THE COMPUTER

What is Computer

• This is the Machine / electronic device

that receives data input, store and
process it into output.
• INPUT : This is the unprocessed data which
enter a computer.
• Three types of Input; Dat, Program, and
Comands
• STORAGE: The computer holds data internally
during and after processing.
• PROCESSING: This is the convention of input
data into information
• OUTPUT: This is the processed data from a
computer
CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTER
• SPEED
Computer has a very high speed in
working
• ACCURACY
Computer never makes errors; normally
errors are made by users.
• STORAGE
Computer has memory for storing data.
• TIRELESSNESS.
Computer never gets tired
• VERSATILITY
Computer can perform jobs logically
step by step
 CONT………..
• It can solve any problem if a relevant
set of instructions is input,
• It is able to access or recovers, retrieve
large volumes of data.
• It is able to communicate with other
computer systems in a network
 APPLICATION OFCOMPUTER

COMPUTER IN EDUCATION
• Gathering information from the internet
• Develop science project
• Teaching and learning process
COMPUTER IN HEALTH
• In health computer are used for
• 1) Diagnosing illness
• 2) Modifying patients health development
• 3) Assisting surgeons
COMPUTER AT HOME
• Writing letter
• Listening music
• Playing games
• Watching movies
COMPUTER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICE
• In law enforcement police, computer is used
as
• Storage of information
• Making documents and printing the
documents
• DNA finger printing
 IN INDUSTRY AND ENGINEERING

• To design drawing for products using

Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs
e.g. airplanes, bridges, cars, buildings,
electronic circuit boards.
• To manufacture products using
Computer aided Manufacturing (CAM)
• To plan and control major projects.
• To control industrial robots
 IN BANKING AND BUSINESS
• To allow bank clerks and customers to
find out bank balances in an account
• To help bank clerks to record money paid
in and out
• To allow people to use Automatic Teller
Machines (ATM) in cash withdraw and
transfer funds between accounts.
• Creates an effective way of producing
documents e.g. reports, brochures, cards
 IN MILITARY

• It can be used for weather forecasting

• It can used by planners to stimulate wars
• It can be used to guide modern weapons
such as missiles
 IN GOVERNMENT

• It can be used for internal revenue

services e.g to provide reports for tax
purposes.
• It can be used for planning, analysis,
forecast, sampling, predictions etc.
• It can be used for weather forecasting ,
• It can be used for Law enforcement
 DISADVANTAGE OF COMPUTER
• It is costly
• It becomes outdated very fast due rapid
changes in computer technology, hence it
leads to capital loss
• It causes loss of employment in certain
fields.
• It can fail. Such failures can cause loss of
life e.g in traffic control system.
• Too much work at the computer causes
nerve injuries.
• Loss of employment
• Loss of secrets
• Eye damage
• Loss of data.
 PARTS OF COMPUTER
There are two parts of Computer which
are:
• Computer Hardware
• Computer Software
 Computer Hardware

• Refers to the physical parts of computer

OR
• Is a set of devices that accept data,
processes them and displays them.

• Are the physical things that you can see

and touch
 TYPES OF COMPUTER HARDWARE
• Input devices (input hardware)
• Central processing unit
(CPU) (processing hardware)
• Output devices (Output hardware)
• Secondary storage devices (storage
hardware)
• Communication devices (Communication
hardware)
 INPUT DEVICES (input hardware)

• Is any hardware component that allows

you to enter data, programs, commands
and user responses into a computer
• Example. Keyboard, mouse, Microphone,
Joystick, Scanner, Bar-code reader,
terminal, Trackball, Touch pad, Remote
control,
 FUNCTIONS OF INPUT DEVICES
• The functions of input devices are as follows: -
• (i) To accept data from the user into the
computer system
• (ii) To accept instructions from the users.
• (iii) To accept commands for running or
aborting or halting a program from the user.
1. KEYBOARD – Is an input device used to
enter data into computer
Types of keys in keyboard
• Number keys Eg. 1,2,3…….
• Alphabet keys Eg. A-Z
• Special keys Eg. Ctrl, shift, esc, alt,…..
• Navigation keys Eg. ←→↑↓
• Function keys Eg.F1, F2,F3…………F12
• Symbol keys Eg. *, # ,@ ,+, =, -, &, %, $.....
 KEYBOARD
• The Keyboard
• (This is the primary
input device)

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 KEYBOARD
• Alphanumeric Keys

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 KEYBOARD
• Numeric Keypad

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 KEYBOARD
• Enter (Return) Key

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 KEYBOARD
• Spacebar

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 KEYBOARD
• CTRL, ALT, SHIFT

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 KEYBOARD
• Caps, Scroll, Numlock

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2. MOUSE – Used to control the movement of a
pointer on a screen surface

Parts of Mouse
• Left button (Click)
• Right button (Right Click)
• Scrolling tool
• Mouse wire
• Mouse Pointer
• Right button (Right Click)- Used to show the
options
• Left button-Used to select/insert/accept the
option
• Scrolling wheel (tool) - Used to go up or
down of the page
• Mouse Pointer. Used to direct the cursor
 MOUSE
• Left Clicking

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 MOUSE
• Right clicking

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 MOUSE
• Double clicking
• (Use the left side,
• Click twice)

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 2. MOUSE
• Click and drag

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 3. Microphone
• It is a device used to enter sound into the
Computer
• Microphone
 4. Scanner
• A Scanner is a input device used to convert
hard copy to soft copy
• Scanner
 5. joystick
• Is an input device used to play computer
games
 [Link] code reader

• Bar code reader- Used to read the bar codes

 Bar code reader

• Bar code reader

• joystick
7. Trackball
OUTPUT DEVICE / OUTPUT HARDWARE

OUTPUT
• Is data that has been processed into
meaning form called information.
• Is usable information
• Is raw input data that has been
processed of the computer into
information.
 Some examples of output
-Words, numbers, sentences,
paragraphs -
-Drawings, charts and photographs
• Music synthetic speech
• Played back images
• Types (categories or groups) of output
• Two principal kinds of output are
• (i) Softcopy
• (ii) Hardcopy
• Soft copy
• Is a material (data) shown on the
display screen (monitor) or data that is in
audio or voice form.
• This kind of output is not tangible; it
cannot be touched.
• Hardcopy
• Is printed copy (printout) on paper.
• Examples of printouts (hardcopy
output)
• (i) Text and graphics from printers
• (ii) Film (including microfilm and
microfiche
• Forms of output
• Computers generate (produce) several
forms of output. They are: -
• (i) Text e.g. words, sentences, charts
and paragraphs
• (ii) Graphics e.g. drawing, charts and
photographs
• (iii) Audio e.g. music speech etc
• (iv) Video e.g. played back images
 OUTPUT DEVICE
• Are devices used to display/ give out
information
• EXAMPLE. Speaker, monitor, Printer, ATM,
Projector. etc.
 SPEAKER
• Is an output device used to put out the
sound OR
• It is Output device which produce sound
from the computer.
MONITOR
• Is a computer screen/Output device
which is used to display computer
information (graphics and text)
 PRINTER
Printer is an output device which is
used to convert/change soft copy to
hard copy.
TYPES OF PRINTERS
1) Impact printer
2) Non- impact printer

IMPACT PRINTER
Produce characters object by using hammers or
pun shield on a print head
(Striking the paper, there is direct contact
between paper and print head).
E.g; Dot- matrix printer
 ADVANTAGES
• - Low running cost
• - Purchase cost is low

DISADVANTAGES
• - Wet the paper
• - Make noise
• - Low quality
-Difficult to edit
• NON – IMPACT PRINTER
These are printers which produce
characters without striking the paper. No
direct contact between paper and print
head.
E.g:
• Ink jet printer
• Laser printer
• Thermal transfer printer
• INK JET PRINTER
• This is the non- impact printer which
uses tiny nuzzles to form the character or
graphic image.
• Uses
• - Used commonly at home and schools
• - Can be used in offices
• ADVANTAGES
• - Produce high quality copies
• - Produce colored copies
• - Relative less expensive
- Easy to edit.
• LASER PRINTER
• The toners is transferred to the paper and
then fixed by heat and pressure.

• Uses
• - Office
• - School
• - Home
 ADVANTAGES
• - Are quite
• - Are fast
• - Produce high quality copies
• - Running cost is less
• THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTER—Use a
thermal print head to transfer a solid ink from
ribbon onto a label to produce a permanent
print.
• ADVANTAGE
-Durable. Labels and signs created with thermal
printers last longer and stand up to wider
variety of weather conditions than those
printed with ink
-Versatile. Thermal transfer printers can print
documents, labels and signs that meet various
needs
-Less maintenance. With fewer moving parts,
thermal printers tends to last longer, are
easier to maintain and run more reliable
• DISADVANAGE
-Cost--Material used in thermal printing process
are very expensive
-Color choice--thermal printer, print fewer
colors and the higher heat limits
 ATM
Is a machine/ computer used for banking
activities(Money withdraw)
 Projector
• Is a device used to project computer
information
3. THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)

• A CPU is the central processing unit,

Basically its the brain of Computer. Also
called a processor.

• Is the Hardware part of the computer

system that runs the program
instructions.
• Is the part of the computer system that
follows the instructions to manipulate (or
change) data into information.
• It is normally covered within system unit
SYSTEM UNIT
 COMPONENTS/PARTS OF THE CPU (PROCESSOR)

The CPU is made up (or consists) of three

main parts. These are: -

• The Arithmetic – Logic unit (ALU)

• The Control Unit (CU)
• Registers
1. The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
Is a part of CPU used to perform the
following functions

(i) Performs mathematical Operations Eg.

(+,-,×,÷)

(ii) Performs Logic operations Eg.

(=,>,< ,=<,>=)
 2. Control Unit
Is a part of CPU used to perform the following
functions

(i) Control all functions of computer

(ii) Control ALU
 3. Registers
• Are small memory locations of CPU
 FUNCTIONS OF THE CPU OR PROCESSOR

The basic functions of the CPU are

following: -
(i) To control the sequence of operations
according to instructions
(ii) To give commands to all other parts of
the computer system
(iii) To carry out processing (i.e. to process
data into information)
(iv) To send processed results to the
output
(v) To store data and all the instructions.
COMPUTER BLOCK DIAGRAM
 COMPUTER MEMORY AND STORAGE

• COMPUTER MEMORY
• MEMORY (PHYSICAL MEMORY) is the
actual chip that is capable to hold (store)
data and programs (instructions) in use
by the CPU.
• A MEMORY UNIT is the internal storage
(main memory) area in a computer
system.
TYPES OF COMPUTER MEMORY

(i)Primary memory/Main memory

(ii)Secondary memory/Backup memory
 PRIMARY MEMORY/MAIN MEMORY

• Is a small electronic part of the

computer) which stores all data and
instructions (programs) before they can
be used in processing (i.e between the
processing steps, and after processing is
completed but before output).
• Is the memory that holds (stores) all data
and instructions (programs) that will be
needed shortly by the CPU.
• Is a microelectronic semiconductor
storage circuitry.
 USES OF THE MAIN MEMORY
Some uses of the main memory are:
• (i) To store instructions waiting to be
obeyed
• (ii) To store instructions being obeyed
• (iii) To store awaiting processing
• (iv) To store data currently being
processed
• (v) To store data waiting output
• DISADVANTAGES OF THE MAIN MEMORY
• The main memory has the following
disadvantages:
• (i) It is limited. There is a capacity beyond
which it cannot be extended.
• (ii) It is expensive. The technology involved
and the elements used in making them are
expensive
• (iii) It is volatile. (i.e. it loses its contents
immediately when power is switched off)
 TYPES/CLASSIFICATION OF THE MAIN MEMORY

The main memory of the computer can be

classified into two main memory
sections.
• The Random Access Memory (RAM)
• The Read – Only memory (ROM)
THE RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM)

• This is a computer hardware (working

memory) that store data for
immediate/current use in a computer
 CHARACTERISTICS OF RAM
• (i) It is limited in size
• (ii) It is expensive
• (iii) It is fast
• (iv) It is used to hold data and programs that
are actively being processed.
(v) It contains application programs
developed by computer users in order to solve
specific problems.
 FUNCTIONS /USES/TASKS OF RAM
• The main functions of RAM are:
• (i) It holds (stores) data for processing.
• (ii) It holds (stores) instructions (application
programs) for processing data
• (iii) It holds (stores) processed data (that is
information) waiting to be sent to an output
device or secondary storage device
THE READ – ONLY MEMORY (ROM)
• Is a type of storage medium that
permanently stores data on computer.
• It contains the programming needed to
start up a computer which is essential for
boot up.
• It performs major input/output tasks and
holds programs or software instruction
 CHARACTERISTICS OF ROM
• It is used to hold initialization
instructions for the computer to start
itself and for certain other repetitive,
specialized functions. or it controls Basic
input/output systems (BIOS)
• It contains control programs built-in or
installed by the manufacturer of the
computer system at the factory.
• It is designed to serve the hardware of
the computer system.
• Contents of ROM are inserted (built in) at
the factory by the manufacture; buyers
have little to do with it.
• The contents of Rom cannot be changed
• It is permanent
 FUNCTIONS (USES OR TASKS) OF ROM
The main functions of ROM are:
• To store the data and instructions (programes)
that the necessary for the normal functioning
of the computer system hardware (i.e. it
stores operating system data and instructions)
• To store control programs that are necessary
for the initial activation of the hardware when
power is switched on.
DIFFERENT BETWEEN RAM AND ROM
•
 SECONDARY STORAGE DEVICES /
SECONDARY STORAGE MEDIA
• is a physical material on which items
(data, Instructions and information) are
kept for future use e.g. disks.
• This is the memory which found inside
and outside computer system unit.
Examples of secondary storage devices/
secondary storage media are
• Floppy disk (diskette),
• Hard disk Magnetic tape or Magnetic
diskette Magnetic disk
• CD: Compact Disk
• CD-R: Compact Disk Recordable
• CD-RW: Compact Disk Re-Writable
• CD-ROM: Compact Disk Read Only Memory
• DVD: Digital Versatile/Video Disk
• DVD-ROM : Digital Versatile/Video Disk Read
Only Memory
• DVD - R: Digital Versatile/Video Disk Recordable,
which can usually be written to once in a long,
continuous write in a DVD burner.
• DVD - RW: Digital Versatile/Video writable
which is disk that is rate to be burned up to 100
times.
• VCD (Video Compact Disk)
DIFFERENT BETWEEN PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY MEMORY
MAIN/PRIMARY MEMORY SECONDARY MEMORY

Store data temporary Store data permanently

Volatile Non- volatile

Low storage capacity Large storage capacity

High speed than secondary memory Low speed

It is direct accessed by CPU It is not direct accessed by CPU

It is called working memory of a computer It is called backing storage

It is expensive It is less expensive

• VGA (Visual Graphics Array)
(Video Graphics Array) Is widely used analyzing
interface between a computer and monitor that uses a
15 –pin plug and socket Order CRTS used VGA and flat
LCD panels typically have both analog and digital DVI.
However, newer PCs may have only DVI or display.
• SOUND CARD
A sound card (also known as an audio card) is an
internal card that facilitates the input and output
programs.
• GRAPHIC CARD
Is an expansion card where function is to generate
output images.
COMPUTER STORAGE/MEMORY UNITS
Computer Data can be measured by the following
Units; This is in Ascending order that is from top to
bottom
• Bit
• Byte
• Kilobyte
• Megabyte
• Gigabyte
• Terabyte
NB: You can arrange this in Descending order that
is from Bottom to Top
• STORAGES UNIT
• Bit = Smallest unit of computer data
• 1 bit = 2 characters (0 or 1)
• Byte = Collection of 8 bits
• 1 byte = 8 bits
• 1 kb = 1000 bytes
• 1MB = l000kb
• 1GB = 1000 MB
• 1terabyte (tb) = 1000 GB
• 4Bit=Half Byte=Nibble
• 8 Bit=1 Byte
• 1000 Byte=1 Kilobyte
• 1000 Kilobyte=1 Megabyte
• 1000 Megabyte=1 Gigabyte
• 1000 Gigabyte=1 Terabyte
 TYPES (CLASSIFICATION) OF COMPUTERS

Depending on the processing,purpose and

size of computer, they have been
classified under various types.
A: Types of computer based on the
operational principle of computer
B: Types of computer based on the size of
computer
C: Special purpose computer
A: TYPES OF COMPUTER BASED ON THE
OPERATIONAL PRINCIPLE OF COMPUTER
• (i) Analogue computer
• (ii) Digital computer
• (iii) Hybrid computer
1. ANALOG COMPUTER
• These are computers that use analogy
signals only. These are different from a
digital computer because an analog
computer can perform several
mathematical operations simultaneously.
Arithmetic and logical operations are
done by measuring physical changes i.e.
Temperatures or pressure
2. DIGITAL COMPUTER
These are computers that use digital
signals only. Digital computers
recognized data by counting discrete of 0
and 1.
3. HYBRID COMPUTER
These computers are combination of both
digital and analog computers. In this type
of computer, the digital segments
perform process control by conversion of
analog signals to digital ones.
B: TYPES OF COMPUTER BASED ON THE SIZE OF
COMPUTER

1. MICROCOMPUTERS:
• Are the most widely used and the fastest
growing type computers
• They run easy – to – use application. There are
two categories of microcomputers
• Desk-tops: - They fit on desk top, and are
used by a wide range of people. Personal
computers (PC) and Workstations are
types of desktop computers.
• Portables: - Small and light, easy to move
from one place to another.
Examples are: Laptops, Palmtops,
Notebooks, and Sub notebooks
2. MINICOMPUTERS: -
• They fall between Mainframe and
Microcomputer in their processing speed
and data-storing capabilities. They are
used for special purposes e.g. in
researches or monitoring a particular
manufacturing process.
3. SUPERCOMPUTERS:
• Are the most powered high capacity
computers used by very large
organizations, e.g. NASA for tracking
space explorations.
4. MAINFRAMES:
• Are large computers occupying specially
wired, air conditioned rooms. They have
great processing speed and data storage.
Are used by banks, government agencies
insurance companies, Airline reservation
systems etc.
 C. TYPES OF COMPUTER BASED ON SPECIAL
PURPOSE COMPUTER
Are computers designed to perform specific
functions eg. ATM, Washing machine, weather
forecasting, traffic-light, Control military
planes etc
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