College of Computing and Informatics

CS001: Computer Essentials

Computer Essentials

Module 1

Computer Basics and Operating Systems

 1. Computer
2. Information processing cycle
3. Data vs Information
4. Transistor
5. Measurement Units
6. Numbering systems
7. Computer Types

Contents
 • WLOC1: Understand the purpose and elements
of information systems
• WLOC2: Recognize the different types of
computers

Weekly
Learning
Outcomes
Required Reading
1. Chapter 1 - (Introduction to Computers and Information
Technology: Preparing for IC3 Certification)

Recommended Reading
1. Chapter 1- and Chapter 3 Essential for Computing Studies,
Profession And Entrance Examinations
2. Link1: [Link]
• Computer
Computer

A computer is an electronic device that can receive, store, process, and

output data based on a set of instructions (programs). It is designed to
execute applications and provides a variety of solutions by combining
integrated hardware and software components.
 • Information processing cycle

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Information processing cycle

The core operations of a computer, often referred to as

the computer's "information processing cycle," can be
broken down into four basic actions:
1. Input: This is the process by which data and
instructions are given to the computer. Devices such
as keyboards, mice, scanners, cameras, and
microphones are commonly used for input.
2. Processing: Once the data is inputted, the
computer's central processing unit (CPU) processes
the information. This means it performs operations
on the data, like arithmetic or logic operations, based
on the instructions provided.
 Information processing cycle

4. Output: Once data has been inputted and

processed, the computer displays or outputs

the results. This can be in the form of visual

display on a monitor, printed on paper, played

through speakers, saved to a file, or

transmitted to another computer or device.

Output devices include monitors, printers, and

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 Information processing cycle

Storage: After or during processing, the

computer saves data in its memory. There are
various levels of storage, including:
• Primary storage: Temporary storage (like RAM) that
provides fast access for the CPU to data and
instructions while the computer is running.
• Secondary storage: Long-term storage (like hard
drives, SSDs, or external storage devices) where data,
applications, and the operating system reside.

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 • Data vs Information

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 Data vs Information

Both "data" and "information" are fundamental concepts in the realm of

computing and information systems, but they have distinct meanings:

Data:

refers to raw facts and figures without any context. It

can be any character, text, word, number, or even a bit

or a byte. Example: a sequence of numbers like

"19930315" or a list of names without context.

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 Data vs Information

Information:

Is data that has been processed in such a way

that it is meaningful. Data becomes

information when it is interpreted in a context

and given purpose.

Example: Knowing that "19930315" is a date,

"March 15, 1993", or understanding that a list

of names refers to attendees at a conference.

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 • Transistor

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 Transistor

Transistors in computers are used as electronic switches to represent

binary values. At a basic level, a transistor in a digital circuit can be in

0
one of two states, which correspond to the binary values of 0 and 1.

• Off State: When a transistor is "off" or in a non-conductive state, it

does not allow current to pass through. This state represents the 1

binary value 0.

• On State: When a transistor is "on" or in a conductive state, it

allows current to flow through. This state represents the binary

value 1.

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 • Measurements Units

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 Measurement Units

In computing, data storage and processing are quantified using a

hierarchy of units. The foundational unit is the "bit," and from there,

we scale up. Here's a breakdown of these units, starting from the

smallest:
1 0
Bit: bit bit

- Symbol: b

- Definition: A "bit" is the most basic unit of data in computing. It can

have one of two values, typically represented as 0 or 1.

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 Measurement Units

Byte:

- Symbol: B

- Definition: A "byte" consists of 8 bits. It's the standard unit of data

used to represent a character in computers, such as a letter, number,

or symbol.

- Conversion: 1 Byte = 8 bits Byte

1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0

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 Measurement Units

Kilobyte:
1 1
- Symbol: KB
0 2
- Definition: Kilobyte is often the next step up from a byte.
1 3
- Conversion (in binary): 1 KB = 1,024 Bytes
.
Megabyte:
.
- Symbol: MB .
1 1023
- Definition: Megabyte is commonly used to represent data

file sizes or storage capacities. 0 1024

- Conversion (in binary): 1 MB = 1,024 KB

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 Measurement Units

Gigabyte:

- Symbol: GB

- Definition: Gigabyte is a higher order of magnitude and is commonly used today to

represent storage capacities, especially for hard drives, SSDs, and USB sticks.

- Conversion (in binary): 1 GB = 1,024 MB

Beyond GB, there are further units like Terabyte (TB), Petabyte (PB), Exabyte (EB), and so

on, each representing an additional factor of 1,024 from the previous.

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 • System numbering

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 Decimal system

Computers, at their most fundamental level, operate using the binary (base-2) system, represented by

bits that are either 0s or 1s. However, for various applications and interfaces with humans, computers

often need to work with the decimal (base-10) system, which we use in our daily lives.

Decimal numbers

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

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 Decimal system

Example:

Data Transfer and Storage:

While the capacities of storage devices (like hard drives or SSDs) are inherently based on binary,

manufacturers often market them using decimal prefixes. For instance, a "500GB" hard drive

usually provides 500 billion bytes of storage, not 536,870,912,000 bytes (which would be

500GiB in binary terms).

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 Hexadecimal system

The hexadecimal (base-16) system is widely used in computing because of its concise

representation of binary data and its ease of conversion to and from binary. In the hexadecimal

system, numbers can be represented using the digits 0-9 and the letters A-F (or a-f), with 'A'

representing 10, 'B' representing 11, and so on up to 'F' representing 15.

Decimal 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Hexadecimal 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F

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 Hexadecimal system
Example:

Color Representation in Web Design:

In digital design and web development, colors are often

represented using the hexadecimal (hex) notation,

especially in the context of the RGB color model. In the RGB

model, colors are defined by three components: Red (R),

RGB
Green (G), and Blue (B). Each of these components can have

a value ranging from 0 to 255 in decimal notation.

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 Hexadecimal system

Color Representation in Web Design:

When representing RGB colors in hexadecimal format:
1. The red, green, and blue components are each converted into a two-digit hexadecimal number.
2. These three two-digit hex numbers are then concatenated, forming a six-digit hex number.
3. This hex number is usually prefixed with a `#` symbol.
Here are some examples:
White: Black:
- RGB(255, 255, 255) - RGB(0, 0, 0)
- Hex: `#FFFFFF` - Hex: `#000000`

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 Hexadecimal system

Color Representation in Web Design:

Red:
- RGB(255, 0, 0)
- Hex: `#FF0000`

Green:
- RGB(0, 255, 0)
- Hex: `#00FF00`

Blue:
- RGB(0, 0, 255)
- Hex: `#0000FF`
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 • Encoding Tables

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 Encoding tables

Computers use encoding tables like ASCII and Unicode to represent and manipulate

textual information in a format they can understand binary. These encoding systems

provide a standardized way to map individual characters (such as letters, numbers,

and symbols) to specific numbers, which can then be represented in binary and

stored or processed by a computer.

A ASCII 65

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

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 Encoding tables

How computers use these encoding tables?

• ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)
is a 7-bit character encoding standard that can represent 128 different characters, including English
letters, numbers and control characters.
• Unicode
is a much broader encoding standard designed to represent characters from virtually all written
languages.
Usage in Computers: UTF-16: This encoding uses either one or two 16-bit code units per character,
making it suitable for representing a wider range of characters directly. Unicode can represent
special characters, emojis, and many international symbols that ASCII cannot.

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 • Computer Types

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 Computer Types

Computers can be categorized based on their size, capability, and

purpose. Here's a list of various types of computers:

• Supercomputers:

Purpose: Used for complex, high-end computations.

Examples: Weather forecasting, molecular research, simulations.

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 Computer Types

• Mainframe Computers:

Purpose: Handle large amounts of data, support

multiple users simultaneously, and run commercial

applications.

Examples: Transaction processing for large

organizations like banks, airline reservations.

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 Computer Types
• Servers:
Purpose: Serve data to other computers (clients) on a network.
Examples: Schools and universities use servers to provide students and staff with access to resources
such as online courses, research databases, and email.
• Microcomputers (Personal Computers):
» Desktop Computers: General-purpose computers for individual users.
» Laptop Computers: Portable version of desktops.
» Netbooks: Smaller laptops primarily for internet use.
» Tablets: Touchscreen-based, like Apple's iPad or Samsung's Galaxy Tab.

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 Computer Types

• Workstations:

Purpose: More powerful than personal computers, used for tasks

needing better graphics or computational power.

Examples: Video editing, CAD design, 3D design tasks.

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 • Computer Software

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 Computer Software

Software also known as a program consists of a set of

related instructions that tell the machine what tasks to
perform and how to perform them, structured for a
common purpose. It plays an important role in the
computer system by creating a connection between
computer hardware and computer users.

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 Computer Software
Computer software refers to a collection of data or instructions that instruct a computer on how to

work. It stands in contrast to physical hardware, on which the system runs. Software includes the

programs, libraries, and related non-executable data (such as documentation, digital media, etc.).

Software can be categorized into two main types:

1. System Software.

2. Application Software.

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 • System Software

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 System Software
This software designed to provide a platform for other

software. System software consists of the operating system

(OS) and utility programs.

• Operating system: The OS is the most important piece

of system software. It is responsible for managing the

computer's hardware and resources.

• Utility programs: Utility programs are smaller software

programs that perform specific tasks, such as managing

files, optimizing system performance.

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 • Operating System

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 Operating Systems (OS)
An Operating System (OS) is the most essential software that manages computer hardware and provides

services for computer programs. The operating system serves as an intermediary between users and the

computer hardware.
Functions of an OS:
• Process Management: The OS handles the creation, scheduling, and termination of processes. A
process is a program in execution, and activities such as keeping track of processor.
• Memory Management: It manages the physical and virtual memory in the system. This includes
management of RAM and cache memory.

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 Operating Systems (OS)
• File System Management: The OS manages files on different storage devices (like hard

drives, SSDs), overseeing the reading/writing and creation/deletion of these files. It also

maintains basic file attributes like naming, permissions, hierarchy of directories, etc.

• An operating system (OS) often uses a hierarchical folder (or directory) structure to

organize files. This hierarchy starts with a root directory, and subsequent directories

(or sub-directories) branch out from there. This arrangement allows for a systematic

and organized way to store and retrieve files.

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 Operating Systems (OS)
File System Management

Both Linux and Windows use hierarchical folder structures, but the conventions, naming, and

organization differ between the two. Below, we'll compare the hierarchical folder structures of Linux

and Windows:

In Linux, the file system starts at the root directory, denoted as /

root boot home

user1

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 Operating Systems (OS)
File System Management
In Windows, drives are represented by letters, and the filesystem begins at a root directory for
each drive (e.g., C:\)

C:\

Program
Windows Temp
Files

Microsoft
Web
Office

System32

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 Operating Systems (OS)
Functions of an OS:

• Device Management: The OS manages device

communication via their respective drivers. Devices can

include hard drives, printers, displays, etc.

• Security and Access Control: The OS ensures

unauthorized users do not access the system and

protects against malware and other security threats.

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 Operating Systems (OS)
Functions of an OS:
• User Interface: Operating systems typically provide two main types
of user interfaces:

1. Graphical User Interface (GUI):

• This is the most common interface in
personal computers, tablets, and
smartphones.
• It uses windows, icons, buttons, and
menus that users can manipulate using
a mouse, touch screen, or other input
devices.

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 Operating Systems (OS)
Functions of an OS:
• User Interface
2. Command-Line Interface (CLI):
• This is a text-based interface where users input commands to operate the computer.
• It is more powerful and flexible than GUIs for certain tasks and is preferred by many system
administrators and advanced users.

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 Operating Systems (OS)
Types of Operating Systems:
• Multitasking/Time-sharing OS: Multiple jobs are executed by the CPU by switching between them,
but the switches are so frequent that the user feels as if they are all executing at the same time.
• Real-time OS: Responds to input immediately. Used in systems where there are tight constraints on
response time like in an airbag system in cars or flight control.
• Distributed OS: Manages a group of independent computers and makes them appear to be a single
computer.
• Embedded OS: OS used in embedded computer systems like washing machines, ATMs, etc.

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 Operating Systems (OS)
Examples of Operating Systems:
• Desktop OSs: Windows, macOS, Linux distributions (like Ubuntu, Fedora), UNIX.
• Mobile OSs: Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry OS.
• Server OSs: Windows Server, Linux distributions optimized for server use, UNIX.
• Embedded Systems: Real-time operating systems like RTLinux, VxWorks, and Windows IoT.

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 Operating Systems (OS)
Components of an OS:

• Kernel: Core component of an OS, manages operations

Utilities
of the computer and hardware, mainly memory and CPU Shell
Kernal
time.
Hardware

• Shell: Interface between user and kernel, receives

commands from users and executes kernel's functions.

• Utilities: Help in system maintenance and performance

enhancement.

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Reference
s
• Weixel, S., (2018). Introduction to Computers and Information
Technology. Pearson.
Thank You