Chapter 1
Introducing Computer Systems
Outline
• What is a computer?
• Data Processing
• Characteristics of Computers
• Parts of computer system
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The Computer Defined
• The word computer comes from the word
“compute” , which means, “to calculate”.
• Thereby, a computer is an electronic
device that can perform arithmetic
operations at high speed.
• A computer is also called a data processor
because it can store, process and retrieve
data whenever desired.
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Data Processing
• The activity of processing data using a computer is
called data processing.
• Data is raw material used as input and information is
processed data obtained as output of data
processing. 4
Characteristics of Computers
1. Automatic: Given a job, computer can work on it
automatically without human interventions
2. Speed: Computer can perform data processing jobs
very fast
3. Accuracy: Accuracy of a computer is consistently high
and the degree of its accuracy depends upon its
design.
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Characteristics of Computers
4. Diligence: Computer is free from monotony, tiredness,
and lack of concentration. It can continuously work for
hours without creating any error and without grumbling
5. Versatility: Computer is capable of performing almost
any task, if the task can be reduced to a finite series
of logical steps
6. Power of Remembering: Computer can store and recall
any amount of information because of its secondary
storage capability. It forgets or looses certain
information only when it is asked to do so
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Characteristics of Computers
7. No I.Q.: A computer does only what it is programmed
to do. It cannot take its own decision in this regard
8. No Feelings: Computers are devoid of emotions. Their
judgement is based on the instructions given to them in
the form of programs that are written by us (human
beings)
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Parts of the Computer System
• Computer systems have four parts
1. Hardware
2. Software
3. Data
4. User
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Parts of the Computer System
• Hardware: Tangible parts
(Anything that can be touch)
• Software: Programs that instruct the computer
what to do
• Data: Pieces of Information
• User: People who operates the computer. Most
important part of the computer system. They
tell what to do to the computer. Specially
decisions
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Parts of the Computer System -
Hardware
• A computer’s hardware consists of electronic
devices; the parts you can see and touch.
• The term “device” refers to any piece of
hardware used by the computer, such as a
keyboard, monitor, modem, mouse, etc.
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Parts of the Computer System -
Software
• Software – also called programs – consists of
organized sets of instructions for controlling
the computer.
• Some programs exist for the computer’s use, to
help it manage its own tasks and devices.
• Other programs exist for the user, and enable
the computer to perform tasks for you, such as
creating documents.
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Parts of the Computer System -
Data
• Data consists of raw facts, which the
computer can manipulate and process into
information that is useful to people.
• Computerized data is digital, meaning that it
has been reduced to digits, or numbers. The
computer stores and reads all data as numbers.
• Although computers use data in digital form,
they convert data into forms that people can
understand, such as text, numerals, sounds,
and images.
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Parts of the Computer System – Users
• People are the computer’s operators, or
users.
• Some types of computers can operate
without much intervention from people,
but personal computers are designed
specifically for use by people.
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Hardware –
Types of Hardware
A computer’s hardware devices are categorized
as follows:
Processor
Memory
Input and output (I/O) devices
Storage devices
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Types of Hardware
Processor
– Brains of the computer
– Central Processing Unit (CPU) , or called
(processer)
– It is responsible for controlling the operations of all
other units of a computer system
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Types of Hardware
Memory
– Memory also consists of chips attached to the
motherboard.
– Memory holds data and program instructions as the
CPU works with them. This memory is called Random
Access Memory (RAM).
– The CPU can find any piece of data in RAM, when it
needs it for processing.
– RAM is volatile, meaning it holds data only when the
power is on. When the power is off, RAM’s contents
are lost. 16
Types of Hardware
Input and output devices
• Input devices accept data and instructions from the
user or from another computer system. The keyboard
and mouse are examples of input devices.
• Output devices return processed data back to the user
or to another computer system. The printer and
monitor are examples.
• Some devices perform both input and output, allowing
computers to share information. Touch screens and
digital cameras are the examples.
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Types of Hardware
Storage devices
– Storage devices hold data not currently being used
by the CPU. Data is commonly stored on a magnetic
or optical disk. Each type uses a special medium for
storing data on its surface.
– A disk drive is a device that reads data from and
writes data to a disk. Most computers feature a hard
disk drive, and an optical disk drive.
– The most common optical storage devices are CD-
ROM and DVD-ROM drives.
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Software
• Software is a set of electronic instructions that
tells the computer how to do certain tasks. 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.
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System Software
• System software exists primarily for the
computer itself, to help the computer perform
specific functions.
• One major type of system software is the
operating system (OS). All computers require an
operating system.
• The OS tells the computer how to interact with
the user and its own devices.
• Common operating systems include Windows, the
Macintosh OS, OS/2, and UNIX, Linux .
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Application Software
• Application software tells the computer how to
accomplish tasks the user requires, such as
creating a document or editing a graphic image.
• Some important kinds of application software
are:
Word processing programs Spreadsheet software
Database management Presentation programs
Graphics programs Networking software
Web design tools and browsers Internet applications
Communications programs Multimedia authoring
Entertainment and education
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