard Disk: The hard disk stores all the programs and data permanently.
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UNIT: II
A hard disk is a set of disks stacked together to store large data. A
single hard disk includes several platters or disks that are coated with
magnetic material.
Optical disks: Optical disk is a flat round portable metal disk coated
with high reflective material. It is usually 0.75 inch in diameter and less
than 1/20th of an inch thick. It stores information in the form of pits and
lands. Pits are tiny reflective bumps created with a laser beam and
lands are flat areas. Land reflects the laser light and is read as binary
digit ‘1’ and a pit on the other hand absorbs the laser light and is read
as ‘0’.
Magnetic Tapes: Magnetic tapes are mass storage devices which are
capable of backing up and retaining large volumes of data. It is similar
to audio tape which is a thin strip coated with magnetic material.
Network Definition: A computer network is a system of two or more
interconnected computing devices that are linked together.
Need for networks: A computer network is used to share data,
resources, and services. The devices in the network are called nodes.
They can include computers, smartphones, servers, and more, and they
are connected through physical wires or wireless technology. Networks
enable communication and allow users to access files, exchange
information, and utilize shared resources.
Types of Networks: Depending on the area they cover networks can
be divided into 3 main types. They are
Personal Area Network (PAN): PAN is a personal area network having an
interconnection of personal technology devices to communicate over a
short distance. It covers less than 10 meters or 33 feet of area. PAN
typically uses some form of wireless technology. PAN involves the
transmission of data between information devices such as smartphones,
personal computers, tablet computers, etc.
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UNIT: II
Local Area Network (LAN): LAN or Local Area Network connects network
devices in such a way that personal computers and workstations can
share data, tools, and programs. LANs cover a smaller geographical
area (Size is limited to a few kilometres) and are privately owned. One
can use it for an office building, home, hospital, school, etc. LAN is easy
to design and maintain.
Wide Area Network (WAN): WAN or Wide Area Network is a computer
network that extends over a large geographical area. WAN has a range
of above 50 km. A WAN could be a connection of LAN connecting to
other LANs via telephone lines. The technology is high-speed and
relatively expensive.
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UNIT: II
Network topology: Network topology refers to the physical or logical
arrangement of devices and connections in a computer network. It
defines how nodes (computers, printers, etc.) are connected and how
data is transmitted between them. Common network topologies are
Star, Ring, Bus.
Star Topology: All devices connect to a central hub or switch. Data is
transmitted through the central device. More reliable than bus topology
as a single device failure doesn't affect the whole network.
Ring Topology: Devices are connected in a closed loop, with data
traveling in one direction. If one device fails, the entire network can be
disrupted.
Bus Topology: All devices are connected to a single cable (the bus).
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UNIT: II
Data travels in both directions along the bus. Simple to set up and use,
but can be unreliable if the bus cable is damaged.
Internet Basics: A global network connecting millions of computers.
More than 100 countries are linked together to exchange data, news
and opinions.
Internet Protocol (IP) Address: The Internet is composed of local,
regional, national, and worldwide computer networks. Each computer on
the Internet can be identified by a set of unique numbers that is called
an internet protocol (IP) address. The IP address is composed of four
different numbers separated by periods such as [Link].
Domain name: The address or URL of a particular Web site. It is the text
name corresponding to the numeric IP address of a computer on the
Internet.
Home page (or home or homepage): The first page or front page of a
Web site. It serves as the starting point for navigation. The standard
top-level domains are:
com - Commercial business
edu - Educational institutions
gov - Government agencies
mil - Military
net - Networks organization
org - Organizations (nonprofit)
Web browser: A program used to view, download, upload or otherwise
access documents on the Internet. Ex: Netscape Navigator and Internet
Explorer are well-known "Web browsers".
E-mail: Mail that's electronically transmitted by your computer. An e-
mail sends your messages instantaneously, anywhere in the world. It
has the capability to send messages at any time and to anyone.
World Wide Web (WWW): The World Wide Web (WWW) commonly
known as the Web, is an information system that allows documents and
other web resources to be accessed over the Internet.
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