MODULE 1:
COMPUTING
SYSTEMS
TYPICAL COMPUTER AD
⦿ Is the computer fast enough to run necessary programs?
⦿ Is the computer cost-effective?
⦿ Will it be obsolete in 6 months?
WHY STUDY COMPUTER SYSTEMS?
⦿ User
◼ Understand system capabilities and limitations
◼ Make informed decisions
◼ Improve communications with information technology
professionals
⦿ Systems Analyst
◼ Conduct surveys, determine feasibility and define and
document user requirements
◼ Specify computer systems to meet application
requirements
⦿ Programmer
◼ Create efficient application software for specific
processing needs
WHY STUDY COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE?
⦿ System Administrator / Manager
◼ Install, configure, maintain, and upgrade
computer systems
◼ Maximize system availability
◼ Optimize system performance
◼ Ensure system security
⦿ Web Designer
◼ Optimize customer accessibility to Web
services
◼ System administration of Web servers
◼ Select appropriate data formats
◼ Design efficient Web pages
INPUT-PROCESS-OUTPUT MODEL
(IPO)
• Input: keyboard, mouse, scanner, punch cards
• Processing: CPU executes the computer program
• Output: monitor, printer, fax machine
• Storage: hard drive, optical media, diskettes, magnetic tape
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ARCHITECTURE COMPONENTS
⦿ Hardware
◼ Processes data by executing instructions
◼ Provides input and output
⦿ Software
◼ Instructions executed by the system
⦿ Data
◼ Fundamental representation of facts and
observations
⦿ Communications
◼ Sharing data and processing among different
systems
HARDWARE COMPONENT
⦿ Input/Output devices
⦿ Storage Devices
⦿ CPU
◼ ALU: arithmetic/logic unit
◼ CU: control unit
◼ Interface unit
⦿ Memory
◼ Short-term storage for CPU calculations
TYPICAL PERSONAL COMPUTER
SYSTEM
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CPU: CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT
⦿ ALU: arithmetic/logic unit
◼ Performs arithmetic and Boolean logical
calculations
⦿ CU: control unit
◼ Controls processing of instructions
◼ Controls movement of data within the CPU
⦿ Interface unit
◼ Moves instructions and data between the CPU
and other hardware components
◼ Bus: bundle of wires that carry signals and
power between different components
MEMORY
⦿ Also known as primary storage, working
storage, and RAM (random access
memory)
⦿ Consists of bits, each of which hold a
value of either 0 or 1 (8 bits = 1 byte)
⦿ Holds both instructions and data of a
computer program (stored program
concept)
SOFTWARE COMPONENT
⦿ Applications
⦿ Operating System
◼ API: application program
interface
◼ File management
◼ I/O
◼ Kernel
Memory management
Resource scheduling
Program communication
Security
◼ Network Module
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COMMUNICATIONS COMPONENT
⦿ Hardware
◼ Communication channels
Physical connections between computer systems
Examples: wire cable, phone lines, fiber optic cable,
infrared light, radio waves
◼ Interface hardware
Handles communication between the computer and
the communication channel
Modem or network interface card (NIC)
⦿ Software
◼ Network protocols: HTTP, TCP/IP, ATAPI
COMPUTER SYSTEMS
All computer systems, no matter how
complex, consists of the following:
⦿ At least one CPU
⦿ Memory to hold programs and data
⦿ I/O devices
⦿ Long-term storage
PROTOCOLS
⦿ Common ground rules of communication
between computers, I/O devices, and many
software programs
⦿ Examples
◼ HTTP: between Web servers and Web browsers
◼ TCP/IP: between computers on the Internet and
local area networks
◼ ATAPI: between a CPU and CD-ROMs
STANDARDS
⦿ Created to ensure universal compatibility
of data formats and protocols
⦿ May be created by committee or may
become a de facto standard through
popular use
⦿ Examples:
◼ Computer languages: Java, SQL, C, JavaScript
◼ Display standards: Postscript, MPEG-2, JPEG, GIF
◼ Character set standards: ASCII, Unicode, EBCDIC
◼ Video standards: VGA, XGA, RGB
EARLY COMPUTERS
Babbage’s Analytical Engine
ENIAC
